VPN Price Comparison 2026 — Plans & Value
Complete VPN price comparison for Australia. All plans: monthly, yearly, 2-year. Cost per month breakdown. Best value analysis.
By Australian VPN
How We Priced This
Most VPNs price in USD. We've converted approximate AUD prices using current exchange rates (~0.65 USD to 1 AUD). Prices shown are what Australian customers would pay.
Note: Prices change frequently (promotions, currency fluctuations). These are accurate as of March 2026. Always check the VPN's website for current prices.
Full Price Comparison Table
| VPN | Monthly | Annual | 2-Year | Best Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PureVPN | $7.99 | $38 ($3.17/mo) | $48 ($1.99/mo) | ✓ 2-Year |
| Surfshark | $10.99 | $60 ($5/mo) | $60 ($2.49/mo) | ✓ 2-Year |
| CyberGhost | $12.99 | $45 ($3.75/mo) | $66 ($2.75/mo) | ✓ 2-Year |
| TorGuard | $4.99 | $42 ($3.50/mo) | $72 ($2.99/mo) | ✓ 2-Year |
| NordVPN | $11.95 | $52 ($4.33/mo) | $88 ($3.69/mo) | ✓ 2-Year |
| ExpressVPN | $12.95 | $95 ($7.92/mo) | $160 ($6.67/mo) | ✓ 2-Year |
| ProtonVPN | $11.99 | $48 ($4/mo) | ~$96 ($4/mo) | — (2-year rare) |
| Mullvad | $5.50 | $5.50 | $5.50 | — (no plans) |
Prices in AUD (approximate). Converted from USD using 0.65 rate. Check VPN websites for current pricing and promotions.
Cost Per Month Breakdown
The real question: How much do you actually pay per month? This chart shows the effective monthly cost:
| VPN | Monthly Plan | 1-Year Plan | 2-Year Plan | Savings vs Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PureVPN | $7.99 | $3.17 | $1.99 | 75% off |
| Surfshark | $10.99 | $5.00 | $2.49 | 77% off |
| CyberGhost | $12.99 | $3.75 | $2.75 | 79% off |
| TorGuard | $4.99 | $3.50 | $2.99 | 40% off |
| NordVPN | $11.95 | $4.33 | $3.69 | 69% off |
| ExpressVPN | $12.95 | $7.92 | $6.67 | 49% off |
Key insight: 2-year plans are always the cheapest per month. But you pay upfront. Monthly plans are most expensive but let you cancel anytime.
Best Value Analysis
🏆 Best Overall Value: Surfshark ($2.49/month on 2-year)
Why: You get solid speeds, works with most Australian streaming, good privacy, and under $3/month for 2 years.
Cost for 2 years: $60 AUD (~$0.83/week)
Total annual cost: $30/year
💰 Cheapest: PureVPN ($1.99/month on 2-year)
Why: Lowest price available. But slower, fewer features, less support.
Cost for 2 years: $48 AUD
Good if: You just need basic privacy and don't care about speed or streaming.
⚡ Best for Streaming: NordVPN ($3.69/month on 2-year)
Why: Works reliably with Stan, Kayo, Netflix. Good speeds. Independent audit.
Cost for 2 years: $88 AUD
Total annual cost: $44/year
🚀 Best for Speed: ExpressVPN ($6.67/month on 2-year)
Why: Fastest VPN. Great Netflix unblocking. Excellent support. But pricier.
Cost for 2 years: $160 AUD
Total annual cost: $80/year
Hidden Costs You Should Know
The prices above are just the subscription. Here are other costs to consider:
Currency Conversion Fees
Most VPNs charge in USD. Your credit card might add 2-3% conversion fee. Budget +$1-2 per year.
Renewal Prices
Promotional prices are usually only for the first term. When you renew, prices might be 20-30% higher. Always factor in renewal cost.
Payment Methods
Some VPNs charge extra for certain payment methods. Crypto might be cheaper than credit card.
Money-Back Guarantees
Most VPNs offer 30-day money-back guarantees. Use it! Test the VPN before you're locked in for a year.
Monthly vs Yearly vs 2-Year: Which Should You Buy?
Buy Monthly If:
- You're unsure about VPN and want to test it short-term
- You're between VPNs and don't want a long commitment
- You only need VPN occasionally (traveling once a year)
Buy Yearly If:
- You want a middle ground between cost and commitment
- You're pretty confident you'll use the VPN
- You want to avoid the largest upfront cost
- You like testing a VPN before renewing annually
✓ Buy 2-Year (Our Recommendation):
- You get the best price per month (50-77% off)
- You're committed to privacy/VPN as a habit
- You can test for 30 days with money-back guarantee
- Even if renewal is expensive, you've already saved money
- Math: Test for 30 days ($0 risk), if you like it, you lock in the lowest price
The Smart Way to Buy
- Pick a VPN (Surfshark or NordVPN for most Australians)
- Buy the 2-year plan (cheapest per month)
- Use it for 30 days to test
- If you don't like it, request refund (no questions)
- If you like it, you're locked into the best price
Why this works: You get the lowest possible price, with zero risk. The 30-day guarantee means you're not actually committing to 2 years.
Comparing to Other Subscriptions
Is VPN worth the cost? Here's how it compares to what Australians already pay for:
| Service | Monthly Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| VPN (cheapest, on 2-year) | $1.99 |
| Netflix Basic (with ads) | $7 |
| Stan | $10 |
| Kayo Sports | $13 |
| Spotify Premium | $11.99 |
| Gym membership (avg) | $50 |
VPN is one of the cheapest subscriptions you can buy. Cheaper than almost every streaming service.
The Bottom Line
Best value: Surfshark 2-year plan at $2.49/month ($60 total)
For streaming: NordVPN 2-year plan at $3.69/month ($88 total)
For speed: ExpressVPN 2-year plan at $6.67/month ($160 total)
Cheapest: PureVPN 2-year plan at $1.99/month ($48 total) — but limited features
Pro tip: All major VPNs offer 30-day money-back guarantees. Buy the 2-year plan (best price), test it for 30 days risk-free, then decide. If you like it, you're locked in at the lowest price.
Related Reading
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Expert VPN reviewers helping Australians protect their privacy and access content since 2016. We independently test every VPN we recommend — checking speed, security, streaming, and value from Australian servers.
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