Surfshark’s monthly subscription is the highest of the VPNs I’ve tested. Surfshark Starter includes the VPN, an ad blocker, and a masked email generator for $15.45 per month. The next tier up is Surfshark One for $17.95 per month. That plan includes an antivirus, data leak alerts, and a private search engine that blocks ads. The highest-priced plan is Surfshark One+ at $20.95 per month, which includes everything in the prior tiers as well as data removal courtesy of Incogni. 

I spoke to a company representative regarding the monthly subscription cost, who said, “…We feel that our product is most beneficial when used long-term, and that’s why we offer the cheapest two-year plan in the market. For those users who would like to test out the product and see how it works when committing to a longer subscription period, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.”

(Credit: PCMag/Surfshark)

As the rep stated, the prices drop significantly if you choose a 12-month or 24-month subscription. The long-term plans also include three free months of service with the purchase. For example, Surfshark Starter drops to $3.19 per month ($47.85 for 15 months) if you choose the annual plan. The two-year plan cuts the cost down to $1.99 per month ($53.73 for 27 months). 

(Credit: PCMag/Surfshark)

The other tiers offer similarly competitive discounts. However, keep in mind that promotional rates change frequently. That’s why I tend to focus on the monthly cost. I prefer pricing models that are flat rates, like Mullvad’s. These separate plans with differing tiers can get confusing and can lead to you spending more than you need on features you may never use. 

Surfshark’s pricing makes it a bit easier to understand by having a detailed chart that shows the features you get with each plan. Even so, I would like to see more details there. Some of the features don’t give you worthwhile information when you click on them. The ad blocker feature expands to say, “Enjoy a cleaner surfing experience, with no ads or pop-ups.” Sure, but how is that implemented? I’d like to see more robust descriptions or for there to be links to a relevant page.

Regardless, it is best to try a VPN before you lock in an annual subscription. Server availability, local performance, and content unblocking in your region can vary widely, even if the service may be excellent elsewhere. The only way to know which service is right for you is to try it. All of Surfshark’s plans are backed by the same 30-day money-back guarantee. I was pleased to see the guarantee remain the same across the board since some competitors tend to shorten the return period on one-month plans.

You can also make use of a seven-day free trial on any plan. A valid credit card or PayPal purchase will be required to get access to it, and you will be charged after the trial period ends if you don’t cancel. It’s a rather generous offering with no restrictions on bandwidth or features. When it is time to pay, Surfshark accepts most major credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple. It’s nice to see more than just Bitcoin as an option for cryptocurrency. 

Alternatively, there are several cheap VPNs and even a few worthy free VPNs to consider. Proton is one of the only free VPNs that doesn’t impose a data limit on user traffic. Also, keep in mind that other services, such as IVPN and Mullvad, even accept cash payments.

As mentioned earlier, Editors’ Choice winners Nord and Proton are worth considering if you need a VPN on a month-to-month basis. Proton lands the top spot with a high-performance server network and a suite of excellent privacy tools for $9.99 per month. Nord also offers a compelling value with a host of bundled security tools and support for advanced configuration options for $12.99 per month. If you plan to subscribe for 12 months or longer, however, Surfshark becomes much more competitive.