The Pakistani government tightly controls the internet space in the country, resulting in frequent content shutdowns. It’s not uncommon for authorities to disrupt telecommunication services during holidays, elections, and protests, leading to residents turning to the best free VPN services for Pakistan to regain access.
Beyond content restrictions, online surveillance poses a significant threat to activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens. Moreover, when traveling abroad, staying connected to local news and TV shows, and conducting banking transactions becomes challenging. It’s no wonder VPNs have become a popular solution in Pakistan, offering a way to navigate these online challenges.
While we generally recommend premium providers for their reliability, we recognize the demand for free options. Despite their limitations, we’ve identified the best free VPNs to provide a private online experience in Pakistan.
Best Free VPN for Pakistan for 30 or 45 Days
To reiterate, paid VPN services are on a different level from those that don’t require a subscription fee. If you want to be as close to anonymity as possible while enjoying unrestricted access to online content, you really should be looking at the best Pakistan VPNs, which are generally premium.
What if you could do just that? Before moving on to the completely free options, let’s explore the risk-free offerings from two of the top providers out there.
CyberGhost: The Best Free VPN for Pakistan for Up to 45 Days
CyberGhost demonstrates a high level of confidence in its service. In contrast to many other top-rated VPNs that typically provide a 30-day money-back guarantee, it goes the extra mile by extending this period by an additional 15 days.
That means you get a generous 45-day free trial period to test the VPN service in Pakistan without any risk. If you decide to cancel your subscription within this time frame, you can request a refund, and the provider will carry out a reimbursement on the same day, no questions asked.
It’s important to note that this extended refund policy applies only to six-month or longer subscription plans. For monthly plans, a two-week money-back guarantee is in place.
As a bonus to enhance the overall value of the offer, the VPN extends an exclusive discount for our readers, which you can access through the link below.
Try CyberGhost free for 30 days
Why Use CyberGhost Instead of a Really Free VPN in Pakistan?
CyberGhost is a wallet-friendly VPN service based in Romania. However, this provider packs a punch, and there’s a lot more going for it than affordability.
For instance, it comes with one of the largest networks on the market, comprising more than 10,200 servers across 100 countries. That includes 11 servers in Pakistan, so you can easily get a Pakistani IP address for smooth connections.
Despite the not-so-brisk broadband speeds in Pakistan, CyberGhost does a commendable job at preserving your original connection speed, thanks to its robust infrastructure and the incorporation of WireGuard into its arsenal.
Pakistani ISPs regularly block access to torrenting sites, which can be a pain if you’re into the activity. Luckily, CyberGhost offers an effective workaround with its P2P-optimized servers for secure and speedy downloads and sharing.
What’s more, this free Pakistan VPN is an excellent option for streaming online content. It effortlessly sidesteps geo-blocks on major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and more. And when you’re jet-setting abroad, CyberGhost ensures you stay plugged into local services like Geo TV and Urdu 1.
CyberGhost protects your online traffic from prying eyes with military-grade encryption. An automatic Wi-Fi protection feature shields your online sessions from monitoring.
The VPN offers several other industry-standard and advanced features, including a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and RAM-only servers. Plus, its strict no-logs policy means your data stays yours.
Want to juggle multiple devices? No problem — CyberGhost lets you do just that on up to 7 devices simultaneously.
ExpressVPN: a 30-day Alternative to Get a Free VPN in Pakistan
ExpressVPN rarely finds itself below the top spot on best VPN rankings, and for good reason. But it has never been accused of being affordable, an important factor for Pakistan. That said, a 30-day refund policy allows you to protect your data and mask your online sessions for a limited free period.
And to sweeten the deal, the VPN offers a staggering 49% discount on its annual plan and three extra months.
Try ExpressVPN for 30 days without obligation
Why Use ExpressVPN?
The British Virgin Islands-based provider offers the best combination of performance, privacy, and reliability in the VPN market.
You can choose between over 3,000 constantly-optimized servers spread across 105 countries, the most extensive distribution available. Unsurprisingly, that includes a Pakistani location to unlock local content from anywhere in the world.
In addition, ExpressVPN is arguably the fastest VPN provider, so you can expect near-seamless browsing, streaming, and downloading experiences. The best performance results come from using its custom proprietary protocol, Lightway, which gives WireGuard a run for its money.
It’s also great at circumventing geo-blocks, whether locally or internationally. ExpressVPN unlocks exclusive libraries on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and a host of other platforms.
Thanks to the VPN’s impressive collection of privacy tools, your online sessions are free from government monitoring and shady operators. It implements AES 256-bit encryption, the virtually uncrackable cipher preferred by security outfits worldwide. ExpressVPN also offers an automatic kill switch and prevents data leakage with DNS leak protection.
Even if Pakistani authorities request your connection logs, there will be none to hand over, as the VPN does not collect or store them.
ExpressVPN lets you protect up to eight of your household devices with a single subscription.
Best REALLY Free VPNs for Pakistan for 2023
If the limited “trials” the VPNs above offer aren’t your cup of tea, and you’d prefer to stick to a genuinely free VPN for Pakistan, we get it. You don’t have to pay a subscription for the providers we’re about to discuss — but you must be ready to compromise a little bit of quality and reliability.
1. Atlas VPN – the best free VPN for Pakistan overall
A relative newcomer, Atlas VPN has swiftly climbed the ranks in the freemium VPN scene. The free VPN works in Pakistan, allowing citizens and residents to bypass government restrictions and monitoring at no cost.
There are no servers in Pakistan, but we weren’t really expecting that anyway. Instead, Atlas VPN offers 1,000+ servers across 49 countries, with three of those (located in Los Angeles, New York, and the Netherlands) available to free users.
You should consider Atlas VPN if you’re into torrenting, as it’s optimized for secure and fast downloads and seeding.
Don’t expect the unblocking capabilities of ExpressVPN or CyberGhost, but it performs impressively enough in this area for a free VPN. As for connection speeds, it blows most competitors out of the water.
However, keep in mind that performance isn’t everything. The VPN’s 5 GB monthly data cap is just enough for a few movies in high-quality video.
Atlas VPN prioritizes security and privacy with bank-level encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy. Although an independent audit of its policy would be reassuring, an audit of its iOS app is a starting point in that direction.
Premium users enjoy round-the-clock live chat support. However, as a free user, you can contact support through email or a convenient request form. And should you choose to upgrade, the VPN’s pricing is almost ridiculously cheap.
2. ProtonVPN – best free VPN for Pakistan with unlimited data
ProtonVPN is a solid choice for Pakistani residents who want a reliable free VPN. What makes it stand out? Well, it has one of the most generous free plans you can find.
For instance, ProtonVPN will never limit your bandwidth or data. The VPN prevents your ISP from slowing down your connection based on what you’re streaming or downloading, a common tactic by Pakistani service providers.
You can choose from 153 servers in the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States. That would hardly be mindblowing for a top premium provider, but it is pretty impressive for a free VPN.
What’s more, Atlas VPN won’t take a hard toll on your connection speed. While not as speedy as Atlas VPN, it performs on par with many paid services, so you can expect buffer-free online content streaming. And if you want a little extra kick in performance, their VPN Accelerator feature has your back.
But, fair warning, you should probably look elsewhere if you’re seeking a VPN to download torrents, as there’s no P2P support.
ProtonVPN takes your online privacy pretty seriously. It has a no-logs policy that’s been given the thumbs up by third parties. In addition, the provider uses AES 256-bit encryption to keep shady operators from handling your data. Handy features like obfuscation and leak protection give you an extra layer of security, which can be pretty reassuring in a restrictive country like Pakistan.
ProtonVPN has your back with direct customer support through email or a nifty knowledge base to dig up answers to your burning queries.
3. PrivadoVPN – A free VPN for Pakistan with wide geographic coverage
The third-best free VPN for Pakistan operates out of Switzerland. While it doesn’t specify how many servers it has, they’re scattered across 48 countries. Unfortunately, Pakistan isn’t on the list.
As a free user, you get access to 12 servers, and some of them even support torrenting. Plus, you get 10 GB of data each month, double what Atlas VPN offers. If you happen to hit that limit, no worries. Instead of cutting you off, they just slow you down on a server in the Netherlands.
PrivadoVPN’s streaming game is impeccable. Unlike many free VPNs in Pakistan, it skillfully sidesteps geo-restrictions, allowing you to unblock popular streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Plus, connection speeds are decent, ensuring you can browse and stream without annoying interruptions.
The VPN’s industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption is backed by an automatic kill switch to secure your data whenever the connection drops. DNS leak protection keeps your private information from leaking to the whole internet.
In addition, PrivadoVPN has a strict no-logs policy, and all its servers run on RAM-only servers. You’re not leaving a digital footprint that could come back to haunt you.
PrivadoVPN’s knowledge base includes setup guides, troubleshooting instructions, and general information. If that’s insufficient, you can reach the support team via email.
How Did We Choose the Best Free VPNs for Pakistan?
Let’s face it: the free VPN market is flooded, and most are not worth your dime. We had our work cut out for us, sifting through the mediocre to find the ones that can keep you secure online without hassle.
Here’s what we looked out for:
- Security: We don’t compromise here. The best free VPN for Pakistan must offer security tools close to that of the premium players. Think military-grade encryption, leak prevention, a reliable kill switch, and up-to-date security protocols.
- Privacy: No user or connection logs allowed. Not many free VPNs boast this, but our top three picks for Pakistan do. Two out of three have even faced the scrutiny of third-party audits.
- Performance: Free services aren’t known for their speed. However, our chosen providers deliver solid performance, especially for casual browsing or light streaming, whether you’re in Pakistan or elsewhere.
- Streaming/Torrenting: We know free VPNs can be a bit stingy here. Some allow it, some don’t. Atlas VPN and PrivadoVPN hold their own for streaming, and they’re P2P-friendly. ProtonVPN is more for laid-back streaming, and sorry, no P2P allowed.
- User-Friendliness: No one wants a complicated setup. All the VPNs on our list are a breeze to get up and running. Free account, your trusty device, and a minute of your time — that’s all you need. Once installed, one-click connections make them a joy to use.
Free VPN Services for Pakistan to Avoid
Avoiding free VPNs is common advice among those who know their way around online security. While a few free providers might argue their case well, most experts emphasize the need for caution.
Here are some free VPNs to avoid, whether you’re in Pakistan or elsewhere:
Urban VPN
Urban VPN has a server in Pakistan, which is rare for a free VPN. However, this alone shouldn’t be reason enough to overlook its significant vulnerabilities.
The VPN falls short when it comes to standard privacy features. Not only does it lack essential elements like a kill switch and leak protection, but it also has a troubling logging practice. To make matters worse, Urban VPN operates a risky P2P model.
Hola VPN
Hola VPN is another provider that goes for the “community-powered” approach. While that sounds communal, in reality, it means sharing your bandwidth, IP address, and even your browsing history with third parties.
There’s more. Hola VPN is an enthusiastic collector, hoarding every bit of information about your online sessions, from your locations to your device details. Find out more in our full Hola VPN review.
Conclusion
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s tight grip means data protection and online privacy are pretty non-existent in the country. That’s where a free VPN for Pakistan steps in, tackling issues like blocked content, monitoring, and limited access to banking services.
Our top picks for a risk-free ride are CyberGhost and ExpressVPN for their high-performance, reliable, and secure offerings. Yet, we get it — budget constraints can be a deal-breaker, and we don’t want you browsing unprotected. While they come with limitations, Atlas VPN, Proton VPN, and PrivadoVPN offer a decent balance between privacy and functionality.
