It’s official: TechRadar readers want VPN pricing to change. In a recent set of polls, 54% of TechRadar readers said price jumps were the most annoying part of VPN subscriptions, while a whopping 97% said they’d rather pay a flat fee than a discounted rate that rises later on.
The problem is that many of the best VPNs don’t work this way. Most opt for a reduced rate that increases at the end of the fixed plan. And while some providers offer an end-of-plan offer, it isn’t guaranteed.
One VPN that breaks this mould is Mullvad VPN. It costs €5 per month, every month.
Its price hasn't changed since it launched way back in 2009. What’s more, if you’d like to keep your payment anonymous, it allows cash payments, which require no identification whatsoever.
Mullvad's single price does mean it is more expensive per month than options offering an initial discount. NordVPN, for example, costs $3.49/month initially, over a dollar less, but you're faced with a $100+ price rise at the end of two years, and you pay the whole fee upfront.
Mullvad gives you greater control of your payments; no price rises, and performance that rivaled the very best VPNs in our March 2026 testing.
It achieved 2,308 Mbps using WireGuard in our speed testing, second only to PrivadoVPN. It also proved to be reasonably effective with streaming services. It struggled with Disney+ and Prime Video in some regions, but was flawless with global Netflix libraries and local services such as BBC iPlayer.
Compared to other VPNs, Mullvad does fall short on additional security features. It lacks capabilities such as antivirus, password management, or dark web monitoring to secure you outside of the VPN. For these features, you'd need to look to VPNs such as NordVPN or Surfshark.
Wanna have your own say? The polls are still open, so feel free to leave your vote and let us know why in the comments below.
