The Best Free German VPN in 2024
If you’re in Germany and want to protect your online activities, but at no cost, then you’ll need the best free German VPN. Keep reading for our top five VPNs that offer strong security features, good streaming and fast speeds.
Written by Arjun Ruparelia (Writer)
Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)
Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)
Last Updated: 2024-09-30T21:02:59+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: Top 5 Free VPNs for Argentina
- PrivadoVPN — Overall best free VPN for Germany
- hide.me — Access to almost all premium features
- Proton VPN — Unlimited free data and excellent security
- Windscribe — Fast free VPN
- TunnelBear — Free servers in over 40 countries, incuding Germany
Facts & Expert Analysis About Using a Free Argentina VPN Service
- A free VPN can help secure your connection and access geoblocked content.
- Most free VPNs are unreliable. Some free VPNs infect your computer with malware and collect your data.
- PrivadoVPN is the best free German VPN. However, you may choose a different VPN based on your needs and preferences such as hide.me, TunnelBear, Windscribe, or Proton VPN.
Germans enjoy a free internet — the Freedom on the Net 2021 report rates Germany’s internet as “free” — but you still have many reasons to use a VPN (virtual private network) as a German citizen or traveler. If you don’t have the budget for a premium VPN, we’ll help you find a reliable free German VPN in this guide.
We generally don’t recommend free VPNs because many are unreliable or insecure. We found a few exceptions, though, with trustworthy VPNs offering a free version, but they come with restrictions to encourage upgrading to the paid versions.
Using a VPN in Germany is smart for many reasons, and a monthly subscription shouldn’t prevent you from extra privacy and security online. Additionally, a VPN will help you gain access to streaming services outside of Germany, like Peacock, or accessing other Netflix libraries, including Netflix U.S.
Below, we discuss five free VPN services and explain why they’re among the best ones out there. If you want a quick answer, PrivadoVPN is our top recommendation, as it offers unlimited data on the free plan, but you’re limited to three server locations. Keep reading for more details.
Achieve Online Privacy and Security Even as a VPN Novice
- Comprehend the essential role a VPN plays in safeguarding your digital life
- Gain a deep understanding of how VPNs function under the hood
- Develop the ability to distinguish fact from fiction in VPN promotions
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03/21/2023 Facts checked
TunnelBear changed its free data amount to 2GB per month, up from 500MB per month.
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08/08/2023 Facts checked
Removed reference to TunnelBear’s discontinued Twitter/X promotion.
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08/25/2024 Facts checked
We rearranged the articles and highlighted PrivadoVPN as the best free option.
Top Free VPNs for Germany
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- : PayPal, Credit card, bitcoin
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- : PayPal, Credit card, Bitcoin, cash
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- : PayPal, Credit card
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Average speedDownload Speed89 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency2 ms - 5
- : Credit card
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What Makes the Best Free German VPN?
Free VPNs generally come with many restrictions. They’re usually meant to be a preview to a VPN provider’s paid service, so most providers restrict free users to limited features. Some VPNs limit data, while others limit server locations.
We’ve found a few free VPNs that offer the best features on the free plan and provide the security and privacy you’d expect from a decent VPN service. Below are the best German VPN services with a free plan:
We test all the VPNs we recommend. Here are the things we look for in a VPN, and you should too.
Security & Privacy
Security and privacy are fundamental VPN features, especially for a free VPN because many free VPNs fail to encrypt your connection. VPNs encrypt a user’s connection so nobody can read your data, even if they manage to intercept your internet traffic.
Connections encrypted using security protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard and ciphers like AES-256 shield your activities from your ISP (which sees everything you do unless you use a VPN with encryption), invasive government policies and hackers, especially when you’re using public WiFi.
Privacy is just as important. Most free VPNs you find with a Google search claim to have a no-logging policy and promise they’ll protect your identity online. That’s rarely true — reading their privacy policy, in most cases, will tell you just how unsafe those VPNs can be. The free VPNs in this guide ensure your data remains private.
Connection Speed
VPNs tend to slow your connection speed since your data will need to travel through an intermediary VPN server. Speeds are the most common problem with free VPNs. The reason is that free users generally have access to limited services, which translates to high server load and slow speeds.
However, the best VPNs ensure this reduction in speed is insignificant — see our guide on the fastest VPNs. The best free VPNs still offer excellent connection speeds so you can surf the web and stream content without any buffering issues.
Streaming Capabilities
Speaking of streaming, not all VPNs can help you access geo-restricted content, especially free VPNs. Premium VPNs have streaming-specific servers that are more effective in bypassing geoblocks on streaming sites.
VPN servers can potentially fail to bypass geoblocks on a streaming platform, especially Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, which strive to detect VPN usage. However, many of the free VPN services on our list allow you to access even geoblocked content on all major streaming platforms — see our list of the best VPNs for streaming for more.
Free German Servers
In most cases, you’ll do fine without a Germany VPN server. However, you might need German servers when trying to access local geoblocked content securely, such as online banking. Fortunately, we found multiple VPNs that offer a free German server; four of the five services we recommend below offer a German server on the free plan.
Free VPNs vs Paid VPNs vs Proxies
When you look for ways to access geoblocked content and mask your real IP address, you’ll come across two primary methods — VPNs and proxies. Proxies allow you to access geoblocked content, but they don’t offer any security. Your connection remains unencrypted, which can be especially dangerous if you download torrent files.
VPNs are better if you want to mask your real IP address and access content that’s restricted to your area — while adding extra security and privacy measures.
Both free and paid VPN options are available, but you need to be careful with free VPNs. As our worst VPNs list explains, some free VPNs might steal your data and sell it to make money, and some even infect your computer with malware.
Many premium VPN services offer a free plan — though the freemium plans often come with limited functionality to entice you to upgrade. However, security is not something they skimp on, and the free VPN services on this list are proven trustworthy.
5 Best Free German VPN Choices
Here are five of the best free VPN services for Germany, starting with our top pick, PrivadoVPN.
1. PrivadoVPN
More details about PrivadoVPN:
- Pricing: Free, $1.99 per month (two-year plan + three months)
- Provider website: privadovpn.com
Pros:
- Free servers in 10 countries
- Excellent unblocking ability
- Free German server
Cons:
- Only 10GB of data each month
PrivadoVPN is the best option if you want a free VPN to use in Germany. First, it has servers in 10 countries, including popular destinations like the U.K., the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands. This means you can switch your virtual location to access Netflix U.K. or Netflix U.S.
PrivadoVPN also does a great job at protecting your online traffic thanks to security features like a kill switch and secure protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2, or WireGuard). It’s based in Switzerland, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction and also abides by a strict no-logs policy.
Great at Unblocking Streaming Websites
PrivadoVPN is an excellent free VPN for cord-cutters. It gets into all popular streaming websites, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. In addition, PrivadoVPN offers reasonably fast speeds for a free VPN, enabling users to stream without buffering.
PrivadoVPN’s monthly plan costs $10.99 per month while the yearly plan costs $2.99 per month (15-months plan) per month. The best value plan is the two-year plan which costs $2.99 per month. PrivadoVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- 10GB
- 1
- *Billed $44.85 for the first 15 months, then $59.88 every 12 months. *Billed $53.73 for the first 27 months, then $95.76 every 24 months.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
2. hide.me
More details about hide.me:
- Pricing: Free, $3.75 per month (one-year plan)
- Provider website: hide.me
Pros:
- Most paid features on free plan
- Unlimited data
- Free server in Germany
Cons:
- Doesn’t unblock Netflix
hide.me is another useful free VPN that works well if you want to access the internet in Germany. It offers free access to servers in eight countries: Germany, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. This means hide.me can help you acquire a German IP address.
hide.me could be a good choice for streaming because of its unlimited data offer. However, there’s a caveat. You can select a server in any country, but once you’ve used up 10GB of free data, hide.me will pick one of the free servers at random. Essentially, you lose the option to select a specific server.
Fallback Protocol
hide.me offers several features you generally won’t find on other VPNs. The fallback protocol feature is a great example. The option lets you pick an alternative protocol that springs into action should your primary protocol fail for some reason, ensuring that your connection is always secure.
If you want to be able to pick a server even after you’ve used 10GB data, you’ll need to opt for a paid plan. The monthly plan costs $9.95 per month, while the six-month plan costs per month. The best value plan costs $3.75 for the annual plan.
If you’re not completely satisfied, you can claim a full refund using hide.me’s 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our full hide.me review for more details.
- 5 servers
- 10GB
- 1
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
3. Proton VPN
More details about Proton VPN:
- Pricing: Free, $4.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Provider website: protonvpn.com
Pros:
- Unlimited free data
- Excellent user interface
- Secure
Cons:
- No German servers on the free plan
Proton VPN is another free VPN worth considering because it can help you browse safely in Germany. It offers must-have security features like a kill switch and robust protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth and WireGuard). The Stealth protocol obfuscates your traffic enabling you to browse in places like China.
If you’re new to VPNs you’ll find Proton VPN a breeze to use. Its apps are sleek and easy to navigate, allowing you to find all the settings you need. Proton VPN has servers in five countries: the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland and the U.S. Since it has no German server, you can’t get a German IP address.
Unlimited Data
Proton VPN offers unlimited data which is ideal for streaming without interruption. However, Proton VPN doesn’t allow you to select your preferred servers. This means that you have to click to connect several times before connecting to the server you need.
If you’re considering upgrading, Proton VPN’s paid plans are expensive. The monthly plan costs $9.99 per month, while the annual plan costs $4.99 per month. Even with the best value plan, you’ll pay $4.49 per month on the two-year plan — more than many premium VPN services that offer better performance.
If you’re looking for a VPN and don’t need many servers, the free version should be sufficient. Otherwise, the paid version unlocks all its servers. If you don’t like the service, you can always use the 30-day money-back guarantee to claim a full refund. Learn more about this free VPN service in our Proton VPN review.
- 5GB
- 200GB
- 500GB
More plans
- 3TB
- 15GB
- 500GB
4. Windscribe
More details about Windscribe:
- Pricing: Free, $5.75 per month (one-year plan)
- Provider website: windscribe.com
Pros:
- Free German server
- Excellent security
- Unblocks major streaming apps
Cons:
- 3-day money-back guarantee
Windscribe is one of the best free VPNs you’ll find because it offers a great combination of speed, security, free data allowance and feature set. With Windscribe, you get up to 15GB of free data each month (provided you tweet about Windscribe).
Additionally, Windscribe beats many premium VPNs with its fast connection speeds. You’re unlikely to experience buffering even when streaming content in 4K as long as you’re connected to a nearby server.
Great Free Plan
Windscribe offers a generous free plan. In addition to the 15GB free data per month, you get access to free servers in 11 countries and R.O.B.E.R.T. — Windscribe’s powerful ad blocker. The 11 countries include Germany, which means you can use Windscribe to get a German IP address or watch German TV online.
Windscribe also offers a flexible pricing plan if you decide to upgrade. The build-a-plan option enables subscribers to purchase server locations individually for $1 each, with a minimum checkout value of $3 per month.
Windscribe has several full-access plans as well. The monthly plan costs $9 per month, while the best value plan costs $5.75 per month. You can also try Windscribe’s full plan using its three-day money-back guarantee. Read more about Windscribe in our Windscribe review.
- Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
- 15GB
- Unlimited
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
5. TunnelBear
More details about TunnelBear:
- Pricing: Free, $3.33 per month (three-year plan)
- Provider website: tunnelbear.com
Pros:
- Servers in Germany
- Obfuscation tool
- Beginner-friendly interface
Cons:
- Poor streaming performance
- Only 2GB free
TunnelBear is a beginner-friendly VPN that comes the closest to being a truly free VPN, in that it doesn’t restrict your features or server locations. However, it does limit your data. You only get 2GB of data per month as a free user — which will quickly run out if you use it to stream video.
The VPN encrypts your connection using OpenVPN and has a strict no-logging policy. The VPN app also has a kill switch (called VigilantBear) and split tunneling (called SplitBear), although only the Android and iOS mobile apps have split tunneling. Read more about this free service in our TunnelBear review.
Access to Over 40 Servers
TunnelBear offers free servers in over 40 countries, including Germany. This means you can use TunnelBear to acquire a German IP address. No other VPN on the list offers servers in 40-plus countries.
If you decide you need more data, the monthly plan costs $9.99 per month, while the annual plan costs half that, at $4.99 a month. The best value plan is the three-year plan, which costs $3.33 per month. This is a reasonable price, but you can get services like Surfshark for less.
- 2GB
- 2GB
- Unlimited
- Unlimited GB, unlimited devices, priority customer service
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Unlimited GB, centralized billing, account manager, price per user per month (minimum 2 users)
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
How to Get a Free German IP Address
You can get a free German IP address using one of the free services (except Proton VPN) in this guide. Download one of the free VPNs, then connect to a server located in Germany and that should help you get a German IP address.
Why Do I Need a German VPN?
You need a German VPN to stay safe online and access geoblocked content. The German internet is free of censorship, but it’s a member of the Fourteen Eyes alliance — a group of countries that share data on a massive scale to combat terrorism and online crime.
It’s always a good idea to protect your online activities by using a VPN. In addition to protecting your data from the government, VPNs guard against hackers by encrypting your connection. VPNs are also helpful when you want to access geoblocked content. For example, you can watch Netflix U.S. using a VPN or stream content on BBC iPlayer.
What Are the Risks of Using a Free VPN for Germany?
Using a free VPN not included in this list isn’t a great idea because most free VPNs don’t provide adequate security or privacy. This defeats the purpose of using a VPN entirely. Your data and online identity are at risk if they’re not encrypted with the best VPN protocol.
Moreover, some free VPNs also directly harm you. Some steal data and others infect your computer with malware and ransomware, so it’s always a great idea to use an antivirus on your computer. A few exceptions exist, like the ones we discuss in this list. You can pick one of these services to protect yourself when surfing the German web.
Final Thoughts
It’s difficult to find a trustworthy free virtual private network that also offers decent performance and adequate security. We ran some tests and found five of the best free VPNs for Germany.
Our research tells us that PrivadoVPN is the best free VPN for Germany. However, you may choose another service based on your needs and preferences.
Have you used a free VPN for Germany before? Which service did you use and how was your experience? Were you able to access geoblocked content with it? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.
FAQ
PrivadoVPN, hide.me, Proton VPN, Windscribe and TunnelBear and have a German server for free. You can use one of these VPNs to acquire a German IP address.
To get a VPN for Germany, find a VPN service that offers the features you want. Sign up for the service, download the VPN’s app and connect to the server of your choice, and you’ll be set. If you want to get a German IP address, you’ll need a VPN with servers in Germany.
Yes, using VPNs in Germany is completely legal. You won’t be violating any German laws just by using a VPN service.