Free X-VPN alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

4 of the 6 X-VPN alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). Proton VPN, Windscribe and TunnelBear rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Verified price	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Proton VPN	Free plan + paid	VPN Plus: $3.49/month on 2-year plan ($83.76 upfront)	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +3	7 of 7	68.8
2	Windscribe	Free plan + paid	$9 per month (Pro, monthly)	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +3	7 of 7	64.8
3	TunnelBear	Free plan + paid	From $3.33 a month (Unlimited plan)	No	Windows, macOS, iOS +2	5 of 5	61.8
4	Betternet	Free plan + paid	—	No	Windows, macOS, iOS +2	5 of 5	55.9

1. Proton VPNTop pick
Best for: Privacy-focused users, and anyone who needs a free VPN they can trust
Free plan + paidOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
68.8
score / 100
Why switch from X-VPN
Free tier with no data cap and audited no-logs policy from a privacy-focused company.
Pros
Free plan with no data cap and no ads
Open-source, audited apps on every platform
Secure Core multi-hop routing on paid plans
Cons
Free plan allows only one device and fewer locations
Full price is high without a long commitment
Some streaming and P2P features are paid only
Visit Proton VPN Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Proton VPN a good X-VPN alternative?
Verified facts
7 of 7 verified
Free plan
Yes, $0
Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free plan limits
1 device, no data cap, no ads
Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
Devices on VPN Plus
10
Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
Money-back guarantee
30 days
Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
Open source
Yes, apps open source and audited
Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
VPN Plus: $3.49/month on 2-year plan ($83.76 upfront)
Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
Proton Unlimited plan
$7.99/month on 2-year plan ($191.76 upfront)
Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Windscribe
Best for: Budget users who want a decent free plan or to pay only for the locations they use
Free plan + paidOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
64.8
score / 100
Why switch from X-VPN
Generous free plan with more locations and a strong privacy track record.
Pros
Free plan with a monthly data allowance
Build-a-plan pricing per location
Customisable ad and tracker blocking
Cons
Free plan has limited data and locations
Smaller network than the biggest providers
Interface style can feel cluttered
Visit Windscribe Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Windscribe a good X-VPN alternative?
Verified facts
7 of 7 verified
Pro monthly price
$9/month
Checked Nov 8, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Pro yearly price
$69/year
Checked Nov 8, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Build A Plan
$1 per location/month, $3 minimum
Checked Nov 8, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Server countries
69+
Checked Nov 8, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Desktop app licence
GPL-2.0
Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$9 per month (Pro, monthly)
Checked Nov 8, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Pro yearly plan
$69 per year ($5.75 a month)
Checked Nov 8, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
3. TunnelBear
Best for: Beginners and occasional users who want a simple, friendly VPN
Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension
61.8
score / 100
Why switch from X-VPN
Simple, friendly VPN with a small free tier and audited apps.
Pros
Very easy to use
Free plan to try it
Long record of published security audits
Cons
Free plan's data allowance is small
No official Linux app
Smaller network and weak streaming support
Visit TunnelBear Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is TunnelBear a good X-VPN alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Free plan
Yes, 2GB of secure browsing
Checked Nov 8, 2026tunnelbear.com(opens source in a new tab)
Unlimited plan
Unlimited data and devices
Checked Nov 8, 2026tunnelbear.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, browser
Checked Nov 8, 2026tunnelbear.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
From $3.33 a month (Unlimited plan)
Checked Nov 8, 2026tunnelbear.com(opens source in a new tab)
Teams plan
$5.75 per user/month
Checked Nov 8, 2026tunnelbear.com(opens source in a new tab)
4. Betternet
Best for: Casual users who want a free, no-sign-up VPN for public Wi-Fi
Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension
55.9
score / 100
Why switch from X-VPN
Another no-registration free VPN with a premium upgrade.
Pros
Free tier with no registration needed
Kill switch and leak protection on the free plan
Apps for desktop, mobile and browsers
Cons
Free tier shows ads and has only 5 locations
Proprietary Hydra protocol is not open source
Introductory prices renew much higher
Visit Betternet Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.357
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Betternet a good X-VPN alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Registration
Not required
Checked Nov 8, 2026betternet.co(opens source in a new tab)
Locations
5 free, 115+ Premium
Checked Nov 8, 2026betternet.co(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox
Checked Nov 8, 2026betternet.co(opens source in a new tab)
Protocols
Hydra, IPSec, WireGuard
Checked Nov 8, 2026betternet.co(opens source in a new tab)
Kill switch
Yes
Checked Nov 8, 2026betternet.co(opens source in a new tab)

Quick comparison

1. Proton VPNTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Windscribe

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. TunnelBear

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

4. Betternet

Pros

Cons

Verified facts