Nearly every VPN is on sale nearly all the time, which makes the word “deal” close to meaningless. We checked the official pricing pages of the ten services in our VPN rankings, noted which Promo Codes exist and which don’t, and did the sums on what each one costs once the introductory price runs out.
The short version: the discount is almost always built into the price already. You rarely need a code, you nearly always need a long plan, and the number that decides whether a deal is good is the renewal price printed in small type underneath. Prices below are the US dollar figures on each official site, converted at 1 USD = £0.7504 = €0.8906 unless a provider publishes its own sterling or euro price.
Every VPN Deal at a Glance
| Brand | Best deal right now | Promo Code | Monthly equivalent, best plan | Renewal price | Money-back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Up to 75% off 2-year plans, plus 3 months | LOCALS | US$3.49 (£2.62 / €3.11) | US$139.08 (£104.37 / €123.86) a year | 30 days |
| Surfshark | Up to 87% off 2-year plans, plus 3 months | SHARKGIFT | US$2.49 (£1.87 / €2.22) | Standard rate, yearly | 30 days |
| ExpressVPN | Up to 80% off 2-year plans, plus 4 months | LOCALS | US$2.99 (£2.24 / €2.66) | US$99.95 (£69.95 / €79.95) a year | 30 days |
| Proton VPN | 65% off VPN Plus for 24 months; free plan | No Promo Code needed | US$3.49 (£2.62 / €3.11) | US$83.88 (£62.94 / €74.70) a year | 30 days |
| Windscribe | Free 10GB a month; Pro US$69 a year | No Promo Code needed | US$5.75 (£4.31 / €5.12) | US$69 (£51.78 / €61.45) a year | 7 days, under 10GB used |
| Mullvad | €5 a month flat; 10% off paying in crypto | No Promo Code needed | US$5.61 (£4.21 / €5.00) | Unchanged | 14 days, not cash or crypto |
| CyberGhost | 83% off 2 Years + 2 Months | No Promo Code needed | US$2.19 (£1.64 / €1.95) | US$56.94 (£42.73 / €50.71) a year | 45 days (14 on monthly) |
| PIA | 83% off 3 Years + 3 Months | No Promo Code needed | US$2.03 (£1.52 / €1.81) | US$79 (£59.28 / €70.36) every 3 years | 30 days |
| IPVanish | Essential 2-year plan from US$2.19 a month | No Promo Code needed | US$2.19 (£1.64 / €1.95) | US$89.99 (£67.53 / €80.15) a year | 30 days, not monthly |
| PureVPN | Up to 85% off 2-year plans, plus 3 months | No Promo Code needed | US$2.15 (£1.61 / €1.91) | US$47.95 (£35.98 / €42.70) a year | 31 days |
Our Top Pick: The NordVPN Deal
NordVPN tops our rankings for its mix of speed, six independent no-logs assessments and servers in 150 countries. The two-year deal is not the cheapest here, but it is the one we would buy for a first VPN.
| Offer detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Promo Code | LOCALS |
| Welcome offer | Up to 75% off 2-year plans, plus 3 extra months; Basic from US$3.49 a month (£2.62 / €3.11) |
| Who qualifies | New customers buying direct from nordvpn.com |
| Key terms | Basic billed US$94.23 (£70.71 / €83.92) for the first 27 months, then US$139.08 (£104.37 / €123.86) a year; sales tax may apply; 30-day money-back guarantee |
| How to claim | Choose a 2-year plan on NordVPN’s pricing page, enter LOCALS at checkout, check the order summary and pay |
NordVPN: Up to 75% Off, but Read Year Three
The deal. All three two-year plans come with three extra months, so you pay for 27. Basic is US$3.49 a month, billed US$94.23 (£70.71 / €83.92). Complete, which adds extra security tools, is US$4.49 a month (US$121.23 up front) and carries the headline 75% saving. Prime is US$7.49 a month (US$202.23). The discount is on the pricing page already. Enter Promo Code LOCALS at checkout; if the order summary doesn’t move, the on-page price is the one you get.
The renewal trap. After 27 months, Basic renews at US$139.08 (£104.37 / €123.86) a year. That is US$11.59 a month, more than three times the introductory rate. Over 39 months you would pay US$233.31 (£175.08 / €207.79), and well over half of that lands in the final year.
One curiosity: NordVPN’s own coupon page advertises a two-year price of US$3.89 a month with Promo Code CYBERSEC2Y, which is dearer than the US$3.49 Basic price on its main pricing page. A code is not automatically a saving, so compare the basket total, not the banner.
Who it suits. Travellers and all-rounders who want one well-audited service and will put the renewal date in a diary. Ten devices on every plan, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our NordVPN review.
Surfshark: The Cheapest of the Big Three, Code and All
The deal. Surfshark’s two-year plans run for 27 months. Starter and One both cost US$2.49 a month (£1.87 / €2.22), billed US$67.23 (£50.45 / €59.88), and the page marks them 85% and 87% off respectively, so One, which adds antivirus and other extras, is the better buy at the same price. One+ is US$3.99 a month (US$107.73). When we checked, a “Black Friday deal” banner was already up in October.
Surfshark is the one big name whose own deals page names Promo Codes: SHARKGIFT for the two-year plan with three extra months, and SHARKSECURE for a three-month plan from US$8.99 a month (£6.75 / €8.01). Type the code into the coupon field at checkout. Only one code applies per order.
The renewal trap. Surfshark doesn’t print its renewal figure on the pricing page. Its terms say plans renew at the standard rate, charged in the currency of your first payment, with an email reminder 30 days before. Price trackers put Starter’s renewal at around US$79 (£59.28 / €70.36) a year; on that figure, 39 months would cost US$146.23 (£109.73 / €130.23), with the last 12 months costing more than the first 27.
Who it suits. Households. Every plan covers unlimited devices, so a family with four phones, two laptops and a television stick pays the same as a single user. There is also a seven-day free trial on 12- and 24-month plans, though it needs payment details and covers three devices. Read our Surfshark review.
ExpressVPN: 80% Off With Four Bonus Months
The deal. Every ExpressVPN two-year plan runs for 28 months. Basic is US$2.99 a month (£2.24 / €2.66), billed US$83.72 (£62.82 / €74.56), and marked 80% off. Advanced, which ExpressVPN calls its most popular tier, is US$4.49 a month (US$125.72) with 12 devices. Pro is US$7.49 a month (US$209.72) with 14. As with NordVPN, the saving is in the price: enter Promo Code LOCALS at checkout and check the total.
The renewal trap. Basic renews at US$99.95 (£69.95 / €79.95) a year, so a single year of renewal costs more than the whole 28-month introductory term. Over 40 months the bill comes to US$183.67 (£137.83 / €163.58). Advanced renews at US$119.95 (£89.95 / €109.95) and Pro at US$199.95 (£149.95 / €179.95).
Who it suits. People who value polished apps across laptops, phones, Apple TV and routers, and a long list of published audits. The 30-day money-back guarantee is for first-time users, and App Store subscriptions are excluded, so buy on the website. Read our ExpressVPN review.
Proton VPN: 65% Off Automatically, and a Free Plan Worth Keeping
The deal. VPN Plus is US$3.49 a month (£2.62 / €3.11) on the 24-month plan, billed US$83.76 (£62.85 / €74.60), down from US$9.99 a month. No Promo Code needed: the discount is applied at checkout. Proton Unlimited, which bundles Mail, Drive and Pass, is US$7.99 a month (US$191.76 for 24 months).
Students in the UK, US, France and Germany can get 75% off the 12-month VPN Plus plan by verifying through Student Beans, which then sends them to Proton’s checkout with the discount already applied.
The renewal trap. VPN Plus renews at US$83.88 (£62.94 / €74.70) every 12 months. In other words, year three costs as much as years one and two together: US$6.99 a month instead of US$3.49. Three years come to US$167.64 (£125.80 / €149.30), which is still among the gentler renewals in this list.
Who it suits. Anyone who wants to try before they pay, because the free plan (below) runs indefinitely. Paid plans cover ten devices and servers in more than 140 countries. Refunds aren’t available on cash or bank transfer payments. Read our Proton VPN review.
Windscribe: Free 10GB, or Pay Only for the Countries You Use
The deal. Windscribe has no multi-year plan and no Promo Code needed for its standard prices. Pro costs US$9 a month (£6.75 / €8.02) or US$69 (£51.78 / €61.45) a year, which works out at US$5.75 a month and saves US$39 against monthly billing. The upgrade page has a promo code field for seasonal offers.
Build a Plan is the unusual bit: US$1 per location per month, with a US$3 minimum and up to seven locations. Each location you add brings an extra 10GB of monthly data. A Briton living in Spain who only needs the UK, Spain and the US would pay US$3 a month, US$36 (£27.01 / €32.06) a year.
The renewal trap. There isn’t much of one: yearly Pro renews at the same US$69. The catch is the refund policy, which allows only 7 days from first payment, and only if you have used less than 10GB. Renewals are not refundable.
Who it suits. Light users, and anyone who wants unlimited devices on a free plan. Read our Windscribe review.
Mullvad: €5 a Month, No Sales, Ever
The deal. Mullvad charges €5 a month (US$5.61 / £4.21), VAT included, whether you buy one month, a year or, as its pricing page offers, a decade. Asked whether it runs sales, the page answers “Nope”, adding: “Not for Christmas or any other holiday or event that you can think of.” The only discount is 10% for paying in cryptocurrency, which brings the price to €4.50 (US$5.05 / £3.79). No Promo Code needed, and none exists.
The renewal trap. None. Three years cost €180 (US$202.12 / £151.68), or €162 in crypto. On day one Mullvad looks expensive next to a two-year deal; by year three it is cheaper than NordVPN Basic. The real small print is the refund: 14 days, and not for cash, crypto or voucher payments.
Who it suits. Privacy purists. You get a 16-digit account number instead of an email login, and five devices. Read our Mullvad review.
CyberGhost: 83% Off, and a Renewal That Stays Low
The deal. The 2 Years + 2 Months plan costs US$2.19 a month (£1.64 / €1.95), billed US$56.94 (£42.73 / €50.71) for 26 months. The 83% discount is in the price, with no Promo Code needed. When we checked, it was dressed up as a Halloween deal with a countdown timer, and a “Back to Campus” banner was also running.
The renewal trap. The trap here is the short plan, not the long one. The two-year plan renews at the same US$56.94 a year, about US$4.75 a month (£3.56 / €4.23), so 38 months cost US$113.88 (£85.46 / €101.42). The monthly plan, by contrast, is US$12.99 (£9.75 / €11.57) and carries only a 14-day refund window, against 45 days on the longer plans.
Who it suits. Streamers on a budget, and anyone who wants the longest refund window in this list. Seven devices. Read our CyberGhost review.
Private Internet Access: 39 Months for US$79
The deal. PIA’s 3 Years + 3 Months plan is US$2.03 a month (£1.52 / €1.81), US$79 (£59.28 / €70.36) for 39 months, and 83% off the monthly rate. No Promo Code needed. In October its plan page carried a “Halloween Price Slash” banner.
The renewal trap. PIA’s plan page says the long plan renews at the same US$79 every three years, which is unusually kind. The expensive mistakes are elsewhere. The 1-year plan is US$47.88 (£35.93 / €42.64) a year, and the monthly plan US$11.95 (£8.97 / €10.64): pay monthly for 39 months and you would spend US$466.05 (£349.72 / €415.06), nearly six times the long-plan price.
Who it suits. Long-term value hunters and large households: devices are unlimited. The 30-day money-back guarantee covers new subscribers buying on PIA’s website, not app store purchases. Read our PIA review.
IPVanish: Cheap for Two Years, Then Less So
The deal. The Essential two-year plan costs US$2.19 a month (£1.64 / €1.95), billed US$52.56 (£39.44 / €46.81). No Promo Code needed. IPVanish is one of several providers that start their Black Friday pricing in October, so expect the headline figure to shift as November approaches.
The renewal trap. Essential renews at US$89.99 (£67.53 / €80.15) a year. Three years cost US$142.55 (£106.97 / €126.96), and year three alone costs 70% more than the first two years together. The 7-day free trial in the iOS and Android apps rolls into an annual plan if you forget to cancel, and the 30-day refund doesn’t cover monthly plans or renewals.
Who it suits. Households with a drawer full of gadgets, since devices are unlimited, and anyone who wants quick WireGuard speeds. Read our IPVanish review.
PureVPN: Up to 85% Off, With a Coupon Box That Rarely Needs Filling
The deal. All PureVPN two-year plans run for 27 months. Standard is US$2.15 a month (£1.61 / €1.91), US$58.20 (£43.67 / €51.83), at 83% off. Plus is US$2.73 a month (US$73.80) at 85% off, and Max US$3.55 a month (US$95.85), with a free 3GB eSIM for 30 days thrown in. The order page has a “Got a coupon code?” box, but the discounts apply without one.
The renewal trap. PureVPN’s twist is that the shorter plan renews higher. The 1-year Standard plan looks cheap at US$40.80 (£30.62 / €36.34) for 16 months, then renews at US$57.95 (£43.49 / €51.61) a year. The two-year Standard plan renews at US$47.95 (£35.98 / €42.70). Over 39 months, the two-year route costs US$106.15 (£79.65 / €94.54).
Who it suits. Budget buyers who want ten devices and optional add-ons such as a dedicated IP. The 31-day money-back guarantee excludes renewals, app store purchases and some crypto payments. Read our PureVPN review.
Free VPN Plans Compared: Proton, Windscribe and PrivadoVPN
Only two services in our top ten offer a free plan that doesn’t expire, and they make opposite trade-offs.
Proton VPN Free has no data limit, no adverts and needs no card. You get one device at a time and servers in 10 countries, chosen for you rather than by you, at what Proton calls medium speed. The no-logs policy is the same one paying customers get. None of the free countries is the UK, so it is no help with BBC iPlayer from abroad.
Windscribe Free gives 10GB a month once you confirm an email address, or 2GB if you don’t. You can pick from 10 countries (the US, Canada, the UK, Hong Kong, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway and Romania) and use it on as many devices as you like. Ten gigabytes is plenty for maps, email and banking on holiday, or roughly an evening or two of HD streaming.
PrivadoVPN Free, outside our top ten, also offers 10GB a month, across 13 locations in 10 countries on one device, according to Tom’s Guide. Once the allowance runs out, speeds drop to around 1Mbps rather than cutting off.
| Free plan | Data | Devices | Countries | Card needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN Free | Unlimited | 1 | 10, assigned by the app | No |
| Windscribe Free | 10GB a month (2GB without email) | Unlimited | 10, including the UK | No |
| PrivadoVPN Free | 10GB a month, then about 1Mbps | 1 | 10 | No |
Everything else is a trial, and trials want payment details. Surfshark’s and NordVPN’s seven-day trials charge you when they end. CyberGhost offers 24 hours on Windows and macOS with no card. PureVPN’s seven-day trial costs US$0.99 (£0.74 / €0.88). Mullvad offers neither a free plan nor a trial, only its flat €5 and a 14-day refund.
How to Get the Lowest VPN Price
Do the multi-year maths, not the monthly maths. The monthly figure on a pricing page assumes you stay for the whole first term. Over roughly three years, on each provider’s own prices, the order changes:
| Brand and plan | About three years costs | Per month over the period |
|---|---|---|
| PIA, 3 Years + 3 Months (39 months) | US$79 (£59.28 / €70.36) | US$2.03 |
| PureVPN Standard (39 months) | US$106.15 (£79.65 / €94.54) | US$2.72 |
| CyberGhost (38 months) | US$113.88 (£85.46 / €101.42) | US$3.00 |
| IPVanish Essential (36 months) | US$142.55 (£106.97 / €126.96) | US$3.96 |
| Proton VPN Plus (36 months) | US$167.64 (£125.80 / €149.30) | US$4.66 |
| ExpressVPN Basic (40 months) | US$183.67 (£137.83 / €163.58) | US$4.59 |
| Mullvad (36 months) | €180 (US$202.12 / £151.68) | US$5.61 |
| Windscribe Pro yearly (36 months) | US$207 (£155.33 / €184.35) | US$5.75 |
| NordVPN Basic (39 months) | US$233.31 (£175.08 / €207.79) | US$5.98 |
NordVPN and Proton both start at US$3.49 a month. Three years in, NordVPN has cost about US$66 more.
Beat the renewal. Most providers here let you switch off auto-renew in your account the day you sign up, and you keep the time you have paid for. Set a reminder a month before the term ends, then compare new-customer deals elsewhere.
Choose the payment method carefully. Buy on the provider’s website rather than through the App Store or Google Play: the money-back guarantees at ExpressVPN, PIA, IPVanish and PureVPN don’t cover app store purchases. Some payment methods can’t be refunded at all (cash, crypto and vouchers at Mullvad, cash and bank transfer at Proton, CoinPayments crypto at PureVPN), so use a card or PayPal for the first purchase if you might want your money back. Most prices are charged in dollars, and Surfshark renews in whatever currency you first paid in, so a card without foreign transaction fees saves a little more; our money section covers which ones charge. Sales tax or VAT may be added at checkout.
Time it, loosely. VPN sales follow a reliable calendar. Halloween banners appear in October (CyberGhost and PIA were both running them when we checked), Black Friday pricing often starts weeks early (Surfshark’s was live in October), and student offers cluster around the start of the academic year. Proton’s 2022 Black Friday deal renewed at the discounted price, which is worth more than a headline percentage. Windscribe has run a Halloween sale on Pro in previous years. Mullvad never joins in. If you need a VPN now, the everyday two-year prices are close enough to the seasonal ones that waiting rarely pays.
Bundle with care. Several providers now throw in extras: PureVPN Max includes a 3GB eSIM, and NordVPN’s sister brand sells travel data. If you mainly want mobile data abroad, a dedicated travel eSIM is usually better value than a VPN bundle.
VPN Deals: Your Questions Answered
Do VPN promo codes actually work?
Sometimes, but they rarely beat the price already on screen. Most providers build the whole discount into their long plans, so there is nothing for a code to add. Surfshark is the main exception, naming SHARKGIFT and SHARKSECURE on its own deals page. Always compare the basket total before paying.
What is the cheapest VPN deal right now?
On the first term, PIA at US$2.03 a month (£1.52 / €1.81) for 39 months. Over about three years it stays cheapest, at US$79 in total, because its plan page says it renews at the same price. PureVPN and CyberGhost come next.
Is there a NordVPN promo code?
NordVPN’s 75% saving is on its pricing page without a code. You can enter Promo Code LOCALS at checkout. NordVPN’s own coupon page lists codes too, but its two-year coupon price of US$3.89 a month is higher than the US$3.49 Basic price on the main pricing page.
Does Surfshark have a coupon code?
Yes. Surfshark’s deals page names SHARKGIFT for the two-year plan with three extra months and SHARKSECURE for a three-month plan from US$8.99 a month. One code per order. The two-year plans already show up to 87% off before any code.
What is the best free VPN plan?
Proton VPN Free, for most people: unlimited data, no adverts and no card, though only on one device and with no UK servers. Windscribe Free suits anyone who needs several devices or a UK connection, with 10GB a month after confirming an email.
Why does my VPN cost more when it renews?
Introductory prices are discounts for committing to a long first term. After that, most providers charge their standard rate, usually yearly. NordVPN Basic, for example, goes from US$3.49 to about US$11.59 a month. Turn off auto-renew early and decide again when the reminder arrives.
When are the best VPN deals?
Late October to early December, when Halloween, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales overlap. Many providers start their Black Friday pricing in October. The everyday two-year prices are rarely far behind, so there is little point going unprotected while you wait.
Can I get a VPN student discount?
Proton offers students in the UK, US, France and Germany 75% off a 12-month VPN Plus plan through Student Beans. Surfshark has a student discount page, and CyberGhost runs “Back to Campus” offers each autumn.
Can I get a refund if I cancel?
Usually, if you act fast and bought on the provider’s website. CyberGhost gives 45 days on its longer plans, PureVPN 31, NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton, PIA and IPVanish 30, Mullvad 14 and Windscribe 7. Renewals and app store purchases are generally excluded.
Is it legal to use a VPN in the UK?
Yes. VPNs are legal in the UK and widely used for privacy and security. Using one to get around a streaming service’s terms can get your account restricted.
For the full rankings, including speed, streaming and privacy records, see our guide to the best VPNs.