Are You Overpaying for Your VPN?

These days, VPNs can be packed with more add-ons and features than you might actually need. But how many of these extras are necessary, and how much can you save if you buy a VPN that’s tailor-fit your privacy needs?

What Do You Use a VPN For?

When considering potential savings on a VPN, the first question to ask yourself is: What do you plan on using your VPN for most often?

Streaming

If your primary use case for a VPN is unblocking streaming content from services like Netflix, Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more, the main factor to consider is network size.

For example, if you start watching a particular show in the US on Netflix, but take a trip to the UK, you’ll find your library of available content will change once you’ve landed. This is due to how streaming services negotiate local content licensing agreements with each country they operate in.

A VPN with a large selection of servers in both the US and the UK will give you the best chance of accessing your US-based show without your VPN being detected in the UK, and potentially blocked by the streamer.

Some services like Private Internet Access, known for its massive network of over 35,000 available servers to choose from, ask $11.95 per month for a subscription. However, while it supports thousands more locations than its closest competitors, it’s also scant on extra features you might find with competing options like NordVPN Plus ($13.99 per month).

NordVPN includes servers that are specifically designed to get around geo-blocked streaming content. And though Nord sports a smaller network of available locations (just over 7,000 at the time of writing), your Plus subscription gets you access to more security features like anti-malware protection, a password manager, and browser protection.

Security and Privacy

Speaking of security, as the world of VPNs has grown, so has their functionality and the breadth of available features that can be included with each subscription. In recent years, major providers like Nord, Norton, and Surfshark have begun bundling anti-malware, antivirus, and identity protection services with their VPNs—for a cost, of course.

For example, while NordVPN Basic’s plan costs just $12.99 per month, the company also offers its NordVPN Prime subscription for $17.99 per month. This option gets you access to a broad number of available add-ons, including all the features mentioned above as a part of the Plus package—anti-malware, Nord Threat Protection Pro antivirus, and a password manager—as well as identity theft protection insured up to $1 million as a part of its NordProtect service and 1TB of encrypted cloud storage.

Whether you bundle your antivirus needs with your VPN or purchase a standalone AV subscription is up to you, but generally there are savings to be had using a VPN that combines its services with add-on security products. Picking the subscription for your preferred level of protection and use case is paramount to getting the best deal on a VPN that’s right for you.

Free Trials, Renewal Pricing, and Long-Term Subscriptions

One of the ways many people end up overpaying for a VPN is signing up for a service that doesn’t best fit their needs or location. Whether it’s choosing an option that doesn’t support servers in their region, trying to unblock Netflix in an area where servers are already blocked, or buying a service that comes with add-ons they’ll never use, it’s important to consider all these factors before taking the plunge on a long-term subscription.

While long-term subscriptions almost always offer discounts compared to per-month plans, it’s not recommended to sign up for one right out of the gate because of the potential issues mentioned above.

Instead, almost every VPN on the market (save for fringe exclusions like Norton Ultra VPN Plus and McAfee Secure Connect) offer month-to-month plans. While these may be more pricey over time compared to the discounts you’d get with a long-term subscription, they also allow you to test out the service for a month before taking the plunge on plans that usually last six months or longer.

Say you want to find out if Surfshark unblocks Netflix in Japan. While its $47.84 16-month plan ($2.99 every 30 days) may seem enticing compared to paying $15.45/month, choosing the shorter-term plan lets you take the service for a test drive to see if it’s right for your needs first.

If that’s a bit too rich for your blood, Surfshark is also one of the few providers that also offers a seven-day free trial. If supported by your preferred VPN, always go for the free trial to begin with.

There are also VPNs that have completely free tiers, such as Proton VPN. However, note that any VPNs offering either free trials or free plans often have restrictions placed on the service.

As an example, Windscribe VPN has a free tier of service that doesn’t even require an email account for access. However, you’ll be limited to just 2GB of bandwidth per month, and will only get a minimal selection of servers to choose from compared to its full $9 per month plan. (You can up this ceiling to 10GB if you use an email address at signup.)

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Thankfully, if you do end up paying for a month of service with your preferred VPN and are unsatisfied with its performance or features, almost every provider operating today offers some form of money-back guarantee. The standard period is 30 days, though some may only offer it for 15 days, while others could be seven days or less. Be sure to read through a VPN’s terms of service to learn more about the specifics of its money-back policy before breaking out your card.

While you’re in there, I also recommend scanning closely for long-term subscription renewal prices and policies. According to a report from Top Class Actions, NordVPN is currently facing three lawsuits filed out of California, Colorado, and North Carolina for its practices surrounding automatic renewal of long-term subscriptions. While the first bulk discount is designed to get you in the door, almost every VPN on the market bumps the renewal cost up from the entry price, and it can be a substantial amount.

For example, while Norton Ultra VPN may sound like a great deal at $39.99 for the first year, that price doubles to $79.99 on annual renewal. If you sign up for any form of discounted plan, make sure you know what’s coming at renewal time to avoid accidentally paying too much for a VPN.

Are You Paying Too Much for Your VPN?

Ultimately, whether you’re overpaying for your VPN or not can come down to a myriad of factors, and there’s no one right answer for everyone.

If Mullvad VPN’s €5 per-month plan has the servers, the security, and the features you need from a VPN, then it’s the right one for you. If Surfshark’s $15.45 per month plan feels like the right choice thanks to its user-friendly client and unlimited device policy, then that’s the one you should choose.

When shopping for a VPN, there’s rarely a one-size-fits-all service out there. But, if you’re still left wondering which could be the perfect fit for you, we’ve chosen the best VPN services that offer a good balance of features, security, and price.