PrivadoVPN

PrivadoVPN is the second provider in this category with a genuine free tier, after Proton VPN, though the two are not equivalent.

Proton VPN's free plan is unlimited in data and time; PrivadoVPN's is capped at 10GB every 30 days on a single device, which is enough to try the service or cover occasional light use but not enough to live on. Paid plans lift that to ten simultaneous connections, unlimited data, and access to the full server list, with a 30-day money-back guarantee on top of the free tier itself.

The contracting entity is Privado Networks ehf, based in Garðabær, Iceland — Iceland is in the EEA and covered by GDPR through the EEA agreement, but sits outside the EU itself, closer in shape to IVPN's Gibraltar than to the EU members in this category.

Payments may route through a Swiss or a US affiliate depending on the method chosen, though the subscription contract itself stays with the Icelandic entity. Prices are quoted in US dollars rather than euros — from about $1.11 a month on a 24-month plan to $10.99 month-to-month — which is worth converting before comparing against the euro prices elsewhere in this category.

What PrivadoVPN does well

• Free tier: 10GB every 30 days, no card required to start
• Ten simultaneous device connections on paid plans
• Iceland-based contracting entity, EEA and GDPR coverage
• 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans
• Low headline price on longer commitments

Where PrivadoVPN falls short

• Free tier capped at 10GB every 30 days, one device
• Prices shown in US dollars, not euros
• Payment processing may route through a US affiliate
• No independent no-logs audit or open-source apps

Standout feature. A second free tier in this category: PrivadoVPN gives away 10GB every 30 days, smaller than Proton VPN's but with no card required.