The best cheap VPNs for cybersecurity and streaming

These VPNs cost less than your daily coffee.

By Joseph Green

Oct. 14, 2024

The best cheap VPNs for cybersecurity and streaming

Credit: Pexels

NordVPN

Best For Security

NordVPN prioritises your online security with a range of privacy-focused features.

Pros & Cons

CyberGhost VPN

Best For Server Network

CyberGhost offers a secure VPN, with unique features you won't find elsewhere.

Pros & Cons

Private Internet Access

Best For Server Network

Private Internet Access lets users connect to an absolutely massive network of servers.

Pros & Cons

PureVPN

Best For Beginners

PureVPN is a solid service that gives users both advanced and easy-to-use features.

Pros & Cons

Surfshark

Best For Unlimited Connections

Surfshark is a beginner-friendly VPN that offers a slick interface and an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.

Pros & Cons

Ivacy VPN

Best For App

This cheap provider is supported on basically every platform.

Pros & Cons

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

All those hours you've spent searching for the perfect reaction GIF or drooling over recipes on YouTube seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things — but to Google, hackers, your internet service provider (ISP), and even certain government agencies, that browsing history is a valuable commodity.

And guess what? They're probably tracking and logging every digital move you make. Like, right now. The best thing you can do to make sure your online activities are undetectable and untraceable is to invest in a VPN.

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a service that makes your web presence more difficult to track and trace, and if someone can't track or trace your web presence, they can't collect your personal data and do suspect things with it — like sell it to advertisers or use it to incriminate you in nefarious activities.

A VPN improves online privacy because the user's IP address is replaced with one from the VPN provider. Those subscribed to a VPN can obtain an IP address from any gateway location the VPN service provides. A VPN is like an encrypted tunnel through which all of your online traffic passes through. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware

Do you need to pay for VPNs?

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

A VPN keeps you anonymous online by masking your IP address and encrypting your traffic through its secure servers, and while it would be nice of providers to give away and maintain this technology for free, they have to make money somehow. So, if they're not charging you a monthly or annual fee to use their service, they're likely logging and selling your data in order to pay their bills. Some even have the audacity to seed their products with spyware. In the best-case scenario, that data will be used to generate eerily specific ads based on your browsing history. At worst, your privacy will be compromised.

What is the best cheap VPN?

We've found that many VPN providers are willing to offer their services for cheap so long as you commit to a long-term subscription. We have looked at everything on offer to line up a short selection of your best options, including popular providers like NordVPN and CyberGhost VPN.

We recommend taking your time and properly considering all the options in this list. There is something for everyone right here. You just need to weigh up each service against your own set of priorities, and pick a favourite.

These are the best cheap VPNs in 2024.

NordVPN

Best For Security

The good

Great for security Six simultaneous connections Strong network of servers

The Bad

Cannot purchase additional simultaneous connections

The Bottomline

NordVPN gets huge praise for ensuring you're secure when browsing the web.

Specs

Monthly: £10.39/month
One-year plan: £3.99/month
Two-year plan: £3.19/month

Read our full review of NordVPN.

NordVPN is one of the most reliable VPN services out there, NordVPN lays claim to over 5,200 servers in nearly 60 countries around the globe. It's also one of the best services for streaming and powerful security. NordVPN is one of the most comprehensive services on the market.

CyberGhost VPN

Best For Server Network

The good

Diverse geographical servers Excellent and unique features Strong privacy policy

The Bad

Not the fastest

The Bottomline

CyberGhost offers an incredibly secure VPN, with unique features you won't find in another VPN.

Specs

Monthly: £10.89/month
Six-month plan: £6.19/month
Two-year plan: £1.92/month

Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN.

CyberGhost VPN has over 6,200 servers worldwide, offers unlimited bandwidth, and features AES 256-bit encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, and an automatic kill switch (among other stellar security tools). It's also capable of unblocking streaming services like Disney+, Prime Video, Netflix, and more top sites.

Private Internet Access

Best For Server Network

The good

Number of servers Connection speeds 10 simultaneous connections

The Bad

Does not offer much beyond VPN protection

The Bottomline

This straightforward and powerful VPN keeps things simple.

Specs

Monthly: £10.99/month
Six-month plan: £5.39/month
Two-year plan: £1.69/month

Private Internet Access keeps things simple with powerful encryption, strong connection speeds, and a massive server network. Basically, it covers all of the essentials.

Users don't get much beyond VPN protection, but what more do you need? If you're looking for a straightforward service that delivers where it counts, Private Internet Access should be something to seriously consider.

You also get 10 simultaneous connections with Private Internet Access, meaning it's a great option for large households.

PureVPN

Best For Beginners

The good

Ad blocking Easy-to-use interface Seven-day free trial

The Bad

Cannot purchase additional simultaneous connections

The Bottomline

PureVPN is a solid VPN that offers users both advanced and easy-to-use features.

Specs

Monthly: £8.37/month
One-year plan: £2.86/month
Two-year plan: £1.75/month

Read our full review of PureVPN.

PureVPN users get apps for every operating system, enterprise-grade security, 10-multi logins, and access to over 6,000 secure servers in 140 countries. PureVPN also has a strong record for good customer support.

Surfshark

Best For Unlimited Connections

The good

Strict no-logging policy Unlimited number of connections Slick interface

The Bad

Best rates are only available if you're willing to commit

The Bottomline

Beginner-friendly VPN with an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.

Specs

Monthly: £9.90/month
One-year plan: £3.05/month
Two-year plan: £1.76/month

Surfshark users get an unlimited number of connections, uncompromised security and privacy, around the clock customer service, and enterprise-grade infrastructure. Surfshark also has a strict no-logging policy, meaning all of your data is protected from prying eyes.

Ivacy VPN

Best For App

The good

Supports torrenting App available for lots of platforms 24/7 support Unlimited bandwidth Supports simultaneous connections on up to five devices Split tunnelling

The Bad

Only supports one form of cryptocurrency payments On the slow side

The Bottomline

Such a great service for so little money. What's the catch?

Specs

Five-year plan: £0.80/month
Monthly: £8.22/month
One-year plan: £2.91/month

If you had no clue what VPN stood for prior to clicking on this post, Ivacy VPN is the provider for you.

Its app is extremely easy to navigate thanks to its Smart Purpose Selection feature, which chooses the right server for you based on your VPN needs (secure download, streaming, or unblocking). Better yet, it's supported on basically every platform you can think of — even Kodi, Raspberry Pi, Xbox, Playstation, Roku, and Blackberry — and maintains a sizable network of more than 1,000 servers in over 100 locations.

If you're still floating the idea of a VPN, Ivacy's price tag might be the thing that wins you over. Yet despite its low price, it doesn't skimp on security features like 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection.