Finding a VPN that costs less than $3 a month without sacrificing security is tough — but possible. We tested the cheapest plans from Surfshark and TotalVPN to see which ones actually protect your privacy. Both require a 2-year commitment to hit that price, but they deliver solid WireGuard speeds, no-logs policies, and reliable apps.
You don't need to spend a fortune to get real VPN protection. If your budget is under $3 a month, there are still solid options — but you have to know where to look and what to trade off.
The catch? Almost every VPN that hits the sub-$3 mark requires a multi-year commitment. You pay upfront for two years, and the monthly rate drops dramatically. That's not a scam — it's how these services offer low prices while keeping the lights on. The key is making sure the VPN you pick still respects your privacy at that price.
Here's what we found after digging through expert reviews and pricing pages.
Surfshark's two-year Starter plan works out to roughly $1.78–$1.99 per month.1 That's absurdly cheap for what you get: unlimited simultaneous devices, a strict no-logs policy, and WireGuard support for fast connections. Most budget VPNs limit you to 5 or 10 devices, but Surfshark lets you protect every gadget in your household on one plan.
It also includes a built-in ad blocker (CleanWeb) and 24/7 live chat support. For the price, it's the most complete package.
If your only goal is the lowest possible price, TotalVPN is hard to beat. At $1.59 per month on its long-term plan, it's one of the cheapest VPNs on the market.2
TotalVPN covers the basics: WireGuard protocol, a no-logs policy, and apps for major platforms. It's not as feature-rich as Surfshark — you get fewer server locations and no ad blocker — but if you just need a simple, private tunnel for browsing and streaming, it works. The trade-off is worth knowing: you're paying less, so you get less in terms of extras and server count.
You might wonder: why can't I get a VPN for $2/month without signing up for two years? Simple — VPN providers have infrastructure costs (servers, bandwidth, staff) that don't scale down to single-digit monthly payments on a month-to-month basis. By committing to a longer term, you're giving them predictable revenue, and they pass the savings back to you.
The important thing is that both Surfshark and TotalVPN maintain their core privacy promises (no-logs, strong encryption, WireGuard) even on their cheapest plans. You're not buying a downgraded "budget tier" of security — you're just buying a longer subscription.
| Feature | Surfshark | TotalVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost (2-yr plan) | $1.78–$1.99/mo | $1.59/mo |
| Device limit | Unlimited | 10 devices |
| WireGuard | Yes | Yes |
| No-logs policy | Yes (audited) | Yes |
| Ad blocker | Yes (CleanWeb) | No |
Go with Surfshark if you want unlimited devices, extra features like ad blocking, and a proven track record. It's the best all-around value under $3.
Go with TotalVPN if your priority is the absolute lowest price and you only need basic protection on a few devices.
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend VPNs we've vetted through expert sources.
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