What every major VPN actually costs in 2026.
VPN pricing is a maze of promos, tiers, and renewal jumps. This is the plain version: each provider’s month-to-month price next to its best long-term deal, the money-back window, and what it renews at — checked against the providers’ own pages.
Prices verified Jul 10, 2026
| VPN | Month-to-month | Best long-term offer | Money-back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Internet Access | Monthly plan: €11.69/mo | 3 years + 3 months from €1.29/mo | 30-day money-back guarantee for new subscribers |
| CyberGhost | Monthly plan: €11.99/mo | 2 years + 2 months from €1.59/mo | 45 days on longer plans · 14 days monthly |
| Surfshark | Monthly plan: $15.45/mo | Starter long-term offer from $1.99/mo | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| ExpressVPN | Basic monthly: $15.99/mo | Basic from $2.49/mo on a 2-year plan | 30-day money-back guarantee for new users |
| Proton VPN | VPN Plus monthly: $9.99/mo | VPN Plus long-term from $2.99/mo | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| NordVPN | Monthly Basic: €14.99/mo | 2-year Basic from €3.49/mo | 30-day money-back guarantee |
Figures are shown in the currency each provider displayed at verification and can vary by region, VAT, and live promotion. A “from” price is an introductory rate billed upfront for the full term — it renews higher afterwards (see the notes below). Read how we check these on the methodology page.
Price notes & renewals
Verified 2026-07-10 on PIA's EU pricing page: €11.69/mo on the 1-month plan, or €1.29/mo on the 3-years-plus-3-free-months plan (billed about €70 every three years). Amounts change by region, tax, and promotion; US pricing shows in USD.
Verified 2026-07-10. CyberGhost: €11.99/mo on the 1-month plan, or €1.59/mo on the 2-years-plus-2-free-months plan (26 months billed €41.34 up front). The refund window differs by term: 45 days on longer plans, 14 days on the monthly plan.
Verified 2026-07-10. Surfshark Starter: $15.45/mo on the 1-month plan, or about $1.99/mo on the 24-month plan (roughly $1.78/mo once the 3 bonus months are spread across the term). The long-term rate is an intro price that renews higher, and the official page may show your local currency.
Verified on ExpressVPN's pricing page (2026-07-10). Basic tier: $15.99/mo on the 1-month plan, or $2.49/mo on the 2-year plan (2 years + 4 months — billed $69.72 for the first 28 months, then autorenews at $99.95/year). The Advanced and Pro tiers cost more (Advanced 2-year $2.99/mo, Pro 2-year $5.49/mo). Device allowance rises by tier: Basic 10, Advanced 12, Pro 14.
Verified 2026-07-10. Proton VPN Plus: $9.99/mo month-to-month, or $2.99/mo on the 2-year plan (billed $71.76 up front). The 30-day money-back guarantee is prorated to unused time rather than a full refund. Prices vary by region.
Verified on NordVPN's EU pricing page (2026-07-10). Basic tier: €14.99/mo on the monthly plan, or €3.49/mo on the 2-year plan (billed €94.23 for the first 27 months — 2 years + 3 free months — then renews at €139.08/year). The Complete and Ultra tiers cost more, and prices vary by region and VAT.
Price is one factor — see the full picture.
The cheapest isn’t always the best fit. Weigh price against speed, reach, devices, and privacy on the shortlist and head-to-head comparisons.
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