Best free privacy & security tools (2026)

“Free” gets used loosely, so we only list privacy & security tools with a free plan the data actually proves.

We split tools you can use indefinitely for free from ones that only offer a trial, and for each we note the concrete limit and the catch. Figures reflect public plans at the time of writing and can change.

The free tools at a glance

Tool	Free offer	What you get free	Best for
Avast One	Free plan	Antivirus, VPN, scam protection, breach monitoring	free-tier
AVG	Free plan	Core antivirus	free-tier
Bitwarden	Free plan	Unlimited passwords, unlimited devices	open-source
Hotspot Shield	Free plan	Ad-supported, one location, daily data cap	speed
Malwarebytes	Free plan	On-demand scanner only	malware-removal
NordPass	Free plan	One active device at a time	budget
Proton Pass	Free plan	Unlimited logins/devices/passkeys, 10 aliases	email-aliasing
Proton VPN	Free plan	Unlimited data, 1 device, limited locations	privacy
RoboForm	Free plan	Single device	form-filling
TunnelBear	Free plan	2 GB/month limit	beginners
Windscribe	Free plan	10 GB/month, 11 locations	free-tier

The picks, ranked

1. Avast One Antivirus

Free antivirus heritage plus an all-in-one Avast One suite with VPN and breach monitoring (Gen Digital).

Free plan: Antivirus, VPN, scam protection, breach monitoring

Standout feature: Data breach monitoring.

Best for: Users wanting a solid free antivirus or a low-cost all-in-one suite.

The catch: Frequent upsell prompts in free version.

Full Avast One overview

Try Avast One free →

2. AVG Antivirus

Long-standing free antivirus brand sharing Avast's engine, with affordable paid Internet Security tiers (Gen Digital).

Free plan: Core antivirus

Standout feature: AVG TuneUp system optimization (Ultimate).

Best for: Budget users wanting reliable free or low-cost antivirus.

The catch: Free tier lacks ransomware/phishing protections.

Full AVG overview

Try AVG free →

3. Bitwarden Password Manager

Open-source, self-hostable, audited and the strongest free tier of any major password manager.

Free plan: Unlimited passwords, unlimited devices

Standout feature: Strongest free tier of any major manager (unlimited passwords, unlimited devices).

Best for: Open-source advocates, the budget-conscious, and self-hosters.

Full Bitwarden overview

Try Bitwarden free →

4. Hotspot Shield VPN

Proprietary Hydra protocol tuned for high speeds and a free ad-supported tier.

Free plan: Ad-supported, one location, daily data cap

Standout feature: Free ad-supported tier.

Best for: Users prioritising raw speed who are comfortable with a US-based provider.

The catch: Free tier heavily limited (one location, daily data cap).

Full Hotspot Shield overview

Try Hotspot Shield free →

5. Malwarebytes Antivirus

Strong remediation/anti-malware specialist, lightweight scanner and a usable free on-demand cleaner.

Free plan: On-demand scanner only

Standout feature: Real-time web, ransomware and exploit protection (Premium).

Best for: Users wanting strong malware remediation, often as a second layer.

The catch: Fewer suite features than Norton/Bitdefender.

Full Malwarebytes overview

Try Malwarebytes free →

6. NordPass Password Manager

XChaCha20 encryption, data-breach scanner and tight integration with the Nord ecosystem.

Free plan: One active device at a time

Standout feature: Data Breach Scanner and Password Health checker.

Best for: Budget users, especially those already in the Nord ecosystem.

The catch: Free tier limits you to one active device at a time.

Full NordPass overview

Try NordPass free →

7. Proton Pass Password Manager

Built-in email aliasing (hide-my-email), integrated 2FA and Swiss privacy from the Proton ecosystem.

Free plan: Unlimited logins/devices/passkeys, 10 aliases

Standout feature: Integrated 2FA/TOTP code generation.

Best for: Privacy-focused users wanting email aliasing and Proton ecosystem integration.

The catch: Newer product, fewer power features than 1Password.

Full Proton Pass overview

Try Proton Pass free →

8. Proton VPN VPN

Swiss-based, open-source audited apps, genuinely usable free tier and Secure Core multi-hop routing.

Free plan: Unlimited data, 1 device, limited locations

Standout feature: NetShield DNS-level ad/tracker/malware blocker.

Best for: Privacy-focused users and those wanting a trustworthy free VPN with upgrade room.

The catch: Free tier limited to one device and a few countries.

Full Proton VPN overview

Try Proton VPN free →

9. RoboForm Password Manager

Best-in-class web form filling, long Windows heritage and affordable family pricing.

Free plan: Single device

Standout feature: Best-in-class web form filling (addresses, cards, passports, etc.).

Best for: Budget users and those who fill a lot of web forms.

The catch: Free plan limited to a single device.

Full RoboForm overview

Try RoboForm free →

10. TunnelBear VPN

Beginner-friendly, playful UI, independent annual security audits and a limited free tier.

Free plan: 2 GB/month limit

Standout feature: Limited free tier (2 GB/month).

Best for: VPN beginners who value transparency and a simple interface over advanced features.

The catch: Free tier capped at just 2 GB/month.

Full TunnelBear overview

Try TunnelBear free →

11. Windscribe VPN

Generous free plan with build-a-plan custom pricing and R.O.B.E.R.T. DNS-level blocking.

Free plan: 10 GB/month, 11 locations

Standout feature: Unlimited simultaneous connections.

Best for: Tinkerers and free-tier users who want flexible pricing and unlimited devices.

Full Windscribe overview

How to pick a free tool

Start with the free plan whose limit you'll hit last for your use case — seats, items or sends — not the longest feature list. Free tiers are for validating fit; upgrade only when a real ceiling, not a nice-to-have, gets in your way.

FAQ

Which of these are genuinely free, and which are just trials?

11 tools here offer a permanent free plan you can keep using at $0 — including Avast One, AVG and Bitwarden. Every tool in the ranked list above offers a standing free plan, not just a trial.

What's the catch with a free plan?

Free tiers trade away scale or polish. The usual limits are usage caps (seats, contacts, sends, storage), a reduced feature set, vendor branding or watermarks, and gated automations. Each pick above lists its specific limit and catch where the data names one.

How were these chosen?

We include a tool only when its own pricing or an independent source confirms a real free plan or trial — no assumed free tiers. Details, limits and facts are drawn from the vendors' plans and the reviews cited in Sources below.

Can you actually run a business on a free plan?

Up to a point. Free plans suit solo users and small volumes; once you need more seats, higher limits or to drop the vendor branding, upgrading is the honest call.

Sources

Free-plan limits and facts above are drawn from these vendor pages and independent reviews: