UPDATE: Jul. 15, 2022, 12:39 p.m. EDT This story has been updated.
Using a virtual private network (VPN) is one of the best ways to protect your online data and stay anonymous on the web, whether you’re trying to stream movies abroad, torrent, bypass geo-restrictions, or just plain browse. Most providers’ plans cost anywhere from $2 to $12 per month, though many lure customers in with discounted introductory rates that skyrocket after your initial term. To help you lock in a plan that’ll fit your budget in the short and long term, we’re compiling a weekly roundup of the best deals on all the VPNs we’ve personally tested. Below, you can check out our top picks as of July 15.
ExpressVPN — save 49% on a 15-month plan
Read our full review of ExpressVPN.
A reliable server network, a user-friendly app, a strong commitment to data protection, and a headquarters in the privacy-forward British Virgin Islands make ExpressVPN our favorite full-featured VPN on the market. It also happens to be one of the most expensive VPNs out there, which is why we highly recommend taking advantage of a promotion it’s been running since early June: You can enroll in a 15-month plan at just $6.67/month, which is 49% off its standard $12.95/month rate. (Bonus: Your purchase is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee and comes with a year’s worth of unlimited cloud backups from Backblaze(opens in a new tab) — that’s a $7/month value by itself.) You’ll switch to an $8.32/month annual plan after the first term is up. Bitcoin is accepted.
Read our full review of NordVPN.
Power users shouldn’t think twice about signing up for NordVPN, another industry giant based in British Virgin Islands that packs robust security features like double encryption(opens in a new tab), obfuscated servers(opens in a new tab), dark web monitoring(opens in a new tab), malware protection, ad and tracker blockers, and Onion Over VPN, a tool that combines your VPN connection with the Tor network for an extra layer of privacy. All of its subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, the cheapest one being its two-year plan(opens in a new tab): New customers can sign up for an introductory rate of just $3.99/month, or 67% off its usual $11.99/month pricing. (That switches to an $8.29/month annual plan after the term is up.) Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP are accepted.
Optional add-ons include:
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NordPass Premium (password manager) — $0.70/month $2.29/month (save 69%)
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NordLocker Premium, 1TB (cloud storage) — $1.30/month $5.99/month (save 78%)
Read our full review of ProtonVPN.
The Swiss-based Proton VPN is another great pick for privacy wonks, with open-source apps and critical infrastructure that’s stored inside a datacenter requiring biometric access. We recommend its Plus plan(opens in a new tab), which gets you full access to its server network, streaming service and P2P support, ad/tracker/malware protection, and a Tor over VPN(opens in a new tab) tool that lets you direct traffic through the Tor network with a single click. Monthly subscriptions go for $9.99, but you’ll pay just $4.99/month if you commit to two years (with a 30-day money-back guarantee) — that’s a 50% savings. Bitcoin is accepted.(opens in a new tab)
Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN.
This Romania-based provider lays claim to the biggest, most globally diverse network we’ve seen, with special severs optimized for streaming, gaming, and P2P to maintain consistent connections. Sign up for a 39 months of CyberGhost coverage(opens in a new tab) at $2.29/month (or 82% off its standard monthly fee of $12.99), and you’ll be able renew at that exact same rate every 36 months thereafter. Like all of CyberGhost’s multi-year plans, that’s protected by a 45-day money-back guarantee and includes free access to its ID Guard(opens in a new tab) and Privacy Guard(opens in a new tab) tools. Bitcoin is accepted.
Optional add-ons include:
Editor’s note: The CyberGhost website features a countdown to a deadline for locking in that three years + three months rate, but we’re pretty sure it’s just a marketing ploy.
Read our full review of TunnelBear.
Our go-to recommendation for anyone who’s never used the technology before, TunnelBear is simple, lightweight VPN with an intuitive (and adorable) interface. Though it’s incapable of unblocking streaming sites and based in Canada, a Five Eyes country, it should serve you well if you’re just surfing the web. We recommend its Unlimited plan(opens in a new tab) over the free version for unlimited browsing and priority customer service, which goes for just $3.33/month when you enroll for three years — that’s 67% off its usual $9.99/month rate and a fixed price that won’t increase after your first term. Bitcoin is accepted and refunds are offered on a case-by-case basis.
It’s nothing particularly special (and its U.S. headquarters location isn’t ideal), but for users in search of a basic VPN with open-source apps, built-in ad blocking, and a free email breach monitor, PIA is worth a look. Take advantage of its extended Fourth of July sale to score 39 months of coverage(opens in a new tab) for only $2.03/month — that shaves 83% off its regular rate of $11.95/month and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. (You may need to open its website in an incognito window to see this pricing at checkout, FYI.) Your plan will continue at the same rate after that first term is up, which earns it some extra brownie points. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin are accepted.
Optional add-ons include:
Read our full review of IPVanish.
Another middle-of-the-road pick with a U.S. headquarters (boo), IPVanish makes up for a lack of advanced security features with a minimalist, straightforward app and support for unlimited simultaneous connections. You can get your first term of its annual plan(opens in a new tab) for just $3.33/month (or 69% off its standard monthly rate of $10.99), which comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and free antivirus protection from VIPRE. After that first year is up, you’ll get bumped to $7.50/month. Crypto is not accepted.
Editor’s Note: IPVanish and VIPRE are owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable’s publisher. Any Ziff Davis products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.
Read our full review of PureVPN.
We don’t have a ton of nice things to say about PureVPN — our review turned up slow download speeds, buggy apps, iffy Netflix support, and a questionable privacy policy — but hey, it’s cheap! Enroll in a 27-month plan(opens in a new tab) and you’ll pay only $1.99/month, which is an 82% discount on its normal monthly rate of $10.95. (Don’t be afraid to take advantage of its 31-day money-back guarantee if necessary.) You’ll switch to a $4.50/month yearly plan at the end of that initial term. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin are accepted.
Optional add-ons include:
