Best Cheap VPNs in 2024

Nathan Finch——Last Updated on February 12, 2024

Total: 1.9K

Budget VPNs that work well can be difficult to come by, especially if you've been browsing all the free options. Spoiler: Free VPNs are often not a good choice since they are usually slow and make money by collecting and selling your data.

Modern VPNs have become everyday tools for thousands of internet users all over the world. The software essentially allows users to anonymously and securely connect to the internet by using an encrypted tunnel.

VPNs or Virtual Private Networks connect your phone, laptop, computer, or other device to the service provider's servers, encrypts your data, and then connects you to the internet. By doing this, your IP Address and location are masked via their servers and you can browse the web without being traced.

In this guide, we’re going to cover the best cheap VPNs available to help you and help you better understand each product to get the most value for your money.

There are plenty of VPNs available on the market today. You can find VPNs that come with an antivirus software package or even free VPNs.

However, if you’re looking for a quality VPN, you should look at the VPNs that are purchased separately as that is where you find the top security and privacy features. Check out the best cheap VPNs below.

Key Features:

• Threat Protection allows you to browse the web safely without having to connect to a server before
• Access to more than 5,400 servers in 60 countries
• No Log Policy
• Split-tunneling
• Double encryption

• Drag-and-Drop Feature
• Beginner-Friendly
• Fantastic Knowledge Base

• Pricing
• Limited SEO capabilities

NordVPN Best Cheap VPN Review

NordVPN’s Threat Protection technology takes security to the next level.

The technology blocks advertisements, trackers, and malware allowing users to feel confident in their online privacy. Plus, Threat Protection is always active once it’s enabled in the app’s settings.

NordVPN also has a strict policy against monitoring and storing any user data. The no-logging policy means that anything you do while connected to their VPN is 100% private.

When you use NordVPN, you get access to over 5,300 servers located in 60 countries. This provides access to countless IP addresses and allows you to overcome geo-restricted content.

Split tunneling lets you take advantage of a VPN’s encryption while also retaining access to the local web. For example, you can stay connected to local Australian content while also utilizing VPN protection.

NordVPN provides users with two layers of encryption. When you connect to a VPN, your data is routed through two VPN servers which amplifies the security of your data twofold. This makes NordVPN one of the most secure VPNs available.

As NordVPN has numerous attractive features and costs only $3.49 per month for a 2-year plan, it’s the best cheap VPN on our list.

• Unlimited devices supported
• Alert features that notify if your personal data has been leaked
• Advanced data privacy and security features
• IP address hiding
• IPTV access

• Blocks malware, trackers, adware, and popups
• Fast connection speeds
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Connect to more than one VPN simultaneously

• Not as many servers and locations available
• Split tunneling only available on Windows and Android

Surfshark Best Cheap VPN Review

​​​​​​​When you sign up for the Surfshark VPN, you can download the application on as many devices as you want.

While Surfshark is available on standard laptops and phones, it also has browser plugins for Firefox and Chrome and is available for smart TVs and video game consoles.

Surfshark has additional privacy features to make clients aware of their data security. If Surfshark finds any of your personal information leaked online, it immediately alerts you, so you can take action to change passwords or lock accounts.

The Surfshark VPN also includes advanced security features to keep you safe while you’re on the internet.

Through the VPN, you can browse privately without the worry of trackers, adware, or other types of malware. Plus, when you’re on public wi-fi, the Surfshark VPN protects all your data.

When you activate the Surfshark VPN, your actual IP address becomes hidden to avoid tracking or regional restrictions. You connect to one of the thousands of Surfshark servers and receive a new, encrypted IP address.

Surfshark VPN provides security and privacy when you’re connected to IPTV as it allows you to avoid censorship and ISP throttling. Plus, the VPN is optimized to ensure you never experience buffering while streaming.

At only $3.40 per month for a 2-year subscription, Surfshark VPN is a great option as a trustworthy and fast VPN.

Key Features:

• P2P file sharing
• No-log certified
• Various protocols supported
• Global network
• Secure browsing

• Cheapest VPN on our list
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Servers optimized for streaming
• 24/7 customer support

• Not as fast as other VPNs

PureVPN Best Cheap VPN Review

​​​​​​​Peer-to-peer file sharing is when one person makes the files on their computer available to another computer. PureVPN includes that capability, so two users on the same server can share files.

PureVPN is no-log certified meaning they never keep logs on clients. Your data, location, and activity are never monitored, stored, or shared with anyone.

PureVPN offers servers that support various types of VPN protocols. You can connect to an encrypted server via WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and more.

Having a large global network means PureVPN users have access to over 6,500 servers across more than 78 countries. Users have access to one of the largest networks of encrypted servers giving them power and flexibility.

PureVPN provides users with secure servers, encrypted access to the internet, and wi-fi protection. The result is the ability to surf the web without fear of hackers, trackers, or any type of malware affecting you or your device.

PureVPN is one of the best cheap VPN Australia options available as it costs only $1.99 per month for a 2-year plan and comes with many impressive features.

Key Features

• Unlimited bandwidth
• Private DNS server
• Threat Manager that blocks communication with third parties and trackers
• Lightway Protocol for lightning-fast connection speeds
• Split tunneling

• Unblocks Netflix
• Torrenting is available on all servers
• An impressive selection of countries for server locations
• A great option for unblocking Australian content
• Bitcoin payments available

• A low number of servers compared to other VPNs on this list
• More expensive than most competitors on our list

ExpressVPN Best Cheap VPN Review

ExpressVPN users can connect to the VPN without fear of bandwidth restrictions. You can stream, download content, or upload content without fear of throttling.

ExpressVPN has its own private DNS for each of its servers. That means that your requests are always routed through ExpressVPN’s DNS which guarantees privacy and increases connection speeds.

The Threat Manager technology created by ExpressVPN blocks all communication by third parties and malicious websites. This allows for secure browsing free from online trackers, snoopers, adware, and viruses.

ExpressVPN has created a Lightway protocol that has an advanced VPN connection.

Due to this, ExpressVPN has some of the fastest connection speeds around which means you’ll never experience buffering or loading times because of the VPN.

Users who want to access their local internet content while also retaining the benefits of a VPN like encrypted internet access can benefit from split-tunneling.

​​​​​​​You can stay connected to your local Australian web while having the confidence of being free from local trackers and ads.

At $8.32 per month for a 1-year contract, ExpressVPN is not as cheap as its competitors.

However, considering the features and quality, ExpressVPN should be carefully considered if the price is not the key deciding factor.

Key Features

• VPN kill switch
• Secure and encrypted web browsing
• Strict no logging policy to maintain client privacy
• Unlimited devices supported
• Shared IP addresses for paid users, so no users can be tracked

• 24/7 customer support available via live chat, phone, and email
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Torrent tracking available

• Cannot unblock geographical restrictions set by Netflix
• The IPVanish application is in China

IPVanish Best Cheap VPN Review

​​​​​​​With IPVanish, users get a VPN kill switch that allows them to immediately disconnect from the internet. The kill switch helps users prevent data leakage if their VPN disconnects, and they don’t want to be connected to the internet directly without encryption.

The IPVanish VPN provides users with a secure web browsing experience. When connected to the VPN, all your traffic, data, and activity is hidden from advertisements, trackers, and potentially malicious websites and third parties.

IPVanish operates under a strict no-logging policy. That means none of your information will ever be tracked, stored, or shared by IPVanish.

IPVanish allows you to download and use their VPN on unlimited devices.

If you have a smartphone, tablet, laptop, computer, and smart TV, you’ll have no issues using the VPN on each device. What’s more, you can share the VPN with your family, so everyone can maintain privacy.

IPVanish has created a library of over 40,000 IP addresses. When a user activates the IPVanish VPN, they’re given one of these IP addresses depending on the server they’re connected to.

All 40,000 IP addresses are shared between the subscription base, so all users’ identities are kept hidden.

IPVanish costs $4.33 per month, billed annually at $51.95.

Key Features

• WireGuard technology for best performance
• Best Available Location option for a quick connection
• DNS included
• Advanced security when connected to public wi-fi
• Access geo-restricted content

• No logging of any activity
• Can have up to 12 connections
• Light mode and dark mode application settings
• 30-day money-back guarantee

• Not very many servers compared to its competitors
• The price increases after the first year

StrongVPN Best Cheap VPN Review

WireGuard technology provides StrongVPN with industry-leading technology allowing it to measure up against any VPN in areas of security, performance, and speed.

Plus, it requires less memory than many protocols and is available on all major operating systems.

The Best Available Location feature takes the hassle out of choosing a server location. Instead, users can select the option and get an instant connection to the server with the best speed.

StrongVPN has its own DNS for its servers. That means that users get lightning-fast connection speeds to an open web.

StrongVPN includes several advanced security features to ensure clients’ privacy. As a client, none of your data or activity is ever logged, your IP address is always hidden, and third-party apps and malicious websites are blocked from tracking your data.

StrongVPN allows users to surpass any country-based restrictions to access local media and content from wherever they are. For those Australians trying to access Netflix from the UK or elsewhere, StrongVPN has your solution.

StrongVPN costs $3.66 per month, billed annually at $43.99. However, the second year the price increases to a total of $79.99 for the year.

• VPN cascading on up to 4 servers
• TrackStop to block phishing scams and online trackers
• Circumvent VPN firewalls
• DNS leak protection
• Server information displayed

• IPV6 support
• Neural routing utilizes neural networks for advanced routing
• No speed or traffic limits
• No user logging

• Only a 7-day money-back guarantee
• The most expensive VPN on the list
• Support in only 25 countries
• 10,000 Mbps bandwidth limit

Perfect Privacy VPN Best Cheap VPN Review

​​​​​​​Perfect Privacy VPN allows clients to cascade their connection on up to 4 servers. This means clients can choose their entry point to the internet from one country and change the server location when they leave the VPN.

TrackStop is in-house technology that blocks malicious websites, tracking, and other online threats. The technology allows users to surf the web, stream media, and access sensitive without fears of privacy leaks.

The Perfect Privacy VPN allows users to circumvent any firewalls that act to restrict users on VPNs. The company’s software directs all traffic through an encrypted tunnel to prevent any IP leaks and keep you free from firewalls.

DNS leak protection is included in the VPN to ensure your internet requests are always directed to Perfect Privacy encrypted servers instead of your local internet provider. This secures your location and security while you browse the web.

The Perfect Privacy VPN allows you to see information such as ping and bandwidth of available servers. This means users can see all the data necessary to connect to the fastest server.

The Perfect Privacy VPN is the most expensive on the list costing $9.99 per month, billed annually which brings it down to the bottom of our list of best cheap VPN options.

With any product you’re purchasing, you have to know what attributes make one better than another.

Check out the following five considerations to help you choose the best cheap VPN.

Before you can decide which VPN is your best bet, you have to know why you want to use a VPN.

Are you using a VPN because you don’t want your IP address known? Are you trying to access country-specific media like Netflix? Or do you want to increase your privacy when you surf the web?

Questions like these can help you figure out what VPN is the best for you.

See Which VPNs Work with Your Devices

If you primarily want to use a VPN on your Linux computer, you better be sure that the VPN you’re choosing supports the Linux operating system.

What’s more, if you want to use a VPN service on more than one device or share it with family members, you’ll need to see how many devices are supported by the VPN you’re interested in.

Check the Covered Locations

VPNs don’t work in all countries. Furthermore, they don’t offer server locations in all countries. When you’re exploring VPN options, you’ll need to take a close look at what countries they offer services and in what countries they have server locations.

Check How User-Friendly the VPN Is

Some applications can take a long time to get accustomed to. If you’re going to be using a VPN regularly, you want it to be easy. You don’t want to open an application and have to click through several screens to finally turn on the VPN.

Rather, you want a VPN that you can open and turn on with one click. What’s more, it should be intuitive to select a server location.

Pay Attention to Customer Service

If you’ve ever paid for a service, had issues with it, and struggled to get in touch with customer service, you know how much you should value a company’s customer service now.

​​​​​​​When you’re looking for VPNs, make sure you choose one that has a reputable customer service team and one that is available through multiple channels of contact.

What’s more, you should consider only choosing VPNs that offer a money-back guarantee in case you don’t like the VPN after some time.

Consider Payment Options

When you’re going to buy a product, you should always be aware of the payment options. Your payment options don’t only include how you pay for the service, but it includes what kind of plans the company offers.

Do you have to pay for a two-year subscription to get the cheapest advertised price? Explore payment options from various VPNs and see what works best for you.

While there are a lot of good VPNs—and a lot of cheap VPNs—there are only a few that offer great services at a good price point.

Those listed above all have their pros and cons, but at the end of the day, they will all get the job done.

However, if you want the best cheap VPN Australia provides, we recommend going with NordVPN as it has numerous, high-speed servers, double encryption, and great overall performance.

What is the Best Cheap VPN for Australia?

The best cheap VPN Australia offers is NordVPN. It’s a versatile VPN with impressive speeds, great customer support, and 30-day money back guarantee.

What’s more, the VPN also has 5,400 servers in over 60 countries.

How Can You Get a Cheap VPN in Australia?

If you live in Australia, you have a lot of options for cheap VPNs. Options like NordVPN, SurfShark, IPVanish, ExpressVPN, StrongVPN, PerfectPrivacy, and PureVPN are all cheap VPNs.

All you need to do is go to one of their websites, create an account, and select your preferred method of payment and payment plan. Most VPNs have various subscription models, so you can choose what suits you best.

Are VPNs Legal in Australia?

While VPNs may be illegal or controversial in other countries, they are legal in Australia. However, VPNs do not allow you to commit crimes online.