How VPN Giants Are Using Strategic Partnerships and Free Trials to Dominate Markets

The VPN industry is witnessing a strategic shift as major players adopt partnership-driven growth models. ExpressVPN and NordVPN – two of the market leaders – are deploying targeted free trial campaigns through collaborations with professional networks, gaming platforms, and sports streaming services.

ExpressVPN's recent initiatives include offering extended free trials to LinkedIn Premium members and League of Legends gamers. This dual-pronged approach targets both professionals concerned about work security and gaming enthusiasts looking for lag-free connections and DDoS protection. The LinkedIn partnership provides 30-day trials (versus the standard 7 days), while the gaming offer includes optimized servers for reduced ping times.

NordVPN has taken a different approach through its Premier League streaming promotion. The service offers free Amazon gift cards with annual subscriptions, capitalizing on football fans' need to bypass geo-restrictions for matches. Their marketing emphasizes the military-grade encryption that protects users while streaming from public Wi-Fi networks.

Security professionals should note several technical aspects of these offers:

1. Trial versions typically include full security features (AES-256 encryption, kill switches)
2. Gaming promotions highlight specialized obfuscation servers
3. Streaming deals emphasize DNS leak protection

The cybersecurity implications are significant. While these partnerships increase VPN adoption, they also create potential attack surfaces:

• Account verification processes in partner platforms
• Increased credential stuffing attempts during trial periods
• Potential conflicts with enterprise security policies

Industry analysts observe that these marketing strategies reflect the VPN market's maturation. As basic privacy features become commoditized, providers are differentiating through:

• Performance optimization for specific use cases
• Bundled value-added services
• Strategic platform integrations

For IT professionals evaluating these offers, key considerations include:

• Audit logging capabilities during trial periods
• Compatibility with existing security stacks
• Data jurisdiction and logging policies

These campaigns demonstrate how VPN providers are evolving from pure security tools to integrated performance solutions. The trend suggests future partnerships may extend to IoT security and enterprise SaaS platforms as the industry continues to diversify its value proposition.