To save you time and money, I’ve tested over 50 VPNs with prices less than $4/month to find the best cheap VPNs in 2023. Every ranked VPN on this list is inexpensive, has top-tier security, fast download speeds for lag-free streaming, and reliable global server connections. After extensive testing, I found CyberGhost is the #1 cheap VPN with an impressive range of premium features at a low price. Best of all, you can try out CyberGhost for free with its 45-day money-back guarantee. Try CyberGhost risk-free
In a Rush? Here Are the Best Cheap VPNs in 2023
The Best Cheap VPNs Under $4/Month (Updated in 2023)
1. CyberGhost — #1 Cheap VPN — Premium Features and Fast Speeds at a Low Price
Key Features: CyberGhost’s high-level security and consistently fast network makes it the best cheap VPN, with plans starting at just $2.11/month. Its top-tier security and privacy features include the following:
Military-grade encryption — Keeps all data secure and private, away from prying eyes, hackers, and even your ISP. Leak protection — Blocks DNS and IP leaks to ensure your data stays hidden and anonymous. Secure protocols — Including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard for robust connections on its global network. Strict zero-log policy — Has been independently audited and confirmed to ensure none of your data is logged or stored while you’re connected to CyberGhost’s servers. RAM-based servers — Cannot physically write any data to disk, guaranteeing your online activity is anonymous.
To ensure my data was secure when I connected to the VPN I ran multiple tests — CyberGhost passed every leak test, encrypting and protecting my data at all times. I found CyberGhost is a reliably fast VPN when connected to nearby and optimized servers. Overall, my speeds reduced by just 24% on average, with a slightly greater slowdown over long distances. Fortunately, CyberGhost’s 9.500+ server network ensures you can always find a nearby connection for the fastest speeds. Fast speeds combined with CyberGhost’s optimized servers make it a great choice for streaming. My team and I tested streaming services and found we could access our accounts on the following: It’s reassuring to know you can enjoy security and access your US Netflix library when you’re traveling abroad. Better still, CyberGhost’s optimized streaming servers provided UHD video without lag or buffering. You’ll find CyberGhost also offers dedicated torrenting and gaming servers designed for fast and secure connections. I could safely download files of 5GB in just 7 minutes and play online games without lag. With an intuitive interface, CyberGhost is easy to use and a top choice for beginner users. Plus, there are detailed VPN setup instructions for your smart TV, game console, and other devices that don’t natively support VPN apps. If you want to try CyberGhost, you’ll find it offers 2 different money-back guarantee periods; for 1-month subscriptions, you have 14 days to claim a refund; 6-month and longer plans have 45 days to test the service. Either way, you can try CyberGhost risk-free to make sure it’s right for you. Try CyberGhost for free
2. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Enormous Server Network for Easy Global Connections on a Budget
Key Features: Private Internet Access (PIA) has an impressive network of more than 35,000 servers, providing global connections at a low cost. With so many servers to choose from, you can always find a local and reliable connection for smooth, uninterrupted online activity. In my tests, I never experienced user congestion or lag, even at peak traffic times. A large network also means PIA is impressive when it comes to speed, ideal for UHD streaming and fast torrenting. Local servers were faster than those thousands of km away, with an average speed reduction of around 30%. I could stream, torrent, and play fast-paced online games like Call of Duty: Warzone with no interruptions. If you enjoy streaming, PIA can reliably access your local accounts without issue, including the following popular platforms: I was pleased to find PIA offers the same high-level security as other premium VPNs, just for a fraction of the cost. To keep your connections safe, it uses the following features:
Customizable encryption — Means you can choose between the standard AES-256-bit and a lower (but still unbreakable) AES-128-bit encryption for a speed boost. Data leak protection — Protects your DNS request data and IP address location from leaking. Kill switch — Blocks access to the internet if your VPN is interrupted, protecting your data from accidental discovery. Multi-hop — Tunnels your data through 2 servers instead of 1, making it even harder to trace your activity. Zero-log policy — That has been independently audited to confirm PIA won’t log or store your data.
One of PIA’s top features is its ad, tracker, and malware blocker called MACE. This blocks ads and invasive software to protect your privacy and device security. I was impressed by how well this feature works — web pages load faster, and I didn’t see any ads. Plus, PIA blocks malicious downloads, making it a top choice if you frequently torrent. My only issue with PIA is that it’s based in the US, a part of the Eyes Alliance intelligence-sharing group. While I’m reassured by PIA’s independent audit that it won’t log or store my data, it’s always a concern when a VPN is headquartered in such a privacy-unfriendly location. You can try PIA for free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee. I tested the refund process and it was easy — I just contacted customer service using the 24/7 live chat and asked to cancel my subscription. The agent asked if I’d like to troubleshoot but I confirmed my cancellation and had the money back in less than a week. Try PIA for free
3. NordVPN — Unique Security and Privacy Features at an Affordable Monthly Price
Key Features: NordVPN is packed with an impressive feature set, with unique tools for extra security and privacy. Threat Protection provides an extra layer of security against malware, phishing, and online threats. Plus, Meshnet lets you establish secure connections between your devices from anywhere — I found it easy to set up in a few minutes. Alongside these tools, NordVPN offers a range of top-tier features designed to protect your data and devices while you’re online. These include:
AES-256 bit encryption — Safeguards your data from prying eyes. Kill switch — Instantly blocks internet access if the VPN connection drops, preventing potential data leaks. DNS leak protection — Stops your DNS queries from being exposed to your ISP or other third parties. Strict no-logs policy — Means that NordVPN doesn’t store any logs of your online activity. Double VPN — Routes your traffic through two VPN servers for an extra layer of security (but causes a slight slowdown). Onion Over VPN — Relays traffic through the Tor network, providing an even higher level of security and anonymity.
Thanks to its proprietary NordLynx protocol, NordVPN is impressively fast even over long-distance connections. During tests, NordVPN’s average speed loss was just 19% — barely noticeable when streaming, torrenting, gaming, or browsing online. With these speeds, I was pleased to find NordVPN is more than capable of connecting to streaming services to watch content in UHD quality. NordVPN can easily access the following sites and services: To protect multiple devices, NordVPN allows up to 6 connections at the same time and has broad platform compatibility. I found it easy to set up NordVPN on my Windows PC and iPhone. Plus, NordVPN has step-by-step guides to create a VPN connection on devices like a smart TV or game console for easy connections. The downside is that NordVPN’s apps can be difficult to navigate for beginner users. Some of its key features (like the kill switch) aren’t switched on when you download the app — this is easy to overlook and could result in your data being exposed if it isn’t active. I recommend you try NordVPN for yourself, with plans starting at just $3.49/month. Plus, you can test the service risk-free, as every plan is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. I used the live chat to request a refund, and it took less than 5 minutes to process. I had my money back within a week. Try NordVPN for free
4. Surfshark — Nexus Network Improves VPN Performance, Security, and Privacy at a Low Cost
Key Features: Surfshark’s Nexus network improves performance and security, with new VPN features at no extra cost (plans start at just $2.39/month). Nexus connects you to the nearest server, resulting in faster speeds and more reliable connections. Plus, Nexus includes features like IP Rotation and Dynamic Multihop, boosting your online security and privacy.
To further protect your online activity and personal data, Surfshark uses a range of top-tier features, including the following:
AES-256-bit encryption — Ensures your data is protected from hackers and other prying eyes by the most secure type of encryption available. Strong connection protocols — Supports a variety of strong connection protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard. CleanWeb — Blocks ads, trackers, and malware to help improve your browsing experience and protect your privacy. Zero-log privacy policy — Has been independently audited to confirm Surfshark does not store any of your data, including browsing history, IP address, or DNS requests.
During my testing, I was genuinely impressed by the consistently fast speeds offered by Surfshark, with an average drop of only 20%. This remarkable performance can be attributed to Surfshark’s implementation of port upgrades, allowing for 10Gbps connections. As a result, users can enjoy faster and more stable speeds, along with less congested servers. I discovered that this makes Surfshark an excellent option for seamless streaming, hassle-free torrenting, and uninterrupted online browsing experiences. With fast speeds, I could easily stream with Surfshark in UHD quality on my favorite sites and services, including the following: It’s also easy to secure all of your devices, as Surfshark provides Unlimited connections on a single account. I found it simple to install and set up Surfshark across different platforms and was pleased to find I could even protect my home network by configuring the VPN with my compatible router. My only issue with Surfshark is that it caused my ping to spike over long-distance connections. Local servers had low ping (around 50ms), but distant servers increased ping by more than 300% in some cases. This made it impossible for me to play online games without lag and interruptions, so I had to only use local servers to game with friends. Fortunately, Surfshark’s low monthly cost still makes it a top-tier VPN, even with higher latency. Plans are as little as $2.39/month for a 2-year subscription. Plus, Surfshark has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try the VPN risk-free. I contacted the 24/7 live chat to request a refund during testing and had my money back in 7 days. Try Surfshark for free
5. IPVanish — Owns and Operates Entire Server Network for Top-Tier Security
Key Features: IPVanish is the only cheap VPN to own and operate its entire server network. This significantly reduces the possibility of third-party interference and provides extra protection for your data. By avoiding the vulnerabilities that come with renting servers, I feel confident IPVanish always keeps my connections secure when I’m using the service. To further protect your devices and data, IPVanish has the following security features:
Military-grade encryption — Every connection is secured by AES-256-bit encryption, the same kind used by financial institutions and the US military. Leak protection — Secures DNS, IP, and WebRTC data from leaking and exposing your true location and identity. Kill switch — Cuts your internet connection if the VPN is interrupted, only restoring access once a secure server connection is made. Scramble feature — Obfuscates your VPN traffic to make it look like regular traffic, helping you bypass online restrictions and avoid VPN detection technology.
I was impressed by IPVanish’s offering of unlimited device connections, as it means I can protect all of my devices for as little as $3.33/month. This is ideal if you have a large number of personal devices to protect as you only need 1 subscription. Usually, multiple device connections result in a significantly slower connection, but IPVanish surprised me — my speeds were only around 34% slower on average, even with 8 simultaneous connections. I could stream, torrent, and browse without any lag. With these speeds, I could use IPVanish for UHD-quality streaming and fast torrenting. IPVanish can access the following: I had hoped that IPVanish’s Scramble feature would work in China, but unfortunately, IPVanish failed to connect. If you need a VPN for China, I recommend looking at ExpressVPN instead. IPVanish offers multiple subscriptions, with the longest plan being the most cost-effective. Plus, for a small price increase, you can also subscribe to its VPN and storage plan, giving you access to 500GB of cloud storage — ideal for storing sensitive information and documents away from your device. You can try IPVanish for free with its 30-day money-back guarantee. This means you can test the service and get a full refund if it’s not right for you. IPVanish has the easiest cancellation process, too. Just visit the Subscription settings in your account and click “Cancel Now.” I had my money back within an hour. Try IPVanish for free
Quick Comparison Table: The Best Cheap VPNs in 2023
How I Tested & Ranked the Best Cheap VPN
I rigorously tested the leading VPNs in 2023 and ranked them according to the following criteria: Try CyberGhost risk-free Best of all, you can try CyberGhost risk-free as the VPN is backed by a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied or you change your mind, it’s easy to get a full refund with no questions asked. It’s important to note that not all cheap VPNs provide high-quality security and privacy features. Some cheap services may exploit your data as a source of revenue, compromising your security and leaving your information exposed. The price of a VPN isn’t always a good indication of how well it works — a cheap service like CyberGhost has a high level of encryption and security features that rival premium-price VPNs. I recommend using caution and researching any cheap VPNs you consider. You can also test any of the VPNs in this article and see if it’s right for you. The best budget VPN for streaming is CyberGhost, with optimized connections available for a range of popular services. During tests, CyberGhost easily connected to multiple services without interruption, with fast speeds for lag-free UHD streaming. The VPNs recommended in this article offer fast and reliable connections for streaming, torrenting, browsing, and more. Even with the slowest connection, I didn’t notice any lag or interruption. You can put these speeds to the test for yourself, as all the VPNs mentioned provide a risk-free experience with a money-back guarantee. Considering port forwarding — it’s important to evaluate whether you really need this feature. While it can be beneficial for hosting games or web servers, it also exposes your network to potential security risks from malicious actors. Due to this risk, many VPNs choose not to offer port forwarding as part of their services. However, the #1 all-around VPN for torrenting is ExpressVPN. Although it’s more expensive, its unrivaled fast speeds and ability to torrent on all servers make it worth the extra cost. Many free VPNs are plagued by slow network speeds, limited server connections, data caps, and basic security features. Worse still, some free services have been found to contain malware designed to infect your devices and steal your sensitive data. While there are some secure and private free VPNs in 2023, even these can be frustratingly limiting. You may not be able to connect to your preferred streaming accounts, complete torrents, or have enough data to do more than check your emails. Instead, I recommend you try one of the best cheap VPNs in 2023. At less than $4 per month, it’s worth the small cost for guaranteed security and privacy, reliable connections, and access to your favorite sites and services. As a bonus, all of the recommended VPNs above have a money-back guarantee, so you can try them completely risk-free.
You Don’t Have to Choose Between a Quality VPN and a Cheap Price
While there are some premium VPNs available at budget-friendly prices, many cheap services carry risks. From inadequate data protection to logging and selling your information, these VPNs can leave you exposed to hackers and compromise your online privacy. Rest assured, the recommended VPNs on this list prioritize security and provide reliable service at an affordable cost. Each has been rigorously tested and chosen for its high level of security, reliability, and low subscription prices. CyberGhost stands out as the best cheap VPN option. It combines top-tier security features, consistently fast speeds, and impressive compatibility with popular streaming services. Plus, you can try CyberGhost risk-free with its 45-day money-back guarantee — if you change your mind, you can get a full refund with no questions asked. Try CyberGhost risk-free
