The price in the ad is almost never the price you'll keep paying. Here's what each provider on our shortlist charges once the introductory term ends, and what three years really cost.
| Provider | Advertised | First payment | Then renews at | True 3-year cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Internet Access | $2.03/mo | $73.08 for the first 36 months | About $48–$50 per year after the 3-year term (varies by billing cycle) | $73.08 $2.03/mo |
| CyberGhost | $2.19/mo | $56.94 for the first 26 months | $56.94 per year (confirm at checkout) | $104.39 $2.90/mo |
| Surfshark | $2.49/mo | $67.23 for the first 27 months | About $79 per year (varies by plan length) | $126.48 $3.51/mo |
| ExpressVPN | $2.99/mo | $83.72 for the first 28 months | $99.95 per year | $150.35 $4.18/mo |
| Proton VPN | $3.49/mo | $83.76 for the first 24 months | $83.88 per year | $167.64 $4.66/mo |
| Mullvad VPN | €5/mo (about $5.40) | €5 each month, no long-term plans | €5 per month, unchanged | $195.00 $5.42/mo |
| NordVPN | $3.49/mo | $94.23 for the first 27 months | $139.08 per year | $198.54 $5.51/mo |
| Windscribe | $5.75/mo | $69 per year | $69 per year (same at renewal) | $207.00 $5.75/mo |
Prices in US dollars before tax, verified 16 Oct 2026 against each provider's own pricing pages. Sources are listed on each provider's profile.
Why the advertised price misleads
Introductory terms aren't the same length. NordVPN's runs 27 months, ExpressVPN's 28, Proton's 24 and Private Internet Access's 36, so comparing first payments side by side isn't fair. After that term, most plans renew yearly at a higher rate. NordVPN's Basic plan goes from $3.49 to about $11.59 a month; Proton VPN Plus renews at $83.88 a year, close to its intro rate; Mullvad never changes its price at all.
The fairest comparison: three years
We add up the first payment and whatever renewal falls inside 36 months. That one number captures both the deal and the catch. On that basis the cheapest provider on our shortlist costs less than half as much as the most expensive.
How to avoid the renewal jump
- Note the renewal price at checkout; it's usually in the small print below the button.
- Put a reminder in your calendar two weeks before the renewal date.
- Turning off auto-renew doesn't end your current term; you keep the service until it expires.
When renewal depends on your plan
Surfshark and Private Internet Access set renewal prices by plan length or billing cycle. We show their typical rates from their own pricing terms: about $79 a year for Surfshark and about $48 to $50 a year for PIA after its 3-year term. Check the exact figure at checkout for the plan you choose.