How much does a VPN cost for a year?
An annual VPN costs from USD 40.68 to USD 65.88 for the first twelve months in the two verified basic plans; renewal can be substantially higher.
Verifiable answer
An annual VPN costs from USD 40.68 to USD 65.88 for the first twelve months in the two verified basic plans; renewal can be substantially higher.
- How much does a VPN cost for a year?
- US$53 / annual subscription
- US$41 – US$66
- Online, prices in US dollars
- 24 September 2026
- Confidence: High
- First year of the verified Surfshark plan; First year of the verified NordVPN Base plan; Access to each provider's VPN service; Twelve-month commitment
- VAT or taxes that may be added at checkout; Renewal price after the introductory offer; Card currency-conversion fees; Plans bundled with antivirus or other services; Two-year and monthly terms
- Initial term selected; Introductory promotion; Renewal price; VAT and billing country; Included add-on services; Card foreign-currency fees
- 2 sources
Short answer
There is no single VPN price: providers combine term length, introductory offers and renewal rates differently. The useful comparison is the amount charged for the first twelve months, not the headline monthly figure alone.
A virtual private network, or VPN, routes internet traffic through the provider's server and encrypts the connection between a device and the service. The advertised price can be misleading, though: it is usually a monthly equivalent tied to a longer commitment and paid upfront. To understand the real yearly cost, look at the first-twelve-month total, the currency, any tax and, above all, the renewal rate. This guide compares two basic annual plans published by their providers: Surfshark lists USD 3.39 a month, or USD 40.68 for twelve months, while NordVPN Base lists USD 65.88 for the first year. This is not a security ranking or a promise that every customer will see the same deal. Online price lists often change by country, VAT, coupon and promotional period. It is a verifiable snapshot of the stated initial costs on the date checked.
What is included
- First year of the verified Surfshark plan
- First year of the verified NordVPN Base plan
- Access to each provider's VPN service
- Twelve-month commitment
What is not included
- VAT or taxes that may be added at checkout
- Renewal price after the introductory offer
- Card currency-conversion fees
- Plans bundled with antivirus or other services
- Two-year and monthly terms
How the price breaks down
| Item | Type | Frequency | Minimum | Typical | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark one-year planInitial cost calculated from the official USD 3.39 monthly rate for twelve months. | Optional | per year | US$41 | US$41 | US$41 |
| NordVPN Base, first twelve monthsOfficial introductory price for a one-year Base plan, before any applicable tax. | Optional | per year | US$66 | US$66 | US$66 |
What the price depends on
- Initial term selected
- Introductory promotion
- Renewal price
- VAT and billing country
- Included add-on services
- Card foreign-currency fees
Hidden costs
- The listed NordVPN Base renewal is higher than its introductory twelve-month price.
- VAT may be added to the price shown on the provider's page.
- An Italian card may charge a conversion fee for a dollar payment.
- A two-year plan can look cheaper per month while demanding more money and commitment upfront.
- Offers can change before checkout or with the country selected.
Three realistic scenarios
Lowest verified price
US$41
Surfshark one-year plan calculated from its official USD 3.39 monthly rate.
Range midpoint
US$53
Arithmetic mean of the two verified initial annual totals, not an average of all providers.
Second verified basic plan
US$66
NordVPN Base for the first twelve months, before any applicable tax.
How to spend less
- Compare the full twelve-month total, not just the highlighted monthly equivalent.
- Open the renewal section before paying: it is what you will pay if you forget to cancel.
- Choose a basic plan if you do not need antivirus, password management or identity features.
- Check at checkout whether VAT is included and which currency will be charged.
- Set a reminder before renewal so you can decide each year whether to keep the service.
Frequently asked questions
Is a VPN's monthly price what I pay every month?
Not necessarily. For annual plans, the monthly figure is often only a way of presenting the cost, while payment is taken upfront for twelve months. That is why this guide reports the USD 40.68 and USD 65.88 initial totals rather than monthly figures alone.
What does a VPN cost after the first year?
It can cost more than the introductory promotion. On the NordVPN list checked for this guide, Base renews at USD 139.08 a year, compared with USD 65.88 for the first twelve months. Always check the renewal rate for the exact plan before buying.
Does this guide include taxes?
No. The price lists say taxes may apply, so the final amount depends on billing country and checkout. If you pay in dollars with a euro card, the exchange rate and any bank fee also sit outside the VPN service price.
Does an annual VPN always include antivirus?
No. Providers sell different tiers. This guide uses basic plans intended for the VPN service itself, avoiding the value of antivirus, password managers and identity features that may be useful but would change the comparison.
Can I cancel before a VPN renews?
Automatic renewal is normally managed in the account area, but the exact route depends on the provider and purchase channel. Do not leave it to the last day: after subscribing, find the renewal setting and keep the cancellation confirmation.
Sources and methodology
How we worked it out
We opened Surfshark's and NordVPN's official price lists on 24 September 2026 and selected only their one-year basic plans. For Surfshark, the annual cost is the stated USD 3.39 monthly price multiplied by twelve; NordVPN explicitly shows USD 65.88 for the first twelve months. The published range is therefore USD 40.68 to USD 65.88, and its midpoint is the arithmetic mean of these two examples, not a market estimate. We excluded bundles with antivirus, password managers or identity protection, two-year terms, any applicable tax, currency-conversion charges and post-introductory renewal prices.
Why this confidence level
Confidence is high because both ends of the range come from official price lists opened on the stated date. It is not absolute certainty because these are commercial promotions in dollars, with tax and renewal terms that can change quickly.
Surfshark's one-year plan listed at USD 3.39 per month
Confronta i servizi VPN e scegli il migliore per il 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Surfshark · Official tariff · Verified on 24 September 2026
Provider page opened on 24 September 2026. We multiplied USD 3.39 by 12 months for the USD 40.68 initial cost and did not treat the offer as a permanent rate.
Authority4/5
NordVPN Base one-year plan at USD 65.88 for the first 12 months, with renewal stated separately
Scegli il prezzo e il piano VPN adatti a te (opens in a new tab)
NordVPN · Official tariff · Verified on 24 September 2026
Provider price list opened on 24 September 2026. We used the explicit first-12-month total for Base, keeping its stated USD 139.08 annual renewal and possible taxes separate.
Authority4/5
Revision history
First published on 2026-09-24 with two official annual VPN price lists opened and verified.
- 24 September 2026
- 24 September 2026
- 24 October 2026
What did you actually pay?
Related guides
How much does an antivirus subscription for one year cost?
- €80 / annual subscription
- €73 – €80
Verified on Sept 2026 · 2 sources
How much does a VPS server cost?
- €5.49 / server per month
- €5.49 – €6.55
Verified on Sept 2026 · 2 sources
How much does an SSL certificate for a website cost?
- €0 / certificate
- €0
Verified on Sept 2026 · 2 sources