At a glance
A VPN encrypts your connection and hides your IP address from the websites you visit, which is useful on public Wi-Fi, against tracking by your internet provider and to reach services while travelling. It does not make you anonymous and it does not protect against phishing or malware. The most important question is trust: the VPN company can see your traffic instead of your provider, so independent no-logs audits matter.
The short version: Proton VPN has the best free plan and a public audit report; Mullvad is the privacy choice with one flat price and no email needed; PIA has the cheapest long-term price that does not jump on renewal; NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are feature-rich but check the renewal price before you pay.
Quick picks
- Proton VPN – the best free plan and transparency
- Mullvad – maximum privacy with a flat price
- Private Internet Access (PIA) – the lowest long-term price
- NordVPN – lots of features and fast apps
- Surfshark – unlimited devices at a low start price
- ExpressVPN – a long audit history and RAM-only servers
- CyberGhost – a long money-back period
Comparison table
| Product | Monthly plan | Cheapest long plan | Free plan | Devices | Latest no-logs audit | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | $9.99 | $3.49/mo for 2 years, then $83.88/yr | Yes, 1 device, no data cap | 10 | Securitum, 2025 (public report) | official site |
| Mullvad | €5 | €5/mo, no discounts | No | 5 | Cure53 infrastructure test, 2024 | official site |
| Private Internet Access (PIA) | $11.95 | $2.03/mo ($79 for 3 years + 3 months), renews at $79 | No | Unlimited | Deloitte, Dec. 2025 | official site |
| NordVPN | check on site | check on site (2-year plans) | No | 10 | Deloitte, Dec. 2025 (6th audit) | official site |
| Surfshark | check on site | from €2.49/mo (27-month offer, EU price) | No (7-day trial via app stores) | Unlimited | Deloitte, 2025 (customers only) | official site |
| ExpressVPN | check on site | from €2.99/mo (28 months, EU price), renews €79.95/yr | No | 10 to 14 by plan | KPMG, 2025 | official site |
| CyberGhost | €11.99 (EU price) | €2.19/mo for 26 months (EU price) | No | 7 | Deloitte, Oct. 2025 | official site |
Proton VPN
Best for: the best free plan and transparencyProton VPN, from the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, is the only big VPN with a free plan that has no data limit: one device, servers in 10 countries, chosen automatically. VPN Plus costs $9.99 for one month or $3.49 per month on the two-year plan ($83.76), renewing at $83.88 per year. Up to 10 devices are allowed, and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The apps are open source, and the fourth consecutive no-logs audit by Securitum (2025) is published in full. Proton advertises Plus for streaming.
Pros
- Free plan without data limit
- Open-source apps and a public no-logs audit report
- Swiss company
Cons
- Plus is pricier than Surfshark or PIA on long plans
- Free plan picks servers for you
Mullvad
Best for: maximum privacy with a flat priceMullvad is a Swedish VPN built around privacy: you get an account number instead of creating an account with an email address, and you can even pay in cash. It costs a flat €5 per month no matter how long you pay for, so there are no teaser prices and no renewal surprises. Up to five devices are allowed; refunds are possible within 14 days (not for cash).
Mullvad does not run an affiliate program and does not pay for reviews, so you will rarely see it promoted. Its infrastructure was tested by Cure53 in 2024. It is not marketed for streaming.
Pros
- No email needed, cash payments accepted
- Same fair price forever
- Open source
Cons
- Only 5 devices
- No streaming focus
- No long-term discount
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Best for: the lowest long-term pricePIA is the cheapest option on a long plan and, unusually, its renewal price is the same: $79 for three years and three months, or $47.88 per year. One month costs $11.95. You can use it on unlimited devices, the apps are open source and Deloitte confirmed the no-logs policy for the third time in December 2025.
The company is based in the United States and belongs to the Kape group, which also owns ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.
Pros
- Lowest long-term price, no renewal jump
- Unlimited devices
- Open-source apps
Cons
- Based in the United States
- Apps less polished than the leaders
NordVPN
Best for: lots of features and fast appsNordVPN is one of the largest VPNs, with fast apps and many extras such as threat protection and dedicated IP addresses. Its pricing page could not be read on our check date, so please check the current price there; third-party listings mention roughly $3.49 to $4.49 per month for two-year plans and $14.99 or more for a single month, with higher renewal prices. Up to 10 devices are allowed, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
NordVPN is based in Panama, and Deloitte confirmed its no-logs policy for the sixth time in December 2025. It advertises its service for streaming.
Pros
- Many features and fast apps
- Long record of no-logs audits
Cons
- Introductory prices rise on renewal
- Many add-on tiers make pricing complex
Surfshark
Best for: unlimited devices at a low start priceSurfshark allows unlimited devices on one subscription, which makes it popular with families. On the check date the official page showed us €2.49 per month for its 27-month Starter and One plans during a promotion; Surfshark says renewal prices depend on your location, so check the price after the first term. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Surfshark is based in the Netherlands and belongs to the same group as NordVPN. Deloitte audited its no-logs policy in 2025, but the report is only available to customers.
Pros
- Unlimited devices
- Low introductory price
Cons
- Renewal prices depend on location and are not shown clearly
- Audit report not public
ExpressVPN
Best for: a long audit history and RAM-only serversExpressVPN has been audited many times and runs its servers from memory only (TrustedServer), so nothing is stored on disk. It now sells Basic, Advanced and Pro plans; on the check date the official page showed us €2.99, €4.49 and €7.49 per month on 28-month plans, renewing at €79.95, €109.95 and €179.95 per year. Device limits are 10, 12 or 14 depending on the plan.
The company is registered in the British Virgin Islands and belongs to the Kape group. KPMG confirmed the no-logs policy in 2025.
Pros
- Many independent audits, RAM-only servers
- Simple, reliable apps
Cons
- Expensive, especially after the first term
- Single-month price is high
CyberGhost
Best for: a long money-back periodCyberGhost offers 45 days of money-back guarantee on longer plans (14 days on the monthly plan), longer than most competitors. On the check date the official page showed us €11.99 for one month and €2.19 per month on the 26-month plan. Renewal terms on the page were not clear to us. Watch the checkout: add-on products were pre-selected and can raise the total considerably.
CyberGhost is based in Romania, belongs to the Kape group and offers dedicated streaming servers. Deloitte audited it in 2025.
Pros
- 45-day money-back guarantee on longer plans
- Dedicated streaming servers
Cons
- Pre-selected extras at checkout
- Renewal price not clear
How to compare VPN prices honestly
Almost every VPN advertises a monthly price that only applies if you pay two or three years in advance, and the price usually goes up when the plan renews. Before you buy, look at three numbers: the total you pay today, the length of the first term and the renewal price. Mullvad (flat €5) and PIA (renews at the same price) are the exceptions in this list.
What a VPN does not do
- It does not make you anonymous: logging into Google or Facebook still identifies you.
- It does not stop phishing, malware or scams.
- Using a VPN to get around streaming licences may break the service's terms of use.
Free VPNs
Running a VPN costs money. Free VPN apps from unknown companies often make money from ads or data. Proton VPN's free plan is the safe exception, because it is paid for by the paying users and covered by the same audits.
How we compared
We did not run our own lab benchmarks and we do not publish made-up test scores. This comparison is based on the vendors' official pricing and feature pages, their documentation and published independent audits, all read on the date above. Prices change often and can differ by country, tax and promotion: always check the final price on the vendor's site.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free VPN?
Proton VPN, because its free plan has no data limit, no ads and is covered by public no-logs audits. It is limited to one device and the server is chosen for you.
Which VPN is cheapest in the long run?
In this comparison PIA, at $79 for three years and three months with the same renewal price. Mullvad is also predictable at a flat €5 per month.
Why are VPN renewal prices higher?
The advertised prices are introductory offers for long first terms. After that the plan renews at a regular price, which can be two to three times higher. Check the renewal price before paying.
Do VPNs really keep no logs?
You cannot check it yourself, so independent audits by firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, Securitum or Cure53 are the best evidence. All services in this list have had one.
Is a VPN needed at home?
Not always. It helps on public Wi-Fi, against tracking by your internet provider and when travelling. Websites already use HTTPS, which encrypts the content of your connection.
Why are some prices in euros?
Several vendors show prices based on the visitor's location. Our check was made from Germany, so some pages only showed euro prices. Prices in your country may differ.