EventVPN — ExpressVPN team’s new freemium VPN: features, privacy & verdict
EventVPN launched on September 18 as a freemium VPN built by the same team and on the same infrastructure as ExpressVPN. It’s available for iOS and macOS and offers some notable features worth considering:
- Unlimited free bandwidth: The free tier provides unlimited bandwidth — uncommon among free VPNs.
- Account model: Uses Apple ID validation and issues connection tokens without storing user data on its backend, making it theoretically unable to sell user info.
- Security: Includes a kill switch and a post‑quantum version of WireGuard; ExpressVPN’s audited infrastructure is used under the hood.
- Server access & connections: Free users: ~35 server locations and one device connection. Paid users: ~125 locations and up to eight simultaneous connections.
- Pricing & ads: Paid plans are $9.99/month or $69.99/year. The free plan is ad‑supported; ads appear on connect/disconnect but are anonymized via a masked identifier.
How it compares: EventVPN is more privacy‑focused than many free VPNs that monetize users’ data. However, other freemium services like Proton VPN, hide.me, Windscribe (and TunnelBear in some cases) offer free tiers without ads or with different tradeoffs. EventVPN’s unique angle is its lack of a user‑data backend via Apple ID, which acts as a technical barrier to selling user data — though Apple itself remains a data steward.
The tradeoff: The privacy guarantee is strengthened by the no‑data backend, but the free plan requires watching ads. If you prefer an ad‑free free VPN, alternatives such as Proton VPN, hide.me or Windscribe may be preferable. If you already trust ExpressVPN’s performance and policies, EventVPN could be a convenient free backup.
More info: Official announcement: ExpressVPN blog — EventVPN
Would you use a free VPN that displays anonymized ads if it prevents your data from being sold? Let us know in the comments.