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Ranked honestly · Real shortlist · No number-one-everywhere spam

The best cheap VPNs

Cheap should not mean nasty. These VPNs keep the price low without gutting privacy or logging your traffic to make up the difference. Ranked on real long-term cost, what you get for it, and whether there is a free way in.

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The ranking

A real shortlist. ROOT is placed where it genuinely earns its spot, not bumped to the top.

  1. Private Internet Access

    From £1.69 · Unlimited devices · No-logs

    About the lowest genuine long-term price anywhere, with unlimited devices, open-source apps and a court-proven no-logs record. Remarkable value.

    Private Internet Access alternative

  2. Surfshark

    From £1.99 · Unlimited devices · No-logs

    Unlimited devices and a full feature set on a cheap multi-year plan. Watch the renewal price after the intro term.

    Surfshark alternative

  3. CyberGhost

    From £1.99 · 7 devices · No-logs

    Very cheap on long plans with streaming-labelled servers and a 45-day refund, so trying it risk-free costs nothing up front.

    CyberGhost alternative

  4. PureVPN

    From £1.99 · 10 devices · No-logs

    Aggressive long-term pricing across a big network, with optional add-ons. Weigh its older logging history against the low price.

    PureVPN alternative

  5. ROOT VPNOur pick to start free

    Free, then £3.99 · 10 devices · No-logs

    ROOT is the cheapest way to start because the free tier costs nothing at all, with paid plans from £3.99 when you want every location. Not the rock-bottom paid price of PIA, but the only one here you can use for free indefinitely.

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How we ranked them

The criteria that decided the order.

Best cheap VPN, answered

What is the best cheap VPN?
Our top pick is Private Internet Access, for the reasons in the ranking above. ROOT VPN comes in at number 5 on this list and is the pick if you want a genuinely free way in and modern stealth protocols. The right choice depends on what matters most to you.
Is ROOT VPN a good cheap VPN?
Yes, and we have placed it honestly at number 5 here rather than pretending it wins every category. ROOT gives you a free tier with unlimited data, four modern protocols and no activity logs, which makes it a strong, low-risk one to try first.
Do I have to pay for a good cheap VPN?
Not to start. ROOT VPN has a free forever plan with no card required, and a couple of others on this list offer real free tiers too. Paid plans add more locations and faster servers when you need them.

More ranked shortlists

Browse more, or see the full list of best-VPN guides.

Start with the free pick on this list.

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