Question & answer

How much does a VPN cost per month?

The short answer

A good VPN costs between $2 and $5 a month on a long-term plan (guide prices, June 2026). Monthly rolling plans are far more expensive, usually $10 to $16. The big price difference is in the commitment length, not the product.

Almost every VPN provider uses the same pricing playbook: a high monthly rate and a much lower effective rate if you prepay for one, two, or three years. Pay monthly at NordVPN and you are around $13 a month; commit to two years and the same service drops to roughly $4.

In the budget tier the gaps are even bigger. CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, PrivateVPN, and PureVPN all land around or even under $2 a month on their longest plans. Always check the renewal price though: the promotional rate usually applies to the first term only.

Completely free also exists, with limits: Proton VPN is the only serious provider with an uncapped free plan, while Windscribe and PrivadoVPN give you ten gigabytes a month. For daily use across all your devices, a paid plan at a few dollars a month is the more practical choice.

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