VPNs With a Real Free Trial
Three different things get sold as a “free trial”. Only one of them lets you test a VPN without paying anything first.
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What counts as a free trial
A real trial
You use the full service for a set number of days and pay nothing. Sometimes you still have to enter card details, but nothing is charged.
A money-back guarantee
You pay the full amount up front and ask for a refund within 30 to 45 days. Useful, but it is not free — your money is gone in the meantime.
A permanently free plan
Not a trial at all: a free tier you can keep using, usually with a data cap or fewer servers. Often the better way to test.
What each provider actually offers
Every line below was read on the provider's own page on 25 July 2026. Where other sites disagree, we follow the provider.
| VPN | Free trial | Where | Card needed first | Money-back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | 7 days | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, smart-tv | Yes | 30 days |
| CyberGhost | 24 hours | Windows, macOS | No | 45 days |
| ExpressVPN | 3 days | Android, iOS | Yes | 30 days |
| NordVPN | 3 days | Android | Yes | 30 days |
Two things you will read elsewhere that are wrong
- Google's AI summary says ExpressVPN gives a 7-day mobile trial. ExpressVPN's own page says 3 days, on iOS and Android only.
- Several large review sites list a 7-day NordVPN trial on iOS and Android. NordVPN's own page says 3 days, Android only.
Which to pick
Surfshark
7 daysThe longest trial that works on a computer: 7 days on desktop and mobile. You do enter payment details, but nothing is charged and you can cancel inside the week.
Alleen op de 12- en 24-maandsplannen; $0,00 vooraf, opzegbaar binnen de 7 dagen.
CyberGhost
24 hoursThe only one you can start on a laptop without handing over a card at all — but it is 24 hours, so plan what you want to test. The 45-day refund window is the longest of the four.
24 uur op desktop zonder betaalgegevens. Op mobiel 3 dagen (Android) en 7 dagen (iOS), maar daar eist de appstore wél een betaalmethode.
ExpressVPN
3 daysThree days, phone or tablet only, through the app store. Note that buying via the app store puts you outside ExpressVPN's own 30-day refund policy.
Alleen via de App Store of Google Play. Een aankoop via de appstore valt buiten de 30 dagen geld terug — daar gelden de regels van Apple of Google.
NordVPN
3 daysThree days, Android only. On any other device there is no trial — just the 30-day money-back route.
Alleen via Google Play; op andere platforms is er geen proefperiode.
Want to test without any deadline?
These have a free plan that does not expire. Slower and more limited than paid, but you can take your time.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Each claim above links to the page it came from, read on 25 July 2026.
- Surfshark — https://surfshark.com/vpn-free-trial (checked 2026-07-25)
- CyberGhost — https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/vpn-free-trial (checked 2026-07-25)
- ExpressVPN — https://www.expressvpn.com/features/vpn-trial (checked 2026-07-25)
- NordVPN — https://nordvpn.com/risk-free-vpn/ (checked 2026-07-25)