The VPN renewal jump: what you actually pay in year two
Nearly every major VPN advertises a rock-bottom price — but only on a two-year term, and only for that first term. Here's what five leading providers charge once the intro deal ends.
How much more you pay per month at renewal versus the advertised intro price, among the providers that disclose it (as of August 2026).
What we found
Cheapest advertised intro plan (typically a 24-month term) vs. the standard renewal rate, per month in USD.
| Provider | Intro / mo | Renews at / mo | The jump | Devices | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | $2.79 | $8.33 | 3.0× | 8 | 30 days |
| Surfshark | $2.49 | $6.58 | 2.6× | Unlimited | 30 days |
| Proton VPN | $2.99 | $6.99 | 2.3× | 10 | 30 days* |
| PureVPN | $2.15 | ~$4.00 | 1.9× | 10 | 31 days |
| NordVPN | $3.49 | Not publicly disclosed | — | 10 | 30 days |
On NordVPN: checkout confirms the intro price renews higher, but the exact Basic-tier renewal isn't stated on public pricing pages, and third-party estimates range widely (roughly $5.49–$13/mo). That a buyer can't easily see the year-two price is itself worth flagging — so we've left it blank rather than guess.
Why this happens
The cheap price needs a 2-year commitment.
Monthly and annual plans cost far more; the headline figure almost always assumes the longest term.
Renewal is the real price.
After the first term you're rebilled at the standard rate — often 2–3× higher — unless you cancel and re-shop.
The math over three years.
A “$2.79/mo” VPN that renews at $8.33 costs about $67 in year one but ~$100 every year after. The sticker price describes only the first stretch.
How to avoid overpaying
Buy the term, not the monthly price.
Judge a VPN on its renewal rate and total 3-year cost, not the intro figure.
Set a cancel reminder.
Note when your intro term ends and re-evaluate before it auto-renews at full price.
Use the money-back window.
All five offer 30–31 days — enough to test real speeds before committing.
Favor providers that publish the renewal price.
Transparency about year-two cost is a fair proxy for how a company treats customers.
Methodology & sources
Prices are the cheapest advertised consumer plan and its standard renewal rate, in USD, as of August 2026, taken from each provider's official pricing pages and corroborated with reputable secondary sources (Cybernews, Security.org, VPNpro). VPN pricing changes frequently and varies by region and active promotion — always confirm the current figure before buying. “Intro” is the effective per-month cost of the cheapest long-term plan; “renews at” is the standard per-month rate charged after that term. *Proton VPN's 30-day guarantee refunds the unused portion.
Published August 2026 · TopVPN editorial team · We may earn a commission from links on this site, which never affects our rankings or this analysis.