Let’s rewind to 2016 when free VPN services became popular means of ensuring online privacy and security. However, which were the best free VPNs back then, and where are they now?
- Hotspot Shield was one of the most well-known and popular free VPN services in 2016. It provided relatively good speed and security levels for its free version. Today, Hotspot Shield remains in the market but also offers paid plans with enhanced features.
- TunnelBear was known for its simple interface and generous free traffic quota in 2016. It was popular among users looking for an easy-to-use solution to bypass geographical restrictions. Today, TunnelBear continues to provide free access but with a limited amount of traffic.
- Windscribe was a relatively new player in the world of free VPNs in 2016 but quickly gained popularity due to its generous free traffic quota and additional features, such as ad blocking and malware protection. Today, Windscribe still offers free access with some limitations.
- CyberGhost was also known in 2016, but at that time, its free access was limited. However, it offered reliable security and the ability to bypass blocks. Currently, CyberGhost primarily provides paid plans, but it also has a limited free option.
- ProtonVPN emerged on the market later but quickly gained recognition due to its high level of security and transparent privacy policy. It provides limited free access that remains popular among users who value confidentiality.
Conclusion
The best free VPN services of 2016 remain in the memory of users, but over the time, many of them transitioned to a subscription-based model or limited their free offerings. However, there are still several reliable free VPN services available today, though they may have speed and feature limitations. It is important to choose a VPN based on your security and privacy needs.