4 Best Free VPNs for Canada in 2025: Safe and Easy to Use

Most free VPNs for Canada are too slow for streaming, have strict data limits, or lack the necessary security features to safeguard your online privacy. They are also very inconsistent in working with Canadian banking or streaming websites.

My teammates and I tested 40+ free VPNs and found the best ones for Canada. While they have some restrictions, they can protect your online privacy with robust security features and are easy to use on mobile and desktop devices. Read ahead to find a free VPN for Canada that meets your requirements. However, if you want a VPN with no limits, it’s best to use a low-cost, premium one.

Quick Comparison Table: Free Canada VPN Features

All the VPNs on this list are safe and reliable. However, they do have some differences that could influence your decision. Here are some of those features:

Most Affordable Premium VPN

Our Score: 9.3

The free VPNs we recommend are safe, but it’s important to remember that free VPNs come with limitations, such as imposing data caps, having smaller server networks, and slower speeds. Some free VPNs may even compromise your privacy by collecting and selling your data to third-party advertisers or worse. For a more reliable and secure option, consider an affordable premium VPN like Surfshark, which includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and starts at $1.99/month for long-term offers. You’ll also get unlimited simultaneous connections, excellent performance for torrenting, streaming, and gaming, and no data restrictions.

Our Score: 9.3

Read more about Surfshark

See Surfshark's Best Deals

Visit Surfshark >

www.surfshark.com

Best Free VPNs for Canada — Full Analysis (Updated 2025)

1. hide.me — Advanced Security Features Keep Your Online Activities Private in and Outside Canada

Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
Tested August 2025

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome Router Smart TV More

Try hide.me VPN >

www.hide.me

Unlike many free Canada VPNs, hide.me prioritizes security and privacy by offering you a suite of customizable advanced features like a kill switch, which are often missing in free VPNs. Additionally, it provides five protocol options, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and SoftEther, whereas most free VPNs offer fewer than three. We didn't detect any DNS/IP leaks during our tests.

I like that the kill switch has an option to bypass it on trusted networks

Your online activities and identity are anonymous as hide.me adheres to a strict no-logs policy, which reputable external security firms have verified. Its headquarters are also based in the privacy-friendly country of Malaysia, and it offers built-in IP leak protection to keep your data secure. Plus, it provides a customizable kill switch to cut off the internet for selective apps if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly.

hide.me also offers 24/7 live chat support with its free plan, a feature many VPNs reserve for paid users. I received quick and helpful responses every time I contacted them. I also appreciate that it provides an extensive database of support articles.

Unfortunately, the free servers can sometimes be slow. During our tests, we saw speed drops of up to 70% on some servers, even with a fast baseline connection. However, switching to a different server usually improved our performance, and we could stream Netflix and Canal+ in Standard Definition.

Useful Features

• Unlimited data. Hide.me doesn’t cap monthly data, making it ideal for secure streaming or browsing from anywhere.
• Split tunneling. This feature allows you to use the VPN for selective apps only. This way, you can stream content while ordering food using online apps that require your actual IP.
• Ad-free. Unlike some other free Canada VPNs, hide.me’s free plan is supported by premium users, not by selling ad space in its app. So you can use it without annoying pop-ups or banner ads.

2. Proton VPN — Unlimited Data for Uninterrupted Browsing in Canada

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome Router Smart TV More

Try Proton VPN >

protonvpn.com

Proton VPN is one of the few free Canada VPNs that offer unlimited data. While there are no Canadian servers, the free ones in the US, Japan, Romania, the Netherlands, and Poland provide stable connections. We tested ProtonVPN’s free US server and could watch Netflix and Max for hours without slowdowns.

I found the apps easy to use with a clean and intuitive interface. All apps come pre-configured, so you don’t have to change any settings. I particularly liked seeing the server load after connecting, as it gave me a good picture of the connection’s performance.

There's a cooldown period between changes

On the downside, none of Proton VPN's free servers support P2P connections or perform well online gaming. However, the VPN auto-connects to the fastest available server, helping find a low-latency one for smooth streaming from anywhere.

Although you can only use one device at a time on the free plan, creating an account only requires an email and password. Proton VPN is also compatible with all major platforms and even offers a full GUI for Linux, which isn’t very common among free VPNs.

Useful Features

• Permanent Kill Switch. Proton VPN offers a permanent mode and a regular one. The permanent mode disables your internet unless you’re connected to the VPN first.
• Alternative routing. If websites are blocked, this feature automatically finds the fastest path to bypass network restrictions to access these sites safely.

3. Avira Phantom VPN — Many Free Servers on Mobile to Securely Access Websites From Anywhere

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome More

Try Avira Phantom VPN >

www.avira.com

Avira Phantom VPN’s large mobile network provides reliable access to Canadian and global content from anywhere. All connections were stable during tests, but you can only use the nearest location server on desktop, which is limiting. So, I recommend using the VPN's Android or iOS apps. Its network also supports P2P traffic if you want to download or upload files safely.

Connecting to a server close to your location provides the best speeds

I like that it allows unlimited device connections, which is rare for free VPNs. You can browse on any device without interrupting an existing active connection. While testing Avira VPN, we connected 10 devices simultaneously to a free Canadian server and never experienced any issues — we used several smartphones and 2 PCs.

Its free apps are easy to use and have a simple interface but lack customizable security options. My main issue with Avira is that the free plan only provides 500MB of data per month. However, you can get an extra 500MB of data free by registering with your email address.

Useful Features

• Auto-connect feature. It automatically connects to the VPN when internet access is detected, which is particularly beneficial if you regularly use unsecured public WiFi networks while you’re out and about in Canada.
• Secure encryption. While its free plan doesn’t offer a kill switch, AES 256-bit encryption (the same used by ProtonVPN) keeps your data safe from snoops while browsing or checking emails.

4. Hotspot Shield (HSS) — Hydra Protocol to Balance Speed With Security

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Router Smart TV More

Try Hotspot Shield >

www.hotspotshield.com

Thanks to its proprietary Hydra protocol, Hotspot Shield (HSS) maintains fast speeds while masking VPN usage to avoid detection. Hydra consumes less battery due to its lower resource usage. We recorded an average download speed of 110.67Mbps while testing nearby servers.

You can turn on WiFi protection under "Advanced" settings

Unlike Proton VPN and hide.me, which don’t support torrenting, HSS allows P2P activities on its free servers and offers unlimited data. This means you can enjoy secure downloads without significant slowdowns. Unfortunately, the free plan is ad-supported, but the ads appear briefly and don’t interrupt browsing once you're online.

Useful Features

• Built-in speed test. Hotspot Shield has a built-in speed test tool, which I found useful when I wanted to check which free servers offered me the fastest streaming speeds from my location.

Our Methodology for Testing Free VPNs For Canada

We tested each VPN's ability to provide secure connections to and from Canada. We evaluated the performance of these VPNs in terms of speed, security features, ease of setup, and monthly data allocation. Plus, we assessed their streaming, gaming, and torrenting capabilities.

Expert Tip: Most Free VPNs for Canada Aren’t Safe

Some free VPNs may jeopardize your online privacy and expose your devices to serious vulnerabilities. So, thoroughly researching any free VPN before using it is always a good idea.

Here are the dangers that many free VPNs pose:

• They may log and sell your data. Some free VPNs may log your data and sell this information to third parties in exchange for the free service. This can compromise your privacy and potentially expose you to targeted advertising.
• Your data may not be properly encrypted. Free VPNs might not actually offer the level of encryption they advertise, which puts your data at risk of being intercepted on unsecured WiFi networks.
• Free VPNs may leak your personal info. Many free VPNs for Canada lack features like leak protection and a kill switch. This can expose your personal information to third parties, including your IP address, location, and browsing history.
• Free VPNs can contain malware. Some free VPNs inject ads into your browser or download software, which can compromise your device's security and user experience in Canada. In worse cases, these ads can be a vector for malware, putting your device at risk of infection.
• They might hijack your browser. Shady free VPNs might send you to websites without your permission, which is both a huge invasion of privacy and a security risk.
• Sketchy ownership. Some free VPNs for Canada are owned by shady companies (usually in countries with intrusive privacy laws) whose sole intent is to spy on your online behavior.

The free VPNs on our list stand out because they don't compromise on security to give you access to their features. They either offer a "freemium" service (a premium VPN with a free option) or provide limited, yet secure, free plans.

Free VPNs to Avoid

The high level of trustworthiness doesn’t extend to all free VPNs. Some offer unreliable performance and compromise privacy and security in exchange for providing a free service, so it’s essential to be cautious. Here are just a few examples.

• Hola VPN. This is essentially a P2P network, meaning you share your network with other users. So, if someone using your network were to do something illegal, you may be held liable due to a shared IP address.
• TurboVPN. It logs all your browsing data and shows too many ads that can be embedded with malware or trackers.
• Betternet VPN. The VPN lacks essential security features like leak protection and has a questionable privacy policy.

Free VPNs vs Paid VPNs: Which Should You Choose for Canada?

Free VPNs often have significant limitations, such as fewer server locations, slower speeds, and data caps, which make them less reliable—especially for bandwidth-intensive tasks like streaming or torrenting. They also lack the necessary security features to keep users safe from snoops and hackers in Canada and abroad. Many have also been caught selling user data for a profit and installing harmful software on customer devices.

A low-cost, premium VPN is a better alternative for secure and reliable access to content from anywhere. They use strict no-log policies, offer robust security features, and often include extras like built-in ad blockers and parental controls. Plus, they don’t cap data and support UHD streaming. Most premium VPNs offer money-back guarantees and free trials so that you can test all their capabilities risk-free.

FAQs on Using a Free VPN for Canada

What's the best free VPN to watch Netflix and other streaming services from Canada?

Most free VPNs don't reliably work with Netflix and other streaming platforms from Canada or anywhere else. Their server networks and/or bandwidth are usually limited, resulting in slower speeds and reduced video quality. However, the listed top free VPNs all work with Netflix and some other streaming services. However, they are not as reliable as top-tier VPNs, so you'll need to test them yourself to see if they work for you.

What's the best free Canada VPN for Firestick, mobile, and browsers?

All VPNs on this list are compatible with Firestick. That said, they vary in terms of server networks and speeds, which can greatly impact their streaming capabilities on this device. Plus, most free VPNs restrict you to using just one device at a time. Premium VPNs allow multiple device connections, letting you simultaneously stream in HD quality on all your devices from anywhere. All without the risk of being disconnected from the VPN.

Can I get a Canadian IP address with a free VPN?

Yes, some free VPNs, like Avira Phantom VPN and hide.me have servers in Canada. To get a Canadian IP address, simply open the app and connect to a server in Canada. However, the reliability and speed may vary. Most free VPNs often have fewer servers and higher user loads, leading to slower speeds and connection issues.

Is it legal to use a VPN in Canada?

Yes, using a VPN is legal in Canada. There are currently no laws preventing the use of VPNs within the country, and many Canadians use VPNs to protect their data and privacy online. Still, you should always check your country's laws and regulations before using a VPN.

Get the Best FREE VPN for Canada

While all the free Canada VPNs on this list are safe to use, the activities they work best with vary greatly. Many of the free VPNs we tested come with speed restrictions and monthly data caps, and many don’t work with Canadian streaming services and libraries, like Netflix Canada and CTV.

hide.me is my top choice of a free Canada VPN. It has robust security features like multiple security protocols and adheres to a strict no-logs policy. Plus, it offers unlimited data, servers in Canada, and is very easy to use.