Today, more than ever, people use a VPN when accessing the internet. The tool helps with numerous things. From increasing online security to helping you access geo-restricted content, VPN has become an essential tool. As with everything, many VPNs are available for streaming and other online activities. While checking them out, you will come across free and paid ones.
From the streaming viewpoint, VPNs help you access a wider range of content. So, choosing a free VPN might seem tempting. But do they have the same robust unblocking capabilities and advanced security? Should you use them for streaming? Let’s find out the answer below.
What Is a Free VPN?
Free VPN is a VPN service that does not have a subscription fee. So, anyone can download and use them. In other words, a free VPN promises to encrypt your data, help you unlock regional restrictions and keep you safe online without a penny. If this sounds too good to be true, it really is.
A VPN service depends on a huge server network. This network is frequently maintained for optimal operation. The money to do all this mainly comes from the fees that the users of the service give. Free VPNs do not charge any fee. So, how can they maintain their network? More importantly, how do they make money to keep running?
They do so by tracking your online activities and selling them to data brokerage companies. They also bombard you with ads. The VPN provider gets their share of revenue when you click on the ads.
Besides, most free VPN services are locked behind paywalls. They also give you access to fewer locations. Worse, free servers do not have rotating IP addresses. This means you cannot use these VPNs for streaming needs, and they won’t be able to unblock geo-restrictions.
Is There a Free VPN You Can Use?
The short and simple answer is no. Free VPNs cannot do what paid VPNs can. They are only designed to give you a basic level of protection. With them, it’s best to forget about streaming content from locations with tight censorship. They do not have the infrastructure to unblock strict region locks.
However, if you really cannot invest in a paid VPN, the best option in terms of free VPN is a Freemium VPN. Freemium stands for ‘free premium VPN.’ They offer both free and premium VPN services. If you want basic privacy while streaming without committing to a premium VPN, freemium might be suitable for you. They provide features such as encrypted data transfer, anonymous IP addresses, and a defense against online threats. However, they put a cap on how much data you can use. Their connection speeds are also slow. Moreover, they give you access to only a few servers.
Free vs. Paid VPN for Streaming: Comparison of Features
Security
Premium VPNs are known to provide stellar digital security. Privacy and security are of much importance to streamers. A secure, reliable VPN to use on a Fire Stick and other streaming devices has impenetrable encryption and a strict no-logging policy. Premium VPNs also undergo regular independent security audits to back up their no-logs claims. These VPNs use strong AES 256-bit encryption. They support WireGuard and OpenVPN, two most secure tunneling protocols.
Free VPNs, on the other hand, do not provide such robust security. They have only 128-bit encryption, far less than the paid versions. Some even function on P2P networks. This means that they route your online traffic to another user’s device. Likewise, someone else’s data is routed through yours, which can lead to data breaches. Free VPNs do not have good server infrastructure, which is why they are unable to offer the best security.
Geo-blocking
For every streaming enthusiast, choosing a VPN with good geo-blocking abilities is a must. Using a premium VPN is a safe and reliable way to unblock region-based restrictions. It helps you unlock exclusive content from the location of your choice. Free VPNs can unblock geo-restrictions. However, their abilities are very limited. They do not have as many servers as a paid VPN. So, you can only unblock content from specific countries.
Another problem with free VPNs is that they are less reliable when it comes to availability and connection stability. This can lead to various disturbances while streaming.Contrarily, paid VPNs can unblock worldwide libraries of Netflix and other streaming platforms. They unblock every service while not causing latency.
Some paid VPNs also offer additional features to enhance your streaming experience. These include blocking ads and malicious websites. Thus, not only can you have a delightful streaming experience but also a secure one.
Extent of Features
Comparing the features of free VPNs with their paid versions also reveals many differences. Free VPNs give you access to abysmally fewer servers. Usually, paid VPNs have over a thousand servers in more than 50 countries. This is in stark contrast to free VPNs that give access to just 2 or 3 server locations. The lesser number of servers adversely affects speed. Since there are only a few available, they become congested. So, you can expect issues like buffering to impact your streaming experience.
Free VPNs offer support for only one device. This means that you cannot use the VPN simultaneously on all your devices. Again, this is opposite of what paid VPN offers. They cover 5 or more devices simultaneously. Some can even cover an unlimited number of devices.
Finally, there are constant ads and notifications that ruin the streaming experience while using a free VPN. It is also difficult to get responsive customer support if something goes wrong. This is not the case with paid VPNs. They offer quick customer support so you can get back to using the VPN and enhance your streaming experience.
How to Choose a VPN for Streaming?
When choosing a VPN for streaming, it’s important to consider several factors. They include the following.
Capacity to Access Streaming Content
VPN for streaming should have the capability to access and provide you with the content you want. Ensure that the VPN is compatible with your streaming device. Ideally, it is best to look into VPN services that mention all the streaming services they can unblock. However, if a VPN does not mention that, then check whether it offers a free trial or money back guarantee. It will ensure you do not waste your money on something that does not yield the desired results.
Fast Speed
Speed is of utmost importance for streaming content. You do not want to watch blurry videos or endure buffering. So, choose one that gives quick access to the internet. As such, it will be good if you look into VPNs with servers designed for streaming. These ensure that there is minimal speed loss and smooth streaming, even in 4K. This is especially important if you are accessing region-locked content from a place farther away from your actual location. So, look for a VPN that does not slow down your connection.
Big Server Network
VPNs with servers in many countries allow you to access shows worldwide. They change your location to any country whose content you want to view. When you have a VPN with various server locations, nothing is blocked. Alternatively, if you want to access content from a particular region, choose a VPN with servers in that location. We recommend checking out the official website of your prospective VPN.
Unlimited Bandwidth
Several VPNs put a cap on your internet data. This means that your connection will get slower after crossing that limit. Videos will buffer, ruining your watch time. So, choose a VPN that provides unlimited bandwidth. It means that you can use as much data as you want without experiencing slow internet. This is great from the streaming viewpoint, as you can stream as many shows as you want for any length of time. Check whether the VPN mentions providing fast speeds forever. Choosing such a service will positively enhance your streaming experience.
Policies Conducive for Streaming
It might be hard to believe but some VPNs block certain content. Investing in such a tool is of no use at all. VPNs are designed to facilitate uninterrupted streaming from any part of the world. If you notice that your VPN doesn’t play certain content, it’s better to unsubscribe from the service. Always choose a tool that does not place any type of streaming restrictions.
A simple way to do this is to see if the VPN says that streaming is okay. VPNs with streaming-friendly policies will help you get the most out of your watch time.
Easy to Use App
Today, everyone owns more than a single device to stream content. So, you must choose a VPN with an app that can be easily set up and configured on the device of your choice. VPN with a dedicated app for every device is ideal. Through the app, you can connect quickly to the server and unblock shows. Most reputable, paid VPN services have an app for smartphones, laptops, tablets, and more. All you need to do is open the app, and with a few clicks, you can binge-watch the shows you like. The videos stream in the same way everywhere, regardless of the screen.
Summing up
With the emergence of streaming services, VPN has become an essential tool for every entertainment enthusiast. Their dual benefits of geo-blocking content and privacy protection have made them highly popular. It is easy to be tempted by free VPNs. However, doing so isn’t worth it if you truly value your privacy and want an exciting streaming experience. Use the tips in this article to choose a good VPN to help you effectively remove regional restrictions so you get the most out of your streaming.
