Best cheap VPN deals from $1.99 a month on our top-tested apps
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This month's cheap VPN deals are available from just $1.99 a month, and you'll even get three extra months added at no extra charge at Surfshark. And if you've been considering ExpressVPN, but have been put off by high prices in the past, you should check out the new offers from just $2.79 a month. That's the lowest I've ever seen its prices go - even cheaper than its recent Black Friday deal, and you still get an extra four months at no added charge.
All the VPN deals highlighted on this page are from providers I regularly use and have tested rigorously for both digital privacy and international streaming - like accessing a free Australian Open live stream.
If you've joined us today from outside the US, discounted prices from these VPN providers should appear in your local currency on the app's website. In most cases, we see the discount percentages closely match those mentioned below at an international level.
I've listed the lowest per-month US rates above. Below, you'll see the best-value total plan prices for the bundles, with extra details about what you're getting. Prices are usually displayed as effective 'per month' rates, but just be aware that you're charged upfront rather than once a month.
Top 6 best VPN deals of the month
• NordVPN - from $3.39 p/m
• See also: NordVPN review
This NordVPN deal on two-year plans cuts prices by up to 70%.
One-year NordVPN deals are strong, too, with discounts up to 63%. Rolling one-month plans don't offer any discounts, which is the case across the board whenever I check for fresh VPN deals.
The 'Plus' and 'Complete' tiers of NordVPN include a password manager, ad blockers, malware protection, data breach scanners, and more.
The new 'Prime' tier adds a range of NordProtect features, such as identity, SSN and credit monitoring, and identity theft insurance, but even with a discount, the monthly fee jumps to $7.39 a month on a two-year deal.
The cheapest basic tier is plenty for most users who just want to keep their browsing private and do some international streaming. It's the one I'd recommend to most people, as you can get many items on the more expensive tiers as free apps or as features on your phone's operating system or laptop browser.
• Surfshark - from $1.99 p/m + 3 free months
• See also: Surfshark review
Of all our favorite tested VPNs, you won't find a better cheap VPN deal this month than Surfshark's. The two-year plan prices start from just $1.99 a month and include an extra three months on top of the initial 24. This cheapest 'Starter' tier is the one I'd recommend for most people, as it has everything I'd expect from a top-tier VPN.
Dipping your toe in with a rolling one-month plan is much more expensive. Prices start at $15.45 a month, which is on the higher end of rolling contracts for VPNs. So I'd advise picking up a two-year deal for the best savings. Remember, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee to get a full refund if you change your mind.
The middle tier (Surfshark One) packs a few extra features for just a fraction more than the Starter tier at $2.19. But if you look at the feature list above, you'll see that many of the extras are probably already built into your phone or laptop. Also, the masked email generator feature has been very hit-and-miss for me lately - setting up a burner Gmail account is much better, to be honest.
Surfshark One+ is worth considering for data removal services, especially if you're concerned about all the never-ending spam/junk mail making its way into your regular inbox. It's not perfect, but it can certainly help. We've reviewed this service independently, so head to our Incogni review for more details.
• ExpressVPN - from $2.79 p/m + 4 months free
• See also: ExpressVPN review
• PIA VPN - from $2.03 p/m + 4 months free
• See also: PIA VPN review
• CyberGhost - from $2.03 p/m + 4 months free
• See also: CyberGhost VPN review
What about a free VPN?
Free VPNs usually have some sort of cost, some much more concerning than others. On the lighter side, I often find free VPNs extremely limited in their feature set and connection types, or come with low data caps, making them useless if you want to do some overseas streaming, as video crunches through data in no time.
Free VPNs can seriously hinder download speeds, often making basic web browsing a slog. Combine this with the already atrocious speeds of some public or café WiFi (where you should absolutely use a VPN in this day and age), and you'll struggle to complete even the most basic of online work tasks.
I've also seen plenty riddled with ads, some cluttering the screen and others with lengthy, unskippable videos when you try to switch the VPN on. If you've dabbled in mobile gaming, you'll know how frustrating this can be.
On the security and privacy side of things, I often find free VPNs aren't particularly upfront about their no-logs policy and don't offer up independent audit reports, which means you're at risk of all your data being collected by the free VPN provider to do with as they please, usually selling it to marketers. So, if you're tired of Google and Facebook doing this, a free VPN isn't going to be much better. And if you're really unlucky, they could be much worse.
That's because some particularly malicious VPN apps are basically Trojan horses for all sorts of nasty malware, adware, or even ransomware. These digital nasties can invade your devices to harvest all your personal details and passwords and hack and hijack your personal accounts for everything from social media to banking.
When do the best VPN deals appear?
November and December are the best times of year to grab the best VPN deals. Some begin in early November, but everyone generally seems to have their best price live by the Monday before Black Friday.
The discounts usually involve a bit extra off the average monthly price on the longer deals like six, 12, or 24-month subscriptions - plus, you'll often see VPN providers throw in additional months for free.
Last year, I saw many discounted monthly rates from Black Friday continue through December - some then extended into January 2026, too.
Prices didn't rise too much once these sales ended, though. You're looking at an extra 30-60 cents more a month at most, or fewer free months offered - nothing substantial enough to make you feel obligated to wait until the end-of-year sales come around again. These VPN services still offer significant discounts on longer plans all year round. I never see the single one-month rolling contract prices go down, though, and they're often more than double the monthly rate of the longer commitments. That's where the money-back guarantees come into play, though, if you're hesitant about signing up for longer subs.
Do VPN prices go up when you renew?
Yes, they do, more often than not. VPN providers offer special introductory discounts for new users, so double-check prices when you're signing up for what they will be once your contract expires.
You should also access the account settings and stop your subscription from auto-renewing, as you'll be charged for a similar term upfront.
If your current provider won't let you sign up again for the discounted rate available to everyone else, the best way to save money is to hop to a new provider at the end of your contract, much like you might do with home/auto insurance.
VPN: More than just digital security & privacy
VPNs go well with TV, movies, and live sports. You can access international versions of Netflix, tune into free sports overseas, and much more. Check out our roundup of the best streaming services if you want something to watch. NFL fans armed with a new VPN should take a look at our free NFL live stream guide, too.
If unlocking international streaming is one of your main reasons for picking up a VPN deal, then all of the above VPNs I've selected have solid records for apps like Netflix, Max, Stan, and more. If you're into live sports streaming, I'd give the edge to ExpressVPN over the others as it does a better job with particularly long-distance streaming (like UK to Australia) of live sports events that are shown for free on Australian channels like 9Now and 7+ for cricket and NFL.
The other VPN apps seem to need to buffer more often on those channels for some reason, although Australian on-demand apps like Stan seem to be fine on all of these VPNs - Stan and a VPN is a great way to catch every match of the Champions League live streams by the way.
Looking for the latest offers on movie and TV apps? Take a look at Lillian's roundup of the best streaming deals.