{ "updated": "2026-08-17", "currency": "USD", "note": "Prices are intro rates for new customers, anchored to vendor sites via research on the updated date. VERIFY EVERY PRICE before launch and at each refresh - vendors change deals monthly.", "vpns": [ { "id": "nordvpn", "name": "NordVPN", "money_back_days": 30, "max_devices": 10, "countries": 111, "based_in": "Panama", "no_logs_audited": true, "open_source": false, "free_tier": false, "streaming": { "score": 9, "notes": "Reliably unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video across many regions" }, "torrenting": { "allowed": true, "port_forwarding": false, "score": 8, "notes": "P2P-optimized servers; no port forwarding" }, "speed_score": 9, "privacy_score": 8, "highlights": [ "NordLynx (WireGuard) speeds", "Threat Protection ad/malware blocking", "Meshnet device linking", "Dedicated IP available" ], "downsides": [ "Big renewal price jump", "No port forwarding", "Apps push upsells" ], "affiliate": { "program": "In-house via Impact", "typical_commission": "30-40% of new sales", "signup_url": "https://nordvpn.com/affiliate/" }, "pricing_available": true, "price_status": "verified 2026-08-17 (nordvpn.com/pricing, Basic tier)", "plans": [ { "name": "Basic 2-year (+3 free)", "term_months": 27, "promo_monthly_usd": 3.49, "upfront_usd": 94.23, "renewal_usd": 139.08, "renewal_term_months": 12, "renewal_monthly_usd": 11.59, "renewal_multiple": 3.32 }, { "name": "Basic 1-year", "term_months": 12, "promo_monthly_usd": 5.49, "upfront_usd": 65.88, "renewal_usd": 139.08, "renewal_term_months": 12, "renewal_monthly_usd": 11.59, "renewal_multiple": 2.11 }, { "name": "Basic monthly", "term_months": 1, "promo_monthly_usd": 14.99, "upfront_usd": 14.99, "renewal_usd": 14.99, "renewal_term_months": 1, "renewal_monthly_usd": 14.99, "renewal_multiple": 1 } ] }, { "id": "surfshark", "name": "Surfshark", "money_back_days": 30, "max_devices": 9999, "countries": 100, "based_in": "Netherlands", "no_logs_audited": true, "open_source": false, "free_tier": false, "streaming": { "score": 9, "notes": "Strong Netflix/regional unblocking; unlimited devices makes it good for households" }, "torrenting": { "allowed": true, "port_forwarding": false, "score": 7, "notes": "P2P allowed on most servers; no port forwarding" }, "speed_score": 9, "privacy_score": 7, "highlights": [ "Unlimited simultaneous devices", "CleanWeb ad blocking", "Cheapest big-name 2-year rate", "Rotating IP feature" ], "downsides": [ "Netherlands is a 9-Eyes jurisdiction", "Renewal jump", "Monthly plan is expensive" ], "affiliate": { "program": "In-house via Impact", "typical_commission": "~40% of new sales", "signup_url": "https://surfshark.com/affiliate" }, "pricing_available": true, "price_status": "partly verified 2026-08-17 (surfshark.com/pricing) - renewal price is NOT published there", "plans": [ { "name": "Starter 24-month (+3 free)", "term_months": 27, "promo_monthly_usd": 2.49, "upfront_usd": 67.23, "renewal_usd": null, "renewal_monthly_usd": null, "renewal_note": "Surfshark does not publish the renewal price on its pricing page - it only says you will be charged 'the applicable renewal price'. Treat the post-term cost as unknown and check at checkout." }, { "name": "One+ 24-month (+3 free)", "term_months": 27, "promo_monthly_usd": 4.49, "upfront_usd": 121.23, "renewal_usd": null, "renewal_monthly_usd": null, "renewal_note": "Renewal price not published on the pricing page." } ], "last_verified": "2026-08-17" }, { "id": "expressvpn", "name": "ExpressVPN", "money_back_days": 30, "max_devices": 8, "countries": 105, "based_in": "British Virgin Islands", "no_logs_audited": true, "open_source": false, "free_tier": false, "streaming": { "score": 9, "notes": "Excellent unblocking incl. stubborn platforms; MediaStreamer for smart TVs/consoles" }, "torrenting": { "allowed": true, "port_forwarding": false, "score": 7, "notes": "P2P allowed everywhere; no port forwarding" }, "speed_score": 8, "privacy_score": 8, "highlights": [ "Lightway protocol", "TrustedServer RAM-only servers", "Router app is best-in-class", "BVI jurisdiction" ], "downsides": [ "Pricier than rivals at renewal", "Fewer power-user features", "Device cap on basic tier" ], "affiliate": { "program": "In-house partner program", "typical_commission": "Flat bounty ~$13-36 per signup by plan", "signup_url": "https://www.expressvpn.com/affiliates" }, "pricing_available": true, "price_status": "verified 2026-08-17 (expressvpn.com/order, base tier)", "plans": [ { "name": "2-year (+4 free)", "term_months": 28, "promo_monthly_usd": 2.99, "upfront_usd": 83.72, "renewal_usd": 99.95, "renewal_term_months": 12, "renewal_monthly_usd": 8.33, "renewal_multiple": 2.79 } ], "last_verified": "2026-08-17" }, { "id": "protonvpn", "name": "Proton VPN", "money_back_days": 30, "max_devices": 10, "countries": 117, "based_in": "Switzerland", "no_logs_audited": true, "open_source": true, "free_tier": true, "streaming": { "score": 8, "notes": "Good Netflix/regional support on Plus; free tier does not stream" }, "torrenting": { "allowed": true, "port_forwarding": true, "score": 9, "notes": "Port forwarding supported - best big-name pick for seeding" }, "speed_score": 8, "privacy_score": 10, "highlights": [ "Open-source audited apps", "Swiss jurisdiction", "Genuine free tier (no data cap)", "Secure Core multi-hop" ], "downsides": [ "Apps a bit heavier", "Streaming needs paid Plus tier", "Does not publish a renewal rate, so the post-term cost is unknown" ], "affiliate": { "program": "In-house / partner network", "typical_commission": "~25% of sales", "signup_url": "https://protonvpn.com/partners" }, "pricing_available": true, "price_status": "partly verified 2026-08-17 (protonvpn.com/pricing, VPN Plus tier, read manually - the page renders prices in JavaScript so no automated fetch can see them) - renewal price is NOT published there", "plans": [ { "name": "VPN Plus 2-year", "term_months": 24, "promo_monthly_usd": 3.49, "upfront_usd": 83.76, "renewal_usd": null, "renewal_monthly_usd": null, "renewal_note": "Proton does not publish the renewal price on its pricing page. It shows the 2-year deal as 65% off its $9.99/mo standard rate and quotes a $156 saving over the 24 months, but says nothing about what the plan renews at - so the post-term cost is unknown. Check at checkout." }, { "name": "VPN Plus 1-year", "term_months": 12, "promo_monthly_usd": 4.49, "upfront_usd": 53.88, "renewal_usd": null, "renewal_monthly_usd": null, "renewal_note": "Renewal price not published on the pricing page (shown as 55% off the $9.99/mo standard rate, quoted saving $66 over the 12 months)." }, { "name": "VPN Plus monthly", "term_months": 1, "promo_monthly_usd": 9.99, "upfront_usd": 9.99, "renewal_usd": 9.99, "renewal_term_months": 1, "renewal_monthly_usd": 9.99, "renewal_multiple": 1 } ], "price_check_skip": "Pricing page renders figures in JavaScript, so no automated fetch can read them. Source mode is 'manual' (see price_status) - re-read the page by hand at each refresh." }, { "id": "cyberghost", "name": "CyberGhost", "money_back_days": 45, "max_devices": 7, "countries": 100, "based_in": "Romania", "no_logs_audited": true, "open_source": false, "free_tier": false, "streaming": { "score": 8, "notes": "Dedicated streaming servers labeled by platform (Netflix US, iPlayer, etc.)" }, "torrenting": { "allowed": true, "port_forwarding": false, "score": 7, "notes": "Dedicated P2P servers; no port forwarding" }, "speed_score": 7, "privacy_score": 7, "highlights": [ "45-day money-back guarantee (longest)", "Purpose-labeled servers, beginner friendly", "Romania is outside 14-Eyes" ], "downsides": [ "Speeds behind the leaders", "Owned by Kape (also owns ExpressVPN/PIA)", "7-device cap" ], "affiliate": { "program": "In-house / CJ", "typical_commission": "Up to 100% of first payment", "signup_url": "https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/affiliates" }, "pricing_available": true, "price_status": "verified 2026-08-17 (cyberghostvpn.com/buy - 'Campus Deal', billed $56.94 for first 26 months then autorenews at $56.94 annually)", "plans": [ { "name": "26-month", "term_months": 26, "promo_monthly_usd": 2.19, "upfront_usd": 56.94, "renewal_usd": 56.94, "renewal_term_months": 12, "renewal_monthly_usd": 4.75, "renewal_multiple": 2.17 }, { "name": "6-month", "term_months": 6, "promo_monthly_usd": 6.99, "upfront_usd": 41.94, "renewal_usd": 41.94, "renewal_term_months": 6, "renewal_monthly_usd": 6.99, "renewal_multiple": 1 }, { "name": "monthly", "term_months": 1, "promo_monthly_usd": 12.99, "upfront_usd": 12.99, "renewal_usd": 12.99, "renewal_term_months": 1, "renewal_monthly_usd": 12.99, "renewal_multiple": 1 } ], "last_verified": "2026-08-17" }, { "id": "pia", "name": "Private Internet Access", "money_back_days": 30, "max_devices": 9999, "countries": 91, "based_in": "United States", "no_logs_audited": true, "open_source": true, "free_tier": false, "streaming": { "score": 6, "notes": "Works with major US platforms; less reliable for other regions" }, "torrenting": { "allowed": true, "port_forwarding": true, "score": 9, "notes": "Port forwarding supported; long-standing P2P focus" }, "speed_score": 7, "privacy_score": 7, "highlights": [ "No-logs claim proven in US court cases", "Open-source apps", "Unlimited devices", "Very cheap 3-year rate" ], "downsides": [ "US jurisdiction (5-Eyes)", "Streaming weakest of the big names", "Owned by Kape" ], "affiliate": { "program": "In-house", "typical_commission": "33%+ recurring or up to 100% first month", "signup_url": "https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/affiliate-program" }, "pricing_available": true, "price_status": "verified 2026-08-17 (privateinternetaccess.com)", "plans": [ { "name": "3-year (+3 free)", "term_months": 39, "promo_monthly_usd": 2.03, "upfront_usd": 79, "renewal_usd": 79, "renewal_term_months": 36, "renewal_monthly_usd": 2.19, "renewal_multiple": 1.08 }, { "name": "1-year", "term_months": 12, "promo_monthly_usd": 3.33, "upfront_usd": 39.95, "renewal_usd": 39.95, "renewal_term_months": 12, "renewal_monthly_usd": 3.33, "renewal_multiple": 1 }, { "name": "monthly", "term_months": 1, "promo_monthly_usd": 11.95, "upfront_usd": 11.95, "renewal_usd": 11.95, "renewal_term_months": 1, "renewal_monthly_usd": 11.95, "renewal_multiple": 1 } ], "last_verified": "2026-08-17" }, { "id": "mullvad", "name": "Mullvad", "money_back_days": 14, "max_devices": 5, "countries": 45, "based_in": "Sweden", "no_logs_audited": true, "open_source": true, "free_tier": false, "streaming": { "score": 4, "notes": "Not a streaming VPN - unblocking is hit-or-miss and not a priority for them" }, "torrenting": { "allowed": true, "port_forwarding": false, "score": 7, "notes": "P2P friendly but port forwarding was removed in 2023" }, "speed_score": 9, "privacy_score": 10, "highlights": [ "No email required - anonymous numbered accounts", "Accepts cash/crypto", "Flat honest pricing", "Fully open source, heavily audited" ], "downsides": [ "Weak for streaming", "Small country list", "5-device cap", "No deals ever" ], "affiliate": { "program": "NONE - Mullvad has no affiliate program", "typical_commission": "n/a - included for honest comparison; links are plain", "signup_url": "" }, "no_affiliate": true, "pricing_available": true, "price_status": "verified 2026-08-17 (mullvad.net) - flat rate, no term discounts ever", "plans": [ { "name": "monthly (flat, any term)", "term_months": 1, "promo_monthly_usd": 5.8, "upfront_usd": 5.8, "renewal_usd": 5.8, "renewal_term_months": 1, "renewal_monthly_usd": 5.8, "renewal_multiple": 1 } ], "price_check_skip": "Mullvad prices in EUR (EUR 5/mo flat); our USD figure is a conversion, so matching it against the page is meaningless - drift here means the EUR price changed, which a human checks at refresh." } ], "verification_note": "All seven providers are priced. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, PIA and Mullvad were read from each provider's own pricing page on 2026-08-17 by fetching it. Proton VPN was read manually from protonvpn.com/pricing on the same day - its page renders figures in JavaScript and returns placeholder zeros to a plain fetch, and this environment cannot run a browser against external sites, so per DATA-PIPELINE.md it uses the 'manual' source mode. Proton's upfront totals were cross-checked against the page's own quoted savings (12 x 4.49 = 53.88, and 119.88 - 53.88 = the $66 saving shown; 24 x 3.49 = 83.76, and 239.76 - 83.76 = the $156 saving shown). Two providers - Surfshark and Proton - do not publish a renewal rate at all, so their multi-year totals are lower bounds and are flagged as such. Affiliate approval usually grants a product feed - per DATA-PIPELINE.md, feed is the default source mode, and wiring one would replace the manual read.", "the_pitch": "VPN pricing hides the same trap as web hosting: the advertised monthly rate requires prepaying 1-3 years, and the renewal is charged at a different, usually higher, rate. Every plan here carries term_months, upfront_usd and (where the provider publishes it) renewal_monthly_usd, so the tools compute what a VPN actually costs over the user's real time horizon.", "honesty_notes": [ "NordVPN's headline $3.49/mo is $94.23 charged today for 27 months, and it renews at $139.08/YEAR - $11.59/mo, a 3.3x jump.", "ExpressVPN's $2.99/mo is $83.72 for 28 months, renewing at $99.95/year ($8.33/mo, 2.8x).", "CyberGhost has the harshest renewal in this dataset: $56.94 buys 26 months, then the same $56.94 is charged EVERY YEAR - an effective jump from $2.19/mo to $4.75/mo.", "PIA and Mullvad are the honest ones. PIA's 3-year plan renews at $79 per 3 years, only about 8% above the intro rate; Mullvad charges a flat EUR 5/mo forever with no term discount at all and no affiliate programme.", "Surfshark advertises $2.49/mo but charges $67.23 today for 27 months, and does not publish what happens next.", "Proton VPN advertises $3.49/mo but charges $83.76 today for 24 months, and like Surfshark does not publish what happens after that. Its $9.99 monthly plan is the cheapest no-commitment big-name option here." ] }