The most cost-effective way to buy a VPN depends on your needs. The plan that appears to offer the “best deal” on the pricing page might actually be the wrong choice for a short-term user. So, figure out how you’ll actually use the VPN first, then calculate how much you’ll end up paying based on four factors. Keep reading, and this guide will teach you how to do that.

VPN Cost: Why The Monthly Rate Is Not What You Pay

Most VPNs offer monthly, annual, and two-year or longer plans, but only the monthly plan usually charges you the amount shown as the monthly rate.

For example, suppose a VPN is priced as follows:

When you look at it this way, only the single-month plan’s actual price matches the price displayed on the page. For the other two plans, you need to multiply the monthly price shown on the page by the number of months in the plan and pay the total upfront. The displayed monthly price is simply the total price divided by the number of months.

The advertised monthly rate is therefore the wrong number to compare. Four decisions determine the total you actually hand over. From biggest to smallest impact on your total cost, they are: subscription length, when you buy, where you buy, and how you pay

How Subscription Length Affects VPN Cost

Before making a purchase, first determine whether you’re a short-term or long-term user. This decision will have a greater impact on how much you actually pay than the other three factors combined.

If You Need A VPN Long Term

Long-term subscription discounts are usually the biggest discounts VPN providers offer, and they generally save you a significant amount of money compared to a monthly subscription. If you check the pricing pages of different VPN providers, you’ll notice that the longer the subscription term, the higher the percentage savings.

Let’s use the VPN pricing example from above again:

If you were to pay month by month (though almost no one does this) for 12 consecutive months, the total VPN cost would be $12.99 × 12 = $155.88. 

However, if you purchase a one-year plan right from the start, it would only cost $59.88. By doing this, you’ll receive exactly the same VPN service over the course of the year. The extra money you pay is essentially just for the flexibility to change your mind every month.

If You Need A VPN For A Few Months

If you just need to stay in another country for a few months and require a VPN during that time, you might find that paying monthly is more cost-effective. For example, if you need a VPN for three months:

If you pay monthly, the total VPN cost would be $38.97, whereas the annual plan costs $59.88. Although the average monthly price of the annual plan is only about one-third of the monthly rate, for someone who only needs it for three months, the total amount you pay is nearly double. And you won’t need the VPN for those extra months at all.

This happens because people tend to compare monthly prices. In reality, what you should be comparing is the total amount you’ll pay ÷ the number of months you’ll actually use the VPN.

You can find the first number on the checkout page. Only you know the second. Using this formula, you can calculate your actual average monthly cost.

How To Pay Less By Buying At The Right Time

Seasonal Sales Usually Offer the Lowest Prices

Black Friday, Christmas, Easter, and Cyber Monday often feature some of the biggest VPN discounts of the year, and many VPN providers also run promotions during Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October. So, when signing up for a VPN, it’s worth checking to see if any major sales are coming up soon. If you don’t need it right away or plan to subscribe for a longer period, you can wait for one of these seasonal sales before buying.

Student And Other Special Discounts

Some VPNs offer special discounts based on your status, such as:

• Student discounts
• Military discounts
• Journalist discounts

You can verify your eligibility through discount platforms like Student Beans, then apply the discount to your subscription.

Stacking Subscriptions Can Be Cheaper Than Renewing

Some VPNs allow you to purchase a new subscription period and have the new subscription begin after your current plan expires. This lets you take advantage of promotions to “stock up” on your next subscription period, without having to pay the regular renewal price.

However, before using this method, you should first check with the VPN provider’s customer support to confirm whether the new plan will be added to the end of your current plan or will replace your current subscription.

Subscribe On The Website, Not In The App

It’s easy to overlook this price difference because when you purchase a VPN subscription through an in-app purchase, the app store takes a commission first, and the VPN provider only receives the remaining revenue. As a result, some VPN providers charge more for subscriptions purchased in the app than on their official websites.

Take X-VPN’s official website and in-app subscription prices as an example:

For the same 12-month subscription period, the in-app price is 50% higher than the price on the official website. Also, the 24-month plan, which offers the lowest monthly rate, is not available for purchase within the app at all. The same can apply during promotional periods, depending on where the discount is offered.

Where You Buy Also Determines Who Handles Your Refund

Another point to note is that subscriptions purchased in-app are essentially transactions between you and Apple or Google, rather than directly with the VPN service provider. Therefore, you generally need to request a refund directly from the app store. The VPN provider usually can’t process an app-store refund on your behalf.

How Payment Methods Affect VPN Cost

For most users, the payment method makes less difference to the total VPN cost than the subscription plan itself, so you can choose whichever option is most convenient and reliable for you.

The key to saving money isn’t which payment method you choose, but how you use it. Below, we’ll break it down by payment method:

If You Pay By PayPal

Where available, PayPal’s “Pay in 4” feature allows you to split a payment into four interest-free installments, which lets you avoid paying the full cost of a long-term VPN subscription upfront.

If You Pay In Cryptocurrency

VPN providers generally don’t offer lower subscription prices just because you pay with cryptocurrency, so the real difference in cost here comes from transaction fees.

If the checkout page allows you to select both the currency and the network at the same time, transaction fees for the same subscription can vary significantly depending on the network, so it’s a good idea to check this before making your selection.

Can You Avoid VPN Costs Altogether?

Before comparing plan prices, here’s the ultimate money-saving tip: first figure out whether you need a paid plan at all. If you only need protection occasionally while using public Wi-Fi, the free plan might be all you need, and it won’t cost you a thing.

Take X-VPN as an example: it offers three options:

Which option is best for you depends on whether you’re a short-term or long-term user.

Short-term users

The free version and free trial don’t cost anything, so they may be sufficient for people who only need to use a VPN temporarily.

Long-term users

The money-back guarantee gives you more time to decide whether a long-term subscription is right for you.

Related Reading

Why X-VPN Offers a Free Plan: Our Honest Answer

For us, offering a free VPN service is not a compromise. It’s based on three core beliefs we’ve had since day one.

Summary: The cheapest way to buy a VPN

If you only need to use it for a few weeks rather than several years

1. Try the free version first to see if it meets your needs before deciding whether to pay for it.
2. If it’s not enough, start with the free trial. Don’t rush to pay.
3. If you still need more features, choose a monthly plan instead of a long-term plan with so-called “huge discounts.”
4. Make a note of the renewal date on the day of purchase. If you need the VPN for less than a month, be sure to cancel at least 24 hours in advance.

If you plan to use the VPN long-term

1. It’s best to purchase directly from the VPN’s official website.
2. Choose the longest subscription period you’re certain you’ll use, and compare the total price you’ll pay, not the average monthly price advertised.
3. To avoid renewal issues: either opt out of auto-renewal or set a calendar reminder before your subscription expires.
4. If the timing is right, purchase during seasonal sales and check if you qualify for discounts based on your status (e.g., student).
5. On the final payment page, check for taxes, currency conversions, and any add-on services you didn’t actively select.

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