How Much Does a VPN Cost?

There are a lot of different virtual private network (VPN) services out there, which can make it tricky to pick the best one. Thankfully, several services, including some of the best ones, lets you try before you buy with VPN free trials. Alternatively, there are great cheap VPN services, too.

While a few VPN services have the same price, monthly costs range from around $4.99 a month up to $12.99. Further compounding cost appraisals is the reality that things tend to be cheaper if you pay for longer, either a year or more, and VPN services tend to regularly have promotional pricing, so it’s worth holding out for that if you want to get better bang for your buck.

Below is a table of every VPN service that we’ve reviewed, its monthly cost, and a direct link to the respective VPN service so you can read more.

The short answer is you don’t technically need a VPN, but you really, really should consider using one to help anonymize your online activities. 

Free VPNs aren’t the best way to experience the perks of a VPN service. They tend to have restrictions on speeds and servers, which means it’ll likely feel sluggish. That said, TunnelBear and Hotspot Shield from the list above do offer free services if you want to see what a VPN is all about before paying anything. You can also check out our top picks for cheap VPN services to find one within your budget.

VPN free trials are a great way to experience a full suite of features but bear in mind that some trials are of the money-back variety, meaning you have to put down credit card details and request a refund if you decide to end after the trial period. Most VPN's offer some sort of free trial lasting a full day, to a full 30-day money-back guarantee.