VPN Pricing Compared: What the Big Names Charge in 2026
VPN pricing compared: Surfshark starts at $2.49 a month, ExpressVPN at $2.99 and NordVPN at $3.49 on two-year plans. Renewal prices tell the real story.
By Galactic News Editorial · Published 2026-11-07T22:38:16+00:00 · Updated 2026-11-07T22:38:16+00:00
VPN Pricing Compared: What the Big Names Charge in 2026
VPN prices look simple at first. Most big names advertise $2 to $4 a month. The real cost hides in the renewal price. This vpn pricing compared guide lists the entry plans from Surfshark, ExpressVPN and NordVPN. All prices come from official pricing pages. They were reported in September and October 2026. Prices change with promotions. Always check the checkout page before you pay.
VPN Pricing Compared at a Glance
| Provider and plan | Two-year price | First term billed | Renews at | Devices | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark Starter | $2.49 a month | $67.23 for 27 months | Standard rate shown at checkout | Unlimited | 30 days |
| ExpressVPN Basic | $2.99 a month | $83.72 for 28 months | $99.95 a year | 10 | 30 days |
| NordVPN Basic | $3.49 a month | $94.23 for 27 months | $139.08 a year | 10 | 30 days |
Surfshark is the cheapest entry plan of the three. ExpressVPN sits in the middle. NordVPN costs the most at entry level. The gap widens at renewal. ExpressVPN renews at $99.95 a year. NordVPN Basic renews at $139.08 a year. Surfshark does not publish a fixed renewal rate on its comparison pages. Its checkout page shows the standard rate before you pay. Read that figure carefully.
What the Monthly Price Really Means
The monthly price is not a monthly bill. It is the first-term total divided by the number of months. Surfshark charges $67.23 up front for 27 months. ExpressVPN charges $83.72 up front for 28 months. NordVPN charges $94.23 up front for 27 months. The extra months are bonus months. Surfshark and NordVPN add three months. ExpressVPN adds four months. Short terms cost far more per month. Surfshark Starter costs $16.45 a month with no commitment. NordVPN Basic costs $14.99 a month. ExpressVPN Basic costs $14.99 a month on its one-month option in some comparisons, and $12.99 in others. Regional pricing varies. The lesson is simple. Long terms cut the monthly rate. They also lock you in for two years or more.
Higher Tiers: What Extra Money Buys
Each provider sells three tiers. The entry tier is the VPN alone, plus basic extras. Higher tiers add antivirus, password managers and identity tools. NordVPN Complete costs $4.49 a month on a two-year plan. It is billed at $121.23 for 27 months. It renews at $219.48 a year. It adds antivirus, a password manager and 1TB of encrypted cloud storage. NordVPN Prime costs $7.49 a month on a two-year plan. It is billed at $202.23 for 27 months. It renews at $296.28 a year. It adds identity theft insurance and credit monitoring for US customers. ExpressVPN Advanced costs $4.49 a month on a two-year plan. It renews at $119.95 a year. It adds tracker blocking, a password manager and identity alerts. Express Pro costs $7.49 a month. It renews at $199.95 a year. It adds a dedicated IP. Surfshark One costs more than Starter. It adds antivirus, identity monitoring and a private search tool. Compare the extras against buying them alone. A bundle only saves money if you would use the extras.
Renewal Prices and the Real Yearly Cost
Work out the cost over three years, not one month. Take NordVPN Basic as an example. The first 27 months cost $94.23. The next year renews at $139.08. That is about $233 for roughly three years and three months. ExpressVPN Basic costs $83.72 for 28 months. The next year renews at $99.95. That is about $184 for a similar period. Surfshark Starter costs $67.23 for 27 months. Its renewal rate is the unknown factor. Ask for it at checkout before you commit. Set a calendar reminder before renewal. Cancel or switch if the new price no longer suits you. All three providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on direct purchases. App store purchases follow store rules instead.
How to Pick on Price
Follow these steps. First, decide how many devices you need. Surfshark allows unlimited devices. NordVPN and ExpressVPN Basic allow 10. Second, pick a term you can afford up front. Two-year plans need $67 to $94 in one payment. Third, read the renewal price on the checkout page. Fourth, ignore the percentage discount. It compares against a high monthly rate. Fifth, check what the higher tiers add. Do not pay for antivirus you already own. Sixth, use the money-back window to test the apps.
One more check matters. Read the refund terms for your purchase route. Direct website purchases carry the 30-day guarantee. App store purchases follow the store's own refund rules. That difference can matter if you change your mind.
Bottom Line
Surfshark Starter offers the lowest entry price and unlimited devices. It suits large households and budget buyers. ExpressVPN Basic suits readers who want simple apps and a lower renewal price than NordVPN. NordVPN Basic suits readers who want its wider feature set and do not mind the $139.08 renewal. No provider wins on every measure. The best value is the plan whose renewal price you can accept for years, not the one with the lowest first-month headline.