10 Best Paid Monthly VPN Plans in 2024: Pay as You Go

Updated on: March 15, 2024
Fact Checked by Katarina Glamoslija
Kristel van Hoof Kristel van Hoof
Updated on: March 15, 2024

Short on time? Here’s the best paid monthly VPN in 2024:

  • 🥇ExpressVPN — Offers advanced security features, maintains ultra-fast speeds, works with Netflix and 100+ other streaming platforms, and has very intuitive apps. Its monthly plan starts at $12.95 / month and is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

I typically don’t like to purchase long-term subscriptions if I can help it. Although they usually offer the best value, I’m not always comfortable being committed to one product or subscription for multiple years. For example, I may only need the product for a couple of months, and I don’t want to get stuck paying for something I may not use. So, I can completely understand why someone may prefer to pay for a virtual private network (VPN) on a month-to-month basis.

However, not all VPNs with monthly plans provide good value. There are a lot of VPNs that have very expensive monthly plans. And out of the ones that have affordable monthly prices, many VPNs have slow speeds, poor streaming and torrenting support, or buggy apps.

I spent weeks testing the top VPNs in 2024 to find the best monthly plans. All the VPNs on my list are great options, but ExpressVPN is my favorite one because its monthly plan offers the best value — you get industry-leading security features, the fastest speeds on the market, and excellent streaming and torrenting support.

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Quick summary of the best paid monthly VPNs:

🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Monthly (Pay as You Go) VPN

Approved by our experts
ExpressVPN
Approved by our experts
Most readers pick ExpressVPN
Servers in countries
105
Key Features
Industry-leading speeds
Number of devices
8
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN’s monthly plan costs $12.95 / month and is my favorite VPN — it includes industry-leading security features, has the fastest speeds on the market, and offers intuitive apps for all major platforms.

The monthly version of ExpressVPN comes with excellent security features:

  • RAM-only servers — Data is only written to the RAM, ensuring that every server reset wipes everything.
  • Perfect forward secrecy — Changes the encryption key for each VPN session to prevent hackers from using potentially compromised past or future encryption keys to spy on your browsing.
  • Full leak protection — All of the provider’s apps come with built-in IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection. I ran leak tests on servers in 10+ countries and never experienced any leaks.
  • Obfuscation — ExpressVPN’s obfuscated servers make it appear as if you’re not using a VPN, allowing you to access the web in restrictive countries like China and Iran.
  • Verified no-logs policy — ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited and confirmed multiple times.

What’s more, ExpressVPN auto-updates all security features, meaning you won’t have to manually download the latest version every time the VPN enhances the app for your devices. This way, your apps will always be up to date and you won’t have to worry about any vulnerabilities or missing out on new features.

You also get access to split-tunneling, which lets you pick which apps use the VPN and which apps use your local network. Split-tunneling is available on Android, Windows, and macOS (most VPNs don’t have split-tunneling on macOS).

🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Monthly (Pay as You Go) VPN

Another cool feature is ExpressKeys, which is a good free password manager that ExpressVPN includes in its monthly plan. It allows you to store all of your passwords, logins, and personal information like credit card numbers and your passport details in a secure vault. One of the best things about ExpressKeys is you get to use it even after your ExpressVPN subscription ends — this way, you can continue using it if you only need the VPN for a few months.

It’s also the best VPN for streaming and torrenting. It works with 100+ streaming platforms, and my colleagues from all over the world tested and confirmed that it’s reliable to watch Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, and other services available in their locations. Plus, it’s compatible with all of the top torrent clients. I also like its monthly plan for gaming — it has DDoS protection on all servers and works with cloud gaming services.

ExpressVPN is also the fastest VPN on the market. Thanks to its proprietary Lightway protocol, I had really fast speeds on local servers in the US, but I noticed little difference in browsing, streaming, torrenting, and even gaming speeds while connected to servers in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Websites always loaded right away, videos started without any delays, and I was able to download small and large files very fast. This means you won’t have to deal with slow speeds if you’re subscribing to the monthly VPN for a vacation or a trip where you’re more likely to use slow public Wi-Fi networks.

I also love how extremely user-friendly ExpressVPN is. All of its apps have an intuitive design and simple interface that make it a breeze to navigate and connect to a server. You also get Shortcuts, which lets you set up 1-click shortcuts for apps and sites — the shortcuts show up on your screen after you connect to a server, which is really convenient.

The only drawback with ExpressVPN’s monthly plan is it only allows 5 connections — the longer plans come with 8 connections. That being said, ExpressVPN has a great router app, which means you can connect every device in your home that’s connected to the router to ExpressVPN.

🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Monthly (Pay as You Go) VPN

ExpressVPN’s monthly plan costs $12.95 / month, which is affordable considering the value it offers. There’s also a 6-month plan, which is ideal if you’re relocating to a different country for a few months, or if you simply don’t want to commit to a longer-term plan. I still think its longest plan is the best value at $6.67 / month (and it usually includes additional months for free). ExpressVPN backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Bottom Line:

ExpressVPN offers the best monthly plan on the market — it’s priced at $12.95 / month and includes every feature ExpressVPN has to offer, so it’s great for short trips, vacations, and in case you just want to try ExpressVPN for a month. It comes with top-notch security features, the fastest speeds, many cool extra features, excellent streaming and torrenting support, and easy-to-use apps. All ExpressVPN purchases come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full ExpressVPN review

🥈2. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Great Monthly Plan for Browsing & Torrenting

Servers in countries
91
Key Features
Excellent ad blocker
Number of devices
Unlimited
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
privateinternetaccess.com

Private Internet Access (PIA) has an affordable monthly plan ($11.99 / month) and is great for torrenting. It allows P2P traffic on servers in 91 countries, supports port forwarding, and also has SOCKS5 proxy support, which changes your IP address while torrenting but doesn’t encrypt your traffic — so you get much faster download speeds, including on public Wi-Fi networks.

The VPN also provides very strong privacy, as it has a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited and proven true in court documents. What’s more, all of its apps are open-source, which means anyone can inspect the code for security issues.

And you also get high-end security features for browsing and torrenting — PIA has RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full leak protection. The monthly plan also comes with PIA MACE, which is the best VPN ad blocker on the market. In my tests, PIA MACE always got rid of annoying ads and stopped me from connecting to shady websites.

🥈2. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Great Monthly Plan for Browsing & Torrenting

Plus, I like how fast PIA is on its monthly plans. In my tests, I barely experienced any slowdowns on local servers, and maintained fast speeds on distant servers — sites, HD, and 4K videos loaded instantly, and there was only minimal buffering when skipping through 4K videos. That said, ExpressVPN still provided me with better speeds.

The provider also has really user-friendly apps. It doesn’t take more than 2 minutes to install them on your devices, and the interface is very intuitive, which makes it super simple to find and connect to a server. Plus, I’m a big fan of how PIA supports unlimited connections — this means your entire family can use it, which is very convenient on a big family trip.

And PIA is also great for streaming, as it works with 30+ streaming platforms. My colleague in the US confirmed PIA works with Netflix US and Hulu, while my colleague in the UK was able to watch BBC iPlayer. Still, I like ExpressVPN more because it claims to work with 100+ streaming sites.

🥈2. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Great Monthly Plan for Browsing & Torrenting

Private Internet Access offers some of the cheapest plans on the market — its monthly plan costs $11.99 / month, but you can also get it for 6 months for $7.50 / month if you don’t want to commit to a longer plan. If you like PIA, its longest and best-value plan is only $2.19 / month. PIA covers all plans with a 30 day money-back guarantee.

Private Internet Access: Save 82% on the 24-month plan + FREE months!
You can save 82% if you act right now.

Bottom Line:

Private Internet Access’s monthly subscription costs $11.99 / month — it also has a 6-month plan ($7.50 / month /month) if you need a longer subscription plan but aren’t looking for a yearly plan. Its monthly plans provide really good torrenting and streaming support, strong security and privacy features, and fast speeds. PIA has a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans, so there’s no risk in trying it out.

Read the full Private Internet Access Review

🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Excellent for Streaming & Gaming

Servers in countries
100
Key Features
Special streaming servers
Number of devices
7
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
Up to 45 days
cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost VPN provides great streaming and gaming support via dedicated servers on its monthly plan (which costs $12.99 / month). It has 100+ streaming servers located in 20+ countries that work with 50+ streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Max. Our international team of testers confirmed that the dedicated streaming servers worked with the streaming services available in their country, and I was able to use the dedicated streaming servers for ruutu, HBO Max FI, and C MORE Finland.

There are also dedicated gaming servers in 4 countries (the UK, France, Germany, and the US), all of which are available in the monthly plans. The servers are solely designed to maximize your download speeds and provide low ping, which means the monthly plan will save you the trouble of having to deal with too much lag while on slow public networks (like in a hotel). I tested servers in each of these 4 countries, and they were indeed 10–15% faster than CyberGhost’s normal servers.

In my speed tests, CyberGhost performed really well. I was able to enjoy lag-free gaming sessions and stream TV shows and movies in HD and 4K quality with only minimal delays (but the same videos started right away with ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access).

Plus, CyberGhost has beginner-friendly apps, which is especially important if you’re getting the monthly plan for a short vacation or trip — as you won’t have to spend too much time finding your way around the app. One of its most convenient features is Smart Rules, which allows you to customize your VPN connection preferences. For example, you can choose to let it automatically connect to a selected server when you open a specific app.

🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Excellent for Streaming & Gaming

CyberGhost is also a good option for torrenting on its monthly plans. It has 8,500+ dedicated torrenting servers located in 100 countries, but I prefer the convenience of ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access because they allow torrenting on all of their servers.

The provider also has really strong security features — you get perfect forward secrecy, RAM-only servers, leak protection. There’s also Content Blocker, which is good at blocking malicious sites and getting rid of some ads, and Identity Guard, which tracks if your email address or passwords end up on the dark web, giving you the option to immediately react, even if you’re on a trip abroad, and change your passwords.

🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Excellent for Streaming & Gaming

CyberGhost VPN offers a monthly plan that costs $12.99 / month and is backed by a 14-day money-back guarantee. It has a 6-month plan $6.99 / month that comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. Its longest-term plan also includes a 45-day money-back guarantee and starts at $2.03 / month.

CyberGhost: Save 84% on the 24-month plan + FREE months!
You can save 84% if you act right now.

Bottom Line:

CyberGhost VPN offers a good monthly plan that’s priced at $12.99 / month. It includes dedicated streaming servers that work with 50+ streaming platforms and gaming servers that provide smooth connections, so I’d consider it for a short trip or to test out the VPN. It also has good P2P support, fast speeds, and strong security. CyberGhost VPN backs its monthly plans with just a 14-day money-back guarantee and its 6-month plan with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full CyberGhost VPN review

4. NordVPN — Secure VPN With Multiple Monthly Plans

Servers in countries
111
Key Features
Great malware blocker
Number of devices
10
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
nordvpn.com

NordVPN’s tiered pricing monthly plans (starting at $3.09 / month) have excellent security features. They include a dark web monitor, a top-notch ad and malware blocker, and double VPN connections, which provide an extra layer of security — plus, there’s perfect forward secrecy, full leak protection, and RAM-only servers.

I maintained really fast speeds for all of my online activities with NordVPN across its entire server network. Websites loaded in a flash (even ad-heavy ones), videos started within 2 seconds, and I was impressed with my download speeds. This makes the monthly plan worth considering if you need a fast VPN to secure all of your traffic on your one-off trips. That being said, NordVPN was just a bit slower than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.

4. NordVPN — Secure VPN With Multiple Monthly Plans

NordVPN scans files you download, looks for potential malware, and deletes it before it gets to your computer on its monthly plan. It also blocks ads, trackers, and shady sites. This keeps you safe on excursions or vacations where you need to download itineraries from third-party sites or do a lot of research online to find the best places to visit or eat.

NordVPN is one of the top VPNs on the market for streaming — its customer support representatives confirmed the VPN works with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and tons of other popular streaming apps. This makes its monthly plan a decent option if you want to stream movies and TV shows on public networks while staying safe from cybercriminals looking to intercept your data. And when it comes to P2P traffic, it supports torrenting in 45+ countries and has SOCKS5 proxy servers.

The provider’s apps are also really easy to use. There’s a quick-connect button and a digital map that lets you connect to a server in any country by clicking or tapping on the country pin, which is really convenient, especially if you’ve never really used a VPN before.

4. NordVPN — Secure VPN With Multiple Monthly Plans

The VPN offers 3 different monthly plans — Standard, Plus, and Complete. The Standard plan costs $3.39 / month and provides full access to the VPN, including the malware protection and ad blocker. The Plus plan costs $3.99 / month and adds NordPass (one of the best password managers on the market). Finally, the Complete plan is the most expensive at $5.39 / month. It comes with everything in Standard and Plus, but adds Nordlocker, which provides you with 1TB cloud storage.

NordVPN offers the same tiered pricing model for long-term plans too, with prices starting at $3.09 / month. All monthly and long-term plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Bottom Line:

NordVPN has high-end security and tiered monthly plans that start at $3.39 / month. It includes dark web monitoring and one of the best ad blockers out there, has really fast speeds, provides great streaming and torrenting support, and is easy to use. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full NordVPN review

5. Surfshark — Easy-to-Use & Secure Monthly VPN

Servers in countries
100
Key Features
User-friendly apps
Number of devices
Unlimited
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
surfshark.com

Surfshark’s monthly plan costs $10.99 / month and comes with really intuitive apps for all major platforms that are very simple to use. The server list is available on the main screen and all settings and features have helpful explanations.

The provider also allows an unlimited number of connections on the monthly plan. This way, your entire household will be able to secure their traffic if you’re planning a short trip with your family to a country that monitors internet traffic.

Surfshark is really good for streaming and torrenting. It works with most of the popular streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, but neither I nor any of my colleagues had luck watching our local Disney+ libraries — even after multiple attempts. Also, Surfshark allows torrenting on all of its servers and works with the top torrenting clients.

5. Surfshark — Easy-to-Use & Secure Monthly VPN

I always felt secure browsing, torrenting, and gaming with Surfshark — it has RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, an audited no-logs policy, a really good ad blocker, double VPN connections, and IP Rotator, which randomly changes your IP address without dropping your VPN connection. All of these features are available on the monthly plans. However, it doesn’t have full leak protection (unlike ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access) since it only prevents DNS leaks. That said, I never experienced any leaks in my tests, which is great.

I had decent speeds with this provider. Most sites I visited usually loaded in 3 seconds, HD videos took 2 seconds to load, and 4K videos loaded in 4 seconds and there was minor buffering at the start. However, it’s not as fast as ExpressVPN.

5. Surfshark — Easy-to-Use & Secure Monthly VPN

Surfshark offers a monthly subscription for $10.99 / month, which you can use to test the VPN or protect your traffic on vacation. Its best-value plan costs just $2.29 / month, and it’s one of the cheapest VPN plans on the market. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Bottom Line:

Surfshark is very user-friendly and its monthly plan costs $10.99 / month. The monthly plan is a great pick for a one-off family trip as the VPN allows unlimited connections and is very easy to use. It also provides pretty good streaming and torrenting support, has strong security features, and comes with decent speeds. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.

Read the full Surfshark review

6. PrivateVPN — Very Intuitive (Good for New Users)

Servers in countries
63
Key Features
Works in restrictive nations
Number of devices
10
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
privatevpn.com

PrivateVPN has an affordable monthly plan that costs $11.99 / month. The VPN is very easy to use and has really good streaming and P2P support, so I always recommend PrivateVPN’s monthly plan to people who have never used a VPN. Its apps have an intuitive design, and it takes mere seconds to find and connect to a server.

I love that there’s a Simple View mode on the desktop apps that keeps functionality to a bare minimum (like connecting to a server and accessing live chat support) — the Advanced View allows for more customization like choosing your protocol and encryption level.

6. PrivateVPN — Very Intuitive (Good for New Users)

PrivateVPN is also great for streaming and torrenting. I had multiple customer service representatives, via email and live chat, confirm that it works with all of the top streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more), and it allows P2P traffic on all 200+ servers in 63 countries.

In my tests, the VPN provided me with decent speeds. I could browse the web, stream videos, and download files without any issues on nearby servers, but 4K videos took up to 8 seconds to load on different servers in Europe, and websites took 5–7 seconds to load while connected to a server in Australia — ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access barely had any decreases in speeds on distant servers. That’s why I think its monthly plan is the best if you simply want to secure your connection on a short trip.

PrivateVPN also lacks some advanced security features and extras that most of the top competitors offer — it doesn’t come with full leak protection, RAM-only servers, split-tunneling, or an ad blocker.

6. PrivateVPN — Very Intuitive (Good for New Users)

PrivateVPN offers monthly plans ($11.99 / month), and unlike most VPNs on this list, it has a 3-month plan ($6.00 / month) rather than a 6-month plan if you need a VPN for a little longer than a month. Its yearly plans cost $2.00 / month. All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Bottom Line:

PrivateVPN is beginner-friendly with a low-cost monthly price ($11.99 / month). The monthly plan is a great option for new VPN users who want to test its features or need a VPN for several months, as it offers good browsing, streaming, and torrenting support. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.

Read the full PrivateVPN review

7. Proton VPN — High-End Security & Privacy Features

Servers in countries
85
Key Features
Audited open-source apps
Number of devices
10
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
protonvpn.com

Proton VPN provides strong security and privacy on its monthly plans (which cost $9.99 / month). It’s one of the few VPNs on the market whose apps are open-source — plus, they’ve passed security audits. And I really like that its no-logs policy has been independently audited too.

It also has advanced security features, including full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and full-disk encryption, which keeps all data on a server secure even if the server is compromised. Plus, the VPN has Secure Core servers that add an extra layer of protection by routing your traffic through 2 VPN servers, one of which is located in a privacy-friendly country.

7. Proton VPN — High-End Security & Privacy Features

Proton VPN has decent speeds as well. In my tests, websites usually took 1–2 seconds to load, HD videos loaded in 4 seconds, and 4K videos took around 6 seconds to load. I really like its VPN Accelerator feature, which improves your speed when you connect to its servers, and when I tested it, my speeds were faster by 15% — this makes it ideal for a short trip where you mostly need to rely on slow public Wi-Fi. Though, to be honest, ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access provided me with much faster speeds.

The VPN also has good streaming and P2P support. It works with Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime and supports torrenting on 300+ P2P servers in 20+ countries. Plus, it comes with port forwarding.

7. Proton VPN — High-End Security & Privacy Features

Proton VPN has a great free plan and a monthly plan that costs $9.99 / month. It also has long-term plans that start at $4.99 / month, and it backs all purchases with a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.

Bottom Line:

Proton VPN is a privacy-friendly VPN with a monthly price of $9.99 / month. It has open-source apps and a verified no-logs policy, high-end security features, decent speeds, and good streaming and torrenting support on its monthly plan. There’s a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.

Read the full ProtonVPN review

8. TunnelBear — User-Friendly & Fun to Use

Servers in countries
47
Key Features
Intuitive, fun apps
Number of devices
Unlimited
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
N/A
tunnelbear.com

TunnelBear has a great monthly plan ($9.99 / month), user-friendly apps for beginners, and unlimited connections. Its apps feature a digital map where cute animated bears dig a tunnel to a VPN server’s location when you connect to it. What’s more, on mobile, the provider’s app even roars when you connect to a server, which is adorable.

TunnelBear’s speeds are pretty decent, but they’re slower than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access’s speeds. When I ran tests, most sites loaded in 4 seconds, HD videos took 5 seconds to load, and I sometimes experienced lag while playing online games.

The VPN also comes with good security, as it has full leak protection, and its server infrastructure, site, and apps undergo regular audits, including on its monthly plan.

8. TunnelBear — User-Friendly & Fun to Use

When it comes to streaming, TunnelBear is a good choice. My colleagues in the US watched Netflix US, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Pluto TV, and Crunchyroll, while my colleague in the UK watched Netflix UK and BBC iPlayer. However, I was a bit disappointed that none of us had any success with Disney+. On the plus side, it allows torrenting on all of its 5,000+ servers, which are located in 47 countries.

8. TunnelBear — User-Friendly & Fun to Use

TunnelBear has a free plan and its monthly plan costs $9.99 / month, which is pretty affordable for a monthly subscription. It also offers long-term plans that start at $3.33 / month. But unlike the rest of the VPNs on my list, TunnelBear’s plans are not backed by a money-back guarantee.

Bottom Line:

TunnelBear is beginner-friendly and has a monthly cost of $9.99 / month. It also has good privacy features and great streaming and P2P support on its monthly and long-term plans. Unfortunately, there’s no money-back guarantee, but you can use the provider’s free plan to test its service out.

Read the full TunnelBear review

9. VyprVPN — Good for Getting Around Internet Restrictions

Servers in countries
64
Key Features
Great obfuscation tool
Number of devices
10
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
vyprvpn.com

VyprVPN has a great monthly plan costing $10.00 / month and is great for circumventing web restrictions — it’s one of the top monthly plans I always recommend to friends who need a VPN for a one-off visit to a restrictive country. It has its own proprietary Chameleon protocol that uses obfuscation to help you avoid VPN blocks, and it changes your IP address frequently, which reduces the chances of your IP address being blocked.

The provider also comes with advanced security features, including perfect forward secrecy, a malicious site blocker, and an audited no-logs policy. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have full leak protection like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.

9. VyprVPN — Good for Getting Around Internet Restrictions

VyprVPN has good streaming and torrenting support. It works with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer (but not with Disney+), and it has P2P-friendly servers in 60+ countries.

You also get pretty fast speeds — in my tests, most sites loaded instantly, HD videos took 2 seconds to load, 4K videos loaded in 3 seconds, and large files downloaded pretty fast. That said, ExpressVPN is still faster.

What’s more, VyprVPN has intuitive apps. and you won’t need to spend too much time learning how to navigate it. It has a quick-connect tool for instant connections to the fastest server and I like that most settings and features come with quick, helpful explanations. Plus, it allows 10 connections, which allows you to protect every device you carry with you.

9. VyprVPN — Good for Getting Around Internet Restrictions

VyprVPN offers a monthly plan ($10.00 / month) and a long-term plan ($5.00 / month), both of which are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Bottom Line:

VyprVPN gets around web restrictions, and its monthly plan costs $5.00 / month. It also has pretty fast speeds, good streaming and torrenting support, strong security features, and easy-to-use apps, all of which make its monthly plan a good option for a one-off trip to a restrictive country. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.

Read the full VyprVPN review

10. IPVanish — Good P2P Support & Decent Security

Servers in countries
52
Key Features
SOCKS5 proxies for P2P
Number of devices
Unlimited
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
ipvanish.com

IPVanish costs $12.99 / month per month and has great torrenting support on its monthly plan — it has 2,000+ P2P-friendly servers in 50+ countries, and it provides access to multiple SOCKS5 proxy servers on its monthly plan. This allows you to get the fastest possible speed no matter where you travel to.

It also provides access to good security features, including perfect forward secrecy, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and an independently-audited no-logs policy.

10. IPVanish — Good P2P Support & Decent Security

Plus, it has easy-to-use apps that make it really simple to connect to all of its servers. I also like how the provider supports unlimited connections on its monthly plan, so you can use it to torrent on as many devices as you want.

Unfortunately, the provider isn’t great for streaming. While all of our international testers confirmed it works with their local Netflix libraries, they were unable to watch content in their own countries on top streaming apps like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime. ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and CyberGhost VPN work with all of those streaming platforms (and more).

10. IPVanish — Good P2P Support & Decent Security

IPVanish’s monthly plan costs $12.99 / month. It also has long-term plans that start at $3.25 / month. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, but only for the long-term plans.

Bottom Line:

IPVanish has good P2P support on its monthly plan that costs $12.99 / month. It also provides good security features, user-friendly apps, and support for unlimited connections. While there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, it only covers the long-term plans.

Read the full IPVanish review

Comparison of the Best Paid Monthly (Pay as You Go) VPNs in 2024

VPN Monthly Plan Best-Value Plan Number of Devices Number of Countries With a Server
Works in Restrictive Countries Money-Back Guarantee on Monthly Plan
1. 🥇ExpressVPN $12.95 / month $6.67 / month 8 105 30 days
2. 🥈Private Internet Access $11.99 / month $2.19 / month Unlimited 91 30 days
3. 🥉CyberGhost $12.99 / month $2.03 / month 7 100 14 days
4. NordVPN $12.99 / month $3.09 / month 10 111 30 days
5. Surfshark $10.99 / month $2.29 / month Unlimited 100 30 days
6. PrivateVPN $11.99 / month $2.00 / month 10 63 30 days
7. Proton VPN $9.99 / month $4.99 / month 10 85 30 days (prorated)
8. TunnelBear $9.99 / month $3.33 / month Unlimited 47
9. VyprVPN $10.00 / month $5.00 / month 10 64 30 days
10. IPVanish $12.99 / month $3.25 / month Unlimited 52

Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria

While testing each VPN, I kept our proven testing methodology in mind. I tested each service rigorously, putting them through a variety of real-world tests and evaluating the VPNs in categories like speed, ease of use, security and privacy, and more. Each VPN on this list performed well. Here are the standards I used to compile the VPNs that made my list and how I ranked each one.

  • I researched to find VPNs that offer cheap monthly plans. Each VPN on my list has plans that won’t break the bank and most, if not all, include every feature offered in the long-term plans. My top pick is ExpressVPN, as it combines affordability with comprehensive features.
  • I looked for excellent security features. I only recommend VPNs that include industry-standard VPN security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch to prevent data leaks if the VPN disconnects (I made sure it worked every time), leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy to prevent the VPN from logging your data.Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
  • I tested the VPN’s speeds on nearby and distant servers. Since all VPNs reduce your connection speeds because of the added layer of encryption, I only recommend VPNs that are able to maintain fast speeds across all servers — ExpressVPN is the fastest on this list.
  • I checked for reliable streaming and torrenting support. All the VPNs I recommend will let you use platforms such as Netflix and allow torrenting on the majority of their servers.Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
  • I made sure each VPN offers good value. The VPNs I recommend allow at least 5 simultaneous connections (Private Internet Access and Surfshark allow unlimited connections), come with extras like split-tunneling or an ad blocker, accept multiple payment methods, and come with a free plan or a money-back guarantee.

Monthly VPNs vs. Long-Term VPNs

Choosing between a monthly VPN and a long-term VPN depends on your needs. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you make a more informed decision:

Choose a monthly VPN if:

  • You require short-term protection, such as when traveling abroad and accessing unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
  • You want to access a 100% open internet in a restricted country.
  • You wish to test a VPN service without committing to a long-term plan.

Long-term VPN plans, on the other hand, are a smarter choice for regular VPN users because:

  • The overall cost of monthly VPN subscriptions can end up being up to 3 times higher than an annual plan.
  • Many providers offer even greater discounts on 2 or 3-year plans, making them a cost-effective deal.
  • You’re guaranteed longer protection and won’t be affected by sudden price increases that may happen month-to-month.

Ultimately, a long-term VPN subscription plan provides the best value. While monthly VPNs have their temporary uses, long-term VPNs offer more advantages, including access to more features and cheaper prices.

Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut

  • hide.me. Hide.me’s monthly plan includes fast connection speeds and decent security, but its outdated interface and laggy Windows app stop it from making this list.
  • Ivacy. Ivacy’s monthly plan comes with 5,000+ servers and plenty of security features, but there’s limited P2P support and a lack of advanced features that prevent it from making the cut.
  • PureVPN. PureVPN’s monthly plan offers fast speeds and good security features, but I experienced quite a few slowdowns when connected to remote servers.
  • Astrill VPN. Astrill has a 1-month and 6-month plan that offer unlimited connections and include all of its features, but its monthly plan costs a whopping $30.00 / month.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best paid monthly VPN?

ExpressVPN has the best monthly subscription in 2024. With a monthly plan that costs $12.95 / month, it comes with high-end security features, the fastest speeds in the industry, the best streaming, torrenting, and gaming support, intuitive apps for virtually every online device, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is a monthly VPN plan cheaper than a long-term VPN plan?

No — yearly plans typically offer significantly cheaper prices and are an overall better value than the monthly plans. While I understand some people don’t want to get locked into 1, 2, or even 3-year subscription plans, these long-term plans are actually cheaper in the long run.

For example, ExpressVPN’s monthly subscription costs $12.95 / month, but you can get the yearly plan for $6.67 / month, which also usually includes 3 additional months for free.

Are free VPNs better than VPN monthly plans?

No, and I typically don’t recommend free VPNs. Most free plans set a limit on how much data you can use each day or month, have slow speeds, lack important security features, and may not allow torrenting and streaming. Even the best free plans in 2024 have at least some of the restrictions noted above.

Instead, I recommend purchasing a low-cost, long-term premium plan from VPNs like ExpressVPN.

Can I stream Netflix with a monthly VPN plan?

Yes, and all the monthly VPNs on my list work with Netflix really well. I personally recommend getting ExpressVPN because our team of international testers confirmed it can access Netflix in their country. Plus, it provides the fastest streaming speeds on the market, and it comes with extremely user-friendly mobile and desktop apps.

Why are monthly VPNs so much more expensive?

There are a few reasons why monthly VPN plans are more expensive than annual or long-term plans:

  1. Flexibility. Monthly VPN plans offer the flexibility to subscribe for a shorter duration, making them more expensive as compared to long-term plans.
  2. Higher Operational Costs. VPN providers have to manage server infrastructure, maintenance, and customer support. Monthly plans help cover these costs, resulting in higher prices.
  3. Market Demand. Monthly VPN plans cater to users who require VPN services for a shorter duration or have fluctuating needs. This demand allows providers to charge higher prices.
  4. Customer Retention. VPN vendors want to keep their customers for longer periods of time, so they make monthly plans much more expensive than their longer-term plans to encourage customers to sign up for longer periods of time.

When should I choose a monthly VPN?

There are several reasons why someone might choose a monthly VPN:

  • Short-Term Need. If you only require VPN services for a specific period or project, a monthly VPN allows you to use it for a limited time without committing to a long-term subscription.
  • Trial Period. Opting for a monthly VPN can be a way to test the service before committing to a long-term plan. This allows you to evaluate its performance, features, and compatibility with your needs.
  • Budget Constraints. Some users may have budget limitations and prefer the flexibility of paying for a VPN service on a monthly basis rather than a lump sum.
  • Changing Needs. If your VPN requirements vary over time, a monthly plan allows you to adjust your subscription as needed. You can easily switch providers or cancel the service without a long-term commitment.
  • Temporary Travel or Access. If you are traveling to a country with restricted internet access, a monthly VPN can provide a solution for that specific period.

Best Paid Monthly VPN Plans in 2024 — Final Score:

Our Rank
Our Score
Best Deal
1
9.8
save 49%
2
9.6
save 82%
3
9.4
save 84%
4
9.2
save 69%
5
9.0
save 81%
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About the Author
Kristel van Hoof
Updated on: March 15, 2024

About the Author

Kristel van Hoof is a former tech researcher and writer for SafetyDetectives with a keen interest in online privacy and cybersecurity. For more than 3 years now, she has been testing and reviewing VPNs and other products for online data protection. When she’s not writing for Safety Detectives, she's dancing with her kids, traveling around the world, and cooking her favorite dishes.