free vs paid vpn what actually made the difference for you?

i have been switching between free and paid vpns for a while now, and the difference is not always as obvious as people make it sound. free ones are usually fine for basic browsing, but once you start using them more regularly you notice things like slower speeds, limited servers, or random disconnects. paid ones definitely feel more stable overall, but not every option feels worth the price depending on what you are using it for. for me it came down to consistency more than anything else, not just raw speed. curious what actually made people switch from free to paid, or if some of you still stick with free options long term.