There are a lot of VPN services out there, and many of them claim to be the cheapest. We went through our VPN reviews to find the services and make sure you get the best value.
If you go through our selection of thebest VPN services, you’ll quickly see many differences in how VPNs approach price. Some, like ExpressVPN, charge a lot, but as you can read in ourExpressVPN review, they offer a lot, too, making it worth it. Others, like NordVPN, offer a very reasonable first-time fee but then charge you double or even triple when you renew your subscription, something I go over in detail in myNordVPN review.
These differences in approach make things very confusing for consumers looking for a VPN that doesn’t cost too much. But these five services below have everything a VPN should (security, privacy, and the ability tounblock Netflix) and do so without sacrificing performance.
They also do this without charging users too much. Overall, most quality VPNs cost about $60 per year. All my picks below are either on that mark or below. If you find they’re still out of your price range, check out my selection of thebest free VPNs.
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Great discount
Three-year plan
Some interface issues
Cracks Netflix
Of all the VPNs out there,Private Internet Access(better known as PIA) offers the best deal. For $79, you get the service for three years and four months. This isn’t just the cheapest deal; it’s also the longest. The best part is that you may renew at that price, too—no shenanigans when you renew.
Just because PIA doesn’t cost a lot doesn’t mean it lacks features. As you can read in myPrivate Internet Access review, it’s a solid service that gets all the basics right. It’s secure, easy to use, and pretty fast, to boot. Though it isn’t the best in any one area except price, it does a fine job overall.
The only real issues I have with PIA are that I don’t like the app much and that it’s not the greatest for unblocking Netflix. However, neither of these are dealbreakers, so if you want a long-term VPN for a great price, I recommend giving PIA a spin and seeing how you like it.
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access is a low-cost VPN that offers excellent speeds and keeps latency to a minimum. If you’re looking for a secure and reliable service with an affordable price.
Great bundles
Not as cheap as the rest
Reputation for privacy
Great for Netflix
Proton VPNis another great pick if you want to save money on a VPN. This option is also fantastic for Mac and iPhone users as its apps work well on both macOS and iOS while losing none of the functionality of the native Windows app.
As you can read in myProton VPN review, I think this offers a great deal of value to consumers, allowing them to secure their online presence in one swoop for just one payment. The Proton ecosystem allows you toditch Googlepretty easily and get a lot closer to making the web a place where you can be without being spied on.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is a fast and secure service, that comes with a strong reputation for privacy.
Very cheap two-year plan
Renews for only one year
Great interface
Some speed issues
Cracks Netflix with ease
If the main reason you want to use a VPN is getting through Netflix geoblocking,CyberGhostis the right budget VPN choice for you. When testing it out for myCyberGhost review,I had very little issue getting through to the streaming service. This is in no part due to the fact that it has special servers set up for this very purpose, so you can test out different ones until they work.
Price-wise, CyberGhost is pretty cheap—it’s $60 for the first two years, and when you renew it, it becomes an annual plan. Though it’s not as generous as PIA, it’s a lot better thanSurfshark or NordVPN, and it costs about half the money most VPNs initially charge.
What you get for your money is pretty good, too. I really like the CyberGhost interface, especially for people who may be new to VPNs and would like some help navigating this type of software. If you want to switch Netflix libraries on the cheap, CyberGhost is a solid choice.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost has a user-friendly interface, perfect for beginners. It’s also one of the few VPNs to offer automation features.
A bit overwhelming
Cheap one-year plan
No multi-year deals
Fast
If you want a cheap and extremely customizable VPN, you’ll likeTorGuard. In myreview,I found that the service was extremely flexible in what it let you do with it yet somehow still managed to be user-friendly. Striking a balance between being easy to use and also letting you go wild with settings is rare for any kind of software, making TorGuard a special case.
What also sets TorGuard apart is its pricing, with its basic package setting you back only $33 per year, making it one of the very few services on this list that lets you go year-by-year on the cheap. If you don’t like to commit to long-term subscriptions—and I don’t blame you—TorGuard may be just the ticket.
That said, there are some issues to be aware of with TorGuard. While it lets you leave the garden path, it gives you very little guidance when doing so. This means your tinkering could put you at risk. If you’re comfortable with that, you may want to try TorGuard.
TorGuard
TorGuard offers a range of advanced features like custom scripts. The service ensures a low ping and latency while still offering great security.
Not as fast as some
Great app
Obfuscation tech
Another great entry is VyprVPN, a service that did extremely well when I took it through its paces for myVyprVPN review. Besides being fast, it has a very nice, user-friendly app, a great pricing scheme, and aVPN protocolthat lets you easily bypass any censorship blocks.
What will likely draw your eye first, though, is VyprVPN’s pricing scheme, which sees you paying just $72 for two years, which is a steal. Though PIA is a little cheaper, I think VyprVPN offers slightly better value thanks to better performance and a nicer app. Note, though, that the one-year plan costs $60 and thus isn’t anywhere near as good a deal.
VyprVPN stands out because of its lovely app which recently got an update and looks sleek and modern, a rarity in an industry dominated by drab apps and interfaces. If you want a VPN that has a definite aesthetic—that can’t be described as “slapdash”—then VyprVPN is the budget option for you.
VyprVPN
VyprVPN is an old-school VPN with a revamped, modern look and feel. It’s fast, and comes at a great price.
FAQ
What is a VPN?
A virtual private network (VPN) is a tool that lets you connect to the internet via a remote server. This allows you to mask your identity while online and access sites normally blocked in your location.
Should I use a VPN to use Netflix?
Using a VPN while watching Netflix isn’t necessary, but it greatly improves the experience as you can access other countries’ libraries. This greatly increases the movies and shows you have at your disposal.
Does a VPN make my ping better?
No. Since a VPN reroutes your connection, this hurts your latency, or ping. There is no way around this, sadly.
