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The internet has changed a lot in the UK, with the introduction of the Online Safety Act blocking Brits from accessing entire categories of websites, causing some sites to block visitors from the UK altogether, rather than comply. And now, there are discussions within Number 10 about blocking VPNs entirely.
Why the focus on VPNs? These helpful security tools can add military-grade encryption to everything you do online, stopping cybercriminals, hackers, and advertisers from keeping track of the list of websites that you visit – and the amount of time spent on each one.
If you're already familiar with VPNs, it's likely because the company-issued laptop ships with one installed, or you've used one of these clever apps while abroad so you can access streaming services like BBC iPlayer and Netflix without being blocked – almost as if you were sitting on your sofa at home.
But the shake-up caused by the Online Safety Act kickstarted an unprecedented spike in VPN downloads in the UK.
If you haven't taken advantage of one of the best VPN deals, and don’t know how much to pay, we've broken down the right balance between features and monthly cost for most people below.
ExpressVPN cloaks everything you do online – including the complete list of websites, and how long you spend visiting each one — with military-grade encryption so that even your broadband firm can't track what you're doing online
| KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PRESS OFFICEHow much should you spend on a VPN?
Most VPN services offer multiple subscription tiers, so you'll only ever pay for what you need. These popular security apps can be bundled with other must-have software, like password managers, automatic Dark Web monitoring, and tools to anonymise your email address.
If you’re relatively new to VPNs, we would suggest considering the entry-level tier of premium VPN service.
For example, ExpressVPN prices begin at £1.74 per month, which lets you secure up to 10x different gadgets at the same time. Users can tap into a massive infrastructure of 3,000+ servers spanning 105 nations. Its custom Lightway protocol is a standout feature, designed to boost speeds for uninterrupted viewing.
ExpressVPN doesn't include any other features with its most affordable Basic subscription tier, but if you're only looking for a VPN service, that's fine. In fact, it's something we praised in our ExpressVPN review.
Subscribe to ExpressVPN for just £1.74 – cheaper than its Black Friday deal
Protect your personal information and encrypt everything you do online for just £1.74 with the latest ExpressVPN deal. That equates to just 6p a day for military-grade encryption across 10x devices.
Unsurprisingly, this blockbuster sale trounces NordVPN, its biggest competitor.
ExpressVPN boasts apps for iPhone, Android, Linux, Windows, Mac, Fire TV, and dozens more, to secure your internet traffic from prying eyes, advertisers, and governments. We praised its speed and reliability in our ExpressVPN review. For a limited time, you'll benefit from an extra 4 months free with a two-year plan
Get 82% off ExpressVPN Basic
$9.99
$1.74
To unlock the best possible discount, you'll need to sign up for a two-year plan. For a limited time, ExpressVPN will bundle an extra 4 months of access to its award-winning service when you pick that plan. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which you should treat like a free trial.
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However, if you don’t want to spend that much upfront, most of the best VPN services — like ExpressVPN or its closest competitor NordVPN — rolling monthly prices starting at £10.99 per month.
It’s perhaps a good option for those who don’t want to spend a larger lump sum on a VPN and want to try it out before they commit. However, we would recommend going for the two-year plan because of its 30-day money back guarantee for new users.
ExpressVPN offers your money back if you’re not happy – it’s that confident. Other services like Cyberghost VPN also offers a long 45-day guarantee as well if you want a slightly longer time to decide.
But if you’re a bit more of a VPN expert, there are also additional extras to consider. VPN services tend to offer extras like cloud storage, password managers and a dedicated IP address. These prices tend to hover around £3 to £4 a month for two-year plans, which is the sweet spot for these more advanced plans.
The good news for ExpressVPN is that it includes a dedicated IP and many other extras as part of its Pro subscription, whereas other services force you to pay extra for a dedicated VPN.
Is it worth using a free VPN?
Downloading a free VPN might sound like the ultimate bargain, but the reality is rarely that simple. Although some reputable VPN services offer a free tier, these arrive with significant limitations to encourage users to upgrade to a paid plan. That could mean that you don't have enough bandwidth to stream video, or that you're unable to login and use the VPN on a laptop and a smartphone at the same time.
Another common restriction is your speed being throttled to incentivise an upgrade to a paid plan. That can turn simple tasks like gaming, video conferencing, or streaming Netflix into a frustrating chore.
And if the free VPN service that you've found doesn't have a paid tier, then it's even more alarming. That means the entire business model of the VPN is based on leveraging your personal information to support the costs of deploying and maintaining servers across the globe, developing apps across multiple platforms, and more.
It's true — if a provider isn't charging you a subscription fee, they are likely profiting by selling your browsing habits or imposing strict data caps and speed limits to push you toward a paid tier.
If you need the full functionality of the best VPN deals without a hefty upfront cost, our favourite VPN providers all offer 30-day money-back guarantees. This allows you to enjoy unrestricted, high-speed service for a full month – thoroughly testing out the service across all of your devices — with the option to unlock a full refund at any moment if you're not completely satisfied with the service.
Most of these brands offer 24/7 customer service, so you're able to speak to a customer service representative at any time to quickly process the full refund.
If you do want to explore the possibility of using a free VPN, you can find out more about the best free VPNs.
Virtual Private Networks, like ExpressVPN, mask your real location by routing traffic through servers in different countries, tricking services into thinking you're elsewhere | EXPRESSVPN PRESS OFFICE What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is software that protects and anonymises everything you do online.
VPNs can conceal your online activities by routing traffic through an encrypted tunnel that connects to secure servers worldwide. The most reliable VPNs use the same encryption standards as governments in the United Kingdom and the United States, ensuring that even your Internet Service Provider (ISP) on Wi-Fi cannot record the websites you visit, the duration of your sessions on each site, or your current location. This protection extends to advertisers, trackers, and hackers, preventing them from monitoring your online behaviour.
Furthermore, personal information entered into online forms and sensitive data transmitted to and from your device will be safeguarded from hackers using strong encryption provided by a VPN.
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