# Free Alternative to ExpressVPN Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 The best free alternative to ExpressVPN ($13/month) is ProtonVPN. Install it with: `brew install --cask protonvpn`. ## Best Free Alternative to ExpressVPN for Mac ExpressVPN remains a top-tier consumer VPN in August 2026, but the bill is no longer a simple single-tier subscription. Official checkout splits the product into Basic, Advanced and Express Pro. Month-to-month Basic typically lands around $12.99-$14.99 depending on regional promotions and review-site snapshots; multi-year Basic promos advertise effective rates near $2.99-$3.49/mo (often billed as a long term total with autorenewal at a higher annual price after the promo period). Higher tiers add more simultaneous devices (Basic 10, Advanced 12, Express Pro 14 on current order pages), stronger threat blocking, password manager / mail-guard bundles and ExpressAI credits on Pro. For Mac users who mainly need encrypted browsing, public Wi-Fi safety and ISP-tracking resistance, that stack is more than many people need and more than many want to pay every year. The honest free alternative is still Proton VPN Free. Proton's free plan remains genuinely unlimited on data and speed, with no ads and a strict no-logs policy, subsidized by paid subscribers. Free accounts are limited to one device at a time. Server coverage for free users has expanded well beyond the old three-country set: free servers now include locations such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Japan and Singapore (exact free-pool selection can rotate and free users often get less control over exact server choice than Plus). Encryption and kill-switch fundamentals match paid quality; streaming unblocking, P2P, multi-device use, Secure Core and NetShield-class blocking do not. If you need Netflix reliability or five laptops at once, pay for Proton Plus or a reputable paid VPN, do not install a random free VPN that monetizes your traffic. ## Free alternatives 1. [ProtonVPN](https://bundl.run/apps/protonvpn) — VPN client focusing on security `brew install --cask protonvpn` ## Verdict For Mac users looking to replace ExpressVPN without spending money, ProtonVPN Free is the only recommendation we can make with confidence. It provides genuine privacy protection using the same encryption standards as paid services, with the caveat that you get fewer server locations and no streaming unblocking. If your VPN needs extend beyond basic privacy, into streaming, torrenting, or multi-device coverage, you will need to either upgrade to ProtonVPN Plus or accept that a quality VPN service costs money. ## FAQ ### Is ProtonVPN actually free or is there a hidden catch ProtonVPN's free tier is genuinely free with no data caps, no speed limits and no hidden costs. Unlike most free VPNs that sell user data or show intrusive ads, ProtonVPN subsidizes free accounts through paying customers. You will need to create an account, but no credit card is required. The free tier is limited to three server locations and one device connection, but the core privacy protection is identical to paid plans. ### Can ProtonVPN Free replace ExpressVPN completely For core privacy, encrypted tunnel, kill switch, no-logs browsing, yes. For ExpressVPN-class streaming reliability, multi-device households, or always-on multi-hop, no. ExpressVPN still wins on convenience and catalog unblocking; Proton Free wins on honest zero-cost privacy. ### How does ProtonVPN make money if the free tier is unlimited ProtonVPN operates on a freemium model. The free tier is intentionally limited to three server locations and one device to encourage upgrades. Paying subscribers ($4.99-$11.49/month depending on plan) fund the infrastructure that free users share. also, Proton offers a full privacy suite including Proton Mail, Drive and Calendar, which creates a natural upgrade path for users who want complete privacy protection. ### Is ProtonVPN safe and trustworthy for sensitive activities ProtonVPN is widely considered one of the most trustworthy VPN providers. It is developed by Proton AG, a Swiss company bound by strict privacy laws. Their no-logs policy has been audited by independent security firms and confirmed in a real-world legal case where Swiss courts forced them to hand over data and they had none to provide. The apps are open-source and allowing security researchers to verify there are no backdoors. ### Will ProtonVPN slow down my internet connection All VPNs add some overhead because your traffic is being encrypted and routed through an additional server. ProtonVPN Free users may experience slower speeds during peak times since paid users get priority bandwidth. However, for typical browsing, email and standard-definition video, the speed difference is negligible. I tested speeds of 50-100 Mbps on free servers, more than adequate for most tasks. ### Can I use ProtonVPN Free for torrenting and P2P downloads No, P2P file sharing and BitTorrent are blocked on ProtonVPN's free servers. This restriction exists because copyright complaints could jeopardize server contracts. If you need torrenting support, you will need to upgrade to ProtonVPN Plus or use a different VPN that allows P2P on free tiers, though most free VPNs that allow torrenting are suspicious and potentially unsafe. ### Does ProtonVPN work with Netflix and other streaming services ProtonVPN Free rarely works with Netflix, Disney+, or other major streaming platforms. These services aggressively block known VPN IP addresses. Streaming unblocking is a premium feature reserved for ProtonVPN Plus subscribers who get access to dedicated streaming-optimized servers. If unblocking content is your primary VPN use case, ExpressVPN or a ProtonVPN paid plan will serve you better. ### How many devices can I use with ProtonVPN Free Proton VPN Free allows one active VPN connection at a time. You can install the app on Mac, iPhone and other platforms, but only one device can be connected simultaneously. ExpressVPN's August 2026 tiers list about 10 simultaneous devices on Basic, 12 on Advanced and 14 on Express Pro. Proton Plus raises the free limit to up to 10 devices. ### What countries are available on ProtonVPN Free Free users can reach Proton VPN free servers in a multi-region pool that commonly includes the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Japan and Singapore. That is a big upgrade from older guides that still say 'only three countries.' Free users may not always pick a specific city/IP the way Plus users can. ExpressVPN's paid network still spans far more countries and optimized streaming endpoints if geography and catalog access are the goal. ### Should I upgrade from ProtonVPN Free to Plus Upgrade if you need reliable streaming unblocking, P2P, more than one simultaneous device, full country selection across 110+ locations, or NetShield/Secure Core. Proton's paid plans are still typically cheaper than ExpressVPN's long-term headline rates when you only need privacy plus streaming. Stay on free if public Wi-Fi security and ISP masking are your whole use case. ## Sources - [ExpressVPN official order / pricing](https://www.expressvpn.com/order) - [ExpressVPN pricing page](https://www.expressvpn.com/pricing) - [Proton VPN Free plan](https://protonvpn.com/free-vpn) - [Proton VPN free vs paid](https://protonvpn.com/free-vpn/free-vs-paid) - [Proton free server change guide](https://protonvpn.com/support/change-server-free-plan) - [Homebrew cask protonvpn](https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/protonvpn) - [ExpressVPN plans and prices August 2026 overview](https://cybernews.com/best-vpn/expressvpn-review/expressvpn-cost/) - [Proton VPN home](https://protonvpn.com/) ## Related - [ProtonVPN vs Mullvad VPN](https://bundl.run/compare/protonvpn-vs-mullvad) - [ProtonVPN vs NordVPN](https://bundl.run/compare/protonvpn-vs-nordvpn) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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