Betternet vs X-VPN (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, X-VPN grades higher than Betternet: 3.0 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
X-VPN grades higher on value for money, the free plan and features. They get the same grade on ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Betternet
Ad-supported free VPN with an ad-free Premium plan
X-VPN
VPN with an unlimited-data free plan and discounted first terms
Which one is for you
Pick Betternet if
- Fits if you want a free VPN for light use and can live with ads
- Works for people who'll try Premium free for 7 days
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to pick a server country on the free version, which connects to the US only
- Tight if you hate ads: they stay on the free version, and Premium removes them
- Watch out: the trial renews into a paid plan unless you cancel at least 24 hours before it ends
- Watch out: the home page shows a $71.99 first-year promotion that ended 24 March 2026; it renews at $95.99
- Watch out: the vendor's site showed no pricing page, so prices come from the App Store
Pick X-VPN if
- Fits if you want a free VPN with no data cap and can live with 26 regions
- Works for households with phones, TVs and consoles
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay free: kill switch, split tunnelling and the full server network are Premium
- Pricey if you pay monthly, at $11.99
- Watch out: the 12 and 24-month prices are first-term only and renew at $71.99 a year
- Watch out: crypto, gift card and phone-credit payments are non-refundable
- Not for you if you need more than 5 devices at once
How we grade them
| 2.4GPABetternetFair | 3.0GPAX-VPNVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CPremium is $95.99 a year, about $8 a month, or $11.99 monthly, against a category middle of $5. | BFree with unlimited data, and Premium is $2.99 a month on the 24-month term. But it renews at $71.99 a year, about $6 a month, and monthly is $11.99. |
| Free plan and trial | CA free VPN with unlimited data and no sign-up, but with ads and, per the vendor's App Store reply, a US server only. Premium has a 7-day trial that renews unless you cancel. | BBasic needs no account, has unlimited data and speed, and offers 26 regions. The global network, kill switch and split tunnelling need Premium. |
| Features | CKill switch, leak protection, anti-phishing alerts and connection modes, but the free version is limited to one location and ads. | BSeveral protocols, AES-256, kill switch, split tunnelling, static IP, ad blocker, 10,000 servers claimed in 80+ countries. No core gap is named in the listing. |
| Ease of use | B4.5 from 238K App Store ratings. Install it and connect, with no sign-up for the free version. | BNo store rating on record. Install and connect, no email needed for Basic. |
| Platforms and integrations | BiOS, Android, Windows, Mac and a browser extension. No API or integration list. | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, a Chrome extension, TVs, routers and consoles. Phones and computers, no API. |
| Best for | a free VPN with ads | a free VPN with no data cap |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Betternet and X-VPN. How we grade
Price against what you get
Betternet starts at $8 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. X-VPN starts at $6 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0.
X-VPN scores higher and starts $2 a month lower. Of the other VPNs on the chart, 9 score higher than Betternet for less, and 1 scores higher than X-VPN for less.
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
Where they differ
- Betternet also covers malware protection.
- X-VPN also covers ad and tracker blocking.
At a glance
| Betternet | X-VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $95.99 per year, or $11.99 per month | $71.99 per year at renewal, after a first 24 months for $69.99 |
| Free plan | Free VPN with unlimited data and no registration, supported by ads. The vendor's App Store reply says the free version connects to a US server. | Basic is free with no sign-up, unlimited data and speed, and a choice of 26 regions. |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial of Premium on the monthly and annual plans, per the App Store listing. | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Betternet LLC | LightningLink Networks Pte. Ltd. |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | xvpn.io |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Betternet
- The free version shows ads and, per the vendor's App Store reply, connects to a US server only; Premium removes the ads.
- The vendor's site did not show a pricing page when read; the prices come from the App Store listing and a promotion notice on the home page.
- The home page still displays a $71.99 first-year promotion whose stated end date, March 24, 2026, has passed; it renews at $95.99 a year.
- Trials convert to paid plans unless cancelled at least 24 hours before they end.
X-VPN
- Free users choose from 26 regions; the global network, kill switch and split tunneling need Premium.
- Premium's advertised prices are first-term prices: the 12-month and 24-month plans renew at $71.99 every 12 months.
- Payments made with cryptocurrency, gift cards or phone credit are non-refundable, and app-store purchases follow the store's refund rules.
- One subscription covers up to 5 devices at the same time.
Key features
Betternet
- Free VPN without registration
- The free version needs no account or email and has unlimited data, in exchange for showing ads.
- Kill switch and leak protection
- The features page lists a kill switch, always-on auto-connect and IP and DNS leak protection.
- Anti-phishing alerts
- Warns you before you visit a site that may carry malware or phishing.
- Connection modes
- Lets you optimize the connection for gaming, browsing or streaming, and includes Tor over VPN.
- Server network
- The features page cites 1,000+ servers with up to 1 Gbps, while the App Store listing says 1800+ servers and 125+ virtual locations.
X-VPN
- Free VPN without limits on data
- Basic needs no email or payment details and has no data cap; free users pick from 26 regions, including the UK, Canada, Australia and 13 US cities.
- Large server network
- The site claims over 10,000 servers in 80+ countries, with the 24/7 live support the vendor advertises.
- Protocols
- A self-developed protocol, plus OpenVPN and WireGuard, with AES-256 encryption and post-quantum cryptography per the home page.
- Premium extras
- Kill switch, split tunneling, static IP, an ad blocker, a tracker blocker, search protection, a PC cleaner and dark web monitoring, per the pricing page.
- Many device types
- Apps for desktop, phones, TVs, routers, game consoles and a Chrome extension, with up to 5 devices connected at once.
Plans
Betternet
Free$0
Ad-supported VPN with unlimited data and no sign-up.
Premium, monthly$11.99
per month
Ad-free VPN on up to 10 devices at once. Price from the US App Store listing, where it is labeled Monthly VPN Subscription.
Premium, annual$95.99
per year, renewing every year
The same Premium plan billed yearly. The vendor's site gives $95.99 a year as the annual renewal price; its own annual promotion had an end date of March 24, 2026.
X-VPN
Basic$0
Free VPN with unlimited data and speed, AES-256 encryption, a kill switch and RAM-only servers per the home page; the pricing comparison limits it to free locations.
Premium, 1 month$11.99
per month
Unlimited VPN, global servers, advanced functions, ad and tracker blocker, search protection and PC Cleaner. Renews monthly.
Premium, 12 months$71.99
per year at renewal, after a first term of 12 months
The first 12 months cost $47.99, then it auto-renews at $71.99 every 12 months.
Premium, 24 months$71.99
per year at renewal, after a first term of 24 months
The first 24 months cost $69.99 (advertised as $2.99 a month and 76% off), then it auto-renews at $71.99 every 12 months.
Ways to pay less
Betternet
No public discounts listed.
X-VPN
- Other savings
First-term pricing on 12 and 24 months
The first 12 months are $47.99, or the first 24 months are $69.99; both then renew at $71.99 every 12 months. The page shows 76% off the monthly price.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Betternet or X-VPN?
As of Nov 12, 2026, X-VPN is cheaper to start with: $6 a month when paid by the year, against $8 a month when paid by the year for Betternet. Betternet starts at $95.99 per year, or $11.99 per month, and X-VPN starts at $71.99 per year at renewal, after a first 24 months for $69.99.
Which has a free plan, Betternet or X-VPN?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Betternet and X-VPN have a free plan.
Which platforms do Betternet and X-VPN run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only X-VPN lists a Linux app. Both list macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps and a browser extension. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.