Why You Can Trust CNET Best VPN Deals: Top VPN Subscriptions From $2 a Month
Save on internet security with deals on our favorite VPN services like ExpressVPN, Surfshark and NordVPN.
Having your sensitive data leaked or your identity stolen can derail your entire life, which is why it's critical to invest in some digital security. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy and affordable ways to protect yourself online. A VPN, or virtual private network, creates an encrypted connection between your device and the internet, which keeps your browsing habits private and keeps your personal data away from prying eyes. We've already tested and rounded up some of the most trustworthy VPN services of 2023, and below, we've rounded up the best ways to get signed up with one for less.
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There are plenty of good reasons to use a VPN. For example, did you know your internet service provider amasses as much data as possible on your digital activity? A 2021 Federal Trade Commission report noted that the leading ISPs have gathered user data on topics as personal as race, sexual orientation and real-time location. They've combined it, cross-referenced it and shared it with third-party partners. Yikes.
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A VPN can help protect you from such pervasive data-gathering practices. In addition to hiding your internet activity by providing a secure and private "tunnel" to your online destination, a VPN can also let you virtually move your location to a different city or country -- a nice bonus if you're looking to get around local censorship laws or try out different slates of streaming media offerings in different locales.
An important thing to keep in mind is that free VPN services aren't worth the risk. For the most part, they're playing that same game of scooping up and selling your data. The good news is there are some great VPN deals available right now, with prices starting at what amounts to less than $2 a month if you prepay for a year or two of service. We've tested a bunch of the market leaders and pulled together our recommendations for the best VPN deals. Just keep a few things in mind:
- Some of these offers have countdown clocks saying that the VPN deals are ending "today." These are usually marketing tactics that have no relationship to the deal's actual end date.
- We'll update sale prices when we notice a change, so be sure to check back often.
- The VPN industry has undergone significant change in the past few years, with all three of our top VPN choices announcing major shifts in corporate ownership. In 2021, ExpressVPN announced that it had joined Kape Technologies, a company that already owned several other VPNs and has raised privacy concerns in the past. And in February 2022, NordVPN and Surfshark announced they were merging, though they'll continue to operate autonomously. We've since given ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark fresh reviews in light of these changes, and we continue to actively evaluate other VPN services as well. Our rankings are likewise subject to change as they reflect our latest findings.
- Most of these offers below are for subscriptions of two years or more, which is a long time to tie yourself to a service that could change ownership (see above) or terms of service, or even have a security incident. Though most services have a 30-day free cancellation policy at the start, be sure to check the terms of service before signing up for a long-term commitment.
VPN deals: Tested and recommended
The VPNs in this first group are also among our current top six best VPN picks. We can broadly recommend them -- albeit with the noted caveats. That said, the fast-changing ownership landscape in the VPN space may continue to shake things up, but we'll continue to update this as we uncover more.
Devices: Unlimited
Refund policy: Fully refundable for 30 days
Surfshark is a relative newcomer to the VPN space, but it's quickly become known for its speed, which is why it's one of our VPN experts' top picks. Surfshark also supports unlimited devices, which is great for large households. If you pick up 27 months of Surfshark VPN right now, you'll pay only $1.99 a month, billed at $53.73 upfront. Keep in mind that this deal is for two years of service with an extra three months of "free" access, which just drops the overall cost per month lower. Note that Surfshark merged with rival NordVPN last year, though the companies have thus far continued to operate independently. Read our Surfshark review.
ExpressVPN still tops our list of the best VPNs, and you can make a bit of a saving on a subscription by going for its 12-month plan, where you'll snag an additional three months of service for free, dropping the equivalent monthly cost to just $6.67 (billed as $99.95 upfront) with the promo code SPECIALDEAL. Again, those three months of "free" access just drops the overall cost per month lower, but spreads the savings out over the longer term of 15 months. We evaluate VPNs based on their overall performance in three main categories: speed, security and price. Express isn't the cheapest, but it's among the fastest and, so far, is the most secure -- even after its acquisition by Kape Technologies. Read our ExpressVPN review.
Devices: Up to 6
Refund policy: Fully refundable for 30 days
An industry heavyweight and still one of CNET's top picks, NordVPN is discounting the two-year subscription for its Standard plan by 63%. That means you'll pay the equivalent of $2.99 per month (billed as $80.73 upfront) for 24 months of service plus three months free. The one-year plan is also discounted, though not as steeply, at $4.49 per month for 15 months. (Note, again, that NordVPN and Surfshark merged last year but have continued to operate autonomously so far.)
Devices: Unlimited
Refund policy: Fully refundable for 30 days
PIA, or Private Internet Access, earned a spot on our list of the best VPN services of 2023 as one of our favorite budget options. And right now, you can get signed up for even less. The two-year plan is currently 82% off, and includes three free months, which drops the price down to just $2.11 a month for your first 27 months. After that, it will renew at the standard price of $56.94 annually.
Despite its affordable price, PIA's VPN tested fairly well in our tests. It offers AES 256-bit encryption as well as a kill switch function and boasts a respectable speed loss of just 24%. It's worth noting that PIA does fall under US jurisdiction, which may be a concern if you're a security-focused user, though the company appears to be doing everything in its power to alleviate those concerns, including making its source code openly available. Read our PIA VPN review.
Devices: Unlimited
Refund policy: Fully refundable for 30 days
With one of the best user interfaces in the field, according to our reviewer, IPVanish is good for those who want to be able to customize settings and those who are new to a VPN. If this is your first time at the rodeo and want to know more about the technology, IPVanish is a reliable service with a gentle learning curve. Normally IPVanish goes for $90 a year, but this deal gets you two years of IPVanish, plus three "free" months for only $67.23 ($2.49 per month). However, if you want to save without a multiyear commitment, there is a discount on the yearly plan, so you can sign up for 15 months for $44.85 ($2.99 per month). Note that IPVanish is owned by US-based Ziff Davis, which may be a concern if you're a security-focused user. Read our IPVanish review.
Devices: Up to 10
Refund policy: Fully refundable for 30 days
Go off the grid with ProtonVPN for around $4 a month, good for two and a half years. Keep in mind that this deal is billed as $119.70 upfront. ProtonVPN Plus (the paid plan) has no data caps or server switching limits. Its ease of use, Tor support and ad-blocking feature make ProtonVPN a favorite with many users. You may also opt for the 15-month plan at $4.79 per month (billed at $71.85). To access the biggest savings, choose the 30-month plan option. Read our ProtonVPN review.
Additional VPN deals
We either haven't fully tested the following VPNs, or have only tested them anecdotally. Thus we can only recommend them for casual use, such as bypassing geographic restrictions while streaming media.
Devices: Up to 10
Refund policy: Fully refundable for 31 days
PureVPN presents another affordable option if you're in the market for a simple VPN without a big price tag. With a solid server fleet numbering over 6,500 in 78 countries, PureVPN promises reliable service, although we haven't had the chance to verify. Another thing to disclaim here: PureVPN was reported on by our sister site ZDNet as having provided timestamp-only logs to the FBI in a cyberstalking case back in 2018. PureVPN has since stopped the timestamp logging practice and undergone a third-party audit to ensure that it keeps to its no-log policy. Its two-year standard plan is currently discounted by 84% and includes 2 "free" months, which drops the price to just $2.03 a month for the first 26 months ($52.95 upfront). If you don't want a multiyear commitment, you can still save 70% on a one-year standard plan, which drops the price to $3.74 a month ($45 upfront).
Devices: Unlimited
Refund policy: Fully refundable for 30 days
Atlas VPN is a budget VPN aimed at casual users whose main requirements are video streaming and P2P file sharing. It has all the features you would expect from a VPN, such as strong encryption, a no-log policy and a network kill switch. Atlas VPN's server fleet is currently stated to be around 700 across 28 countries, which is smaller than those of the major VPN providers. The service was acquired by rival NordVPN in 2021, so that may involve terms of service changes going forward. However, since we already like Nord, we're hoping this is a step forward, not a step back. (Atlas offers a free version, though we always suggest you steer clear of those.) Use code BLACKFRIDAY23 at checkout to get 30 months of Atlas VPN for about $1.64 a month ($49.21 upfront). Keep in mind that this deal is billed as two years of service, but the six "free" months drop the cost per month lower, spreading the savings out over the longer term of 30 months.
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