These are the best VPN free trials I’ve found, from reliable providers:
Private Internet Access: 7‑day trial + 30‑day refund
- Private Internet Access offers a 7‑day free mobile trial (iOS/Android) plus a 30‑day money‑back guarantee on all plans, effectively giving you up to 37 days of full access.
- You must add a payment method, then cancel in the app store (for the 7‑day trial) or via PIA’s website + support (for the 30‑day refund).
- It has a strict no‑logs policy, open‑source apps, and has shown in court it doesn’t keep identifiable logs.
- This is ideal if you want to stress‑test torrenting, streaming, and multiple devices without committing long term.
- You must cancel in time or you’re charged and stuck until the end of the billing period. Link: PIA refund terms.
- Link: PIA VPN free trial page
When the 7‑day trial makes sense
Use the 7‑day mobile trial if:
- You do not to be charged at all (even temporarily) and are happy signing up via iOS/Android.
- You only need a VPN briefly (travel, short trip, one‑off torrenting) and will be done in under a week.
- You want to stack it with the 30‑day money‑back guarantee for maximum free testing time.
- Note: it’s mobile‑only at signup and usually tied to the yearly plan, so it’s less flexible.
Why the 30‑day refund is usually better
The 30‑day money‑back guarantee:
- Works on all plans (including monthly) when you buy on PIA’s website.
- Gives you a full month to test on unlimited devices, including routers, desktops, and mobile.
- Has a “no‑questions‑asked” style policy if you request within 30 days (though you must contact support).
How To Cancel
How To Cancel the 7‑day trial (iOS)
- Open the App Store on your iPhone/iPad. Apple listing
- Tap your profile picture (top right).
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Find VPN by Private Internet Access.
- Tap Cancel subscription and confirm.
- Keep a screenshot or email confirmation in case of billing issues.
How To Cancel the 7‑day trial (Android)
- Open Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions.
- Select Private Internet Access.
- Tap Cancel subscription, follow prompts, and confirm.
- Watch for a cancellation email from Google.
How To Turn off auto‑renewal for website subscriptions
- Go to the PIA website and log in to your Client Control Panel. PIA support article
- Open your Subscription Overview or Next billing section.
- Click Turn off auto‑renewal next to your subscription.
- Confirm cancellation when prompted; you should see an option to Turn on auto‑renewal again, which confirms it’s off.
Request a refund within 30 days (website purchase)
- After turning off auto‑renewal, contact PIA support via chat or email within 30 days of purchase.
- Clearly state you’re a new user requesting a refund under the 30‑day money‑back guarantee.
- Keep their confirmation email for your records.
ProtonVPN: A Permently Free Tier
Proton VPN’s free plan is not a time‑limited trial; it is a permanently free tier with no data or time limits.
- It offers a strict no‑logs policy, no ads, and strong security, making it one of the only “free VPNs” that’s actually privacy‑respecting.
- Trade‑offs: fewer locations and one connection, so it’s great for privacy and censorship‑bypass, less ideal for heavy streaming.
- Link: Proton VPN free plan
NordVPN: 30‑day money‑back “trial”
NordVPN doesn’t offer a traditional free trial for most users, but it does have a 30‑day money‑back guarantee that works as a full‑feature trial if you’re willing to pay upfront and request a refund. Link: NordVPN refund policy
NordVPN offers:
- A short free trial on Android/iOS via app stores.
- A 30‑day money‑back guarantee on paid plans from its website.
Notes:
- Each is canceled differently, so you need to follow the right path for where you signed up (Google Play, Apple, or Nord’s own site).
- You get the complete feature set during that period (full server list, specialty servers, etc.).
How to Cancel
1. Cancel a NordVPN trial via Google Play (Android)
This covers the short Android free trial and Play Store subscriptions.
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap your profile icon (top‑right).
- Tap Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions.
- Find NordVPN in the list.
- Tap Cancel subscription and confirm.
That stops future billing; if the trial already converted and you were charged, contact NordVPN support (chat or email) and ask for a refund under the 30‑day guarantee.
2. Cancel a NordVPN free trial or sub via Apple (iOS)
For trials or subs started in the Apple App Store.
- On your iPhone/iPad, open Settings.
- Tap your Apple ID profile at the top.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Select NordVPN.
- Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm.
This stops future renewals, but refunds are handled by Apple, not NordVPN. To request a refund, go to Apple’s official “Report a Problem” site and submit a request explaining you’re canceling during the trial/within 30 days.
3. Cancel a NordVPN “free trial” via 30‑day money‑back (website purchase)
Step A – Turn off auto‑renewal
- Go to nordvpn.com and log into your Nord Account. NordVPN support
- Open the Billing tab.
- Find your active subscription and click Cancel next to Auto‑renewal.
- Confirm Cancel auto‑renewal. You should see that auto‑renew is now off. NordVPN blog
Step B – Request your refund (within 30 days)
- Within 30 days of purchase, go to the NordVPN Help Center and start a live chat, or email support@nordvpn.com.
- Say clearly: you want to cancel and get a refund under the 30‑day money‑back guarantee.
- Answer any basic questions (they may ask why you’re leaving).
- Wait for their confirmation email; refunds usually appear within several business days.
