VPN prices by term
For 1 month, the lowest effective monthly cost in our data is Proton VPN Plus at $9.99 a month ($9.99 over 1 month paid). For 12 months, the lowest effective monthly cost in our data is Surfshark Starter at $2.79 a month ($44.64 over 16 months paid). For 24 months, the lowest effective monthly cost in our data is CyberGhost VPN at $1.99 a month ($51.74 over 26 months paid). For 36 months, the lowest effective monthly cost in our data is Private Internet Access VPN at $2.03 a month ($79.00 over 39 months paid).
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Effective monthly cost is the upfront price plus the renewals needed to reach the term, divided by the months paid. Prices are US prices in USD from each provider's own pricing page; a plan appears only if its price was verified within the last 45 days. Privacy facts were verified against the provider's trust and feature pages (oldest check September 30, 2026); anything we could not verify is marked unconfirmed.
1 month
For 1 month, the lowest effective monthly cost in our data is Proton VPN Plus at $9.99 a month ($9.99 over 1 month paid). NordVPN and ExpressVPN sell no plan this short in our data.
| # | Plan | Effective monthly | Paid upfront | Months paid and total | Renewal price | Confirmed features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proton VPN Plus | $9.99 | $9.99 for 1 month | 1 month, $9.99 | $9.99 per 1 month | streaming, p2p, jurisdiction Switzerland, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, RAM-only servers, dedicated IP |
| 2 | Private Internet Access VPN | $11.95 | $11.95 for 1 month | 1 month, $11.95 | $11.95 per 1 month | RAM-only servers, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 3 | CyberGhost VPN | $12.99 | $12.99 for 1 month | 1 month, $12.99 | $12.99 per 1 month | RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, 7 devices, 14-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 4 | Surfshark Starter (affiliate) | $18.95 | $18.95 for 1 month | 1 month, $18.95 | $18.95 per 1 month | audited no-logs (Deloitte), jurisdiction Netherlands, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP |
12 months
For 12 months, the lowest effective monthly cost in our data is Surfshark Starter at $2.79 a month ($44.64 over 16 months paid). NordVPN and ExpressVPN sell no plan this short in our data.
| # | Plan | Effective monthly | Paid upfront | Months paid and total | Renewal price | Confirmed features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surfshark Starter (affiliate) | $2.79 | $44.64 for 16 months | 16 months, $44.64 | not published | audited no-logs (Deloitte), jurisdiction Netherlands, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP |
| 2 | Private Internet Access VPN | $3.99 | $47.88 for 12 months | 12 months, $47.88 | $47.88 per 12 months | RAM-only servers, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 3 | Proton VPN Plus | $4.49 | $53.88 for 12 months | 12 months, $53.88 | $83.88 per 12 months | streaming, p2p, jurisdiction Switzerland, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, RAM-only servers, dedicated IP |
| 4 | CyberGhost VPN | $6.99 | $41.94 for 6 months | 12 months, $83.88 | $41.94 per 6 months | RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, 7 devices, 45-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 5 | Proton VPN Plus | $9.99 | $9.99 for 1 month | 12 months, $119.88 | $9.99 per 1 month | streaming, p2p, jurisdiction Switzerland, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, RAM-only servers, dedicated IP |
| 6 | Private Internet Access VPN | $11.95 | $11.95 for 1 month | 12 months, $143.40 | $11.95 per 1 month | RAM-only servers, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 7 | CyberGhost VPN | $12.99 | $12.99 for 1 month | 12 months, $155.88 | $12.99 per 1 month | RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, 7 devices, 14-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 8 | Surfshark Starter (affiliate) | $18.95 | $18.95 for 1 month | 12 months, $227.40 | $18.95 per 1 month | audited no-logs (Deloitte), jurisdiction Netherlands, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP |
24 months
For 24 months, the lowest effective monthly cost in our data is CyberGhost VPN at $1.99 a month ($51.74 over 26 months paid). Surfshark's shorter plan cannot be priced for this term because its renewal price is not published; only its longer plan is listed.
| # | Plan | Effective monthly | Paid upfront | Months paid and total | Renewal price | Confirmed features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CyberGhost VPN | $1.99 | $51.74 for 26 months | 26 months, $51.74 | $51.74 per 12 months | RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, 7 devices, 45-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 2 | Surfshark Starter (affiliate) | $2.39 | $66.92 for 28 months | 28 months, $66.92 | not published | audited no-logs (Deloitte), jurisdiction Netherlands, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP |
| 3 | ExpressVPN Basic | $2.99 | $83.72 for 28 months | 28 months, $83.72 | $99.95 per 12 months | audited no-logs (KPMG, PwC), RAM-only servers, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 4 | NordVPN Basic (affiliate) | $3.49 | $94.23 for 27 months | 27 months, $94.23 | $139.08 per 12 months | audited no-logs, RAM-only servers, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 5 | Proton VPN Plus | $3.49 | $83.76 for 24 months | 24 months, $83.76 | $83.88 per 12 months | streaming, p2p, jurisdiction Switzerland, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, RAM-only servers, dedicated IP |
| 6 | Private Internet Access VPN | $3.99 | $47.88 for 12 months | 24 months, $95.76 | $47.88 per 12 months | RAM-only servers, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 7 | Proton VPN Plus | $5.74 | $53.88 for 12 months | 24 months, $137.76 | $83.88 per 12 months | streaming, p2p, jurisdiction Switzerland, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, RAM-only servers, dedicated IP |
| 8 | CyberGhost VPN | $6.99 | $41.94 for 6 months | 24 months, $167.76 | $41.94 per 6 months | RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, 7 devices, 45-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 9 | Proton VPN Plus | $9.99 | $9.99 for 1 month | 24 months, $239.76 | $9.99 per 1 month | streaming, p2p, jurisdiction Switzerland, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, RAM-only servers, dedicated IP |
| 10 | Private Internet Access VPN | $11.95 | $11.95 for 1 month | 24 months, $286.80 | $11.95 per 1 month | RAM-only servers, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 11 | CyberGhost VPN | $12.99 | $12.99 for 1 month | 24 months, $311.76 | $12.99 per 1 month | RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, 7 devices, 14-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 12 | Surfshark Starter (affiliate) | $18.95 | $18.95 for 1 month | 24 months, $454.80 | $18.95 per 1 month | audited no-logs (Deloitte), jurisdiction Netherlands, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP |
36 months
For 36 months, the lowest effective monthly cost in our data is Private Internet Access VPN at $2.03 a month ($79.00 over 39 months paid). Surfshark's shorter plan cannot be priced for this term because its renewal price is not published; only its longer plan is listed.
| # | Plan | Effective monthly | Paid upfront | Months paid and total | Renewal price | Confirmed features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Private Internet Access VPN | $2.03 | $79.00 for 39 months | 39 months, $79.00 | $79.00 per 36 months | RAM-only servers, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 2 | CyberGhost VPN | $2.72 | $51.74 for 26 months | 38 months, $103.48 | $51.74 per 12 months | RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, 7 devices, 45-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 3 | Private Internet Access VPN | $3.99 | $47.88 for 12 months | 36 months, $143.64 | $47.88 per 12 months | RAM-only servers, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 4 | ExpressVPN Basic | $4.59 | $83.72 for 28 months | 40 months, $183.67 | $99.95 per 12 months | audited no-logs (KPMG, PwC), RAM-only servers, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 5 | Proton VPN Plus | $4.66 | $83.76 for 24 months | 36 months, $167.64 | $83.88 per 12 months | streaming, p2p, jurisdiction Switzerland, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, RAM-only servers, dedicated IP |
| 6 | NordVPN Basic (affiliate) | $5.98 | $94.23 for 27 months | 39 months, $233.31 | $139.08 per 12 months | audited no-logs, RAM-only servers, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 7 | Proton VPN Plus | $6.16 | $53.88 for 12 months | 36 months, $221.64 | $83.88 per 12 months | streaming, p2p, jurisdiction Switzerland, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, RAM-only servers, dedicated IP |
| 8 | CyberGhost VPN | $6.99 | $41.94 for 6 months | 36 months, $251.64 | $41.94 per 6 months | RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, 7 devices, 45-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 9 | Proton VPN Plus | $9.99 | $9.99 for 1 month | 36 months, $359.64 | $9.99 per 1 month | streaming, p2p, jurisdiction Switzerland, 10 devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, RAM-only servers, dedicated IP |
| 10 | Private Internet Access VPN | $11.95 | $11.95 for 1 month | 36 months, $430.20 | $11.95 per 1 month | RAM-only servers, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 11 | CyberGhost VPN | $12.99 | $12.99 for 1 month | 36 months, $467.64 | $12.99 per 1 month | RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, 7 devices, 14-day money-back; unconfirmed: audited no-logs, dedicated IP, jurisdiction |
| 12 | Surfshark Starter (affiliate) | $18.95 | $18.95 for 1 month | 36 months, $682.20 | $18.95 per 1 month | audited no-logs (Deloitte), jurisdiction Netherlands, unlimited devices, 30-day money-back; unconfirmed: RAM-only servers, streaming, p2p, dedicated IP |
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links. Commission does not affect which plans appear or their order. Links marked (affiliate) are affiliate links; the other links go to the provider's pricing page.
FAQ
Which VPN is cheapest in our data?
1 month: Proton VPN Plus at $9.99 a month; 12 months: Surfshark Starter at $2.79 a month; 24 months: CyberGhost VPN at $1.99 a month; 36 months: Private Internet Access VPN at $2.03 a month. These are effective monthly costs from prices verified September 30, 2026 on each provider's own pricing page, for 6 providers: NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost. This is not the whole VPN market.
What does effective monthly cost mean?
The upfront price plus any renewals needed to reach the term, divided by the months actually paid for. A plan with a long first term, for example 27 months, is counted for the months it covers.
Why do some providers not appear for every term?
A plan is left out of a term table if it is much longer than the term, or if reaching the term needs a renewal whose price the provider does not publish.
Does a commission change the ranking?
No. Plans are ordered by effective monthly cost only. We may earn a commission on links to some providers, which are marked (affiliate).