| VPN | Best Price/mo | 2-yr Total | Renewal/yr | Devices | Free Option | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | $1.99 | ~$54 | ~$60 | ∞ | 7-day mobile | 9.5 |
| CyberGhost | $2.19 | ~$53 | ~$51 | 7 | 45-day MBG | 8.7 |
| ProtonVPN | $0–$2.99 | ~$72 | ~$96 | 1–10 | Free forever | 9.0 |
| ExpressVPN | $2.79 | ~$67 | ~$100 | 8 | 30-day MBG | 9.2 |
| NordVPN | $3.39 | ~$82 | ~$140 | 10 | 30-day MBG | 9.8 |
| Mullvad | €5.00 | €60/yr | €60 | 5 | None | 8.8 |
ProtonVPN's free plan is the only free VPN we recommend. Unlimited bandwidth (unlike every competitor), audited no-logs policy, 1 device, servers in 3 countries. Slow at peak times but works.
See Details →Surfshark at $1.99/mo (27-month plan) is the cheapest verified premium VPN. Unlimited devices means you protect your phone, laptop, tablet, and family members on one subscription. Deloitte-audited.
See Details →CyberGhost ($2.19) offers the longest money-back guarantee (45 days) and the simplest UI. ProtonVPN Plus ($2.99) gives open-source privacy with Switzerland jurisdiction. Both solid choices.
See Details →NordVPN at $3.39/mo is our top overall recommendation. Fastest VPN tested (953 Mbps), 5 independent audits, post-quantum encryption. The extra dollar per month vs Surfshark buys significantly better audit history.
See Details →Mullvad charges €5/mo flat — no promotional pricing, no 2-year plans, no renewal shocks. Best for privacy-first users who accept slower speeds and no streaming optimization.
See Details →Surfshark at $1.99/mo (27-month plan) — cheapest premium VPN with an independent no-logs audit. Full details: Cheapest VPN 2026 →
ProtonVPN offers a genuinely free plan with unlimited bandwidth and audited no-logs. It's limited to 1 device and 3 countries, but it's the only free VPN we trust. Details: Best Free VPN →
NordVPN costs ~$1.40/mo more than Surfshark for features including: 5 independent audits (vs 1), post-quantum encryption, faster speeds (953 vs 882 Mbps), and more server locations (9,000+). Both are good — it depends on your priorities.
No — renewals are always more expensive. NordVPN renews at ~$11.99/mo, Surfshark ~$4.99/mo. CyberGhost has the most reasonable renewal at ~$4.29/mo. See our renewal guide for negotiation strategies.
