- 12% of UK VPN users still rely on free VPN services, says NordVPN report
- Instead, overall VPN awareness increased sharply to 80%.
- NordVPN warns of serious potential privacy risks
Millions of Brits are still shockingly choosing free VPNs over a paid service, according to a recent survey by NordVPN.
The survey, carried out in August, found that a worrying 12% of UK VPN users rely on free services, likely underestimating the associated risks, including data collection or poor encryption integration. This follows TechRadar’s May survey, which found that nearly one in four readers continue to rely on free VPNs.
NordVPN’s data indicates that although awareness among UK users is increasing – even surpassing levels in the US, Canada and Australia – a consistent share continues to opt for free VPNs, suggesting that basic knowledge alone is not enough to deter people from using them.
“People understand security intuitively. However, online threats often seem abstract until one becomes a victim,” said Marijus Briedis, CTO of NordVPN, the best VPN currently on the market according to TechRadar reviewers.
Briedis believes that choosing free VPNs could be a question of economics. “Inexperienced users look for quick solutions to immediate problems, like protecting their data or hiding their online activities. But when faced with only occasional needs, people turn to the path of least resistance, without necessarily making an informed compromise.”
A pact with the devil?
So, what exactly are the risks that VPN users may face when choosing a free VPN? In addition to typical flaws – such as limited performance and features – some free VPNs often record browsing history, sell bandwidth, or insert tracking codes, thereby turning users into products.
People often assume that free VPNs offer the same basic protection as premium services, with just a few ads, Briedis says. “The reality is that they often provide insufficient security while actively compromising privacy.”
State actors operate free VPNs from countries with questionable data collection practices, notes the CTO. Recent investigations have revealed that many freebies offered in official app stores have undisclosed links to Russia and China.
“We have also noticed instances of weak encryption protocols that leave users vulnerable on public Wi-Fi, defeating the main purpose of the VPN,” Briedis added.
Compounding the problem, app store reviews prioritize speed and ease of use over privacy practices, often misleading users into believing that free VPNs have proven reliable. “Privacy violations are often invisible to users because they don’t see their data collected or sold,” Briedis said.
Additionally, data can be shared by multiple third parties – not just the VPN itself – putting privacy and security at risk with a single click. “Data brokers aggregate information from multiple sources to create detailed profiles,” continues Briedis.
Your money or your data?
So, are all free VPNs out of the question? Of course not: the best free VPN services are safe and even recommended for certain use cases. Software may be free for ideological or community reasons, or as part of a larger business model. ProtonVPN, for example, is on this list. However, these measures are the exception and not the rule.
For users opting for free services, we recommend keeping in mind that running a large-scale consumer VPN service requires significant investments in infrastructure, bandwidth costs, and ongoing security maintenance.
For this reason, if you see “free and unlimited” in app stores, economics dictate that revenue must come from somewhere, usually from data monetization, bandwidth resale, or aggressive upselling, Briedis notes.
He recommends users ask themselves the following questions before making a final decision: Who owns this service? How are servers paid? Are their claims of non-logging verified by independent organizations?
If these answers aren’t clear, you can bet your data will be the price you pay. And ironically, “free” might just turn out to be the most expensive purchase you ever thought you’d make.
