A VPN can do a lot for you, including changing your virtual location, encrypting your internet traffic, and unblocking websites and streaming platforms. However, it doesn’t have to cost a king’s ransom. In fact, the best cheap VPNs offer a fine balance between affordable pricing options, a range of features and excellent performance.
The challenge is that nearly every VPN claims to offer cheap prices. Verifying all such claims on your own is nearly impossible, since you’ll have to compare the cost of several VPNs to their features and performance. We’ve done all the legwork for you. Over the last few years, we have tested more than 70 VPNs, with particular interest in how they provide value for the money.
Key Takeaways: Cheapest VPNs
- Getting a VPN doesn’t have to leave a dent in your budget. There are cheap VPN providers that don’t skimp on features and performance.
- NordVPN is the best value VPN with excellent security features and fast speeds at affordable rates. Surfshark also does the same, and even allows you to use the subscription on unlimited devices.
- CyberGhost, Ivacy and PIA are also worthwhile cheap VPN services.
- If you want to use a free VPN, opt for either Proton VPN or Windscribe.
In this article, we’ll unveil the seven best cheap VPNs in our books. Be sure to take note of their standout features and best use cases. If you want a head start, NordVPN is the best cheap VPN service, offering best-in-class features at bargain prices.
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09/05/2022
Updated Windscribe pricing: the paid plan increased to $5.75 per month from $4.08. The Build-a-Plan minimum purchase also increased to $3 from $2. Also updated Windscribe’s free data cap to 15GB due to it offering 5GB extra permanently when you tweet about the service.
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06/05/2023 Facts checked
This article has been rewritten with up-to-date information and the cheapest providers right now.
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NordVPN offers the best balance of safety features and affordable pricing. For only a few dollars per month, you can get access to a wide range of features including high-level encryption, many protocols, fast speeds and a strict no-logs policy.
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Based on our testing, Proton VPN is the best free VPN, offering three free servers in Japan, the U.S. and Canada. It comes with unlimited data, meaning you can stream as many movies as you want each month.
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The Top Cheap VPNs at a Glance
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- : PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay, AmazonPay, ACH Transfer, Cash
- : 6
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Average speedDownload Speed93 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency3 ms -
2
- : PayPal, Credit card
- : Unlimited
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Average speedDownload Speed96 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency165 ms -
3
- : PayPal, Credit card, Bitcoin, cash
- : 10
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4
- : PayPal, Credit card, bitcoin, Amazon Pay
- : 7
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Average speedDownload Speed75 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency45 ms -
5
- : PayPal, Credit card
- : 10
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6
- : PayPal, Credit card
- : Unlimited
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Average speedDownload Speed91 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency6 ms -
7
- : PayPal, Credit card
- : Unlimited
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Average speedDownload Speed93 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency3 ms
What Makes the Best Cheap VPN?
The best cheap VPN is not necessarily the one that costs the least. You’ll have to consider the price of the VPN in line with the features and performance it offers. Here’s a glimpse of the top seven best affordable VPNs:
- NordVPN — Overall best cheap VPN with the fastest speeds
- Surfshark — Feature-rich VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections
- Proton VPN — Best free VPN with unlimited data
- CyberGhost — An easy-to-use VPN with specialty servers
- Ivacy — Secure VPN that offers a rare five-year deal
- Private Internet Access — Feature-packed VPN with great discounts
- Windscribe — A free VPN that allows users to build custom plans
A VPN’s price point should be in step with its features. At the bare minimum, a VPN should be able to change your IP address and protect your identity through IP and DNS leak protection and a kill switch. It should also encrypt your traffic and not significantly reduce your internet speeds while at it. Plus, the VPN should abide by a strict no-logs policy.
Take note also of the VPN’s server network and whether or not it can give you access to region-locked content on popular streaming services like Netflix. If you’re in a country that monitors internet usage, obfuscation on servers is a must-have. Also, look for extra features like double VPN, which adds an extra layer of protection and an ad and malware blocker.
Finally, the VPN’s pricing structure is worth examining. For instance, a cheap VPN should offer varying subscription tiers, from monthly plans to annual or biannual plans. Watch for a free plan, free trial and discount offers, especially on the long-term plans. Note that getting cheap VPN deals often require signing up for a year or more in advance.
In addition, the VPN you choose should offer a money-back guarantee, enabling you to try it risk-free.
The 7 Best Affordable VPNs
In this section, we’ll examine our most affordable VPNs in descending order. All the VPNs on this list offer uncrackable AES-256 encryption, leak protection and a strict no-logs policy.
1. NordVPN
More details about NordVPN:
- Pricing: $3.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: None; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: nordvpn.com
Pros:
- Exceptionally fast
- Strong security & privacy
- Cheap long-term plans
Cons:
- Expensive monthly price
- Suffered a server breach
NordVPN is a top-tier VPN that gets just about everything right. Its monthly plan is expensive, but there’s no beating its long-term plans, considering what you get in return. It has a solid server network of 5,000 servers in 60 countries. Some of these VPN servers are optimized for torrenting and unblocking streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
As you’ll notice in our NordVPN review, it has a double VPN feature, which encrypts your traffic twice. The threat protection feature keeps malware and trackers at bay, while the dark web monitor alerts you if your credentials leak. The dedicated IP feature is a handy tool for banking online, since it can help you avoid repeated verification requests.
Enjoy Breakneck Speeds With NordVPN
All VPNs reduce your internet speeds to an extent. However, as the best fast VPN, NordVPN is so fast that you won’t even notice you’re using a VPN. It’s ideal for content creators who need fast upload speeds to share content. Its fast download speeds also make streaming high-definition movies and torrenting a breeze.
We don’t recommend NordVPN’s monthly plan, as it’s even pricier than ExpressVPN’s. However, the long-term plans are economical and they come with three months free. You only have to pay $4.99 per month on the yearly plan. NordVPN slashes that figure to $3.49 per month if you subscribe for two years. You can use the VPN for 30-days risk free.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
2. Surfshark
More details about Surfshark:
- Pricing: $2.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: None; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: surfshark.com
Pros:
- Unlimited device connections
- Affordable long term plans
- Plenty of features
Cons:
- Some servers lack torrenting
Next on our list of the best cheap VPNs is Surfshark, another favorite here at Cloudwards. In all our years of testing VPNs, Surfshark has stood out for its bargain prices and its stockpile of features. Although Surfshark is younger than most of the VPNs on this list, it has servers in 100 countries already. This makes it a great choice for globetrotters who often use public WiFi.
We recommend Surfshark if you’re traveling to a country like China and Russia that restricts internet use. The NoBorders mode automatically switches your server list to servers that can bypass such limits. Surfshark is also one of the best VPNs for beginners, thanks to its simple, intuitive and organized VPN apps. You’ll find more details in our Surfshark review.
Unlimited Simultaneous Connections on Surfshark
If you are a busy bee and you need VPN cover on multiple devices, such as your laptops, mobile devices, tablets and workstations, use Surfshark. Unlike most VPNs, it doesn’t limit the number of devices you can connect to simultaneously. Plus, you can even share your VPN connection with friends and family without paying extra.
At $12.95, Surfshark’s monthly plan is only a tad cheaper than NordVPN’s. The real difference is in the long-term plans. The one-year plan costs $3.99 per month, while the two-year plan costs $2.49 per month. You’ll get two months free on the two-year plan. All of Surfshark’s plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee offer.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
3. Proton VPN
More details about Proton VPN:
- Pricing: $4.99 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: Yes, limited to three server locations.
- Provider website: protonvpn.com
Pros:
- Free plan
- Strict no-logs policy
- Unlimited data
Cons:
- Expensive paid plans
Proton VPN makes this list because of its generous free plan. Typically, free VPNs limit your data and bandwidth, but not Proton VPN. This lack of limits means that you can browse and stream your favorite movies without your stream cutting off in the middle. Plus, the free plan gives you access to a server each in Japan, the United States and the Netherlands.
Proton VPN is also an excellent choice if you want a VPN with proven privacy credentials. It follows a strict no-logs policy, which has been confirmed by several independent security audits over the years. In 2019, a Swiss court ordered Proton VPN to submit a user’s logs, but there was nothing to share. Learn more about Proton VPN’s privacy features in our Proton VPN review.
Use a Free VPN for Streaming
We recommend Proton VPN if you want to use a free VPN for streaming. Its free server in the U.S. makes it a great choice to watch U.S.-based streaming platforms such as Hulu and Pluto TV. Its unlimited data offer means you can watch as many movies as you want each month while enjoying VPN protection.
If you want access to all of Proton VPN’s servers for a month, you’ll be asked to pay $9.99. If you’re interested in using the service for a year, you’ll pay $5.99 per month, which is relatively expensive. For the best savings, opt for the two-year plan, which beats down the price to $4.99 per month. You’ll have 30 days from your purchase in which to request a refund.
- Unlimited GB
- 1
- Yes
4. CyberGhost
More details about CyberGhost:
- Pricing: $2.37 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: None; 45-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: cyberghostvpn.com
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Streaming, gaming & torrenting servers
- 45-day money-back return
Cons:
- Comparatively slower
- No obfuscation
CyberGhost has always proven to be one of the most beginner-friendly VPNs. Both the desktop and mobile apps are well-organized, intuitive and easy to navigate. The VPN adds a small note to each feature on the app explaining what it can do in layman’s terms.
Of all the VPNs on this list with two-year plans, CyberGhost is the cheapest. The VPN also offers a rare six-month plan, making it a useful medium-term choice. The only other VPN that offers a six-month plan is ExpressVPN, but its offer is high-priced. We’ve broken down CyberGhost’s prices in our CyberGhost review.
Specialized Servers for Streaming, Torrenting and Gaming
Some of CyberGhost’s over 9,000 servers are optimized for various tasks. The streaming servers are adept at getting past firewalls and geoblocks to unblock streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu and BBC iPlayer. Others work well for downloading torrents.
There’s a small note underneath each server location describing what it’s optimized for. For instance, there’s a United States server with “optimized for Netflix U.S.” written below. This helps you know that it’s the best choice for streaming Netflix’s American library.
CyberGhost’s monthly plan costs $12.99 per month, but that’s expensive. You’ll be better off with the two-year plan, which costs only $2.37 per month. There’s also the six-month option, priced at $6.99 per month — about three dollars less than what ExpressVPN offers. The monthly plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee, and the other plans increase that to a 45-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB
- 7
- Yes
5. Ivacy
More details about Ivacy VPN:
- Pricing: $1 per month (five-year plan)
- Free plan: None; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: ivacy.com
Pros:
- Five-year deal
- 10 simultaneous connections
- Servers in underserved locations
Cons:
- No WireGuard/OpenVPN on macOS
- Comparatively slow
Ivacy recently made it into our top 10 VPN list, thanks largely to its bargain five-year plan. Most VPNs ask for between $2 and $6 monthly for their yearly or two-year plans. However, for just a dollar each month, you can purchase Ivacy for five years.
What’s more, Ivacy allows you to connect to 10 devices simultaneously. This makes it a great choice if you use multiple devices or want to split the bill with friends. It’s also a good option for streaming since it can unblock virtually any streaming service out there, from Netflix to HBO Max, Disney Plus, Hulu and Peacock TV. There’s more about Ivacy in our Ivacy review.
Extensive Server Coverage
At the time of writing, Ivacy has over 5,700 servers in more than 100 countries (the only other VPN with a server footprint in 100 countries is Surfshark). This server spread means that you can find an Ivacy server close to you regardless of your location. Plus, it has servers in underserved locations like Africa, South America and the Middle East.
Ivacy is a relatively cheap VPN. Its monthly plan is priced at $9.95 per month, while the one-year plan costs $3.98 per month. As already mentioned, the best deal is the five-year offer, which costs only $1 per month. Ivacy’s plans are all covered with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
6. Private Internet Access
More details about PIA:
- Pricing: $2.19 per month (three-year plan)
- Free plan: None; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: privateinternetaccess.com
Pros:
- Large server spread
- Affordable long-term plans
- Unlimited device connections
Cons:
- Inconsistent streaming speed
PIA seems to tweak its pricing options often. That’s likely because the VPN strives to offer users the best deals and discounts. Currently, the best bargain plan is the three-year plan. For comparison, none of the VPNs on this list offer a three-year plan, so PIA’s cheap offer is ideal if you’re looking for a mid-to-long-term VPN.
Add the fact that PIA offers unlimited connections and you have a VPN that gives you good value for your money. In terms of features, PIA is not lacking. It boasts servers in 84 countries, a built-in ad blocker and a dedicated IP to avoid CAPTCHAs. We’ve fleshed out all you need to know about PIA in our PIA review.
Useful Option for Routers
Using a VPN on a router can protect devices like gaming consoles and IoT devices that VPNs don’t support directly. PIA makes our best VPN for routers list because it works with many router models, including ASUSWRT and DD-WRT devices. You can even get FlashRouters with PIA preinstalled. PIA’s router setup guides can be complicated, but offer more configuration options.
You’ll need to pay $11.95 to get PIA for a month. This is cheaper than some of the best VPNs on the market, but the yearly plan is far more affordable at $3.33 per month. The best bang for your buck is the three-year plan, which costs $2.19 per month, plus you get three months free. There’s a 30-day refund window for all plans.
- 10
- Yes
7. Windscribe
More details about Windscribe:
- Pricing: $5.75 per month (one-year plan)
- Free plan: Yes, 10GB data (15GB with tweet)
- Provider website: windscribe.com
Pros:
- Generous free plan
- Build-a-plan option
- 11 free servers
Cons:
- 3-day money-back guarantee
Last on this list is Windscribe, one of our favorite free VPNs. Without you paying a dime, Windscribe gives you 11 free servers in various countries, including prime spots like the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Germany, France and the Netherlands. Upgrading to the yearly plan will cost more than many of the VPNs on our list, but you’ll gain access to servers in over 60 countries.
Windscribe is also great for torrenting since it allows P2P file sharing on most of its servers. However, it doesn’t allow torrenting in India, Russia, Lithuania and South Africa.
In addition, Windscribe can hide your VPN use through its stealth technology, which makes it one of the best VPNs for China. That said, Windscribe is last on this list because its apps are clunky and difficult to use. Read our Windscribe review for a full accounting.
Build-a-Plan Option
Windscribe lets users build their own plan. You can purchase a server location for $1 each month. For an extra $1, you can get R.O.B.E.R.T. — Windscribe’s ad blocker — and unlimited data. You have to purchase a minimum of $3 each month, though. Plus, you can edit your server locations if you change your mind without paying extra.
It’s worth highlighting that you can remove Windscribe’s data limits by paying $1 a month on the build-a-plan option. This also counts toward the $3 minimum requirement.
Besides Windscribe’s free plan, you can purchase the VPN’s annual plan for $5.75 per month. As we’ve already touched on, the build-a-plan option is the main attraction and it’s billed at $1 per location per month. Note that you’ll have to purchase at least three dollars’ worth. Windscribes only offers a three-day money-back guarantee on its plans.
- Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
- 15GB
- Unlimited
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
Are Cheap VPNs Secure?
The fact that a VPN is low cost doesn’t mean it can’t protect you while you’re using the internet. The best cheap VPNs offer a balance between price and privacy features. Take NordVPN, for instance. It’s budget-friendly but boasts a trove of security features, including AES encryption, multi-hop encryption, protection against malware and a strict no-logs policy.
Similarly, Surfshark — another affordable VPN — does a great job of keeping you safe from online dangers. Through its camouflage mode, Surfshark can hide your VPN traffic from snoopers. The CleanWeb feature wards off ads, trackers, malware and phishing attempts. All in all, be sure to check the security features a cheap VPN offers before parting with your money.
Free VPNs vs Cheap VPNs
After testing scores of VPNs over the years, we hesitate to recommend most free VPN services. A number of them are downright unusable. Even worse, some free VPNs’ business model is based on logging user data and selling it to advertisers and they can be vectors for spreading malware.
Unlike the most affordable premium VPNs, even the best free VPNs come with limits, including caps on data, bandwidth and server network access. If you need to use a free VPN, we recommend Proton VPN, thanks to its unlimited data. Windscribe is a good alternative if you’re looking for a VPN with multiple free server locations.
Final Thoughts
Purchasing a VPN doesn’t mean you have to empty your bank accounts. NordVPN is the best example of that: It provides excellent security features, a large server network and the best speeds for a decent fee.
Surfshark is another great pick, with an extensive server network, innovative features and you can use one subscription on as many devices as you want. CyberGhost, PIA and Ivacy are also worthwhile options. If you need a free VPN, opt for Proton VPN because of its unlimited data. With Windscribe, you can build a custom plan.
Which cheap VPNs have you used? Which ones worked best for you? Did you have any challenges getting a refund? Which of the VPNs on this list are you considering using? Share your experiences and opinions with us in the comments section below. As always, thanks for reading.
The post Best Cheap VPN in 2023: Finding a Reliable VPN On a Budget appeared first on Cloudwards.
