VPN deals for May 2023: get the best price on privacy and unblocking

Logo saying 'TechRadar deals' above multiple devices running VPNs
(Image credit: Future)

While all of the best VPN providers battle it out to get you business, the customer is actually the big winner as there are constantly ongoing discounts to be had – and even some freebies you can take advantage of if you're new to the world of VPN. We've done all the hard work and compiled a list of the best VPN deals you can find right now.

But this isn't only about the price, as we only recommend deals from VPN providers that we've actually tested and consider safe to use. Which is why ExpressVPN hangs in there. It may be a bit more expensive than others, but it still has a great offer as our #1 VPN and with a really tempting freebie thrown in, too.

Whether you plan to use your virtual private network (VPN) to protect your privacy, watch Netflix on holiday, catch sports coverage not usually available in your country, or just remain anonymous while you surf online, you're bound to find the perfect VPN deal for you in our list of bargain sales. And if you're located somewhere outside the US, don't let the $ signs put you off—that's just how most providers display their pricing, but they can still be purchased from anywhere.

Top VPN Deals at a glance

VPN deals: top offers you can get today

1. Surfshark | 2 years + 2 months free |

1. Surfshark | 2 years + 2 months free | $12.95 $2.30 per month | 84% off + FREE antivirus
Surfshark tops our list thanks to its eye-catching combo of super reasonable pricing (it's an easy pick at the top of our best cheap VPN chart) and excellent quality. Plus, it's the fastest VPN we've tested—with average speeds of over 950 Mbps.

Already one of the most affordable premium VPNs on the market, it then throws in an extra two months for free to make it even more of a bargain. Plus, for a limited time, you'll also get a free upgrade to its Surfshark One antivirus package as well.

Learn more in our comprehensive Surfshark VPN review.

2. NordVPN | 2 years |

2. NordVPN | 2 years | $11.99 $3.99 per month | 51% off
Sign up for NordVPN's excellent service for the next two years and you'll get an extra get 3 months free—at a very attractive price. It's a fantastic price point considering you also get a built-in ad blocker and antivirus for no extra cost.

Find out more in our in-depth NordVPN review and take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee to see why we rate it as the #1 Netflix VPN.

3. PureVPN | 5 years |

3. PureVPN | 5 years | $10.95 $1.33 per month | 88% off
PureVPN isn't quite as powerful as the likes of ExpressVPN and NordVPN, but it's a reliable VPN, and its prices certainly catch the eye. What's more, you can currently get a ridiculous deal on a 5-year plan at just $1.33 per month—it doesn't get much better than that. 

Check out our PureVPN review for more details.

4. Private Internet Access (PIA) | 2 years + 2 months free |

4. Private Internet Access (PIA) | 2 years + 2 months free | $11.95 $2.19 per month | 80% saving
Private Internet Access boasts a huge 20k+ server count and is constantly improving its UX and feature list. And it just got really competitive with its savings, too. It sits at #4 in our overall VPN ranking and is especially good for those looking for advanced torrenting features.

Find out how it compares to ExpressVPN and NordVPN in our Private Internet Access VPN review.

VPN deals: best of the rest

Hide.me VPN | 1 year | $2.88/per month

Hide.me VPN | 1 year | $2.88/per month
Falling into the sub-$3 range, this Hide.me offer will get you a full three years of solid VPN action plus an additional 3 months free – but only for a limited time. While monthly and 12-month plans are also available, this 3-year deal is currently the best way to save. Plus, Hide.me is bundling in 2 TB of encrypted cloud storage for FREE as an extra tempter.

Want to know more? Check out our Hide.me VPN review to see whether it's the right service for you.

ExpressVPN | 1 year |

ExpressVPN | 1 year | $12.95 $6.67/per month + 3 months FREE
TechRadar's #1 trusted VPN for privacy and unblocking content worldwide. Get it today with a no-hassle 30-day money-back guarantee, 15 months for the price of 12, and a whole year of unlimited cloud backup from Backblaze, too. Fantastic value on a fantastic pair of products—plus a 30-day money-back guarantee to try them out without risking a penny.

See what makes it our go-to VPN in our ExpressVPN review.

FastestVPN | 3 years | $1.11 per month

FastestVPN | 3 years | $1.11 per month
FastestVPN has some of the most aggressive price points around, and its current sale on a 3-year plan is one of the best offers we've seen. At just $1.11 per month, it also includes free cloud storage and a password manager. It's a shame however that in our testing we found below-average speeds, disappointing support, a thin privacy policy, and a poor show on unblocking geo-restricted streaming.

See our FastestVPN review for more details.

CyberGhost | 2 years + 2 months FREE | $2.19 per month | 82% saving

CyberGhost | 2 years + 2 months FREE | $2.19 per month | 82% saving
CyberGhost becomes a really affordable VPN if you're happy to put your eggs in its security basket for three years. Sign up for 24 months and it will chuck in an extra two for free, meaning that the effective cost comes down to a rather spectacular $2.19 per month.

See our CyberGhost VPN review for more info.

IPVanish | 2 year |

IPVanish | 2 year | $10.99 $2.96 per month
While IPVanish isn't always regarded as the cheapest out there, the introductory offer on its one-year plan is actually pretty attractive at the moment. You pay just £44.99, which works out at $2.96 a month, and includes 3 months free. A bargain price on a provider with some of the fastest WireGuard connection speeds around.

Read our IPVanish VPN review to see whether it suits your needs.

AtlasVPN | 3 years + 3 months free |

AtlasVPN | 3 years + 3 months free | $10.99 $1.83 a month | 85% off
The AtlasVPN Summer Sale has cut the price of its multi-year plan and thrown in an extra two months free. The result is a VPN deal for $71.52 for 39 months of use and an effective monthly rate of less than $2.

Check out our AtlasVPN review to see how it compares with NordVPN and Surfshark.

Still not cheap enough?

We get it, in a cost-of-living crisis, VPNs can be a luxury. Have a look at our list of the best free VPN services and see why PrivadoVPN is our go-to solution when we don't have a budget.

What is a VPN?

A virtual private network, or VPN, is a service typically called a client that is used to help protect your online identity. This is done with the use of encryption. Encryption scrambles the data being sent from your computer and being received from the pages your visit, so it's virtually impossible to track what you're doing including who you're chatting with and browser history.

Each VPN service provides a no-log policy. While the VPN client doesn't track your online activity, the best VPN services also promised to never keep identifying information on you, including account information like your name, address, or banking information. This is so you can remain anonymous from physical prying eyes, too.

In addition to encryption, VPNs use secured servers to hide your physical location. When you connect to the internet, your device has a unique IP address that identifies where you are located. Using a VPN server gives you a different IP address each time, so it's impossible to trace online activity back to you.

Another perk of using VPN servers is being able to access geo-restricted content. This is especially important if you travel internationally. Since your IP address tells where you are located, some countries won't allow you to access web pages if you're not locally there. Choosing a VPN server in your home country lets you continue to access the web content you need.

How to choose a VPN

VPNs seem to be all the same, but there are significant differences, and not just where prices are concerned. While each one should give you enough privacy for you to feel safe online, there are some that fall short of the task.

At TechRadar, we have a stellar team of VPN experts that dive deep into physically testing these services, combing through the on-log policies, and keeping an eye on any extra tools or features that are added. And we do this several times each year. 

Learn more

Check out our complete buying guides to learn more about specific VPN offerings

Best VPN

Best Windows 10 VPN

Best Mac VPN

Best VPN for streaming

Best Torrenting VPN

After over 15 years of reviewing, testing, researching, and evaluating VPNs, we know what to look for. Here are some of the most important functions your VPN should have.

Security: This one is obvious. A VPNs primary function is to keep you safe. But it's hard to tell just how secure a VPN really is. That's why we have an amazing testing team that has a technical background and knows how to thoroughly test VPNs. We won't recommend one that is unsafe to use.

One important security feature included with VPNs is a kill switch. This will sever your internet connection if the VPN is ever compromised. One of the reasons ExpressVPN is our top pick is that we've seen firsthand how well it quickly engages its kill switch at the first inkling of trouble.

Privacy Policy: It doesn't do you any good to use a VPN if your digital and physical identities aren't protected. This is why a VPN no-log policy is so important. Many software and technology companies will keep some kind of identifying information on you just in case law enforcement comes asking about you. 

One of the reasons ExpressVPN is our top pick is that we've seen firsthand how well it quickly engages its kill switch at the first inkling of trouble.

Unless the VPN is based in a country that is part of the Five Eyes Alliance, the VPNs we recommend won't keep any information on your, period. In fact, some VPNs subject themselves to third-party security screenings to prove just how secure they are.

Speed: Speed is more than just how quickly you connect to the VPN server. It represents how quickly your data is encrypted and sent back and forth from the VPN server. While there are a lot of reasons why speeds may fluctuate, we tested and retested connections using both the newest WireGuard and commonly used OpenVPN protocols.

On top of being the cheapest VPN, Surfshark is also the fastest with an impressive top speed of 960Mbps. This makes it excellent for torrenting (sending person-to-person files), and for tapping into TV streaming services.

Servers: One factor that determines a VPN's speed is the number of servers and server locations. In theory, the more there are the faster speeds you'll have. This is because a single server won't be packed with too many users.

Server locations are especially important if you travel internationally. This is because if there are servers in your home country, you'll be able to continue to access your favorite web pages without geo-restrictions. We have VPN buying guides for just about every location including US VPNs, Canada VPNs, UK VPNs, and even China VPNs.

Streaming capabilities: One of the most commonly geo-restricted content is TV streaming services. This is because platforms, like Netflix, don't want you to watch content outside of your viewing area. However, if you travel and use a VPN server in your home location, you can still log into your online streaming accounts and watch your favorite shows without a problem.

As part of our testing, we make sure to try and tap into various streaming accounts, so we can tell you which VPNs are the best for watching Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, the BBC, and many others, regardless of which country your account is located in. Just check out of best VPNs for streaming to learn which one is the best for the channels you want to watch.

Adam Zeis
Editorial Director - High Yield

Adam is the Editorial Director of High-Yield content at Future. Leading an outstanding team, he oversees many articles the publisher produces about subscriptions and services including VPN, TV streaming, and broadband. In addition to identifying new e-commerce opportunities, he has produced extensive buying guides, how-to-watch content, deal news, and in-depth reviews. Adam's work can be seen on numerous Future brands including TechRadar, Tom's Guide, T3, TTR, Android Central, iMore, Windows Central, and Real Homes.

With contributions from