Advertiser Disclosure: At Slickdeals, we work hard to find the best deals. Some products in our articles are from partners who may provide us with compensation, but this doesn’t change our opinions. Our editors strive to ensure that the information in this article is accurate as of the date published, but please keep in mind that offers can change. We encourage you to verify all terms and conditions of any product before you apply.
Reading Time: 5 minutesCybersecurity and privacy are only getting more important. Virtual private networks, or VPNs, offer a way to get a little more privacy online and serve as a place for you and a website to meet halfway. Instead of contacting the site directly (and potentially exposing private data like your location), you use the VPN to do it, and the site sees the VPN’s data instead.
It’s a handy service to have, whether you want to protect your privacy or access out-of-market content. But are VPN services worth paying for long-term, or perhaps even for a lifetime? We’re taking a look at whether a lifetime VPN subscription makes sense for you – and your wallet.
What’s Your Need?
Before purchasing, you’ll want to consider what you need and want from your VPN. There are a few common use cases to consider:
- Privacy: VPNs are commonly used to protect your data online, especially when you’re accessing your accounts from public Wi-Fi networks.
- Access Geoblocked Sites: Some websites, such as streaming sites, are “geoblocked,” which means you can’t access them outside of a certain geographic area. VPNs can give you a closer IP address to access your favorites. This is especially useful if you travel frequently, as you won’t have to worry about missing your favorite sports matches just because you’re out of the local market.
- Access to Private Networks: If you run a personal network at home, or have to access one for work, a VPN offers much more efficient and protected access. It might even be mandated by some employers.
Ask yourself how often you really need a VPN. For sporadic, low-data situations, such as securely checking your email on the road, especially if you’ll be using it on just one device, a free service may be a better choice. For longer-term situations, though, you may want to start pricing out what you need and how much it will cost.
How Much Do Lifetime Subscriptions Cost?
iStock.com/Prykhodov
With most products, the more you buy upfront, the lower the overall cost. The same tends to be true of VPN services. Purchasing a long-term or lifetime subscription will typically get you the best overall rate. However, it’s important to note that by “lifetime,” they mean the company’s, not the customer’s.
It costs a lot of money to run and maintain a VPN; it can involve thousands of servers in dozens of countries. So what happens when the pool of lifetime customers is tapped out?
In some cases, the company goes bust. In others, there are limits to the service under a lifetime subscription, such as data or device caps. Additionally, you may have to deal with monthly fees for added services or with ads inside apps. I
t’s even possible the company will be sold to a competitor who will change the agreement and turn a service you like into something you never use. You’ll have to weigh these risks and annoyances against the value of the service.
The best way to avoid these issues, though, is to take a look at a company’s past practices and financial health before you buy their VPN. It also pays to look closely at the fine print: some VPNs may restrict the number of devices you can use, or “throttle” your traffic speed once you hit a certain data limit.
Notable VPNs and Pricing
Not sure where to start when it comes to finding a VPN service? We’ve gathered a few of the top names in the world of VPN subscriptions to give you an idea of what you can expect to pay.
NordVPN – Sale Price: $5.75 per month | Reg. Price: $11.95 per month, $83.88 annually, $119.76 for two years, or $125.64 for three years
Windscribe – Reg. Price: Free for up to 10GB per month, $9 for unlimited access monthly, $49 annually
TorGuard – Reg. Price: $9.99 monthly, $59.99 annually
Norton VPN – Reg. Price: $4.99 per month, $39.99 for the first year
Tunnelbear – Reg. Price: Free for 500MB, $10 monthly, $60 annually, or $120 for three years
Express VPN – Reg. Price: $12.95 monthly, $60 for six months, and $100 for one year.
For contrast, here are some recent lifetime VPN deals from the Slickdeals forums. [Ed. Note]: the following represent recent examples of lifetime VPN offers as of August, 2020, and, by definition, these deals may not last permanently.
FastestVPN: Sale Price: $20 | Reg. Price: $1,600
KeepSolid VPN: Sale Price: $15 to $30 | Reg. Price: $199.99
VeePN: Sale Price: $18 | Reg. Price: $440
SlickVPN: Sale Price: $15 | Reg. Price: $1,200
Overall, it’s rare to see a “lifetime” subscription for more than $40. And, if you’re willing to take the gamble that the company will stick around for at least a year – which generally seems to be the case – then it may be worth it just for the price alone.
However, if you’re looking for long-term stability and exceptional performance, a multi-year subscription from a prominent name in the industry, such as NordVPN or Norton, might be the better choice.
When Can You Find the Best VPN Deals?
There have been a flurry of VPN deals in the last few months due to the pandemic and the sudden need for non-essential workers do everything from home. However, when you step back and look at the overall trend, there are a few themes that emerge regarding when is the best time to buy a VPN subscription.
- VPN service deals tend to pop up at least once a month. However, whether those deals are from little-known brands or major players in internet safety varies. In these situations, reviews should be your guide. Never buy a VPN subscription from an unknown company without doing your research first.
- Sales tend to appear in the wake of major technology buying events, such as after Christmas or around the back-to-school season. Everybody’s got a new laptop or tablet to think about, driving demand for security products, as well as discounts.
- Watch the news cycle. Whenever a major data breach or hacking attempt hits the news, there’s a flurry of marketing activity around internet security products. Discounts on major products often range from 25% to 50%, especially for yearly subscriptions or lifetime access.
One aspect that came out in our research is that service bundles tend to provide the best value.
VPNs tend to be included with other security products like password managers and anti-virus software. So if you’re in the market for those services as well, consider a bundled package with a VPN from a brand you trust.
Are you ready to make the plunge into a VPN subscription? Set a Deal Alert for your favorite provider and we’ll notify you when new offers hit our forums. Additionally, check out the top VPN service deals here.
Up Next:
Dan Seitz
Dan has spent more than a decade covering smart home tech, services, phones, social media, and all the other tech that surrounds our day-to-day lives. He's been published at Uproxx, Popular Science, Mashed, Lifewire, Upworthy, Cracked, and a host of other sites across the internet.