Best VPN deals: Get up to 88% off and unlock 4 months of VPN for FREE with latest 2026 discounts

Aaron Brown
Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:59:34 +0000

Hunting for the best VPN deals in the UK? You're in luck; some of the biggest VPN providers have slashed prices – ideal if you want to secure a discount on your subscription for the rest of 2026 (and beyond).

Award-winning brands like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Proton, CyberGhost, and Surfshark have cut subscription costs.

These brands offer several subscription tiers, catering to those who only want the military-grade encryption available with a VPN as well as those who want extras like cloud storage, password managers, and other advanced options.

Short on time? Here's a rundown of the latest VPN deals from the best brands in the UK:

ExpressVPN – £1.99 a month | Get 4 months FREE + 80% off subscriptions

CyberGhost – £1.92 a month | Get 2 months FREE + 82% off subscriptions

Surfshark — £1.39 a month | Get 3 months FREE + 88% off subscriptions

NordVPN – £2.59 a month | Get Amazon.co.uk Gift Card FREE + 70% off subscriptions

ProtonVPN – £2.39 a month | Save 70% on subscriptions

Top tip? The best VPN deals are only available with longer contracts. Signing up for a one or two-year plan will offer the biggest discounts. Thankfully, most brands still offer affordable monthly repayments on these multi-year contracts, so you won'tbe forced to pay for 24-months upfront to secure this discount.

Unless the UK Government moves ahead with its rumoured VPN ban, there's nothing illegal about installing one of these apps to encrypt your internet traffic, hide from trackers, and manually change your IP address. In fact, if you've ever worked remotely, you've probably been told that you must enable a VPN before you start work.

While VPNs were already becoming more popular outside of the enterprise setting, the introduction of the Online Safety Act earlier this summer pushed a record number of Britons to download VPNs. One provider claimed demand had increased 1,400% since the introduction of the law and its strict age verification system. Not to mention, with plans to introduce Digital IDs in the coming months, privacy is the topic on everyone's lips.

When it comes to privacy, there's no better solution than a VPN. The best providers rely on the same standard of encryption as the UK and US governments to secure confidential information — and apply it to everything you do online, blocking the URLs of the sites, the duration of your visits, and personal information shared from prying eyes.

But these clever security apps aren't just about encryption – running a VPN can be a lot of fun too.

Securing the best VPN deal will let you stream films, sports fixtures, and TV shows from abroad, access WhatsApp and other banned apps while travelling in China, find cheap flights and train tickets, avoid uploading your passport for the age verification built into Discord, Reddit, and hundreds of other websites in the UK, or shield yourself from malware. Most VPNs will let you sign in to multiple devices with a single subscription, usually between 5x and 10x.

Loyalty is almost never rewarded by VPN brands, so it's worth switching between brands as frequently as possible. If you're coming to the end of your current deal, make sure to revisit this guide to switch to the latest VPN sale from a reputable provider to ensure you've always got a good deal.

New to VPNs? We've answered some of your burning FAQs:

1. What is a VPN?

2. What can you do with a VPN?

3. Should I use a free VPN?

4. How to always get the best VPN deal

5. Is it legal to use a VPN?

Which VPN has the best deal?

Most VPN services regularly discount their subscriptions to incentivise existing VPN users to switch from a rival provider. We'd never recommend signing-up for a VPN service that doesn't discount its prices when you switch for the first time, since there are so many award-winning providers that do slash subscription costs.

As it stands, we'd spotlight ExpressVPN as the VPN with the best deal available today.

Until a few months ago, this award-winning VPN rigidly stuck to its one-size-fits-all price plan that cost more than most of its closest rivals. That's because ExpressVPN bundled several extras – like an encrypted password manager, automatic Dark Web monitoring, ad blockers, etc. — that were optional extras with rivals.

Since it offered a more fully-featured package, it charged a higher subscription fee. However, that all changed with the biggest shake-up to its pricing in its 16-year history, which carved up this one-stop-shop subscription into 3x standalone price plans. For those who only want to access the award-winning fast VPN service, the newly-launched ExpressVPN Basic plan offers the most affordable subscription ever.

ExpressVPN hasn't stopped there, launching a new MailGuard service at no extra cost that allows subscribers to keep their Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, and other email addresses private — even signing up for online accounts or apps. So you'll be getting more features for the lowest-ever monthly cost.

ExpressVPN offers 4 months for FREE in latest sale

With its new multi-tier subscription structure, ExpressVPN has never been more affordable

If you want to unlock the ExpressVPN Basic plan, which offers unlimited access to its award-winning reliable and ludicrously speedy VPN servers across the globe, it has cut monthly subscriptions by 80%.

If you sign up for a 12-month plan, you'll be gifted with a generous 4 months of access to the award-winning VPN service for free. That equates to under 6 pence per day!

When it comes to the other price plans, rival VPN services can still offer better deals. However, ExpressVPN Basic is already an incredible deal and, when combined with one of its regular sales, is almost unbeatable.

The latest sale follows a flurry of announcements from the ExpressVPN team, including an overhaul to every desktop app, a standalone ExpressKeys password manager, and an increase up to 10x devices logged-in with the same account.

As outlined in our ExpressVPN review, this service offers some of the fastest VPN speeds around. If you can secure access to its dizzying number of ultra-reliable VPN servers at a substantial discount, don't hesitate.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network.

It's an application that encrypts and anonymises everything you do online — bolstering your privacy, hiding your location, and stopping advertisers, trackers, and even governments from keeping tabs on you.

VPNs are widely used by businesses to keep proprietary data safe from prying eyes. Whistle-blowers and journalists also rely on these apps to shield sensitive information. And now, VPNs are fast becoming an essential tool for everyone with a smartphone, laptop, desktop PC, streaming set-top box, or tablet.

What can a VPN do?

Using a VPN isn't just about boosting your privacy online. These versatile apps have a slew of different features. We've put together a list of some of the most useful VPN features below:

Protects your data online

Keeps you safe on public Wi-Fi networks

Unlock access to blocked sites in your country

Block trackers from advertisers

Block trackers from governments

Check prices of flights, hotels in other countries

Access apps that are blocked in your country

Avoid censorship in your current location

Stream sports from anywhere in the world

Bypass speed blocks from your broadband

Optimise online multiplayer games

How does a VPN work?

When you enable a VPN, it routes all of your online traffic via an encrypted tunnel, connecting to a network of secure servers across the globe. These VPN servers are managed by the brand, so the total number available will vary based on the provider you're picked.

The best VPNs rely on the same military-grade encryption as governments in Britain and the United States. The encryption scrambles your data into an unreadable format, preventing third parties from monitoring your activity.

This is so effective that it'll even stop the Internet Service Provider (ISP) that connects you to the internet from keeping a record of the websites you've visited, how long you've spent on each site, and your current location.

Advertisers, trackers, and hackers are also blind when it comes to tracking your web history.

Heading online without a VPN enabled is a little like sending a postcard, with your personal message easily visible on the back as it makes its way to the intended recipient through the Royal Mail system.

However, when running a VPN on your device, that same postcard is placed inside multiple envelopes and packages, so the message on the back is hidden from everyone as it makes its way to its final destination.

Companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google have previously offered a VPN that offered this level of encryption when heading online. However, the best providers let you choose the VPN server location that your internet traffic is rerouted through, making it appear as if you've connected to the internet from that location instead of the UK.

It's this level of control over the location data encoded into your IP address that unlocks the best VPN features listed above — bypassing the age verification checks to access Discord, Reddit, and adult websites in the UK, check cheaper flight and hotel prices reserved for other countries, unlock geo-blocked sports streaming while travelling abroad, and unblocking banned apps in your country.

Which VPN is the best for you in 2026?

Beginner-friendly VPN comparison — privacy, streaming & apps

VPN | Servers (≈) | Devices | No-logs | Streaming | Kill-switch | iPhone app | Android app | Windows app | Fire TV Stick app | Money-back guarantee (days)
ExpressVPN | 170+ locations (105 countries) | 10–14 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 30
NordVPN | 7,400+ servers | 10 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 30
Surfshark | 4,500+ servers | Unlimited | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 30
PIA (Private Internet Access) | NextGen servers across ~91 countries | Unlimited | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 30
PureVPN | 6,000+ servers | 10 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 31
ProtonVPN | 15,000+ servers (paid plan) | Up to 10 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 30
CyberGhost | 10,000+ servers (100+ countries) | 7 (plan-dependent) – Unlimited | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 45 (14 for monthly)

Can UK police track a VPN?

It's complicated. UK police can potentially track the use of VPNs, particularly when investigating serious crimes. To do this, police officers are required to obtain court orders to compel broadband providers and VPN services to hand over connection logs, billing information, and other personal details on subscribers.

However, most reputable VPN brands provide a "no-logs” service, which means that nothing is stored on subscribers... so there's nothing to hand over to the police.

The end-to-end encryption provided by a VPN means that police can’t access a live feed of the websites that you're visiting or the duration spent on each webpage, but if VPN providers do keep details on users, it's possible to collect information like your genuine IP location and payment details after the fact.

What about a free VPN?

Paying absolutely nothing to use a VPN on your devices should be the best VPN deal there is. However, we wouldn't recommend downloading a free VPN service. While some reputable VPNs offer a free plan — like Proton VPN, for example — these include a raft of restrictions to incentivise you to upgrade.

These include, but aren't limited to, slower transfer speeds, a limited number of server locations, or a single app login. That can be useful in a pinch, but there are usually way too many compromises to make this a viable long-term solution for most.

It can also make video calls, gaming, or streaming on Netflix arduous at best — and outright impossible at worst. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, it's possible to use the best and most reputable VPN services for a whole month without any of these restrictions. If you're unhappy and decide to walk away, you'll pay nothing.

There are also free VPNs that offer unlimited access for £0, but you should be very wary of these brands.

Discussing the risks of these sounds-too-good-to-be-true subscriptions, CyberSmart co-founder Jamie Akhtar told Yahoo News: "Unfortunately, free VPNs can come with risks. Although it must be said, not always; if you’re using a free trial version of a reputable product, you’re likely fine. However, totally free VPNs do raise concerns."

That's because "free" could mean you're paying a price in some other way.

"Most free products still need some way to monetise their service, so if you aren’t paying in cash, you’re probably paying with your data," Mr. Akhtar added.

Most free VPN providers will place restrictions on your account to incentivise you to upgrade to a paid subscription plan, including limiting the amount of data or slower transfer speeds.

How to find the best VPN deal in 2026

With so many VPN services out there and so many deals and discounts, it's easy to get lost. Want to find the best VPN deal for you? First of all, it's helpful to figure out what you want to do with your VPN.

1. Work out what you're going to do with your VPN service

Want to stream TV shows only available on Netflix US?

You should look for a VPN with the smallest possible impact on download speeds so you don't see any buffering when streaming your favourite geo-blocked shows. We'd recommend ExpressVPN, which treads very lightly on bandwidth, as noted in our ExpressVPN review.

Want to encrypt your internet traffic for better security?

You won't need a VPN with server locations across the globe, since you'll only use one closest to home to minimise the impact on broadband. For that, we'd recommend ProtonVPN.

Want to secure dozens of different devices with the same VPN?

You need to find a VPN that offers the highest number of simultaneous connections. Check out Surfshark, which offers an unlimited number of devices with its most affordable subscription – something most rivals don't even offer with their priciest plans.

Next... no matter which VPN supplier you settle on, the biggest discounts are always reserved for those who commit to a one- to two-year subscription. In some instances, the cancel-anytime rolling one-month plans can cost as much as a one-year subscription — so you really want to avoid those wherever possible.

2. Subscribe to the longest contract term available

While a one- to two-year subscription might seem daunting, especially for VPN newcomers, most reputable VPN providers offer a no-quibble money-back guarantee. That means you can leave at any point during the first 30 days and receive a full refund. With 24/7 customer service, it doesn't matter where you are in the world; you'll be able to flag your concerns and walk away from the contract without any financial penalty.

Subscribe to the longest-possible contract to unlock the biggest available discount. For example, ExpressVPN offers 72% off its one-year plans, but increases that to a whopping 82% off for the two-year contract. It includes four months access for free, so you'll be subscribed for 28 months in total.

Committing to a subscription does not mean you'll need to pay a hefty sum upfront, with some providers letting you spread the cost over several months. That means you'll benefit from the biggest savings and an affordable monthly repayment.

We recommend treating the first month of your subscription like a VPN free trial to put the service through its paces to establish whether it fits your needs. If not, cancel your subscription with a full refund and try another.

3. Pick a provider that's going to stick around for the long term

One of the cheapest VPN deals on the market came courtesy of Google, which bundled a VPN service with its Google One subscription for additional cloud storage. Starting from £1.59, Google VPN was a complete bargain...but the Californian company discontinued its VPN in April 2024.

Likewise, one of the best cheap VPN deals came courtesy of Atlas VPN, which has a generous free subscription. However, the company folded due to 'insurmountable challenges' in April 2024.

Should you leave a VPN on or off?

VPNs are designed to shield everything you do online against prying eyes. As such, it makes sense to leave these important privacy and security tools running in the background at all times.

Most VPNs offer the ability to automatically switch on every time your device connects to the internet, so you don't need to remember to enable the service each time. As long as there are no compatibility problems with your favourite applications, it's worth keeping the VPN running at all times.

Best VPN deals in 2026

Whether you're shopping for your first VPN or looking to switch from your current subscription to a new provider to secure lower monthly deals, we'd always recommend taking the time to check the best VPN deals.

GB News has scoured the most well-known VPN services, with shelves struggling under the weight of the number of awards, to find the latest discount codes, seasonal promotions, or price cuts. Below, you'll find our definitive list of the best VPN brands — and their best offers available today.

Best ExpressVPN deal

ExpressVPN is one of the best-known VPN brands on the planet, and for very good reason.

The award-winning brand recently overhauled its price plans for the first time in 16-years. Instead of the one-size-fits-all approach that it's used since launch, ExpressVPN now offers 3x standalone subscriptions. There is no difference in the VPN experience across any of these plans – so if you're only looking to benefit from its end-to-end encryption and minimal impact on download speeds, the most affordable plan is perfect.

With the latest 82% discount, ExpressVPN Basic is easily one of the cheapest VPN subscriptions around. You'll also benefit from an extra 4 months of ExpressVPN for free with a two-year subscription.

ExpressVPN offers several 0% APR repayment plans on its multi-year subscriptions, so you can still pay an affordable monthly fee and benefit from the offers that are reserved for the longest contracts. It's win-win.

The latest sale follows a flurry of announcements from the ExpressVPN team, including an overhaul to every desktop app, a standalone ExpressKeys password manager, a new privacy-focused email alias system that works with Gmail, Yahoo, and others, and an increase up to 10x devices logged-in with the same account.

ExpressVPN: Get 4 months for FREE + 82% off

ExpressVPN has cut its monthly subscription by 80%. If you sign up for a 12-month plan, you'll be gifted with a generous 4 months of access to the award-winning VPN service for free. That equates to just 6p per day!

ExpressVPN includes a number of advanced features, like a password manager, that cost extra with rival providers. ExpressVPN accepts a variety of payment types, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, for speedy checkout. Still unsure? Read our in-depth ExpressVPN review to find out what it's like to live with this VPN

Established in 2009 and based in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN boasts over 3,000 servers across 105 countries for extensive global coverage. It also has a dedicated team that ensures these server locations aren't blocked by prominent streamers, like Netflix. As such, it has a reputation as one of the most reliable VPN services when it comes to streaming video with a spoofed IP address.

Other premium features include a kill switch, split tunnelling, and a proprietary Lightway protocol for enhanced speed and reliability. Recognised by CNET as an Editors' Choice award winner, ExpressVPN is praised for its user-friendly interface and robust performance in unblocking streaming services.

GB News also praised the speed of the connections, app design, and more in our ExpressVPN review.

Despite some concerns regarding ownership by Kape Technologies, it maintains a strong reputation for security and privacy in the VPN landscape.

Like Surfshark and NordVPN, ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can treat this no-quibbles cooling-off period like a one-month free trial — giving you enough time to carefully consider whether the VPN subscription you've chosen is right for you. Customer support is available 24/7, so you'll be able to flag any issues, ask any questions, or cancel at any time — no matter what timezone you're in.

VPN providers often reserve their best deals for new customers, so it's a good idea to switch on a regular basis to ensure you're always getting the best offer. Signing up for a longer subscription plan, either 12- or 24-months for most VPN firms, typically unlocks the biggest discount — just be sure to keep an eye on the calendar and initiate a switch as soon as your contract ends.

Best Surfshark deal

If you're looking for the best cheap VPN deal available today, look no further than Surfshark. It has slashed subscription prices by a whopping 88% and will bundle an extra 3 months for free with any two-year plan. Combined, these incredible offers mean you'll pay just £1.49 each month — that's a steal.

If you're unsure about committing to a multi-year deal with Surfshark, you'll be pleased to know that it has earned multiple awards from national newspapers and specialist publications. There's also a 30-day money-back guarantee, with the 24/7 customer service team on hand to issue a full refund if you're unhappy.

You can sign-up today to unlock the best discount and then use the 30-day period as a free trial.

Surfshark: Get 3 months for FREE + 88% off

If you're looking for some of the lowest monthly bills around, look no further than the award-winning Surfshark VPN. It's cut monthly subscription prices by a jaw-dropping 88%. Not only that, but Surfshark will also bundle an extra three months at the end of a two-year plan, dropping the effective cost to just £1.39 per month. Surfshark lets you use your subscription across unlimited devices

Surfshark, established in 2018 and headquartered in the Netherlands, has rapidly emerged as a noteworthy VPN provider. It boasts over 3,200 servers in more than 100 countries, ensuring extensive global coverage.

The service includes advanced features such as a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and MultiHop for enhanced security. Surfshark has garnered several accolades, including the Best VPN award from Trusted Reviews in 2021 and recognition from CNET as the Best Value VPN in 2022.

While some users have reported variable speeds, its strong privacy policies and commitment to security make it a reliable choice for those seeking online anonymity at a cheap price.

Surfshark isn't just a VPN, either. At checkout, you can bundle 24/7 data breach alerts that flag when a site you use has been successfully attacked by hackers, antivirus software, and an adblocker.

These services are combined in an Amazon Prime-like membership, known as Surfshark One. For a limited time, Surfshark will bundle three months of free access when you sign up to its subscription, including additional features like Alternative ID data protection, antivirus, and data breach alerts.

Best NordVPN deal

Powerhouse provider NordVPN regularly holds sales on its one- and two-year plans. For a limited time, Nord will gift an extra 3 months onto your subscription. The remaining months in your plan will enjoy a 70% discount. It's a blockbuster deal that slashes the monthly cost to just £2.59.

If you're familiar with Nord, this well-loved brand has a shelf bulging with awards and recently expanded its VPN server locations to cover more than half of all countries worldwide.

NordVPN recently upped the number of devices that can be signed into the same account to a maximum of 10, so you'll be able to protect every gadget you own. Headquartered in Panama, this brand is known for its extensive server network with over 5,000 server locations spread across 60 countries.

NordVPN: Get 3 months FREE + 70% off

For a limited time, NordVPN is offering a generous 70% discount on its VPN subscriptions. That drops the effective monthly price of this award-winner to just £2.59. Since you'll need to commit to a two-year plan to unlock the maximum savings, Nord offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscriptions

Depending on the NordVPN plan that you choose, you'll qualify for a free Amazon.co.uk Gift Card worth up to £50 to spend on anything you want

Notable features include double VPN encryption, Threat Protection, and Onion Over VPN, which enhance user security and anonymity. In 2022, NordVPN was recognised as one of TIME's Best Inventions, underscoring its innovative approach to cybersecurity.

While some users report occasional speed fluctuations, its strong reputation and comprehensive feature set make NordVPN a commendable choice for those seeking reliable online protection and privacy.

Like Surfshark, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can treat this no-quibbles cooling-off period like a one-month free trial — giving you enough time to carefully consider whether the VPN subscription you've chosen is right for you. Customer support is available 24/7 so you'll be able to flag any issues, ask any questions, or cancel any time — no matter what timezone you're in.

Best CyberGhost VPN deal

CyberGhost is another household name in the VPN market. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Romania, this European VPN has cemented its position as one of the most trusted names in the VPN.

It boasts a vast network of over 11,000 servers in 100+ countries — including hundreds in the UK — it offers excellent global coverage and location-specific performance.

It also has the longest money-back guarantee period of any of the VPN providers in this list at 45-days. That means you can thoroughly test CyberGhost on all of your devices and with all of your streaming services and mobile apps over a six-week period before deciding whether to stick with its latest VPN deal.

At the moment, CyberGhost is offering 4 months of VPN access for free when you subscribe to its two-year plan. The remaining months of your plan will enjoy a 82% discount, dropping the monthly fee to £1.78.

CyberGhost: Get 2 months for FREE + 82% off

CyberGhost has cut its monthly subscription by 82%. If you sign up for a 24-month plan, you'll be gifted with 2 months of access to the award-winning VPN service for free. CyberGhost has one of the longest money-back guarantee period with a generous 45 days to decide if you want to stick with your new VPN subscription

The service is packed with advanced security features such as an automatic kill switch, DNS and IP leak protection, and dedicated servers for streaming and torrenting.

CyberGhost has earned praise from tech reviewers and privacy advocates alike, with accolades from the likes of TechRadar and ProPrivacy, highlighting its user-friendly interface and robust security credentials.

While some UK users have noted that its desktop app can feel slightly dated, the provider's clear no-logs policy and independently audited infrastructure make it a solid pick for anyone seeking privacy, streaming access, and affordability. CyberGhost also goes beyond standard VPN protection.

It offers extras like a built-in ad blocker, malware protection, and access to NoSpy servers — ultra-secure servers operated independently by the company to minimise third-party risks.

Best ProtonVPN deal

Swiss firm Proton is probably best-known for its secure email service, Proton Mail. But the trustworthy brand also has its own VPN service. It's also one of the few robust and secure VPNs that offers a free subscription.

Yes, the £0 plan from Proton arrives with no data or time limits, funded by its paid community. Your data is secure and not sold to cover the costs of your VPN usage with this free plan.

However, the free tier comes with important limitations — it’s restricted to a single, medium-speed connection and only covers a handful of countries. Not only that, the VPN server location is auto-assigned, so you won't be able to pick a particular country to unlock a specific region's content, for example.

That means it's not particularly well suited to streaming, torrenting, or multi-device households.

The good news? Proton is offering 56% off its upgraded paid plans, which have none of these restrictions. That generous discount cuts the price of this Swiss-based subscription to just £3.59.

Proton: Get 70% off your subscription

Created by scientists at CERN, Proton is one of the few secure, trustworthy VPN brands to offer a £0 plan. It's limited to 5 VPN server locations and a more modest download speed, but nonetheless, it's a great way to test out the service before you commit to its full-featured subscription. Upgrade to a two-year plan, Proton will slash 70% off your costs

For paying customers, Proton leans heavily on Swiss privacy law and advanced features rather than marketing razzmatazz: Secure Core (its multi-hop architecture), VPN-over-Tor, support for modern protocols such as WireGuard and OpenVPN, plus the usual essentials like a kill switch and DNS leak protection. Those choices make it a strong pick if you put privacy above all else.

Pricing starts at the standard premium levels (Proton lists monthly and discounted longer plans — for example €9.99/month, with cheaper per-month rates if you pay annually or for two years) and all paid plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try the Plus tier risk-free.

Tech publications praise Proton for that privacy pedigree and for offering a genuinely useful free option.

A final practical tip for UK buyers: VPN firms typically hide their deepest discounts behind long subscriptions, and renewal pricing can jump — so treat Proton’s 30-day guarantee like a safety net, keep an eye on renewal rates, and sign up to the deal that matches how long you actually want to commit.

How to always get the best VPN deal

1. Choose the right time to buy

The best time to buy a VPN is during seasonal sales like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or New Year.

Many VPN providers offer discounts of up to 80% during these times. Timing your purchase for these events can help you secure a significant deal.

2. Compare subscription plans and features

Before committing to a VPN, compare the pricing plans and features of multiple providers. Check for discounts on multi-year plans, which often come at a much lower monthly rate. Look for additional benefits such as ad blockers or malware protection included in premium packages.

3. Use discount codes and cashback and offers

Many websites offer exclusive VPN coupon codes. Search for these before making a purchase. Also, look for cash-back offers that give you a percentage of your purchase back, reducing the overall cost.

4. Opt for services with money-back guarantees

Take advantage of free trials to test the VPN’s performance before committing. Many VPNs also offer 30-day money-back guarantees, allowing you to try their service risk-free.

What is a VPN for?

VPNs offer enterprise-grade security when visiting websites, filling out forms, and sending messages. But the best VPN services aren't only used to boost privacy online as the encryption can unlock extra perks too.

It can restrict the ability of your ISP to restrict broadband speed for certain types of traffic, a common practice known as bandwidth-throttling that usually applies to playing online multiplayer games and watching streaming services at peak times.

VPNs can be used to manually spoof your IP address. This unique label, usually in the form 192.0.2.1, is assigned to every device when it connects to the internet and includes information like the name of your broadband supplier and a rough approximation of your current location.

It's the IP address that enables websites to offer turn-by-turn directions from your location, or find your nearest branch of a popular shop or restaurant.

Several streaming services use this location data to adjust the library of titles available to you (usually based on the licensing deals struck in each country) or block their service entirely.

With a VPN running on your device, you can manually change your IP address by routing all of your internet traffic via one of the thousands of VPN servers located around the globe.

Since location is determined by IP address, this instantaneously makes it appear as if you're based in another country, unlocking the ability to stream from services that can't be used outside of the UK (Sky Go, BBC iPlayer, Channel 4) or altering the catalogue of films, documentaries, and TV shows available to watch on internationally-accessible streamers like Netflix, Paramount+, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and Prime Video.

Using a VPN is not illegal in the UK illegal in the UK. But always check the small print of the streaming service to ensure you’re not breaking the rules by spoofing your location to unlock more shows to watch.

Is it legal to use a VPN?

Let's set the record straight — using a VPN to safeguard your data online is not a legal offence.

If you've been issued a company laptop to work remotely, the IT department will likely require you to use a VPN before you start a shift. Needless to say, this isn't against the law.

But while VPNs were once solely used in enterprise and government spheres, these apps are becoming increasingly popular with people across the world to improve personal online security.

As all of us rely on the internet for more and more of our daily lives, VPNs are an essential way to enhance privacy, block advertisers from tracking your movements, unlock streaming TV shows and sports coverage, unlock easy lobbies in Warzone and CoD: MW3, and even find cheaper flights.

VPNs are illegal in 10 countries: China, Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Iraq, Turkey, UAE, and Oman. If you're currently based in any of these nations or plan on visiting one soon, consider uninstalling any VPN apps from your devices.

Outside of these countries, VPNs are legal and can be used without restrictions.

But while it might be legal, it's worth noting that using a VPN might be against the Terms of Service of some websites or mobile apps, so it's always worth checking the T&Cs to make sure you're in the clear.

Are there any dangers with VPN?

As we've already covered, VPNs create an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet, hiding your IP address, and making online activity harder for outsiders to track. But these clever apps are not a magic shield: there are several dangers to be aware of.

First, some providers keep connection or usage logs and may be compelled by courts to hand them over, so your privacy depends on the company’s policies and the country where it’s based. Free VPNs are especially risky — many inject ads, harvest or sell data, or have weak security; some have even bundled malware.

Technical leaks, such as DNS, IPv6 or WebRTC leaks, can expose websites you visit unless the client is well configured and includes leak protection and a kill switch. Weak encryption, outdated protocols or sloppy app updates create vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.

Split tunnelling, a useful feature, can accidentally route sensitive traffic outside the VPN. Using a VPN does not protect you from malware, phishing, account compromise, or tracker cookies — those threats live on your device and in sites themselves. VPNs can also degrade performance or break services that block VPN IPs, and misuse (for illegal activity) can still lead to legal consequences.

Choosing a reputable, audited provider with a clear no-logs policy, strong, modern encryption, a kill switch, regular security audits and transparent ownership reduces risk. Read privacy policies, avoid free offerings for high-risk use, keep your apps updated across all platforms, and pair a VPN with good device hygiene (antivirus, strong passwords, two-factor authentication) for safer, smarter online privacy.

Also consider the provider’s jurisdiction and transparency reports, whether independent audits exist, availability of multi-hop or dedicated IPs, payment options that limit traceability (e.g., cryptocurrency), and review mobile app permissions — together these choices help balance privacy, performance, and trust.

Do VPNs take part in Black Friday?

Yes, the biggest VPN brands will frequently participate in the Black Friday sales, offering generous discounts and giveaways to attract new customers and retain existing ones who might be coming to the end of their current subscription.

Once a shopping event reserved for malls across North America, Black Friday is now a pivotal time for businesses worldwide across almost every industry. And VPN providers are no exception.

During Black Friday, VPN companies will often offer some of their best deals of the year. Consumers looking to invest in VPN services can leverage these Black Friday sales to secure premium features at more affordable rates. However, it's essential to exercise due diligence and choose a reputable VPN provider known for prioritising internet privacy, high-security standards, and reliable performance.

If you need a VPN now, it might be worth taking advantage of the latest slew of VPN deals. That way your internet activity is protected long before the Black Friday sale starts on November 29, 2024.

What's the best value VPN?

Unless you're hoping to sign-up for a specific provider, the best value VPN will always be the cheapest deal on offer. In a bid to attract new customers, VPN providers often cut monthly subscription costs and bundle free access or giveaways. These perks will remain for the duration of the initial contract period.

But when that deal comes to an end, your monthly subscription price will returns to its full RRP. If you managed to secure a discount of over 80% — something that's regularly available with some of the best VPN deals — this change represents a monumental price rise.

At this moment, it's best to switch to a new VPN service, where you'll be treated as a new customer again, or renegotiate with your current provider to secure a better deal. Either way, you must not simply let the Direct Debit continue to come out of your account without making any changes.

That's the only guaranteed way to ensure you're not getting the best value VPN offer.

Will a free VPN work for me?

A free VPN can be useful in a pinch, but there are too many compromises to make this a viable long-term solution for most. Most free VPN providers will place restrictions on your account to incentivise you to upgrade to a paid subscription plan, including limiting the amount of data or slower transfer speeds.

This can make browsing the internet, video calls, and streaming on Netflix and others arduous at best — and impossible at worst. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, it's possible to use the best VPN services for one month without restrictions. If you're unhappy, you'll pay no cost for VPN access.

Should I trust VPNs?

Using a reliable VPN can be a safe and secure way to browse the internet. But it's best not to unreservedly place your trust in every VPN provider on the market. You should be looking for AES-256 encryption — this is the standard used by most VPN protocols. If the VPN provider says that it uses PPTP, it's best to avoid this option as it only relies on 128-bit encryption.

Why shouldn't you use a VPN all the time?

There are a few reasons why it might not make sense to leave your VPN service running in the background all of the time. If the VPN service that you've picked dramatically reduces your connection speed, you might struggle with sluggish internet speeds with the app enabled at all-times.

If your SIM-only or pay monthly deal has a very limited amount of 4G or 5G data, then you might want to disable your VPN connection, since running one of these apps will increase the amount of mobile data used.

Some critical apps and services will require your IP to come from the correct country of residence. This is a common security measure enforced by banking apps, so you'll want to ensure you're not connected to a VPN server location abroad (to unlock cheaper flights or more streaming options) when you attempt to transfer money to someone or check the balance in your current account.

Advanced options, like split-tunnelling, can solve this headache. This feature enables VPN subscribers to pick and choose the apps and services that connect online via a VPN server and those that bypass this encrypted connection. The VPNs included in this best VPN deal guide all offer split-tunnelling, although it's not available on every operation system due to restrictions enforced by the manufacturer.

Is it worth having a VPN at home?

It's true VPNs were once the domain of enterprise users, but in recent years, they've become mainstream. With the exponential rise in online scams, more people want to shield themselves by hiding their IP addresses and encrypting their online traffic to keep it safe from prying eyes.

Research from BDO, the fifth-largest accounting network on the planet, shows that online fraud has cost the UK an eye-watering £2.3 billion last year — more than double the figure from 2022 and the second-highest annual total recorded by BDO in two decades.

Not only that, but the shift to online streaming with services like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video makes geolocation more important than ever before. Since the streamers have to cut licensing deals for each territory, the catalogue of TV shows and films can be very different between countries.

By manually changing your IP address and spoofing your location with a VPN, you can access a library of TV shows, films, and documentaries unavailable in your country.

With people looking to get the most from their monthly streaming subscriptions and wary of the increased risk of scams, identity fraud, and other hacks online — VPNs have become an essential tool to use at home. In fact, Apple offers some limited VPN functionality, known as iCloud Private Relay, to its iCloud+ subscribers to help safeguard their personal data when browsing the web.

Are cheap VPNs worth it?

It depends on what you plan to do with your VPN. There are several completely free VPNs available to download, but these all impose restrictions on users to incentivise upgrading to a paid plan.

Some will restrict the bandwidth available, slowing internet speeds when connected to a VPN server, which makes them almost impossible to use for tasks like streaming on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Sky Go, or playing online video games, especially those with a multiplayer component.

Others will place a ceiling on the amount of data that can be used when connected to a VPN. While that's unlikely to be an issue for basic tasks, like sending and receiving emails, or browsing some lightweight websites, it rules out anything too intensive — like browsing photos on Facebook, watching YouTube videos, or backing up photos and other data to the cloud.

Free VPNs can be helpful to test out these services for the first time and experience the benefits first-hand. However, it's also worth noting that many of the best VPN services offer a 30-day no-questions-asked refund period, which serves as a month-long free trial.

With customer service representatives available 24/7, you'll be able to raise any concerns or walk away from your subscription no matter what timezone you're in.

Cheap VPNs include many of the same compromises, with restrictions on the amount of data, or a smaller number of VPN server locations — cutting down on the number of locations worldwide where you can spoof your IP address and unlock new streaming opportunities or new deals.

You're unlikely to find many of the included extras with some of the bigger VPN brands, like a password manager, threat detection, and dozens of apps for all of your devices.

Is a VPN safe for banking?

Most experts agree that using a VPN for online banking is generally safe and will enhance your security. This is because VPNs will encrypt your internet connection, making it tough for hackers to intercept sensitive information — such as login credentials or banking details — as it's beamed from your device to the bank. This added layer of protection is especially beneficial when using public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks, which are more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

However, it's important to choose a reputable VPN provider.

Some free or disreputable VPNs have been known to log data, sell information on your browsing habits, or expose you to malware. Paid services from well-known providers are usually more secure, offering stronger encryption protocols and privacy policies that prioritize user security.

That said, a VPN is not a foolproof solution. Always ensure that you access your bank's website through its official domain and use two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible to further safeguard your accounts.

Does a VPN provide a new email address?

Despite all of the positive things that a VPN can do to protect your privacy online, most VPN services do not offer a dedicated email address. However, ExpressVPN recently launched its MailGuard feature, which generates brand-new email addresses that can be used for specific purposes — like signing up for an account with an online retailer or applying for a job — without giving away your actual Gmail, iCloud, or Yahoo address.

Email addresses have become a universal identifier used to track activity across a vast number of services worldwide. It's increasingly used to target people through phishing and data breaches. Last year, almost 2 billion unique email addresses were exposed in public data breaches.

These unique email addresses will automatically redirect to your iCloud, Gmail, Yahoo, or other inbox provider of your choice – so you won't need to check another inbox, and won't need to share your favourite email. If you use the same password across multiple accounts, it only takes one of your login credentials to leak online, and hackers can break into dozens of your online services, subscriptions, and inboxes. It's critical to use a unique password for each of your accounts, but it's useful to shield your email address from prying eyes too.

And that's not all, ExpressVPN offers a dedicated IP address with its Pro subscription for £4.39 per month on its two-year plans, where you'll get everything included with the more affordable tiers, VPN connections for up to 14 devices, 5 days of eSIM data and monthly credit reports.

The dedicated IP address is exclusive to you and so private that even ExpressVPN can’t trace back to you.