Betternet
Free VPN with no sign-up, plus a Premium plan with more locations and no ads.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension
Is Betternet free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
Switch from Betternet to
All 7
NordVPNPaid
Proton VPNStarting price: VPN Plus: $3.49/month on 2-year plan ($83.76 upfront)
WindscribeStarting price: $9 per month (Pro, monthly)
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 7
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Betternet
Betternet is a long-running free VPN aimed at people who want one-tap privacy without creating an account. The free version is ad-supported and offers a handful of virtual locations, while Premium removes ads and opens up more than 115 locations, more simultaneous devices and streaming and gaming modes. Both tiers get a kill switch, always-on connection, IP and DNS leak protection, anti-phishing warnings and Tor over VPN. It mainly uses Hydra, a proprietary protocol, with WireGuard and IPSec as options, and the company says it keeps no browsing logs tied to users. Apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome and Firefox. Premium is sold by subscription with introductory discounts and a free trial. Betternet suits casual users who want a free VPN for public Wi-Fi. Heavy users may find the free tier's ads and few locations limiting, and the low promotional prices renew at a much higher rate.
Best for: Casual users who want a free, no-sign-up VPN for public Wi-Fi.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free tier with no registration needed
- Kill switch and leak protection on the free plan
- Apps for desktop, mobile and browsers
Why people leave
- Free tier shows ads and has only 5 locations
- Proprietary Hydra protocol is not open source
- Introductory prices renew much higher
Betternet vs NordVPN, Proton VPN and Windscribe
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Betternet | NordVPN | Proton VPN | Windscribe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | — | — | VPN Plus: $3.49/month on 2-year plan ($83.76 upfront) | $9 per month (Pro, monthly) |
| Free plan | Yes | No | Yes, $0 | Yes |
| Open source | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
Top Betternet alternatives
See all 7- 1NordVPN70.3
Paid VPN with a much larger network for streaming and travel.
- 2Proton VPN68.8
Free tier with no data cap and no ads, from a privacy-focused Swiss company with audited no-logs claims.
- 3Windscribe64.8
Generous free plan with several server locations and a built-in ad and tracker blocker.
- 4
Hotspot Shield61.8From the same parent company, with a faster paid tier and more locations if Betternet's free plan feels slow.
- 5
TunnelBear59.4Simple, friendly free VPN with a small monthly data allowance and independent security audits.
Why people left Betternet
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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Betternet: common questions
What is Betternet?
Betternet: Free VPN with no sign-up, plus a Premium plan with more locations and no ads. Best for casual users who want a free, no-sign-up VPN for public Wi-Fi. Available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Browser extension.
Is Betternet free?
Betternet has a free plan and paid plans.
Is Betternet open source?
No, Betternet is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Proton VPN and Windscribe.
What platforms does Betternet run on?
Betternet is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Browser extension.
What are the best alternatives to Betternet?
The highest-ranked Betternet alternatives right now are NordVPN, Proton VPN and Windscribe. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Betternet vs NordVPN: what's the difference?
Betternet is free with paid plans; NordVPN is a paid product. Only NordVPN runs on Linux.