There are tons of different services out there, and wading through them all can be a bit intimidating, so we’ve put together this guide of the best VPN deals to help make the shopping experience easier and more clear-cut. The list consists of some of our top picks, and is updated on a regular basis.

A quick note:as with other services, VPN companies typically offer multiple tiers of plans that include some kind of variation of entry-level, happy middle ground, and plus or premium for power users. And the price depends on which plan you go with, as well as how big of a block you want to pay for ahead of time. Month-to-month plans are typically the most expensive, then 6 or 12 months, and so on. With that, let’s get started.

Best VPN service feature image with NordVPN app on laptop on the left and ExpressVPN app oon smartphone on the right

Best VPN service 2025: 8 options our experts recommend

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Best VPN deals

This month’s VPN deals don’t look too different from our last update. Most companies are currently offering major discounts if you are willing to pay for 1 or 2 years in advance. If you are wondering what our top pick is, it’s ExpressVPN, which right now is offering 15 months of service for $100. There are plenty of cheaper options, though, with multiple services offering up to 27 months for under $60. Some services offer more features, or support more simultaneous connected devices, but for the most part, all the options you see listed below are going to offer solid VPN protection.

27 months for just $73

Cyberghost VPN logo on a white background

The Surfshark One plan strikes a great balance between price and features. You get all the goodies like ad and cookie blockers, and antivirus protection, along with an impressive VPN service. The company is discounting most of its plans right now, but the most popular deal gives you 27 months for just $73 total.

ExpressVPN

Get 15 months for $100

Express VPN is a favorite among experts everywhere, including us here at AP. It offers just one paid plan, with top-tier encryption and support, in single-month, 6-month, or 1-year increments. The current special is: buy 1 year, get 3 months free, which essentially knocks the price down to $6.67/month.

Logo of VPN company Private Internet Access with the company name next to a cartoon of a green padlock with a smiley face

Get 2 years of NordVPN Plus for $105

NordVPN’s Plus plan offers high-speed VPN for up to 10 devices, anti-malware, ad blockers, and a password manager. It’s $14/month if you go month-to-month, $72 for 12 months, but the real savings are at the 2-year mark: get two years of PLus for just $105 (VAT may apply).

CyberGhost

Get 26 months for just $57

CyberGhost VPN isn’t packed for of features like some of the others we’ve mentioned, but it is ultra affordable. You still get VPN protection for up to 7 devices at once, 24/7 customer support, and advanced encryption, and if you buy two years up front, you can get a total of 26 months for just $57.

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is another really affordable VPN service. You get protection of unlimited devices, there are servers in nearly 100 countries, and it’s completely open source. You can pay $12/month month to month, or you can knock that down to just $2/month if you take advantage of the 2 year + 2 free months promotion.

Get 27 months for just $58

PureVPN is yet another super affordable solution. We really like its base plan, which comes with a full-featured VPN and tracker blocker service. It’s $13/month if you want to pay monthly, but the real deal is when you put the 2-year plan, which is discounted and comes with 3 free months. So the result is 27 months for just $58 (82% off).

$108 for 24 months

ProtonVPN, created by the makers of ProtonMail, is a popular option. It comes in two flavors: VPN Plus and Proton Unlimited and both are being discounted right now. We like the former, which includes support for 10 devices, high-speed streaming, ad blockers, and malware protection. With the 2-year plan, it’s just $4.50 per month.

IPVanish is interesting. It doesn’t have quite as many servers as some of the other services, so you’ll want to double-check that there is one close enough to you, but there is no device limit and broad app, streaming service, and platform support. Plus, at just $53 for the 2-year plan, it’s definitely one of the least expensive options on this list.

Is it better to pay for a VPN?

The short answer is yes, it is better to pay for a VPN service.

While there are plenty offree VPN servicesto choose from, none of them will offer the level of security or bandwidth that a paid option will. You’ll get the bare minimum from these VPNs, which means just anonymous web browsing. The added layers of security and access to additional services are non-existent.

Plus, most free VPN services have data limits or bandwidth throttling. That means that after you hit a certain level of data used to browse, stream, or game, you’ll be locked out for a specific time or have the available bandwidth reduced. These are no good if you plan to use your VPN often, as this will seriously hinder how much you can do.

So, if you just need the basics, a free VPN isn’t a bad choice. However, we always recommend paying for a proper VPN service, as there’s just too much good stuff included with the subscription fee that you shouldn’t skip out on.

How does a VPN work?

Using a VPN is a straightforward and uncomplicated method of safeguarding your device against unauthorized online access, from a PC to yourAndroid phone.

It works by creating a secure connection between your device and the internet, disguising your identity, and making it more difficult for third parties to monitor your online behavior and steal your data. While this is just a brief summary of why a VPN is so essential — read ourVPNs for beginners guidefor more details — we can confidently say that, yes, a VPN is worth it.

While there are free VPNs out there, they are not worth the risk. It may be tempting to forgo the subscription; however, many free services offer bare-bones protection at best. At worst, you could end up like the360 million SuperVPN userswhose data was shared in mid-2023.