ZDNET’s reviewers perform extensive testing on the VPNs on this list. We test out connections through different countries, and run speed tests using speedtest.net to measure and compare results. We also test whether the VPN has any DNS leaks while connecting, which would potentially provide information to your ISP or other services about what sites you visit or your originating location or IP address. We evaluate how easy each service is to navigate via website and app, how well it works for streaming content, and its customer service offerings. All of these factors give us a view into how well the VPN works, and how secure it is.
You may be concerned about your online security but dread adding yet another fee to your monthly budget by signing up for a virtual private network (VPN) service.
Sure, there are free VPNs, but they often come with limitations and may risk your privacy. It can be unclear how those vendors make their money and whether or not your data is being mined as it moves across the free VPN providers’ networks.
If you want the best protection, consider choosing an option from our tested list of the best VPNs. But there are also cheap VPN providers that can get the job done for as little as a few bucks a month while keeping your data safe — and without requiring you to agree to shady data-sharing policies.
Also: The best VPN services: Expert tested
What is the best cheap VPN right now?
At ZDNET, we’ve spent years testing nearly every VPN on the market, evaluating them for speed, security, and performance. Our pick for the best cheap VPN overall is Ivacy, a stable and low-cost VPN with long-term plans for only $1.17 per month. It doesn’t offer the best mobile app functionality or speed, but this VPN is still worth considering for the price. Read on for the rest of our picks for the best cheap VPNs.
The best cheap VPNs of 2024
Ivacy
Best cheap VPN overall
Ivacy is a VPN worth considering if you want a set-and-forget VPN that will last for years to come.
Ivacy has over 5,700 servers across over 100 locations, a zero-logs policy, split tunneling, and utilizes the WireGuard protocol. However, you are limited to 10 simultaneous device connections.
Also: The best VPNs for iPhone and iPad
Ivacy is compatible with many devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Kodi, alongside Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
At the moment, Ivacy has a deal running for five-year plans. If you’re willing to sign up, you will pay the equivalent of only $1.17 a month. The company has also included optimized streaming support. You’ll need to pay extra for a dedicated IP, though.
A two-year subscription costs $1.99/month, or you could pay $10.45 for a month of access. Customers applaud the firm’s support team, although some users would like to see improvements in the Ivacy apps.
Ivacy features: Money-back guarantee: 31 days | Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Kodi, and more | Simultaneous connections: 10 | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: Payment information only | Countries: 70+ | Servers: 5,700+
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Surfshark VPN
Best cheap VPN runner-up
In our Surfshark VPN review and tests, we found this VPN performs well as a top-quality (but still cheap) VPN.
Surfshark offers unlimited connections, a strong server network, WireGuard compatibility, and solid performance. I’ve found it to be quick to connect and stable, although sometimes, speed can be lacking.
The cheapest option, a two-year subscription called Surfshark Starter, costs $2.19 per month. Plus, three months of free access are included. The mid-tier plan, Surfshark One, is $2.69 per month. Alternatively, you can sign up for a yearly subscription at $2.79 per month or pay $15.45 for a month of access.
Customers appreciate Surfshark’s consistently cheap pricing and quick, efficient customer service.
Surfshark VPN features: Simultaneous Connections: Unlimited | Kill Switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Firefox, Android TV | Logging: None, except billing data | Countries: 100 | Servers: 3,200+ | Money-back guarantee: 30 days
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Private Internet Access
Best VPN for usability
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a reliable, open-source VPN that is perfect for beginners because it’s user-friendly. While the company’s one-month and six-month plans are relatively expensive, two-year subscriptions are very affordable.
Review: Private Internet Access: A cheap, powerful, open-source VPN
ZDNET has consistently found PIA to be a solid VPN — and customers say the same. PIA’s VPN offers server connections in 84 countries, multi-hopping, split tunneling, ad and malware blocking, and encryption capabilities. PIA takes security seriously with a no-logs policy. The VPN’s code is also publicly available on an open-source basis, so anyone can examine its code.
Currently, the best price for this VPN is $2.03 per month with four months of free access added to a two-year contract. Alternatively, a six-month subscription is the equivalent of $7.50/month. A monthly subscription is $11.99.
Private Internet Access features: Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, routers, and more | Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: Payment information only | Countries: 91
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CyberGhost
Best VPN for money-back guarantee
CyberGhost is an affordable VPN that offers high levels of encryption, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, customizable security options, and a vast network of over 100+ countries. However, simultaneous connections are limited to seven devices.
Customers find this VPN very easy to use and valuable for the price, although some users say that streaming services can be problematic.
Also: The best VPNs for streaming
Currently, the company is offering a deal on two-year subscriptions: $2.03 per month with four months free. There’s also an interesting option you don’t often find with VPN providers — a six-month plan for $6.99 per month. A one-month contract is $12.99. CyberGhost also offers a 45-day money-back guarantee for long contracts, which is more than most VPN providers.
CyberGhost features: Money-back guarantee: 45 days | Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, game consoles, and more | Simultaneous connections: 7 | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: Payment information only | Countries: 100+ | Servers: 10,300+
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Privado VPN
Best cheap VPN with a free option
Privado VPN is another choice if you are looking for a cheap or free plan. This Swiss VPN offers a comprehensive free option with support for up to ten devices — but you are limited to 10GB of monthly traffic.
The user interface is clean and easy to use, and there is a handy button for enabling the kill switch — which protects your traffic if your internet connection drops without warning. However, it lacks some of the advanced features offered by VPN competitors. There also appears to be little evidence of third-party auditing.
Prices begin at $1.99 per month for two years of access (with three months free) and $2.99 monthly for an annual plan, rising to $10.99 if you want to try out the software for a single month. Customers like it as a set-and-forget VPN, although some report technical issues.
Privado VPN features: Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, and more | Simultaneous connections: Unlimited, 10 on a free plan | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: Credit card not required for a free plan | Countries: 49 | Servers: 200+
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Our top pick for the best cheap VPN is Ivacy, an extremely affordable VPN with long-term plans starting at only $1.17 per month. Plus, you get a 31-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind about signing up for the long term.
Best cheap VPN
Best price
Free months?
No logs policy?
Simultaneous connections
Ivacy
$1.17
None
✓
10
Surfshark VPN
$2.19
Three months
✓
Unlimited
PIA
$2.03
Four months
✓
Unlimited
CyberGhost
$2.03
Four months
✓
7
Privado VPN
$1.99
Three months
✓
Unlimited, 10 on a free plan
*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.
The best cheap VPN for you depends on various factors besides price. If you choose a low-cost service, but you can’t unblock the streaming services you want to use, then what did you really save? Start by asking yourself why you need a VPN. Then, test out a reputable provider that has high standards for security.
If you want to learn more about how VPNs work and how to choose the best one for you, check out our guide: What is a VPN and why do we need one?
Choose this cheap VPN…
If you want…
Ivacy
The most affordable, long-term option. Although it’s a relatively new VPN service provider, Ivacy unblocks major streaming services. The current deal is for a five-year contract at only $1.17 per month.
Surfshark
Top-tier performance and plenty of features wrapped up in an affordable package. Surfshark’s VPN has long stood out as a top VPN provider that offers reliable, stable connections and security.
PIA
Private Internet Access is a cheap, powerful VPN powered by open source technologies, and well worth considering if you want an affordable subscription service.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is another top choice for a fast connection in an extensive server network at a reasonable price. This VPN has a long money-back guarantee and is great for streaming.
Privado VPN
Privado VPN is one of the cheapest options and also provides a free plan. You could try out this VPN’s free solution, as long as you don’t mind the 10GB monthly traffic limit.
When you are considering what VPN to sign up for, there are a number of factors you should consider:
Plan length: Before signing up for a new VPN service, consider which subscription length is right for you. Month-by-month plans are considerably more expensive than longer plans, of which you can choose six-month to five-year plans. Features: Many cheap VPNs don’t offer advanced features on their basic or longest plans. If you want a specific feature, such as a password manager, you may need to pay more. Pricing: The cost of your VPN subscription, naturally, should factor into your decision. Choose one that is affordable for you.Use cases: If you want a VPN for a specific purpose beyond day-to-day browsing — such as traveling — check whether or not the VPN will be suitable. You may need to opt for a particular VPN if you want to use it in different countries, for example, or you may want to choose a VPN known for great streaming support.
We tested and analyzed the best cheap VPNs in 2024 using the following criteria to help you make an informed decision:
Performance: We tested most of the VPNs on this list to ensure robust performance in terms of connection and speed. After all, there’s no point in using a VPN if your connection continually drops or lags.Simultaneous connections: Many VPNs limit how many devices you can connect to a service at the same time. If you have a phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, and possibly even a smart TV you want to connect to a VPN, you’d need a service that allows at least five simultaneous connections.Security: There’s no point using a VPN unless their security protocols and encryption levels are up to scratch. We also ensured that the development team behind each recommended VPN cares about making security improvements over time and patching reported bugs.Kill switch: A kill switch prevents you from having an unprotected connection and is an important feature for a VPN to have, as it protects by preventing a return to a default Wi-Fi connection should your internet connection unexpectedly drop.Geoblocks and streaming: We know that VPNs can be key to accessing local content and services while you’re away from home. We ensured that our top recommendations performed well when it came to these factors and are unlikely to slow down your connection while you are streaming. Platforms: What systems and devices can you run the VPN on? Our recommended vendors must provide easy-to-use and intuitive desktop software and mobile apps. Countries & servers: In how many different countries does the VPN have servers? This can include physical and virtual servers, and whether or not there are enough — at least 50 or so — to provide variety.Trial length & price: Each VPN we recommend has a solid money-back guarantee, and in most cases, you’ll be able to try out the service for around 30 days before you commit to a full-term plan.
For a more extensive breakdown, check out our comprehensive VPN testing methodology page.
Free months, added as an incentive for users to sign up for a VPN service, are typically added to the length of your contract. For example, if you sign up for a two-year contract with three months free, you pay for 24 months of access and then enjoy an additional three months free.
If you want your data to be secure, then yes. VPNs offer protection no matter what kind of device you use to transmit and receive data. Before you commit to a VPN service, it’s a good idea to test it out and see how well it works with all of your devices. The best VPN for Android may not be the same as the best VPN for iOS, and vice versa.
A VPN may help you get cheaper flights by connecting you with foreign servers and hiding your IP address. But airline prices shift based on various factors, and the impact of changing your location could be negligible or at the very least, hard to confirm.
It’s worth trying to use a VPN to save money on flights. I’ve managed to score slightly cheaper long-haul flights by appearing to come from my destination country, for example, but the discounts haven’t been huge.
Let’s be clear: Yes. Using a VPN will slow down your connection because your data is encrypted, decrypted, and sent through intermediate servers. Your online gaming experience might suffer. You might have enough lag to miss shots if you’re a first-person shooter player. That said, both computers and VPNs have gotten much faster. Years ago, VPNs caused everything to slow down far more than today’s services.
But now the negative impact is almost unnoticeable, especially with the fastest VPN services. Most (but not all) VPN providers also limit the number of devices you can connect to simultaneously, so you may have to pick and choose which home devices to connect to.
We’ve shone a spotlight on paid services in this article, although some of them offer a free tier. We don’t usually recommend free VPN services because we don’t consider them secure, the exception being ProtonVPN.
Running a good VPN service requires hundreds of servers worldwide and a ton of networking resources — it’s expensive. If you’re not paying to support that infrastructure, who is? Probably advertisers or data miners. What’s the point of a VPN if it doesn’t keep your data secure?
However, we want to clarify that no one tool can guarantee your privacy. First, anything can be hacked. Second, a VPN protects your data when it transits from your computer to the VPN service, but it doesn’t protect what you put on servers or whatever cloud-based application you’re using. It doesn’t typically offer password security or multi-factor authentication unless you pay for these add-ons. Privacy and security require you to be diligent throughout your digital journey, and VPNs, while helpful, are not a miracle cure.
There is no shortage of reputable VPNs that get the job done.
If what has been highlighted here doesn’t suit your needs, you can try out other services that may meet your requirements. Some may be free, even — with limited capacity and network scope — whereas others are still cheap, but might not perform quite as well as our top picks. Below, you can check out other VPNs that are worth consideration.
View at PureVPNView at MullvadView at Proton VPN Editorial standards
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