How to Get Free Trial of Popular VPNs

Introduction

Trying a VPN before committing is essential. A free trial or money‑back guarantee lets you evaluate speed, streaming capability, security, and usability risk‑free. At VPN AdWiser, where we publish VPN reviews, tips, and comparisons, we know the difference between bait‑and‑switch offers and real trials that deliver value. In this guide, you’ll learn how to access free trials from leading providers—NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, and others—plus get practical tips on how to make the most of your trial period.

Table of Contents

• Why Choose a Free Trial or Risk‑Free Trial?
• VPNs Offering Genuine Free Trials (No Credit Card Required)
  • CyberGhost
  • Proton VPN
  • Trust.Zone and similar
• VPNs with Long Money‑Back Guarantees (30–45 Days)
  • NordVPN
  • Surfshark
  • ExpressVPN
  • Private Internet Access (PIA)
• Step‑by‑Step: How to Sign Up and Cancel Safely
• Tips to Test Effectively During Trial
• Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
• FAQs
• Conclusion & Next Steps

Why Choose a Free Trial or Risk‑Free Trial?

• Try premium features before buying—full speed, all servers, streaming support, kill switch, split tunneling.
• Test compatibility with your OS, router, devices, and geo‑locations.
• Evaluate customer support responsiveness—especially if you need help.
• Ensure you can cancel easily and get a full refund if dissatisfied.

VPNs Offering Genuine Free Trials (No Credit Card Required)

CyberGhost VPN

• Offers a 1‑day free trial on Windows/macOS, 3‑day trial on Android, and 7‑day trial on iOS (all without entering payment details).
• Access to all features—full server network, split tunneling, kill‑switch, streaming support.
• After trial, you can opt for 45‑day money‑back guarantee on long‑term plans, or 14‑day on monthly subscriptions.

Proton VPN (Plus)

• Offers a 7‑day free trial of their Plus (premium) plan, no credit card required.
• After trial, you can continue with a permanent free tier (limited servers, fewer features), or subscribe — with 30‑day refund guarantee.
• Built on Swiss privacy laws, unlimited data, audited no‑log policy.

Trust.Zone (and similar small VPNs)

• Typically offer 1 GB data free trial or limited duration trials without billing info (e.g. Trust.Zone 1 GB data, TunnelBear 500 MB).
• Ideal for quick basic testing—though servers/features are limited.

VPNs with Long Money‑Back Guarantees (30–45 Days)

NordVPN

• 7‑day free trial on Android devices (via Play Store); 30‑day no‑questions‑asked refund if you purchase via website.
• Access full set of features: NordLynx (WireGuard), Threat Protection, Double VPN, Meshnet, fast streaming and torrenting support.
• Slight caveat: trial auto‑renews into longest term plan unless canceled; refund requires contacting support.

Surfshark

• Offers 7‑day free trial on Android and iOS, and a 30‑day refund guarantee across all platforms.
• Unlimited device connections; great speeds (~950 Mbps) and strong streaming/unblocking support.
• Requires credit card to start trial via app; cancellation process is straightforward via live chat.

ExpressVPN

• Doesn’t offer a traditional free trial, but includes a 30‑day money‑back guarantee on web subscriptions.
• Renowned for blazing-fast speeds, intuitive apps, excellent support and wide streaming compatibility.

Private Internet Access (PIA)

• Provides 7‑day mobile trials on Android/iOS, and a 30‑day refund policy if purchased via website.
• Privacy‑focused features, customizable settings, support for torrenting and streaming.

Step‑by‑Step: How to Sign Up and Cancel Safely

1. Choose Your Provider & Platform

Determine if you want a free trial (no credit card) or a refundable purchase. Free options: CyberGhost, Proton VPN, Trust.Zone.

2. Download the App or Visit Website

• For CyberGhost: download desktop app or mobile app (Android/iOS).
• For Proton VPN: download directly for desktop or mobile.
• For NordVPN/Surfshark: purchase via website or app depending on trial type.

3. Register and Activate Trial

• CyberGhost free trial requires only registration, no payment.
• Proton VPN activation also skips billing.
• NordVPN/Surfshark/ExpressVPN require entering card details if starting trial inside mobile store.

4. Test All Features During Trial

See next section for what to test.

5. Cancel at Least 24 Hours Before Trial Ends or Within Refund Window

• Most require cancellation via app store or website chat.
• If using a refund period, follow their support/legal refund policy exactly.

Tips to Test Effectively During Trial

• Run speed tests on local and remote servers.
• Test streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer.
• Check for IP and DNS leaks (use online privacy‑test tools).
• Exercise all features: kill switch, split tunneling, custom protocols, multi‑hop/DNS leak protection.
• Try on all devices: desktop, mobile, router, smart TV if supported.
• Contact support proactively—check response time and helpfulness.

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

• Auto-renew traps: check that trial won’t silently renew into a long‑term plan. Cancel early.
• Limited mobile‑only trials: some trials only work via Android or iOS, not desktop.
• Regional restrictions: certain trials (e.g. NordVPN Android) only available in some countries.
• Billing method confusion: trials via app stores are managed by Google/Apple, not the VPN provider.
• Free VPN vs free trial: beware of providers advertising “free VPN” when it’s ad‑based, bandwidth‑limited, or privacy‑compromised.

Summary Comparison Table

VPN Service	Free Trial (No CC)	Refund Guarantee	Platform Coverage	Notes
CyberGhost	1‑day desktop / 3‑day Android / 7‑day iOS	45 days (longer plans)	All	Best no‑CC full‑feature trial
Proton VPN (Plus)	7 days (no CC)	30 days	Desktop & mobile	Includes permanent free tier
Trust.Zone	~1 GB data trial (no CC)	Short refund	Desktop/mobile	Limited server count
NordVPN	7 days Android (play store)	30 days	All	Full features, audited security
Surfshark	7 days Android/iOS (CC)	30 days	All	Unlimited devices, excellent speed
ExpressVPN	No CC trial	30 days	All	Premium UX, high price
Private Internet Access	7 days mobile (CC)	30 days	All	Privacy‑focused, customizable

FAQ

1. Which VPN offers the longest free trial without requiring payment info?
CyberGhost provides the longest trial without needing payment: a 1‑day desktop trial, 3 days on Android, and 7 days on iOS—all without credit card info .

2. Is Proton VPN completely free to use?
Proton VPN offers a free (permanent) tier with limited servers and slower speeds, in addition to a 7‑day premium trial of its Plus plan—no credit card required .

3. Can I cancel NordVPN trial and still use it until expiry?
Yes—if you cancel quickly after starting the Android free trial, you still get the full 7 days, even though the subscription is auto-renewal. Just be certain to cancel before the end of the trial period.

4. Are VPN free trials safe or do they sell my data?
Reputable VPNs like NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, and CyberGhost have audited no‑logs policies. Unlike ad‑based “free VPNs,” these trials do not monetize your data. Avoid shady or unsupported providers.

5. What if the VPN trial doesn’t work with streaming services?
If Netflix or other platforms don’t work, try a different server or protocol. If still failing, cancel within the trial/refund window and consider trying another VPN provider with proven streaming support.

Conclusion

Free trials and money‑back guarantees are smart ways to evaluate VPNs without risk. At VPN AdWiser, we recommend

• CyberGhost for no‑CC trials,
• Proton VPN for privacy‑focused users,
• NordVPN and Surfshark for feature‑rich, high‑performance trials.

Use the tips above to test thoroughly, cancel on time if needed, and choose the best VPN for your privacy, streaming, torrenting, or security goals.

Next steps: pick your platform, sign up for the appropriate trial, put it through its paces, and then decide whether to subscribe, downgrade to free, or cancel before expiration. Be sure to cancel at least a day before the deadline to avoid charges.