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Some VPN Free Trials Are Misleading, but These 8 Are Legit

You don’t have to pay upfront to take a spin with a VPN.

Repeat after me: Activate, then cancel. Activate, then cancel. You’ll sleep better at night and your wallet won’t take a hit.

That’s one piece of advice from SafePaper, accompanied by its 2025 VPN free trial guide. The cybersecurity and online privacy website tested more than 30 VPN services to determine which offer true-blue free trials and «not just ‘risk-free’ money-back guarantees

When shopping for VPNs, you’ll find many that offer «free trials,» but not all free trials are made the same. There are those where you have to pay up front, and then only get your money back if you don’t violate the refund clause. 

SafePaper has identified the VPNs that offer genuine free trials, where you get to use the service for free (usually 1 to 7 days) before your payment method kicks in — unless you cancel first, of course.

Read more from CNET: The Best Free VPNs | The Best Cheap VPNs | Save on Your Subscription

«True free trials are surprisingly rare in the VPN industry,» said Paige West, editor at SafePaper, said in a statement. «We wanted to cut through the marketing language and identify services that offer real no-commitment access, especially for users who value transparency and cost control.»

It’s not that VPNs with genuine free trials are better than those that offer refunds after the trial is over. «It’s a matter of preference» as to which free trial VPN you want to try out, said CNET VPN expert Attila Tomaschek.

«A VPN free trial typically only lasts a few days, giving users limited time to thoroughly test the service,» Tomaschek said. «A money-back guarantee, while requiring upfront payment, usually lasts about 30 days, which can help users get a much more comprehensive look at the service over a longer period of time.»

See also: NordVPN vs. Surfshark: See How These Sister Services Stack Up

But buyer beware, adds Tomaschek: «While getting your money back from a reputable VPN provider is usually unconditional and pretty straightforward, it’s important for users to read the fine print ahead of making a purchase to ensure the VPN company doesn’t impose any hidden caveats like usage limits that may void its money-back guarantee.»

Free trials, no payment required

In its report, SafePaper identified eight VPN providers with free trials that did not require payment to use the trial. They’re listed below, with info about how long the trials last, which operating systems they work with and whether payment info is required:

  • Surfshark (see CNET review): 7 days; payment info required; all major operating systems
  • CyberGhost (see CNET review): 1-7 days (varies by device); partial payment info; Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS
  • Kaspersky: 7 days (non-US); payment info required; all major operating systems
  • X-VPN: 7 days; payment info required; all major operating systems
  • NordVPN (see CNET review): 3 days; payment info required; Android only
  • HideIPVPN: 3 days; no payment info required; all major operating systems
  • Hidemy.name: 1 day; no payment info required; all major operating systems
  • WordVPN: 1 day; no payment info required; all major operating systems

Look before you leap

SafePaper added a few pro tips to consider when going with a free VPN trial: 

  1. Cancel immediately after you activate the trial. That way, you won’t get charged if you miss the deadline to cancel the subscription. And haven’t most of us made that mistake before?
  2. You should try two to three different VPN services before making your final decision. Compare speed, support and stability.
  3. Use alternate email addresses to safeguard the privacy of your primary email account.

Technologies

Want to Watch a Podcast? Netflix and Spotify Partner to Bring Video Podcasts to Streaming

Starting in early 2026, Netflix subscribers in the US will be able to watch select Spotify Studios and Ringer podcasts directly on the streaming platform.

Netflix and Spotify are teaming up to blur the line between streaming and podcasting. The two companies announced a new partnership that will bring a curated slate of Spotify’s top video podcasts, including shows from Spotify Studios and The Ringer, to Netflix starting in early 2026. The goal is to make popular podcasts as watchable as TV, expanding both services’ reach into sports, culture, lifestyle and true crime.


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The deal marks Spotify’s most significant distribution push beyond its own platform, and for Netflix, it’s a new way to keep audiences engaged with talk-driven, low-cost programming. Early titles include The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Rewatchables, Dissect, Conspiracy Theories and Serial Killers, among others. You can find the complete list here.

More shows and genres are expected to be added over time.

Netflix says the partnership complements its library of documentaries and talk shows, offering «fresh voices and new perspectives.» Spotify, meanwhile, described it as «a new chapter for podcasting,» giving creators access to Netflix’s global audience while expanding discovery for listeners who prefer watching podcasts.

The rollout will begin in the US early next year, with additional markets to follow in 2026.

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Technologies

Every Active Borderlands 4 SHiFT Code

It’s dangerous to explore Kairos without some legendary gear. These promo codes will unlock epic loot and vault hunter cosmetics in Borderlands 4.

The biggest looter shooter of the year, Borderlands 4, is out, and tons of players are already taking the fight to the Timekeeper on Kairos. If you want to put the beat down on someone strong enough to control time, then you’re going to need an arsenal of powerful weapons and equipment.

Luckily, developer Gearbox Software is willing to lend a helping hand. Instead of having to farm every piece of legendary equipment in-game, you can roll the dice on some loot with Golden Keys unlocked by SHiFT promo codes.

If you’re already swimming in more loot than you know what to do with, some SHiFT codes also unlock special cosmetic looks for your favorite vault hunters. Special in-game challenges have already unlocked promo codes for Amon, Rafa and Vex vault hunter skins, with a Harlowe skin unlocking soon. Here’s how to use the latest SHiFT codes in Borderlands 4.

All active SHiFT codes for Borderlands 4

You can hunt down SHiFT codes on social media, but we’ll keep all of the active promo codes in one place for ease of access.

Below, you’ll find a chart that contains every active SHiFT code for Borderlands 4, what it unlocks and its expiration date:

Active Borderlands 4 SHiFT codes

Reward SHiFT code Expiration date
Golden Key WZK3B-SHTHF-JZ59K-SBT3B-TWHXT Oct. 19, 2025
Vex Mass Market Appeal Skin BZ6JJ-CB6CT-WXJJW-3TT3B-56FZ5 Jan. 1, 2031
Amon Cult Classic Skin JZ6BJ-SBR5J-WF3BK-BT3BB-TX9HB Dec. 31, 2030
Rafa Savings Savior Skin TZXT3-XJXCB-CXBJW-BTTJT-9SK6B Dec. 31, 2030
Break Free Cosmetics Pack JS63J-JSCWJ-CFTBW-3TJ3J-WJS5R Jan. 1, 2031
Golden Key T9RJB-BFKRR-3RBTW-B33TB-KCZB9 No expiration

How to redeem SHiFT codes for your Borderlands 4 account

While SHiFT codes are totally free rewards for you to accumulate, you must make a SHiFT account to input any active codes in-game.

SHiFT is a service that Gearbox integrates into its biggest games, and making an account unlocks forums and exclusive beta participation. It’s also necessary to create an account to turn in any promo codes, which is what most fans care about.

Once your account is created, you can enter your SHiFT codes in two separate places. Within your SHiFT account settings, you can find a Rewards tab with a field to enter any Borderlands promo codes. Once you enter the codes, any unlocked items will be added to your account the next time you open the game.

However, an easier way to input your SHiFT codes is within Borderlands 4 itself. Within the game’s pause menu, you can access a SHiFT. Select the Rewards tab from the resulting menu, input your codes, and the unlocked items will be immediately available on your save.

Where are SHiFT codes normally released?

SHiFT codes are released fairly frequently on Gearbox and Gearbox-affiliated social media channels. For the best chance at catching every new SHiFT code that gets released, you should follow Gearbox on X and on Facebook.

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford also releases promos on his X account, so if you’re brave enough to follow him despite his frequent outbursts toward fans you can find SHiFT codes there as well.

What are SHiFT codes?

SHiFT codes are promo codes that Gearbox occasionally releases that reward players with loot and cosmetics in Borderlands games. The main SHiFT code reward is a Golden Key, which opens the Golden Chest in most Borderlands hub areas.

But don’t spend them immediately — it’s worth saving your Golden Keys until you reach the level cap and are playing on the hardest difficulty, as the loot rewards will scale to your character accordingly. This is a great way to begin farming some endgame legendaries quickly and easily.

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Technologies

Barack Obama Reveals He Only Plays This One Phone Game

No, it’s not Wordle or Connections, but you’ve almost certainly heard of it.

Many of us rely on our smartphones for entertainment as well as communication, playing New York Times games such as Wordle, Connections and Strands on our phones. (CNET has daily answers for those games, plus Connections: Sports Edition and the Mini Crossword, if you’re ever stumped.) Now, one very famous person recently revealed that he plays only one phone game — and it’s one you’ve likely heard of.


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Former President Barack Obama appeared on the final episode of the podcast WTF with Marc Maronhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-1686-barack-obama/id329875043?i=1000731550704#link={%22linkText%22:%22final episode of the podcast WTF with Marc Maron%22,%22target%22:%22_blank%22,%22href%22:%22https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-1686-barack-obama/id329875043?i=1000731550704%22,%22role%22:%22standard%22,%22absolute%22:%22%22}on Monday. He revealed the only game he plays on his phone is Words With Friends.

Obama says he plays the word game to keep up his friendship with longtime White House photographer Pete Souza.

«I could be in the middle of negotiations on a nuclear treaty, and if that ping goes off, there’s a part of me that’s like, ‘I wonder what [word] he [Pete Souza] played,» Obama said.

Words With Friends is similar to, but not associated with, the world-building game Scrabble. It was released in 2009 and is owned by game company Zynga, and can be played on devices running iOS and Android. Players take turns creating words on a game board using their rack of seven letter tiles, trying to score as high as possible while using special bonus squares to double or triple their points. As of Tuesday, Words With Friends ranked No. 14 on the free Word Games list in the Apple App Store.

Obama did not share whether he or Souza tends to win the majority of the pair’s games.

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