Our ranking
Surfshark 💰 Best value
✅ Unlimited simultaneous connections · Best value for money on the market
CyberGhost 🎬 Streaming king
✅ Largest server network (11,500+) · Servers optimised for Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video
Private Internet Access
✅ 100% open-source apps · Over 35,000 servers
NordVPN 🏆 #1 pick
✅ Fastest VPN thanks to the NordLynx protocol · No-log policy audited three times
| VPN | Rating | Price/mo | Servers | Devices | Refund | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | 9.2/10 | 2,19 €/mo | 3 200+ | Unlimited | 30 d. | See |
| CyberGhost | 9.1/10 | 2,03 €/mo | 11 500+ | 7 devices | 45 d. | See |
| Private Internet Access | 8.5/10 | 1,89 €/mo | 35 000+ | Unlimited | 30 d. | See |
| NordVPN | 9.6/10 | 3,09 €/mo | 9 200+ | 10 devices | 30 d. | See |
Can you really find a good cheap VPN?
Yes, but under two conditions:
- Take a long-term plan (2 or 3 years). That’s where the real discounts are (60-80% vs monthly).
- Avoid “€1/month VPNs” that aren’t in our shortlist. These services are either misleading (price jumps on renewal) or low quality.
The 4 VPNs below are all serious, audited and reliable and cost less than €3/month on a long-term plan. For €24-€36 a year of protection, there is no reason to pick a dubious free service.
Our cheap VPN ranking 2026
1. Surfshark — Best value for money
Price: €2.19/month (2-year plan + 3 months free) · Score: 9.2/10
Surfshark is our number one pick in this category. For less than the price of a coffee, you get:
- Unlimited connections — cover the whole household at no extra cost
- 3,200+ servers across 100 countries
- CleanWeb: built-in ad and tracker blocker
- Unblocks Netflix US/UK/JP/FR, Disney+, BBC iPlayer
- No-logs audited by Deloitte
- Netherlands jurisdiction (outside 5 Eyes but inside 9 Eyes)
- Clean apps on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, TV
The feature-to-price ratio is simply unbeatable. At €2.19/month you get near-NordVPN-level quality for 30% less.
2. CyberGhost — The simplest and most generous
Price: €2.03/month (2-year plan + 4 months free) · Score: 9.1/10
CyberGhost is the VPN best suited to beginners in this price range:
- 11,500+ servers (the largest network)
- Servers labelled by platform (Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+…)
- 45-day money-back guarantee (the longest on the market)
- Romanian jurisdiction (outside 14 Eyes)
- 7 simultaneous connections
- Ultra-simple apps, a country list, an ON/OFF button
Ideal for a non-technical household that just wants “a VPN that works with Netflix”. The 45-day guarantee gives you plenty of time to test.
3. Private Internet Access — Rock-bottom price
Price: €1.89/month (3-year plan + 4 months free) · Score: 8.5/10
Private Internet Access (PIA) is the cheapest in our shortlist, below the €2/month mark. It’s a genuinely good VPN:
- 35,000+ servers (absurdly large)
- Unlimited connections
- 100% open-source apps
- No-logs proven in court on several occasions
- Good for torrenting and P2P
Two points to watch: the US jurisdiction (5 Eyes — the FBI can theoretically request data, though PIA has always proven it has none), and a more technical interface than CyberGhost or Surfshark (great for power users, less so for beginners).
4. NordVPN — A small extra that makes all the difference
Price: €3.09/month (2-year plan) · Score: 9.6/10
At €3/month, NordVPN strictly speaking isn’t in the “cheap VPN” category, but we include it because for less than €1 more than Surfshark, you get:
- The fastest VPN on the market (NordLynx)
- Triple no-logs audit by PwC
- Panama jurisdiction (outside all alliances)
- Threat Protection Pro (anti-malware, anti-ads)
- The best streaming unblocking
If your budget is really tight, Surfshark or CyberGhost are plenty. But if you can spare €1 more, NordVPN is a notch above on speed and versatility.
Comparison table
| VPN | Price/month | Commitment | Connections | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIA | €1.89 | 3 years | Unlimited | 8.5/10 |
| CyberGhost | €2.03 | 2 years | 7 | 9.1/10 |
| Surfshark | €2.19 | 2 years | Unlimited | 9.2/10 |
| NordVPN | €3.09 | 2 years | 10 | 9.6/10 |
Cheap-VPN pitfalls to avoid
The promo rate that doubles on renewal
This is the most common trick. A VPN sells you a 2-year subscription at €1.99/month. At the end, it auto-renews at €9.99/month (or more). You don’t notice, your card gets charged.
What to do: check the renewal price in the terms of service BEFORE subscribing, and disable auto-renewal 1 month before expiry.
”Free” VPNs that resell your data
According to a study (CSIRO, 2016), 75% of free VPNs contained at least one third-party tracker, and 38% contained malware. You seek privacy, you get the opposite.
The only reliable exceptions: Proton VPN Free and Windscribe Free (to a lesser extent).
Unknown VPNs at knockdown prices
If you’ve never heard of a VPN, if its audits aren’t public, if its head office is murky, run. A VPN without an independent no-logs audit in 2026 doesn’t deserve your trust.
Our final recommendation
- Best value for money → Surfshark (€2.19/month, unlimited connections)
- Easiest to use → CyberGhost (€2.03/month, 45-day refund)
- Cheapest → PIA (€1.89/month, note the US jurisdiction)
- A notch above for €1 more → NordVPN (€3.09/month)
All of these services offer 30-45 days of money-back guarantee. Test for a month, decide afterwards — that’s the best way to buy a VPN with no risk.