Free VPN review
VPNBook review
Free manual OpenVPN and WireGuard access with shared public servers. Personal use only; connection IP addresses and timestamps are logged, and credentials or configurations need periodic replacement.
By VPNTrends · Updated 2026-10-21
Our assessment
VPNBook at a glance
Free manual OpenVPN and WireGuard access with shared public servers. Personal use only; connection IP addresses and timestamps are logged, and credentials or configurations need periodic replacement.
Key capabilities
Free manual OpenVPN and WireGuard access with shared public servers. Personal use only; connection IP addresses and timestamps are logged, and credentials or configurations need periodic replacement.
Limitations to check
Continuing free personal VPN access funded by website advertising and donations. No paid renewal is represented.
See platform support ↓
A free VPN service built around manual configuration
VPNBook supplies free VPN server access through downloadable OpenVPN files and generated WireGuard configurations. You use a compatible third-party client rather than a dedicated VPNBook application. Its website also offers browser proxies and other protocols, but a proxy page is not the same thing as a device-wide VPN connection. This review concerns the OpenVPN and WireGuard service.
No registration or credit card is required for the advertised free access. Website advertising and donations help support it. The published privacy page restricts the free service to personal use, so a company should not assume that it has permission to deploy the same access across a commercial network.
Unlimited traffic comes with shared-server constraints
The provider advertises no bandwidth quota and no imposed speed restriction. That describes its stated policy, not a measured throughput guarantee. A free public server can still be slow, unavailable or blocked by a destination, and there is no verified streaming success claim in this review.
The current OpenVPN and WireGuard list contains servers in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and France. Other protocols have a different inventory, including Poland. Counting every location on the website as available through every protocol would give a misleading picture of the actual selection.
Credentials and configurations require regular maintenance
OpenVPN access uses a public username and password shared across the listed OpenVPN servers. The provider changes the password every one to two weeks. If authentication stops working, an old tutorial or saved credential can be the problem; obtain the current details from the provider instead of repeatedly reusing a stale login.
WireGuard uses individually generated configuration files. Its dedicated page currently states a seven-day lifetime, while homepage news refers to shorter sessions. Treat those files as temporary and check the generator when creating one. The generator also says that each configuration is for one device at a time; generate a separate file for another device rather than sharing the same private configuration.
Connection logging is an important privacy tradeoff
VPNBook says that it does not store browsing traffic, but that it does record the connecting IP address and connection time to manage abuse. That is a material distinction from a service that documents no connection IP retention. A broad anonymity headline should not override this more specific description.
There is also a discrepancy in the stated deletion schedule: the privacy/contact page says weekly removal, while the features page says daily. We do not resolve that contradiction by choosing the shorter period. Someone requiring a clearly documented retention commitment should consider the uncertainty before sending sensitive traffic through the service.
Check the client and protocol rather than assuming app features
VPNBook publishes OpenVPN installation guides for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, and WireGuard setup instructions for desktop systems. Those guides establish a manual connection route, not an entitlement to every feature available in each third-party client. Kill switches and split tunneling remain unverified as service features here. Compatible WireGuard routers can import a generated configuration, but the file must be replaced when it expires.
Keep downloaded files current and obtain clients from their legitimate publishers. Configuration files can contain private key material and should not be posted publicly. VPNBook also lists legacy PPTP, but that listing is not a reason to treat the legacy option as equivalent to a modern WireGuard or OpenVPN connection. This review contains no hands-on leak, speed or streaming test results.
Free plan and limits
This continuing free plan has no subscription charge. Check the actual allowance and restrictions before relying on it.
Data allowance: The provider advertises unlimited traffic and no imposed speed restriction. Shared-server load, network conditions and temporary access credentials can still limit practical use.
- Personal use only; commercial use needs a separate arrangement
- Manual setup with third-party OpenVPN or WireGuard clients
- OpenVPN password changes every one to two weeks
- WireGuard configurations expire and must be generated again
- One WireGuard configuration can be used on one device at a time; no total device entitlement is verified
- Protocol-specific locations differ; OpenVPN/WireGuard currently list five countries
VPNBook records connection IP addresses and timestamps. Its pages disagree about daily versus weekly deletion, so it must not be treated as a verified no-logs service. Free public credentials and expiring configurations also require maintenance.
Continuing free personal VPN access funded by website advertising and donations. No paid renewal is represented.
Features and platform support
Support can differ between apps and operating systems. Platform coverage and limitations are shown below.
- Windows
VPNBook publishes manual OpenVPN setup instructions. This means using a compatible third-party client, not a native VPNBook app.
- macOS
VPNBook publishes manual OpenVPN setup instructions. This means using a compatible third-party client, not a native VPNBook app.
- Linux
VPNBook publishes manual OpenVPN setup instructions. This means using a compatible third-party client, not a native VPNBook app.
- iOS
VPNBook publishes manual OpenVPN setup instructions. This means using a compatible third-party client, not a native VPNBook app.
- Android
VPNBook publishes manual OpenVPN setup instructions. This means using a compatible third-party client, not a native VPNBook app.
- WireGuard / WireGuard-based protocol
Free generated WireGuard configurations are offered. The dedicated page states seven-day expiration while homepage news mentions 48-hour sessions; expect expiring configurations and check the generator. One configuration is for one device at a time.
Verified platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.- OpenVPN
Free OpenVPN configuration files and setup guides are published for the listed desktop/mobile platforms. Public username/password values rotate every one to two weeks.
Verified platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.- Kill switch
Not established as a VPNBook service entitlement; generic third-party client capabilities are not inherited.
Current support not verified.- Router support
Compatible WireGuard routers can import a generated .conf file. Each configuration expires and must be replaced; router firmware must support a WireGuard client.
- Split tunneling
Not established as a VPNBook service entitlement; generic third-party client capabilities are not inherited.
Current support not verified.- Dedicated IP available
Not established as a VPNBook service entitlement; generic third-party client capabilities are not inherited.
Current support not verified.
Questions about VPNBook
How many devices can connect simultaneously?
Not verified
Is this a continuing free plan or a paid trial?
This is a continuing free plan, not an introductory paid subscription. The provider advertises unlimited traffic and no imposed speed restriction. Shared-server load, network conditions and temporary access credentials can still limit practical use.
Does a supported platform include every feature?
No. Protocols, split tunneling and kill switches can have different platform support. Use the feature descriptions above to check the app you intend to use.
Why can a saved VPNBook OpenVPN login stop working?
The provider rotates its public OpenVPN password every one to two weeks. Check the current credentials rather than assuming that a saved password remains valid indefinitely.
Does VPNBook keep connection records?
Its privacy page says it records the connection IP address and time. Official pages disagree about daily versus weekly deletion, so this review does not describe the service as verified no-logs.
Before you choose
Check data, location, speed and connection limits for the free plan. Paid subscriptions and trials have separate terms and are not included here.
We have not conducted hands-on speed, streaming or app tests for this review. No numerical ratings or test badges are assigned.