Never pay full price for a VPN service – the secret to saving money while staying safe

VPNs are one of the best tools for protecting your personal data and enhancing your privacy online, but that doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune to get a quality service.

If you're looking to improve your cybersecurity, you'll soon realize that many trustworthy security tools aren't free. Companies that offer 'free' services often make money by selling user data to advertisers. That's why serious services like Proton's suite charge a fee — so they can survive and ensure user privacy.

VPNs are no exception. The best VPN services always cost money, but that doesn't mean you have to pay exorbitant prices. In fact, you should never pay full price when purchasing a VPN.

VPN services always have promotions

The main reason is simple: VPNs are always on sale. There are services that you almost never see at full price. The only difference is the degree of 'discount'.

Therefore, it would be a waste to ignore the available incentive programs. However, you also need to note a few things before 'closing the deal'.

Most deals require you to pay for two years upfront. Some offer a one-year subscription, but the discount isn't as great. For example, a $5/month listing might sound like a great deal, but you'll actually be paying $140 upfront—still cheap compared to the original price, but a steep one-time payment.

Also, this offer is only valid for the initial period. After the 2-year period (or more if there are extra months included), your subscription will automatically renew at the original price, which is often very high. Since the renewal period is usually 24–27 months, many people easily forget and let the service deduct money automatically. To avoid this, you should set a reminder before the renewal date so that you can proactively cancel in time.

Feel free to 'jump' between services

The nice thing is, since most VPNs have year-round promotions, you can always switch to another service once your current plan runs out. There's no need to let it renew itself — just choose a different provider, buy a new promotional plan, and get the good price again.

In reality, most VPNs work in a similar way. For most users, VPNs are primarily used to keep their browsing information private, hide their location, or bypass geo-restrictions when streaming content. Most reputable VPNs can do all of these things well. All you need to worry about is whether the VPN has servers in the country you want and whether the speeds are fast enough to stream smoothly. The most popular paid VPNs do both well.

Don't be tempted to use free VPNs

Many people want to save money by using free VPNs. But this is a dangerous trap. Most free VPN services are unsafe, can be unstable, and even secretly collect user data to sell — the exact opposite of the purpose of using a VPN.

Of course, there are some reputable free VPNs, but most of them are just limited trial versions of the paid versions. They are good for testing the service or temporarily bypassing region restrictions while watching movies, but not safe enough for long-term use.

So the wisest option is still to choose a reputable paid VPN service, but buy it when it is on sale. This way you will save a lot of money, while also ensuring a much safer and more stable experience than the free options.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 21 November 2025