Here's something you might not know: a single free VPN called SuperVPN once leaked over 360 million user records in one breach. And this app had been downloaded more than 100 million times on Google Play and the App Store — there's a decent chance someone you know had it installed.
I'm Deer, a cybersecurity columnist who has six different privacy tools on my phone (yes, I'm the kind of person who won't touch public Wi-Fi without protection). Today, I want to have a serious conversation about this: Are free VPNs actually safe? And why do I keep saying "free is the most expensive"?
This isn't fear-mongering — I just think you should know what you're really getting into before you tap that "Free Download" button.
Why Are Free VPNs Free? The Business Model Behind "Zero Cost"
How much is your privacy worth? In the free VPN world, the answer is: a lot more than you think.
VPN servers cost money to maintain. Bandwidth costs money. Engineers cost money. If a free VPN isn't charging you, it has to make that money back somehow. Here are the three most common revenue models:
1. Ad Revenue — But It's Not Just Banner Ads
The most "harmless" approach is stuffing the app with ads. But what you might not realize is that many free VPNs track your browsing behavior to serve "personalized ads." So you think your VPN is protecting your privacy, but it actually knows more about your online habits than anyone else.
2. Data Sales — You Are the Product
This is the truth most people miss. Analytics Insight reported in 2025 that free VPNs collect millions of user records and sell your browsing history, device fingerprints, and location data to data brokers and advertisers.
One sentence sums it up: "If you're not the customer, you're the product."
3. Bandwidth Resale — Your Phone Becomes Someone Else's Server
It sounds like science fiction, but Hola VPN actually did this. They turned users' devices into exit nodes and sold user bandwidth through their subsidiary Luminati at up to $20 per GB. Hola accumulated a 9-million-IP botnet that was even used to launch DDoS attacks. Luminati was ultimately acquired for $125 million — money earned entirely by selling their users' network resources.
"Free is the most expensive" — this is exactly what it looks like.
7 Security Risks of Free VPNs (With Real Cases)
You might think, "I'm nobody special — who'd want to steal my data?" But the risks of free VPNs are systemic. It doesn't matter who you are — if you install one, you're exposed.
Risk 1: Massive Data Breaches
SuperVPN was exposed in 2023 for leaking 360 million user records, including emails, real IP addresses, geolocation, device information, and even visited website URLs. The most ironic part? SuperVPN claimed to have a "no-logs policy" — the leaked data proved that was a lie. And this was its third incident (2016 and 2020 also had breaches).
Risk 2: Malware Hidden Inside the App
Research by Australia's CSIRO analyzing 283 Android VPN apps found that 38% contained malware. Experts further predicted that by 2025, 39% of free Android VPNs could contain malicious code. You think you're downloading a protection tool — you're actually installing a trojan.
Risk 3: More Trackers Than You'd Think
Top10VPN's 2026 research found that out of 18 free Android VPNs, 17 contained at least one tracker, with some embedding over 12 trackers from the US, China, and Russia. Betternet took the crown as "tracker king" — CSIRO found it contained 14 tracking libraries.
Risk 4: Your Traffic Isn't Even Encrypted
The same CSIRO study showed that 84% of free VPNs leak user traffic, and an astonishing 18% don't encrypt at all. What does that mean? You think you're safely inside an encrypted tunnel — your data is actually out in the open.
Risk 5: Connections to China
Top10VPN research indicated that 60% of popular free VPNs have suspicious ties to China. For people trying to bypass the Great Firewall, this is a double risk: the very tool you're using to evade censorship might be sending your browsing activity straight to the people you least want seeing it. And it's not just China — Russia's internet censorship is also escalating rapidly. For a look at the global censorship landscape, see Russia's VPN Situation in 2026.
Risk 6: Credential Theft
Some free VPNs don't just monitor your browsing — they actively steal your login credentials. According to Proton VPN's analysis, this kind of credential harvesting is disturbingly common among free VPN apps.
Risk 7: Your Device Becomes an Attack Weapon
As with the Hola VPN case mentioned earlier, your phone or computer could be weaponized without your knowledge — used as a proxy for DDoS attacks or other malicious activity.
What Does the Research Say? Free VPN Security Studies at a Glance
This isn't scare tactics — all of the following data comes from credible research institutions:
- CSIRO (Australia): Analyzed 283 VPN apps — 38% contained malware, 84% leaked traffic, 18% had zero encryption
- Top10VPN: 88% of free Google Play VPNs leak user data; 60% of popular free VPNs have suspicious Chinese ties
- BetaNews 2025 survey: One in four free mobile VPN apps failed privacy checks
- Tom's Guide / VPNRanks projection: By 2025, 80% of free VPNs may embed tracking, 60% may sell data to third parties
- 2024 Q3 data: Global VPN users were 2.5x more likely to download malware than in Q2
After seeing these numbers, do you still think free VPNs are just "a bit ad-heavy"?
Free VPN vs. Paid VPN: Full Security Comparison
People often ask: what's the real difference between free and paid VPNs? Let me spell it out:
| Feature |
Free VPN |
Paid VPN |
| Encryption standard |
Often outdated; some have none |
Modern protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN) |
| Data leak rate |
88% leak data (Top10VPN) |
Independently audited no-log policies |
| Malware risk |
38% contain malware (CSIRO) |
Extremely low; regular security audits |
| Trackers |
80% embed tracking |
Typically tracker-free with audit reports |
| Speed |
Throttled, data-capped, few servers |
Maintains 80-95% of original speed |
| Security features |
Missing Kill Switch, DNS leak protection |
Kill Switch, DNS protection, multi-hop |
According to NordVPN's 2025 survey, 52% of users now choose paid VPNs (up from 43% the previous year), while free VPN usage dropped to 28%. More people are waking up to the fact that VPN privacy isn't something you should skimp on.
For a deeper comparison of paid VPN options, check out our China VPN Recommendations.
Want to Save Money AND Stay Safe? 3 Budget Alternatives
I get it — not everyone wants to spend money on a VPN every month. The good news is that "free" and "safe" don't have to be mutually exclusive. The key is whether the business model is transparent.
Option 1: Transparent Free Model — Watch Ads for Access
Sunset Browser's free tier is a great example. The model is straightforward: watch an ad, get 30 minutes of VPN access. No browsing history collected, no personal data sold, no background trackers installed.
The critical difference from traditional free VPNs: you know exactly what you're "paying" (30 seconds of attention), rather than being unknowingly sold as a product. Open the app, tap connect, and you're through the firewall. For a full walkthrough, see iPhone VPN Guide for China.
Option 2: Budget Paid VPN Plans
If your needs are consistent (like regularly needing to bypass the firewall for work), a paid VPN subscription costs less than your daily coffee. Annual plans typically work out to under $5/month, and you get enterprise-grade encryption, stable speeds, and genuine privacy protection.
Option 3: Roaming eSIM for Short Trips
If you're only going to China briefly and don't want to deal with VPN setup, a firewall-bypassing eSIM is an option. More expensive and limited to a single device, but the convenience factor is hard to beat.
How to Tell If a VPN Is Safe: A 5-Point Checklist
Before downloading any VPN, spend 3 minutes running through this checklist to dodge most of the landmines:
1. Company Jurisdiction
Where a VPN company is legally incorporated directly affects what laws govern your data. If it's registered in a Five Eyes country or a jurisdiction with weak data protection, your information could be legally accessed by governments.
2. Independently Audited Log Policy
Many free VPNs claim "zero logs," but SuperVPN showed us that talk is cheap. Truly trustworthy VPNs hire third-party security firms for independent audits and publish the results.
3. Open-Source Code
Open-source code means security researchers worldwide can inspect whether a VPN is doing anything shady. Closed-source doesn't automatically mean bad, but open-source is definitely a plus.
4. Reasonable Pricing Model
A VPN that's completely free, with unlimited data, and no speed caps? That's not generosity — it's a red flag. Legitimate free models either have clear limitations (like data caps) or transparent alternative revenue (like ad-supported access).
5. App Permissions
If a VPN app asks for access to your contacts, photo library, or text messages, you can pretty much delete it on the spot. VPNs don't need those permissions — if they're asking, they have other motives.
FAQ
Do free VPNs steal your data?
Based on multiple studies, the answer is "many do." Top10VPN found that 88% of free Google Play VPNs leak user data. CSIRO found 38% contain malware. Not every free VPN steals data, but the odds are too high to gamble on.
Do VPNs log your browsing history?
It depends on the provider. Many free VPNs claim "zero logs" but actually record and sell your browsing history. SuperVPN is the most notorious example. Only VPNs with independently audited reports can truly verify they don't track your activity.
Are free VPNs on the App Store safe?
The App Store's review process can catch obvious malware, but it can't guarantee a VPN isn't collecting your data in the background. BetaNews's 2025 survey found that one in four free mobile VPN apps failed privacy checks. Being on the App Store doesn't equal being safe.
Can you recommend a free VPN that's actually safe?
Truly safe "free VPNs" usually use a freemium model (like ProtonVPN's limited free tier) or a transparent ad model (like Sunset Browser's 30-minute ad-supported access). The key is confirming the business model doesn't rely on selling your data.
So how should I choose a VPN?
If you have regular firewall-bypassing needs, go straight for a paid VPN — check our China VPN Recommendations. If you just need it occasionally and want to test the waters, choosing a provider with a transparent business model is far safer than downloading some random free VPN.
The Bottom Line: Your Privacy Shouldn't Be Someone Else's Paycheck
Over 1.75 billion people worldwide use VPNs, and the VPN market is projected to hit $86 billion in 2026. That's an enormous market — and in this market, your personal data is hard currency.
"Free is the most expensive" — in the VPN world, this has never been just a saying. When you "save" a few dollars a month with a free VPN, you might be paying with your browsing history, login credentials, or even your real identity.
Next time you see an ad for "Free VPN — Unlimited Data," ask yourself this: What is it actually making money from? If the answer isn't clear, the answer is probably you.
If your VPN isn't connecting or is behaving strangely, that could also be a security red flag. Check out VPN Not Connecting? 5-Step Fix to help diagnose the issue.