Alternatives · VPNs
Urban VPN alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best Urban VPN alternative for most people is Proton VPN (2.8 GPA), first in our ranking of VPNs. It's also the best free one.
Urban VPN compared with 5 alternatives: Windscribe, Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield, TunnelBear and Betternet.
Urban VPN has a free plan. Paid plans start at $59.40 per year; $12.99 on the monthly plan. All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Urban VPN sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban VPNThis tool | Free plan · from $59.40/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Windscribe | Free plan · from $3/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Proton VPN | Free plan · from $83.88/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Hotspot Shield | Free plan · from $95.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| TunnelBear | Free plan · from $3.33/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Betternet | Free plan · from $95.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
Price against what you get
Urban VPN starts at $4.95 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 2 of the 5 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: Windscribe and TunnelBear.
Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield and Betternet score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Urban VPN
Windscribe
VPN with a 10GB free plan and pay-per-location pricing
- Windscribe starts at $3 per month for 3 locations (Build A Plan).
- Windscribe also lists a Linux app.
- Windscribe is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Light users who can live within 10GB a month for free
Proton VPN
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap
- Proton VPN starts at $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88.
- Proton VPN also lists a Linux app.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Trying a VPN for free without a data cap
Hotspot Shield
VPN with a free Basic tier and its own Hydra protocol
- Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
- Hotspot Shield also covers malware protection.
- Hotspot Shield does not cover ad and tracker blocking, which Urban VPN does.
Suits: Occasional users who want a free VPN on one device
TunnelBear
McAfee-owned VPN with a 2GB free plan and pay-once multi-year plans
- TunnelBear starts at $3.33 per month on the 3-year Unlimited plan ($120 paid once).
Suits: Occasional users who need a VPN for a few gigabytes
Betternet
Ad-supported free VPN with an ad-free Premium plan
- Betternet starts at $95.99 per year, or $11.99 per month.
- Betternet also covers malware protection.
- Betternet does not cover ad and tracker blocking, which Urban VPN does.
Suits: Casual users who want a free VPN with no sign-up
Limits worth knowing in Urban VPN
- Free use is limited to non-commercial purposes; iOS is available only to Premium users.
- Android's free connection stops at 100MB a day, per the vendor's why-free page.
- Refund wording conflicts: the pricing page offers 30 days on the yearly plan, the Premium page says no guarantee.
- The 3-day trial is not available on Windows or through the website.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Urban VPN?
The alternatives to Urban VPN in this directory are Windscribe, Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield, TunnelBear and Betternet. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Urban VPN.
Is there a free alternative to Urban VPN?
Yes. Windscribe, Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield, TunnelBear and Betternet have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Urban VPN alternatives work on Linux?
The Urban VPN listing does not include a Linux app. Windscribe and Proton VPN list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Urban VPN?
Windscribe and Proton VPN are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.