Best Cheap VPN 2023

The best cheap VPN you can currently buy is Surfshark. When it comes to cheap VPNs, it’s hard to beat Surfshark’s $2.39 per month two-year plan. The provider offers unlimited simultaneous connections, excellent speeds, and 24/7 customer support, as well as a raft of useful security features rarely found in other VPN packages.

Private Internet Access has a squeaky clean track record when it comes to privacy and security and is also available for cheap on a 3-year deal that costs just $2.03 per month.

If you’re willing to pay an extra dollar for the largest set of security and privacy features currently available from a VPN provider, opt for NordVPN’s $3.29 per month Standard plan, which comes with a malware protection tool, double VPN function, and super speedy servers. Currently, NordVPN is offering up to 68% off on 2-year plans until October 18.

Best Cheap VPN Services

Here’s a whistlestop tour of the best cheap VPN services on the market. Scroll down for a more in-depth review of these services.

In this guide:

• Best Cheap VPN Services: Table
• Best Cheap VPN Services: Reviews
• Cheapest VPN Plans Available
• How to Choose the Best Value VPN
• Are Cheap VPNs Slow?
• Are Cheap VPNs Safe?
• Using a Budget VPN in Restrictive Countries
• Why You Should Avoid Free VPNs
• Frequently Asked Questions

Best Cheap VPN Services: Reviews

Click on the provider’s names in the list below to jump straight to an in-depth review:

1. Surfshark – the best cheap VPN overall ($2.39 per month)
2. Private Internet Access – the best value VPN ($2.03 per month) 
3. NordVPN – the best cheap VPN for security features ($3.49 per month)
4. PureVPN – an easy-to-use VPN with a very cheap annual subscription ($3.32 per month)
5. CyberGhost – an excellent cheap VPN for streaming, from $2.19 per month
6. Ivacy VPN – the cheapest per-month VPN plan available ($1.00 per month for 5 years)
7. Windscribe – The only VPN with a build-your-own plan option ($1.00 per month per location)
8. AirVPN – great short-term plans, with flexible pricing starting from ~$2.20 for 3 days

1. Surfshark – Best Cheap VPN overall

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 $2.39 per month.

This is, quite frankly, one of the best VPN deals you will ever come across. 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, 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 from $1.19/month on top of your VPN subscription or $3.49/month as a standalone product, 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 hackers 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.

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

Surfshark pricing

• Monthly plan: $12.95 per month
• 12-month plan: $3.99 per month
• BEST VALUE – 2-year plan: $2.39/mo (+ 2 months free)
• 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee

2. Private Internet Access – the Best Value-for-Money VPN

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.

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.

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.

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 cost

• Monthly plan: $11.95 per month
• 1-year plan: $3.33 per month
• 3-year plan: $2.03 per month (+3 months free)

3. NordVPN – best VPN Features at a low Price

NordVPN is one of our highest-rated VPNs, and deservedly so. It runs 5,363 servers in 59 countries across the globe – the most of any service on this list.

Despite that impressive reach, it also offers one of the least expensive plans out there, at $3.29 per month –  provided you sign up for a two-year commitment. Its service offers plenty of features, alongside the name-brand, high-quality security that any VPN user is looking for.

It’s speedy, too: we only experienced a 13% drop-off in speed when we connected to two different locations using NordVPN. By way of comparison, we were 23.1% slower when using ExpressVPN.

NordVPN features and test findings

• A great-value VPN from a trusted name
• Number of servers: 5,363
• Number of simultaneous devices: 6
• Obfuscated servers
• Includes Killswitch
• Email and live chat support
• Server locations: 60+
• Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
• Unblocks: Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, iPlayer, Amazon

NordVPN pricing

• Monthly plan: $12.99 per month
• 1-year plan: $4.59 per month
• 2-year plan: $3.29 per month (+ 3 months free)
• 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee

Read our full NordVPN review or see how it holds up in a head-to-head against ExpressVPN.

4. PureVPN – low Cost and Easy to use

PureVPN is a great option for a value-led VPN. 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 feature is the ability to convert your PC into a VPN hotspot, which you can then connect to other devices.

While it’s pretty fast – certainly enough for most users – PureVPN isn’t the absolute fastest. You’ll 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: 7,600+
• Available on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
• Unblocks: Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu

PureVPN costs

• Monthly plan: $10.95 per month
• 1-year plan: $3.32 per month
• 2-year plan: $2.08 per month
• 7-day trial: $0.99

5. CyberGhost VPN – the Best Cheap VPN for Streaming

CyberGhost VPN’s ease of use and strong privacy 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 different 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.

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 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 pricing

• Monthly plan: $12.99 per month
• 6-month plan: $6.99 per month
• 2-year + 2-month plan: $2.19 per month
• 1-day free trial and a 45-day money-back guarantee

6. Ivacy VPN – the Cheapest VPN Overall

Privacy is often one of the top concerns of anyone considering a VPN, and Ivacy delivers privacy in abundance. It’s also the cheapest per-month VPN plan you can currently buy, at just $1.00 per month – provided you’re willing to commit for five years.

However, the service is only average in a few other factors: Its speeds can be choppy, and its range of features is limited. In other words, if you’re a hands-on tinkerer who wants to put in the work to get the best possible experience, Ivacy isn’t for you. However, if you enjoy a secure but simple service at a great price, this one works great.

Ivacy VPN features

• A cheap VPN with a strong privacy focus
• Number of simultaneous devices: 10
• No data logging
• Includes Killswitch
• Email support, no live chat
• Number of servers: 6,500+
• Server locations: 100
• Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
• Unblocks: Hulu, YouTube, iPlayer, Amazon

Ivacy VPN pricing

• Monthly plan: $9.95 per month
• 1-year plan: $3.99 per month
• 5-year plan: $1.00 per month
• 7-day free trial

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

Windscribe is a great VPN for hands-on techies who want all the bells and whistles. It offers granular settings that let users pick out their own server location and protocol, and delivers access to Netflix in regions that would otherwise be locked.

Another bonus: The free tier. Functionality is still limited, but it’s better than most free options from other VPN services, and you can use it indefinitely.

What’s more, Windscribe is the only VPN that will let you build your own custom 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).

The downside to the level of detail Windscribe offers, however, is that it can all get a little intimidating pretty quickly, so newbies won’t be fans.

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

Windscribe pricing plans

• Monthly plan: $9 per month
• 1-year plan: $5.75 per month
• Build a plan: $1.00 per location, per month

Read our full Windscribe review

8. AirVPN – Best for Flexible Plans

AirVPN has a great range of features. It’s pretty speedy and will keep your data private. Better yet, it costs just $2.75 on the 3-year plan, making it one of the cheapest VPNs on this list!

But there’s a catch. It’s a pretty technical VPN, and you’ll need a little technical knowledge to even download the right version for the right operating system. The support options are limited to online forums or email, and limited support probably isn’t what you want for a service that’s already so tough to understand.

AirVPN features

• A speedy VPN at a decent price
• Number of servers: 247+
• Number of simultaneous devices: 5
• Some data logging
• Includes Killswitch
• Email support, no live chat
• Server locations: 23+
• Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
• Unblocks: Hulu, YouTube, iPlayer, Amazon

AirVPN pricing

• 3-day plan: €2.00 per 3 days (~$2.20)
• Monthly plan: €7 per month (~$7.69)
• 3-month plan: €5 per month (~5.49)
• 6-month plan: €4.83 per month (~$5.30)
• 1-year plan: €4.08 per month (~$4.48)
• 2-year plan: €3.29 per month (~$3.61)
• 3-year plan: €2.75 per month (~$3.02)
• 3-day free trial

Cheapest VPN Plans

Below, we’ve tracked down the cheapest VPN plans currently available for different subscription periods:

How to Choose the Best Value VPN

When you’re combing through the options in search of the perfect VPN for you, the cost shouldn’t be your only consideration. After all, it doesn’t matter how little you’re paying if the service you get doesn’t let you browse the internet the way you want.

You’ll need a VPN that’s fast enough, gives you enough data, and lets you use the devices you own, from laptops to phones to tablets. Here are the biggest features to consider:

• Number of devices covered by plan — Most plans will cover up to five devices. Depending on the size of your family, you might need more or fewer.
• Reasonable data limits — After you’ve passed your monthly data cap, your bandwidth could be throttled, depending on your VPN’s policy.
• Number of servers used — With more servers, you’ll be able to connect faster; with a greater number of countries, you’ll be able to access more region-locked content.
• Killswitch — This is an essential security function: A killswitch automatically shuts down your internet if your secure VPN connection drops, ensuring that you never browse unsecured.
• Help and support options — Is the service’s support team available by email, phone, and/or live chat? Do they have a solid reputation? Are you a self-starter who needs an extensive online help center?

What You Need to Avoid When Picking a VPN on a Budget

Your budget shouldn’t preclude you from picking up an excellent VPN – there is a lot of choice out there, and as we’ve shown here, you can find some great VPN solutions for just a few dollars a month.

However, if you’re looking at budget VPNs, it pays to be a little cautious, and make sure you check out their terms of service with more than a casual eye. Some VPNs at the cheaper end of the market may play fast and loose with your privacy, selling your data to third parties, or may not have as robust security features as their more premium counterparts.

You may also be slightly shortchanged when it comes to speed and data caps. A very cheap VPN may not have the funding for a speedy infrastructure, which means slower download speeds and a potential limit on monthly traffic. You might not notice it when reading web pages, but videos may stream at very low resolutions, or simply not at all.

Are Cheap VPNs Slow?

Nobody likes their internet speed to slow to a crawl, and there’s no denying that all VPNs – every single one of them – will cause a slight slowdown compared to your regular internet connection. This is because they are routing your connection through their own servers. However, in the best cases, you’ll hardly notice.

If you’re looking at cheaper VPNs, you might need to temper your expectations slightly, as we’ve found that when it comes to speed, the more premium offerings are more likely to deliver the sort of pace that’s closest to your standard experience. However, there are some cheaper VPNs, such as NordVPN and AirVPN, that flew through our speed test while barely breaking a sweat.

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, we’d advice against this.

Are Cheap VPNs Safe?

One of the main reasons that we use a VPN is to protect our identity. Some VPNs are better at this than others, and it’s true to say that some of the cheaper offerings really have dropped the ball here, leaving their customers potentially 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 earlier in the 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 that it’s important to check the small print of a cheap VPN before committing.

Using a Budget VPN in a Restrictive Country

Some people use VPNs to get around restrictive laws in their country – in some cases, these laws can be so restrictive that even VPNs themselves are banned, for example in China and Russia.

Before using a VPN, it’s important to check whether or not you are legally allowed to use one in your country, and what the repercussions could be if you are not.

Some budget VPNs may not hide your online activity and personal data as well as others, which is of high importance if you live in a country with a dim view of using a VPN. If this is you, we recommend opting for a VPN with strong security options, such as NordVPN, which offers military-approved 256-bit AES encryption, as well as a Double VPN that routes traffic through a second server to add an extra level of protection.

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 NordVPN 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.

Frequently Asked Questions