A virtual private network (VPN) can provide many benefits – improving privacy and security, accessing geo-restricted content, avoiding bandwidth throttling and more. However, VPN services come with a cost, and for budget-minded users, price is often the deciding factor when choosing a provider.
The good news is that not all quality VPNs are expensive. There are a number of reputable providers available for as little as a few dollars per month. I evaluated over 25 affordable VPNs, assessing factors like security, speeds, server locations and streaming capabilities. Below I cover the six best cheap VPN options available in 2024.
What Makes a Good, Cheap VPN?
First, it‘s important to understand that when it comes to VPNs, cheaper does not always mean better. Many free or very low-cost VPNs cut corners when it comes to infrastructure or security practices, putting users and their data at risk.
When looking for an affordable yet reliable VPN, there are a few key factors I considered:
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Privacy & Security: The VPN should use modern protocols like OpenVPN or IKEv2/IPSec and encryption like AES-256. It should also have a strict no-logs policy.
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Speed: Even budget VPNs should provide decent speeds for most online activities like streaming and web browsing. Top speeds indicate solid infrastructure.
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Server Locations: A wider selection of server locations allows for better access to geo-restricted content. Budget VPNs should have servers in areas like the US, UK, Canada and Australia at a minimum.
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Streaming Support: Unblocking popular services like US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and others indicates advanced VPN capabilities despite the low price point.
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Reliability: I gave preference to established, reputable providers with positive customer reviews and ratings. This suggests they provide good, consistent service.
Keeping those criteria in mind, below are my picks for the top cheap VPNs available in 2024 based on extensive hands-on testing and evaluation.
1. NordVPN – Best Overall Cheap VPN
NordVPN is an industry leader when it comes to VPN services, with over 14 million users globally. Despite their popularity they offer affordable pricing, especially when you go for longer subscription terms. With consistent speed and performance plus advanced features, they are my top recommendation as the best cheap VPN available in 2024.
Price: Starts from $3.29/month for 2-year plan
Server Locations: 5,700+ servers in 60 countries
Streaming Support: Great for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu
Pros
- Very fast speeds & performance
- Strict no-logs policy
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Unblocks most streaming sites
- 30-day money back guarantee
NordVPN has apps for all major platforms, 24/7 live chat support, allows P2P traffic and 6 simultaneous connections. Their 2-year plan brings the monthly cost down substantially while still letting you take advantage of all NordVPN‘s security and streaming capabilities.
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2. Surfshark – Most Affordable VPN
If low cost is your top priority, Surfshark offers the most bang for your buck. At under $3/month on their 2-year plan, they are incredibly affordable while still maintaining good speeds and security standards. Based in the British Virgin Islands, they are outside the jurisdiction of intrusive surveillance programs.
Price: From $2.21/month for 2-year plan
Server Locations: Over 3,200 servers in 100 countries
Streaming Support: Works with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu
Pros
- Lowest pricing of any quality VPN
- Fast & consistent speeds
- Unlimited device connections
- RAM-only servers enhance privacy
- 30-day guarantee
Surfshark also offers features like split-tunneling, a kill switch, and a private DNS and leak protection. With apps for all major platforms, Surfshark is a great budget option for secure streaming and browsing.
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3. Atlas VPN – Best Free VPN
If you want to test out a VPN risk-free, Atlas VPN offers a free plan with unlimited data usage. Their premium version is also very affordable if you decide to upgrade later on. As a freemium VPN they do cap the bandwidth on their free plan but it‘s still perfectly usable for basic tasks.
Price: Free or $1.99/month for 1-year plan
Server Locations: 750+ servers in 37 countries
Streaming Support: Works with some streaming sites
Pros
- Free and paid versions available
- Unlimited data usage on free plan
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Apps for most platforms
- Easy-to-use interface
The free Atlas plan has access to servers in 23 countries while premium unlocks additional locations. Paid subscribers can also take advantage of faster speeds, P2P support and unlimited bandwidth. For a free VPN, Atlas is an excellent choice.
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4. PureVPN
Hong Kong-based PureVPN has been in the industry since 2007. They offer user-friendly apps, good streaming support, fast speeds and a large server network of over 6,500 servers – impressive for an affordable VPN provider. Split-tunneling, dedicated IP addresses and a kill switch are also included.
Price: Starts at $2.08/month for 2-year plan
Server Locations: 6,500+ servers in 78 countries
Streaming Support: Unblocks popular streaming sites
Pros
- Competitive pricing
- Feature-packed
- 31-day money-back guarantee
- Supports P2P filesharing
- Apps for all major platforms
PureVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption by default and has a zero-logging policy on traffic, IP addresses and online activity. For an all-around budget-friendly VPN suitable for streaming and security, PureVPN is a great choice.
???? Click here to try PureVPN risk-free today!
5. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a fast, secure VPN provider based in Bucharest, Romania under the ownership of Kape Technologies. Despite not having the most servers, they provide good speeds and can unblock popular streaming sites – likely due to their focus on optimizing servers for streaming performance.
Price: Starts from $2.25/month for 3-year plan
Server Locations: 7,400 servers in 91 countries
Streaming Support: Unblocks Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu
Pros
- Budget-friendly pricing
- Good speeds for streaming
- Intuitive apps
- 45-day money back guarantee
- Blocks ads & trackers
I like that CyberGhost offers longer-term subscriptions for the best savings. Their 3-year plan brings the monthly cost down to under $2.25. For the price, CyberGhost delivers when it comes to security, privacy and streaming access.
???? Click to try CyberGhost risk-free for 45 days!
6. Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield is known for its free VPN tier but also has affordable premium options that add more features. The combination of low pricing plus ultra-fast speeds from their proprietary Hydra protocol make it a tempting budget choice.
Price: Starts at $7.99/month for 1-year plan
Server Locations: 110 countries
Streaming Support: Unblocks popular streaming sites
Pros
- Very fast connection speeds
- Malware/phishing protection
- Encrypts Wi-Fi connections
- 45-day money back guarantee
One caveat is that Hotspot Shield does not support P2P filesharing. Additionally, while they state they don‘t log browsing data, some session/bandwidth usage data is collected. However their speeds are almost unmatched and make it a great budget option for streaming and casual browsing.
???? Click here to try Hotspot Shield risk-free for 45 days!
Paid VPNs vs. Free VPNs: Which Should You Choose?
When looking for a cheap VPN option, you‘ll inevitably come across services advertising "free VPN." However, there are some important drawbacks with free VPN providers.
The saying "you get what you pay for" very much applies here. Free VPN services need to make money somehow, so they often rely on less ethical methods like:
- Data harvesting
- Bandwidth or connection limits
- Selling user data
- Injecting ads into web traffic
Many free VPNs also lack basic security and privacy essentials:
- Weak or no data encryption
- Minimal server locations
- Poor speeds and reliability
- No customer support
In nearly all cases, even the best cheap paid VPN is better than any free option when it comes to features, security and maintaining your privacy. The top affordable paid VPNs I recommend here like NordVPN, Surfshark or others may seem pricier than free alternatives – but they more than make up for it by protecting your data and providing a safe, private browsing experience.
Conclusion
You don‘t need to spend a lot every month to get a good VPN. There are reliable providers like NordVPN and Surfshark that offer cheap plans – you just have to watch out for very low-cost or free options that fail to provide robust privacy and security.
My top recommendation based for best all-around cheap VPN is NordVPN. However all the providers covered here offer affordable plans to suit different needs and budgets. To get the best deal when choosing a paid VPN, go for a longer subscription term wherever possible. This saves you substantially compared to month-to-month billing.
Do you have any other questions about choosing an affordable VPN? Just ask below and I‘m happy to help!
