Featured Partners
1
NordVPN
72% off, starting at $3.39 for 24 months
6
Yes (add-on)
2
Surfshark
$2.19 / month
Unlimited
Yes
3
Norton
Starting at $49.99 / month
1-10
Yes
4
Private Internet Access
Starting at $11.95 / month
Unlimited
Yes
Compare the Best 10 Cheap VPN Providers of 2025
Best Cheap VPN Providers Of 2025
Methodology
Software testing is a serious business. To give providers a fair trial, I used our proprietary rubric to help rank multiple features and test the top platforms. We chose 15 platforms for the best cheap VPN software and 48 features across eight categories were analyzed. I then tested the top 10 platforms. Each VPN was then awarded a final score.
| Decision Factor | Scoring Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Sentiment | 32% | We take into account the thoughts and opinions of real-world VPN users from review websites such as Capterra, G2, and Trustpilot so that we can better understand how the general population feels about each service. |
| Security | 26% | During testing, we evaluate VPN protocols on offer, encryption methods, split tunneling, double or multihop tools, kill switches, simultaneous connections, malware protection features, perfect forward secrecy tools and more. I also test each provider through Wireshark and ipleak.net to ensure data is encrypted and that there are no DNS leaks. |
| Privacy | 11.5% | We evaluate each provider's policies regarding no-logs, third-party audits, warrant canaries, payment anonymity, email protection, ad and cookie blocking, and whether or not RAM-only servers are in use. |
| Value | 11% | We evaluate the value of every plan offered by each VPN provider. We look at monthly and yearly costs compared to the features and tools offered. We also take into account the number of ways users can pay for subscriptions. |
| Servers and Jurisdiction | 7.5% | We take into account the number of servers each VPN provides and the number of server locations offered. We also check where the provider is located and whether or not they fall under Five, Nine and 14 Eyes alliances. |
| Service and Support | 6% | We interact with each provider's customer service team to see how quickly they respond to questions and concerns and how knowledgeable the support staff is. |
| Product Differentiators | 4% | We look at each VPN to see if they offer services that make them stand out from the crowd, such as dark web monitoring tools and password managers. |
| Compatibility | 2% | We evaluate each VPN's compatibility with leading operating systems (Windows, macOS and Linux) and a wide variety of web browsers and mobile devices (iOS and Android). |
Featured Partners
1
NordVPN
72% off, starting at $3.39 for 24 months
6
Yes (add-on)
2
Surfshark
$2.19 / month
Unlimited
Yes
3
Norton
Starting at $49.99 / month
1-10
Yes
4
Private Internet Access
Starting at $11.95 / month
Unlimited
Yes
What Are Five, Nine and 14 Eyes Surveillance Alliances?
Five Eyes, Nine Eyes and 14 Eyes are government intelligence sharing communities. While it is generally illegal for countries to spy on their citizens, it’s not always the case for governments of other countries. For example, the U.S. can ask France to watch U.S. citizens while they use a VPN, and France will happily share the data.
Picking a VPN located in the jurisdiction of one of the 14 countries (the U.S., UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Spain and Italy) is fine as long as your VPN has a no-logs or zero-logs policy.
I only recommend using VPNs with no-logs and zero-logs policies simply because if a VPN doesn’t collect user data, it has nothing to share when subpoenaed by government agencies. In the provider sections, I have clearly listed where each provider is located so that you can make more informed VPN decisions.
How to Choose the Best Cheap VPN
Before choosing a VPN, whether for business or personal use, you must do your due diligence and ensure that a provider offers certain VPN features at a minimum to protect your online safety.
John Yensen, president at Revotech Networks, says, “If you are working in tech, I would say that a VPN is a must-have whether you’re checking personal email at a café or connecting to corporate resources from home. I use one every day when I need to encrypt my traffic on public Wi-Fi and keep my browsing private. When choosing a VPN, I try to look for AES-256 encryption, a strict zero-logs policy, and an independent security audit. These factors give me more confidence that I won’t run into any issues.”
In the coming sections, I’ll cover the core features that should be required in cheap VPNs, pricing and value information, and discuss why ease of use is important.
Essential Cheap VPN Software Features
When shopping for a cheap VPN, I highly recommend double-checking a provider’s features so that you can ensure the following are included.
- Server locations. The more server locations are offered, the more likely you are to get higher speeds, better ping times and bypass region-locked content.
- Kill Switch. A kill switch is a feature that you should never make compromises on. Without one, if your VPN loses connection, everyone can see what you’re doing online.
- Split tunneling. With split tunneling, you can choose what data to send through the encrypted VPN tunnel. You can learn more by reading our guide on split tunneling.
- Multiple VPN Protocols. While WireGuard and OpenVPN are the standard protocols you should use, it never hurts for providers to offer more options. IPsec, IKEv2, and even custom protocols can help keep you anonymous while online.
- Industry standard encryption. Stick with industry recognized encryption protocols, such as AES-256-bit and ChaCha20 with the WireGuard protocol and you’ll not need to worry about data encryption.
- Applications. Look at provider websites to determine whether they offer desktop and mobile applications and even clients for smart TVs, routers, and browsers.
- No-logs policy. A No-logs policy, which is also known as zero-logs, ensures that no identifiable data is stored on provider servers. Even if local law enforcement or government agencies subpoena VPN providers, those with no-logs policies won’t be able to hand over data, because they won’t have any.
- Verifiable third-party audits. If a VPN refuses to be audited or refuses to publish third-party audits, stay away from it. Only use VPN providers that are proud to share findings from external audits.
Value
While this roundup is covering cheap VPNs, it’s always worth taking the time to research all of the plans that providers offer, just in case you need to change plans later. You’ll notice that many providers list plan prices on their websites, which is always ideal; however, you must pay close attention as important details are in the small print.
Many VPN providers significantly lower the cost of their services when you sign up for longer plans. While these up-front deals for new customers offer excellent value, the fine print usually states that at the end of your contract, the price increases sharply, sometimes by as much as three or four times.
Ease Of Use
Ease of use is often overlooked in favor of low prices or good deals. Don’t fall into that trap and don’t underestimate the importance of a user-friendly tool. When VPN providers allow you to try their services for free, there’s no need to make a VPN decision in the dark. I highly recommend that you take advantage of free trials or money-back guarantees so that you can get your hands on the software and ensure it fits your needs.
Which Cheap VPN Is Best For You or Your Business?
If, after reading this guide, you’re still not sure what VPN to use, take a look at the scenarios below.
- If you need a free VPN, I recommend looking at Proton VPN and Windscribe, as they offer many features and good data options
- If you need to bypass VPN bans, VyprVPN is your best choice, thanks to its Chameleon protocol
- If you want to stream content, NordVPN and PureVPN are the two I’d look into due to their extensive server networks
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is cheap VPN software?
Cheap VPN software allows its users to create a secure, private connection with internet servers around the globe for an affordable price. Cheap VPN software helps block your IP address and uses strong protocols to encrypt your data while browsing the internet.
What is the best cheap VPN?
Each VPN user will have different needs, so it’s hard to say which is the best VPN for you. However, my research and testing shows that NordVPN is the best cheap VPN for most people.
Can cheap VPN software be trusted?
As long as you stick with tried and tested VPN software, like the software we have listed in this roundup, cheap VPNs can be trusted. I highly recommend that you do your research and look at independent audit logs of any VPN provider you’re interested in using.
Can cheap VPNs be used to stream content?
Yes, you can stream content from popular platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, the BBC and Paramount when using a VPN. All you have to do is choose a country that matches your favorite show’s origin and you’re in business.
