Short answer
Short answer: paying month to month costs much more over a year. Twelve months of Proton VPN Plus at $9.99 come to $119.88, against $35.88 for the 1-year plan. NordVPN Basic at $14.99 a month comes to $179.88 a year, against $74.85 for its 15-month plan. Mullvad is the exception: €5 a month whether you pay monthly or for a year. A monthly plan can still make sense if you need a VPN for a month or two. Checked November 12, 2026, from a US connection, during Black Friday sales.
A year of monthly payments against the yearly plan
One row per VPN-only plan that has a monthly price. Twelve months paid monthly is twelve times the monthly price. The next columns show the shortest plan of 12 months or more, what it costs for its first term, and what it renews at. Surfshark is not in the table because we did not record a monthly plan for it.
| Provider | Monthly price | 12 months paid monthly | Shortest plan of 12 months or more | That plan renews at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $14.99 | $179.88 | 15 months, $74.85 | $139.08 every 12 months |
| Proton VPN | $9.99 | $119.88 | 12 months, $35.88 | $83.88 every 12 months |
| ExpressVPN | $14.99 | $179.88 | 15 months, $74.85 | $99.95 every 12 months |
| CyberGhost | $12.99 | $155.88 | 28 months, $61.32 | $61.32 every 12 months |
| Private Internet Access | $11.95 | $143.40 | 12 months, $47.88 | $47.88 every 12 months |
| Mullvad | €5.00 | €60.00 | 12 months, €60.00 | €60.00 every 12 months |
Checked November 12, 2026, from a US connection, during Black Friday sales.
Why the monthly price is so much higher
None of the monthly plans we checked had an introductory price: you pay the provider's regular monthly price from the first month. In the table it runs from $9.99 for Proton VPN to $14.99 for NordVPN and ExpressVPN, and Mullvad charges €5.00.
The longer plans show a much lower price per month, but you pay for the whole first term up front, and most of them are sold at an introductory price. Over a year, the difference adds up:
- NordVPN, Basic plan: 12 × $14.99 = $179.88, against $74.85 for the 15-month plan.
- Proton VPN, VPN Plus plan: 12 × $9.99 = $119.88, against $35.88 for the 12-month plan.
- ExpressVPN, Basic plan: 12 × $14.99 = $179.88, against $74.85 for the 15-month plan.
- CyberGhost, CyberGhost VPN plan: 12 × $12.99 = $155.88, against $61.32 for the 28-month plan.
- Private Internet Access, PIA VPN plan: 12 × $11.95 = $143.40, against $47.88 for the 12-month plan.
- Mullvad, Mullvad VPN plan: 12 × €5.00 = €60.00, against €60.00 for the 12-month plan.
When a monthly plan is the cheaper choice
If you only need a VPN for a month or two, the monthly plan costs less in total. Two months of Proton VPN Plus cost $19.98, against $35.88 for one year.
For each plan, this is how many months paid monthly still cost less than the shortest plan of 12 months or more. The longer plan gives you more months for the money, so this only helps if you will stop using the VPN. Mullvad is left out because its price per month is the same for any length:
- NordVPN, Basic plan: 4 months paid monthly cost $59.96, less than the $74.85 for the 15-month plan.
- Proton VPN, VPN Plus plan: 3 months paid monthly cost $29.97, less than the $35.88 for the 12-month plan.
- ExpressVPN, Basic plan: 4 months paid monthly cost $59.96, less than the $74.85 for the 15-month plan.
- CyberGhost, CyberGhost VPN plan: 4 months paid monthly cost $51.96, less than the $61.32 for the 28-month plan.
- Private Internet Access, PIA VPN plan: 4 months paid monthly cost $47.80, less than the $47.88 for the 12-month plan.
What happens when the yearly plan renews
A yearly plan does not stay at the price you paid up front. When the first term ends, most of these plans renew at a higher price. The exceptions are Private Internet Access's 12-month plan at $47.88 and Mullvad's 12-month plan at €60.00, which renew at the same price as the first term. Mullvad charges €5.00 a month for any length, so there is no introductory price to lose.
If you expect to keep the VPN after the first year, compare the renewal price too, not only the first-term price. For the shortest plan of 12 months or more:
- NordVPN, Basic plan: $74.85 for the first 15 months, then $139.08 every 12 months.
- Proton VPN, VPN Plus plan: $35.88 for the first 12 months, then $83.88 every 12 months.
- ExpressVPN, Basic plan: $74.85 for the first 15 months, then $99.95 every 12 months.
- CyberGhost, CyberGhost VPN plan: $61.32 for the first 28 months, then $61.32 every 12 months.
- Private Internet Access, PIA VPN plan: $47.88 for the first 12 months, then $47.88 every 12 months.
- Mullvad, Mullvad VPN plan: €60.00 for the first 12 months, then €60.00 every 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
How much more does a monthly VPN plan cost over a year?
It depends on the provider. For Private Internet Access, twelve monthly payments of $11.95 come to $143.40, while the 1-year plan costs $47.88 and renews at the same $47.88.
Is a monthly plan ever the better choice?
Yes, if you only need a VPN for a month or two. Two months of Proton VPN Plus cost $19.98, less than the $35.88 for its 1-year plan.
