Top picks
1. Surfshark — best value for shared flats
90/100 editorial · $2.19/mo (2-year, verify live) · Unlimited devices
Unlimited simultaneous connections cover phone, laptop, tablet, and console without extra fees. Independent Deloitte audit and WireGuard support. Strong pick when roommates split one subscription.
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2. Proton VPN — best free tier for privacy
89/100 editorial · Free tier + paid from $4.99/mo · Swiss jurisdiction
The audited free plan has no data cap and a verified no-logs policy — rare among free VPNs. Paid tiers add streaming servers and higher speeds. Ideal when budget is zero but privacy matters.
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3. Windscribe — pay only for countries you need
Build-a-plan from ~$3/mo · 10 GB free tier
Windscribe's build-a-plan lets students buy access to specific countries instead of a global bundle. Free tier includes 10 GB/month with a built-in ad blocker — useful on campus Wi‑Fi.
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Editorial disclosure: Scores from public audits, jurisdiction, features, and published pricing — not hands-on lab tests. We are not in affiliate programs; links go to official provider sites. Verify pricing before purchase. See
data sources.
Compare all 16 VPNs on our full comparison table or read the methodology.