Best Cheap Monthly VPNs of 2026

Massive VPN savings can be made by opting for a long-term plan. VPN companies usually associate flash sales with their annual, biennial, or triennial plans. But what about cheap monthly VPNs? Do they exist? Sort of. It depends on what a cheap monthly VPN is to you.

The best cheap monthly VPNs usually start at a little under $10, while pricier options go close to $20. Despite sounding too pricey compared to long-term plans, monthly subscriptions are for short-term users. If you’ll use the service for a month or two, you won’t spend that much.

In today’s article, we have five inexpensive 1-month VPNs. Our team cherry-picked the best picks too, so they’re not necessarily the cheapest around. We can say they blend immaculate qualities with low, down-to-earth prices that pretty much anyone can afford. They’re below.

Cheapest VPN per Month in 2026: An In-Depth Analysis

Our top picks are up there for everyone to see. As said, we haven’t ranked them primarily according to their prices. The focus was on quality, and pricing came in after that. With that said, let us discuss their features in depth.

1. NordVPN Basic

NordVPN has an entry-level basic plan, the price of which is $12.99/mo. Arguably, it’s not the cheapest monthly VPN you can get, but it’s the best overall. The Basic plan includes all of NordVPN’s features. One of them is a Double VPN that encrypts your connection twice.

Users can also enjoy 7,400+ servers in 150 global locations. Plus, the provider includes all security essentials, such as a kill switch, DNS leak protection, RAM-only servers, and split tunneling. Privacy is strong, as well, as NordVPN vows to store no sensitive user logs.

We also tested NordVPN on Netflix and had a great time. It unblocks dozens of libraries. Its P2P servers allow for anonymous torrenting, while NordLynx, an in-house protocol, brings an influx of speed and stability. NordVPN Basic has excellent device support which you’ll like.

It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. However, it also supports Fire TV and Apple TV devices, offering unlimited bandwidth to remove all constraints. At this price, you also get 10 simultaneous connections and a state-of-the-art 24/7 live chat support service.

As the best cheap monthly VPN you can get, NordVPN is excellent for overcoming censorship. For example, its Obfuscated servers even work in heavily censored countries, making it a top choice if you need a VPN in China temporarily.

However, if you’re willing to save more by paying upfront, you could drop the price by 73%. NordVPN will then cost just above $3/mo and save you loads of money. If not, get Basic risk-free for 30 days, or even Plus, in case you want NordPass and Threat Protection Pro on top.

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2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN costs a smidge less than NordVPN — $12.95/mo. The price difference is negligible, and ExpressVPN lacks a few tools, such as MultiHop and malware protection. However, this affordable 1-month VPN is incredibly easy to set up and use for beginners.

Once installed, it presents itself via a small app that contains all you need. ExpressVPN has a Network Lock kill switch, but also passive features, such as RAM-only servers, IP leak protection, Perfect Forward Secrecy, and even Advanced Protection to block ads and trackers.

Some people use VPNs to unblock pornography, but ExpressVPN can block these sites as part of its Parental Control. The monthly plan currently comes with 1 GB eSIM from Holiday.com, which allows for seamless communication abroad, so it’s great for traveling.

ExpressVPN is another no-log provider, making your privacy the priority. As for other benefits, we’ll just say it offers servers in 105 countries and 160+ locations. Its Lightway Turbo protocol endorses range-topping speeds for gaming, torrenting, and HD streaming.

We use ExpressVPN daily, especially because of its ID Theft Insurance features. Now that it also offers dedicated IP addresses, it’s great for hosting gaming servers or business purposes. Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN lets you save plenty by paying upfront for the service.

The 24-month plan, in particular, discounts this already inexpensive monthly VPN by 61% and adds 4 free months, resulting in a price of $4.99/mo. If this sounds a bit too much as an upfront payment, don’t fret. The monthly deal is sublime and risk-free for 30 days as always.

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3. Proton VPN

So now, we’ve come to the least expensive VPN for one month — Proton VPN. Its pricing structure is straightforward, and while biennial and annual plans are cheaper, its monthly variant is only $9.99. That’s 20% less than NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

But is it any good?

It is. In fact, Proton VPN’s privacy is the best around, thanks to its Swiss jurisdiction and a verified no-log policy. The provider’s server park of 12,000+ servers is massive, and it even has self-owned servers titled Secure Core, used to double your encryption akin to MultiHop.

Proton VPN’s security is excellent, too. NetShield blocks ads swiftly, while Tor over VPN servers adds a juicy privacy layer on top of your Tor connections. The provider comes with Alternative Routing, which alleviates network censorship, albeit, not in China or Iran.

Nevertheless, Proton VPN is phenomenal for overcoming geo-blocks. It works with Netflix US and can be used for different sports live streams. Interestingly, it offers fantastic 10 Gbps WireGuard-powered VPN servers for torrenting, so larger files will download in an instant.

Not to mention, there’s a VPN Accelerator to speed things up if need be. Proton VPN’s cheap monthly plan can be slashed even further with an exclusive 64% discount for the 24-month plan. Additionally, the provider offers a free VPN for Windows, Linux, and all other platforms.

Since it’s fairly limited and doesn’t allow streaming, P2P, and server selection, we’d stick to its premium offer. As a temporary solution, it’s surely the best monthly VPN for saving money. In the long run, you’ll be ignorant to spend so much when you could save more than 60%.

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4. Private Internet Access

PIA is rarely an expensive provider. While its affordable VPN plan for one month is $11.95, and as a result, more expensive than Proton VPN, it’s one of the most reliable options. Just to inform you, PIA offers unlimited simultaneous connections and boasts around 30,000 servers.

All of this is backed by some serious security. MultiHop connections for two encryption layers, 256-bit GCM encryption as a default option, and MACE for removing trackers and ads. But this isn’t all. You can get PIA Antivirus for Windows to clean up your system with a click.

Private Internet Access works incredibly well for torrenting, thanks to uncapped bandwidth, 10 Gbps servers, and WireGuard. It even includes Port Forwarding, which you won’t find in ExpressVPN and Surfshark. PIA is regarded as a safe VPN to use while traveling, for example.

This is because of its Shadowsocks obfuscation that allows the VPN to occasionally get over the Great Firewall. Another perk is its ability to unblock Netflix US and BBC iPlayer, although there are better choices for streaming, such as NordVPN. PIA excels in other categories, too.

For instance, it has responsive 24/7 live chat support and applications for all desktop and mobile systems. Paying this much for PIA is great for a month or two. However, if you want a longer ride, we strongly recommend the 24-month plan at a whopping 83% off, this time.

It’s just around $2/mo with 2 or 4 free months, based on the current promotion. This makes it officially the best-value long-term VPN on this list. If you’d rather settle for the 1-month plan, be our guest. Albeit, the $11.95/mo price isn’t subject to any discounts.

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5. Surfshark Starter

Surfshark Starter is $15.45/mo, and we know what you’re thinking — this isn’t the cheapest monthly VPN! You’re right. But, as stated, we’re more about quality than strictly providing the least expensive choices. Surfshark compensates for this with cheap 24-month plans, however.

The same Starter plan is ~$2/mo with 3 extra months, for example. This price, or the one before, grants you unlimited simultaneous connections and some of the best streaming abilities we’ve seen. Seriously. Surfshark will be a great VPN for BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, etc.

Apart from that, it’s an all-arounder you can’t go wrong with. Unlimited bandwidth and 10 Gbps servers are standard, and with WireGuard, it’s hard to call it slow. Surfshark even includes MultiHop, which you can further customize by selecting the two servers you want.

An interesting tool is the IP Rotator, which rotates your IP periodically with an active connection to prevent online tracking. Better yet, it uses obfuscation called NoBorders to shield you from censorship and make itself usable in China. Surfshark has a handful of tools.

One of them is an Alternative ID, which lets you take on another identity and conceal your own. Its pricier Surfshark One plan even includes a multi-device antivirus and a Dark Web Monitor. In the Starter option, which is its cheapest monthly VPN plan, you don’t get them.

Regardless, Surfshark is a stellar option if you don’t mind a few shortcomings like occasional connection issues and sometimes confusing app design. If you’re interested in more information, explore our dedicated Surfshark review or see how it stacks against NordVPN.

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Are There Even Cheaper Monthly VPN Subscriptions?

Yes, there are. Is your goal to save as much money while neglecting the quality aspect or save slightly less and enjoy? If your answer is the first one, perhaps our favorite affordable monthly VPNs aren’t for you. Indeed, you will find cheaper options if you dig a bit deeper.

For instance, there’s Bitdefender VPN that we tested recently. It costs $6.99/mo and is undoubtedly among the least expensive options. There’s also Windscribe, whose monthly plan starts at $9.00/mo, which is almost a dollar less than Proton VPN. Are these good?

Well, you could say so.

Bitdefender VPN is a long way from our top 5 picks. It lacks the speed, streaming prowess, and privacy of our favorite options. Windscribe isn’t as fast either and doesn’t offer very intuitive apps. All in all, you will always find cheaper, but not necessarily better options.

It’s up to you. If you prioritize savings and not quality, pick the provider that fits that exact frame, but be ready to face the consequences that will inevitably show up. The same goes in reverse.

Why Are Long-Term Plans Much More Affordable?

If you’ve noticed, our cheapest monthly VPN plans are WAY pricier than their long-term counterparts. Here are a few comparisons to remind you of this wide gap:

• NordVPN is $12.99, but only $3.99/mo for the 24-month plan
• ExpressVPN is $12.95, but only $4.99/mo for the 24-month plan
• Proton VPN is $9.99, but only $3.69/mo for the 24-month plan

As you can see, we have 61% to 73% discounts. You might be wondering just why are long-term plans so affordable. There’s a good reason for that. Providers essentially make more money if you stay with them long-term. It’s sort of “locking” you down for themselves.

When you get a long-term plan, you’re less likely to quit, as you’ve just spent money upfront for a year or two. Long-term plans have more attractive prices and come with flashy discounts because of that. To pull you in and keep you away from other competitors.

Don’t think that only VPNs do that. Look at all subscription services and you’ll see similar trends. In our opinion, a long-term plan will always be better, except when you need a VPN only temporarily and don’t care about using it outside of that specific need. That’s okay.

One mistake you should never make is to pay for a VPN monthly and use it for a long period. We’ll let you do the math, but $12.99/mo for a year is considerably more than $3.09/mo for a year. Shocking, right?

When Should You Pay for a VPN Monthly?

We brought up these “short-term” VPN needs numerous times, but to give them more context, let’s review a few examples in which you might need a cheap monthly VPN:

• Traveling abroad. It’s a must-have in this case. Public WiFi hotspots, be it in restaurants or hotels, are unsecured. You’ll need encryption on top to prevent data leaks and stay private while browsing the web or streaming.
• Saving money on an online purchase. Altering your IP location helps you access region-locked deals and save massively, be it on physical or digital products. You can use a VPN to purchase the stuff you want during a specific period, save money, and quit with a refund from the VPN.
• Testing purposes. Sometimes, you just want to test the service and see if it’s any good. Affordable monthly VPN plans offer a 30-day money-back guarantee for this purpose. If it’s good, keep going. If not, get a refund in a day and lose nothing.

Conclusion

While long-term subscriptions are far more affordable, we comprehend they’re not for everyone. In that case, you can always select a cheap VPN for one month and have plenty of good time. NordVPN emerges on top as the best option, with the most features and the best speeds.

However, if you want something cheaper, Proton VPN is a stellar option that prioritizes privacy and security. Keep in mind that all providers have a 30-day money-back guarantee in all plans, not just long-term ones. This means you can sort of turn them into free VPNs if you need them for less than a month.

Our ranking of the cheapest VPNs for a month ends here. We hope you found it helpful. We did our best to amass the best-quality providers that won’t break the bank, in both the short and long term.

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