Want strong online privacy but hate shelling out a fortune for the best VPNs? Me too—that’s why I’ve found some smart ways to pick up discounted VPN subscriptions.

1

Look for Long-Term Subscription Discounts

Since I started using VPNs, one thing that’s been clear to me is that paying monthly is expensive. The best VPNs, like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, will set you back at least $10 per month. That’s become the industry standard, so if you want the best of the best, there’s no way around it.

Instead of paying close to or slightly over $10, I’ve found most VPN providers offer long-term plans, which significantly reduce the monthly cost to around $5 or less.

Take NordVPN, for example. Its Basic plan costs $12.99/month, but if you subscribe to its yearly plan, you only pay $59.88 (a 56% discount compared to paying monthly), averaging to about $4.99/month. The two-year plans further reduce the average monthly cost to just $3.39.

Another good example is ExpressVPN, which costs $12.95 monthly but averages $6.67 and $4.99 if you commit to its yearly and two-year plans, respectively.

The story is similar for other VPNs. The longer you commit, the less you pay.

2

Search for VPN Coupon Codes

Another great way to score the best deals on VPN subscriptions is to search online for coupon codes. I use this trick on all online purchases—not just for VPNs—and it almost always works. Consequently, it’s become one of my considerations before subscribing to a VPN.

If I want to renew my CyberGhost VPN subscription, I’ll use a search term like “CyberGhost VPN discount code.” I usually focus on Reddit results by appending “Reddit” to my search term, as I’ve had far more success with coupon codes provided by Redditors.

Companies sometimes provide coupon codes on their official website, but you’ll have more success finding them by searching via Google, Bing, or other search engines than by directly visiting the website.

3

Take Advantage of Seasonal Sales

From time to time, VPN companies offer sales to try and attract as many people as possible to their product. This is usually one of the best times to lock in a long-term subscription to your favorite VPN at a much lower cost. Major sale events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and New Year’s typically see companies slash subscription prices.

VPN providers also slash prices on certain occasions, such as company anniversaries and national holidays like Memorial Day. If you keep an eye out for these seasonal sales, you’ll certainly score a good deal on a VPN.

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Sales during this time are typically limited, so it’s best to have cash on hand and strike as soon as you spot a worthy deal. But before you subscribe, watch out for sneaky VPN sales tactics, especially during such periods.

Since seasonal deals only come around a few times a year, you don’t always need to wait until your subscription ends. Some VPN providers support stacking, allowing you to purchase multiple subscription periods at once or a new one in advance.

For example, once you spot a must-have deal, you can buy two separate two-year subscriptions and stack them, extending your subscription to four years. But before you try stacking, contact the customer care of your favorite VPN provider to find out whether it supports it.

4

Look for Bundled Deals

Increasingly, it’s become standard for VPN providers to offer more than just a VPN in their subscription plans. Many now include extra perks like password managers, cloud storage, or even antivirus software. If you subscribe to such a plan, you’ll pay far less than buying each service separately.

For instance, if you want to subscribe to Proton VPN but feel the price is steep, you can subscribe to Proton Mail’s Unlimited plan, which includes premium versions of all Proton’s products. Surfshark VPN also offers bundles that include antivirus protection and other perks at no extra cost. These bundles stretch your money further and are a great way to avoid overpaying for a VPN.

Yes, you need a VPN in your life, but you don’t have to pay full price. Getting the best VPNs at the right price can be tough if you don’t have the right knowledge. By comparing prices, subscribing to long-term plans, hunting for bundled software deals and coupon codes, and waiting for seasonal sales, you can get the same level of privacy and security for a fraction of the cost. Before you splurge on a VPN subscription, remember that a little research can go a long way.