VPN prices compared: Surfshark vs Proton VPN vs FastestVPN, from $19.95 for two years

VPN prices are some of the most confusing in any subscription. The headline monthly price usually means paying for one or two years upfront, the price often jumps when the plan renews, and the cheapest plan can be half the price of the next tier up for a few extras you may not need.

We've compared the prices of Surfshark, Proton VPN and FastestVPN in US dollars, using their own websites on October 26, 2026. Surfshark's pricing page didn't show us US dollar prices, so its figures come from its own plans guide, which says prices were accurate as of July 30, 2026. NordVPN's pricing pages wouldn't load for us at all, so we've left its prices out rather than guess. Prices exclude any sales tax.

At a glance

• Cheapest upfront: FastestVPN, $19.95 for two years, or a one-off $40 for its Lifetime Plus plan.
• Cheapest big-name two-year plan: Surfshark Starter at $2.49 a month, or $59.76 for 24 months.
• Clearest renewal price: Proton VPN, which shows its renewal price on the pricing page: VPN Plus renews at $83.88 a year.
• Most devices: Surfshark, with unlimited simultaneous connections.
• Free option: Proton VPN has a free plan for one device.

VPN prices compared

Surfshark's upfront totals are our calculations from its monthly prices (it states $40.68 for Starter on a 12-month plan).

Surfshark

Surfshark has three plans. Starter ($2.49 a month on a two-year plan, $3.39 on one year, $16.45 monthly) is the VPN itself, with its CleanWeb ad and cookie pop-up blocker, multi-hop connections and Alternative ID for signing up to things without your real details. One ($2.79, $3.59 or $18.95) adds Surfshark Antivirus, Surfshark Alert for data leak warnings, scam protection and a web content blocker. One+ ($4.49, $7.49 or $21.85) adds Incogni, which asks data brokers to remove your details, and identity theft coverage for eligible new US customers.

Every plan allows unlimited devices at once and has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark's terms say introductory prices renew at the standard non-introductory rate, and its pricing page says two-year plans are billed once and then yearly. It didn't show us the renewal amounts, so check them at checkout. Surfshark publishes no-logs assurance reports from Deloitte, from 2023 and 2025, on its Trust Center.

Proton VPN

Proton VPN, from the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, is the most upfront about renewals. VPN Plus costs $3.49 a month on a two-year plan, or $83.76 for the first 24 months, then renews at $83.88 every 12 months, or about $6.99 a month. It covers 10 devices at a time. Proton Unlimited, which adds Proton's mail, storage and password manager apps, is $7.99 a month on two years ($191.76), renewing at $119.88 a year. Both have a 30-day money-back guarantee. The free plan covers one device.

FastestVPN

FastestVPN is the cheapest by some distance. Its monthly plan is $5, and its "1 Year + 1 Year Free" plan is $19.95 for two years, about 83 cents a month. A Lifetime Plus plan, labeled a Black Friday exclusive, is a one-off $40 and includes a lifetime family password manager. The pricing page says plans allow 15 logins at once (its FAQ says 10), with extra devices for $1 each, a dedicated IP for $1.49 a month and port forwarding for $1.20 a month.

Read the renewal terms. FastestVPN's terms of service list standard prices of $10 a month for the monthly plan and $2.49 a month for the one-year plan, so the $5 monthly price is an introductory one. Plans renew automatically unless you turn it off at least 24 hours before the end of the period, and there's no refund after the first 31 days or on renewals. FastestVPN says it has been audited by Altius IT, but it doesn't publish a dated report.

What about NordVPN?

NordVPN's pricing pages blocked us, so we can't give its current prices. Its support pages say plans cover up to 10 devices at once, one- and two-year plans are paid in full upfront, renewals are at "the applicable renewal price" with email notice of changes, and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee on first purchases only. You can check its current offers on our NordVPN page.

How to pick a VPN without overpaying

1. Look at the total, not the monthly figure. A $2.49 monthly price on a two-year plan means paying about $60 on day one.
2. Find the renewal price. Check the terms or checkout page, and set a reminder before the plan renews.
3. Only pay for extras you'll use. Antivirus, data broker removal and identity theft cover add up to about $2 a month on Surfshark's two-year plans.
4. Use the money-back window. Test speeds and streaming on your own devices in the first 30 days (31 at FastestVPN), and ask for a refund if it doesn't work for you.
5. Count your devices. Surfshark is unlimited, but Proton VPN Plus stops at 10.

FAQs

Is a lifetime VPN plan a good deal?

It can be, but you're betting the company will keep running and keep the plan going. Check what "lifetime" covers in the terms before you buy.

Can I get a refund on a renewal?

Usually not. NordVPN's and FastestVPN's money-back guarantees cover new purchases only, so turn off auto-renewal if you don't want to continue.

Do I need the higher tiers?

Not for a VPN alone. Surfshark Starter, Proton VPN Plus and FastestVPN's plans all include the VPN. The higher tiers add other security and privacy tools.

Ways to save

See our pages for Surfshark, FastestVPN and NordVPN for their latest offers. VPN companies often launch their biggest discounts around Black Friday, and FastestVPN's lifetime plan is already marked as a Black Friday deal.

Sources: Surfshark: VPN plans explained, Surfshark: pricing, Surfshark: pricing terms, Surfshark: Trust Center, Proton VPN: pricing, FastestVPN: pricing, FastestVPN: terms of service, FastestVPN: FAQ, FastestVPN: audit, NordVPN: plans and prices, NordVPN: devices, NordVPN: refund policy

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