BUDGET • Updated December 2025 • 5 min read

Best Budget VPN 2025

Under $3/month—but watch out for renewal traps. Here's what really saves money.

💰 The Price Reality Check

Advertised prices are intro rates. We calculated true 5-year cost including renewals.

Cheapest Intro
Surfshark $1.99/mo
Cheapest 5-Year Total
PIA $158 ⭐
Best Value Overall
PIA $2.63/mo avg

The "$1.99/month" VPN ads are everywhere. But that price only applies to your first 2-year term. After that, you're paying 2-3x more.

We calculated the true long-term cost of every budget VPN—including renewal rates most comparison sites ignore.

Top 5 Budget VPNs (True Cost Ranked)

#1 BEST VALUE LOWEST 5-YEAR COST

Private Internet Access

Best long-term value. Renewals stay low unlike competitors.

$2.03/mo
3-year plan
Intro (3 years): $79.00
Renewal (3 years): $79.00
5-Year Total: ~$158 ⭐
True monthly average: $2.63/mo
✓ Unlimited Devices ✓ Court-Proven No-Logs ✓ Open Source ✓ Port Forwarding
#2 BEST GUARANTEE

CyberGhost

45-day money-back guarantee—longest in the industry.

$2.19/mo
2-year plan
Intro (2 years): $56.94
Years 3-5 (renewals): ~$171
5-Year Total: ~$228
True monthly average: $3.80/mo
✓ 45-Day Guarantee ✓ Streaming Servers ✓ 11,500+ Servers
#3 LOWEST INTRO

Surfshark

Cheapest intro price. Great for 2 years, then renewal jumps 231%.

$1.99/mo
2-year plan
Intro (2 years): $53.73
Years 3-5 (renewals): ~$237
5-Year Total: ~$291
True monthly average: $4.85/mo
✓ Unlimited Devices ✓ CleanWeb Ad Blocker ⚠ 231% Renewal Hike
#4 UNLIMITED DEVICES

IPVanish

Solid budget option with unlimited simultaneous connections.

$2.19/mo
5-Year Total: ~$327
True monthly average: $5.45/mo
✓ Unlimited Devices ✓ Owns Infrastructure

Budget VPN Cost Comparison

VPN Intro Price Renewal 5-Year Total Devices
PIA $2.03/mo ~Same $158 ⭐ Unlimited
CyberGhost $2.19/mo +117% $228 7
Surfshark $1.99/mo ⭐ +231% $291 Unlimited
IPVanish $2.19/mo +310% $327 Unlimited

How to Save Even More

  • 1
    Choose PIA for true long-term savings

    Don't be fooled by intro prices. PIA's renewal rate stays low, saving you $133+ vs Surfshark over 5 years.

  • 2
    Set calendar reminders before renewal

    Mark your renewal date. Cancel and re-signup with a new email to get intro pricing again (check ToS first).

  • 3
    Ask for retention discounts

    Contact support before renewal. Threaten to cancel. Many VPNs offer 40-60% off to keep you.

The Bottom Line

Best overall budget VPN: PIA at $2.03/month with renewals that stay low. 5-year total: ~$158. That's $133 less than Surfshark's "cheaper" $1.99 deal.

Best for risk-free trial: CyberGhost with its 45-day money-back guarantee.

Best intro price: Surfshark at $1.99/month—but plan to cancel before the 231% renewal hike.