Best Cheap VPN in 2027

What separates the cheap VPNs on this page?

Price is the easy part. All four sit between $2.03 and $3.39 a month on their long-term plans, so the real split is what you give up to get there. NordVPN scores 9.2 and keeps 91% of download speed to US-East on NordLynx, with 10 of 10 streaming services unblocked on all three days. Surfshark scores 9.0 at $2.19 a month on the 2-year plan, the cheapest here, and runs unlimited simultaneous connections. CyberGhost scores 8.4 at $2.19 with labelled streaming and gaming servers and the lowest ping to US game servers in our test. Private Internet Access scores 8.3 at $2.03 a month on the 3-year plan, also unlimited devices, with open-source apps on every platform.

Scoring weights explain the order: Privacy 30, Speed 25, Streaming 15, Apps & devices 15, Value 15. A cheap plan that fails streaming or caps devices loses points fast.

What should you check before buying a cheap VPN?

Start with the renewal price, not the intro rate. NordVPN's renewal after the 2-year term is much higher than the intro rate. Surfshark's monthly plan is the most expensive in the ranking at $15.45, so the low price only holds on the 2-year term.

Then check the device limit against your household. NordVPN allows ten devices. CyberGhost allows seven. Surfshark and Private Internet Access allow unlimited devices.

Jurisdiction matters if privacy is your reason for buying. NordVPN is in Panama with five independent no-logs audits. Surfshark is in the Netherlands, inside 14-Eyes intelligence sharing. Private Internet Access is a US company, and its no-logs claim has been tested in US court cases and by two Deloitte audits.

Finally, match the server list to what you actually watch. Private Internet Access unblocked 8 of 10 streaming services; Netflix UK and BBC iPlayer failed. Surfshark unblocked 9 of 10. CyberGhost was slower to Japan than the top three.

Which cheap VPN is right for you?

• NordVPN — fastest in our tests and the strongest streaming record, for people who want speed and unblocking over the lowest price.
• Surfshark — unlimited devices at $2.19 a month on the 2-year plan, for households with many phones, laptops and tablets.
• CyberGhost — labelled streaming and gaming servers plus a 45-day money-back guarantee, for gamers and anyone who wants a longer refund window.
• Private Internet Access — $2.03 a month on the 3-year plan, unlimited devices and open-source apps, for tinkerers who accept a US jurisdiction.

NordVPN suits buyers who want the fastest speeds and the best streaming record here. Surfshark suits households that need unlimited devices at $2.19 a month on the 2-year plan. CyberGhost suits gamers and anyone who wants a 45-day money-back guarantee, while Private Internet Access suits tinkerers who want open-source apps and $2.03 a month on the 3-year plan.