10 Best Cheap Monthly VPNs in 2024 — Pay As You Go (2024)

I always like to be able to test out a product before committing to a long-term subscription, so I know it’s worth the price tag. What’s frustrating is that most VPNs are really pricey if you sign up for a short-term plan — it’s hard to find a fair balance of price and value.

Over the past several years, my team and I have tested 50+ VPNs and I’ve shortlisted those that are high-value and affordable. I ensured that despite their generally cheap prices, they all offer fast speeds, robust security features, and good streaming capabilities. Plus, each VPN service comes with a trustworthy money-back guarantee so you can try it with no financial risk.

Out of all the VPNs I tested, ExpressVPN’s monthly plan offers the best value. It gave me UHD-friendly speeds for streaming and reliable connections with any server I tried. Its monthly subscription is also backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it doesn’t work for you, you can get a full refund before the month is up.

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Short on Time? Here Are the Best Monthly VPNs in 2024

Important: My team and I do not endorse copyright infringement. The VPN services we recommend adhere to strict no-logging policies, meaning they don't track your online behavior. Consequently, it's up to you to use the VPN in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Best Cheap Monthly VPNs — Full Analysis (Updated in 2024)

1. ExpressVPN — Overall Best Monthly VPN With Fast Speeds and Strong Security

ExpressVPN remains my favorite because it’s the fastest of all the monthly VPNs I tested, which makes it ideal for bandwidth-intensive activities (like streaming and torrenting). During my tests on its nearby UK servers, I recorded an average speed drop of only 4%. Even on its distant Toronto server, the speed drop was minimal at only 12%. My colleagues who are in western Canada didn’t notice any buffering while watching Better Call Saul in HD on Canadian Netflix.

These speeds are more than enough for 4K streaming

ExpressVPN works with Netlfix, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ without hassle. It also works to unblock gaming content that’s only available in certain regions, which is great if you’re traveling to countries where certain games are banned or censored.

ExpressVPN doesn’t cut any corners in terms of privacy, either. Its entire network uses RAM-based servers designed to delete user data after every reboot. Plus, it adheres to a strict no-logs policy that’s been independently audited and verified by KPMG.

I was a little disappointed that ExpressVPN doesn’t let you pay with Google Pay or Amazon Pay. However, it does offer PayPal payments, supports all major credit cards, and even cryptocurrency for anonymous payments.

Its monthly subscription costs $12.95, and comes with a money-back guarantee, so you can try ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days. It’s cheaper when you sign up long-term. It’s almost half the price at just $6.67/month. It also offers regular discounts — I saved 49% when I signed up for the annual plan. And the refund guarantee applies to the longer subscriptions as well.

Useful Features

• Robust security. ExpressVPN uses military-grade encryption with perfect forward secrecy. This regularly changes your encryption keys and makes it even harder for cybercriminals to intercept your data. It also offers leak protection and a kill switch to prevent IP/DNS leaks. Plus, it comes with a tracker and malware blocker called Threat Manager.
• Smart DNS. ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer allows you to easily avoid ISP throttling on devices that don't support VPNs (like smart TVs and gaming consoles).
• Native app for Amazon Fire devices. You can easily install the VPN directly onto your Firestick or other Fire devices through the Amazon Appstore.
• P2P support. All of ExpressVPN’s servers are P2P-friendly, which means you can torrent as much as you want without restrictions.

2. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Customizable Security to Optimize Your Connection

The reason I love PIA is that it provides customizable security features that allow you to tailor your VPN connection to your liking. You have the option to select between OpenVPN and WireGuard, and, with OpenVPN connections, you can also adjust the encryption level to either 128-bit or 256-bit.

When I tested PIA’s customizable connections and switched to 128-bit encryption, I noticed a significant improvement in speed while still maintaining a high level of security.

Changing these settings helped me improve performance for torrenting, streaming, and gaming

If you’re someone who wants a monthly VPN for torrenting, you’ll appreciate PIA’s Multi-Hop feature. This routes your traffic through the encrypted VPN server first and then through a SOCKS5 proxy, providing an additional layer of security for torrenting. Plus, PIA supports port forwarding, which can increase your download speeds.

My only gripe with PIA is that it's based in the US, which is part of the 5 Eyes Alliance (an international government surveillance network). However, PIA’s privacy policy is solid and instills confidence — it’s been around for more than 10 years and has never shared any user data, even when requested.

PIA’s monthly subscription costs $11.95, which is considerably more expensive than the monthly cost of its long-term plan. However, it’s still good value considering you can use it on unlimited devices. If you sign up for the longest-term subscription, the price drops significantly — costing just $2.03/month, making it one of the cheapest VPNs out there.

No matter which plan you choose, you’re eligible for its 30-day money-back guarantee. This means you can try PIA for freeand get a full refund if it’s not for you.

Useful Features

• PIA MACE. This feature enhances your privacy and online experience by blocking ads and trackers. I tested it on ad-heavy buzzfeed.com and forbes.com, and it removed some of the ads on the page.
• Fast speeds. When I connected to its nearby London servers, I received an average download speed of 116 Mbps, which was a speed drop of only 8%.
• Large server network. PIA has the largest server network of all the monthly VPNs I tested. So, you don’t have to worry about server overcrowding, making it easy to find a server with great speeds.

3. CyberGhost — User-Friendly Monthly VPN With Activity-Specific Servers

CyberGhost offers specialized servers for streaming, gaming, and torrenting, which makes choosing the ideal server for your needs effortless. Plus, every specialized server is regularly reviewed to ensure it still meets its designated purpose, meaning you don’t have to worry about stumbling across one that doesn’t work.

While in the UK, I tested its streaming servers optimized for Disney+ UK and BBC iPlayer and watched my favorite shows in HD buffer-free. Its gaming servers were just as reliable. They’re optimized for fast speeds and low ping, so you can play lag-free. I tested its US-based gaming servers, which instantly allowed me to play Minecraft with my friends in California with no issues.

CyberGhost's gaming-optimized servers let me play games without lag

CyberGhost also provides great security – it uses RAM-based servers and adheres to a strict no-logs policy. Plus, it’s based in privacy-friendly Romania, which has no data retention laws. This allows CyberGhost to honor its privacy commitments to its users.

CyberGhost's monthly subscription is $12.99. It has a shorter money-back guarantee period (only 14 days) compared to longer-term subscriptions, but this is likely more than enough to gauge whether it’s right for you.

However, if you sign up for long-term (plans start at just $2.03/month), you can make use of its 45-day refund guarantee, giving you over a month to try it out with no financial risk. Plus, the long-term subscription is much cheaper than the monthly plan.

Useful Features

• Fast speeds. I had a speed drop of only 6% on its nearby UK servers. However, its long-distance connections can be a bit slow. The speeds dropped by 22% on its Melbourne server.
• Robust security. This includes AES 256-bit encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. It also has the Content Block feature, which blocks sites used for malware. I particularly liked Identity Guard, which checks your email address and notifies you in case of a data breach.
• Smart rules. This lets you customize how the app protects your online traffic. For example, you can configure the VPN to turn on automatically when you connect to an unfamiliar network, ensuring that you're always protected.

4. NordVPN — Monthly VPN With Threat Protection to Block Ads & Malware

NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature blocks unwanted ads, pop-ups, and trackers, making your browsing experience smoother and safer. Plus, it prevents you from downloading malware by notifying you if it detects an infected file before it can damage or steal your data. I tested this feature while browsing on my Windows PC, and it blocked malicious ads even when I forgot to switch the VPN on.

I like that this is pre-configured to block everything unwanted, so you don’t have to change any settings

To add to this, NordVPN follows a strict no-logs policy that has been verified on multiple occasions. Plus, it uses RAM-based servers and is based in Panama, which is outside of the 14 Eyes jurisdiction. It’s not obligated by law to hand over user data, even if the government requests it.

You won't have to sacrifice speed for security and privacy. In fact, NordVPN is the second-fastest VPN I tested (after ExpressVPN), with a mere 6% speed drop on nearby UK servers and 14% on distant LA servers. You can browse, torrent, and game without any slowdowns. Unfortunately, it took a while to connect on some Canadian servers — more than a minute sometimes. But it worked smoothly afterward.

There are 3 monthly plans available starting at $12.99: Standard, Plus, and Complete. The more expensive packages include extras like cloud storage and a data breach scanner. I personally prefer its long-term options, as they're the cheapest, starting at $3.39/month.

You can take NordVPN for a test run completely risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee. Just ask for a refund if it’s not for you.

Useful Features

• User-friendly. Its Quick Connect button automatically picks the best server for optimum speeds. Plus, the World Map feature lets you quickly connect to your preferred server by visually selecting a location from the map.
• Excellent streaming capabilities. NordVPN has excellent streaming capabilities. With its monthly plan, it works well with Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Netflix.

5. Surfshark — MultiHop Servers for Enhanced Online Security

Surfshark’s MultiHop feature routes your traffic through two VPN servers instead of one, encrypting your data twice. Its AES-256 encryption is virtually impossible for hackers and cybercriminals to crack once, let alone multiple times, so it’s even harder for snoops to track or decipher your data.

For fast speeds, choose a nearby server as your entry location

I like that Surfshark offers Static IP addresses at no additional cost, even with the monthly plan. This is useful in cases where you need to use the same IP address. For example, if your IP address keeps changing, your bank may flag you for suspicious activity and deny you access. I tested its Static London IP address and had reliable access to my banking apps.

On the downside, I found some of its long-distance servers to be a bit slow. For example, I experienced a speed drop of 27% on its Sydney server. But this won’t be a problem if you have a fast baseline connection.

Its monthly plan costs $12.95, which is good value for money since you can connect unlimited devices at once. With its long-term subscription, you can get Surfshark for just $2.89/month.

Additionally, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscriptions, even the monthly ones. If it’s not for you, you won’t have any issues getting a refund.

Useful Features

• Rotating IP. This regularly switches your IP address while keeping your VPN location the same. Enabling this feature provides an added layer of security as it makes it harder for snoops to track your activity.
• NoBorders mode. This feature allows you to establish a connection on restrictive or unreliable networks by suggesting specific servers to connect to.

6. PrivateVPN — Budget-Friendly Monthly VPN That Works Even On Restrictive Networks

PrivateVPN’s standout feature is Stealth VPN, which hides VPN use by disguising your protected traffic as regular internet traffic. This allows you to bypass tough firewalls and VPN blocks. It’s a great choice if you need a VPN to protect your data while traveling, particularly if you’re going to a country with restrictive internet and data laws.

PrivateVPN’s Stealth VPN feature is pre-configured, so you can obscure your traffic with one click

PrivateVPN’s intuitive app is suitable for both beginners and advanced users. Its Simple View makes the entire user interface minimalistic and straightforward, which lets you connect to a fast server in 1 click. There’s also an Advanced View that enables additional security, protocol, and tunneling settings you can tweak, but this isn’t necessary.

Unfortunately, its server network is relatively small compared to other providers on this list, so I was worried about potential server overcrowding and reliability issues. However, when I tested PrivateVPN, I never experienced any slowdowns and could stream in HD without buffering on my local Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ accounts.

You can get PrivateVPN’s monthly plan for $9.90, making it the cheapest monthly VPN on this list. However, you can get it for just $2/month with its long-term plan.

All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it for free. Just keep in mind that there's a 100GB data limit, so be sure to stay within that limit if you decide to request a refund.

Useful Features

• Retains minimal data. PrivateVPN doesn’t keep anonymized logs — it just stores your email address and payment details. But you can use a temporary email address and pay with cryptocurrency if you don’t want to share this information.
• Torrent-friendly. All its servers support torrenting, so you don’t have to waste time searching for a specialized server. Plus, it also allows port forwarding for increased download speeds.

7. IPVanish — Unlimited Simultaneous Connections Even on the Monthly Plan

IPVanish stands out from the rest by offering unlimited device connections, even on the monthly subscription plan. This makes it an excellent choice for large households or individuals with a large number of devices. With each device you add to your subscription, the less it costs to protect each device.

During my tests, I connected my iPhone, Windows laptop, and 4 other devices to its New York server. Despite having multiple active connections, I never experienced any slowdowns or unexpected connection drops. Plus, it never took me more than 5 seconds to connect.

I had stable connections with all of IPVanish's servers that I tried

IPVanish has all the standard security features: AES 256-bit encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, and a kill switch. Plus, its Scramble feature obfuscates your OpenVPN traffic to hide VPN use.

You can get IPVanish on a month-to-month basis for $11.99. However, there’s no money-back guarantee on its monthly plan. You have to sign up for at least a year to make use of the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Signing up for a yearly plan drops the monthly price to just $3.25/month. And, if you’re not happy, the refund process is incredibly easy — you don’t even have to contact customer support. You can cancel your subscription directly from your account dashboard.

Useful Features

• Fast speeds. In terms of connection speeds, IPVanish doesn’t disappoint. In my tests on its nearby servers, I experienced a speed loss of only 7%.
• At-a-glance server overviews. The IPVanish app shows key performance metrics like the ping on each server. This makes it easy to find a low-latency server for activities like gaming.

8. Proton VPN — Monthly VPN With Advanced Security Features to Protect Your Data

Proton VPN’s Secure Core servers add an extra layer of privacy protection most monthly VPNs don’t offer. These servers are owned and operated by Proton VPN and stored in highly secure data centers. If you connect to a server in a high-risk jurisdiction (like the US or UK), then your traffic will first pass through a Secure Core server — this eliminates the risk of your data being intercepted and traced back to you.

I like that it’s easy to toggle Secure Core off if you need higher speeds

Both your privacy and devices are kept safe with Proton VPN’s NetShield feature. NetShield blocks ads, malware, and tracking software from infecting your device. I was impressed with its ad-blocking capabilities. Similar to my experience with NordVPN, it blocked all the ads on the Forbes page I used for testing.

I tested Proton VPN with its Plus plan — you can get it for $10/month with its monthly subscription. It also offers a Basic plan ($5/month), but this doesn’t give you access to Secure Core servers, caps your speeds, and doesn’t have streaming support. If you sign up for the Plus plan for longer, prices are as low as $4.99/month.

While all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can only get a refund for the days you didn’t use the service. I found the refund process quick and hassle-free.

Useful Features

• Proven no-logs policy. Proton VPN has a strict no-logs policy, which was put to the test in 2019 when a Swiss court ordered the company to hand over user data. However, since the company does not keep any records, it had nothing to share.
• Specialized streaming and P2P servers. You’ll also find specialized servers optimized for streaming and P2P file sharing. These are clearly labelled so it’s easy to choose the right server for your needs.

9. Hotspot Shield — Catapult Hydra Protocol Delivers Consistently Fast Speeds

Hotspot Shield's Catapult Hydra protocol ensures consistently fast speeds. It achieves this by using a combination of techniques like transport layer security and intelligent routing to find the most efficient path for your data. During testing, I only recorded an average 15% speed drop across its nearby and long-distance servers.

Despite being almost 9,000 km away, its Los Angeles server only dropped speeds by 5%

With that being said, it doesn’t compromise security for speeds. On top of its Hydra protocol, it also offers the fast WireGuard and IKEv2 (IPSec) and comes with AES 256-bit encryption. Additionally, it provides a kill switch and IP/DNS leak protection to prevent your data from being exposed.

The only con is that it has a vague privacy policy. It explains that it temporarily records your IP address to prevent fraud. However, it does state that this data is encrypted immediately and is deleted once your session ends.

You can sign up for a month-to-month plan for $12.99. However, its long-term plans are often heavily discounted. It also comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, so you can essentially try it out for free for over a month.

Useful Features

• Built-in malware and phishing protection. Hotspot Shield's monthly VPN plan comes with integrated security features that block malware and phishing attempts. This means you're shielded from malicious websites and harmful software while you browse.
• Works with many streaming platforms. Hotspot Shield works with Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ without issues. The only platform it didn't work with during my tests was Amazon Prime Video. It also doesn’t offer Smart DNS, although setup on routers allows use on smart TVs or consoles.

10. hide.me — StealthGuard Binds Specific Apps to the VPN Connection

hide.me’s StealthGuard feature lets you specify which apps should only run with the VPN connection. It works like a kill switch combined with split tunneling — if the VPN disconnects, the app will automatically stop, preventing your traffic from being exposed.

hide.me has tons of security features for a low monthly price, making it great value

Although hide.me typically provides speedy performance, I experienced significantly slower speeds with their long-distance servers. The Los Angeles server, for instance, reduced my speeds by 89%, which was quite disheartening. On the other hand, I recorded fantastic results when connected to a UK server while in London. I watched shows on my Netflix UK subscription in HD without any buffering.

You can pay as you go with its 1-month plan that costs $9.95, making it one of the cheapest monthly VPNs on this list. But like the other VPNs on this list, you’ll save much more if you opt for its long-term plan, which costs just $2.69/month. You’ll also be able to test it out for 30 days since it also offers a money-back guarantee within this time.

Useful Features

• Zero logs. hide.me operates under a strict no-logs policy — it doesn't store any of your online activities or personal data. This ensures your privacy is safeguarded, making it an excellent choice for monthly VPN users who prioritize anonymity.
• Multiple security protocols. With hide.me, you have the option to choose from various security protocols like IKEv2, OpenVPN, SoftEther, SSTP, and WireGuard. This allows you to tailor your connection for specific needs, whether it's speed, security, or compatibility.

Quick Comparison Table: Monthly VPN Features

The table below compares the features of my top-recommended pay-as-you-go VPNs. This includes the lowest monthly price, 1-month plan cost, money-back guarantee period, number of countries where servers are available, and average download speed.

Tips on How to Choose the Best Monthly VPN

When choosing a monthly VPN, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Following are the things I tested to rank these monthly VPNs:

• Multiple subscription plans. A good monthly VPN should have several plans to choose from should you decide to commit. All VPNs on this list offer pay-as-you-go monthly subscriptions as well as long-term plans with reduced monthly costs.
• Trustworthy money-back guarantee. This allows you to test a VPN to see if it’s right for you and get a refund if you decide it’s not. Most VPNs will offer at least 30 days. All the VPNs on this list held true to their guarantees and the refund process was simple in every case.
• Value for money. Choose a VPN that offers plenty of extra features to ensure it's worth the price, like Smart DNS, split tunneling, or an ad blocker. The more simultaneous device connections it allows, the better, too.
• Fast speeds. Look for a monthly VPN that offers fast speeds across all its servers. Ideally, the speed drop on nearby servers should be less than 30%, which will let you browse, stream, and torrent without issues. All the VPNs on this list meet this criterion.
• Large server network. The more servers there are, the lower the chances of experiencing slow speeds due to congestion.
• Strong security and privacy features. The whole point of a VPN is to keep you safe and secure online. So it should, at the very least, offer 256-bit military-grade encryption, IP and DNS leak protection, and a kill switch as standard. A no-logs policy is also essential. I tested each VPN to ensure my data was hidden and only selected ones that adhere to no-logs policies.
• Easy to use. I made sure all the VPNs on this list are easy to use with intuitive app interfaces, so you don’t have to waste time trying to get to grips with it.
• Compatible with multiple devices. You should be able to use your VPN on all of your devices at once under a single subscription. Only VPNs with vast device compatibility were selected, and they all offer at least 5 simultaneous device connections.

FAQs on the Best Cheap Monthly VPNs

How much should I pay for a VPN per month?

It depends on how long you want to commit to the VPN. The VPNs shortlisted here offer month-to-month (or “pay as you go”) VPN subscriptions for between $9 and $13 per month. However, with almost all VPNs, the monthly price is significantly reduced if you sign up for a long-term subscription. For example, you can get a top VPN like ExpressVPN for $12.99/month on a monthly payment plan. However, you pay almost half that if you sign up for a year.

In some (but not all) cases, quality will be reflected in the price as well. However, there are many really solid VPNs that offer top-of-the-line security and reliability for low prices, which I’ve also shortlisted.

What is the cheapest monthly VPN?

To get the best deals on VPNs, you usually have to sign up long-term — but I’ve shortlisted a few options that offer month-to-month plans for less than $10.

Pay-as-you-go plans are usually more expensive as they offer more flexibility for users. There’s also more market demand for short-term plans, so providers tend to charge more. Since VPN providers want to retain customers for longer, they try to entice them with higher discounts on long-term plans.

Will my monthly VPN work on my Fire Stick?

Yes! You can download your VPN app directly onto your Fire Stick from the Amazon Appstore. Most of the monthly VPNs on this list have native apps for Amazon Fire Stick. But even if your VPN doesn’t have an app in the Amazon Appstore, you can sideload its APK file and just use the Android version.

Can I use my monthly VPN on routers?

Yes, you can use your monthly VPN on routers. All the VPNs on this list are compatible with routers. Some VPNs even offer dedicated router apps and detailed how-to guides for installation, making the setup process quick and easy.

Monthly vs. long-term VPN subscription: Which is better?

It depends. If you plan to use a VPN for an extended period, a long-term subscription is better, as you typically get a significant discount. All the VPNs on this list offer cheap plans when you sign up long-term. You can also check out our coupon page to see the latest deals on VPNs.

However, if you only need a VPN for a short period, or you want to test it out first, then a pay-as-you-go subscription could be a better option. You might pay more per month, but you won’t be locked into paying a subscription fee over a long period of time.

Which monthly VPN is best for Netflix and other streaming sites?

All the monthly VPNs on this list work with Netflix and other streaming sites, like Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. Some even offer dedicated servers for streaming that are designed to minimize buffering, allowing you to securely binge-watch your favorite shows without interruptions.

Get a Monthly VPN Subscription

Monthly VPN plans can be expensive. VPNs want you to commit to a longer subscription and make a larger upfront payment. While this saves you money in the long run, it’s not a viable option if you only need your VPN for a short period of time. Plus, it’s a lot of money to spend if you’re not sure the VPN will work for you.

Of all the monthly VPNs I tested, my favorite is ExpressVPN. While it’s not the cheapest option for a month-to-month subscription, it offers the fastest speeds, unbeatable streaming capabilities, and its security features are hard to beat. It comes with a money-back guarantee, as well. So you can test ExpressVPN risk-free with its monthly plan— if you’re not happy with it, you can get your money back within 30 days.

To summarize, the best monthly VPNs are…