The 5 best VPN deals right now: August 2022

Surfshark VPN pricing

Surfshark VPN isn't the least expensive service, but it is a good compromise between cost and performance. When I tested it, It had top-notch performance, features, and customer service. And it's only a fraction of the cost of many of the best VPNs.

Read the review:  Surfshark VPN review

Surfshark also has a number of add-ons included in the Surfshark One package. For an extra $35.76 ($1.49 per month), you can add safe search, antivirus, and data breach alerts to the 2-year plan.

It also has unlimited simultaneous connections and the standard 30-day money-back guarantee.

KeepSolid VPN pricing

KeepSolid VPN has a different pricing model than most other VPNs: you can purchase a lifetime subscription with a set amount of devices you can install the VPN on. 

Through StackSocial (formerly ZDNET Academy), new users can pick up a lifetime subscription for five devices for only $39.99, which is a 60% discount compared to the $99.99 price for the same subscription if you purchase directly from the KeepSolid site. For only $20 more, you can add an additional five devices to your lifetime subscription, which would cost an extra $99.99 if it was a direct purchase.

Exclusive offer: Get Keepsolid VPN for up to 70% off

With this offer, you'll need to redeem your code within 30 days of purchase, and unredeemed software can only be refunded for store credit within 15 days of purchase. By taking advantage of the steeply-discounted subscription, you will miss out on the 30-day money-back guarantee, which KeepSolid's customer service told me is only available for purchases made directly through their official website. Essentially, once you've taken advantage of the steeply discounted deal, don't expect to be able to get a refund.

Once your subscription is activated, you can switch which devices you have KeepSolid installed on, but you're limited to removing one device per week from your limit. So you can still use the service with new devices.

PureVPN pricing

If a 30-day refund period is just short of what you need, you're in luck because PureVPN gives you an extra day to try out its service risk-free. It has the standard monthly, 1-year, and 2-year subscription plans with solid prices. At less than $2 per month, the 2-year plan is a great deal, but there is also a sort of hidden 5-year plan if you want an even lower average monthly cost.

CyberGhost VPN pricing

CyberGhost has good prices, and its 3-year plan (with 3 free months) has an average cost of only $2.29 per month, which is competitive with all but the very cheapest VPNs. What makes CyberGhost VPN a good deal is its money-back guarantee period, which is 45 days. That's over two weeks longer than other top VPN services.

Further reading: CyberGhost VPN review

The refund period should give you plenty of time to test drive CyberGhost on all of your devices (up to 7 at the same time) and in just about any situation you could need it. I was also able to get an offer for a 3-day trial period when subscribing through mobile, but after the trial I would have been signed up for the annual plan.

If you're interested in CyberGhost VPN's 1-year subscription, then the free trial period could make sense. Otherwise, you'll have a lower monthly cost with one of the longer plans.

Atlas VPN pricing

Atlas VPN's 3-year subscription (with 3 free months) is an exceptional deal because not only does it only cost an average of $1.83 a month, but it also comes with unlimited simultaneous connections. For under $2 a month, you'll have protected connections on every device you.

Further reading: Best cheap VPNs

It may be slightly more expensive than PureVPN's 5-year plan or KeepSolid's lifetime subscription, but for anyone who needs lots of connections, it could be well worth it just for the convenience.

Students in the US or UK are also eligible for an additional 10% discount on the 2-year plan. You can register for the student discount here.

We put Surfshark VPN at the top of our list as the best overall VPN deal because it has the best combination of price and performance. Surfshark has a solid reputation, good customer service, and fast connection speeds  in our testing. Although it's not as cheap as other services on this list, it made our best VPNs list and is a steal compared to what you could pay for other top VPN services. 

What makes one VPN a great deal for you, may translate to someone else's situation. But regardless of what you're looking to get out of a VPN, there's a deal that should work for your personal situation.

All of the VPN deals we've highlighted basically give you a month to try out the service and get a full refund if you're not satisfied. But you will have to pay upfront and have to navigate the provider's refund process if you want to discontinue service during the money-back period.

Very few VPN services advertise a free trial period, but you can sometimes find an offer for a free trial period (typically 7 days) when you sign-up through mobile. I've found free 7-day trial offers with NordVPN and Surfshark VPN this way, and Private Internet Access openly advertises its 7-day free trial period, which is available when subscribing through its mobile apps.

Keep in mind, if you take the free 7-day trial, you may end up paying more in the long run. I've noticed that the longer-term (cheaper) plans sometimes aren't available when taking advantage of the free trial period. So be sure to pay attention to the plan you'll be subscribed to and factor that into your decision.

To lock in the lowest average monthly cost, you'll need to subscribe to the longest plan, which can be anywhere from a 2- to 5-year commitment. And you'll have to pay the full cost for the entire term upfront in one lump sum.

Even with the lump-sum cost, the longer subscriptions can be worth it, you just need to pay attention to the renewal price. When you subscribe to a VPN service, you'll want to take a look at the fine print. Once your initial subscription plan expires, your cost is likely to increase. Although it could vary by service, after the lower-priced introductory offer period ends, you'll usually be renewed at the annual rate. A 1-year subscription typically is 30% to 50% more than longer-term plans, so it's something to be aware of when your plan is close to renewal.

I'm a firm believer that "free" makes everything taste better -- but not when it comes to VPN services.

A free VPN may sound like a great deal, but it comes with a non-monetary cost. First is performance: free VPNs have fewer features, slower speeds, and aren't likely to have great customer service. But that's not the real reason you should think twice about a gratis VPN.

If you're not paying for a VPN, the company is making money some other way. This could be from ads or worse, selling your information. And malware is a potential risk with free VPNs.

One possible exception to this rule is a reputable VPN service that offers a limited free version to get customers to try out the product. In this case, be sure to do your research and know that your options will be limited -- and your speed will be throttled.