I test VPNs daily - these are the Black Friday VPN deals I'd buy

I spend a lot of time using VPNs, researching VPNs, tracking the prices of VPNs... My life's a veritable VPN bonanza. Thanks to this, I have an almost embarrassing knowledge their prices, and how they change throughout the year.

For most things tech, Black Friday is the best time to buy – and it's largely the same when it comes to VPNs, too. However, there are a fair few of the best VPNs that don't really offer anything special when it comes to Black Friday VPN deals, and if you're not switched on to previous pricing, you could be getting duped.

Here, I'll run down the Black Friday VPN deals I'd actually buy. What that means is that the price is better than at any. other time of year, and the product is 100% safe to use and of top quality. I've also calculated the real difference in price compared to what you'd pay when there's not a sale on.

Surfshark

Deal: 2 years + 4 months free for $1.99 a month

Surfshark is the best cheap VPN on the market, which means you're getting a steal at any time of the year - but its Black Friday deal is very tempting. Grab a 2-year plan for $1.99 a month, and head into 2025 with total peace of mind.

Compared to the competition this is up (or down) there with the cheapest monthly VPN prices on the market. The inclusion of 4 free months helps drop that headline figure a little, although this is a bit of a "hack" that VPN providers use to make their monthly prices appear cheaper.

However, this hasn't been done to quite the extent of some other providers, and there's a genuine monetary discount on the price you pay.

I've found Surfshark to be very capable of unblocking streaming sites and staying private online, and it's also the fastest VPN we've tested. So, if your budget can't quite stretch to more premium providers, Surfshark may well be the one to go for

Difference in price: $2.49 a month $1.99 a month

Saving over 1-month plans: up to 86%

Proton VPN

Deal: 2 years for $1.99 a month

This deal from Proton VPN totally took us by surprise, and it's the only genuinely Black Friday-style flash sale this year (so far!)

Proton was previously available for $2.99 per month, but on my pre-Friday travels checking prices I spotted that it had further dropped to just $1.99 per month. That puts it on par with Surfshark, and it's by far and away the cheapest I've ever seen it go for.

It ranks at #4 in my guide on the best providers, and it's perfect if you like to tinker with your apps because there are tons of settings to adjust to your liking. Surfshark is probably better suited to those looking for a very simple experience – but Proton VPN is by no means complex to use.

If you've been considering Proton VPN, this deal is an absolute no-brainer – but it's time-limited until Saturday, November 30.

Difference in price: $4.99 a month $1.99 per month

Saving over 1-month plans: up to 80%

NordVPN

Deal: 2 years + 3 months free

NordVPN is a personal favorite of mine, and currently sits at the very top of my overall VPN rankings. Plus, its Black Friday deal offers one of the best prices I've ever seen from the brand.

The headline price is eye-catching – at just $2.99 a month it's knocking on the door of the really cheap providers. Just like Surfshark, there are 3 months tagged on to make the monthly price appear a little tastier – but there's still a real discount to be had.

The only complaint is that this deal simply isn't as good as last year. In 2023, we saw NordVPN offer the same price, but also offer an Amazon gift card to anyone that bought a plan during the Black Friday period. This was a really special promotion, and while the current price is great, we miss the freebie.

Despite this, though, this is still a great price for a premium provider. If you were considering choosing NordVPN previously, now's definitely the time to buy.

Difference in price: $3.89 a month $2.99 a month

Saving over 1-month plans: up to 74%

Private Internet Access

Deal: 2 years + 4 months free for $2.03 a month ($57)

Looks familiar, doesn't it? Private Internet Access's current deal is almost like-for-like with Surfshark's.

What is a little more notable is that the overall discount PIA is offering isn't quite as impressive. Before Cyber Monday, PIA has been vacillating between $2.19 a month and $2.03 a month – so while this is equal to the cheapest I've seen the provider go for, it's not quite as special as the two deals I've outlined above.

However, whichever way you slice it, it's still seriously good value – especially if you're looking for a capable torrenting VPN that has a bunch of extra features rarely seen from mainstream providers.

Difference in price: $2.19 a month $2.03 a month

Saving over 1-month plans: up to 83%

PrivadoVPN

Deal: 2 years + 3 months free for $1.11 a month

OK. Now we're talking.

PrivadoVPN is one of the newer names in the industry, but one that's already making waves – and it's the best free VPN I've tested in a long time. The provider has also discounted its prices for Cyber Monday, making its inclusion into my list a no-brainer.

You can get yourself a 2-year plan for just $1.11 a month, which includes 3 months of extra coverage for free, bringing your total to 27 months of airtight protection. What's more, when it auto-renews, you'll still only pay $30 for 24 months, which is a breath of fresh air compared to some other providers that hike the price on renewal.

So why isn't this my headline deal? Well, while I consider PrivadoVPN to be secure and safe to use, it quite simply can't match the likes of NordVPN in terms of quality – yet, at least. However, it's pretty effective at unblocking streaming sites, and if you're looking for basic VPN protection for as cheap as possible, this is the one to go for.

Difference in price: $1.99 a month $ 1.11 a month

Saving over 1-month plans: up to 90%

ExpressVPN

Deal: 1 year + 3 months free for $6.67 a month

ExpressVPN never does bargai... wait a second! It's launched a genuine deal! Not long after introducing its cheaper 2-year plan, ExpressVPN announced it would be participating in Black Friday for the first time ever.

Facilitated by the addition of a huge 6 months to the 2-year plan, ExpressVPN has dropped its price down to $4.99 per month. This is still a fair expensive investment at $149 all-in, but for ExpressVPN it's a massive reduction.

Express used to sit at #1 on my guide to the best VPNs, but in recent months has been overtaken by NordVPN and Surfshark – in no small part because they're simpler far more affordable. This deal makes it much easier to recommend ExpressVPN, since it's still an impeccable product that's perfect for those who like to keep it simple and stay safe online with ease.

Well worth considering.

Difference in price: $5.32 a month $4.99 a month

Saving over 1-month plans: up to 61%