VPNs by Pricing Options: Affordable Choices In 2025

With digital living, VPNs are an essential aid in helping people and businesses navigate uncertain waters of privacy issues and cyber threats. Not only does it secure your connection concerning encryption, but it also lets you bypass geo-restrictions, protect your data, and go surfing.

However, with so many options out there, it is indeed confusing and overwhelming to pick the right provider, particularly when it comes to the price of the VPN. Therefore, in this article, we will break down the top VPNs by pricing options for 2025 and tell you exactly which plan is best for your pocket and requirements.

Best VPNs By Pricing Options In 2025

There are the following best VPNs by pricing options in 2025 which are as follows:

1-Month VPN Plans

ExpressVPN: $12.95/month

ExpressVPN is a premium provider known for its blazing-fast speeds and top-notch security features. It has servers in over 105 countries, making it ideal for accessing geo-blocked content. With military-grade encryption and a no-logs policy, it’s perfect for privacy-conscious users. While its 1-month plan is pricey, it’s a great option if you need a VPN for short-term use, such as during travel.

NordVPN: $14.99/month, $13.99/month, $12.99/month

It offers one of the largest server networks, with over 6,400 servers in 111 countries. It’s known for its strong security features like Double VPN and Onion over VPN, which provide extra layers of protection. NordVPN is also a great choice for torrenting and bypassing restrictions on platforms like Netflix and Hulu.

Surfshark: $15.45/month

Surfshark stands out by offering unlimited device connections under a single subscription, which makes it a fantastic choice for families or users with many devices. It includes features like CleanWeb (ad-blocking) and Whitelister (split tunneling), giving you a lot of flexibility. The 1-month plan is competitive, though you’ll find better value in longer subscriptions.

CyberGhost: $12.99/month

CyberGhost is a user-friendly provider that is especially popular among beginners. It has dedicated servers for activities like streaming and torrenting, ensuring an optimized experience. With over 7,400 servers in 91 countries, it’s a strong choice for those who need a simple but effective VPN for short periods.

Private Internet Access (PIA): $11.95/month

PIA is one of the most affordable monthly plans available. It offers strong security features like AES-256 encryption, a built-in kill switch, and ad-blocking. It has over 35,000 servers worldwide, making it a solid option for users looking to bypass restrictions. Its open-source nature also adds a level of transparency that appeals to privacy-conscious users.

Check the in-depth guide on top VPNs that offer 1-month pricing plans.

6-Month VPN Plans

NordVPN: $13.99/month

NordVPN doesn’t offer a specific 6-month plan, but you can use their 1-month plan for six consecutive months at $13.99/month. This approach provides access to all of its premium features, including its extensive server network, strong encryption, and NordLynx protocol for fast, secure connections. While more expensive than a dedicated 6-month plan, this option offers flexibility without a long-term commitment.

Surfshark: $15.95/month

Surfshark doesn’t have a dedicated 6-month plan, but you can utilize their 1-month plan for six months at $15.95/month. This gives you access to all of Surfshark’s advanced features, including unlimited device connections, CleanWeb ad-blocking, and split-tunneling. Though pricier than a 6-month option, it provides the flexibility to adjust or cancel your subscription monthly.

ExpressVPN: $12.95/month

It doesn’t provide a 6-month specific plan, but you can use their 1-month plan for six months at $14.99/month. This option gives you full access to ExpressVPN’s premium services, including its fast server network, strong encryption, and 24/7 customer support. While more costly than a half-year plan, it offers the flexibility to cancel anytime without long-term obligations.

Private Internet Access (PIA): $11.95/month

It doesn’t offer a 6-month plan, but you can use their 1-month plan for six months at $11.95/month. This provides access to PIA’s extensive server network, WireGuard protocol for faster speeds, and robust privacy features. Although more expensive than a 6-month option, it allows for monthly flexibility without a long-term commitment.

CyberGhost: $6.99/month

CyberGhost’s 6-month plan offers an easy-to-use interface with the benefit of high-quality privacy features. CyberGhost’s “NoSpy” servers are located in Romania, a privacy-friendly country, and ensure complete anonymity for users. It’s a great option for those who are concerned about their digital footprint.

Visit our in-depth guide on flexible VPNs that offer 6-month pricing plans.

12-Month VPN Plans

NordVPN: $6.49/month, $5.99/month, $4.59 /mo

NordVPN’s 12-month plan is one of the most popular choices for users seeking both affordability and premium features. It provides access to advanced security tools like Dark Web Monitoring and threat protection, which actively block malicious sites. With consistent updates and improvements, it remains one of the best choices for long-term use.

ExpressVPN: $6.25/month

It offers one of the more expensive annual plans, but it justifies the price with unmatched performance. Its Lightway protocol ensures faster connections, and it’s one of the few VPNs that consistently bypasses geo-blocks for services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Its stellar customer service and security features make it worth the investment for serious users.

Surfshark: $3.39/month

Surfshark’s 12-month plan is incredibly affordable, especially considering the unlimited device connections. Its CleanWeb feature blocks ads, malware, and trackers, and its NoBorders mode allows you to bypass internet restrictions in countries with heavy censorship. It’s an excellent long-term investment for users who want value without sacrificing quality.

CyberGhost: $12.99/month or $6.99/month

CyberGhost doesn’t offer a dedicated 1-year plan, but you can still achieve a similar level of coverage by using either their 1-month plan or 6-month plan for a full year. Opting for the 1-month plan at $12.99/month or the 6-month plan at $6.99/month provides the same range of features as the annual plan, including dedicated servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. 

You’ll still benefit from AES-256 encryption, IP masking, and their strict no-logs policy while maintaining the flexibility to choose the duration of your subscription without locking into a long-term commitment.

Private Internet Access (PIA): $3.33/month

PIA’s 12-month plan offers access to its huge server network and advanced settings, including multi-hop connections and DNS customization. Its commitment to privacy and transparency is appealing, especially for users who want a VPN provider they can trust. PIA is a great choice for users looking for maximum savings without compromising security.

Check out our top list of best VPN providers by 1-year subscription.

Best Refund Period VPNs In 2025

Why Do Refund Policies Matter?

At times, the price is too steep when unsure hence refund policies truly serve as a lifeline for them. Most providers with good reputations usually offer a money-back guarantee, allowing users to try their services without any risk.

Best VPNs with the Most Lenient Refund Policies

For 2025, NordVPN and CyberGhost do the best at offering the most generous refund periods usually thirty days of the money-back guarantee. These refund periods give you ample time to test the service before committing to the long haul.

Customer Review

“I wasn’t sure if NordVPN was right for me but their 30-day refund policy gave me peace of mind. It turns out I loved the service and didn’t need the refund!” – Alex Freelancer.

VPN Free Trials In 2025

Testing Before You Buy

One would get to experience what the VPN features are without actually spending money on it. Even if some providers offer a money-back guarantee one may still think that a free trial is better because no initial investment is needed.

VPN Companies That Offer Free Trials

Free trials are also available from ProtonVPN and ExpressVPN in 2025. ProtonVPN provides a free trial lasting for 7 days. Within the free trial period, one gets to experience all the premium features it provides. ExpressVPN provides 30 days of usage with a full money-back guarantee to get a feel of the service.

Pros And Cons of VPNs Free Trials

• Pros: It is free to start with, and all the features are available during the trial.
• Cons: Only applicable for a short period.

Customer Review

“I wasn’t ready to commit to a VPN, so I tried ProtonVPN’s free trial. It gave me enough time to see if it was a good fit before purchasing a full subscription.”- Sarah Cybersecurity Student.

Comparison Of Top VPNs By Pricing Options

Some of the VPNs did not have a 1-year plan or 6-month plan but you can also replace them with 1 month or 6-month plan depending on your budget or need.

Why Skip Lifetime VPNs?

Even though lifetime VPNs offer may look very attractive and worthwhile, it often comes with hidden trouble.  Eventually, you realize slow speeds, fewer available servers, and lessened security are on your side. Ultimately, the better choice may be a different VPN plan.

The Allure of Lifetime VPNs

Lifetime VPNs may look pretty attractive at first glance: you pay once and use the service endlessly what can be better than that? Indeed, there are terrible drawbacks accompanying such deals that could ruin your security and performance.

Why Not to Be Drawn to Lifetime VPNs?

In 2025, a few providers still offer lifetime subscription deals but experts discourage them. VPNs require constant maintenance, server upgrades, and security to improve consistently and serve at the best speed, and a one-time payment cannot maintain this. Lifetime VPNs generally start degrading in quality over time. They get slower and stop working sometimes.

Do Not Go For These Lifetime VPNs

Providers such as VPN Unlimited and Ivacy also offer lifetime deals but their reliability in the long run is unknown.

The Limitations Of Free VPNs

Free VPNs attracts users who need just basic privacy without cost. On the other hand, most free services can still boast decent features while being limited to a slower speed fewer server locations, and bandwidth.

Best Free VPNs In 2025

In 2025 the best options for free VPNs are ProtonVPN, Windscribe and TunnelBear. Among them, ProtonVPN provides unlimited bandwidth with some limitations concerning its server locations while Windscribe allows 10 GB of free data per month.

Drawbacks of Free VPNs

They have their share of drawbacks. They are known to be limited in the following features.

• Very Few Features: Stream access or P2P support is usually not available in free versions.
• Speed: They tend to offer a slower speed because servers get overcrowded due to high loads.
• Privacy Issues: Some free providers track user data and contain advertisements, resulting in security breaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line 

When choosing the best VPNs by pricing options in 2025 depends on personal requirements. Plans with a duration of 1 month are excellent for short-term flexibility, while 12 months will be the way to go in case you need extensive use. 

Refund periods and free trials allow you a chance to test services risk-free and an important point to steer clear of is lifetime subscriptions which tend to deteriorate in terms of quality. In any event, free VPNs are available; however, they often don’t have the features and privacy protection that paid plans do.

In this regard by judging the different plans you may find a monthly, 6-month and yearly plan. You can choose a provider that’s within your budget and protects your online activities.