Black Friday is the one time of year when VPN subscriptions actually get cheap. Most providers already price their two-year plans low to win new customers, but late November is when they tend to add extra free months, throw in bundled tools, or shave a little more off the per-month rate on top of that.
We looked at seven VPNs worth considering this Black Friday: NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, PureVPN, PrivateVPN, and VeePN. Below, you’ll find what each one actually costs, what you get for the money, and where the trade-offs are — so you’re not just going by whichever banner ad claims the biggest percentage off.
A quick note before you scroll: percentages like “88% off” are calculated against a provider’s most expensive monthly rate, not against what most people would actually pay. The number that matters is the real monthly cost of the plan you’re considering, so that’s what we’ve focused on here.
Quick comparison
| VPN | Starting price (long-term plan) | Based in | Logging | Refund window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | ~$3.09–3.69/mo | Panama | No-logs, independently audited | 30 days |
| Surfshark | ~$1.99–2.49/mo | Netherlands | No-logs, independently audited | 30 days |
| ExpressVPN | ~$2.49–3.49/mo | British Virgin Islands | No-logs, independently audited | 30 days |
| Proton VPN | ~$2.99–4.99/mo (free tier available) | Switzerland | No-logs; open-source apps | 30 days |
| PureVPN | ~$2.14–2.99/mo | British Virgin Islands | No-logs, KPMG-audited | 31 days |
| PrivateVPN | ~$2.00–2.50/mo | Sweden | No independent audit published | 30 days |
| VeePN | ~$1.67–5.83/mo depending on plan | Panama | Collects some usage data (see below) | 14–30 days |
Prices above reflect long-term plans (typically 2–3 years), which is where the real savings are. Monthly plans on all seven cost noticeably more — often $10–20/month — so if budget is the priority, a longer commitment is where Black Friday pricing actually pays off.
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is the biggest name on this list, and for Black Friday it usually keeps its structure simple: a steep discount on the 2-year Basic plan plus a few months added for free, rather than a dramatically different price than what’s already available most of the year.
What you’re getting: NordVPN runs on its own NordLynx protocol, a WireGuard implementation built for speed, and it has one of the largest server networks among consumer VPNs — reported at over 8,000 servers across 100+ countries. It’s based in Panama, which has no mandatory data retention laws, and its no-logs policy has been through multiple independent audits.
Beyond the core VPN, NordVPN’s higher tiers (Plus and Complete) bundle in NordPass (password manager) and NordLocker (encrypted cloud storage), which can be worth it if you’d otherwise be paying for those separately. The Basic tier is fine if you just want the VPN itself.
Good for: People who want a well-tested, fast VPN with a large server list and don’t mind committing to two years for the best price.
Worth knowing: The lowest advertised price only applies to the 2-year plan, and it renews at a higher rate after that term ends — more on that further down.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark’s standout feature hasn’t changed in years: unlimited simultaneous device connections. One subscription covers your phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV, and anyone else in your household, with no device cap to run into.
What you’re getting: Surfshark is based in the Netherlands and has an independently audited no-logs policy. Its server network is smaller than NordVPN’s — commonly reported between 3,200 and 4,500+ servers in around 100 countries — but its WireGuard speeds test competitively in most independent reviews. It also includes CleanWeb (ad and tracker blocking), a kill switch, MultiHop (double-hop) servers, and an obfuscation mode for restrictive networks.
Surfshark’s 2-year Starter plan is consistently one of the cheapest options among major VPN brands, and Black Friday tends to push that already-low starting price down further or add bonus months.
Good for: Households with a lot of devices, or anyone who wants a capable VPN without paying NordVPN or ExpressVPN prices.
Worth knowing: Surfshark’s monthly plan, if you don’t commit long-term, runs considerably higher than the discounted rate — expect $12–15/month.
3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has historically sat at the more expensive end of the VPN market, but its Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers usually bring its 2-year plan down into the same range as NordVPN and Surfshark.
What you’re getting: ExpressVPN uses its own Lightway protocol, built for speed and quick reconnections, and runs on a network of 3,000+ servers across 105 countries. It’s based in the British Virgin Islands, outside the Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances, and its no-logs claims have been independently audited more than once.
ExpressVPN also restructured its plans into three tiers — Basic, Advanced, and Pro — with the higher tiers adding a password manager and identity protection tools, plus support for more simultaneous devices.
Good for: People who want a long-established, thoroughly tested VPN and don’t mind paying slightly more than Surfshark or PureVPN for it.
Worth knowing: ExpressVPN doesn’t publish a permanent free tier, and its monthly (no-commitment) price is one of the highest in this list, so the value case depends on taking the multi-year plan.
4. Proton VPN
Proton VPN is the privacy-first option here, and it’s the only one of the seven with a genuinely free tier — no trial period, no credit card required, just a permanently free plan with a smaller server selection and capped speed.
What you’re getting: Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, which has strong data protection laws, and its apps are open-source, meaning independent researchers can inspect the code rather than just taking the no-logs claim on faith. Its Secure Core feature routes traffic through hardened servers in privacy-friendly countries before it exits to the internet, and it supports Tor-over-VPN for an extra layer of anonymity on top of the VPN connection itself.
Its paid Plus tier costs more than Surfshark’s cheapest plan but includes more servers, full speed, and streaming support. Black Friday deals here have run as high as 70–75% off the 2-year plan in past cycles.
Good for: Privacy-conscious users, or anyone who wants to try before committing thanks to the free tier. Also a natural fit if you already use Proton Mail, Proton Drive, or Proton Pass, since bundled pricing can work out cheaper than paying for each separately.
Worth knowing: Proton VPN has fewer streaming-optimized servers than NordVPN or Surfshark, so if unblocking a long list of streaming platforms is your main use case, it may take more trial and error to find a working server.
5. PureVPN
PureVPN’s pricing tends to be aggressive around Black Friday — its longer plans (12 months, 5 years) regularly get marketed at 80–90% off, which puts the effective monthly cost among the lowest on this list.
What you’re getting: PureVPN moved its legal jurisdiction to the British Virgin Islands and now maintains what it describes as an “always-on” audit relationship with KPMG, meaning the auditor can inspect its infrastructure without advance notice rather than on a fixed annual schedule. It runs on 6,000+ servers across 65+ countries, supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, and includes a kill switch and split tunneling.
Worth being upfront about: in 2017, PureVPN provided connection logs to the FBI as part of a criminal investigation, at a time before its no-logs architecture and jurisdiction change were in place. The company has since rebuilt its infrastructure and taken on the KPMG audit arrangement specifically in response to that history. Whether that’s enough to trust the current no-logs claim is a judgment call worth making with that context in mind.
Add-ons like a dedicated IP, port forwarding, or DDoS protection are priced separately rather than bundled in, which is worth factoring into the total cost if you need them.
Good for: Budget-focused buyers who want a large server network and are comfortable with the brand’s history and its remediation since.
Worth knowing: Reviewers have reported average or below-average support responsiveness and inconsistent refund experiences, so keep records of your purchase in case you need to request one.
6. PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN is a smaller Sweden-based provider that’s stayed cheap for years, largely because it keeps its offering simple: one core plan tier, a modest server list, and no bundled extras to pay for.
What you’re getting: PrivateVPN supports up to 10 simultaneous connections, works with major streaming platforms, and offers apps across the usual platforms plus manual setup guides for routers and other devices. Independent reviews have noted it lacks WireGuard support and has a notably smaller server network — a couple hundred servers across roughly 60 countries — compared to the bigger names on this list.
Its long-term plan (typically a 3-year term) is one of the cheapest on this list at around $2/month, though PrivateVPN has not published the kind of independent no-logs audit that NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, or PureVPN have.
Good for: Budget buyers who mainly want basic streaming access and don’t need the largest server list or the newest protocol support.
Worth knowing: With only three plan lengths on offer (1 month, 3 months, and a multi-year plan), there’s no middle-ground annual option if a 3-year commitment feels like too much.
7. VeePN
VeePN is the newest and least established name on this list, based in Panama with a server network reported at around 2,500+ servers in roughly 50 countries.
What you’re getting: VeePN includes a kill switch (on desktop apps), an ad blocker, split tunneling, and a double-hop (multihop) feature for routing traffic through two servers instead of one. Pricing is tiered by device count — a Basic plan for 5 devices, up to a Max plan supporting 20 — rather than by feature set, which is a different structure than most VPNs on this list use.
We’d be doing you a disservice not to flag this clearly: independent testing from more than one reviewer has found VeePN’s apps include more third-party trackers than you’d expect from a privacy tool, and that despite its no-logs marketing, its privacy policy describes collecting more user data than competitors on this list disclose. Speed test results in independent reviews have also come in well below NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN.
Good for: Budget-conscious buyers who want device-based pricing tiers and don’t need best-in-class speed or the strongest privacy guarantees.
Worth knowing: If airtight privacy is your main reason for buying a VPN, VeePN is the one on this list where you’ll want to read the privacy policy yourself before committing, especially on a multi-year plan.
What actually makes a Black Friday VPN deal good
Not every “up to 90% off” banner is telling you something useful. A few things worth checking before you buy:
- The real monthly price, not the percentage off. An 87% discount sounds bigger than a 75% discount, but if the 87% figure is calculated against an inflated monthly rate nobody actually pays, the two deals can end up costing about the same per month.
- How long you’re committing to. The lowest prices are almost always tied to 2-year or 3-year plans. If you’re not sure you’ll stick with the service that long, run the numbers on a shorter plan too — the per-month savings on longer terms can be eaten up if you cancel early and the refund window has passed.
- What happens after the discount period ends. Covered in more detail below, but this is the single most overlooked part of any VPN deal.
- Whether the discount is exclusive to new customers. Some providers let existing customers switch plans to access a new deal; others don’t. If you already have an account, check before assuming you’re eligible.
Will the price go up when your term ends?
Usually, yes. Nearly every VPN on this list — and in the industry generally — prices its promotional plans as an introductory rate for new customers. When that term (2 years, 3 years, whatever you signed up for) ends, the subscription typically renews at a higher standard rate unless you cancel or switch plans first.
This isn’t unique to any one provider, but it’s worth setting a calendar reminder for when your term is up. In many cases, canceling and resubscribing as a “new” customer around the next Black Friday will get you back to a discounted rate, rather than paying the higher renewal price by default.
FAQ
Is Black Friday actually the best time to buy a VPN?
For the seven providers here, yes, generally — Black Friday and Cyber Monday are when most VPNs run their steepest annual discounts on long-term plans. That said, some providers (PureVPN and Surfshark, in particular) run aggressive sales at other points in the year too, so the gap between Black Friday pricing and a random Tuesday in March isn’t always huge.
Do VPN Black Friday deals renew at the same discounted price?
Typically not. Almost all providers renew subscriptions at a higher standard rate once the discounted term ends, unless you cancel and resubscribe or negotiate a new plan.
Is a 2-year or 3-year plan worth it just for the discount?
It depends on how confident you are that you’ll use the service for that long. The per-month price is lowest on multi-year plans, but you’re paying upfront, and refund windows (usually 30 days) only protect you early in the term. If you’re unsure, a 1-year plan is often a reasonable middle ground.
Which of these VPNs has the biggest real discount?
Based on current pricing, PureVPN and PrivateVPN tend to advertise the largest percentage discounts, while Surfshark’s Starter plan is consistently among the lowest real monthly prices across all seven. NordVPN and ExpressVPN’s discounts are usually smaller in percentage terms but come from a smaller starting number, so the end price isn’t far off.
Are these VPN Black Friday deals safe to buy?
All seven providers here are established companies with published pricing and refund policies, so the deals themselves aren’t scams. That said, always buy directly from the provider’s official site rather than a third-party reseller, and be cautious of “lifetime” deals from providers not covered in this guide — those have a mixed track record industry-wide.
Bottom line
If you want the safest, most tested option, NordVPN or ExpressVPN are the ones with the longest track records and the most independent audits behind their no-logs claims. If budget and device count matter more, Surfshark’s unlimited-connections plan is hard to beat at its Black Friday price. Proton VPN is the pick if privacy architecture matters more to you than server count, and its free tier means you can try it without any commitment at all. PureVPN and PrivateVPN are worth considering if you want the lowest possible monthly cost and are comfortable with the trade-offs each has (PureVPN’s audit history, PrivateVPN’s smaller network). VeePN is the one we’d suggest doing extra homework on before buying, given what independent testing has found about its data collection and speeds.
Whichever you choose, check the live pricing page before checkout — Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals shift throughout the sale window, and the number on the page the day you buy is the one that counts.
