VPN prices compared, October 2026
US prices for each brand’s basic VPN plan, without add-ons, as shown on 20 October 2026. “Long plan” is the cheapest per-month plan on sale, with its full first-term price. “Then” is what the same plan costs after that first term. Prices change often; the brand’s own page is the final word.
| VPN (plan) | Monthly | Long plan, first term | Then | Money-back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teal VPN (Pro) | $7.99 | $36 for 12 months ($3 a month) | $36 a year | 30 days |
| NordVPN (Basic) | $14.99 * | $94.23 for 27 months ($3.49) * | $139.08 a year * | 30 days |
| ExpressVPN (Basic) | $12.99 * | $83.72 for 28 months ($2.99) * | $99.95 a year * | 30 days |
| Surfshark (Starter) | $16.45 | $67.23 for 27 months ($2.49) | Not stated on its pricing page | 30 days |
| Proton VPN (Plus) | $9.99 | $83.76 for 24 months ($3.49) | $83.88 a year | 30 days |
| Private Internet Access | $11.95 | $79 for 39 months ($2.03) | $79 every 3 years | 30 days |
| CyberGhost (VPN) | $12.99 | $56.94 for 26 months ($2.19) | $56.94 a year | 45 days (14 on monthly) |
| Mullvad | €5 | No long plans: €5 every month | €5 a month | 14 days |
| IPVanish (Essential) | $12.99 * | $52.56 for 24 months ($2.19) * | $89.99 a year * | 30 days |
How these prices were checked
Each brand’s own pricing page was read on 20 October 2026. NordVPN’s and IPVanish’s pages refuse automated readers, and ExpressVPN, Surfshark and CyberGhost showed euro prices from where we read them; a figure marked * is the US price as published in search results and recent independent reviews, not read on the brand’s page that day. Taxes are extra where they apply.
Proton VPN also sells the 24-month plan for $71.76 with a coupon on its deals page. PIA, CyberGhost and Mullvad renew at the price you first paid; Proton renews close to it; NordVPN, ExpressVPN and IPVanish renew higher. Found something out of date? Write to support@tealvpn.com and we correct it.
The number that matters: the price after the first term
The big “from $2 a month” prices are first-term prices, paid two years or more in advance. When the term ends, the plan renews on its own, and for several brands it renews at a price two to three times higher. NordVPN Basic, for example, goes from $94.23 for its first 27 months to $139.08 for every year after.
Before you buy, find two numbers: the total you pay today, and what the plan renews at. Both are usually on the pricing page, in the small print under the plans. A cancelled plan still runs to the end of what you paid for, so you can always switch before a renewal.
What you actually pay over two years
Paying for one long term up front, several brands cost less than Teal for the first two years: CyberGhost, IPVanish, Surfshark and PIA among them. The difference shows from the third year, when the renewal price takes over.
| VPN | First two years or so | Every year after |
|---|---|---|
| Teal VPN | $72 (two yearly payments) | $36 |
| NordVPN | $94.23 (27 months) * | $139.08 * |
| ExpressVPN | $83.72 (28 months) * | $99.95 * |
| Surfshark | $67.23 (27 months) | Not stated |
| Proton VPN | $83.76 (24 months) | $83.88 |
| Private Internet Access | $79 (39 months) | About $26 ($79 every 3 years) |
| CyberGhost | $56.94 (26 months) | $56.94 |
| Mullvad | €120 (24 months) | €60 |
| IPVanish | $52.56 (24 months) * | $89.99 * |
Monthly or long plan?
A monthly plan costs two to five times more per month, but you can stop at any time and you never pay for a year you do not use. A long plan is the cheaper way to buy, if you already know the service works for you: on your networks, on your devices, in the places you travel to.
That is what the money-back guarantee is for. Most brands give 30 days; CyberGhost gives 45 on long plans, Mullvad 14. Teal Pro has a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase, and Teal Free lets you try the service before you pay anything.
What you are paying for
A VPN company rents servers in many countries and pays for the traffic that flows through them. Every connected user costs bandwidth every month, which is why serious providers charge monthly or yearly rather than once. A “lifetime” VPN is a promise no one can keep.
The rest of the price is the apps, support and the work of keeping connections alive on networks that filter VPN traffic. A provider that charges nothing at all has to pay for the servers somehow: with ads, with slow shared servers, or with your data.
What a free plan really gives you
A good free plan is a limited version of the paid service, not a different product: same encryption, same apps, fewer locations or less data. Read the limits before you trust it.
Teal Free gives every account 500 MB of data a day, the Lithuania location and up to 2 devices, with no ads. That covers messaging, email and light browsing on public Wi‑Fi; it is not enough for video.
What Teal VPN charges
Teal Pro is the same app with unlimited data, every Teal location and up to 10 devices on the yearly plan, 5 on the others. Every plan renews at the price you first paid. The prices are US prices; prices on Google Play are shown in your local currency and can differ slightly.
| Teal plan | Price | Per month | Renews at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teal Free | $0 | $0 | — |
| Teal Pro, monthly | $7.99 a month | $7.99 | $7.99 |
| Teal Pro, 6 months | $24 once | $4 | $24 |
| Teal Pro, yearly | $36 once | $3 | $36 |
How you pay, and how you stop
In the Android app, Teal Pro is bought through Google Play, so Google handles the card and the cancellation: Play Store, Payments & subscriptions, Subscriptions. On the website, the checkout takes cards, PayPal and crypto.
A subscription you cancel runs to the end of the paid period and does not renew. There is no free trial: Teal Free is the way to test the service before you pay, and Teal Pro has a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase.
Keep reading
References
- Proton VPN pricing
- Private Internet Access: buy a VPN
- CyberGhost VPN: pricing
- Mullvad VPN: pricing
- Surfshark: pricing and plans
- ExpressVPN: order
- NordVPN: pricing
- Security.org: IPVanish review and pricing
- Google Play Help: Manage your subscriptions
Need help with Teal? Contact support.
Questions
How much does a VPN cost per month?
On a monthly plan, most well-known VPNs cost $10 to $16 a month (Mullvad €5). Paid two years or more in advance, the first term works out at about $2 to $3.50 a month. Teal Pro is $7.99 monthly or $3 a month on the yearly plan.
Why does my VPN cost more when it renews?
Many providers advertise a first-term price and renew at a regular price that is higher, for example NordVPN Basic at $139.08 a year after the first 27 months. The renewal price is in the small print on the pricing page. Teal Pro renews at the price you first paid.
What is the cheapest VPN?
Over the first two years, long plans from CyberGhost, IPVanish, Surfshark and PIA cost less up front than most others. Over several years, look at the renewal price: PIA renews at $79 every three years and Teal Pro at $36 a year. A free plan with a daily allowance, like Teal Free, costs nothing.
Is a VPN worth paying for?
If you use one every day, on several devices, or for video, yes: free plans are limited in data or locations. For an occasional café or hotel session, a free plan with a daily allowance is often enough.
Can I get my money back if a VPN does not work for me?
Most providers give 30 days (CyberGhost 45 on long plans, Mullvad 14). Teal Pro has a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase: write to support and you are refunded in full.