Best cheap VPN

A low price doesn't have to mean weaker protection. Plenty of budget-friendly providers offer the same core security as the big names — strong AES-256 encryption, a kill switch and a no-logs policy — for a fraction of the cost, especially when you commit to a longer plan.

What you should be wary of are completely free VPNs, which often fund themselves by logging and selling your data or showing ads. A reputable paid service that simply happens to be cheap is a far safer bet than a "free" one.

The biggest savings nearly always come from choosing a longer subscription. A two or three-year plan can cut the monthly cost by 70% or more compared with rolling monthly billing, so it pays to commit if you know you'll keep using it.

It's also worth timing your purchase around sales events like Black Friday, and checking whether a money-back guarantee applies so you can try the service risk-free before locking in.