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You don’t have to sacrifice functionality and security if you’re on a tight budget. We chose Surfshark as the best cheap VPN because it offers the lowest long-term pricing, supports more protocols and ports than the competition, receives regular compatibility updates and bug fixes, and has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Best Cheap VPNs: Our Shortlist
Our Top Picks
Best Cheap VPN
Most Transparent Company
Best Features
Massive Infrastructure
Best Free VPN
Fastest Speeds
Affordable Security Bundle
Cheapest Price
Most Payment Methods
IP Address + VPN
Digital.com dives deep into every topic it covers to offer trusted and reliable recommendations for the best business tools. See how we review cheap VPNs.
The Top Cheap VPNs of 2023
Best Cheap VPN
Features
- Supports the most protocols and ports
- Regular compatibility updates & bug fixes
- Second cheapest on the list
#1 Top Pick for 2023
Not only is Surfshark the second-cheapest option on our list, it also allows unlimited device connections, is regularly updated, and supports more protocols and ports than any other VPN we’ve reviewed.
Lowest Price
$1.99 per month
Free Trial/Demo
30-day trial
Customer Support
Via email
Infrastructure Size
63+ countries
Read More
Different VPNs use a variety of protocols, with the most popular options including OpenVPN, WireGuard, and internet protocol security (IPSec). While every VPN on this list supports one or even multiple protocols, Surfshark supports all of the above protocols plus the transmission control protocol (TCP) and user datagram protocol (UDP) ports.
- Who is Surfshark best for?
Users who want full control over their VPN configuration without breaking the bank. - Recent upgrades to Surfshark
Most of Surfshark’s recent updates cover bug fixes, compatibility updates, and other small changes rather than introducing any major features or functionalities. For example, Surfshark 3.4.0 was released for Mac devices in April 2021, but the main benefit of this release was simply to make the VPN client compatible with the new M1 chip. With that in mind, you can trust Surfshark to keep supporting the latest software and firmware, but we don’t expect any substantial updates in the near future. - Surfshark pricing
Like the other VPNs we’ve reviewed, Surfshark offers significant discounts in exchange for longer commitments. You can currently get access to the platform for $13.95 per month, $3.99 per month when paid for a year, or $1.99 per month when paid for two years. There are also multiple tiers with different features that’ll raise the price if you choose them.
Compared to others, Surfshark pricing is very affordable and comes in at the cheapest option on our list.
Reasons to choose Surfshark
- Affordable pricing
- Numerous protocols & ports
- Unlimited devices
- Regular updates
- 30-day guarantee
- Users report great speeds
Reasons to avoid
- Could use more browser extensions
- P2P is not the best
What Customers Are Saying About Surfshark
While some users experience better speeds and reliability than others, most Surfshark customers are satisfied with the service. We also found positive feedback for the Linux command line tool as well as the browser extensions, currently available for Chrome and Firefox.
Most User Friendly
Features
- Worldwide server locations
- Extensive platform and device support
- Extremely intuitive and easy to use
Lowest Price
$2.19 per month
Free Trial/Demo
24-hour trial
Customer Support
24/7 live chat
Infrastructure Size
90+ countries
Read More
CyberGhost is known as one of the most user-friendly solutions in the industry, which may explain why it’s always one of the top five VPN solutions.
CyberGhost is known as one of the most user-friendly solutions in the industry, which may explain why it’s always one of the top five VPN solutions. It also offers the most support on devices and operating systems out of all the VPNs we observed, which was 15 total, including routers, video game consoles, and smart TVs. CyberGhost is the perfect balance between security, speed, and customization that keeps the tool effective yet simple to use.
Outside of offering many more popular security protocols, CyberGhost also includes WireGuard protocol support, which is unique to the Linux operating system. CyberGhost also has military-grade 256 bit encryption in combination with SHA256 authentication and RSA key 4096. For those that value privacy, CyberGhost offers the ability to use TOR in tandem with the CyberGhost VPN, which helps also disguise your activity in countries where it may be frowned upon.
- Who is CyberGhost best for?
CyberGhost is best for those unfamiliar with using a VPN because it offers an easy-to-use interface and any time customer service. - Recent upgrades to CyberGhost
CyberGhost recently updated their VPN for Linux app to include WireGuard® capabilities. - CyberGhost pricing
CyberGhost is one of the more expensive solutions if you don’t want to enter a contract, pushing the envelope for monthly plans at $12.99 a month. It also offers a six-month plan at $6.99 per month and a two-year plan at $2.19 per month. Unfortunately, it only offers a one-day free trial but, on the flip side, it honors a 45-day money-back refund if you’re not happy.
Reasons to choose CyberGhost
- Servers in 90+ countries
- Massive list of supported devices
- Easy enough for anyone to use
- Excellent mobile UI
Reasons to avoid
- Expensive monthly plans
What Customers Are Saying About CyberGhost
Many reviews state that people are happy with the resulting product as it is versatile and speedy, but the initial setup takes some time.
Best Features
Features
- Split tunneling an multihop connections
- Recent updates added even more features
- Regular updates and fast speeds
Lowest Price
$3.79 per month
Free Trial/Demo
30-day trial
Customer Support
24/7 live chat
Infrastructure Size
59 countries
Read More
Features like Tor connections, multihop connections, and split-tunneling might not matter to every user, but NordVPN is the top cheapest VPN in 2023 when it comes to these advanced functions.
Split-tunneling allows subscribers to put some traffic through the VPN while leaving some unfiltered. At the same time, multihop connections make it easy to send your activity through two VPN servers instead of one. On top of these tools, NordVPN offers 24/7 support, ad and malware blocking, two-factor authentication, and more.
- Who is NordVPN best for?
With constant updates and fast speeds, NordVPN is great for gamers, advanced users, and anyone looking for advanced control & functionality from their VPN. - Recent upgrades to NordVPN
Recent updates to the NordVPN Windows client introduced support for Japanese along with multi-factor authentication, referral benefits, location markers, and split-tunneling. While some of the other VPNs on this list mostly stick to minor releases, NordVPN truly goes above and beyond regarding client updates, and the platform has far more features today than it did one year ago. - NordVPN pricing
NordVPN seems expensive when you look at the monthly option, which starts at $12.99. On the other hand, longer subscriptions are much more affordable, with one year available starting at $4.49 per month and two years starting at $3.79 per month. This is advertised as $3.30 per month for two years “plus three months free,” but the monthly rate of $3.30 accounts for those three additional months. A 30-day money-back guarantee backs all plans.
Reasons to choose NordVPN
- Full of features
- Split-tunneling & multihop
- Regular updates to add new features
- 30-day guarantee
Reasons to avoid
- Security breach in 2018
- Higher costs
What Customers Are Saying About NordVPN
Most customers are happy with their experiences with NordVPN, but some still stay away from the platform due to its notorious 2018 security breach which was revealed in 2019. While the breach didn’t reveal any user credentials, the company didn’t publicly address it for nearly 18 months, which led to a major hit to their reputation in the cybersecurity industry.
Massive Infrastructure
Features
- Servers in more than 105 countries
- Consistent improvement updates
- Pay with Bitcoin, WebMoney, or others
Lowest Price
$8.32 per month
Free Trial/Demo
30-day guarantee
Customer Support
24/7 live chat
Infrastructure Size
105 countries
Read More
With more than 3,000 servers in a total of 105 countries, ExpressVPN was an easy pick as the best cheap virtual private network (VPN) when it comes to servers and locations.
While some VPNs demonstrate higher speeds than others in testing, it’s difficult to predict how a given server will perform for you. A wider range of servers gives you more options to find a strong connection or access content that’s only available in specific locations.
- Who is ExpressVPN best for?
With high speeds and a ton of server locations, ExpressVPN is great for anyone who wants to watch all the streaming content on all the platforms. - Recent upgrades to ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN regularly comes out with new releases of its apps for iOS, Android, Mac, Linux, Windows, browsers, and other devices and operating systems. Most of these changes cover simple bug fixes and compatibility updates, but some add new features and functionalities. For example, ExpressVPN 10.6.0 for Windows was released on September 1, 2021, introducing narrator and keyboard navigation to make the app more accessible. - ExpressVPN pricing
ExpressVPN offers a single subscription, with pricing dependent on the length of your commitment. It’s currently available for $12.95 monthly, $9.99 monthly for six months, or $8.32 monthly for a full year. Those prices make it noticeably more expensive than many of the alternatives.
Reasons to choose ExpressVPN
- Established & reliable
- Massive infrastructure
- Straightforward pricing
- 30-day guarantee
- Multiple payment methods
Reasons to avoid
- 2 or 3x the cost of others
What Customers Are Saying About ExpressVPN
Both users and reviewers are impressed by ExpressVPN’s range of servers as well as fast speeds and ability to get around most streaming service blocks. They also appreciate having the opportunity to pay with Bitcoin, WebMoney, and other alternatives to more common payment methods like credit cards and PayPal.
Best Free Plan
Features
- Free plan–no ads & unlimited bandwidth
- Proton Unlimited includes multiple tools
- Open-source and dedicated to privacy
Lowest Price
$4.99 per month
Free Trial/Demo
Free plan
Customer Support
Email and ticketing
Infrastructure Size
65 countries
Read More
Getting a reliable VPN for a few dollars a month is great but getting one at no charge is even better. While some free VPNs are unreliable, ProtonVPN is one of the top providers for both free and paid services.
Their free plan comes with restrictions like a limited range of servers, a single simultaneous connection, and caps on speed, but it’s still the best way for users to get a VPN without spending any money.
- Who is ProtonVPN best for?
- Solo users who want a free way to protect themselves on one device with no ads and unlimited bandwidth.
- Recent upgrades to ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN recently released a fully featured application for Linux users, making them one of the more Linux-friendly providers on this list. While ProtonVPN had previously supported Linux with a command-line tool, their new Linux app makes it easier than ever for Linux users to install ProtonVPN. - ProtonVPN pricing
While the ProtonVPN free tier stands apart from the alternatives, you might be interested in upgrading to one of the paid subscriptions. Plus ($4.99 per month for a two-year plan) comes with more servers, ten device connections, higher speeds, support for torrents, and an adblocker. Unlimited ($7.99 per month for a two-year plan) adds access to all Proton products, including ProtonMail, ProtonDrive, and ProtonPass.
A 30-day money-back guarantee backs these plans, but you should know that that guarantee only applies to unused service — if you cancel after 15 days, for example, you might only get back half of what you paid.
Reasons to choose ProtonVPN
- No-ads free plan
- Strong Linux support
- Multiple subscription options
- Unlimited includes multiple tools
- Up to 10 devices
Reasons to avoid
- Free plan is only for one device
- More expensive than others
What Customers Are Saying About ProtonVPN
Users on a budget are happy to have a platform like ProtonVPN that offers unlimited VPN bandwidth at no charge. They also like the more flexible pricing structure while most VPNs only offer a single paid subscription, ProtonVPN offers a basic tier for users with more limited needs.
Fastest Speeds
Features
- Pros & consumers report fast speeds
- Pay with anonymous methods
- Regular update cadence
Lowest Price
$2.03 per month
Free Trial/Demo
30-day guarantee
Customer Support
24/7 email & chat
Infrastructure Size
91 countries
Read More
We’re confident in naming Private Internet Access the cheapest VPN with the fastest connection speeds in 2023 due to its outstanding reputation across both professional testing and consumer reviews.
Ultimately, there’s no way to predict how a given VPN or server will work for you. Individual performance depends on various factors, including your location, the strength of your connection, and what you’re trying to do. For example, one server might have a higher upload speed while others work better for downloads. That being said, we’re confident in naming Private Internet Access the cheapest VPN with the fastest connection speeds in 2023 due to its outstanding reputation across professional testing and consumer reviews. You can get a full refund within 30 days of subscribing if you encounter any issues with the platform.
- Who Private Internet Access best for?
With the fastest speeds available, Private Internet Access is the best for streamers or users using many devices on the same network, which would normally slow down speeds. - Recent upgrades to Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access has released a total of six updates in 2021, with most releases covering simple changes like design tweaks, bug fixes, and performance optimizations. With that in mind, you can at least trust their team to keep the VPN compatible with the latest releases of major operating systems like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. - Private Internet Access pricing
This VPN is $11.95 per month with no contract. That drops to $3.33 per month for annual subscriptions or $2.03 per month when you pay for three years at a time. On top of credit cards and other conventional payment options, you can also open a Private Internet Access subscription with anonymous methods like cryptocurrencies and third-party gift cards.
Reasons to choose Private Internet Access
- Numerous reports of fast speeds
- Receives regular updates
- 10 Gbps network connections
- No bandwidth limits
- Supports all major OSs
Reasons to avoid
- No Tor or multihop
- Free trial for mobile only
What Customers Are Saying About Private Internet Access
Consistently fast performance stands out to us when reading through reviews of Private Internet Access. While every experience is unique, you should notice little to no change in connection speed after installing the Private Internet Access client.
Affordable Security Bundle
Features
- Largest infrastructure with 140+ countries
- Excellent VPN protocol support
- Free version + money-back guarantee
Lowest Price
$2.03 per month
Free Trial/Demo
31-day guarantee
Customer Support
24/7 chat
Infrastructure Size
140+ countries
Read More
PureVPN overall offers a significant amount of functionality, services, and features for the price. Some of the high-level incentives include having one of the giant footprints as far as infrastructure goes, with more than 6,500 servers in 140 countries. Its plans can support up to 10 devices, and it offers a good balance of speed and security.
PureVPN offers Military-grade encryption alongside its killswitch and split tunneling capabilities. Video streaming on all major platforms is supported and encouraged with up to 10 GB a month in bandwidth. The service is relatively easy to set up and use, but if users have trouble, there is a 24/7 support line and a set of excellent installation guides.
As it pertains to speed, PureVPN tested excellent, including higher-than-average upload speeds across the globe. Lastly, all major protocols are well-supported in security and privacy.
- Who is PureVPN best for?
If you’re on a budget but need multiple privacy and security tools, PureVPN offers it all–password management, file encryption, and a personal privacy manager–at a price you can afford. - PureVPN pricing
PureVPN offers monthly, yearly, and two-year subscription plans. The best deal is the two-year plan starting at $2.03 per month. There are multiple tiers to choose from depending on what security features you need. To get them all, you’ll pay $3.44 per month for a two-year agreement.
Reasons to choose PureVPN
- Affordable bundle of tools
- Large infrastructure
- 31-day guarantee
- Support for nearly all platforms
Reasons to avoid
- Support is hit or miss
- Reports of unreliability in some countries
What Customers Are Saying About PureVPN
Overall, the customer reviews seem very focused on how stable and reliant the platform is. It has a long list of reviews from long-time customers over five years. Only a handful of issues reported short time server errors that are usually resolved in a few days.
Cheapest Price
Features
- Option to pay for five years up front
- Up to 10 simultaneous device connections
- Get a password manager for free
Lowest Price
$1 per month
Free Trial/Demo
30-day guarantee
Customer Support
24/7 live chat
Infrastructure Size
100+ countries
Read More
Ivacy is the cheapest VPN in 2023 overall. At just a dollar per month for a five-year agreement, it’s cost-effective and worry free for half a decade.
Every Ivacy plan comes with up to 10 simultaneous connections, more than enough for the average person to install on all of their devices or even share with family or friends.
Some consumers only need a VPN to protect a handful of devices — for example, you might install it on your desktop, laptop, and smartphone. In that case, you’ll be fine with a platform like ExpressVPN that limits subscribers to five devices. However, other users may be looking for a VPN that offers more with a single subscription.
- Who is Ivacy best for?
Ivacy is great for anyone on a very tight budget or those who want to lock in protection for half a decade. - Recent upgrades to Ivacy
Ivacy recently optimized its software for Apple’s M1 chip. - Ivacy pricing
Ivacy is one of the only VPN providers that offers a five-year plan. At just $1 per month, you’ll only pay $60 for half a decade of protection. If you prefer paying per year, it’s $3.99 per month. The most expensive option is monthly coming in at $9.95 per month.
Reasons to choose Ivacy
- Protection for five years
- Cheapest option on the list
- Free password manager
- Unblock major streaming platforms
- Supports P2P
Reasons to avoid
- Five years is a very long agreement
- No free trial or plan
What Customers Are Saying About Ivacy
Ivacy customers report strong uptime and fast loading speeds when using the VPN to access the internet. They also have positive experiences with the built-in kill switch, which prevents your activity from being exposed when the VPN goes down.
Most Payment Methods
Features
- Pay with cash, Bitcoin, and other methods
- Simple pricing structure with no contracts
- Annual independent security audits
Lowest Price
$5.35 per month
Free Trial/Demo
None
Customer Support
Email
Infrastructure Size
40 countries
Read More
VPNArea offers an extremely generous trial, with seven days available for free and a 30-day money-back guarantee available after you commit to a one-year or two-year subscription.
Unlike many other VPNs, Mullvad accepts credit and debit cards along with Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Giropay, PayPal, Swish, bank wires, and more.
With Bitcoin and other alternative payment methods becoming more popular, some users are looking for VPNs and other service providers that don’t require a credit card. Mullvad is the perfect option for this audience — unlike many other VPNs, they accept credit and debit cards along with Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Giropay, PayPal, Swish, bank wires, and more. You can even mail them cash in an envelope along with your payment token. Mullvad currently accepts cash in the form of USD, EUR, GBP, SEK, DKK, NOK, CHF, CAD, AUD, and NZD. With that in mind, they clearly offer the best payment options of any of the cheapest VPNs in 2023.
Mullvad is unique for its incredibly transparent list of servers, which shows their current status along with other information such as the server’s speed and whether it’s owned or rented by Mullvad.
- Who is Mullvad VPN best for?
- Mullvad VPN is great for anyone who wants to use anonymous alternative payment methods.
- Recent upgrades to Mullvad VPN
They’ve committed to annual security audits, with the last one taking place in December 2020. While that audit uncovered vulnerabilities, they have since taken steps to address those issues. It’s worth noting that none of the vulnerabilities included information that could potentially compromise user privacy. - Mullvad VPN pricing
Mullvad’s pricing system is simple — 5 euros per month (approximately $5.35), with no long-term commitments and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You don’t even need to provide an email address or any other personal information. The only caveat to that is that they offer a 10% discount for cryptocurrency payments to incentivize more private payment methods.
Reasons to choose Mullvad VPN
- Numerous payment methods
- Simple pricing structure
- Month-to-month only
- Annual independent audits
- No email address required
Reasons to avoid
- Limited to five devices
- More expensive than others
- Smaller infrastructure
What Customers Are Saying About Mullvad VPN
Mullvad is still only a few years old, but it has quickly developed a reputation in the cybersecurity community. Security-focused reviewers appreciate being able to create an account and open a subscription without providing an email address, credit card, or other sensitive information.
IP Address + VPN
Features
- Affordably bundle a dedicated IP + VPN
- Choose from IPs in various countries
- Lost price around to get both
Lowest Price
$20 per year
Free Trial/Demo
7-day trial
Customer Support
Chat, email, phone
Infrastructure Size
70 countries
Read More
If you want a dedicated IP address and VPN in one, VPNArea offers the cheapest bundle pricing out there at just $20 per year. Alternatively, you can get the VPN on its own.
Speed tests can give you an idea of which VPNs are more likely to perform well, but the reality is that you won’t know how a VPN works on your connection until you try it. VPNArea offers an extremely generous trial, with seven days available for free and a 30-day money-back guarantee available after you commit to a one-year or two-year subscription. You can also get your money back within 14 days of signing up for a monthly plan, making VPNArea the best cheap VPN when it comes to refunds and free trials.
- Who is VPNArea best for?
VPNArea is a great choice if you are also looking for a dedicated IP address on a budget. - VPNArea pricing
Access to VPNArea is available for $9.90 per month, $4.13 per month when paid annually, or just $3.21 per month when paid once every two years. If you also need an IP address, you can bundle the two for just $20 per year. While it isn’t quite the cheapest VPN we’ve covered, it still comes in well below some of the top competitors. You’ll have to commit to two years to get the lowest price but remember that you’ll be able to cancel for any reason within 30 days.
Reasons to choose VPNArea
- Affordable IP + VPN bundle
- Cost-effective VPN only plans
- Unlock streaming content
- Connect up to 8 devices
- 30-day guarantee
Reasons to avoid
- Smaller infrastructure
What Customers Are Saying About VPNArea
While VPNArea doesn’t come with as many servers as some of the other providers we’ve looked at, it’s still a popular option due to its low prices and reliable performance. They’re also satisfied with the platform’s support for P2P connections on the majority of servers.
Compare Cheap VPNs
Cheap VPN
Best Features
Lowest Price
Best Cheap VPN
- Supports the most protocols and ports
- Regular compatibility updates & bug fixes
- Second-cheapest option on the list
$1.99 per month
Most User Friendly
- Worldwide server locations
- Extensive platform and device support
- Extremely intuitive and easy to use
$2.19 per month
Best Features
- Split tunneling an multihop connections
- Recent updates added even more features
- Regular updates and fast speeds
$3.79 per month
Massive Infrastructure
- Servers in more than 105 countries
- Consistent improvement updates
- Pay with Bitcoin, WebMoney, or others
$2.19 per month
Best Free Plan
- Free plan–no ads & unlimited bandwidth
- Proton Unlimited includes multiple tools
- Open-source and dedicated to privacy
$4.99 per month
Fastest Speeds
- Pros & consumers report fast speeds
- Pay with anonymous methods
- Regular update cadence
$2.03 per month
Affordable Security Bundle
- Largest infrastructure with 140+ countries
- Excellent VPN protocol support
- Free version + money-back guarantee
$2.03 per month
Cheapest Price
- Option to pay for five years up front
- Up to 10 simultaneous device connections
- Get a password manager for free
$1 per month
Most Payment Methods
- Pay with cash, Bitcoin, and other methods
- Simple pricing structure with no contracts
- Annual independent security audits
$5.35 per month
IP Address + VPN
- Affordably bundle a dedicated IP + VPN
- Choose from IPs in various countries
- Lost price around to get both
$20 per year
What You Need to Know
What does a VPN do?
A VPN connection establishes a secure connection between you and the internet. All your data traffic is routed through an encrypted virtual tunnel via the VPN. This disguises your IP address when you use the internet, making its location invisible to everyone. A VPN connection is also secure against external attacks.
Is it really necessary to have a VPN?
VPN use is important for online privacy when you’re logging into the internet from a public spot because cyber snoops could track your online activity when using public Wi-Fi, whether on your computer or your mobile device.
Is it okay to leave a VPN on all the time?
If you’re using a VPN for privacy reasons or to keep yourself anonymous online, you should always keep it on. Since your VPN is your best protection against hackers and helps keep your information private, it’s best to leave your VPN on whenever you’re on the internet.
Is there a downside to using a VPN?
Some VPNs may slow your connection speed, and you could experience connection drops. You could be blocked from using particular services or websites, like Netflix. VPNs are illegal in a few countries and could give you a false sense of legal impunity.
Can a VPN be hacked?
VPN services can be hacked, but it’s extremely difficult to do so. Most premium VPNs use OpenVPN or WireGuard protocols in combination with AES or ChaCha encryption, a combination almost impossible to decrypt using brute force attacks.
Can a VPN service see my information?
The VPN encrypts your internet traffic before it leaves your computer. The encrypted traffic passes through your router and ISP, but because it’s encrypted, neither of them can see its content.
How We Review Cheap VPNs
Whether you’re looking to stream region-locked content, avoid website trackers, or keep your internet activity safe from your internet service provider (ISP), a consumer VPN is the best way to get started. Fortunately, there is a long list of providers that offer reliable VPN services at an affordable cost.
I signed up for a plan with each VPN service to test:
Learn more about our review methodology.