A paid VPN on monthly billing costs $9.99 to $18.95 a month at the big providers. A one-year or longer plan brings the first term down to an effective $2.03 to $4.99 a month, and a limited free plan costs $0 (US prices, checked November 12, 2026).
The right choice depends on the device you need to cover, whether you need a particular country or streaming service and how large a first payment you are comfortable with.
Start by naming the device and job: phone browsing on public Wi-Fi, a Fire Stick, PS5, smart TV, router, or several computers. Then compare the full charge, renewal price, refund window, taxes and payment country, not only the advertised monthly figure.
Key takeaways
- Monthly VPN plans cost more but let you leave without paying for a long term upfront.
- Yearly and two-year plans lower the effective monthly price, but the full term is usually charged immediately.
- A free plan can suit one device and basic browsing, but it may limit locations, streaming and simultaneous connections.
- A VPN encrypts traffic to its server and changes the IP address websites see, but it does not stop phishing, malware, cookies or account tracking.
- Check the exact device support, full charge, tax, refund terms and renewal amount on the current checkout page before paying.
What a VPN costs per month today
On the seven providers below, monthly billing runs $9.99 to $18.95 a month (US prices, checked November 12, 2026). Long first terms show an effective $2.03 to $4.99 a month, but the full term is charged at once and the renewal is often higher. Mullvad uses a different model, charging €5 a month with no long-term discount.
A monthly plan fits if you are unsure the VPN will work with your devices or streaming service. A long plan fits when you already know which devices and locations you need and expect to keep the service. Either way, compare three figures: the monthly price, the total charged upfront and the renewal price.
A VPN subscription is separate from your mobile phone plan. VPN data still uses Wi-Fi or mobile data, so your carrier’s data charges can still apply. If you need setup help after choosing, use the instructions for setting up a VPN on an iPhone, Android, Mac or Windows 11.
Should you choose a monthly, yearly or two-year plan?
Monthly billing is the flexible option. It avoids paying for a year or two before you know whether the VPN works with the service you care about. That matters on a TV, Fire Stick, PS5 or router, because the required app, installation method and service terms differ by device. A monthly plan costs more over time, but it reduces the cost of changing your mind.
A yearly plan lowers the effective monthly figure while keeping the commitment shorter than a two-year offer. NordVPN Basic, for example, lists $74.85 for the first 15 months (12 months plus 3 extra), shown as $4.99 a month, then renews at $139.08 a year (US prices, checked November 12, 2026). The amount is due at once, not collected as $4.99 each month.
Two-year offers usually show the lowest advertised monthly figure. The provider may include bonus months, so separate paid months from bonus months when comparing. The cost across all displayed months is lower, but the renewal can return to a higher annual amount.
Pick monthly billing if compatibility or continued use is uncertain. Pick yearly billing if you know the VPN fits and want to limit the upfront charge. Pick two years only when the required device and service work with the VPN and the renewal terms are acceptable. Before completing payment, record the full charge and the renewal amount shown at checkout.
The checked prices for seven popular VPNs
US prices in USD, checked November 12, 2026. Introductory offers, tax, plan contents and renewal prices change, so confirm the current checkout page immediately before payment.
Bonus months are not paid months. NordVPN’s $3.49 spreads $94.23 over all 27 months, while $3.93 reflects only the 24 paid months. Surfshark’s $2.49 spreads its $67.23 over 27 months in the same way.
The verdict depends on your use. Mullvad fits someone who wants a flat monthly price and no long-term payment. Proton VPN Plus or PIA fits someone who wants a low effective price without a two-year charge. The longer NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost offers fit someone who has already confirmed the device, location and target service work.
Taxes can change the final amount. NordVPN says sales tax may apply, Surfshark says VAT may apply, CyberGhost says taxes can depend on jurisdiction, and Proton’s checkout can show a separate tax amount. Set the billing country at checkout and confirm the final local-currency total. Readers in Mexico, Argentina, Spain and Colombia should use the local checkout display rather than converting a US-dollar headline price.
What the renewal price really means
The renewal price is the amount charged after the introductory term ends if automatic billing stays on. It can be much higher than the first effective monthly figure (US prices, checked November 12, 2026). NordVPN Basic’s $94.23 two-year offer renews at $139.08 a year, and its $74.85 one-year offer renews at the same $139.08. ExpressVPN’s $83.72 offer renews at $99.95 a year. Proton VPN Plus costs $35.88 for the first 12 months, then $83.88 every 12 months.
A renewal can use a different billing period from the first payment. CyberGhost’s two-year-plus-two-month offer costs $61.32 up front and renews at $61.32 a year. PIA’s longest plan renews at $81.20 every three years. Surfshark does not show its renewal price on the pricing page, so confirm it at checkout.
Treat the renewal figure as part of the purchase price. Record the amount shown at checkout before completing payment, and check whether the plan renews monthly, annually or on another schedule. Surfshark’s terms state that paid services renew automatically unless automatic payments are canceled before renewal.
Refund windows also differ. NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN and PIA list 30-day windows for qualifying paid subscriptions. CyberGhost lists 14 days for monthly plans and 45 days for six-month-or-longer offers. App-store purchases can follow different rules, so check the payment channel before relying on a provider’s direct refund policy.
Is a free VPN enough for your use?
A free VPN can be enough for occasional public-Wi-Fi use, one device and basic browsing. Proton VPN says its Free plan is free forever, has unlimited bandwidth, includes no ads and permits one simultaneous device connection. It provides randomly selected servers in ten countries, including the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, Norway, Switzerland, Singapore, Mexico, Canada and the United States.
The free plan is not a free trial. A free trial is a limited period of a paid product, while a free plan continues without a paid renewal. A money-back guarantee is different again. It applies to a paid subscription and gives you a stated period to request a refund under the provider’s terms.
Proton says its paid plans add more countries, streaming support, P2P support, Secure Core, NetShield and up to ten devices. Choose paid service when you need a specific country, reliable streaming, torrenting support or several simultaneous devices. Proton does not guarantee streaming access on its free plan, and randomized server changes may not suit a location-specific task.
Free VPN apps also deserve careful selection. The FTC warns that a VPN app can intercept all internet traffic, and technical researchers have identified privacy and security risks in some VPN apps, including missing encryption. Download only from the provider’s official site or an official app store, and read the provider’s terms and privacy policy before granting VPN permission.
For a direct comparison of what a free plan gives up, use Free vs Paid VPN: What You Give Up and What You Pay.
What a VPN does not protect you from
A VPN encrypts the connection between your device and the VPN server. It can also change the public IP address that websites see. That helps with the connection path and apparent network location, but it does not make you anonymous or hide who you are from the sites you sign in to.
A website can still recognize an account when you sign in. Cookies, browser fingerprints and device identifiers can continue to connect activity to the same person or device. A VPN also does not remove malware, repair a compromised device or stop phishing messages and fraudulent websites by itself. Keep software updated, use strong account security and treat unexpected links carefully.
A VPN does not guarantee that Netflix or another streaming service will work. Streaming platforms can restrict VPN or proxy use, and a VPN cannot guarantee faster speeds. Encryption and the extra route to a VPN server can reduce speed, while crowded free servers can affect performance. If Netflix displays a proxy message, work through the Netflix proxy error fixes.
A kill switch can block traffic when the VPN connection drops, but its behavior depends on the platform and settings. Proton documents that kill switch and split tunneling are incompatible on most platforms, with an exception for Windows. A VPN also stops protecting traffic when you disconnect it.
The law that applies is the law where you are, along with the terms of the service you use. A VPN does not authorize copyright infringement, fraud, unauthorized access, harassment or another unlawful activity. Check the applicable government rules and the target service’s current terms for your country and activity.
How to choose the right term before you pay
First, identify the device and the task. A phone or laptop usually calls for an app, while a TV, Fire Stick, PS5 or router may require a different setup path. If you need a larger screen, use How to Use a VPN on a Fire Stick, How to Use a VPN on a PS5 or VPN on Your Router or Your Devices before choosing a long subscription.
At checkout, confirm the exact tier, term, billing country, payment channel, currency, tax and total. Compare the full charge with the renewal price. Check the device limit, refund window and whether an app-store purchase follows different refund terms. For Mullvad, read the current refund and payment terms before purchasing.
The direct pick is conditional. A free plan fits one device and basic browsing. Mullvad fits flexible month-to-month use. An annual paid plan fits a reader who wants several features at a lower effective cost without a two-year commitment. A longer plan fits only after the required device and service work.
Frequently asked questions
Is it expensive to use a VPN?
A paid VPN costs $9.99 to $18.95 a month when billed monthly, while one-year and longer introductory offers show an effective $2.03 to $4.99 a month (US prices, checked November 12, 2026). Mullvad charges €5 a month, and Proton VPN has a free plan with limits. Confirm the renewal price at checkout.
Is getting a VPN actually worth it?
A VPN can be worth paying for when you need encrypted traffic on public Wi-Fi, a different apparent IP address, a particular server location or coverage for several devices. It does not replace account security, software updates, phishing protection or checking the terms of the service you use.
Is there any 100% free VPN?
Proton VPN says its Free plan is free forever, with unlimited bandwidth, no ads and one simultaneous device connection. It uses randomly selected servers in ten countries and does not guarantee access to streaming services.
What are the risks of free VPNs?
A VPN app can handle all of a device’s internet traffic, and the FTC warns that some VPN apps have had privacy and security risks, including missing encryption. Choose a provider with clear terms and download the app from its official site or an official app store.
Does a VPN make your phone bill go up?
A VPN subscription is separate from your mobile phone plan, so it does not automatically change the plan price. VPN traffic still uses Wi-Fi or mobile data, which means your carrier’s data rules and charges can still apply.
What does a VPN not protect you from?
A VPN does not stop phishing, remove malware, prevent account recognition or block all tracking through cookies and device fingerprints. It also does not guarantee streaming access, faster speeds or protection after you disconnect.
Does a VPN change the location websites see?
A VPN can replace the public IP address visible to websites, which can change the network location they infer. Accounts, cookies, browser fingerprints and device identifiers can still identify the same user or device.
Is a money-back guarantee the same as a free trial?
No. A money-back guarantee belongs to a paid subscription and allows a refund request during a stated window. A free plan continues without paid renewal, while a free trial is a limited period of a paid product.
Can a VPN protect every device in the home?
That depends on the selected plan and setup method. Check the simultaneous device limit and whether the required TV, console, Fire Stick or router supports the provider’s app or configuration before paying.
What should you check before paying for a VPN?
Confirm the device support, exact term, full upfront charge, renewal price, billing country, payment channel, currency, taxes and refund rules. Record the renewal amount shown on the current checkout page before completing payment.
Glossary
Find more VPN guides on Tunnel Verdict. Have a question about your own setup? Contact us and include your device and the VPN you use.
