Combine quality and affordability with these wallet-friendly VPNs
Good news - the best VPN providers in the world don't necessarily
need to be the most expensive. In fact, some of the finest services out there
are also some of the most affordable ones. Plus, they can often be bought
through a special deal at a much lower price, making the best cheap VPNs even
more attractive.
Paying for a VPN is not surprising when you consider that you’re getting
top-notch performance, security and privacy that free VPN options just can't
match. However, it’s definitely possible to sign up for an excellent VPN
provider and pay a relatively cheap subscription fee, and those are the
services we’re pointing out in this article.
So if you like the idea of protecting your online life without paying an arm
and a leg, taking a look at our guide to the best cheap VPN should be just what
the doctor ordered. We've focused on the services that offer great value on
one-year or more subscriptions, as that's where the best value lies with the
cheapest VPNs.
How
to choose the best cheap VPN
A cheap VPN provider is no different to any other in terms of
what you’re likely to be looking for: tight security and good levels of
privacy, with at least solid speeds on the performance front. And as ever, a
wide coverage of devices and platforms with a range of user-friendly clients is
welcome.
But more than that, make sure that it serves the purpose you want it to? Big
streamer? Make sure it unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer or whatever
your chosen service is. Torrenter? Make sure the service excels there. And if
you're more likely to use your VPN on mobile, then be sure that dedicated
Android and/or iOS apps are available, too.
Just want the greatest? Or want to know more? Check out the best cheap VPN
providers in 2020.
1. Surfshark
A fantastic product that's one of the
cheapest around
Overall VPN ranking: 2 | Works
on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux | Servers/Locations: 1700+/100+ | Maximum devices
supported: Unlimited | Free trial?: 30 days
About
> So incredibly
cheap
> Connect unlimited devices
> Fast connections
> May be too basic for some users
> Android app isn't as good as
others
There's no wonder that Surfshark's VPN stands out so much. As well as the
eye-catching name and inviting branding, the incredible sub-$2/£2 a month
subscription cost means that it's swimming out on its own in the cheap VPN
waters.
And it's not all about the bottom-line cost. The fact that you can use
Surfshark on as many of your gadgets and devices as you like at once improves
the value even further. There's nothing really stopping you from sharing your
login details out among our friends and family if you like (although, at
Surfshark's price, you needn't even really bother!).
And what to you get for this meagre sum? Well, honestly, pretty much everything
you'd expect from a service that sits so high up in our guide to the very best
overall VPN. There are plenty of security protocols available (e.g. OpenVPN UDP
and TCP, IKEv2) and a kill switch for extra security when the VPN is in use.
And its Surfshark's handy 'Quick connect' option will have you connected to one
of its 1,000+ servers in pretty
much no time at all.
2. CyberGhost
An amazing array of features for such a
low price
Overall VPN ranking: 5 | Works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS,
Linux | Servers/Locations: 6,200+/110+ | Maximum devices supported: 7 | Free
trial?: 45 days
About
> Superb value for
money
> Strong performance in our tests
> An array of smart features
> Interface not as usable as
others
If Surfshark's appeal is its sheer simplicity, CyberGhost takes the plaudits
for being such a thorough package at such a low price.
But if that sounds like it's going to be complicated to use, then please don't
misunderstand us. We're really fond of how easy this provider makes it to
connect to just the right server for your purpose. That means that if your main
purpose for getting a VPN is streaming, CyberGhost will actively help you
select the ideal server for watching Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, etc.
CyberGhost is equipped with one of the most vast quantities of servers out
there - over 6,000 in 110+ countries at last count. That does sometimes mean that
speeds aren't up to the same pace as, say those of ExpressVPN. But you can
discover all this for yourself with CyberGhost's generous 45-day money back
guarantee - one of the lengthiest VPN free trials on offer
3. NordVPN
One of the biggest names in the VPN
business
Overall VPN ranking: 3 | Works
on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux | Servers/Locations: 5,000+/60+ | Maximum devices supported: 6 | Free
trial?: 30 days
About
> Excellent on both
mobile and desktop
> Double data encryption
> Solid performance
> Can sometimes be fiddly to use
Not only do you get a rather affordable VPN with NordVPN (providing you avoid
the monthly subscription), you also benefit from a service with excellent
security. The provider offers a number of ‘Double VPN’ servers which route your
data through not one but two separate VPN servers. There is also an option to
send encrypted traffic over the Onion network for an additional layer of
security, plus an automatic kill switch, and more.
NordVPN supports all kinds of platforms and devices with easy-to-use clients
(or setup guides), and it allows P2P traffic. We found performance was very
good too, delivering above-average speeds in our testing, and another plus
point is that this provider has a ‘zero logs’ policy.
A definite bonus is the existence of a 30-day trial (in the form of a money
back guarantee) to give the service a spin before you subscribe.
4. Hotspot Shield
Fast, affordable and with a fantastic
free version
Overall VPN ranking: 7 | Works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS,
Linux | Servers/Locations: 3200+/130+ | Maximum devices supported: 5 | Free
trial?: 45 days
About
> Straightforward
usability
> Fast speeds
> Lacks notable features
> Can't unlock some streaming
services
Hotspot Shield has an excellent reputation, thanks in no small part to its
fantastic free offering. But assuming that a mere 500MB of VPN use per day isn't enough for you (and it won't be
if you want to stream and download music and movies while connected), then it
doesn't cost that much more to upgrade to its premium service.
We like the way that Hotspot Shield doesn't merely rely on the usual security
protocols used by other VPNs - its developers have produced their own
snazzily-named Catapult Hydra protocol, which not only seeks to keep you and
your data secure but also ensures consistently rapid connection speeds.
The drawback to that extra protection means that you'll end up with a smaller
range of devices on which you can use Hotspot Shield (only those that support
its Windows, Mac, Android or iOS apps). Limiting, but not insurmountable, if
you were only really going to use your VPN on laptop, desktop or mobile anyway.
5. Private
Internet Access
A marvellous option for mobile
Overall VPN ranking: 6 | Works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS,
Linux | Servers/Locations: 2,500+/65+ | Maximum
devices supported: 10 | Free trial?: 30 days
About
> Up to ten devices
covered by sub
> Brilliant apps and extensions
> Above average speed
> Not the best on Windows
> Not as intuitive as some
If you've long purveyed lists of the greatest VPN providers, you'll have likely
run into the product from Private Internet Access before. So you may be
surprised to also discover that it's also one of the most affordable options,
too!
Just like any VPN worth its salt, you can use PIA with Windows, Mac, Android,
iOS and Linux. And it also features admirable browser extensions for the likes
of Chrome, Firefox and Opera. It's in the services, app, indeed, that you
really start to see the added value - there's a kill switch that vibrates when
your network connection drops and plenty of added extras for power users to
explore and take advantage of.
Our tests showed that PIA's speeds are fast, security is strong, and interface
is easy to use. What more could you ask for at this price!?
But
what if I just want the best overall VPN?
It's always nice to save money and know that you've bagged a
bargain, but sometimes it's also worth investing in the very best. One look at
our guide to the best VPN services will show that the current market-leader is
ExpressVPN.
There are multifarious reasons why this is the case (check out our ridiculously
in-depth ExpressVPN review to discover them all), but it boils down to the
obvious things - the super-fast connection speeds even too far away servers,
the robust no-logging security, the incredible 24/7 customer support to get you
out of the tightest binds, the sheer simplicity to use...the list goes on.
Cheers!!!
Edited by AdeDanCompTech
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