Planet Free VPN crossed 48 million downloads on Android by promising the simplest version of a VPN: no signup, no logs, no bandwidth cap, with five free server countries. The promise holds for casual use. The friction shows up later, when premium servers, the ad blocker, the per-app filter, and the 65-country list all sit behind a subscription, and when the free server pool gets crowded at peak hours and speed drops to a crawl. Anyone who actually relies on a VPN daily eventually wants more.
If you are looking for Planet Free VPN alternatives that ship a wider free server list, real audited no-logs claims, or a fairer freemium ladder, the options have improved. We tested seven Android VPNs and ranked them by free-tier honesty, paid value, and what the apps actually deliver on restrictive networks.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price/mo | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | Audited free unlimited | Unlimited bandwidth, 5 countries | Plus $4.99/yr | Swiss privacy law |
| Windscribe | Tinkerers | 10 GB/mo, 11 countries | Pro $5.75 | Build-a-plan pricing |
| hide.me VPN | EU-based no-account | 10 GB/mo, 8 countries | Premium $4.99 | Audited no-logs |
| TurboVPN | Quick free fallback | Unlimited free | Premium $11.99 | Familiar UI |
| NordVPN | Premium servers | None (30-day refund) | Standard $3.39/yr | NordLynx and Meshnet |
| Surfshark | Unlimited devices | None (7-day trial) | Starter $1.99/yr | One subscription, every device |
| Psiphon Pro | Restrictive networks | Unlimited with ads | Premium $4.99 | Multi-protocol bypass |
Why people leave Planet Free VPN
The free server count is small and gets crowded. Five countries on the free tier means peak-hours throughput drops to dial-up speed once the popular routes fill up. The fix is buying premium, which exposes 65 countries and 1250 servers.
Premium pressure inside the app is constant. Modals push the upgrade after every connection, and core features like the ad blocker and app filter are paywalled. The free experience is functional; the upsell is loud.
The no-logs claim has limited independent backing. Planet VPN markets a strict no-logs policy under Romanian jurisdiction, which is genuinely strong on paper, but third-party audits are less visible than at Proton, Mullvad, or TunnelBear.
Speeds vary by server. Peak congestion makes the free German and US routes unusable for streaming. Premium servers fix this, but at that point a more reputable paid VPN is the same money.
Long-term mobile sessions drain battery. The OpenVPN implementation is heavier on Android battery than newer WireGuard-based clients. Users on older phones notice this within a day.
The alternatives
Proton VPN, best for audited free unlimited bandwidth
Proton VPN is the obvious replacement for anyone wanting a real free tier. Unlimited bandwidth on the free plan, five free server countries, an audited no-logs policy, and Swiss jurisdiction. The Android app is open-source.
Where it falls short: free servers are sometimes slow at peak hours, and the streaming-friendly servers are paid-only.
Pricing:
- Free: unlimited bandwidth, five countries, one device.
- Paid: VPN Plus at $4.99 a month annual ($59.88 a year), Proton Unlimited at $9.99 a month annual.
- vs Planet Free VPN: free tier is unlimited and audited, paid tier costs about the same as Planet Premium but with stronger trust signals.
Migrating from Planet Free VPN: install Proton VPN, create an account with an email (no payment), uninstall Planet. There is no configuration to import.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick this as the default replacement. Free is genuinely usable, paid is competitive.
Windscribe, best for tinkerers
Windscribe ships a generous free tier and a much deeper feature set than Planet VPN. Split tunneling, custom DNS, double-hop, R.O.B.E.R.T. filtering, and per-app rules all sit inside the app. The build-a-plan pricing lets users pay only for the locations they need.
Where it falls short: the free 10 GB monthly cap fills with two evenings of video. The UI is dense and intimidating for beginners.
Pricing:
- Free: 10 GB a month, 11 server countries, basic features.
- Paid: Pro at $5.75 a month annual ($69 a year) or build-a-plan from $1 per location.
- vs Planet Free VPN: deeper feature set at every tier and a more predictable free experience.
Migrating from Planet Free VPN: sign up, optionally confirm the email to raise the free quota from 2 GB to 10 GB, then connect.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick this if you want to control the VPN, not just connect.
hide.me VPN, best for EU-based no-account use
hide.me VPN matches Planet VPN’s “no account required” promise but adds an audited no-logs policy and modern WireGuard support. The free tier offers 10 GB a month across eight countries, including European hubs.
Where it falls short: the 10 GB cap is the limiter. The fastest US and EU servers are paid-only.
Pricing:
- Free: 10 GB a month, no account.
- Paid: Premium at $4.99 a month annual ($59.88 a year), Family at $9.99 a month annual.
- vs Planet Free VPN: similar free pitch but with audited claims and modern protocols.
Migrating from Planet Free VPN: install, connect, and (optionally) sign up to track usage.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick this if the no-account workflow is what kept you on Planet.
TurboVPN, best for a quick free fallback
TurboVPN is the closest spiritual cousin of Planet Free VPN: a freemium one-tap connection with unlimited free bandwidth and an aggressive ad layer. The free server pool is wider than Planet’s, but the trust story is comparable, not stronger.
Where it falls short: ads on the free tier are heavy, and the privacy policy has been criticized by independent reviewers for vague language about data sharing with partners.
Pricing:
- Free: unlimited bandwidth with ads.
- Paid: Premium at about $11.99 a month or $50.99 a year (regional pricing varies).
- vs Planet Free VPN: similar profile, with a wider free server pool but the same kind of trust trade-off.
Migrating from Planet Free VPN: install and connect. No data to migrate.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick this if the Planet experience is what you want and you just need a different brand. Treat the trust profile as equivalent, not stronger.
NordVPN, best for premium servers and streaming
NordVPN is the mainstream paid pick. Servers are fast, NordLynx (WireGuard-based) is efficient on battery, Meshnet enables private device-to-device tunnels, and the streaming-friendly server picker actually works. The no-logs policy has been audited multiple times.
Where it falls short: no free tier. The monthly rate is steep; annual or two-year deals are how most users buy in.
Pricing:
- Paid: Standard from $3.39 a month for a two-year plan, Plus $4.39, Complete $6.39.
- vs Planet Free VPN: paid-only but the per-month annual rate is comparable to Planet Premium with much higher quality.
Migrating from Planet Free VPN: sign up, install, connect. The Meshnet feature lets you wire a phone and laptop together over private IPs without any extra setup.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: pick this if you have stopped using free VPNs and want a known paid name.
Surfshark, best for unlimited devices
Surfshark offers one of the few VPN plans that does not cap simultaneous connections. One subscription covers every phone, laptop, tablet, and router in a household. Server speeds are solid, and the Surfshark One bundle adds an antivirus and identity-monitoring layer.
Where it falls short: the monthly rate is high; the marketing aggressively pushes the two-year plan. No free tier.
Pricing:
- Paid: Starter from $1.99 a month for the two-year plan plus the first 24 months, then $7.79 a month renewal.
- vs Planet Free VPN: paid-only but the per-device economics on the long plan are competitive.
Migrating from Planet Free VPN: install on any device that needs the VPN, sign in with the same account, and connect. There is no device cap to manage.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: pick this if you protect a household of devices and want one bill.
Psiphon Pro, best for restrictive networks
Psiphon Pro is the tool for networks that aggressively block VPN protocols. It rotates through SSH, HTTPS, and obfuscated protocols until something connects, which is why it often works in environments where WireGuard and OpenVPN both fail.
Where it falls short: the free tier shows ads and routes through volunteer-style endpoints. Speeds vary.
Pricing:
- Free: unlimited with ads.
- Paid: Premium at $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year removes ads and unlocks all servers.
- vs Planet Free VPN: more reliable on restrictive networks and the paid tier is comparable in cost.
Migrating from Planet Free VPN: install and connect; protocols negotiate automatically.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick this when other VPNs cannot connect at all.
How to choose
Pick Proton VPN if you want the strongest free tier and trust signals.
Pick Windscribe if you want a real free 10 GB and the deepest feature set.
Pick hide.me if you want no-account free use with audited claims.
Pick TurboVPN if you just want a brand swap of Planet Free VPN with a wider free server pool.
Pick NordVPN if you have moved on from free and want the mainstream paid option with strong streaming support.
Pick Surfshark if you protect many devices on one subscription.
Pick Psiphon Pro for restrictive networks where regular VPN protocols fail.
Stay on Planet Free VPN only if no-signup quick connect is the dominant requirement and you accept the trust profile.
FAQ
Is Planet Free VPN really free?
The free tier is unlimited on bandwidth across five server countries, with ads and freemium prompts. The premium upgrade unlocks 65 countries, 1250 servers, the ad blocker, and the per-app filter.
Is Planet Free VPN safe?
The company markets a no-logs policy under Romanian jurisdiction, which is favorable on paper. Independent audit signals are weaker than at Proton VPN, hide.me, or Mullvad. For low-stakes browsing it is functional; for sensitive activity, an audited VPN is the safer pick.
What is the best free Planet Free VPN alternative?
Proton VPN has the only unlimited-bandwidth free tier with an audit. For users under 10 GB a month, Windscribe and hide.me are stronger alternatives because of the audit and the protocol depth.
How does Surfshark compare to NordVPN?
Both are mainstream paid options with audited no-logs claims and modern protocols. NordVPN is faster on streaming-friendly servers and has Meshnet. Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections at a lower headline price.
Can I use these VPNs in countries that restrict VPN use?
Psiphon Pro is designed for restrictive networks and usually still works. Proton VPN’s Stealth protocol and Windscribe’s Stealth mode are also strong picks. Local laws vary; this is a tool question, not a legal question, so check the rules in your country.
Why does free unlimited VPN bandwidth usually mean ads or weaker privacy?
Operating VPN servers costs money. Free unlimited bandwidth either means the company is subsidizing the free tier with paid customers (Proton VPN), with ads (TurboVPN, Planet Free VPN, Psiphon Pro free), or with data monetization. The trade-off is unavoidable; the question is which trade-off is disclosed and audited.
