Best cheap VPNs of 2024
Introduction
The VPN market is growing by leaps and bounds every year. As Covid-19 has forced people to work remotely, the online office culture requires us to maintain network security, increasing the number of VPN users around the world. Currently, there are 31% of internet users who have subscribed to VPN globally– and this number is only going to increase with time.
The market is flooded with cheap VPN options that offer premium features to provide optimum security, privacy and fast streaming speed. A look at the monthly charges of the top VPN services can put you off from buying VPN at all but look closer and you will find a range of subscription models that reduce the monthly rate by more than half the original price.
Here, we have rounded up a list of the best cheap VPNs that offer premium services without you paying an extra dime for them.
Not enough time for a full read? Here are the key takeaways when it comes to the best VPNs:
- NordVPN – With exceptional security features and connection speeds, NordVPN takes the crown when it comes to the best VPN for your laptop, whether you’re running Windows, macOS, Linux, or Android.
- Surfshark – The most budget-friendly VPN solution on this list, Surfshark keeps you private and anonymous when browsing the Internet, thanks to superior VPN protocols, encryption, and stealth technology.
- ExpressVPN – Putting emphasis on security and unblocking features, ExpressVPN is the premium choice for users who frequently travel and must evade government restrictions to access their favorite websites, even in China.
- CyberGhost VPN – It has a super-intuitive interface and categories with ready VPN servers for Netflix. You don’t need any special skills to use CyberGhost VPN, making it a top choice for the entire family.
- PureVPN – It boasts numerous VPN servers, supports torrenting, and doesn’t impose any bandwidth restrictions when it comes to downloading or uploading data.
- PrivateVPN – A great choice for accessing geo-restricted content like streaming services, social networks, and instant messengers.
Trying out numerous VPN services on your own can be a daunting and expensive ordeal, since freebies typically let you down due to lack of support. So we wanted to take on that role and test all the top VPNs to see which are the ones that actually deserve your attention.
How to choose the best affordable VPN?
Not only do the number of people who use VPNs for privacy reasons has increased (around 40%) but the range of VPN service providers have also multiplied– offering better and cheaper services each new year. It can be a tedious task to pick the one that best suits your needs and is also affordable. Here are some factors you need to consider while looking for a low-cost VPN-
- Privacy: One of the most important things to consider while looking for a VPN is the privacy features that it offers. It must have a no-logs policy so that the ISP does not have any record of your data. Around 50% of people use VPN to protect their privacy while using public wi-fi, hence privacy and security are top factors that a VPN must consider.
- Pricing: Almost all VPNs offer a money-back guarantee of at least 30 days which gives a good enough understanding of its suitability for your needs. The monthly plan itself can be a bit costly but when you look at the subscription model of one or two years, offered by the VPN company– it’s comparatively much less.
- Features: While price is an important factor to consider, we can’t compromise on the features that come with a VPN. Be it having 256-bit encryption for full-proof security, a no-logs policy for enhanced privacy or accessing content from multiple geo-restricted locations.
Low-cost VPN
Our list of low-cost VPNs includes services that offer features with high security and privacy for the users along with 24×7 customer support to solve any queries. We have included the VPNs that provide a balance of optimum cost with maximum features.
Surfshark
Best deal: $2.49/month for a 2-year subscription
A VPN offering all the necessary features at a quite nominal rate, Surfshark is not only one of the most trusted VPN in the market but also has no connection limit. This means that you can connect any number of devices at all times without worrying about streaming speed or privacy. It offers 256-bit encryption and the kill switch feature to protect your data and privacy.
Another feature that makes Surfshark stand out is the three special modes that allow users to anonymously access certain websites and hide their online presence. Camouflage mode hides your online activity from everyone including your ISP. Multihop mode changes your VPN server location to different countries making it difficult to decipher your actual location. On the other hand, the no borders mode allow you to use Surfshark and access content in geo-locked locations.
While the upfront cost of buying Surshark can be quite high, its subscription model is really affordable, lowering the monthly charges by more than half the original price or what other VPNs in the market offer.
Private Internet Access
Best deal: $2.69/ month for 26-month subscription
Another cheap VPN with a host of features– Private Internet Access offers services like ad blocking, kill switch and split tunnelling. These features offer better privacy and faster speed while you surf the internet. While VPN can be notorious for bogging down the internet speed, features like split tunneling ensure that your web surfing experience is smooth and without any delays. With a money-back guarantee of 30 days, PIA offers numerous subscription plans which lower the cost by up to $2/month given that the subscription period will also be longer.
PIA offers ten simultaneous connections at a time and also supports peer to peer sharing for torrenting, significantly reducing the network load while you transfer or download files. With 24×7 customer support and multiple payment options including cryptocurrencies, PIA is a widely used VPN that allows access to content from several geo-restricted locations. So for instance, if you want to trade in a crypto banned in your country– you can easily use VPN to change your IP address to a place where you can trade in that currency.
PIA has a widespread server base in over 78 countries, making it one of the most extensive of all VPNs– allowing it to bypass almost all internet restrictions. Compatible with OS systems like Windows, Mac, ios and android– it also unblocks content for major OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu. So you can easily watch a show available on say, Netflix US while streaming from any country in the world.
CyberGhost
Best Deal: $2.15/month for a 3-year subscription
With a money-back guarantee of 45 days, CyberGhost offers the longest trial period of all VPNs out there. It offers a connection limit of up to seven devices at a time and offers high speed for streaming on OTT platforms like Netflix.
CyberGhost has over 7000 servers in 110 countries, so you can access content from virtually any location. While certain security flaws can threaten your privacy on the internet, features like DNS leak protection ensure that your data is safe at all times.
Having an easy to use interface makes CyberGhost a go-to choice for anyone who is new to VPN.
Additionally, CyberGhost consists of nospy servers that are kept hidden from the surveillance of 14 eyes countries, adding a layer of extra security to their services. Although great for streaming and accessing geo-locked content– Cyberghost needs you to commit for a bit longer to reap the benefits of relatively cheaper monthly prices.
Conclusion
While choosing the right VPN is no easy task, choosing a cheap VPN that offers a range of services is even more difficult. There are many VPNs that are quite cheap and even free, but they won’t offer you the kind of security and privacy that a VPN promises to provide to its users.
Free VPNs can bombard you with ads or even worse sell your data to other third parties. Hence, it is important to not only look at the price but also the necessary features that a VPN must possess.
If you need a VPN for a short while when traveling for example, you can get our top ranked VPN free of charge. NordVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. You will need to pay for the subscription, that’s a fact, but it allows full access for 30 days and then you cancel for a full refund. Their no-questions-asked cancellation policy lives up to its name.
