Choose a VPN by starting from your situation, not from a ranking. If you only need occasional protection on one device, a free plan may be enough. If you will keep it for years, the renewal price matters more than the headline deal. If you have a large household, device limits decide. And if you need a VPN for a single trip, monthly prices and refund rules are what count.
This is a documentary comparison based on the providers’ official pages for NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN. We have not bought, installed or speed-tested any of them, and we do not rate their security.
What a VPN does and does not protect against
A VPN encrypts the traffic between your device and the VPN provider’s server. The network you are on, such as hotel Wi-Fi or your internet provider, can see that you are connected to a VPN but not which sites you visit. The sites you visit see the VPN server’s IP address instead of yours.
That is useful, but narrow. A VPN does not stop phishing, does not remove malware, and does not protect a reused or weak password. It does not stop tracking when you sign in to an account, and it does not make you anonymous: the VPN provider now sits where your internet provider used to, so you are shifting trust, not removing it. Providers’ no-logs statements and audits are their claims; for example, Proton VPN says its no-logs policy is audited annually by Securitum. We make no promise about access to any streaming catalog, and a VPN does not change what a law or a service’s terms allow.
Before paying, check whether a VPN fits your risks at all with our personal threat model guide, and see where it fits among other network protections in our guide to home and travel networks. For malware and account risks, start with reducing malware risk and unique passwords.
If you want to pay nothing: Proton VPN Free
Prices and plan details were checked on the providers’ official pages on 5 November 2026. Prices vary by country, currency, taxes and promotions, so confirm them at checkout.
Proton VPN’s free plan costs $0 and needs no credit card. Proton says it has unlimited bandwidth and data, a kill switch and DNS leak protection. The limits are real, though: one device at a time, servers in 10 countries, and the server is chosen for you at random. After a first change, you can switch servers only at 10-minute intervals. Its comparison table rates free speed as medium and shows P2P and the ad and malware blocker as paid-only.
That makes the free plan a reasonable fit for occasional use on one phone or laptop, such as public Wi-Fi now and then. It does not suit a household, or anyone who needs a specific country.
If budget matters most: compare the renewal price
Long-term plans look cheap because the first term is discounted. What you pay later depends on the renewal price. Here is the first term plus one renewal year for each provider’s entry plan, assuming renewal prices stay as displayed (all four say they can change):
- Surfshark Starter, 24-month plan: $67.23 for 27 months + $79 = $146.23 for 39 months.
- Proton VPN Plus, 2-year plan: $83.76 for 24 months + $83.88 = $167.64 for 36 months.
- ExpressVPN Basic, 2-year plan: $83.72 for 28 months + $99.95 = $183.67 for 40 months.
- NordVPN Basic, 2-year plan: $94.23 for 27 months + $139.08 = $233.31 for 39 months.
The periods differ slightly, so compare the renewal per year as well: $79, $83.88, $99.95 and $139.08 respectively. Our VPN prices and renewals table lists every plan, including how much each renewal jumps over the first term.
If you have many devices
Surfshark lists unlimited simultaneous devices on all its plans. ExpressVPN allows 10 devices on Basic, 12 on Advanced and 14 on Express Pro. NordVPN allows 10 devices on every plan, and Proton VPN Plus and Unlimited allow 10. Proton’s free plan allows one device, though its support pages say a router setup can cover more.
Count phones, laptops, tablets and TVs for everyone who will share the account. If you are close to 10, Surfshark’s unlimited policy or ExpressVPN’s higher tiers leave room to grow.
If you want extras bundled
Every provider sells a higher tier with tools beyond the VPN. These bundles only save money if you would otherwise pay for the same tools separately.
- NordVPN Complete ($107.73 for 27 months, renews at $219.48 a year): antivirus, a password manager, 1 TB of cloud storage and Dark Web Monitor Pro, among others. Complete Max adds a dedicated IP.
- Surfshark One ($67.23 for 27 months, renews at $99): antivirus, Alert and Search. One+ ($107.73, renews at $119) adds Incogni data removal for residents of the US, UK, EU, Switzerland and Canada, and identity theft coverage up to $1 million for US residents outside New York State.
- ExpressVPN Advanced ($117.32 for 28 months, renews at $119.95): the ExpressKeys password manager and a 3GB holiday.com eSIM. Express Pro includes a dedicated IP.
- Proton Unlimited ($191.76 for 24 months, renews at $119.88): premium Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive and Pass with 500 GB of storage.
Watch regional limits: Surfshark’s data removal and insurance features depend on where you live. ExpressVPN’s /order page showed Advanced at $125.72 on the same day, so check the price at checkout. Our NordVPN vs Surfshark comparison looks closer at two of these bundles.
If you only need a VPN for a short time
For a trip or a short project, a monthly plan avoids a long commitment. Proton VPN Plus costs $9.99 a month and Proton Unlimited $12.99. NordVPN charges $14.99 to $21.99 a month depending on the plan, and Surfshark $18.95 to $22.85. ExpressVPN’s monthly price was not displayed.
All four state a 30-day money-back guarantee, with conditions. Proton allows it once per user and does not refund cash or bank transfer payments. ExpressVPN limits it to first-time subscribers buying on its website. Surfshark and NordVPN apply it to the initial purchase only. Do not treat a refund as a free trial; read the conditions first.
Two providers list trials. Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial on 12-month and 24-month plans; it needs a payment method, covers up to 3 devices and charges automatically unless you cancel. ExpressVPN offers a 3-day trial through its iOS and Android apps, also with a payment method on file. Set a reminder either way.
Summary by situation
| Situation | What to compare | What the official pages show |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional use, no budget | Free plan limits | Proton VPN Free: $0, 1 device, 10 countries, random server |
| Lowest long-term cost | Renewal per year | Surfshark Starter $79; Proton VPN Plus $83.88; ExpressVPN Basic $99.95; NordVPN Basic $139.08 |
| Many devices | Simultaneous devices | Surfshark unlimited; ExpressVPN 10 to 14; NordVPN and Proton VPN 10 |
| Extras bundle | Tools you would actually use | NordVPN Complete, Surfshark One and One+, ExpressVPN Advanced and Pro, Proton Unlimited |
| Short-term need | Monthly price, refund terms, trials | Proton VPN Plus $9.99/month; 30-day refunds with conditions at all four |
Promotions and prices that may change
NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN showed Black Friday banners, and Proton VPN showed discount labels on its 2-year plans. None showed an end date. NordVPN notes that VAT may apply, Surfshark’s prices exclude tax, and ExpressVPN adds sales tax at checkout where applicable.
How to decide
Name the risk you want to reduce, count your devices, and decide how long you will keep the service. Then compare the price you pay today with the renewal price you will pay later.
- Does a VPN address a risk in your threat model?
- Would the free plan’s one device and random server be enough?
- How many devices must be connected at once?
- Will you use the bundled tools, or only the VPN?
- What is the renewal price per year after the first term?
- Have you noted the refund deadline and any trial end date?
Then look at the current offers from Proton VPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN and NordVPN, and confirm the total at checkout.
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