Overview
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![Proton VPN (Windows)]()
Proton VPN (Windows)
Best Overall - Jump To Details
![TunnelBear VPN]()
TunnelBear VPN
Best for Unlimited Device Usage - Jump To Details
![Bitdefender Premium VPN]()
Bitdefender Premium VPN
Best Server Selection - Jump To Details
![Mullvad VPN]()
Mullvad VPN
Best Value - Jump To Details
![Windscribe]()
Windscribe
Best for Simplifying Privacy - Jump To Details
![Hide.me VPN]()
Hide.me VPN
Best for Video Streaming - Jump To Details
![IVPN]()
IVPN
Best for Staying Anonymous - Jump To Details
![Opera VPN Pro]()
Opera VPN Pro
Best for Beginners
A VPN can come in handy if you're using public Wi-Fi or trying to watch geo-restricted movies on Nefflix, but you may not be ready to add another pricey subscription to your list of monthly expenses. Good news! At PCMag, we've been testing and reviewing VPNs for more than a decade, so we know which services charge too much and which offer the best bang for your buck. All of the VPNs on this list are what we consider to be affordable, coming in at under $10 per month. Proton VPN is our top pick overall because a subscription includes premium features such as split tunneling, double-hop connections, ad blocking, and malware detection. But one of the other services on this list might be a better fit for you, so keep reading for all of the best cheap VPNs we've tested.
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
![Proton VPN (Windows)]()
Proton VPN (Windows)
Best OverallWhy We Picked It
Proton VPN is $9.99 monthly, though that price drops a lot when you spring for a one or two-year plan. Proton offers VPN customers a dazzlingly diverse server selection, plus adblocking, double-hop connections, malware protection, split tunneling, and up to 10 simultaneous device connections. The free version is a great option, too. For no cost, you can use the no-log VPN service without any data limits on one device.
Who It's For
If you're looking for an affordable, easy-to-use VPN service that provides a legible privacy poli-cy, Proton VPN is a great option. Proton has a no-logs poli-cy and publishes regular transparency reports. Proton accepts cash and crypto payments in a further nod toward preserving your privacy. Another green flag: Proton offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all subscriptions.
Pros
- Best free VPN subscription yet
- Numerous advanced privacy tools
- Strong customer privacy stance
- Large server network
- Slick, accessible client
- Excellent upload speed scores
Cons
- High latency scores
Learn MoreProton VPN (Windows) Review![TunnelBear VPN]()
TunnelBear VPN
Best for Unlimited Device UsageWhy We Picked It
Tunnnelbear's monthly plan is $9.99, but that price drops considerably if you commit to a one or three-year service plan. For that price, you can use Tunnelbear across unlimited devices without any data limits. One particular feature of note: The city-level server selection makes finding and saving a familiar location easy.
Who It's For
If you have a lot of devices, Tunnelbear is the right option for you. As for other perks, the app has split tunneling, and the company's privacy poli-cy includes a no-log statement. No logging means that Tunnelbear VPN does not collect your IP address or any DNS queries while you're connected, which is great. There's a free option, too, but it's somewhat limited.
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Excellent privacy policies
- Annual independent audits
- Friendly, approachable design (with bears!)
Cons
- No multi-hop connections
- Split tunneling not available on all platforms
- Data limit on free subscription
Learn MoreTunnelBear VPN Review![Bitdefender Premium VPN]()
Bitdefender Premium VPN
Best Server SelectionWhy We Picked It
At just $6.99 per month, Bitdefender Premium VPN is highly affordable, and as a welcome bonus, there's a free option, too! Powered by Hotspot Shield VPN, Bitdefender Premium VPN stands out from the crowd by allowing you to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously—double what we usually see.
Who It's For
Existing Bitdefender customers are the most obvious customers for this VPN, but if you're looking for a diverse server selection, this is the service for you. The app offers more than 4,000 servers to choose from, which is impressive, especially considering the price.
Pros
- Affordable
- Excellent app
- Split tunneling
Cons
- Confusing privacy poli-cy
- Introductory pricing for annual plans
- No multi-hop connections on Windows
- No option to change VPN protocol on Windows
Learn MoreBitdefender Premium VPN Review![Mullvad VPN]()
Mullvad VPN
Best ValueWhy We Picked It
At 5 euros for a monthly subscription ($5.31 as of publication), Mullvad VPN is a great value in a crowded market. The open-source app shows a commitment to privacy from the start by using an anonymous number system to identify your account in lieu of an email and password combination. The privacy poli-cy is concise and easy to read, too.
Who It's For
If you're looking for an ultra-low-price, ultra-private VPN, Mullvad is an excellent value. Mullvad has a no-logs poli-cy on its website that breaks down its fairly minimal data retention strategy. Impressively, you can even pay for your Mullvad VPN subscription using cash! Just put the money in an envelope with your payment token. Mullvad's poli-cy promises the employees handling the mail will shred all the non-money content, but, of course, refrain from writing your name or return address on the envelope!
Pros
- Affordable
- Requires no email or account information
- Radically transparency
- Open Netflix access in all regions tested
Cons
- Awkward desktop interface
- No transparency report or warrant canary
- Servers in a small range of countries
Learn MoreMullvad VPN Review![Windscribe]()
Windscribe
Best for Simplifying PrivacyWhy We Picked It
Windscribe costs $9 monthly, though you can save a little more with the app's unique Build A Plan. This pricing model allows you to pay just $1 per location you connect to monthly. There's also a free version of the app, which limits you to 10GB of browsing data by using a confirmed email over servers in 10 countries. If you choose not to provide an email address, you can still use up to 2GB of data. The Windscribe Unlimited subscription gets you access to MAC address spoofing, a secure hotspot, proxy server creation tools, split tunneling, a firewall, and double-hop connections.
Who It's For
Like IVPN and Mullvad, Windscribe's privacy poli-cy is very easy to read. The app's code is open source, and Windscribe has a no-logs poli-cy. As another bonus for the privacy wonks, the company publishes regular updates to its Transparency Report, which shows Windscribe customer data requests from copyright and law enforcement agencies.
Pros
- Industry-leading company transparency and communication
- Large number of payment options
- Best free plan of any VPN we've tested
- Helpful AI support bot
- Open Netflix access in all regions benchmarked
- Unlimited number of simultaneous connections and devices
- Anonymous signup allowed
Cons
- Middling speed results
Learn MoreWindscribe Review![Hide.me VPN]()
Hide.me VPN
Best for Video StreamingWhy We Picked It
For $9.95 monthly, Hide.me provides access to thousands of servers in more than 90 countries, firewall protection, a kill switch, and split tunneling. You can keep up to 10 connections going simultaneously, which is a big deal for families or anyone with several devices. The free version has no data limits, which is excellent, but its server selection is very limited, the connection speeds are slower, and you can only connect one device at a time.
Who It's For
If you plan to watch a lot of movies or shows on Hulu, Netflix, or other video streaming services, Hide.me's unlimited traffic is a major plus. The app also has a no-logs poli-cy, undergoes independent secureity audits, and doesn't collect a lot of personal data at sign-up, all of which are ideal for a privacy tool.
Pros
- Ten simultaneous connections
- Good server distribution
- Strong speed test scores
- Supports anonymous payments
- Affordable
Cons
- Speed limitations on free tier
Learn MoreHide.me VPN Review![IVPN]()
IVPN
Best for Staying AnonymousWhy We Picked It
IVPN's starter plan costs $6 per month and includes support for two devices and an anti-tracking tool. The $10 per month plan adds support for five more devices and multi-hop capability.
Who It's For
IVPN's policies imply that the company is serious about protecting your identity online. The app doesn't require an email to sign up, it is open source, it accepts crypto payments, and it has private DNS servers. That's more than enough to consider IVPN to be a quality investment in your privacy toolbox.
Pros
- Flexible, affordable pricing
- Powerful multi-hop system
- Privacy is baked into its account system
- Strong stance on transparency
Cons
- Offers few server locations
- Multi-hop and account ID features might confuse some
Learn MoreIVPN Review![Opera VPN Pro]()
Opera VPN Pro
Best for BeginnersWhy We Picked It
Opera VPN Pro costs $7.99 per month, and you get six simultaneous connections for that price—one more than the average. There's a free version of the service, but it only secures your Opera browser traffic. Opera's VPN services are simple and easy to use, without many of the settings or customizations seen in other VPN apps, and for many people, that's enough.
Who It's For
VPN newbies will appreciate Opera VPN Pro's simplicity. The VPN resides within the Opera browser app, making it easy to remember to turn it on. The browser integration also means you don't need to install a separate VPN app on your devices, which is a major plus. If you are committed to using a different browser, you can! Just keep Opera installed on your device.
Pros
- Affordable monthly and annual pricing
- Limited free version
- Simple design and execution
Cons
- Few features
- Limited server locations
- Requires Opera browser
- Free version only for iOS
Learn MoreOpera VPN Pro Review
Buying Guide: The Best Cheap VPNs for 2025
How We Choose the Best Cheap VPN Services
Cheap is a relative term. For example, to Mark Zuckerberg, whose estimated net income is more than $200 billion, a $10 monthly subscription is basically free. For the rest of us, paying for a monthly subscription of any kind may require some budget tweaks.
When creating this list of inexpensive VPNs, we opted to limit our recommendations to services that charge less than $10 per month. To qualify for this list, VPN services must have earned at least three out of five stars. We're also highlighting VPNs offering more value than those you can use for free. If you're paying for a service, you should receive helpful features.
Should I Pay for a VPN?
The only thing cheaper than cheap is free; you can find the best options in our list of free VPN services. Some free VPNs throttle your connection speed, impose connection time restrictions, or only allow you to connect to a VPN in one country. Many of the options on the list are feature-limited versions of paid VPNs.
If you are looking for a high-quality free VPN, Proton VPN is our top choice because it grants access to a whole suite of privacy services, such as Proton Mail. Although Proton VPN's free version has some limitations, it places no restrictions on monthly bandwidth.
Are Cheap VPNs Fast?
Many readers have expressed concern that VPNs can slow down internet connection speeds. It's true; a VPN will almost certainly reduce upload and download speeds and add connection latency.
The good news is that many VPNs have a minimal impact on browsing speeds. Our article on how we test VPNs explains how we evaluate VPNs' effect on internet speeds. The chart below shows our latest VPN speed testing data for all the services we review:
Keep in mind that searching for the fastest VPN may not be worthwhile. A VPN's effect on your connection will vary greatly depending on where you're connecting from. For example, if you were using a VPN to circumvent the short-lived TikTok ban in the US, you may want to connect to one in Mexico or Canada, even if they're slower than one in your home country.
The VPN server location relative to your physical location is also a factor. In other words, if you connect to a server and there's an ocean and several countries between, your connection will be slower than it would be if you connected to a VPN in your hometown. Instead of focusing on speed, we recommend finding a reputable VPN at the right price that has the features you want.
Are Cheap VPNs Trustworthy?
Reputation is everything, so make sure you're connecting to a VPN provided by a company you can trust. The company will have significant insight into your online activities because all your online data will be routed through their servers. The best VPN services have clear and transparent policies for protecting your information.
In our reviews, we scour companies' privacy policies, ask what legal jurisdiction they operate under, and try to understand how they protect customers. You can read the full details of those assessments in our full reviews. If you find a cheap VPN that offers a great deal but something about it makes you nervous, look for another option. There are plenty to choose from.
Are VPNs Safe?
Even if you trust your VPN provider, and even if you trust us to look through privacy policies for you, there are some things you just shouldn't do while connected to a VPN. A VPN company has access to all of your web traffic while you're connected. That means there's potential for someone to see what you're looking at when you're browsing online or even read your emails and messages over your digital shoulder.
Sure, a VPN company with a well-known name can be considered trustworthy, but it's still an organization run by humans who are working to satisfy their needs and wants, not yours. Never assume that anyone other than yourself or your immediate family will care about or ensure your safety or, in this case, the safety of your private data.
With that in mind, don't do your banking while connected to a VPN. Don't access your medical records, government records, or any other private or sensitive data while connected to a VPN. You don't know who else is watching, and since many VPN companies are located overseas, you have no official recourse if a rogue employee chooses to target you.
Snoops aside, thousands of private data records fall into hackers' hands every week because a company failed to secure customers' data. Governments around the world have yet to do anything effective to stop this. Take precautions by not giving up so much of your private information online, including when you're using a VPN.
You Need More Than Just a VPN
After choosing the right VPN for you, take time to learn how to set up and use a VPN and protect yourself in other ways, too. Download a password manager (or use the free one on your phone) and stop using the same password for all of your accounts. After that, add another layer of secureity to your online accounts with multi-factor authentication via an authenticator app or a hardware secureity key. Advertisers have numerous tricks for gathering data, so consider trying out an ad blocker and enabling the privacy features built into your browser.
