Cheap VPN services often have a subpar reputation. However, if you pick the best cheap VPN service, your experience won’t suffer. For under $2 per month, you can enjoy all the greatest VPN benefits and don’t break the bank. What are the cheapest VPN options actually worth your money in 2026?
During our evaluation, NordVPN and ExpressVPN were the best cheap VPN options, offering their plans for under $3.50 per month. Looking for the most affordable VPN? That would be Surfshark at record-breaking $1.99 per month. Want to learn more? Our Affordable VPN list is below, so let’s dive in right away.
Cheapest VPN: Best Cheap VPN Providers Ranked (Updated for April 2026)
- NordVPN – Best cheap VPN overall
- ExpressVPN – Best cheap VPN for speedy connections
- Private Internet Access – Best cheap VPN for advanced security
- Surfshark – Cheapest VPN in 2026 (only $1.99/mo)
- Proton VPN – Affordable VPN with a strong privacy pedigree
- CyberGhost – Good cheap VPN for streaming and torrenting
Cheap VPN Ranking: Detailed List of Our Top 6
The goal of this list of the cheapest VPN isn’t to necessarily pick the most affordable ones. We are looking for certain merits, such as safety, privacy, performance, streaming prowess, and more. We won’t be ranking budget VPN services solely on price, but rather on quality, which is a by-product of our ranking system.
| 🛡️ VPN Provider | 🤑 Cheapest VPN Plan |
| NordVPN | $3.09/mo Basic 2-year plan + 3 free months |
| ExpressVPN | $3.49/mo Basic 2-year plan + 4 free months |
| Private Internet Access | $2.03/mo 2-year plan + 4 free months |
| Surfshark | $1.99/mo Starter 2-year plan + 3 free months |
| Proton VPN | $2.99/mo 2-year plan |
| CyberGhost | $2.03/mo 2-year plan + 4 free months |
Simultaneously, these providers are inexpensive, and their price ranges from $1.99 to $3.59 per month at the time of writing. Prices are accurate at the time of writing, too. For the newest deals and discounts on each provider, use the provided links and buttons. The best cheap VPN providers in 2026 include:
1. NordVPN: Best Affordable VPN Overall
Pros
- Starts at $3.09/mo
- Works for streaming and P2P
- Fastest VPN in our tests
- Audited zero-log policy
- Superb malware protection
- VPN obfuscation
- Over 210 VPN locations
Cons
- Higher cost on renewal
- Confusing UI
The best cheap VPN is NordVPN. It’s not the cheapest VPN, but its qualities are far above any other service. NordVPN starts at $3.09 per month for the biennial Basic plan. For the price, this provider offers the best performance. Users can enjoy 9,200+ servers in 135 countries for accessing geo-restricted sites.
Another perk is the speed. NordVPN is the fastest cheap VPN we have tested. With the NordLynx protocol, you’ll enjoy stable performance for torrenting, streaming, and gaming (check our favorite gaming VPNs here). NordVPN prides itself on being secure. It has 256-bit encryption and a kill switch to keep things private.
The VPN uses Double VPN servers for two encryption layers. Also, there’s Threat Protection Pro to fry malware and trackers on arrival. NordVPN doesn’t keep any logs, so despite being one of the cheapest VPN, it won’t sell your private data. This VPN allows 10 simultaneous connections and works on all devices.
In addition, it has Meshnet for remote control and access. NordVPN is a great all-around affordable VPN that ticks all the boxes. Being easy to set up and use, we see no reason not to test it. Plus, the cheap VPN subscription offers a myriad of bonus security features, making it a 360-degree cybersecurity package.
Its best budget VPN deal can be obtained below, where you can take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re enticed by the #1 cheap VPN in 2026, it doesn’t get better than this. Find out more about its numerous features in our full review of NordVPN to learn why it’s the best low-cost VPN in 2026.
2. ExpressVPN: Best Budget VPN for Speed
Pros
- Starts at $3.49/mo
- Good connection speed
- Wide server spread
- It blocks trackers and ads
- Works with Netflix
- Beginner-friendly apps
Cons
- Higher-priced renewals
- Light on advanced features
ExpressVPN is another good cheap VPN worth considering. Years ago, we couldn’t call it affordable, but nowadays, its biennial Basic plan at $3.49 per month with four free months is outstanding. Like other cheap VPN providers, ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing. But what about the rest?
Glad you asked. ExpressVPN almost rivals NordVPN in speed, using the powerful Lightway Turbo protocol. Moreover, it excels at connection stability, thanks to 3,000+ servers in over 160 locations. ExpressVPN doesn’t hold back on security, with military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and tracker protection.
This reputable, cheap VPN doesn’t keep logs, having over twenty audits to show for it. Plus, ExpressVPN is highly reliable for unblocking streaming services, so Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu fans will appreciate it. On the other hand, it’s also completely optimized for torrenting, with top-tier performance and all-around security.
ExpressVPN offers three plan tiers, but the Basic plan is sufficient for most. However, there’s the Advanced plan, at about $0.80 per month more, with 12 simultaneous connections and higher discounts on ExpressVPN’s Aircove routers. Either way, you’ll never spend a fortune on ExpressVPN’s feature-rich plans.
Interested? Click below to test it risk-free. Alternatively, read our ExpressVPN review for 2026 and learn more about other vital aspects of this world-class, cheap VPN.
3. Private Internet Access: Best Affordable VPN for Top-Tier Security
Pros
- Starts at $2.03/mo
- Ad and tracker blocker
- Huge server network
- Advanced security features
- No device limit
Cons
- Inconsistent speeds
- Complex interface
PIA has an affordable 2-year plan at $2.03/mo with a few free months, making it the cheapest VPN in 2026, next to Surfshark. It’s no slouch, though. PIA supports unlimited simultaneous connections and offers apps for Windows, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Android. Security-wise, it’s more than phenomenal.
The provider’s audited no-logging policy reassures doubtful users. Above all, the service relies on bank-grade encryption and WireGuard. Other features like PIA MACE (ad-blocking), split tunneling, and SOCKS5 make PIA safe. MultiHop is also there, with Shadowsocks obfuscation for bypassing censorship.
PIA works with Netflix and offers many dedicated P2P servers. This low-cost VPN from the USA even offers dedicated IP addresses for a fairly low price. PIA’s Dedicated IPs are cheap, but the downside is slower speed. On the flip side, Private Internet Access uses RAM-based servers and has a state-of-the-art Private DNS.
This prevents third parties’ involvement. With the unbeatable price comes a few downsides, but nothing to worry about. Private Internet Access won’t work in China, unlike NordVPN, the best VPN in China. Another compromise is a slightly outdated Windows client that can be clunky. Is this a deal breaker?
Considering it is among the VPNs with the least expensive subscription plans, certainly not. Private Internet Access can be yours at $2.03 per month, again, with a 30-day refund policy, 24/7 live chat service, and plenty of other notable features. Click below to get this fantastic discount and test the VPN risk-free.
4. Surfshark: Cheapest VPN for Head-to-Toe Protection
Pros
- Cheapest VPN ($1.99/mo)
- MultiHop servers for privacy
- Best streaming performance
- Antivirus in the mid-tier plan
- ID theft protection tools
Cons
- Expensive dedicated IPs
- Occasional slow speeds
Surfshark offers flexible and competitive pricing, ranking it #4 on the list of the best cheap VPN in 2026. It has a heap of features, one of which is MultiHop for doubling encryption and providing top-to-bottom privacy. Another is a private browser for untraceable web browsing. Surfshark goes all in, guns blazing.
As one of the cheapest VPNs, it supports unlimited simultaneous connections and native apps for Windows, iOS, Fire TV Stick, tvOS, and other devices. Remember that Surfshark costs only $1.99 per month, so its price is very affordable. This doesn’t affect the performance, as the VPN is still fast and offers WireGuard.
Surfshark is one of the top VPN options for Netflix, too. In our test, the VPN unblocked 30 libraries, putting it above other cheapest VPN streaming-wise. While not the fastest, Surfshark is stable enough, with over 4,500 servers in 100 countries. All servers are RAM-based, and the VPN offers Static and Dedicated IPs.
Users can also purchase an antivirus in the Surfshark One plan for threat protection. We love Surfshark’s Smart DNS, which allows you to stream without setting up the VPN. It also lets you access the NoBorders mode for avoiding censorship. A unique tool is the IP Rotator, which periodically alters your IP for more privacy.
Speaking of that, Surfshark is another no-log VPN. Despite the Dutch jurisdiction, Surfshark’s log-free nature never subsided. This is undoubtedly among the best cheap VPN services, just as capable as its multiple-times-pricier rivals.
5. Proton VPN: Cheap VPN for Robust Privacy
Pros
- Starts at $2.99/mo
- Audited no-logs policy
- Built-in ad blocker
- Torrenting servers
- Free plan without a data cap
Cons
- No Smart DNS
- Subpar customer service
- Confusing UI
Proton VPN isn’t always our go-to cheap VPN, but it’s the best budget VPN with some of the top features. Proton VPN offers more than 19,200 servers with unlimited bandwidth and admirable performance. Above all, this budget VPN relies on privacy and security. It’s a Swiss service, which confirms its no-logging claims.
However, the VPN also uses advanced technologies, such as full-disk encryption instead of RAM servers, AES-256 encryption with a kill switch, IP/DNS leak protection, and Secure Core servers to fortify your privacy. Proton VPN’s NetShield blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites for a safer and cleaner internet.
Furthermore, there’s Stealth VPN (obfuscation) to get over firewalls. Streaming and P2P are its strengths, with dedicated servers for both. Plus, there’s port forwarding to speed up P2P downloads. Unlike other low-cost VPN picks, it takes one step forward and introduces a free version with no data cap.
Similar to Hide.me, one of the best free VPNs. Proton VPN also offers its VPN Accelerator to counter ISP throttling and provide a better internet experience. Its apps span all platforms, and the VPN supports ten simultaneous connections, like NordVPN, our favorite affordable VPN service. So, what about its price?
Proton VPN’s discount on the 2-year plan drops the price to under $3 per month. A 30-day money-back guarantee spices up the deal. As you can see, Proton VPN costs almost as much as NordVPN, slightly less, so it’s a tremendously cheap VPN.
6. CyberGhost: Low-Cost VPN for Streaming and Torrenting
Pros
- Starts at $2.03/mo
- 45-day refund policy
- Dedicated servers
- Powerful encryption
- Solid speeds
Cons
- No obfuscation
- Limited to 7 devices
- Unintuitive apps
CyberGhost is a great option and a famous, cheap VPN with exceptional value for money. This low-cost VPN has a 2-year plan at $2.03 per month with 4 free months. For the price, you get 12,000+ servers in 100+ countries, unlimited bandwidth, and support for all platforms and devices. Don’t let the low price fool you.
Numbers aside, CyberGhost is from Romania, which screams privacy. Its NoSpy servers are particularly impressive, as CyberGhost owns and operates them for better anonymity. As expected, it relies on 256-bit encryption and uses WireGuard to provide ample performance and speeds for all activities.
We like CyberGhost’s unique domain split tunneling, which lets specific websites bypass the VPN tunnel. Moreover, CyberGhost’s streaming/torrenting servers make it one of the most versatile VPNs. It has designated servers for BBC, ABC, Netflix, and other streamers. At the same time, P2P servers are fast and secure.
This is also partly because of a no-logging policy verified by Deloitte. Like most other cheap VPNs today, CyberGhost includes an ad blocker, antivirus, and even Dedicated IP addresses. The latter two are optional. Its Smart DNS is the best around, with IP addresses in different countries for unlimited streaming.
Sadly, CyberGhost lacks obfuscation, so it’s not usable in China. The silver lining is how welcoming CyberGhost feels. Think about its 45-day refund policy with the low-cost VPN plan for 2 years. This budget VPN is close to being the cheapest option, and with notable qualities, it earned its place on this list without a doubt.
Cheap VPN: Selection and Ranking Methodology
Selecting the best overall VPN is easier when the price variable is out of the way. However, for this ranking of the least expensive providers, we altered our perspective to provide you with excellent services while keeping the price low. Here’s what we considered when we made the list of the top low-cost VPN.
🔐 Security and Privacy
No matter the list, these two are always #1. Why is privacy important? Think about this. A VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. The word Private means the network should exude privacy by not keeping logs and using advanced measures. All providers on this list have advanced security and privacy measures.
RAM servers, bank-grade encryption, modern protocols, and no-logs policies. These features aren’t only for your security. They also make you more private by preventing your sensitive data from leaking to the public. These are the best and cheapest VPNs around, but they don’t skimp on this aspect.
This usually isn’t the case when you look at many other providers that are not expensive. On the security and privacy front, NordVPN takes the win, which is why it’s at the forefront of the list. Others are also good, but not as impressive.
⚡ Performance
The performance is another crucial aspect of our top-rated cheap VPN providers. Think about the best value for money provider like NordVPN. Its speeds are the fastest we tested. NordVPN has excellent performance for any online scenario: streaming, torrenting, browsing, gaming, and so on.
All providers on our list have 10 Gbps servers (some even go up to 40 Gbps), WireGuard (or a derivative), and carefully woven server fleets to allow for stable and fast speeds. Speed, with safety and security, and an unbeatable price, is a perfect combo. Such a combo can be found in our top six cheapest VPN picks.
🧑💻 Streaming and Torrenting
P2P and streaming support are characteristic of paid providers. All will work with Netflix or BBC iPlayer, for instance. The best VPN provider for streaming is Surfshark, while NordVPN and ExpressVPN follow closely. Are other low-cost VPNs great, too? Yes. PIA and Proton VPN offer full streaming support as well.
With fast speeds and stability, streaming even in 4K will be a breeze. Torrenting is another aspect we appreciate in the best cheap VPNs. All offer P2P support. We love NordVPN’s dedicated P2P servers, as they’re the fastest. However, you’ll find them in CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and Proton VPN.
🤑 Price and Discounts
Price is important if you’re shopping for a budget VPN. However, it’s not only about the price, as this is often an inconsistent factor. Some VPNs are cheap during Black Friday (see our page featuring the best VPN deals for Black Friday). The rest of the year, they ditch their cheapest VPN deals altogether.
Our team is experienced enough to recognize these patterns. We picked the cheapest VPN picks whose prices, while also changing, remain affordable throughout the year. NordVPN may not always cost $2.99 per month, but it never goes above $3.40 per month. The point is, even if the price fluctuates, it remains low.
These providers have excellent deals and discounts every month, so you can always get the VPN without spending a fortune. CyberGhost, for instance, never costs above $2.20, while Surfshark always hovers around $2.00 per month.
⚙️ Ease of Use and Compatibility
No matter which cheap VPN you pick from our list, the setup won’t last longer than a few minutes. Their state-of-the-art apps also allow for one-click connections. NordVPN connects in seconds with a simple click. The same goes for ExpressVPN and other paramount providers in the world of the cheapest VPNs.
Compatibility-wise, our providers offer apps for all systems, such as Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, routers, Fire TV Stick, and AppleTV (tvOS). With helpful guides, you can set up and install a VPN on any router or gaming console. Despite being inexpensive, all services offer impressive simultaneous connections.
NordVPN and Proton VPN have 10, ExpressVPN has up to 14, CyberGhost has 7, and Surfshark and PIA offer unlimited, so they’re very flexible.
Cheap VPN vs Expensive VPN: Are Expensive Ones Better?
There’s always a debate about cheap versus expensive things, be it a VPN, a car, food, and so on. People always associate a higher price with a higher level of quality. This usually makes sense, but in the VPN world, it’s not always the case. Let’s take Astrill VPN, whose cheapest plan is $12.50 per month; a two-year deal.
For two years, you spent exactly $300, more than on NordVPN and ExpressVPN combined. Is Astrill VPN better than these two? You have our NordVPN vs Astrill VPN duel, where we answer that question. In short, it’s not. At around $3.09 per month, NordVPN has way more features, faster speeds, and better-looking apps.
We can go, but you get the point. The cheapest VPN can be better than an expensive one, sometimes a lot, sometimes a bit. In some cases of suspiciously cheap VPNs, you can also expect terrible performance. Examples are countless, but Ivacy VPN is a good one, as it often costs as little as $1.69 per month.
We tested it and realized it performs poorly and lacks the advanced security features of our cheapest VPN services in 2026. The cheapest you can go and get a fantastic VPN is $1.99 per month for Surfshark, or slightly more for Private Internet Access or CyberGhost. Everything below that is too good to be true.
Why Not Use a Free VPN Instead of a Cheap VPN?
The top six VPN choices we presented offer great value. But you may look for something more extreme, such as a 100% free VPN. Why not go this route? Believe it or not, there’s a difference between the cheapest and free VPNs. Even Surfshark, with a $1.99 per month price, is way better than Proton VPN’s free version.
Free providers do terribly in terms of performance, often limiting your speed, data, and bandwidth. Worse yet, they’re limited security-wise. Hola VPN, Betternet, and others sell your private data and collect tons of logs. Not to mention their inability to unblock streaming services, which many will find disappointing.
Free VPNs also limit torrenting or block it completely. Another issue is compatibility. Unlike our cheapest VPN for 2026, they limit you to a single simultaneous connection. In addition, most providers don’t offer support for non-VPN-friendly platforms like routers, older generations of streaming devices, or gaming consoles.
We don’t need to explain further; everything’s clear. Besides, we see no point in using such a limiting and non-capable VPN only to save $2 a month. We don’t want to offend anyone, but if you’re reading this article, you have a computer or a smartphone, so you’re not that poor. Free VPNs won’t save you anything, in the end.
Think about the data collection that some resort to for a second. You’ll end up paying for the VPN with your privacy. That’s why we recommend an affordable VPN like NordVPN or PIA, or other options on this comprehensive list.
Best Cheap VPN: Our Final Recommendations
In conclusion, we want to digress on our ranking of the best cheap VPN services:
- NordVPN is #1, offering a 2-year deal with a heap of amazing features, rock-solid privacy, fast speeds, and streaming and torrenting support. The most competitive VPN in 2026 bar none.
- ExpressVPN is #2, with a fresh biennial Basic plan with four free months at an all-time-low price. It’s fast, easy to use, secure, and anonymous, offering one of the best experiences for the price.
- PIA is #3, with the an inexpensive 2-year plan at $2.03 per month. With unlimited connections, 30,000+ servers, and advanced security options, it’s a mighty provider worth using.
- Surfshark is #4. It’s jam-packed with features like MultiHop, an ad-blocker, streaming-friendly servers, and obfuscation. Being reasonably priced while packing a punch makes Surfshark one of the cheapest VPN services.
- Proton VPN is #5 and stands out from the crowd with stringent no-log practices, Secure Core servers, and NetShield for blocking ads. It has a huge server park and offers a free plan with unlimited data.
- CyberGhost is #6 with state-of-the-art encryption, NoSpy servers, and WireGuard connections. While lacking obfuscation, it’s still secure, keeps no logs, and provides a capable ad blocker. Don’t forget about its 45-day money-back guarantee for long-term plans.
Now, all you have to do is pick the best cheap VPN and save hundreds.
FAQ About Cheap VPNs
💸 What is the cheapest VPN I can get?
The cheapest VPN currently available is Surfshark. It costs $1.99 per month, but during very special promotions, its price drops to $1.88 per month. This low-cost VPN also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and has some of the best security features you'll find, so it's very well worth a shot.
🗓️ What is the cheapest monthly VPN?
The cheapest monthly VPN is Proton VPN. It has a monthly plan for $9.99 per month, while its competitors typically start at $11.99, and in some cases, go up to $20 or more per month. However, despite being the cheapest monthly VPN, its biennial and annual plans offer more value for money and are less expensive.
⚖️ Is a cheap VPN worth it?
Yes, a good cheap VPN is worth it, but not every affordable VPN is good. Examples of reliable and low-cost providers are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark. They don't cost much and offer excellent introductory deals with massive savings.