Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one of the best ways to protect your online data and remain anonymous on the web, whether you’re trying to stream movies, or torrents, bypassing geo-restrictions, or live abroad. or just plain browsing. Most providers’ plans cost anywhere from $2 to $12 per month, though many lure customers with discounted introductory rates that skyrocket after your initial term. To help you lock down a plan that fits your budget, in the short and long term, we’re compiling a weekly roundup of the best deals on all the VPNs we’ve tested personally. You can see our top picks for the week of May 16 below.

Express VPN – Save 35% with a 12-month plan

A reliable server network, a user-friendly app, a strong commitment to data security, and an HQ in the privacy-forward British Virgin Islands make ExpressVPN our favorite full-featured VPN on the market. It also happens to be one of the most expensive VPNs out there, although you can shave a few bucks off its standard $12.95/month rate by opting for offering 35% savings at $8.32/month for a 12-month plan. (Bonus: Your rate won’t increase after the introductory period is over, and your purchases are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.) Bitcoin is accepted.

Nordvie PN – Two-year plan at a savings of 51%

Power users shouldn’t think twice about signing up for NordVPN, another industry giant based in the British Virgin Islands that offers double encryption, obscure servers, dark web monitoring, malware protection, ad and tracker blockers, and Onion Over VPN packs strong security features. , a tool that combines your VPN connection with the Tor network for an additional layer of privacy. All of its subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, with the cheapest being its two-year plan: new customers can sign up at the introductory rate of just $3.99/month, or 51 days from its usual $11/month price. % Discount. Accepted are Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP.

Optional add-ons include:

• NordPass Premium (password manager) – $1.49/month $4.99/month for your first two years (save 70%)
• NordLocker Premium, 2TB (cloud storage) – $7.99/month $19.99/month (Save 60%) for your first year

Proton VPN – Save 33% on a two-year Plus plan

Swiss-based ProtonVPN is another great option when it comes to privacy, with open-source apps and critical infrastructure stored inside data centers requiring biometric access. We recommend its Plus plan, which gives you full access to its server network, streaming service, P2P support, ad/tracker/malware protection, and a Tor over VPN tool that lets you access the Tor network with one click. Allows traffic to be directed through the. Monthly membership goes for $10, but if you commit to two years (with a 30-day money-back guarantee) you’ll only pay $6.63/month – that’s a 33% savings. Note that crypto is NOT accepted.

CyberGhost VPN – 39-month plan at 82% savings

This Romania-based provider boasts one of the largest, most globally diverse networks we’ve seen, with specialized servers for streaming, gaming, and P2P optimized to maintain consistent connections. Sign up for 39 months of CyberGhost coverage at $2.29/month (or 82% off your standard monthly fee of $12.99), and you’ll be able to renew at the exact same rate every 36 months after that. Like all CyberGhost multi-year plans, it’s protected by a 45-day money-back guarantee and includes free access to its ID Guard and Privacy Guard tools. BITCOIN IS ACCEPTED.

Optional add-ons include:

• Dedicated IP – $3.75/month to $5/month for three years (Save 25%).
• CyberGhost Password Manager – $2/month to $3.49/month for one year (Save 43%).

 

Editor’s Note: The CyberGhost website features a countdown to the deadline to lock in that three-year + three-month rate, but we’re pretty sure it’s just a marketing ploy.

TunnelBear – Save 67% on a three-year unlimited plan

TunnelBear is a simple, lightweight VPN with a natural (and cute) interface. Although it is inefficient at unblocking streaming sites and is based in Canada, the Five Eyes country, it will serve you well if you are just surfing the web. We recommend its Unlimited plan over the free version for unlimited browsing and premium customer service, which goes for only $3.33/month when you enroll for three years – that’s 67% off the normal $9.99/month rate and a fixed price that will not go up after your first term. Refunds are offered on a case-by-case basis, and bitcoin is accepted

Private Internet Access (PIA) – Save 82% on a 26-month plan

It’s not particularly special (and its US HQ location isn’t ideal), but for users looking for a basic VPN with open-source apps, built-in ad blocking, and a free email breach monitor, PIA is worth a look. Choose its longest plan and you’ll pay just $2.19/month for 26 months of coverage, which is 82% less than the regular rate of $11.99/month (with a 30-day money-back guarantee). This changes to the annual plan at $4.75/month after the term is up, which still isn’t terrible. Third-party and crypto gift cards are accepted.

Optional add-ons include:

• Dedicated IP – $4/month $5/month (Save 20%) for 2 years
• Antivirus by PIA – $1.45/month for two years from $4.50/month (save 68%)

IPVanish – Save 64% on the Year Plan

Another middle-of-the-road pick with a US HQ (boo), IPVanish makes up for its lack of advanced security features with a minimal, straightforward app and support for unlimited simultaneous connections. You can get the first period of their annual plan for only $3.99/month (or 64% off the standard monthly rate of $10.99), which comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and free antivirus protection from VIPRE. After that the completion of the first year, you will be bumped to $7.50/month. BITCOIN is NOT accepted.

Editor’s note: IPVanish and VIPRE are owned by Mashable publisher Ziff Davis. Any Ziff Davis products featured on Mashable are independently covered by our editorial team.

PureVPN – Save 82% on a 27-month plan

We don’t have great things to say about PureVPN – our review turns up slow download speeds, buggy apps, iffy Netflix support, and a questionable privacy policy – but hey, it’s cheap! Enroll in the 27-month plan and you’ll pay just $1.99/month, which is an 82% discount on the normal monthly rate of $10.95. (Don’t be afraid to take advantage of its 31-day money-back guarantee if necessary.) You’ll switch to the annual plan for $4.50/month at the end of that initial period. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin are accepted.

Optional add-ons include:

• Dedicated IP – $2.99 / month
• Port Forwarding – $0.99 / month
• Dedicated IP with port forwarding – $3.49/month
• DDoS protection – $3.99/month