Best Cheap VPNs: Upfront Cost & Renewal

Which cheap VPN should you choose?

PIA has the smaller first payment in the two long-term EUR offers we checked. Surfshark is another many-device option; Mullvad is the simpler reference for a short commitment. Those are specific comparisons, not a claim to have found the cheapest VPN in every country. If basic browsing on one device is enough, consider a permanent free plan before paying.

The table above separates what leaves your account from how many months it buys. It uses provider quotes checked on 16 October 2026, with no currency conversion. Taxes, eligibility, region, and the route to checkout can change the result. A monthly equivalent on a prepaid plan is not permission to pay month by month.

The renewal period matters as much as the price

Surfshark’s example covers 27 months at the first payment, then renews for 12 months at a time. PIA’s checked offer covers 26 months initially, then renews annually. Comparing only the two payment amounts hides that change in time covered.

Use renewal amount ÷ renewal months when comparing future costs. For example, divide an annual renewal by 12 even when the introductory package included more than two years. Compare that result with a flat monthly service before deciding to keep the subscription.

Our Surfshark figure is for Starter, using a EUR offer with the surfsharkdeal coupon. A similarly priced introductory bundle can have a different renewal. PIA’s EUR quote came from its offer page and the order summary reached through our existing affiliate destination. We confirmed the 26-month first term and annual renewal without placing an order.

Surfshark: value when many devices need coverage

Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous-connection allowance is useful for a personal household with several TVs, phones, and computers. It can remove a reason to buy a second account. It does not increase your broadband capacity, guarantee identical features across apps, or permit reselling access.

Check that Starter contains the features you need before paying for Surfshark One or another bundle. Antivirus, identity features, and other extras need their own evaluation. An introductory total that looks similar can conceal a more expensive renewal.

Choose it when your devices and intended apps fit and the full prepaid amount is comfortable. A long plan is less compelling for a one-week trip. Read our Surfshark review and Android guide for the app-specific questions.

PIA: a lower first payment in this snapshot

The checked PIA quote has the lower prepaid total and monthly equivalent of the two long-term offers in our table. Its unlimited connections and configurable desktop features make it a candidate for a household that wants more control over routing.

The renewal needs attention: the same displayed payment amount covers a year, rather than the introductory 26 months. That is a change in the effective monthly cost even though the payment number is unchanged. The checkout also allows separately priced additions, so inspect the final order summary with optional extras removed unless you want them.

Choose it for documented fit and total cost, rather than assuming a lower price proves better speed. Our PIA review explains the features; we have not measured original comparative performance.

Mullvad: a useful benchmark for occasional use

Mullvad publishes €5 per month including VAT, with the same standard monthly rate across term lengths. That makes it a useful comparison if you want a short period of service without a large prepaid commitment. Paying €5 for one month requires less cash now than buying years of discounted access.

Its five-device allowance is lower than the unlimited allowances above. Make that tradeoff consciously if you are buying for a household. Do not assume a privacy-oriented service will reliably provide a particular streaming catalogue; we have not tested that use.

Mullvad’s VAT-inclusive amount and the tax-exclusive offers in our table are different tax bases. Check the final amount applicable to you before comparing totals. See the Mullvad review for its account and payment model.

When free is the better price

Proton VPN Free provides unlimited data and one active connection. It is a sensible starting point for basic browsing when paid server selection, supported streaming, and advanced features are unnecessary. It is a restricted plan, rather than a full paid subscription offered indefinitely at no charge.

Our shortlist’s paid-plan links can earn commission. For the free option, use Proton’s direct free-plan page, or compare the limitations in our free VPN guide. An affiliate offer is not needed to access the permanent free plan.

Refund terms can change the apparent bargain

A money-back guarantee normally requires a payment and a refund request. Check the policy for the exact payment channel and set a reminder before the deadline. Cancelling renewal and requesting a refund may be separate actions.

Mullvad, for example, has a 14-day policy for eligible methods. Its refund documentation excludes cash and cryptocurrency refunds; App Store purchases and reseller vouchers use their respective seller’s process. That is a practical difference if payment flexibility is why you chose it.

PIA’s refund guide updated on 5 October 2026 describes a 30-day guarantee for website subscriptions. Apple App Store and Google Play billing use their own refund processes; gift cards and third-party deal-site purchases are non-refundable under that guide. Our PIA review explains the billing checks alongside the app tradeoffs.

Do not label every guarantee a “free trial.” Save the receipt, the offer, and the applicable terms. Where a provider or app store handles the billing, follow that seller’s cancellation route.

A final checkout checklist

• Plan identity: the VPN tier you intended to buy, with unwanted add-ons removed.
• Payment due today: the full amount, currency, and tax after entering your billing country.
• Time included: base months plus any bonus months actually shown in the order summary.
• Renewal: amount, billing period, auto-renewal status, and how to stop it.
• Device fit: supported apps, connection allowance, and any paid-only feature you need.
• Exit route: refund eligibility, deadline, and the seller that handles the request.

Keep the shortlist small. A lower price cannot compensate for a missing TV app or unsupported router. Use the provider comparison for the documented differences, then check the provider’s current checkout before buying.