Guide
Which VPNs raise prices after the first term
VPN pricing is where introductory deals are most aggressive. NordVPN's Complete (27-month intro) plan renews at +358% ($3.99 to $18.29/month), while Mullvad has charged one flat rate for as long as we have tracked it.
Every VPN we track
| provider / plan | advertised | renews at | change |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN Complete (27-month intro) | $3.99 | $18.29 | +358% |
| NordVPN Complete Max (27-month intro) | $5.99 | $25.09 | +319% |
| NordVPN Basic (27-month intro) | $2.99 | $11.59 | +288% |
| NordVPN Complete Max (15-month intro) | $7.99 | $25.09 | +214% |
| NordVPN Complete (15-month intro) | $5.99 | $18.29 | +205% |
| Proton VPN VPN Plus | $2.99 | $6.99 | +134% |
| Proton VPN VPN Plus (annual) | $2.99 | $6.99 | +134% |
| CyberGhost 28-month intro | $2.19 | $5.11 | +133% |
| NordVPN Basic (15-month intro) | $4.99 | $11.59 | +132% |
| Proton VPN Proton Unlimited | $6.49 | $9.99 | +54% |
| Proton VPN Proton Unlimited (annual) | $6.49 | $9.99 | +54% |
| Private Internet Access 40-month intro | $2.03 | $2.26 | +11% |
| CyberGhost 6-Month | $6.99 | $6.99 | no increase |
| Private Internet Access Monthly | $11.95 | $11.95 | no increase |
| Windscribe Monthly Plan | $9 | $9 | no increase |
| Mullvad Mullvad VPN | $5 | $5 | no increase |
| NordVPN Basic (monthly) | $14.99 | $14.99 | no increase |
| Proton VPN VPN Plus (monthly) | $9.99 | $9.99 | no increase |
Two-year deals are where it bites
The standard VPN offer is a very low monthly rate if you prepay two or three years. The renewal then bills annually at the regular rate. The monthly figure you remember was never a monthly price, it was a long prepayment divided up. That is not hidden, but it is easy to forget by the time renewal arrives two years later.
Caught changing, twice in three days
Our tracker recorded Proton VPN cutting its advertised rate twice inside three days in August 2026. Neither change was announced. This is the ordinary churn of promotional pricing, and it is the reason a single price check tells you very little, see the change log.
Questions
Do VPN prices go up after the first year?
For most, yes. The steepest increase we currently measure is NordVPN at +358%. A few, including Mullvad and Windscribe, do not raise prices at all.
Which VPN doesn't raise its price?
Mullvad and Windscribe both charge a flat monthly rate with no introductory discount and no renewal increase. Private Internet Access's monthly plan is also flat.
Why can't you show a renewal price for every VPN?
Because some don't publish one. Surfshark advertises introductory pricing without stating the renewal rate on the pricing page.