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Best Cheap VPN for March 2023

Protect your privacy on a budget with these cheap VPNs.

If you’re feeling the pinch of inflation and strapped for cash right now, the idea of using a free VPN might sound alluring. But some things — like your online privacy and security — are non-negotiable. Free VPNs are typically less safe, which is why we recommend you avoid using the vast majority of them (however, we do recommend sampling premium services for free). Fortunately, it’s possible to get a high-quality VPN for desktop and mobile that’s affordable. We’ve rounded up our recommendations for the best cheap VPN services that don’t compromise on features or speed. 

A number of cheap VPN services offer a speedy connection, strong security and a wide array of privacy features — all for less than half the cost of a premium VPN service. You can even hook up your phone or tablet for secure browsing on your mobile device. Each of these cheap VPN services offers monthly pricing options, or if you prefer, you can pay in one lump sum for an entire year.We’ve spent countless hours testing these cheap VPN providers and have compiled a list of great budget-friendly choices.   

Since the VPN market is constantly evolving and VPN services change rapidly, we advise against signing up for a subscription that lasts two years or longer. Instead, we recommend sticking with the plans that are cheapest based on their one-year or one-month rates and have the best money-back guarantees.While a lot of VPN providers offer better month-to-dollar value when you go for these long-term plans, you should avoid those kinds of lengthy VPN commitments. Check out our list of the best cheap VPN services of 2023.

Watch this: Top 5 Reasons to Use a VPN

Surfshark

  • Latest tests: Zero data leaks, 19% internet speed loss in fall 2022 tests
  • Network: 3,200-plus in 99 countries
  • Jurisdiction: Netherlands
  • Price: Unlimited connections for $48 for the first year (then $60 annually) or $13 per month. 2-year subscriptions available.

Surfshark earned CNET’s Editors’ Choice Best Value VPN in 2022. It offers solid privacy and security features, a polished interface, unlimited simultaneous connections, fast speeds and an impressive global network of VPN servers at a price that’s considerably lower than many of its top competitors.

For $60 annually — following an introductory $48 for the first year — Surfshark offers ad and malware protection, camouflage mode, split tunneling and multihop connections along with industry-standard features like DNS leak protection, AES 256-bit encryption and a kill switch. Surfshark’s apps have been independently audited by cybersecurity professionals and the provider says it doesn’t keep any logs of its users’ online activity. The company is also working on rolling out what it calls its ‘Nexus Network’ which promises to enhance user privacy even further with features like Dynamic MultiHop, IP Randomizer and IP Rotator. 

Surfshark is a cost-effective option for people who want added layers of security and a variety of ways to bolster their online privacy with their VPN. And if Surfshark’s Nexus Network proves as effective as promised, the VPN could be an excellent choice for users with critical privacy needs.       

Surfshark also works well for users simply looking to unblock geographically restricted content around the world. With servers spanning 99 different countries, the company has a network that is fast enough to handle data-heavy activities like streaming video in HD. Surfshark can help you unblock multiple Netflix libraries and other streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max. We had a little bit of trouble accessing Disney Plus, but after some trial and error on a few servers, we were able to access the streaming platform.

You can get a seven-day free trial on Android, iOS and MacOS if you sign up through Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store. But if you’ve purchased Surfshark and you’re not satisfied with the service for any reason, the VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our Surfshark VPN review.

 

Surfshark VPN
  • Best value VPN in 2022
  • Lots of unique security features
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • RAM-only server network

82% off with 24-mo plan (+2 free months)

Proton VPN

  • Latest tests: No leaks detected, 17% speed loss in fall 2022 tests
  • Network: 1,859 servers in 67 countries
  • Jurisdiction: Switzerland
  • Price: $72 for the yearly plan or $10 per month

Proton VPN is a VPN product developed by the Swiss-based company behind the popular secure email service Proton Mail. The VPN has built a reputation for top-notch security and maximum transparency. Proton VPN’s apps fully open-source, and the software is also regularly audited to help affirm the security of the VPN for users without the time or know-how to inspect the code. 

On top of security features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection, Proton VPN offers extras like a malware protection, Tor over VPN and a stealth protocol to help hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. And if you connect to Proton VPN’s Secure Core servers, you’ll be able to route your traffic through secure data centers located in Switzerland, Sweden or Iceland before exiting through another location. This provides a critical extra layer of security if you’re a user with heightened privacy needs.

Proton VPN is currently the third-fastest VPN we’ve tested, and does well to unblock content from various streaming providers, including Netflix.

And while it’s not the cheapest in this list, Proton VPN is cheaper than IPVanish in the long run if you decide to stick with the provider for more than a year. For $72 per year or $10 per month, Proton VPN offers 10 simultaneous connections and 1,800-plus servers in 67 countries. You can get a full refund within 30 days of purchase if you’re not satisfied. 

Proton VPN also makes our list of best cheap VPNs thanks to its impressive free tier. Proton’s free VPN doesn’t include torrenting support or access to its Secure Core servers, but it doesn’t limit speed, data or usage time. Free users are allotted one connection at a time and access to about 100 servers in three countries (US, NL, JP). 

Read our ProtonVPN review.

 

ProtonVPN
  • Highly transparent
  • Open-source
  • Secure
  • Unlimited free plan

50% off with 24-mo plan

IPVanish

  • Latest tests: No leaks, 58% speed loss in spring 2022 tests
  • Network: 2,000-plus servers in 75 locations across 52 countries
  • Jurisdiction: United States
  • Price: Unlimited connections for $12 per month, $30 quarterly or $48 for a year ($90 annually after the first year)

It’s not the fastest VPN on the planet, but IPVanish is an excellent VPN for casual users that offers plenty of speed for activities like streaming and video conferencing. However, in our tests, we did experience issues with the Quick Connect feature, which didn’t always connect us to the fastest server available. If you’re looking for the fastest server, we recommend connecting manually based on the current server load readings displayed in the Locations section of the IPVanish app.  

IPVanish’s introductory annual rate matches Surfshark’s $48 for the first year, but jumps to $90 after that. Unlike most other VPN providers, IPVanish also offers a quarterly subscription plan at $30 every three months. The provider’s 30-day money-back guarantee only applies if you purchase a yearly plan, though, so you would be out of luck if you purchase a monthly or quarterly subscription and decide the service isn’t right for you. Other providers have more lenient free trial offers.

IPVanish joins Surfshark as one of the only VPN providers that offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so it’s a good option if you have a large family or a lot of devices you want to secure at once with a single VPN account. The VPN kill switch worked well during our tests and the newly redesigned apps were a breeze to use. With IPVanish, you’ll get access to more than 2,000 servers in over 75 locations as well as 24/7 support via live chat, email or phone.   

Read our IPVanish review.

 

IPVanish
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Simple, user-friendly interface
  • Competitive speeds
  • 24/7 customer support with live chat and phone support

66% off with 12-mo plan

Mullvad

  • Latest tests: No leaks, 23% speed loss in spring 2022 tests
  • Network: 893 servers in 39 countries
  • Jurisdiction: Sweden
  • Price: $5 per month

Along with Proton VPN, Mullvad is another open-source VPN provider that offers its services at a competitive rate. Mullvad’s simple pricing structure is vastly different than most others. The service costs $5 per month, whether you use it for a month, a year, 10 years or longer. Mullvad doesn’t offer any sales or discounts of any sort at any time of the year — just a flat $5 fee for however many months you want to use it. That comes out to $60 for a year, which matches Surfshark for the cheapest annual price in this list when not taking introductory prices into consideration. 

And because Mullvad says it strives to know as little about its customers as possible, it has completely done away with recurring subscriptions so it cannot hang onto payment data longer than absolutely necessary. You can even mail Mullvad an envelope with cash to pay for the service. Mullvad automatically generates a random 16-digit account number when you sign up and you can prepay for one, two, three, six or 12 months at a time. The company is so focused on security and privacy that you don’t have to enter any personal data whatsoever at signup — no email or username required. 

DNS leak protection and the kill switch are enabled by default and cannot be disabled. Other security features include split tunneling (but only on Windows, Linux and Android devices), ad and tracker blocking and multi-hop connections. Mullvad also offers a Shadowsocks proxy to help users bypass firewalls and evade internet censorship.

On top of being secure, Mullvad is fast, dropping only 23% of our regular internet speed in our latest tests. However, it isn’t optimized for streaming geo-restricted content internationally. We were able to access Netflix, but not Disney Plus when connected to Mullvad servers during our tests. 

The apps are polished and user-friendly, though, so beginners and casual users shouldn’t have any issues using the service even if it is geared a bit more toward the techie crowd. Mullvad is a well-established VPN provider that’s been around since 2009, well before any other VPN that made this list. It’s an excellent option for budget-conscious VPN users who value extra attention to privacy and appreciate simplicity and straightforwardness. Read our Mullvad VPN review.    

For more, check out how to choose the right VPN provider for working from home, red flags to watch out for when choosing a VPN service, and seven Android VPN apps to avoid on your mobile device because of their privacy sins.

More VPN recommendations

Technologies

Iranian President Pezeshkian to head to New York for UN meeting as Trump warns of no-deal consequences

Trump threatened to destroy Iran’s economy or eliminate its leadership if Tehran doesn’t strike a deal, complicating efforts at diplomacy.

President Masoud Pezeshkian will lead an Iranian delegation at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, amid renewed hopes for a diplomatic solution to the Middle East conflict.

Pezeshkian will address the assembly and present Iran’s positions on “international developments,” according to the country’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, with a particular focus on its war with the U.S. and Israel.

He will also hold talks with the leaders of several countries on the sidelines of the event, which is scheduled to take place Sept. 22 to 26, and 28.

The Iranian delegation’s attendance at the UN has renewed hopes for a diplomatic solution to the war, lifting market sentiment on Monday, with stocks rising, oil prices easing and global bond yields falling sharply.

But U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he would be open to meeting Pezeshkian during the assembly, has threatened to destroy Iran’s economy or eliminate its leadership if Tehran doesn’t strike a deal.

Trump told Fox News on Sunday that the only options on the table were “wiping Iran out,” or letting its economy “rot,” unless both sides reach a deal.

Separately, Iran’s military said that its intelligence suggested a new, large-scale strike being prepared by the U.S. and its allies, warning of “painful” retaliation across the Middle East. Regional countries backing such a strike would be treated as parties to the conflict, it said.

“If the U.S. makes any mistake against the Islamic Republic of Iran, all its positions and interests in the region will be targeted by sustained, effective and painful attacks,” the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters of Iran said, according to Tasnim.

Houthi-Saudi conflict complicates diplomacy hopes

The U.S. State Department this weekend issued a security alert citing risks of unforeseen escalation in the Middle East, telling Americans to exercise more vigilance and be aware of possible flight cancellations and airspace closures.

The warnings came after Iran-backed Houthi militants claimed missile and drone attacks on Riyadh on Saturday, triggering the first air-raid alert in the Saudi capital since fighting escalated in July.

Saudi authorities said they intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile and reported no casualties or damage. The Houthis also attempted to target civilians and infrastructure in several parts of the kingdom, Saudi-led coalition forces spokesperson Major-General Turki al-Maliki said on X on Saturday, though those attacks were thwarted by the country’s air defenses.

Oil prices have pulled back in recent days despite widening hostilities, as traders hope for a recovery in energy shipments from oil-rich Saudi Arabia.

Oil prices will remain high despite U.S. progress in moving oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a team of analysts at Eurasia Group said in a Saturday note. Any rebound in oil flows would not be enough to address the overall market deficit, they said, forecasting Brent prices to trade in a higher band of $90-110 per barrel through the rest of this year.

“Iran’s leadership will stick with resistance, even as they quarrel internally,” according to the consultancy firm, as Tehran seeks to use military proxies and tanker attacks to keep a chokehold on shipping flows, to pressure Washington into concessions.

Tehran has insisted that it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until Washington fulfills its commitment under the June memorandum, which called for lifting the naval blockade of Iranian ports, easing sanctions, unfreezing Iranian assets and ending U.S. military threats.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Sunday that Iran must keep on fighting and negotiating, to push back its enemies, and only work on diplomacy when it has the upper hand on the battlefield.

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Technologies

U.S. crude oil drops below $100 a barrel as Trump signals willingness to negotiate with Iran

U.S. crude oil prices slipped back below $100 a barrel after President Trump signaled openness to talks with Iran and halted plans to bomb Yemen, while Middle East supply flows remained robust despite pipeline disruptions.

Crude oil prices declined for the fourth straight session on Monday after President Donald Trump reportedly decided against bombing Yemen for the time being and indicated he was open to diplomatic engagement with Iran.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures fell 2.7% to $97.59 per barrel by 7:48 a.m. ET, while Brent crude, the global benchmark, slipped 2.8% to $101 a barrel. The market has risen more than 11% so far this month.

Trump told Fox News he would likely be receptive to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the United Nations General Assembly later this week.

According to The New York Times, the president has decided not to target the Iran‑aligned Houthi militants for now, despite requests from Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, crude shipments from the Middle East appear resilient after Saudi Arabia shut down its East‑West pipeline following attacks. JPMorgan analysts noted in a September 18 report that oil flows from the region remain surprisingly strong, averaging 17.1 million barrels per day over the past 10 days—about 6.1 million bpd below the 2025 average.

Potential supply disruptions persist. Trump told Fox that he is in a “deciding mode” and that “very big things” are expected soon regarding the U.S.–Iran conflict.

Prices are likely to stay closely linked to the pace of export normalization and diplomatic progress, said Daniel Takieddine, co‑founder and CEO of Sky Links Capital Group.

Any setback or renewed deterioration in shipping conditions would tighten the physical market and restore upward pressure on prices, Takieddine added.

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Technologies

White House TV press pool won’t cover Trump after CNN ban

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Politics & Policy
White House TV press pool won’t cover Trump after CNN ban
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Politics & Policy

White House TV press pool won’t cover Trump after CNN ban

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