You can get a monthly VPN if you want to stay anonymous online but don’t want to commit to a long-term plan. While monthly plans are usually more expensive than long-term plans, the average price for a monthly VPN is $10. Many VPN providers are available, so evaluating their value for price is essential before choosing one.
I reviewed multiple providers and their pricing to find the cheapest monthly VPN that still offers excellent services. The top cheapest monthly VPNs include NordVPN, which you can get for $12.99, Surfshark for $15.45, Proton VPN for $9.99, Bitdefender VPN for $6.99, and IPVanish for $12.99. All top picks offer the best value for the price. Continue reading to find out more about the cheapest monthly VPNs in 2026.
Top 11 best cheap monthly VPN comparison
| Cheap monthly VPN | VPN rating | Lowest monthly price | 1-month VPN price | Best deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. NordVPN | 9.3⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $ 3.49 | $ 12.99 | 75% off |
| 2. Surfshark | 9.0⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $ 2.49 | $ 15.45 | 85% off |
| 3. Proton VPN | 8.9⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $ 2.99 | $ 9.99 | 70% off |
| 4. Bitdefender VPN | 7.5⭐⭐⭐ | $ 3.33 | $ 6.99 | 43% off |
| 5. IPVanish | 8.5⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $ 2.19 | $ 12.99 | 83% off |
| 6. Total VPN | 7.0⭐⭐⭐ | $ 1.59 | $ 5.99 | 80% off |
| 7. Norton VPN | 7.0⭐⭐⭐ | $ 2.50 | $ 4.99 | 40% off |
| 8. CyberGhost | 8.8⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $ 1.59 | $ 12.99 | 88% off |
| 9. ExpressVPN | 8.5⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $ 2.49 | $ 12.95 | 80% off |
| 10. PrivadoVPN | 7.8⭐⭐⭐ | $ 1.11 | $ 10.99 | 90% off |
| 11. PIA | 8.6⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $ 1.33 | $ 11.95 | 89% off |
Getting a long-term plan is usually cheaper, and Surfshark, PrivadoVPN, and Total VPN offer the best monthly prices for long-term plans. If you’re only interested in monthly plans, the cheapest options are Norton VPN for only $4.99, Total VPN for $5.99, Bitdefender VPN for $6.99, and Proton VPN for $9.99. While all providers offer cheap pricing, NordVPN is the best monthly VPN. While NordVPN’s monthly cost $12.99, you can get it for only $ 3.49 per month by taking a long-term plan. NordVPN is the best choice as it offers the best value for an affordable price.
Monthly VPN plans compared: affordable and flexible 1-month options
Together with the VPNOverview research team, I analyzed the market and checked our affiliate access to find the cheapest monthly VPNs. While it’s easy to compare the providers in terms of pricing, finding the actual value for price requires more attention. The goal of this comparison is to help you make a well-informed decision that will help you choose the best monthly VPN for the best possible price. Below, you can find a chart with the top cheapest VPNs and their monthly prices in USD.
The analysis has shown that the average price for a monthly VPN is around $10. The prices vary from provider to provider, and you can find plans from $ 4.99 to $ 15.45. Since there are many monthly VPNs that offer different pricing, it’s important to evaluate the benefits that each VPN offers before choosing the best option for you.
As of January 2026, Norton VPN is the cheapest monthly VPN for only $4.99. Other affordable options include TotalVPN for $5.99, Bitdefender VPN for $6.99, Mullvad VPN for $5.86, and Fastest VPN for $5.00. The most expensive 1-month VPN is Surfshark, as the monthly plan costs $15.45. While some providers are not the cheapest when looking at the monthly price, they are budget-friendly if you take their long-term plans.
For the best value for price, I recommend VPNs like NordVPN or Surfshark. Although the monthly plans are not the cheapest, by subscribing to a 2-year plan, you can save quite a lot. You can get Surfshark’s 2-year plan for only $ 2.49/month, which is one of the cheapest monthly prices. Similarly, NordVPN costs only $ 3.49/month if you get a long-term plan. Both providers are well-known VPNs that offer fast speeds, reliable VPN connections, and even extra features for an extra layer of protection.
Cheap monthly VPNs: detailed overview
- NordVPN – overall best 1-month VPN in 2026
- Surfshark – cheapest monthly VPN for long-term plans
- Proton VPN – affordable monthly VPN with a free version
- Bitdefender VPN – basic yet secure and cheap monthly VPN
- IPVanish – easy-to-navigate and affordable monthly VPN
To find the best yet still cheap monthly VPNs, I reviewed over 30 providers. I compared all providers not only in terms of their monthly price, but also the value that they offer, including security, servers, and extra features. After the examination, I was able to find the top 5 cheapest VPNs that offer excellent value in 2026.
Top 1. NordVPN – best monthly VPN overall
NordVPN is the best overall cheap monthly VPN that offers robust security features for a monthly price of $12.99. While the monthly plan price is quite high compared to other monthly VPNs, by taking a long-term subscription, you can get a plan for only $ 3.49 per month. All paid subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not sure yet, NordVPN has a 3-day free trial, which you can use to test the service first.
NordVPN is a private VPN that uses the military-grade AES-256 encryption and has a strict no-logs policy. There are also quite a few robust security features, such as a kill switch, which will disable the internet in case of connection interruptions, or Dark Web Monitoring, which will monitor your email for any data breaches. I also liked the Threat Protection feature, which blocks malicious ads and websites. With NordVPN’s 9300 servers in 137 countries, you’ll be able to bypass geo-restrictions and browse the internet freely.
No matter which plan you choose, you’ll have a smooth browsing experience with NordVPN as it’s one of the fastest VPNs on the market. If you want to learn more about the provider, read our NordVPN review.
Pros
- Wide selection of servers worldwide
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- AES-256 encryption
- Robust security features
- Fast speeds
Cons
- Only 10 simultaneous connections
Top 2. Surfshark – fast and cheap monthly VPN
Surfshark is a top cheap monthly VPN that offers premium services for an affordable price. While the monthly plan costs $15.45, by taking a 2-year subscription, you can get it for only $ 2.49/month, which also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want to test it first, there is a 7-day free trial, which you can use before committing to a paid plan.
Just like NordVPN, Surfshark is a secure VPN that uses the standard AES-256 encryption and has a reliable no-logs policy. It also has 4500 servers in 100 countries, which is more than enough to access various websites and streaming sites, no matter where you’re located. For extra privacy, Surfshark offers extra features like a kill switch and split tunneling, which let you choose what traffic to route through the VPN. There is also CleanWeb, which blocks harmful websites and ads, ensuring a smooth browsing experience. I also liked the DoubleVPN feature, which routes your traffic through two servers at once.
If you’re looking for an advanced VPN that offers many extra features and has no connection limitations, Surfshark is the best choice. Be sure to check out our Surfshark review to learn more.
Pros
- Cheap pricing starting from $ 2.49/month
- Bypasses geo-restrictions
- Advanced security features
- Reliable speeds
- Strict no-logs policy
Cons
- Some extra features cost extra
Top 3. Proton VPN – cheap month-to-month VPN for extra privacy
Proton VPN is an excellent monthly VPN that guarantees total security online for a cheap price. The monthly Proton VPN plan costs $9.99, but you can get it for only $ 2.99/month by subscribing to a long-term plan. While Proton VPN doesn’t have a free trial, you can test it by using its free version. If you decide to go with a paid plan, you can use it risk-free as it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Proton VPN is one of the most secure VPNs on the market as it uses robust AES-256 encryption, does not keep logs, and has extra security measures. The provider was also independently audited, so Proton VPN is a trustworthy VPN provider. With Proton VPN, you can use a kill switch and split tunneling. I found the NetShield Ad-blocker a very useful feature, which will block malicious ads, websites, or trackers. Once you have a subscription, you can connect to 20400 servers in 148 countries, which will allow you to browse the internet freely.
If you’re looking for a privacy-focused VPN, look no further than Proton VPN, which uses all the necessary security measures and offers extra features. To find out what benefits Proton VPN has, check our Proton VPN review.
Pros
- Independently audited
- Robust security toolkit
- Wide selection of servers
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Has a free version
Cons
- Limited free version
Top 4. Bitdefender VPN – simple 1-month VPN for a cheap price
Bitdefender VPN is a great monthly VPN if you’re looking for a user-friendly and straightforward option. The monthly Bitdefender plan costs only $6.99, which is way less than the average price compared to other providers. You can save even more money if you take a long-term plan, which you can get for $3.33/month. You can test the service by using the 7-day free trial or taking advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee.
While Bitdefender is a simple VPN, it guarantees protection online with the robust AES-256 encryption. You will also get access to a reliable kill switch and split-tunneling features. There is also a Double-hop feature, which routes traffic through the exit node only. Bitdefender offers 4000+ servers in 50 countries, which is enough to bypass geo-restrictions, but there are fewer locations available than other providers offer.
Bitdefender is suitable for all internet ussers, who want to add an extra layer of protecion with a simple yet reliable VPN for a budget-friendly price. To learn more about the VPN, read our Bitdefender VPN review.
Pros
- Robust encryption
- Cheap monthly plan
- Additional security features
- Reliable money-back guarantee
Cons
- Not as fast as other top providers
Top 5. IPVanish – cheap and beginner-friendly VPN
IPVanish is a cheap monthly VPN that offers easy-to-use services and doesn’t limit the number of simultaneous connections. The IPVanish VPN monthly price starts at $12.99 per month, but you can save even more with a long-term plan for just $ 2.19/month. All paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can also test the service first by using the 7-day free trial.
IPVanish offers 3400 servers in 113 countries, which is even fewer than Bitdefender VPN offers. Despite that, IPVanish is a reliable VPN that will bypass geo-restrictions on various websites and services. IPVanish is also a secure VPN with a strict no-logs policy and the standard AES-256 encryption. Apart from kill switch and split tunneling, you can also use the Threat Protection feature to block harmful ads and websites online. For extra protection, you can also connect using Double Hop VPN, which will route your traffic through two servers simultaneously.
If you’re looking for a user-friendly and secure monthly VPN, IPVanish is an excellent choice, as you can use it on all personal devices without any limits. You can also read our IPVanish review to find what IPVanish has to offer.
Pros
- Easy-to-navigate interface
- Strong security features
- Unblocks geo-restricted services
- Strict no-logs policy
Cons
- Offers fewer servers than other VPNs
How I picked the best cheap monthly VPNs
To choose the best monthly VPN, it’s not enough to look at the price only. There are many cheap monthly VPN providers, but not all of them offer quality services. To ensure a smooth VPN experience while still saving some money, I considered several factors:
- Server network: Having a wide selection of servers is a must for streaming geo-restricted content, gaming, and overall browsing. It can even enhance your speed and overall stability, as you’ll be able to switch between less-loaded servers.
- Speed: For a smooth browsing experience, it’s important to choose a VPN that will not noticeably affect your speed. A fast VPN will also ensure that you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite content without any buffering issues.
- Security and privacy: The primary purpose of a VPN is online privacy, so be sure to choose a monthly VPN that offers robust encryption and a reliable no-logs policy. I also only selected VPNs that have additional features for an extra layer of protection.
- Price for value: For the best deal, it’s important to evaluate the quality of service that you get for the price. To ensure that you’ll be able to test the VPN risk-free, I also checked if the provider offers a free version, a free trial, or a money-back guarantee.
Why are monthly VPN subscriptions more expensive?
There are many VPN providers that offer different pricing, but all of them offer cheaper deals for their long-term plans. While getting a monthly plan seems like a good idea, especially if you’re not yet sure you’re ready to commit to a long-term plan, it’s usually way more expensive. VPN providers offer better prices for annual plans because it ensures that users are becoming long-term customers and will not switch to a different service.
I recommend choosing a 1-year or 2-year plan instead of the monthly plan, as it is always cheaper. By doing so, you can get the same service for a 2-3 times cheaper price. One of the best VPN providers, NordVPN, offers a monthly plan for $12.99. While it’s a reasonable price, you can get the service for only $ 3.49/month if you take the 2-year plan. Besides, NordVPN even has a 30-day money-back guarantee. This allows you to test the service without losing any money, even if you subscribe to a long-term plan.
Conclusion: best cheap monthly VPN
Many VPN providers offer monthly plans, with prices ranging from $4.99 to $15.45. While many cheap monthly VPNs exist, not all offer quality services, which is why it’s important to compare them before making a decision. To find the best monthly VPN, it’s necessary to look for one that offers the best value for price.
After analyzing the market and comparing over 30 1-month VPN providers, I found NordVPN to be the best monthly VPN. By getting a long-term plan, you can get it for as little as $ 3.49/month, or $12.99 if you decide to get the monthly plan. NordVPN is the best option in 2026, as it offers reliable services, fast speeds, and robust features for an affordable price.
Do you want to try NordVPN or another premium VPN first before committing to a long-term subscription? A lot of premium VPN providers offer free trials to test their services. You can use the money-back guarantee to test the VPN for an extended period.
FAQ
Do you have a question about the cheapest monthly VPNs? Click on the questions below to see the answers.
Yes, there are many VPNs that you can pay for monthly, such as NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, Bitdefender VPN, and IPVanish. All these providers offer excellent services for an affordable price, with prices ranging from $6.99 to $15.45. However, purchasing an annual subscription will always be cheaper.
Yes, you can select the NordVPN 1-month plan. You can also use the NordVPN free trial to try out their service for 30 days.
Yes, a lot of VPNs offer a 1-month plan or trials. Most premium VPNs offer free trials with a money-back guarantee.
When you have a monthly subscription, you can pay monthly. If you take out an annual subscription, in most cases you have to pay the entire amount in advance.
Ivacy has the lowest price per month according to our tests.
Yes, there are cheap VPNs for only $1 per month. You can for example get Ivacy for only $1.00 per month by subscribing to its five-year plan.
