11 products tested & ranked

We Tested 11 Budget Travel VPNs — Here's What's Actually Worth It

Travel securely without overspending. We found the best VPNs that cost under $3/month and still deliver the speed, security, and features travelers need.

Featuring:

Surfshark·

Private Internet Access·

Proton VPN·

NordVPN·

CyberGhost VPN+6 more

Helping 12,000+ professionals choose the right tools

Quick Answer

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

See all reviews

Best Overall

9.3

Surfshark

From $1.99/mo (Starter 2-year). One plan from $2.49/mo. Unlimited devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections, 100+ country coverage, and unique privacy features like IP Rotator and NoBorders mode.

Try Surfshark

Best for Small Teams

9.2

Private Internet Access

From $1.98/mo (3-year plan). Unlimited devices. Open-source apps. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Veteran VPN provider with unlimited simultaneous connections, open-source apps, and one of the lowest prices in the market at $1.98/mo on 3-year plans.

Try PIA VPN

Best Value

9.0

Proton VPN

Free plan available with unlimited data. Paid from $3.59/mo (2-year). Proton Unlimited $7.99/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Swiss-based privacy-focused VPN with a generous free tier, Secure Core servers, and fast speeds across 127 countries. Built by the team behind ProtonMail.

Try Proton VPN

Great Travel VPNs Do Not Have to Cost a Fortune

Premium VPN services can cost $10-15 per month, but many excellent options are available for under $3/month on annual plans. Some even offer limited free tiers that work well for occasional travelers. The key is knowing which budget VPNs cut corners on features versus which ones simply offer competitive pricing.

How We Evaluate Value

We compare the total cost of ownership including renewal prices, not just promotional first-year rates. We also factor in the number of simultaneous device connections, since budget travelers often share one subscription across phones, laptops, and tablets. Money-back guarantees are important too, giving you a risk-free way to test the VPN during your trip.

Budget VPN Buying Tips for Travelers

Look for two-year plans for the lowest monthly rates. Avoid free VPNs that monetize your data through ads or tracking. Check renewal pricing since many VPNs double in price after the first term. Unlimited simultaneous connections mean your whole travel group can share one subscription.

0Products Tested

0+Hours of Testing

0+Years Experience

0Expert Reviewers

Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions when you purchase through links on this site. This never influences our ratings or recommendations. Our reviews are based on independent, hands-on testing. We believe in full transparency about how we make money. Read our full disclosure →

Our Top Picks

#1 Top Pick

Surfshark

Best Budget VPN

9.3

Excellent

Try Surfshark

#2 Runner Up

Private Internet Access

Cheapest Overall

9.2

Excellent

Try PIA VPN

#3 Also Great

Proton VPN

Best Free Plan

9.0

Excellent

Try Proton VPN

#1 Our Top PickFrom $1.99/mo (Starter 2-year). One plan from $2.49/mo. Unlimited devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark

Budget travelers and families who need unlimited device connections at a low price

Read Full Review →

Excellent

Price9.5

Free Plan6.5

Renewal Value8.0

Device Connections10.0

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Surfshark9.3/10	Private Internet Access9.2/10	Proton VPN9.0/10	NordVPN8.8/10	CyberGhost VPN8.5/10	Windscribe8.5/10	IPVanish8.2/10	Hotspot Shield7.8/10	Hide.me VPN7.8/10	Atlas VPN7.5/10	TunnelBear VPN7.5/10
Starting Price	From $1.99/mo (Starter 2-year). One plan from $2.49/mo. Unlimited devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.	From $1.98/mo (3-year plan). Unlimited devices. Open-source apps. 30-day money-back guarantee.	Free plan available with unlimited data. Paid from $3.59/mo (2-year). Proton Unlimited $7.99/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.	From $2.99/mo (Basic 2-year). Plus from $3.89/mo. Complete from $5.39/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.	From $2.03/mo (2-year plan). Monthly $12.99. 45-day money-back guarantee on long-term plans.	Free plan: 10GB/month. Pro: $5.75/mo (yearly). Build-a-plan: $1/mo per location. Unlimited devices on paid.	From $2.49/mo (2-year plan). Unlimited devices. Self-owned servers. 30-day money-back guarantee.	Free: 500MB/day with ads. Premium from $2.99/mo (3-year). 10 devices. 45-day money-back guarantee.	Free plan: 10GB/month. Paid from $2.69/mo (2-year). Monthly $9.95. 30-day money-back guarantee.	Free: 5GB/month. Premium from $1.83/mo (3-year). Unlimited devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.	Free: 2GB/month. From $3.33/mo (3-year). Yearly $4.99/mo. Annual security audits.
Best Monthly Price	$1.99/mo	$1.98/mo	$3.59/mo	$2.99/mo	$2.03/mo	$5.75/mo	$2.49/mo	$2.99/mo	$2.69/mo	$1.83/mo	$3.33/mo
Free Plan
Money-Back Guarantee	30 days	30 days	30 days	30 days	45 days	3 days	30 days	45 days	30 days	30 days	N/A
Simultaneous Devices	Unlimited	Unlimited	10	10	7	Unlimited	Unlimited	10	10	Unlimited	Unlimited
Renewal Price	$79/yr	~$60/yr	$80/yr	$140/yr	~$60/yr	$69/yr	~$60/yr	$96/yr	~$60/yr	~$50/yr	$4.99/mo
Value Rating	9.5	9.5	9.0	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.5	7.5	7.0
	Try Surfshark	Try PIA VPN	Try Proton VPN	Try NordVPN	Try CyberGhost	Try Windscribe	Try IPVanish	Try Hotspot Shield	Try Hide.me	Try Atlas VPN	Try TunnelBear

Detailed Reviews

Excellent

Private Internet Access

Cheapest OverallBudget travelers who want unlimited devices and proven security at the lowest price

Price9.5

Free Plan6.5

Renewal Value8.5

Device Connections10.0

Pros

Unlimited simultaneous device connections on all plans
Open-source apps provide full code transparency
No-logs policy verified in actual court proceedings
One of the cheapest VPNs at .98/month on 3-year plan

Cons

US jurisdiction within Five Eyes intelligence alliance
Connection speeds less consistent than top-tier competitors
Interface is less polished than ExpressVPN or NordVPN
Does not work reliably in China or other censored countries

Pricing: From $1.98/mo (3-year plan). Unlimited devices. Open-source apps. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Veteran VPN provider with unlimited simultaneous connections, open-source apps, and one of the lowest prices in the market at $1.98/mo on 3-year plans.

Read Full Review →

Excellent

Proton VPN

Best Free PlanPrivacy-conscious travelers and those who want a reliable free VPN option

Price8.5

Free Plan9.5

Renewal Value8.5

Device Connections8.0

Pros

Best free VPN plan with unlimited data and no ads
Swiss jurisdiction provides strong privacy legal protections
Secure Core routes traffic through privacy-friendly countries
Open-source apps independently audited for transparency
Stealth protocol helps bypass censorship in restricted regions

Cons

Free plan limited to servers in 5 countries with medium speeds
Premium plans slightly more expensive than Surfshark and PIA
Only 10 simultaneous connections on paid plans
Streaming unblock not as consistent as ExpressVPN and NordVPN

Pricing: Free plan available with unlimited data. Paid from $3.59/mo (2-year). Proton Unlimited $7.99/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Swiss-based privacy-focused VPN with a generous free tier, Secure Core servers, and fast speeds across 127 countries. Built by the team behind ProtonMail.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

NordVPN

Power users who want a feature-rich VPN with the largest server network

Price8.5

Free Plan6.5

Renewal Value7.5

Device Connections8.5

Pros

Massive network of 7,000+ servers in 118 countries
Threat Protection Pro blocks malware even when VPN is disconnected
NordLynx protocol delivers excellent speeds based on WireGuard
Double VPN and Onion over VPN for layered security
Obfuscated servers for bypassing censorship in restricted countries

Cons

Renewal prices significantly higher than initial promotional rates
China reliability is inconsistent compared to dedicated China VPNs
10-device connection limit may not suit large travel groups
Interface can feel overwhelming with so many features and server options

Pricing: From $2.99/mo (Basic 2-year). Plus from $3.89/mo. Complete from $5.39/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Feature-packed VPN with 7,000+ servers in 118 countries, NordLynx protocol for top speeds, and advanced security tools including Threat Protection.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

CyberGhost VPN

Streaming-focused travelers and VPN beginners who want a simple, reliable experience

Price9.0

Free Plan6.5

Renewal Value8.0

Device Connections7.5

Pros

Dedicated streaming-optimized servers labeled by platform
Massive network of 11,000+ servers across 100 countries
Industry-leading 45-day money-back guarantee
Very affordable 2-year plan at .03/month
NoSpy servers in Romania for enhanced privacy

Cons

Only 7 simultaneous device connections
Does not reliably work in China or heavily censored countries
WireGuard implementation slightly slower than NordLynx
14-day refund only on the monthly plan

Pricing: From $2.03/mo (2-year plan). Monthly $12.99. 45-day money-back guarantee on long-term plans.

User-friendly VPN with dedicated streaming-optimized servers, massive 11,000+ server network, and an industry-leading 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

Windscribe

Occasional travelers who want a great free plan or customizable per-country pricing

Price9.0

Free Plan9.0

Renewal Value8.0

Device Connections9.0

Pros

Generous 10GB/month free plan across 10+ countries
Unique build-a-plan option at /month per location
Unlimited device connections on paid plans
R.O.B.E.R.T. feature provides granular ad and tracker blocking

Cons

Fewer server locations than major competitors
Speeds not as fast as premium VPN services
No 24/7 live chat support available
Some streaming platforms successfully block Windscribe

Pricing: Free plan: 10GB/month. Pro: $5.75/mo (yearly). Build-a-plan: $1/mo per location. Unlimited devices on paid.

Flexible VPN with a generous 10GB/month free plan, build-a-plan customization, and unlimited device connections on paid plans.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

IPVanish

Android and Fire TV users who want self-owned server security and unlimited connections

Price8.5

Free Plan6.5

Renewal Value7.5

Device Connections10.0

Pros

Self-owned server infrastructure eliminates third-party risks
Unlimited simultaneous device connections
Excellent Fire TV and Android app optimization
Competitive pricing on 2-year plan at .49/month

Cons

US jurisdiction within Five Eyes alliance
Does not work in China or heavily censored countries
Streaming unblock capabilities are inconsistent
Fewer server locations than NordVPN or ExpressVPN

Pricing: From $2.49/mo (2-year plan). Unlimited devices. Self-owned servers. 30-day money-back guarantee.

US-based VPN with unlimited connections, self-owned server infrastructure, and strong performance on Fire TV and Android devices.

Read Full Review →

Good

Hotspot Shield

Speed-focused travelers and those who want a usable daily free VPN allowance

Price8.0

Free Plan8.0

Renewal Value7.0

Device Connections8.0

Pros

Hydra protocol delivers some of the fastest VPN speeds available
Free plan with 500MB/day is more generous than most
Strong streaming unblock performance
45-day money-back guarantee on Premium plans

Cons

Free plan is ad-supported and limited to US servers
Proprietary Hydra protocol means less open-source transparency
Privacy policy has faced criticism in the past
Fewer server locations than NordVPN or ExpressVPN

Pricing: Free: 500MB/day with ads. Premium from $2.99/mo (3-year). 10 devices. 45-day money-back guarantee.

High-speed VPN powered by the proprietary Hydra protocol, with a free tier, strong streaming unblock capabilities, and 10 simultaneous connections.

Read Full Review →

Good

Hide.me VPN

Privacy-focused travelers who want a trustworthy free VPN option with paid upgrade path

Price8.0

Free Plan8.5

Renewal Value7.5

Device Connections8.0

Pros

Full-featured free plan with 10GB/month data
10 simultaneous connections on paid plans
Stealth Guard prevents apps from running without VPN
No-logs policy independently audited

Cons

Smaller brand with less recognition than major VPNs
Server network smaller than CyberGhost or NordVPN
Free plan limited to 1 device connection
Streaming unblock less reliable than dedicated streaming VPNs

Pricing: Free plan: 10GB/month. Paid from $2.69/mo (2-year). Monthly $9.95. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Privacy-focused VPN with a full-featured free plan, 10 simultaneous connections, and strong security credentials based in Malaysia.

Read Full Review →

#10

Good

Atlas VPN

Budget travelers who want an affordable VPN backed by a major security company

Price9.0

Free Plan7.5

Renewal Value7.0

Device Connections9.0

Pros

SafeSwap servers automatically rotate your IP address
Extremely affordable at .83/month on 3-year plan
Unlimited device connections on Premium
Backed by Nord Security family

Cons

Relatively new provider with shorter track record
Free plan limited to 5GB/month and 3 locations
Fewer server locations than established competitors
Does not work in China or heavily censored countries

Pricing: Free: 5GB/month. Premium from $1.83/mo (3-year). Unlimited devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Budget VPN from the Nord Security family with a free tier, WireGuard support, and SafeSwap servers that rotate your IP address automatically.

Read Full Review →

#11

Good

TunnelBear VPN

VPN beginners and non-technical travelers who want simplicity and transparency

Price7.5

Free Plan7.0

Renewal Value7.5

Device Connections8.0

Pros

Most beginner-friendly interface in the VPN market
Annual independent security audits by Cure53 published publicly
GhostBear obfuscation for restricted networks
Unlimited device connections on paid plans

Cons

Free plan limited to just 2GB/month
Fewer server locations than most competitors at 47 countries
Lacks advanced features like dedicated IPs or multi-hop
Owned by McAfee which may concern privacy advocates

Pricing: Free: 2GB/month. From $3.33/mo (3-year). Yearly $4.99/mo. Annual security audits.

Beginner-friendly VPN with a charming bear-themed interface, annual independent security audits, and a 2GB free tier for trying before buying.

Read Full Review →

Our Testing Methodology

We evaluate cost per month on annual and multi-year plans, renewal pricing, simultaneous device limits, and feature completeness relative to price. Each VPN is scored on value-for-money alongside our standard travel performance metrics.

Written by

Marcus RiveraSaaS Integration Expert

Marcus has spent over a decade in SaaS integration and business automation. He specializes in evaluating API architectures, workflow automation tools, and sales funnel platforms. His reviews focus on implementation details, technical depth, and real-world integration scenarios.

API IntegrationBusiness AutomationSales FunnelsAI Tools

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

Great Travel VPNs Do Not Have to Cost a Fortune

How We Evaluate Value

Budget VPN Buying Tips for Travelers

Our Top Picks

Head-to-Head Comparison

Detailed Reviews

Pros

Cons

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Cons

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Cons

Pros

Cons

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Cons

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Cons

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Our Testing Methodology

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