My focus here is on affordability. I know a lot of these VPNs are really cheap to begin with, but I’m looking for the cheapest VPN that is actually viable and doesn’t get blocked by sites. If they’re lesser known that’s okay (perhaps even preferable) since many of the bigger ones like Nord, which is cheap in its own right - get caught immediately, and I have to constantly prove I’m not a robot. That or I get completely blocked out of a site. For example, when using certain VPNs I haven’t been able to access ChatGPT. This has happened on more than one occasion and it is very frustrating. Any suggestions?
Dude, Surfshark costs like $2 per month and it is a stellar VPN. It’s basically free! What more do you want? Even the ‘expensive’ VPNs don’t exceed $5-$7 per month. I don’t know why anyone would make a big deal out of pricing for VPNs.
@Oren
13.99 a month you mean, unless you subscribe to a package for 6 months or more for $50+. Just go with Windscribe, $3 is easy.
Generally speaking, in life you get what you pay for. If you’re going to cheap out and look for the least expensive VPN, what kind of service do you think it will provide? Do you think your privacy will be protected? Free VPNs have been discussed here, and basically everyone agreed that you’re better off running without a VPN than using one of those free services. They’ll just provide you with a poor server that’s been hammered and likely harvest or sell your data. It’s just not worth it.
@River
I feel like most VPN services offer the same thing more or less, no? If that is the case, I might as well opt for the cheapest option.
I know these ones are extremely cheap: Nord, Express, Surfshark, PIA. Another really cheap one is PureVPN, but I’ve heard mixed reviews about it. At the end of the day, I don’t think VPNs are expensive enough to stress over the price too much. Just choose the best overall one.
You can get locked out of ChatGPT even if you’re using the most expensive VPN. It happens because you’re spoofing your IP address, possibly shared with thousands of others on the same day. Just switch servers and connect. To answer the original question, any commonly mentioned VPN service will be cheap.
@Zayden
What? This makes no sense. I’m paying for a service to protect my privacy and access websites… I should be able to connect without issues.
Use PureVPN. It’s dirt cheap. Sometimes it takes a while to load webpages but if cheap is what you’re after, then that’s the one for you.
Wray said:
Use PureVPN. It’s dirt cheap. Sometimes it takes a while to load webpages but if cheap is what you’re after, then that’s the one for you.
Thanks for the suggestion.
I agree with what others say; VPNs are generally inexpensive. I don’t really care if it’s $2 or $4. What matters is that it provides decent speed and lets me access websites.
Landyn said:
I agree with what others say; VPNs are generally inexpensive. I don’t really care if it’s $2 or $4. What matters is that it provides decent speed and lets me access websites.
Over time, it adds up. I’m not expecting to pay $0.30, but some VPNs over $5-$10 monthly seem excessive. Mullvad intrigues me, but is it really worthwhile?
Landyn said:
I agree with what others say; VPNs are generally inexpensive. I don’t really care if it’s $2 or $4. What matters is that it provides decent speed and lets me access websites.
Exactly. What is considered an ‘expensive’ VPN these days? $8 per month? I haven’t even seen any charge that much.
@Zayden
I’m not the OP, but this is an older post. Many VPNs require annual upfront payments. Are there any good options that offer monthly payments?
Is that your experience with Nord? I thought it was a bad VPN but assumed you’d be able to browse easily without issues.
Fynn said:
Is that your experience with Nord? I thought it was a bad VPN but assumed you’d be able to browse easily without issues.
30-40% of the time, which is too often. I shouldn’t have to switch server locations as much. A paid VPN should run smoothly and not restrict access to most sites.
Best Cheap VPN?
This question seems silly to me. I haven’t come across a VPN that isn’t cheap. They’re all about a few bucks a month. With long-term deals, they can even be as low as $1 per month. If you’re looking for something cheaper than that, I’m not sure you’ll find it.
@Eden
They might be cheap compared to other software, but in my country, $5 isn’t that cheap. I’m looking for something high quality and relatively affordable (for me).
People talk about VPNs a lot here. I believe it’s more important to find a high-quality service that isn’t abused and will protect your privacy. Mullvad fits that bill, starting at $5 per month without a long-term commitment—it’s a no-brainer.
Cheap VPNs to avoid:
- PIA
- ProtonVPN
- CyberGhost
- ExpressVPN
These options have been blocked by many major streaming sites. If that’s crucial for you, be cautious using them.
@Blaise
Thanks for the tips. Why PIA? Most reviews I’ve read are positive. I’m actually considering it. Any specific reason to avoid it aside from streaming problems?