The Best VPN UK – Top 5 VPN Services With Free Trials (No Credit Card Required)

Are you ready to get started with a VPN?

Do you want to watch Netflix shows from other countries, which aren’t available in the UK?

What about browse the internet with peace of mind? Or know that you are safe when using WIFI out in public?

The reason why you need a VPN is endless, and we’ve found multiple solutions for everyones price point.

Top 5 VPNs For UK Customers For All Use Cases

The digital age brings forth a myriad of advantages, but it also comes with potential threats to one’s privacy and security. In the UK, as with many parts of the world, internet users are increasingly turning to VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to shield their online activities and ensure they navigate the web securely. This review delves deep into the top three VPN services available in the UK – NordVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN.

We’ve also included details on some great value VPNs that support free trials and accept crypto currency payment methods.

NordVPN: Editor’s Choice – Best Overall 💥

Overall Score: 4.5/5

NordVPN has made its mark in the VPN market with a user experience that rivals most. Although it might slightly fall behind Express VPN in terms of user experience, NordVPN more than compensates with its vast server network. Boasting an extensive library of over 5,500 servers, it exceeds Express VPN in sheer numbers. While we found most server connections to be swift, a few were a tad slower than expected.

NordVPN further instills confidence with its DNS-leak detection, kill switches, and a no-log policy, ensuring users' online privacy. The VPN also supports up to six devices simultaneously, with the added advantage of a user-friendly split-tunnelling feature. Despite these benefits, our testing revealed occasional connection issues and a limitation on simultaneous connections.

Starting Prices: £72.63 for 2 years, £56.85 for 1 year, £10.89/monthly (all Standard Plan)

Pros: Very good user experience, fast download speeds, no-log policy.

Cons: Relatively low number of simultaneous connections, occasional connection issues during tests.

Exclusive deal: Commit to a 2-year plan and enjoy 3 extra months with an enticing 68% discount off the total price.

Try NordVPN now with a free trial now (or 63% off yearly) ✔️

Surfshark – Best Value VPN For Gaming & High-Speed Connectivity 🎮

Overall Score: 4.5/5

Surfshark, known for its comprehensive features and user-friendly interface, stands out as a top choice for households with multiple devices. Our testing revealed a mixed bag of results in terms of speed – from impressively high download rates to a few that were underwhelming. Moreover, the connection to servers averaged around 15 seconds, which was marginally slower than its counterparts.

However, Surfshark compensates with its unique offering of unlimited simultaneous device connections, making it a perfect choice for gadget-heavy households. Features such as quick connect options and an in-built ad blocker enhance user experience. Its 'multi-hop' feature, offering double VPN protection, further accentuates its appeal.

Price: £49.31 for 12 months, £10.68/month

Pros: Unlimited simultaneous connections, reasonably priced, no-log policy.

Cons: Longer connection time than some competitors, inconsistent download speeds.

Exclusive deal: Dive into an 82% discount and receive 2 additional months free on a 2-year plan.

Try Surfshark now with a free trial now (or 63% off yearly) ✔️

ProtonVPN – Best VPN For Security and Protection ⚡️

Overall Score: 4.5/5

ProtonVPN exudes a sense of sophistication with its visually appealing user interface and features tailored for streaming and gaming enthusiasts. In our tests, ProtonVPN exhibited impeccable prowess in accessing major streaming platforms from any server location. Its security credentials are impressive, offering AES-256 encryption and supporting up to ten devices simultaneously.

Although 24/7 customer support isn't available, ProtonVPN offers a competitive pricing model. Advanced users will appreciate the flexibility to select between protocols and use split tunnelling. Our tests affirmed its rapid connection and satisfactory download speeds.

Price: £8.86/month, £63.72/year

Pros: Affordable monthly fee, versatile quick-connect options, no-log policy.

Cons: Lack of 24/7 support, a smaller server network compared to others.

Exclusive deal: Opt for the 12-month plan and receive a bonus of 3 months free.

Try ProtonVPN for free, get protected right away! ✔️

ExtremeVPN – Best Free Trial VPN in the UK 🤑

ExtremeVPN is our top pick for best VPN with a free trial. The provider boasts a 7-day free trial for mobile users (people who purchase from Play Store and App Store). It offers a compelling array of free features that empower users to harness the internet without limitations. With this service, you gain the ability to access online content from around the world, bypassing geo-restrictions and censorship. Enjoy the freedom to stream, browse, and engage in online activities without barriers.

Moreover, ExtremeVPN provides unlimited bandwidth combined with ultra-fast speeds, ensuring seamless streaming, downloading, and browsing experiences. This means you can enjoy high-definition content, video conferencing, and large file downloads without compromising on performance.

Security is paramount, and ExtremeVPN enables users to secure up to 10 devices with a single account. This feature ensures that your entire digital ecosystem - from smartphones and laptops to smart TVs and tablets - is shielded from cyber threats and potential data breaches.

In essence, ExtremeVPN's free offerings grant you the dual advantages of unrestricted online access and robust security, while accommodating multiple devices within a unified protective umbrella.

Price: Free Trial, £2.99/month, £35/year

Try ExtremeVPN for free, pay with Crypto Currency and Paypal! ✔️

ExpressVPN – Popular VPN Service for Streaming with Unlimited Bandwidth ✨

Another good VPN. It offers a 7-day trial for mobile (iOS and Android). To test on more devices, use its 30-day money-back guarantee. If unsatisfied, get a refund in 30 days.

The VPN provides ultra-fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth. With such speed, no buffering while streaming, gaming, or browsing.

ExpressVPN has 3,000 servers in 94 countries, allowing global content access. Unblock and bypass geo-restrictions for Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

Its vast server network is great for torrenting, supporting P2P traffic. ExpressVPN has top security: 256-bit encryption and an automatic kill switch.

Furthermore, ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy, ensuring no online activity collection. Based in the British Virgin Islands, it's outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance and exempt from data retention laws.

Pros:

Secure and user-friendly apps
Split tunneling and kill switch features
Trial covers Android, Windows, iOS, macOS
Responsive 24/7 live support
30-day no-question-asked money-back guarantee
No credit card needed for trial activation

Cons:

Being a reletively new VPN, it doesn’t have extra security features such as Double VPN for now

Price: Free Trial, £10.90/month, £84/year

Exploring More VPNs with Tempting Free Trials

IPVanish - Dive into IPVanish's experience with a 7-day free trial available for iOS and Android. Alternatively, lean on their 30-day money-back promise. Recognized for its rapid streaming capabilities, IPVanish sometimes falls short in certain features compared to our primary choices.
Norton Secure VPN - Sample the services of Norton Secure VPN with a 7-day free trial on both mobile and desktop platforms – no credit card obligations. And if you’re not satisfied? They provide a 30-day money-back assurance. However, its restricted server range and privacy measures kept it from clinching the top spots.
Cyberghost - Although a direct free trial isn't on the table, Cyberghost appeases users with an unlimited free version of its renowned VPN service. If you're looking for an upgrade, their paid version promises enhanced speed and features, cushioned with a 30-day return policy.

How Have We Ranked These VPN Services?

To ensure a comprehensive and unbiased assessment of the VPNs presented, we adopted a multi-faceted review methodology, combining both quantitative metrics and qualitative feedback.

Hands-on Testing: The cornerstone of our evaluation was direct, hands-on testing of each VPN service. We examined aspects such as connection speeds, server response times, and overall application usability. For instance, our analysis of Surfshark shed light on the variable download rates and connection times, while with NordVPN, we assessed the speed of most server connections relative to the vast number of servers they provide.

Feature Analysis: Beyond basic performance metrics, we scrutinized each VPN's distinctive features and offerings. This included evaluating unique functionalities like Surfshark's 'multi-hop' feature or ProtonVPN's sophisticated user interface tailored for specific user niches like streaming and gaming.

Security and Privacy Review: Essential to any VPN service is the security and privacy it offers its users. We tested for DNS-leak detection, examined kill switches, and verified no-log policies. The security protocols, including aspects like AES-256 encryption as seen with ProtonVPN, were critically assessed.

User Experience (UX) Evaluation: The overall user experience, including the application interface, ease of navigation, and clarity of features, played a pivotal role in our assessment. Notable points of consideration included the intuitiveness of the VPN applications and any potential hiccups, as evidenced by the occasional connection issues identified with NordVPN.

Pricing and Value Proposition: We meticulously analyzed the pricing models, ensuring that the cost of each VPN aligned with the value it offered. Exclusive deals, such as the discounts and extra months provided by certain services, were highlighted to gauge the overall value proposition for potential users.

Feedback and Iterative Analysis: Our review wasn't a one-off process. As we navigated through each VPN service, we continually revisited our initial findings, ensuring that our analysis was both iterative and reflective of real-world usage scenarios.

In essence, our systematic approach to reviewing these VPNs was aimed at providing a holistic picture, combining technical metrics with user-centric insights, to guide users in making informed choices tailored to their specific needs.

Are VPNs Legal in the UK?

Yes, using VPNs is completely legal in the UK. However, it's important to differentiate between using a VPN as a tool and the actions performed while using it. A VPN can be used for various legitimate reasons, such as protecting data from hackers, accessing region-restricted content for legitimate purposes, or ensuring personal privacy. On the other hand, engaging in illegal activities, such as hacking, downloading copyrighted materials without permission, or conducting fraud, remains illegal regardless of whether one uses a VPN. Always use VPNs responsibly.

What is The Fastest VPN out of NordVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN?

While NordVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN all boast excellent speeds, the fastest among them can vary based on several parameters:

Server Location: The closer the server to your actual location, the better the speed usually is.
Server Load: If many people are connected to one server, it can become overloaded and slow down.
Network Infrastructure: The quality and capacity of the servers can affect speed.
Your Own Connection: Your own internet speed plays a significant role.
Historically, based on many speed tests and user reviews, NordVPN has often been highlighted as having a slight edge in speed, but the difference is usually minimal, and personal experiences can vary.

How Do VPNs Work?

At its core, a VPN creates a private, encrypted "tunnel" between your device and a remote server run by the VPN service. All your internet traffic is routed through this tunnel, keeping your data secure from prying eyes along the way. This process masks your IP address with the VPN's IP, making it appear as though you're in a different location. This not only provides anonymity but also allows users to bypass geographical restrictions placed on content.

Do VPNs Protect Me?

Yes, VPNs offer multiple layers of protection:

Data Encryption: VPNs encrypt your data, making it unreadable to hackers or anyone who might intercept it.

Online Anonymity: By masking your IP address, VPNs prevent websites and online services from tracking your browsing habits and personal information.

Public Wi-Fi Security: VPNs protect your data when connected to public Wi-Fi networks, which are often unsecured and vulnerable to hackers.

However, it's essential to choose a reputable VPN service with a transparent privacy policy to ensure maximum protection.

What does a VPN not protect against?

VPNs mainly protect your data in transit, but there are vulnerabilities they don’t address:

Malware and Viruses: VPNs don't inherently protect against malware or viruses. You'll need dedicated antivirus software for that.
Phishing Attacks: VPNs can't prevent you from clicking on malicious links or divulging personal information to deceptive websites.
Keyloggers: If malware has been installed on your device to track your keystrokes, a VPN cannot prevent this.

How to choose the best VPN?

When choosing a VPN, consider the following:

Security Features: Look for strong encryption standards, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection.
Privacy Policies: Ensure the VPN has a strict no-logs policy.
Server Locations: More server locations give better options for bypassing geo-restrictions.
Speed: Check reviews for speed benchmarks.
User Interface: It should be user-friendly and intuitive.
Price: Look for a good balance between cost and the features offered.
Customer Support: Good customer support can be invaluable if you run into issues.

Popular VPN uses?

VPNs are versatile tools. Some popular uses include:

Online Privacy: Protecting user identity and activities.
Accessing Geo-Restricted Content: Bypassing regional restrictions to access content on platforms like Netflix or BBC iPlayer.
Secure Public Wi-Fi Use: Safeguarding data on unsecured public networks.
Bypassing Censorship: Accessing websites and services blocked by governments.
Avoid Bandwidth Throttling: Some ISPs slow down specific types of traffic (like streaming); a VPN can help bypass this.
Online Gaming: Some users employ VPNs to access games early or play in different regional servers.
By understanding these nuances of VPNs, users can make more informed decisions and make the most of their online experiences.

Conclusion

Navigating the maze of VPN options can be daunting, but armed with thorough analysis and hands-on testing, we've endeavored to provide clarity on some of the best choices available. From superior user experience to robust security features, each VPN has its own strengths tailored to diverse needs.

Ultimately, the right VPN for you hinges on your specific requirements, be it streaming, gaming, privacy, or multi-device connectivity. With our comprehensive review as your guide, you're well-equipped to make an informed choice, ensuring a seamless, secure, and empowering online experience.

Disclaimer: The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.