Kaidaira Miyahira Updated on Apr 2, 2025
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TOP VPN
Maintain Your Online Privacy with Falcon VPN
Try NowIn a bold market shift, Falcon VPN has transitioned from a premium service to a 100% free VPN —a move that’s both intriguing and eyebrow-raising. While best free VPN s often conjure images of data mining and buffering hellscapes, Falcon VPN claims to deliver “premium-tier security without the price tag.”
Can a gratis service truly protect your streaming, privacy, and torrenting needs? We tested it for three weeks across 12 countries to uncover the truth.
Let’s dissect what’s free versus what’s behind paywalls:
Feature | Free Version | Premium Upgrade ($4.99/month) |
---|---|---|
Data Limit | Unlimited* | Unlimited (No throttling) |
Server Access | 23 countries (600 servers) | 94 countries (3,000+ servers) |
Speed | "Medium" priority bandwidth | "Turbo" priority (85%+ speed retention) |
Ads | Non-intrusive banners | Ad-free experience |
Streaming | Unblocks Netflix & YouTube | Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer |
Torrenting | Allowed (5GB daily cap) | Unlimited P2P |
Simultaneous Devices | 2 devices | 7 devices |
Customer Support | Email only (48h response) | 24/7 live chat + priority support |
*Free users report throttling after 15GB daily usage—tested at 8AM vs 8PM
During peak hours (7-10 PM), Falcon Free successfully unblocked:
Netflix US/UK/Japan libraries in 720p
YouTube at 1080p without buffering
Twitch streams at Medium quality (no drops)
Test Note: Trying to access Disney+ triggered a “Please upgrade” popup.
Despite being free, Falcon VPN retains its Swiss-based, audited no-logs policy:
2024 Audit: Conducted by PrivacyGuardians LLC (public report available)
Data Collected: Only email for free accounts (optional anonymous sign-up via burner email)
Ad Tracking: Uses contextual ads (based on server location, not user behavior)
We tested speeds on a 100 Mbps connection:
Server | Free Speed | Premium Speed |
---|---|---|
New York (Local) | 68 Mbps | 92 Mbps |
Germany | 42 Mbps | 78 Mbps |
Japan | 29 Mbps | 51 Mbps |
Zoom Calls: Stable on free tier (720p)
Web Browsing: 1-2s page load delays
Light Gaming: 90ms ping in Fortnite (EU servers)
Despite the claim of “unlimited data,” our tests revealed:
Speed Drops: From 65 Mbps to 12 Mbps after 14GB of usage
Daily Caps: Torrenting disabled post-5GB until midnight UTC
Peak-Time Lag: 58% slower speeds during primetime vs. mornings
Ad Partner Access: Falcon’s privacy policy admits sharing “aggregate location data” with advertisers
Email Leak Risk: Using a non-burner email exposed our test account to phishing attempts within 72 hours
No IPv6/WebRTC Protection: Free users must manually enable leak protection
Only 23 countries available for free
Missing Key Regions: Australia, South Africa, Turkey
Overcrowding: London servers hit 89% capacity nightly
No Obfuscation: Struggled in UAE and China during tests
VPN | Free Data | Ads? | Streaming | Logs Policy | Torrenting |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcon Free | Unlimited* | Banner | Netflix/YT | Audited No-Logs | 5GB daily cap |
ProtonVPN Free | Unlimited | None | None | Strict No-Logs | Allowed |
Windscribe Free | 10GB/month | Pop-ups | Netflix | Collects Timestamps | Allowed |
Hide.me Free | 10GB/month | None | None | Logs Connection IPs | Blocked |
*With throttling after 15GB
🔹 Key Takeaway: Falcon Free leads in streaming access but trails ProtonVPN in pure privacy.
Falcon’s paid tier removes all free limitations, but is it worth the price?
Streaming Unlock: Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer
7 Devices: Cover phones, laptops, and smart TVs
Ad-Free Experience: Removes 3-5 second connection delays caused by ads
Double VPN: Encrypts traffic through two servers
Activity | Free Tier | Premium Tier |
---|---|---|
4K Streaming | Not Possible | Flawless |
5GB File Download | 12 mins | 6 mins |
Game Patch (20GB) | Throttled | 22 Mbps steady |
Verdict: Worthwhile for streamers and households—skip if you only need casual browsing.
Free Users: AES-128 (vs. Premium’s AES-256)
Protocols: OpenVPN UDP/TCP only (no WireGuard for free)
DNS Leaks: 0/50 tests failed
WebRTC Exposure: Detected 3/10 times on free Android app
Swiss Laws Apply: No mandatory data retention
BUT: Free users fall under “consumer service” terms, allowing limited data sharing with “trusted third-party partners.”
✅ Yes If You:
Need basic Netflix access abroad
Want a backup VPN for public Wi-Fi
Can tolerate 720p streaming
Use <15GB data daily
❌ No If You:
Handle sensitive documents/work
Need consistent high-speed torrenting
Visit high-censorship regions like China
ProtonVPN Free: Max privacy but no streaming
Windscribe Free: Build-your-own plan ($3/month unlocks Netflix)
Falcon VPN’s free model shakes up the industry by offering unprecedented streaming access without upfront costs—but “free” isn’t truly free. While it dodges the data-selling traps of sketchier VPNs, speed throttling and opaque ad partnerships remind us that quality privacy still has a price.
For light users wanting Netflix on a budget, it’s a game-changer. For everyone else? The $4.99/month premium tier delivers what matters most: speed without limits, and privacy without asterisks.
As a senior editor, Kaidaira Miyahira conducts in-depth research and data analysis on VPNs, working closely with writers to produce comprehensive reviews and guides on the best VPNs for streaming, gaming, and secure browsing. With a strong background in online security, Kaidaira provides readers with expert insights into protecting their digital privacy and avoiding cyber threats. Passionate about internet freedom, Kaidaira has authored numerous articles offering practical strategies for enhancing security and maintaining anonymity online.