Updated on: November 12, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best free VPN for Canada in 2024:
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : It doesn’t have a free plan, but it has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out risk-free. It provides fast and reliable servers in Montreal and Toronto, excellent security features, great streaming support (works with Netflix Canada), and easy-to-use apps for all major operating systems.
Canada’s privacy laws are decent but far from ideal. Under Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are legally required to retain certain customer information for up to 6 months. This can include IP addresses, websites visited, and more. So even if you think you’re browsing the internet safely, your ISP might be keeping tabs on where you’ve been online.
Plus, Canada’s membership in the Five Eyes alliance means it shares intelligence data with other member countries — including internet traffic and communication records collected within its borders.
Using a VPN in Canada is a great way to protect your online privacy by making your internet activity untraceable. It can also boost your streaming, gaming, and torrenting speeds if your ISP is throttling them.
I found a few good free VPNs for use in Canada, but I still recommend a low-cost premium VPN like ExpressVPN. It has incredible security and privacy features, the fastest connection speeds available, and works great for streaming, torrenting, gaming, and browsing. However, if you’re set on using a free VPN, every option on my list will work well in Canada.
Disclaimer: The VPNs we recommend below have strict no-logging policies that prevent them from keeping track of (or even seeing) what you do online. This means you’re responsible for how you choose to use a VPN, so please be sure to follow all applicable rules and regulations. My colleagues and I do not condone copyright infringement.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best Free VPNs for Canada in 2024
🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Canada in 2024
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for Canada. While it doesn’t offer a free plan, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee — this way, you can test out its Canadian servers and all of its features for a full month risk-free. It has 3 reliable server locations in Canada, maintains the fastest speeds on the market, works with all of the popular streaming services, allows torrenting on Canadian servers, and includes top-notch security features. Simply, you’re not going to find a better VPN in 2024.
It has servers in Montreal (1 location) and Toronto (2 locations), so you can choose the closest ones to you for the fastest connection. A VPN’s speeds are mostly dictated by how far the internet signal has to travel (and the encryption process), so you should pick close servers whenever possible. I never had an issue connecting to ExpressVPN’s servers in either Canadian cities
ExpressVPN also has great security features and extras:
- No-logs policy. Its policy has been independently audited and confirmed multiple times, which ensures ExpressVPN doesn’t store your data.
- TrustedServer Technology. ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers, so your data is never saved to the hard drive. Plus, all data on the server is erased each time the server is rebooted.
- Perfect forward secrecy. This feature assigns you a new encryption key each time you connect to a server, preventing hackers from ever accessing future or past keys.
- Full leak protection. ExpressVPN protects you against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks, which could reveal your IP address. I ran several tests on servers in all 3 Canadian cities, and my real IP address was never leaked.
- Split-tunneling. This convenient feature allows you to choose which traffic is routed through the VPN.
- Advanced Protection. This feature includes an ad blocker, Threat Protection that blocks trackers and prevents you from accessing potentially malicious websites, and an adult site blocker.
- ShuffleIP. ShuffleIP automatically refreshes your IP address for every new site or app you visit, preventing trackers from following you around the internet. It does this without changing your location or disconnecting you from the VPN, and it’s automatic across all devices.
There’s no better VPN for streaming and torrenting than ExpressVPN. It works with 100+ streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video, DAZN, Netflix Canada, and Disney+, and Canada-based services like CBC Gem, CTV, and TVA Canada. It successfully stops ISP throttling, too. ExpressVPN also allows torrenting on its Canadian servers and has great security to keep your downloads hidden from prying eyes.
ExpressVPN is also very user-friendly. Its interface is very easy to navigate, and I found and connected to a Canada server in under 10 seconds. Plus, it has easy-to-install apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, smart TVs, Amazon Fire Sticks, and even routers.
ExpressVPN offers monthly and yearly plans starting from $4.99 / month. All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is hands-down the best VPN for Canada. It has reliable servers in Montreal and Toronto, is very secure, has extras like Advanced Protection and split-tunneling, and has excellent streaming and torrenting support. Although it doesn’t have a free plan, each premium plan is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈 2. hide.me — Free VPN for Canada That’s Secure + Unlimited Bandwidth
hide.me is a highly secure VPN for Canada with unlimited data, so you can use it to protect your connections regardless of how much time you spend online. It doesn’t have free servers in Canada but does have a server location in the US, which is close enough for good speeds, and in 5+ other locations, like Germany and the Netherlands.
hide.me also has great security features. One of my favorites is the free plan’s StealthGuard. This advanced kill switch lets you control how strict the VPN is in blocking your internet connection if the VPN isn’t active, preventing you from going online unprotected. It also includes an app-based kill switch, so you can bind the device’s entire internet connection to the VPN, restricting all apps and sites, or you can be selective about which apps require the VPN connection.
The free plan comes with extra features like split-tunneling, which is great because you can use this feature to send only P2P traffic via a torrent app through the VPN to boost your download speeds.
There’s also connection automation for custom protection on different networks. You can choose what the VPN does for secure Wi-Fi networks, unsecured Wi-Fi networks, and ethernet connections: ask, ignore network, enable VPN, or disable VPN. For example, you can set it up so that the VPN always connects on open public networks but asks what you want to do on your home network.
hide.me offers monthly and yearly paid plans that start at $2.29 / month and include 10 connections, and servers in 58 locations. All plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
hide.me is a very secure free VPN for Canada. The free plan provides decent speeds and access to servers near Canada (in the US), as well as really good security features and extras like split-tunneling, StealthGuard, and automated connections. Plus, it comes with unlimited data.
🥉 3. Proton VPN — Great Free Plan for Canada With Unlimited Data
Proton VPN has a great free plan and is one of the only ones on the market to offer unlimited data. However, note that you only get 1 connection and access to servers in 5 countries — the US, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania.
Proton VPN has excellent security and privacy features, like full-disk encryption (so none of the data on your hard drive is readable). Plus, Proton VPN’s no-logs policy has been verified by an outside security firm, and it publishes a transparency report, which provides further proof that the VPN doesn’t store or share user data. I also like how all of Proton VPN’s apps are open-source, allowing anyone to inspect their code for security vulnerabilities. What’s more, all of its apps are audited.
Proton VPN is a great pick for beginners since it’s easy to use. It automatically connects to the best, fastest server for your location (for Canada, this will likely be the US). Its settings come with helpful explanations, so it’s easy to know which settings are useful to you and how to manage them.
Upgrading to ProtonVPN’s paid plans gets you streaming and torrenting support. The paid plans start at $2.99 / month and also include access to 6,305 servers in 112 countries, including Canada, 10 connections, and a really good ad blocker (NetShield). All plans are covered by a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Proton VPN is a great free VPN for Canada. It comes with unlimited data, user-friendly apps, and strong security features like full-disk encryption, full-leak protection, and open-source (and audited) apps. Upgrading to a paid plan gains you access to Canadian servers and full streaming and P2P support. Proton VPN backs all paid plans with a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Proton VPN review
4. Hotspot Shield — Good VPN for Surfing the Web (With Unlimited Data)
Hotspot Shield’s free plan is really good for surfing the web, as it allows unlimited data. It also has user-friendly apps and good features on the free plan, like automatic launch options so you never browse unprotected.
The provider’s free plan also provides very good security, as it comes with perfect forward secrecy and DNS leak protection. Plus, you get access to Auto-protect, which automatically connects the VPN when your device uses public, unsecured Wi-Fi.
That said, the free plan doesn’t include a server in Canada — only the US, the UK, and Singapore. If that’s a deal-breaker, consider getting ExpressVPN instead. Also, the free plan limits you to 1 device and doesn’t support streaming. Plus, you have to watch ads to get unlimited data, otherwise, it’s 500 MB per month.
On the plus side, you get access to a very intuitive app. I like how there are helpful explanations for most settings and features and how it only takes a few seconds to find and connect to a server. You also get access to split-tunneling on the free plan.
Hotspot Shield’s paid version starts at $2.99 / month and adds streaming support, access to servers in 85 countries (including Canada), and more. It backs all plans with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Hotspot Shield is good for secure web browsing, as it allows unlimited data. It also provides pretty fast speeds, strong security, and easy-to-use apps. But it limits you to servers in 3 countries (Canada is not available) and 1 device. The paid plans are affordable and come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Hotspot Shield review
5. Windscribe — Easy-to-Use Free VPN for Streaming
Windscribe’s free plan provides access to servers in 10+ countries, including Canada, and it works with popular streaming services, including Netflix Canada, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, as well as less-popular streaming services like DAZN and Crave. And you get 10 GB for streaming when you sign up with your email. Also, it’s a very user-friendly VPN with a simple setup for its apps, and it has a clean, well-organized interface that supports unlimited connections.
I really like its security features, such as R.O.B.E.R.T. and Auto-Secure Networks. The first is a good ad, tracker, and malware blocker that also blocks clickbait and site types like porn and gambling. Auto-Secure Networks does what its name suggests, automatically turning on the VPN when your device encounters new, unknown networks (this is similar to Hotspot Shield and hide.me’s network automation).
Windscribe’s paid plans start at $3.00 / month and add unlimited data, servers in 68 countries, and full access to the ad blocker. But there’s only a 3-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Windscribe’s free plan comes with user-friendly apps and good streaming support. It also has servers in Canada and a few other countries. It has great security features like R.O.B.E.R.T. and Auto-Secure Networks, plus affordable prices and a 3-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Windscribe review
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
To find the best free VPNs for use in Canada, I followed our rigorous testing methodology to make sure I only recommend VPNs with good security, fast speeds, user-friendly apps, and feature-rich free plans. Here are the criteria I used in my analysis and comparison:
- I made sure to only choose free VPNs with servers in Canada or nearby countries. In order to use services specific to Canada, like your bank or Netflix Canada, you need a VPN with servers in Canada. Some free VPNs don’t have servers in Canada but provide fast and reliable connections in nearby countries like the US. All of the VPNs listed here check one or both boxes.
- I checked that the VPN had strong security. My recommended VPNs follow industry standards like military-grade 256-bit AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy, a kill switch that disconnects your device from the internet if the VPN connection fails, and DNS leak protection to prevent your data from being exposed.
- I prioritized a high data allowance. The majority of free VPNs set strict limits on your data. Proton VPN is one of the rare exceptions and allows unlimited data on its free plan.
- I tested for fast speeds. Encrypting your connection helps VPNs secure your data online, but the process slows down your connection speeds. I tested and confirmed that all of the VPNs on this list maintain fast speeds (ExpressVPN was, by far, the fastest).
- I selected free VPNs with affordable paid plans. If you do decide to upgrade to a paid plan, all of the VPNs I’ve recommended above offer affordable premium plans and come with a money-back guarantee.
Risks & Disadvantages of Using a Free VPN
- Inferior security. Many free VPNs are missing essential security features that you need to stay safe online. This includes 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy, all of which make you anonymous online and prevent Canada from sharing your data with the other members of the 5 Eyes Alliance.
- Slow speeds. Due to the relatively small number of servers free VPNs offer, these servers get overcrowded, which further slows down your speeds. This is problematic if the VPN doesn’t have free Canadian servers (only Windscribe does) since your data has to travel much further, which takes time. However, all of the VPNs listed above maintain fast speeds.
- Blacklisted IP addresses. Free VPNs usually don’t refresh their IP addresses as often as premium VPNs. This means it’s easier for websites to block you from visiting them.
- No streaming support. A lot of free VPNs don’t support streaming or don’t work with popular streaming apps in Canada like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or CBC. And the few that do typically impose a strict daily/monthly data cap. To get the best streaming experience, I recommend using a premium VPN like ExpressVPN — it has lightning-fast speeds and works with 100+ streaming services.
- Selling data. Some free VPNs log your online activity and then sell the data to third parties, who use the information to target you with ads. To ensure your privacy, it’s important to choose a VPN with a strict no-logs policy.
Free vs. Paid VPNs for Canada
The free VPNs on my list come with important security features like a kill switch, no-logs policy, AES 256-bit encryption, and leak protection. Some of them also have advanced security features like RAM-only servers or perfect forward secrecy.
Most free VPNs don’t have the same features as paid VPNs, unfortunately. They’re usually missing multiple device connections, don’t have many server options to choose from (with usually none in Canada), don’t support streaming or torrenting, enforce data caps, and may even limit your speeds.
Some examples — hide.me has unlimited data and access to servers in 8 countries but only allows 1 device connection and doesn’t support streaming. Windscribe limits your data to 10 GB per month but supports streaming. Proton VPN has great security and unlimited data but only has 1 device connection and 5 server locations. Hotspot Shield also has unlimited data, but it forces ads and doesn’t support streaming.
On the other hand, paid VPN plans include a lot more: a large server network with servers in 100 or more countries, unlimited data and speeds, streaming and torrenting support, and multiple or unlimited device connections.
There are good free VPN plans out there (including the ones listed above), but premium VPNs are better overall. Here’s an easy way to compare:
Free VPNs for Canada to Avoid
- SuperVPN. SuperVPN poses a risk to users, as it records personal data such as browser type and IP address. It also misses several critical security features and has a significant data breach in its history.
- Hola VPN. Hola VPN is not considered safe. It operates on a P2P basis, so when you connect, you use someone else’s IP address and vice versa. This setup allows others to engage in unethical or illegal actions using your IP, which could endanger you. Furthermore, it has a history of compromising user privacy.
- TuxlerVPN. TuxlerVPN’s questionable privacy policies include tracking your browser data, contact details, and website interactions, and claims in its privacy policy that it shares this data with third parties.
- AceVPN. AceVPN is missing vital security features such as a kill switch and does not offer dedicated device apps, requiring manual setup. Additionally, it provides only a limited selection of server locations.
- Phone Guardian. Phone Guardian offers limited functionality by only encrypting your data. It lacks other standard VPN features, such as the ability to change your location and IP address, so it isn’t very effective.
- Hoxx VPN. Hoxx VPN is not recommended for those concerned about privacy, as it logs your details, including IP address and online activities, and may retain this information even after you discontinue use.
- TouchVPN. TouchVPN has a large network with servers in over 80 locations, which is pretty good for a free VPN. However, it records your IP address and browsing activities.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Privado VPN. Privado VPN is secure, supports streaming on the free plan, and has 13 free locations, including one in Canada. However, it only allows 10 GB of monthly data, limiting its extra features behind a paywall.
- TunnelBear. TunnelBear is one of the best VPNs in 2024, allows unlimited connections, is easy to use, gives free users access to all of the servers and features that are available on the paid plans, and is even based in Toronto, Canada. Unfortunately, the free plan has a small 2 GB monthly data cap.
- Avira Phantom VPN. Avira Phantom VPN has a good free plan with unlimited connections, fast speeds, and access to servers in 35 countries. However, it limits you to 500 MB, which is only enough for browsing, and its desktop apps don’t let you choose the server you want to connect to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best free VPN for Canada?
ExpressVPN is my top pick for using a VPN in Canada. It doesn’t have a free plan, but it covers all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out risk-free. ExpressVPN includes industry-leading security features, lightning-fast speeds, works with 100+ streaming services, including Netflix Canada and CBC, allows torrenting on all its servers in Canada, and has user-friendly apps for all major operating systems.
For a completely free VPN for Canada, I recommend hide.me. It offers unlimited bandwidth on its free plan, provides good speeds, has strong security, and is user-friendly.
Is there a free VPN with servers in Canada?
Luckily, yes! Windscribe has a free plan with multiple Canadian locations: Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. They’re conveniently located under the tabs “Canada East” and “Canada West.” Windscribe’s Canadian servers are fast, secure, and support streaming.
Do free VPNs work with Netflix Canada?
Some do, including Windscribe. It has servers in Canada, but it also has a 10 GB monthly data limit that will only be enough to watch a handful of movies.
ExpressVPN is the best choice for securely streaming Netflix Canada. It has servers located in 2 Canadian cities, maintains lightning-fast speeds, and works 100% of the time with Netflix Canada.
What’s the fastest free VPN for Canada?
ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market. In my tests, I had lightning-fast speeds on all Canadian servers for all of my favorite online activities, including browsing, streaming, torrenting, and gaming. Although it’s not free, ExpressVPN’s plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test its speeds risk-free.
