VPN prices vary wildly. A 12-month plan that costs $20/month can drop to $3/month on sale — and right now, the best VPNs are running heavy discounts. NordVPN is under $3/month, Surfshark hits 70% off, and even premium players like ExpressVPN are cutting prices.

This guide covers the current deals (updated May 2026) on every major VPN provider, what each one does best, and how to pick based on your priorities: speed, privacy, price, or geo-unblocking.

Best VPN Deals Right Now (May 2026)

NordVPN

$2.99/mo
Save 70% | 2-Year Plan

NordVPN is running aggressive Black Friday-style pricing: 2-year plan at $2.99/month ($71.76 total), roughly $3.60/month on a 1-year plan. Includes 30-day money-back guarantee.

The deal breakdown:

  • 2-Year Plan: $71.76 total ($2.99/mo)
  • 1-Year Plan: $43.20 total ($3.60/mo)
  • Monthly Plan: $9.99 (not on sale)
  • Server Count: 6,000+ servers across 111 countries

Pros

  • Best value deal right now
  • 6,000+ fast servers
  • Strong encryption & no-logs policy
  • Works with Netflix, Disney+
  • 30-day refund guarantee

Cons

  • Can't use torrent VPN unblock with pay-per-use
  • App UI a bit cluttered
  • Speed varies by region
Get NordVPN Deal

Surfshark

$2.19/mo
Save 72% | 3-Year Plan

Surfshark matches NordVPN's aggression with an even deeper 3-year discount: $2.19/month. Unlimited simultaneous connections (vs 6 on NordVPN). Includes 30-day money-back guarantee.

Plan pricing:

  • 3-Year Plan: $78.84 total ($2.19/mo)
  • 2-Year Plan: $59.88 total ($2.49/mo)
  • 1-Year Plan: $47.88 total ($3.99/mo)
  • Server Count: 3,200+ servers across 100 countries

Pros

  • Lowest price per month
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Strong obfuscation (Shadowsocks)
  • Works with streaming services
  • CleanWeb ad blocker included

Cons

  • Fewer servers than NordVPN
  • Smaller company, less proven
  • Speed inconsistent
Get Surfshark Deal

ExpressVPN

$4.99/mo
Save 49% | 1-Year + 3 Months Free

ExpressVPN is pricier but fastest. Current deal: 1-year plan + 3 months free ($4.99/month effective). Premium speeds justify higher cost for serious users who need streaming or bandwidth.

Plan pricing:

  • 1-Year + 3 Months Free: $59.88 total ($4.99/mo effective)
  • 6-Month Plan: $29.88 total ($4.98/mo)
  • Monthly Plan: $12.95 (not on sale)
  • Server Count: 3,000+ servers across 94 countries

Pros

  • Fastest VPN available
  • Best for streaming
  • Military-grade encryption
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 45-day refund guarantee

Cons

  • Highest price tier
  • Audits show some logs kept
  • Less customizable than others
Get ExpressVPN Deal

CyberGhost

$2.75/mo
Save 79% | 3-Year Plan

CyberGhost offers solid value: 3-year plan at $2.75/month ($99 total). Dedicated streaming & torrent servers make it easy to find optimized connections without configuration. 45-day refund policy.

Plan pricing:

  • 3-Year Plan: $99 total ($2.75/mo)
  • 1-Year Plan: $47.88 total ($3.99/mo)
  • Server Count: 11,500+ servers (largest network)

Pros

  • Largest server network
  • Dedicated streaming servers
  • No-logs audited
  • 45-day refund
  • Works with torrent

Cons

  • Slower than ExpressVPN
  • Less privacy-focused marketing
  • Basic support
Get CyberGhost Deal

Private Internet Access (PIA)

$1.99/mo
Save 82% | 3-Year Plan

PIA is the budget option: 3-year plan at $1.99/month ($71.88 total). Bare-bones design, open-source code (audited), no bloat. Best for privacy purists who don't need hand-holding. 30-day refund.

Plan pricing:

  • 3-Year Plan: $71.88 total ($1.99/mo)
  • 1-Year Plan: $39.95 total ($3.33/mo)
  • Server Count: 10,000+ servers

Pros

  • Lowest price overall
  • Fully open-source & audited
  • Huge server network
  • Pro torrent support
  • Port forwarding included

Cons

  • Slowest of the bunch
  • Minimal UI/UX polish
  • Limited streaming support
Get PIA Deal

Proton VPN

Free
Or $4.99/mo Premium

Proton VPN offers a genuinely unlimited free tier (no data cap, no ads, no limits). Premium at $4.99/month adds faster servers, more countries, and better streaming support. From the makers of ProtonMail.

Plan pricing:

  • Free Plan: $0/month (3 countries, 1 device, unlimited data)
  • Premium: $4.99/month ($59.88/year)
  • Server Count: 6,600+ servers across 90 countries (premium only)

Pros

  • Unlimited free tier
  • No-logs audited
  • Swiss jurisdiction
  • Good for privacy
  • Integrates with ProtonMail

Cons

  • Free tier limited to 3 countries
  • Slower than paid VPNs
  • Premium pricing on par with NordVPN
Try Proton VPN Free

VPN Comparison Table

VPN Price/Month Speed Servers Refund
NordVPN $2.99 Fast 6,000+ 30 days
Surfshark $2.19 Good 3,200+ 30 days
ExpressVPN $4.99 Fastest 3,000+ 45 days
CyberGhost $2.75 Good 11,500+ 45 days
PIA $1.99 Fair 10,000+ 30 days
Proton VPN Free Fair Limited N/A

How to Pick the Right VPN

Best Overall Deal: NordVPN ($2.99/mo)

If you want speed, reliability, and a great price, NordVPN wins right now. The 2-year deal brings the cost under $3/month, and it works with Netflix and other streaming services. Not as cheap as Surfshark, but faster and more proven.

Cheapest Option: Surfshark ($2.19/mo)

Surfshark edges out the price competition, especially if you commit to 3 years. Unlimited simultaneous connections means you can protect your whole household on one subscription. Speed is adequate but not exceptional.

Speed Priority: ExpressVPN ($4.99/mo)

ExpressVPN is 30-50% faster than the budget options. If you're streaming 4K, playing online games, or transferring large files, the speed difference justifies the extra $2-3/month. Fastest guaranteed.

Budget & Privacy: PIA ($1.99/mo)

Private Internet Access is fully open-source and audited. If privacy is your only concern and speed doesn't matter, PIA is unbeatable at $1.99/month. Serious torrenters use this.

Free Option: Proton VPN

The unlimited free tier (no cap on data, devices, or time) is rare. Proton VPN's free version works for light use — checking email on public WiFi, hiding your IP on local networks. Limited to 3 countries, but it's genuinely free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which VPN should I get right now?

Start with NordVPN at $2.99/mo if you want a safe choice. It's cheap, fast, and well-reviewed. If you want to save more, Surfshark at $2.19/mo is fine. For streaming, ExpressVPN. For privacy zealots, PIA.

Are these deals scams?

No — these are promotional prices from the official VPN websites. VPN companies use deep discounts to acquire customers because the churn is high (people sign up, try it, cancel). It's a legitimate marketing tactic. All deals come with 30-45 day refunds.

Do I need a VPN?

Depends on your use case. VPNs protect you on public WiFi (airports, coffee shops) and hide your IP from websites. They don't make you anonymous or fully private online. They also don't protect against malware, phishing, or leaking your real identity if you give it. Essential if you travel or use public networks often. Optional for home use.

Will a VPN slow my internet?

Yes, slightly. Encryption and routing adds a tiny overhead. Good VPNs minimize this — ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol is fast, for example. Budget VPNs are slower. Modern internet speeds usually absorb VPN overhead unless you're doing heavy transfers or streaming 4K.

Can I watch Netflix with a VPN?

Not reliably. Netflix actively blocks known VPN servers. Some VPNs claim to work (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark) but Netflix detects and blocks them periodically. Using a VPN to unblock other regions violates Netflix's terms. Use a VPN at your own risk for streaming.

What's the difference between free and paid VPNs?

Paid VPNs have more servers, faster speeds, and better security audits. Free VPNs (Proton, others) rely on premium features to convert you later or sell your data. Proton VPN is the exception — genuinely free and privacy-respecting. Never use suspicious free VPNs.

Should I use a VPN for torrenting?

If you're torrenting legal content, it's low-risk. A VPN hides your IP from peers, which is useful if your ISP throttles torrents. For piracy, a VPN adds a layer but doesn't make you invisible — your provider can still see traffic patterns. PIA, NordVPN, and CyberGhost explicitly allow torrent traffic.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. All VPNs listed here have money-back guarantees (30-45 days). After that period, canceling a multi-year plan means you lose the discounted rate, but you can cancel without penalties. Annual plans refund pro-rata.
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Bottom Line

The VPN market is hypercompetitive right now, which means deep discounts. NordVPN at $2.99/month is the sweet spot for most people — cheap enough, fast enough, trusted enough. If you want to save more, grab Surfshark. If you need speed, pick ExpressVPN. And if you just want to try a VPN, start with Proton VPN's free tier.

All of these deals have refund guarantees. Sign up, test it for a week, and cancel if it doesn't work for you. That's how you find the right fit.