How Much is VPN?
🔍 Quick answer:
A VPN costs between $0 and $15 per month. Trustworthy free VPNs like ProtonVPN cost nothing (no ads, no data selling). Premium VPNs are $10-15/month if paid monthly, or $3-6/month with annual plans. The best value is a 2-3 year plan at $2-4/month. Avoid completely free VPNs from unknown companies — they make money by selling your data.
VPN pricing tiers explained (2026)
| Tier | Price Range | What You Get | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited servers, slower speeds, 1 device, no logs, no ads | ProtonVPN Free |
| Budget | $2-4/month | Full features, fast speeds, unlimited devices, 2-3 year contracts | Surfshark, NordVPN (2-year) |
| Mid-range | $5-8/month | Full features, excellent speeds, 5-10 devices, 1-2 year contracts | NordVPN, ProtonVPN, Mullvad |
| Premium | $10-15/month | Fastest speeds, most servers, 24/7 support, month-to-month | ExpressVPN, monthly plans |
Detailed price comparison: Top VPN providers (2026)
| VPN Provider | Monthly | Annual (per month) | 2-Year (per month) | Free Tier | Money-Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | $12.95 | $8.32 ($99.95) | — | ❌ | 30 days |
| NordVPN | $12.99 | $4.99 ($59.88) | $3.09 ($74.16) | ❌ | 30 days |
| Surfshark | $10.99 | $3.99 ($47.88) | $2.29 ($54.96) | ❌ | 30 days |
| ProtonVPN | $9.99 | $4.99 ($59.88) | $3.99 (2 years) | ✅ Unlimited | 30 days |
| Mullvad | €5 ($5.50) | Same as monthly | No discounts | ❌ | No |
Free VPNs: What's the catch?
Trustworthy free VPN — ProtonVPN Free
- Unlimited data — no bandwidth caps, ever
- No ads — completely ad-free experience
- AES-256 encryption — military-grade security
- WireGuard & OpenVPN — modern protocols
- No-logs policy — independently audited by Securitum
- Switzerland jurisdiction — strong privacy laws
- Funded by paid subscribers — not by selling your data
Limitations: 5 server locations, slower speeds, 1 device, no P2P
Free VPNs to AVOID
- Hola VPN — turns your device into an exit node
- Betternet / TouchVPN — logs and sells your data to advertisers
- TurboVPN — contains adware, sells user data
- Hotspot Shield Free — shows ads, owned by ad company
⚠️ If you're not paying, YOU are the product. Your data is being sold.
What affects VPN price?
- Server network size: More servers = higher operating costs. ExpressVPN has 3,000+ servers, NordVPN has 6,000+.
- Independent security audits: Audits by Deloitte, PwC, Securitum cost money but prove trustworthiness.
- Customer support: 24/7 live chat costs more than email-only support.
- Marketing budget: Big brands spend heavily on ads, reflected in price.
- Jurisdiction: Companies in expensive countries (Switzerland, BVI) may have higher overhead.
- Features: WireGuard protocol, RAM-only servers, obfuscated servers add value.
Total cost comparison: Annual plans
- ExpressVPN: $99.95/year ($8.32/month) — premium speed, ease of use
- NordVPN: $59.88/year ($4.99/month) — best balance of price and features
- Surfshark: $47.88/year ($3.99/month) — cheapest premium, unlimited devices
- ProtonVPN: $59.88/year ($4.99/month) — privacy-focused, Swiss jurisdiction, free tier available
- Mullvad: €60/year ($65) — flat rate, no discounts, maximum privacy
💡 Pro tip: Never pay monthly for a VPN — annual or multi-year plans save 50-70%. Most premium VPNs offer 30-day money-back guarantees, so you can test them risk-free. If you're on a tight budget, ProtonVPN Free is genuinely trustworthy and costs $0. Always check for discount codes before purchasing — many VPNs offer 50-70% off during sales (Black Friday, Cyber Monday).
On this page
Top 3 VPNs 2026 Tested
We earn commission if you purchase through links
Similar questions
Terms you'll meet
- IP address
- Your device's public ID online.
- Encryption
- Scrambling data so only you can read it.
- No‑logs policy
- VPN doesn't store your activity.