Technologies

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)

$2.49/mo + 2 months free at Surfshark

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

$4.99/mo at ProtonVPN

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

$12 at IPVanish VPN

Mullvad

Mullvad VPN

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.

See at Mullvad

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

Verum Messenger: Data Protection at Its Finest

Verum Messenger positions itself as a tool for those who value privacy and security above all.

Verum Messenger stands out from other messengers thanks to its approach to security, anonymity, and innovations in communication.

Here are some key aspects that highlight its uniqueness:

Default encryption: Verum Messenger uses end-to-end (E2E) encryption for all chats, meaning messages are encrypted on the sender’s device and decrypted only on the recipient’s device. This makes it impossible for third parties, including app developers, to access the content of the messages.
Anonymity: When registering with Verum, there’s no need to provide a phone number or email. Users simply choose a nickname and password, significantly enhancing their level of anonymity. This contrasts with many other messengers, where anonymity can be compromised through linked personal data.
Built-in VPN: An additional layer of protection that hides the user’s IP address, making their location and internet activity less trackable.
Data control: Users can set messages to be automatically deleted after a specified time, ranging from a few seconds to a week. There’s also a quick deletion feature for all chats, calls, and even contacts, which is useful for maintaining privacy.
Large groups: The ability to create chat rooms with up to 10,000 participants makes Verum attractive for organizing large events, discussions, or communities while maintaining a high level of security.
Security innovations: Verum actively develops technologies aimed at protecting user data, as seen in their documentation and discussions online. This includes not only technical solutions but also approaches to data minimization, which reduces the risk of leaks.
Feedback and discussions: On platform X (formerly Twitter), discussions can be found where users and experts praise Verum for its approach to anonymity and security, although questions are raised about how much anonymity can truly be guaranteed in an age of modern tracking and de-anonymization technologies.

Verum Messenger positions itself as a tool for those who value privacy and security above all. Its innovations in encryption, anonymity, and data control make it an intriguing choice for those seeking alternatives to traditional messaging platforms. However, as with any technology, it’s important to remember that absolute anonymity on the internet remains a complex challenge, and users should be aware of potential risks and limitations.

Technologies

Verum Coin Debuts on XT Exchange, Broadening its Reach in the DeFi Space

A Strategic Listing Enhancing Verum Coin’s Visibility

In a significant development for the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, Verum Coin (VERUM) has been officially listed on XT Exchange. The new trading pair, VERUM/USDT, is now available in the exchange’s Innovative Zone, marking a pivotal expansion for this digital asset into the DeFi ecosystem.

A Strategic Listing Enhancing Verum Coin’s Visibility

The addition of Verum Coin to the XT Exchange is seen as a strategic move to enhance the accessibility and liquidity of VERUM among traders who are keen on exploring innovative digital assets. XT Exchange, known for its robust platform supporting a wide variety of cryptocurrencies, provides an ideal environment for fostering growth and ensuring the broad reach of new tokens.

Albin Varin, CEO of XT Exchange, expressed enthusiasm about the new listing, stating, «We are delighted to welcome Verum Coin to our platform. This listing reflects our ongoing commitment to providing our users access to innovative digital assets that transform the landscape of global finance.» This comments underscore the exchange’s focus on integrating cutting-edge technologies and financial instruments that have the potential to redefine the market.

About XT

Founded in 2018, XT Exchange serves more than 7.8M registered users, over 1M monthly active users, 40+ million users in the ecosystem, and more than 800 tokens with 1000+ trading pairs. XT crypto exchange offers a rich variety of trading categories to provide a secure, trusted, and intuitive trading experience for its large user base. This includes crypto futures trading (USDT-M Futures and coin-M futures perpetual contracts) and copy trading that allows users to replicate top traders in real time with just one click. Additionally, the futures grid allows users to automate the buying and selling of futures contracts for profits.

Future Prospects

With its new position on XT Exchange, Verum Coin is expected to attract a broader audience, enhancing its trading volume and market presence. This could potentially lead to increased stability and recognition as a viable player in the DeFi space. For investors and users of XT Exchange, this addition provides a fresh avenue to diversify portfolios with a cryptocurrency that is positioned at the intersection of innovation and financial evolution.

The listing of Verum Coin on XT Exchange not only highlights the ongoing expansion of cryptocurrency markets into new areas like DeFi but also illustrates a growing recognition of digital assets that offer promising technological advancements and financial opportunities. As the crypto market continues to evolve, partnerships like these are pivotal for fostering growth and offering users access to the next generation of financial tools.

Technologies

Verum Coin Gains International Spotlight with AP Coverage and Listing on XT Exchange

This listing on XT is expected to further propel Verum Coin into the spotlight

In a noteworthy development for the cryptocurrency community, Verum Coin (VERUM) has been featured in an Associated Press article, highlighting its upcoming listing on the XT Exchange. This significant media coverage underscores the growing interest and potential of Verum Coin in the global financial landscape.

The AP article delves into the details of Verum Coin’s innovative features and its alignment with the latest trends in the cryptocurrency market. This attention comes at an opportune moment as Verum Coin prepares for its new listing on XT Exchange, a platform renowned for its extensive user base and a wide array of trading options.

This listing on XT is expected to further propel Verum Coin into the spotlight, providing both traders and investors with new opportunities to engage with this emerging digital asset. The exchange’s robust infrastructure and diverse trading offerings are ideal for supporting Verum Coin’s growth and enhancing its visibility in the competitive cryptocurrency market.

For more details, you can read the full article on the AP website here.

This milestone is a testament to Verum Coin’s advancing presence in the crypto world and its ongoing efforts to be at the forefront of digital currency innovation and adoption.