Intro vs renewal VPN prices, explained

The three numbers on every VPN pricing page

The per-month intro figure. The big number on the deal. It is the first-term price divided by the months it covers.
What is billed today, and for how many months. Long plans are paid upfront.
The renewal price and how often it bills. This is what you pay after the first term ends. All four providers we compare renew yearly.

What the four charge, checked 11 Nov 2026

Prices are in USD from each provider's own pricing page. Each line shows the plan length, because the number only means something next to it.

NordVPN (Basic, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid): US$3.49/mo, billed US$94.23 for the first 27 months · Basic, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid. Then US$139.08/year (US$11.59/mo equiv.) after month 27 · Basic, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid.
Surfshark (Starter, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid): US$2.49/mo, billed US$67.23 for the first 27 months · Starter, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid. Then US$79.00/year (US$6.58/mo equiv.) after month 27 · Starter, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid.
Proton VPN (VPN Plus, 2-year plan = 24 months prepaid): US$3.49/mo, billed US$83.76 for the first 24 months · VPN Plus, 2-year plan = 24 months prepaid. Then US$83.88/year (US$6.99/mo equiv.) after month 24 · VPN Plus, 2-year plan = 24 months prepaid.
CyberGhost (2-year plan (+4 months) = 28 months prepaid): US$2.19/mo, billed US$61.32 for the first 28 months · 2-year plan (+4 months) = 28 months prepaid. Then US$61.32/year (US$5.11/mo equiv.) after month 28 · 2-year plan (+4 months) = 28 months prepaid.

Intro vs renewal price per month (US$)

USD, checked 11 Nov 2026. The renewal is billed yearly; the bar shows its per-month equivalent. Sources: NordVPN, Surfshark, Surfshark (2), Proton VPN, CyberGhost.

Show the data as a table

Intro and renewal prices with plan length
Provider	Intro	Renewal
NordVPN	US$3.49/mo, billed US$94.23 for the first 27 months · Basic, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid	US$139.08/year (US$11.59/mo equiv.) after month 27 · Basic, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid
Surfshark	US$2.49/mo, billed US$67.23 for the first 27 months · Starter, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid	US$79.00/year (US$6.58/mo equiv.) after month 27 · Starter, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid
Proton VPN	US$3.49/mo, billed US$83.76 for the first 24 months · VPN Plus, 2-year plan = 24 months prepaid	US$83.88/year (US$6.99/mo equiv.) after month 24 · VPN Plus, 2-year plan = 24 months prepaid
CyberGhost	US$2.19/mo, billed US$61.32 for the first 28 months · 2-year plan (+4 months) = 28 months prepaid	US$61.32/year (US$5.11/mo equiv.) after month 28 · 2-year plan (+4 months) = 28 months prepaid

How much more the renewal costs

Comparing the renewal's per-month equivalent with the intro figure on the same plan:

NordVPN: about 3.3× the intro per-month figure.
Surfshark: about 2.6× the intro per-month figure.
Proton VPN: about 2.0× the intro per-month figure.
CyberGhost: about 2.3× the intro per-month figure.

Comparing plans of different lengths

Proton VPN's public pricing page shows a 1-year plan; the other three show a 2-year plan with 3 or 4 extra months. Per-month figures don't compare those fairly, so we also add up the cash a new buyer pays in the first 24 months: a plan prepaid for 27 or 28 months counts its full charge, and a 1-year plan counts year one plus one renewal.

CyberGhost: US$61.32 total (one upfront payment covering 28 months) · 2-year plan (+4 months) = 28 months prepaid · effective US$2.19/mo over the plan.
Surfshark: US$67.23 total (one upfront payment covering 27 months) · Starter, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid · effective US$2.49/mo over the plan.
Proton VPN: US$83.76 total (one upfront payment covering 24 months) · VPN Plus, 2-year plan = 24 months prepaid · effective US$3.49/mo over the plan.
NordVPN: US$94.23 total (one upfront payment covering 27 months) · Basic, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid · effective US$3.49/mo over the plan.

Total cash paid in the first 24 months (US$)

USD, checked 11 Nov 2026. What a new buyer pays in months 0–24: a plan prepaid for 27 or 28 months counts its full charge; a 1-year plan counts year one plus one renewal. Sources: NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, CyberGhost.

Show the data as a table

Total cost in the first 24 months, with plan length
Provider	First 24 months
NordVPN	US$94.23 total (one upfront payment covering 27 months) · Basic, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid · effective US$3.49/mo over the plan
Surfshark	US$67.23 total (one upfront payment covering 27 months) · Starter, 2-year plan (+3 months) = 27 months prepaid · effective US$2.49/mo over the plan
Proton VPN	US$83.76 total (one upfront payment covering 24 months) · VPN Plus, 2-year plan = 24 months prepaid · effective US$3.49/mo over the plan
CyberGhost	US$61.32 total (one upfront payment covering 28 months) · 2-year plan (+4 months) = 28 months prepaid · effective US$2.19/mo over the plan

Top for budget: CyberGhost (checked 11 Nov 2026). Scores: CyberGhost 100/100, Surfshark 91.2/100, Proton VPN 73.2/100, NordVPN 65.1/100. Budget is scored only on this 24-month cost.

Money-back periods and refunds

NordVPN: 30 days on all plans. App-store purchases are refunded by the store, not NordVPN.
Surfshark: 30 days: ask for a refund within 30 days of signing up.
Proton VPN: 30 days, if requested within the first 30 days.
CyberGhost: 45 days on longer plans; the 1-month plan has 14 days. Not available for App Store, Google Play or Amazon purchases.

Tax, region and price tests

The prices above are USD from US-region views. Pages viewed from other countries can show other currencies and amounts, and tax can be added at checkout (NordVPN says sales tax may apply; Surfshark says VAT may apply). Surfshark also says renewal prices may be A/B tested. Check the renewal line on the checkout page before you pay.

Pros
- On all four plans we compare, the intro per-month figure is lower than the renewal per-month equivalent.
- One payment covers the whole first term, so there is no surprise bill inside it.
- All four offer a money-back period (30 or 45 days) if the service doesn't suit you.
Cons
- The whole first term is charged upfront, so the first payment is the largest.
- Every renewal price we checked is higher than the intro figure.
- Plan lengths differ (12, 27 or 28 months), so per-month figures alone don't compare like for like.
Who it's for
- Anyone comparing VPN deals who plans to keep the service past the first term.
- Remote workers budgeting for a tool they will use every day.
Who it's not for
- Someone who only needs a VPN for a single trip and plans to cancel inside the money-back period.
- Readers looking for speed results: we don't run speed tests.

Questions people ask

Is the renewal price the same as the deal price?

No. For all four providers we compare, the per-month equivalent at renewal is higher than the intro figure: NordVPN about 3.3×, Surfshark about 2.6×, Proton VPN about 2.0×, CyberGhost about 2.3× (pricing pages checked 11 Nov 2026).

Which costs least over the first 24 months?

CyberGhost, on the cash a new buyer pays in months 0–24 (checked 11 Nov 2026). NordVPN costs the most on that measure.

How long do I have to ask for a refund?

NordVPN 30 days, Surfshark 30 days, Proton VPN 30 days, CyberGhost 45 days, from each provider's own terms (checked 11 Nov 2026). NordVPN says app-store purchases are refunded by the store; CyberGhost's money-back guarantee doesn't cover App Store, Google Play or Amazon purchases.