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The best cheap VPNs for cybersecurity and streaming

These VPNs cost less than your daily coffee.
The best cheap VPNs for cybersecurity and streaming Credit: Pexels

Best For Security
You can't go wrong with Nord. It's a well-known and reliable VPN that has over 5,000 servers worldwide and doesn't track your activity.
Pros & Cons
The Good
One of the sturdiest, most reliable VPNs Fast servers Can connect six devices Doesn't log activities
The Bad
It's expensive
The Bottomline
If you want a VPN that has a fast service and allows you to connect to multiple phones at once, try out NordVPN.
Best For Simplicity
CyberGhost makes staying protected on your Android device easy.
Pros & Cons
The Good
Great security features Easy to use with Android Generous money-back guarantee
The Bad
Speeds can drop
The Bottomline
CyberGhost VPN keeps things real simple, and focuses on strong security features.
Best For Server Network
Installs quickly and comes with loads of premium features for all types of users.
Pros & Cons
The Good
Encrypted WiFi Kill switch Number and spread of servers Range of apps
The Bad
Interface is dated Not the fastest
The Bottomline
List of features that should suit beginners and advanced users.
Best For Customisation
Android users can profit from the customisable modes used to optimise their connection.
Pros & Cons
The Good
Customisable modes Private connection possibilities Protection against viruses and ads
The Bad
The modes can actually be limiting
The Bottomline
Android users should love the customisable modes that can be used to optimise connection.
Best For Multiple Devices
Surfshark offers an impressive set of features with an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.
Pros & Cons
The Good
No limit on simultaneous connections Intuitive app Multi-hop and split tunnelling tools
The Bad
Not the strongest connection speeds
The Bottomline
Surfshark ticks a lot of boxes for streaming sport and should be your top choice if you rely on a lot of tech.
Best For App
This cheap provider is supported on basically every platform.
Pros & Cons
The Good
Supports torrenting App available for lots of platforms 24/7 support Unlimited bandwidth Supports simultaneous connections on up to five devices Split tunnelling
The Bad
Only supports one form of cryptocurrency payments On the slow side
The Bottomline
Such a great service for so little money. What's the catch?

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

All those hours you've spent searching for the perfect reaction GIF or drooling over recipes on YouTube seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things — but to Google, hackers, your internet service provider (ISP), and even certain government agencies, that browsing history is a valuable commodity.

And guess what? They're probably tracking and logging every digital move you make. Like, right now. The best thing you can do to make sure your online activities are undetectable and untraceable is to invest in a VPN.

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a service that makes your web presence more difficult to track and trace, and if someone can't track or trace your web presence, they can't collect your personal data and do suspect things with it — like sell it to advertisers or use it to incriminate you in nefarious activities.

A VPN improves online privacy because the user's IP address is replaced with one from the VPN provider. Those subscribed to a VPN can obtain an IP address from any gateway location the VPN service provides. A VPN is like an encrypted tunnel through which all of your online traffic passes through. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware

Do you need to pay for VPNs?

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

A VPN keeps you anonymous online by masking your IP address and encrypting your traffic through its secure servers, and while it would be nice of providers to give away and maintain this technology for free, they have to make money somehow. So, if they're not charging you a monthly or annual fee to use their service, they're likely logging and selling your data in order to pay their bills. Some even have the audacity to seed their products with spyware. In the best-case scenario, that data will be used to generate eerily specific ads based on your browsing history. At worst, your privacy will be compromised.

What is the best cheap VPN?

We've found that many VPN providers are willing to offer their services for cheap so long as you commit to a long-term subscription. We have looked at everything on offer to line up a short selection of your best options, including popular providers like NordVPN and CyberGhost VPN.

We recommend taking your time and properly considering all the options in this list. There is something for everyone right here. You just need to weigh up each service against your own set of priorities, and pick a favourite.

These are the best cheap VPNs in 2024.

NordVPN

Best For Security

The good
One of the sturdiest, most reliable VPNs Fast servers Can connect six devices Doesn't log activities
The Bad
It's expensive
The Bottomline
If you want a VPN that has a fast service and allows you to connect to multiple phones at once, try out NordVPN.
Specs
  • Monthly: £10.39/month
  • One-year plan: £3.99/month
  • Two-year plan: £3.19/month

Read our full review of NordVPN.

NordVPN has a reputation for being amongst the sturdiest, most reliable VPNs out there. NordVPN has fast servers that are also not on any blacklists. You should be able to stream Hulu or Netlfix shows in several European countries without any issues. 

NordVPN says it offers over 5,000 servers worldwide. It lets you connect six devices at the same time, and it claims to keep no logs of your activities. INordVPN is one of the most secure VPNs, with a wide range of advanced security features that combine to protect your data and identity.

CyberGhost VPN

Best For Simplicity

The good
Great security features Easy to use with Android Generous money-back guarantee
The Bad
Speeds can drop
The Bottomline
CyberGhost VPN keeps things real simple, and focuses on strong security features.
Specs
  • Monthly: £10.89/month
  • Six-month plan: £6.19/month
  • Two-year plan: £1.92/month

Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN.

Cyberghost VPN has a really simple interface with easy-to-understand terminology explaining all of its features. It keeps things easy and focuses on strong security features. It’s very fast to set up and has intuitive apps for a variety of popular devices. 

CyberGhost might be easy to use but that doesn't mean it's not on par with other options on this list. Users have access to 3,600 servers in over 60 locations around the world, with unlimited bandwidth and traffic. This makes for reliable streaming, but some users have said connections can be slower than with other VPN offerings. 

Private Internet Access

Best For Server Network

The good
Encrypted WiFi Kill switch Number and spread of servers Range of apps
The Bad
Interface is dated Not the fastest
The Bottomline
List of features that should suit beginners and advanced users.
Specs
  • Monthly: £10.99/month
  • Six-month plan: £5.39/month
  • Two-year plan: £1.69/month

Private Internet Access (PIA) installs quickly and comes with loads of impressive features for all types of users, no matter if you're a beginner or an advanced user who likes fiddling around with settings.

You get your standard secure VPN account, encrypted WiFi, P2P, IPv6 leak protection, kill switch, plus a whole lot more. PIA isn't a particularly sexy app, but what it lacks in aesthetics it makes up for with a long list of features. It also has a solid backbone, with thousands of servers in countries all around the world.

It's also relatively speedy. We noticed our "naked" download and upload speeds dropped by only about a half or two-thirds (common for most VPNs). It may not be the fastest VPN around, but it's definitely not the slowest, either. 

PIA has apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and an extension for Chrome.

PureVPN

Best For Customisation

The good
Customisable modes Private connection possibilities Protection against viruses and ads
The Bad
The modes can actually be limiting
The Bottomline
Android users should love the customisable modes that can be used to optimise connection.
Specs
  • Monthly: £8.37/month
  • One-year plan: £2.86/month
  • Two-year plan: £1.75/month

PureVPN is different to other virtual private network services, due to its customisable nature.

Your connection is based on what 'mode' you select. Some of the options include streaming, 'internet freedom', privacy, file-sharing, and dedicated IP modes.

Some Android users might actually find this a bit limiting, but all your activity is kept private no matter what mode you're in, and that's the most important thing. The dedicated IP mode helps deal with some of the speed issues VPNs frequently face, too.

PureVPN also has many of the other features you expect to get from a VPN, such as the ability to change your location, and in-built protections against malware, viruses, and ads.

Surfshark

Best For Multiple Devices

The good
No limit on simultaneous connections Intuitive app Multi-hop and split tunnelling tools
The Bad
Not the strongest connection speeds
The Bottomline
Surfshark ticks a lot of boxes for streaming sport and should be your top choice if you rely on a lot of tech.
Specs
  • Monthly: £9.90/month
  • One-year plan: £3.05/month
  • Two-year plan: £1.76/month

Surfshark is probably the best VPN for anyone who relies on a lot of tech, as you can connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously with the same plan. This also makes it something to seriously consider if there is a lot of people in your house looking to stream at the same time.

Surfshark also offers a wide range of impressive features including split tunnelling and enterprise-grade infrastructure, with an easy to use and stylish interface making it a strong choice for total beginners.

Surfshark is not the cheapest provider, but if you're willing to commit to a longer contract, the monthly rate comes down sharply.

Ivacy VPN

Best For App

The good
Supports torrenting App available for lots of platforms 24/7 support Unlimited bandwidth Supports simultaneous connections on up to five devices Split tunnelling
The Bad
Only supports one form of cryptocurrency payments On the slow side
The Bottomline
Such a great service for so little money. What's the catch?
Specs
  • Five-year plan: £0.80/month
  • Monthly: £8.22/month
  • One-year plan: £2.91/month

If you had no clue what VPN stood for prior to clicking on this post, Ivacy VPN is the provider for you. 

Its app is extremely easy to navigate thanks to its Smart Purpose Selection feature, which chooses the right server for you based on your VPN needs (secure download, streaming, or unblocking). Better yet, it's supported on basically every platform you can think of — even Kodi, Raspberry Pi, Xbox, Playstation, Roku, and Blackberry — and maintains a sizable network of more than 1,000 servers in over 100 locations.

If you're still floating the idea of a VPN, Ivacy's price tag might be the thing that wins you over. Yet despite its low price, it doesn't skimp on security features like 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection. 

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