The Best Cheap VPNs Worth Considering

According to our research, the best cheap VPN you can currently buy is PureVPN. When it comes to affordable VPNs, it’s hard to beat the $2.14 per month two-year plan from PureVPN, and the provider offers a vast selection of extensions, 24/7 customer support, and more than 6,000 servers to choose from.

PureVPN isn’t the only cheap VPN out there, though – PIA is a little cheaper, for example, but it’s not as good for streaming. In fact, if you’re willing to opt for longer contracts, the VPN market is filled with affordable options that can help you stay secure without a big hit to your wallet.

That being said, some cheaper options aren’t always the most reliable, so it’s important to do your research before making your final decision – especially when your online privacy is at stake. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best VPNs for businesses so you can get the best bang for your buck.

In this guide, you’ll learn about some of the best cheap VPNs available today, how to choose one that’s right for you, and why free VPNs are a risky move for your online privacy. Here’s our top picks:

In this guide:

• Best Cheap VPN Services: Reviews
• Are Cheap VPNs Slow?
• Are Cheap VPNs Safe?
• Why You Should Avoid Free VPNs
• How We Test Cheap VPNs
• Verdict: What Is the Best Cheap VPN?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Best Cheap VPN Services: Reviews

Below, we’ll cover all the features, pricing, and generally functionality of the best cheap VPN services available today. Take a look at the table below to get a good idea of what these tools offer, and keep scrolling to get an in-depth look at all of them before you make your decision.

1. PureVPN – The Best Cheap VPN Overall

PureVPN is a great option if you want a secure, heavy-duty VPN but don’t want to break the bank. The service will cost you less than three dollars a month, but it delivers on every level, from ease of use to depth of functionality.

It also excels in the strength of its security, which includes extra antivirus and adblocking technology that other VPNs won’t include. One useful PureVPN feature is the ability to convert your PC into a VPN hotspot, which you can then connect to other devices. There’s also a neat shortcut feature for quicker access to your favorite streaming sites and online resources.

While it’s pretty fast – certainly enough for most users – PureVPN isn’t the absolute fastest, and we’d probably recommend a provider like NordVPN if you want one suitable for data-intensive activities like gaming. You may also need to use its browser extension in order to unlock Netflix, but even that isn’t much of a ding, as only a few VPNs can unlock Netflix at all.

PureVPN features

• A simple, cheap, and effective VPN
• Number of simultaneous devices: 5
• No data logging
• Email and live chat support
• Works with Netflix
• Server locations: 6,000+
• Available on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
• Unblocks: Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu + more

The PureVPN interface is easy to navigate with lots of security functionality. Image: PureVPN

PureVPN costs

For what it offers, PureVPN is very competitively priced, with the lowest option being an impressive $2.14 per month for a two-year plan. Even the 1-year plan is only $3.99 per month, which is one of the reasons why PureVPN was able to lock in the top spot.

Here’s the rest of the PureVPN pricing breakdown:

2. Private Internet Access – Lowest Starting Price and Ultra Secure

Private Internet Access is another service in the very short list of VPNs that will cost you less than $2.50 a month on a long-term payment plan. And once again, it operates on an impressive amount of servers: More than 30,000 in total, although a significant proportion of its network is based in the US.

This large yet narrow network will be a pro or a con for you depending on what you’re looking to stream. Speeds are just okay, however. The user interface on the PC app is also a little clunky, with a lot of user-unfriendly text and options. You can see why it’s remained popular with Linux users, but there are sleeker interfaces now out there.

Private Internet Access is, however, one of the most secure VPNs out there, with a consistent track record of blocking government requests for information on individuals thought to be using their network. It’s had its no logs promise tested plenty of times during its existence, but Private Internet Access has shown on every occasion that it’s a VPN you can trust.

Since March 2023, the provider has offered unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can buy just one account and add the software to as many devices as you like. This puts it up there with Surfshark as one of the only VPNs to not enforce a limit on this.

Private Internet Access features

• A secure, low-cost VPN
• Number of simultaneous devices: Unlimited
• No data logging
• Includes Killswitch
• Email support, no live chat
• Number of servers: 30,000+
• Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
• Unblocks: Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, iPlayer, Amazon

Private Internet Access networks are simple to access, even in dark mode. Source: Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access cost

With a starting price of $2.03 per month, Private Internet Access is the cheapest option on this list. However, it’s worth noting that you can only get that price if you go with a three-year plan, which is nothing if not a hefty commitment. Still, you also get three months free, so the savings could be worth it. Here’s the rest of the Private Internet Access pricing options:

3. Surfshark – An Affordable VPN With a Huge Range of Features

Surfshark absolutely annihilates the VPN competition when it comes to value for money. While most paid-for VPNs limit you to a small number of devices (unless you pay up for a bigger, pricier plan), Surfshark gives you unlimited devices for just $2.19 per month. 

This is, quite frankly, one of the best VPN deals currently available. Of course, that’s all for nothing if the VPN itself wasn’t good quality. Fortunately, Surfshark delivers. You get top-tier security features (a killswitch, an ad blocker, a sophisticated range of server connection options, and a strict no-logs policy) plus excellent accessibility across all the main platforms (iOS, Android, Mac, and PC, plus even Linux and FireTV).

If you’d like more than just a VPN connection and are really looking for an all-encompassing cybersecurity solution, then look no further than Surfshark One. Starting at $2.69/month, Surfshark One provides an all-in-one cybersecurity package that includes VPN and antivirus subscriptions as well as a safe search tool to keep you safe from criminals and a data breach alert function.

Still need convincing? Surfshark is blissfully easy to use – you don’t need to be deeply technically competent to get up and running with the VPN, though it has plenty of in-depth features for those keen to delve into the settings. Check out how to use Surfshark to learn more about all of its great features and functionality.

Surfshark features and test findings

• Number of servers: 3,200
• Number of simultaneous devices: unlimited
• Zero data logging
• Obfuscated servers
• Killswitch function
• Multi-Hop Feature (double connection)
• Email and live chat support
• Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
• Unblocks: Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, iPlayer, Amazon

The interface of the Surfshark VPN app featuring options to connect to different server locations. Image: Surfshark

Surfshark pricing

Surfshark may be a few cents more expensive than PureVPN at $2.19 per month, but it’s not by much, particularly when you consider how many free months you can get from all the special deals they offer on a given day. Here’s how the rest of Surfshark pricing options match up:

4. CyberGhost VPN – An Easy-to-Use, Cheap VPN for Streaming

CyberGhost VPN’s sleek interface and commendable speeds make it a good option for VPN newcomers who just want something that works reliably and isn’t too difficult to get started with. It has streaming-optimized servers for various streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix.

While the month-to-month plan is a pricey $12.99 per month, the two-year plan is more reasonable, costing just $2.19 per month for 24 months. CyberGhost will even throw two free months of use in if you opt for their longer-term plan. There’s also a 45-day money-back guarantee rather than a standard 30-day one, which makes it great for short-term use. After you’re finished with it, you can simply claim a refund.

With CyberGhost, you should be able to perform most basic internet activities, from streaming video in HD to downloading music, at the pace you need. It’s not as quick as NordVPN, but as we’ve just covered, it should be fast enough for the casual user. If you’re a tech newbie who just wants a cheap, dependable service, CyberGhost’s $2.19-a-month plan should hit the spot.

CyberGhost VPN features

• An easy-to-understand service
• Number of servers: 9000+
• Number of simultaneous devices: 5
• No data logging
• Includes Killswitch
• Email and live chat support
• Server locations: 90+ countries
• Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
• Unblocks: Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, iPlayer, Amazon

CyberGhost has dedicated “for streaming” tabs to make it even easier for you. Source: CyberGhost

CyberGhost pricing

If you’re not totally sold on this VPN thing and want a long time to consider if it’s right for you, CyberGhost might be your best bet, because in addition to its low cost at $2.19 per month, it provides users with a 45-day money-back guarantee to really give it a go. Check out the other CyberGhost pricing options below:

5. Windscribe VPN – the Only Build-Your-Own Plan VPN

Windscribe is a great VPN for hands-on techies, as well as anyone who doesn’t want to pay for access to an enormous server network they won’t end up using. It offers standard settings that let users pick out their own server location and protocol, and includes some advanced security features like a double-hop traffic router.

While the interface isn’t quite as modern or user-friendly as the likes of PureVPN and Surfhark, Windscribe is the only VPN that will let you build your own, customized plan from scratch, starting with absolutely nothing. You’ll be able to pay as little as $1.00 per month if you’d only like to use just one server location, which makes it ideal for those with narrow use cases (such as streaming one show, available in one location).

Windscribe also stands out as one of the only VPNs with a free plan. Granted, it’s quite limited, but it’s better than most free options from other VPN services, and you can use it indefinitely.

Read our full Windscribe review to learn more

Windscribe VPN features

• Technical, but with great VPN features
• Number of servers: 500+
• Number of simultaneous devices: 5
• No data logging
• Includes Killswitch
• Server locations: 62
• Email and live chat support
• Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
• Unblocks: Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, iPlayer, Amazon

The Windscribe interface is a bit outdated and basic, but at this price, it might be worth it. Image: Windscribe

Windscribe pricing plans

Windscribe might not seem that cheap with a starting price of $5.75 per month for a 1-year plan. However, Windscribe also allows users to pay just $1 per month if you build your own plan. You’ll pay $1 per server you want available to you, so make sure you don’t need a lot of flexibility with your VPN for this one. Here’s how the other pricing options look from Windscribe:

Are Cheap VPNs Slow?

There’s no way around it: All VPNs, not just the cheap ones, will slow down your internet speeds. It’s just part of the deal because, after all, they are routing your connection through their own servers, which means it tends to go on a longer journey. But in the best cases, you’ll hardly notice.

Our research did find that the cheapest did tend to have slower speeds, however, with the majority of the options on this list suffering worse slowdowns than the average VPN. There were some exceptions, most notably Surfshark, which performed well on speed tests and is one of the cheapest options available. PureVPN also had very serviceable speeds during our tests. But none match up to NordVPN.

If you’re not too concerned about the speed of your VPN, you may be happy with paying less for a slower one – although if you’re looking to torrent or watch video, the added cost might be worth it.

Some VPNs offer speed tests to users as well. You can also run internet speed tests via a simple Google search if you want to test your VPN connection speeds. Image: ExpressVPN

Are Cheap VPNs Safe?

One of the main reasons that we use a VPN is to protect our identity. Some VPNs are better at (and more committed to) this than others, and it’s true to say that some of the cheaper offerings really have dropped the ball here, leaving their customers open to having their data exposed.

In some cases, VPNs have been discovered to have serious security flaws that have led to them potentially leaking millions of customers’ data. One example is SuperVPN, which Google actually removed from its store early last year.

Others may harvest your data and sell it on to advertisers. This practice isn’t illegal, as long as the company has told its users upfront that it will be doing it. Another reason is that it’s important to check the small print of a cheap or free VPN before committing.

While all this is important to remember, the VPNs we’ve included on this list all have solid track records of keeping their customers safe. Opting for a reputable provider that has extensive, publicly available explanations about what data they do and don’t store, like PureVPN and PIA, is wise.

Check out our guide to whether VPNs are Safe to learn more

Why You Should Avoid Most Free VPNs

If something’s too good to be true then usually, it is – and that’s almost always the case on the internet. Free VPNs are an excellent example of this – on the whole, they should be avoided, despite the tantalizing prospect of being able to use a VPN network without spending a cent.

Why? Free VPN services often don’t have the time or resources to maintain a top-class server network in the way that Surfshark and PureVPN do. This often means they’re slow and difficult to use, at least compared to paid-for services.

Furthermore, as free VPNs aren’t extracting any cash from their users, their focus is largely on attracting new ones, rather than improving their service for their existing subscribers. The lack of a subscription fee also means some free VPNs run ads to make money, such as Psiphon, or sell user data to third parties. Others, like Hola VPN, shouldn’t really be classed as VPNs at all, because they actively log the data of anyone unfortunate enough to download their service.

That doesn’t mean absolutely every free VPN out there will put your privacy in jeopardy though. Hide.me, for example, is an excellent free VPN with a great privacy track record. There aren’t many out there, but Hide.me is one of the few free VPNs you can trust.

How We Test Cheap VPNs

Some sites may just ask you to take their word on VPN rankings, but that’s not how we do it at Tech.co. We’ve put these services throughout rigorous testing to find out which ones are the best and, perhaps more importantly, the most affordable. Below, we’ve outlined the criteria by which we rated and ranked this VPN options, so you can understand our process.

Here are the categories that we used to test the best cheap VPNs:

• Infrastructure – Simple information about VPNs, including headquarters location, number of servers, available countries, and number of allowed simultaneous connections.
• Features – Does the VPN offer features like killswitch, double VPN, auto-activate, split tunneling, and many others?
• Protocol – Is the VPN using certain types of encryption protocol, like OpenVPN, IKEv2, Wireguide, among others?
• Speed – How fast is the VPN service compared to non-VPN use, measuring upstart and connection time?
• Service – Does the VPN work with certain services, like Netflix, Disney+, Now TV, and Channel 4?
• Price – How much does the VPN cost, based on monthly, yearly, and multi-yearly plans?

Check out our in-depth research guide to learn more about our process.

Frequently Asked Questions