5 Best Free India VPNs for Speed and Security in 2024
- Best Free VPNs for India — Full Analysis (Updated in 2024)
- Quick Comparison Table: Free India VPN Features
- Our Methodology for Testing Free VPNs for India
- Expert Tip: Most Free VPNs for India Aren’t Safe
- Popular Free VPNs That Don’t Work in India
- Quick Guide: How to Set Up a Free VPN for India in 3 Easy Steps
- FAQs on Free VPNs for India
- Get the Best FREE VPN for India
Finding a reliable free VPN for India isn’t easy. Many free VPNs come with a host of limitations, like slow speeds, weak security, and small server networks. Some log your online activity or bombard you with invasive ads, compromising the very privacy you're seeking to protect. And with India's increasingly strict data retention laws driving many VPNs to exit the country, the pool of trustworthy options has only shrunk further.
My team and I tested 40+ services to find the best free VPNs for India. All these VPNs will keep you safe and won't collect or share your personal information. But all truly free VPNs have restrictions, like small server networks, lack of Indian IP addresses, and limited data. If you don’t want any restrictions, consider using a premium VPN.
My top recommended India VPN is ExpressVPN. It has strong security features and a strict no-logs policy to keep your online activity private. Plus, it has a reliable server network (including virtual Indian servers) that can safely access streaming sites like Hotstar and Netflix in HD. While it’s not 100% free, it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it without financial risk. Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.
Short on Time? Here Are the Best Free VPNs for India in 2024
- Editor's ChoiceExpressVPN
Fastest paid VPN with secure, virtual Indian IPs and a 30-day money-back guarantee.70% of our readers choose ExpressVPN - Proton VPN
Truly free VPN with unlimited data, but the free version lacks Indian IP servers. - hide.me
Customizable security to optimize your connection, but servers can get overcrowded. - Hotspot Shield
Hydra protocol for fast speeds over long distances, but the free version collects logs. - Speedify
Large server network for reliable connections, but you only get 2GB of monthly data.
Best Free VPNs for India — Full Analysis (Updated in 2024)
1. ExpressVPN — Fast Virtual Indian Servers for Lag-Free Streaming From Anywhere
Tested December 2024 Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
Best Feature | The fastest VPN we tested — perfect for HD streaming and safe torrenting and browsing |
Server Network | 3,000 servers in 105 countries, including virtual servers offering Indian IPs |
Works With | Hotstar, Voot, SonyLiv, Zee5, Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more |
Free Trial | 30-day money-back guarantee |
If you're looking for a VPN that won't slow you down, ExpressVPN is hard to beat. During our tests, it outperformed every other VPN (free and paid). On its India servers, we experienced a barely noticeable 4% drop in speed. This means you can stream your favorite shows in high definition without any annoying lag or buffering interruptions.
ExpressVPN can safely access the most popular streaming sites from anywhere in HD quality, something that most free VPNs struggle with. When we connected to its India (via UK) server, we had no trouble streaming Hotstar, SonyLiv, Zee5, Alt Balaji, and Netflix India. The connection remained stable as we streamed the IPL on JioCinema, with no sudden drops or slowdowns.
On the privacy front, ExpressVPN goes above and beyond. Instead of physical servers, it offers virtual Indian IP addresses hosted in secure offshore locations. This keeps your data safe and out of reach of India's invasive data retention laws. Plus, it has a strict no-logs policy that's undergone third-party audits multiple times by firms like Cure53 and KPMG, which is something that free VPNs can't afford.
The only downside is that ExpressVPN isn't free. However, you can get a few months free when you sign up for an annual plan. Plus, every subscription comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. This means you can try ExpressVPN risk-free and get a full refund if you're not satisfied. I tested this myself and had the money back in my account within 2 days of requesting a refund via 24/7 live chat.
- Fastest speeds and unlimited data
- 3,000 reliable servers in 105 countries
- Trustworthy 30-day money-back guarantee
- Not actually free
- Limited customization
2. Proton VPN — Unlimited Data for an Uninterrupted Online Experience in India
Best Feature | 100% free VPN with unlimited data, so you can stream as much as you like |
Server Network | Free servers in 6 locations that offer stable connections |
Works With | Netflix Originals, Peacock, Crackle, and Crunchyroll |
Free Trial | Forever-free plan |
Proton VPN’s free plan offers unlimited data and bandwidth, which is impressive for a free VPN. This means you can endlessly scroll through Instagram reels, binge-watch content, or download large files without worrying about hitting a cap. It's also handy if your ISP throttles your bandwidth for certain online activities. During our tests, we used Proton VPN to safely stream YouTube videos for hours without interruptions.
The free version of Proton VPN offers servers in 6 locations: the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, and 2 in the US. However, you can't manually select a location; the app automatically connects you to the fastest available server based on your location. When we connected to its free US server, we could safely stream Disney+, Max, and Netflix US in HD.
Despite being free, Proton VPN doesn't compromise on security. It offers robust features like military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and IP/DNS leak protection. These work together to ensure your data remains private when you visit your favorite sites, such as news portals, dating apps, or social media services.
One limitation of Proton VPN's free plan is that it lacks Indian IP addresses. Plus, the free version doesn't support P2P traffic, so torrenting is off the table. The only way to eliminate these restrictions is by upgrading to one of Proton VPN's paid plans.
- Unlimited monthly data
- Reputable privacy practices and features
- Fast speeds near and far
- Only nearby server connection
- No P2P support
3. hide.me — Customizable Security to Optimize Your Connection in India
Best Feature | Strong security features with tons of customizations |
Server Network | Free servers in 8 countries for reliable connections |
Works With | Netflix, Crackle, Funimation, Crunchyroll, and more |
Free Trial | Forever-free plan |
With hide.me, you can adjust your VPN settings to have more control over your connection in India. For example, you can choose between 5 VPN protocols, including OpenVPN and WireGuard. You also have the option to switch between IPv4 and IPv6 connections. In our tests, IPv6 was around 5% faster and delivered a slightly lower ping.
You get strong security features to protect you from online tracking and surveillance in India. Like any good free VPN, hide.me offers military-grade encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch. I was impressed that it passed every leak test I ran using an online tool — not many free VPNs can do the same.
The free version offers servers in 8 locations spread across Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. Our tests showed that its US servers work well with Disney+, Funimation, and Crunchyroll. However, like other free VPNs, it doesn’t have any Indian servers.
One thing to keep in mind is that the free servers can get overcrowded, which can lead to some slowdowns. For example, when we connected to the free Netherlands server, our speed dropped by a whopping 58%. If your base internet speed is fast, though, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
- Tons of customizable security features
- Unlimited monthly data
- Free servers in 8 locations
- Capped speeds
- No server selection after 10GB of data
4. Hotspot Shield — Hydra Protocol for Speedy and Stable Connections
Best Feature | Hydra Protocol provides fast connections even over long distances |
Server Network | Free servers in 5 locations for smooth connections |
Works With | Netflix Originals, Crunchyroll, Crackle, and Funimation |
Free Trial | Forever-free plan |
Hotspot Shield is a solid free option if you want speedy connections. Its proprietary Hydra protocol is designed to deliver fast connections, even on its long-distance servers. During our tests, we connected to its free US server, which is located over 5,000 miles away from our speed-testing location. Despite the distance, we only experienced a 32% speed drop.
It offers strong security features to keep your data safe. Military-grade encryption and leak protection safeguard your information, while the Auto-protect feature automatically secures your connection on public WiFi networks. This means you can safely use social media platforms (like Facebook and Instagram) on unsecured networks, whether you’re in India or abroad.
The free plan offers access to 5 server locations, which are pretty reliable. Connecting to a server took no more than 3 seconds in our tests. Additionally, when we connected to a nearby Singapore server for gaming, we had a ping of 35ms. This allowed us to play games without any noticeable lag.
Just like Proton VPN and hide.me, Hotspot Shield now offers unlimited data, a significant upgrade from its previous 500MB daily limit. However, unlike some other “freemium” VPNs, Hotspot Shield’s free plan is ad-supported — so it collects some non-identifiable data.
- Speed-optimized Hydra protocol
- Unlimited monthly data
- Supports torrenting traffic
- Ad-supported
- Logs anonymized data
- Doesn't support streaming
5. Speedify — Free India VPN With a Large Server Network for Reliable Connections
Best Feature | Large server network to prevent speed loss from overcrowding |
Server Network | Servers in 35 countries to stream your licensed shows |
Works With | YouTube, Instagram, and Crunchyroll |
Free Trial | Forever-free plan |
Speedify has the largest server network of any free India VPN we tested. You get access to servers in 35 countries. With so many servers spread across the globe, you can always find a fast, nearby connection, no matter where you are. During our tests, we didn't run into overcrowded servers, even on the free plan.
When it came to speed, Speedify didn’t disappoint. Our speed only dropped by 17% while connected to nearby servers, which is better than we got with most other free VPNs. It lets you choose between three bonding modes: Speed, Redundant, and Enhanced Streaming. We found that Speedify’s Speed mode lived up to its name, giving us a boost in performance.
You only get 2GB of data with Speedify’s free plan. If you're planning on streaming a lot of HD content, you will burn through that pretty quickly. But the good news is that Speedify doesn't make you sign up to use the free version. So, you can install it on all your devices, and each one will get its own 2GB allowance.
Just like the other free VPNs on this list, Speedify doesn't offer servers with Indian IP addresses, but it’s still a great choice for online security.
- Bonding mode for fast speeds
- Free servers in 35 countries
- No signup required
- Temporarily logs some data
- Only 2GB of monthly data
- Doesn't support streaming
Quick Comparison Table: Free India VPN Features
The table below provides a side-by-side comparison of the key features offered by the best free India VPNs. I've included information about their free trials or money-back guarantees, so you can test them out without risk. Plus, you’ll find details on their speeds, monthly data allowances, and the number of simultaneous connections permitted.
I've also indicated which VPNs offer Indian IP addresses. Lastly, I've included information on whether registration is required to use each free VPN service.
Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.
Our Methodology for Testing Free VPNs for India
We didn’t cut any corners when testing free VPNs for India. We looked at subscription commitments, server availability, speeds, and data caps. We also made sure each VPN was reliable and safe to use for streaming, browsing, gaming, and more.
For further info on our testing criteria, visit our methodology page. Here, you’ll find all the details on our rigorous assessment methods. Feel free to use it as the basis for your own testing.
Expert Tip: Most Free VPNs for India Aren’t Safe
Free VPNs often come with severe limitations like slow speeds, weak security, and small server networks. However, the most concerning aspect of many free VPNs is the potential risks they pose to your privacy and safety. Rest assured, the free India VPNs recommended in this list have undergone rigorous testing to ensure safety and reliability.
Popular Free VPNs That Don’t Work in India
As stated above, the Indian government's recent introduction of strict data storage regulations has forced several popular VPN providers to discontinue their services in the country. These new rules require VPNs to store and share user data with authorities upon request, which goes against the core principles of privacy and anonymity that many VPNs strive to uphold.
The Indian government implemented these regulations in an effort to combat cybercrime and enhance national security. However, critics argue that the move could lead to increased surveillance and potential misuse of user data. VPN providers that fail to comply with these regulations may face legal consequences and could be banned from operating in India.
Here are some popular VPNs that decided to pull their operations from the country as a result of these developments:
- Avira Phantom VPN. This popular free VPN service shut down its servers in India, stating that complying with the data storage requirements would compromise its commitment to user privacy. To top it off, Avira also mentioned that users won't be able to connect to the VPN at all if they're physically in India.
- TunnelBear. This is another popular provider that shut down its servers in the country and stopped serving customers in India altogether.
Quick Guide: How to Set Up a Free VPN for India in 3 Easy Steps
- Download a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because it offers fast speeds, strong security, and virtual Indian servers for a safe and smooth online experience.
- Choose a server. Connect to a nearby server for optimal speeds.
- Start browsing. Your connection is now secure, and you can stream, browse, or torrent safely without any problems.
FAQs on Free VPNs for India
Get the Best FREE VPN for India
Free VPNs often don’t have servers with an Indian IP address, so they can’t securely access Indian content and sites. Plus, they can be dangerous and lack important security features, failing to keep you safe. You’re better off using a premium VPN with robust encryption, a no-logs policy, and reliable Indian virtual servers.
All the free VPNs in this list are safe to use. However, ExpressVPN is my favorite for India because it has virtual Indian servers and strong security to keep you safe online. While it’s not 100% free, it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. This means you can try ExpressVPN risk-free and get a full refund if you don’t like it.
Can’t find a suitable free VPN? Here are the best premium alternatives…
Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
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The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we've tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it's currently offering 82% off.
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