How to switch VPN providers

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How to cancel your VPN
How to claim a refund
How to pick a VPN
Best VPN deals

If you're unhappy with your current VPN's performance and have been thinking about switching VPN providers, you might be worried that this is a lengthy and complicated process.

This is the perfect time of year to do it, too, as many of the best VPN providers are offering Black Friday VPN deals, so you're unlikely to get a better price than right now.

Surfshark One | 2 years + 3 months FREE
Was: $2.49 per month
Now: $2.19 per month at Surfshark
Surfshark is great value all year round, but this early Black Friday deal is the best I've ever seen.

You get:

🔒 Unlimited VPN
🦠 Avira-backed antivirus
📤 Alt ID email spoofing

At $2.19 per month, Surfshark One costs just $0.20 per month more than the base plan – which works out at about $6 over the two years. This deal saves a decent $8 compared to regular price, and there's also a 30-day refund period so you can make sure it works well for you.

How to cancel your VPN

While not all VPNs are cancelled in the same way, many of the best VPNs follow the same basic structure. To cancel your VPN, simply follow these steps:

Go to your VPN provider's website
Log in to your account
Go to your subscription management page
Turn off automatic billing (you may be required to confirm multiple times that you want to turn off automatic billing)
If you're still within your VPN's money-back guarantee period, contact your VPN provider either by email or live chat to get a refund
That's it!

Once you have cancelled automatic billing, you will have cancelled your VPN service.

How to claim a refund

Many VPNs offer money-back guarantees, which means if you cancel your VPN within this time limit, you can claim a refund on it.

The length of the VPN money-back guarantee depends on the VPN provider, with some only offering a 7-day money-back guarantee, and others offering a 45-day money-back guarantee.

In order to claim a refund, you will need to check that you are still within the money-back guarantee period. If you are, then you'll need to contact your VPN provider, either via email, live chat or contact support form. Let them know you have cancelled within the money-back guarantee period, and you will receive a refund.

How to pick a new VPN

There are a whole range of factors that go into choosing the right VPN for you, and if you're looking to switch providers chances are there's something your current provider is lacking that you're searching for in your next VPN.

If you're concerned about buffering and download speeds, the fastest VPN will be perfect, whereas if you're looking to watch all the latest content from across the world, the best streaming VPN will be more up your street.

If you're looking for the best deal, or indeed the best cheap VPN, then check out the deals at the end of this article to make sure you're getting the best price.

So, to pick the right VPN, consider what features you want from it, and choose one that matches your wants and needs best. If you need a hand, our guide to the best VPNs available can help you out.

The best VPN deals

Here at Tom's Guide, we follow all things VPN to make sure you're getting the most up-to-date info, and when it comes to the best VPN deals, this is no different.

Below are the best bargains on offer right now:

Proton VPN | 2 years
Was: $3.59 per month
Now: $2.49 per month at Proton VPN
Proton VPN is one of the most well-respected privacy providers around, but one thing it's not known for is being cheap. However, this early Black Friday deal from Proton is the cheapest I've ever seen it – knocking a whopping $26 off your overall spend.

What you get:

🔐 World-renowned privacy credentials
📺 Excellent streaming performance
🚀 The fastest VPN speeds we've tested

It's exclusive to Tom's Guide, and you won't find it cheaper anywhere else. It starts at $2.49 per month ($59.76 all-in) – and again, there's a 30-day refund period.

NordVPN | 2 years + 3 months FREE
Was: $3.39 per month
Now: $2.99 per month at NordVPN
NordVPN is our top-rated VPN overall, and this Black Friday deal is one of the best I've seen this year

You get:

🚀 Our #1-rated VPN with great speeds
📺 Reliable streaming unblocking
🔐 Excellent, audited privacy credentials

At $2.99 per month, this NordVPN deal offers a significant saving of around $11 compared to the regular price. It's the perfect choice if you want an all-round excellent service, with great privacy credentials, the best streaming unblocking around, and robust apps. Again, there's a 30-day refund period.

PrivadoVPN | 2 years + 3 months free
Black Friday price: $1.11 per month
If you're looking for a VPN that balances value with speed, unblocking power, and solid security, then PrivadoVPN is a perfect choice.

What you get:

🤑 The cheapest fully-featured VPN I recommend
🚀 Excellent connection speeds
📺 Great for unblocking streaming sites

PrivadoVPN doesn't quite match the polish of more expensive VPNs, but you get unlimited data and good privacy credentials. Plus, at $1.11 per month, it's incredibly cheap – and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can put it to the test on your own devices.

Private Internet Access (PIA) | 2 years plus 4 months free | 83% off
Was: $2.19 per month
Now: $2.03 per month at Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access has released its Black Friday deal, and it’s offering even more with its already affordable plans. Here's what you get:

🚀 Highly configurable
📱 Unlimited simultaneous connections
🗽 Servers for every US state

PIA’s 24-month subscription costs $2.03 per month ($48.72 up front pre-tax) and includes 4 FREE months. There's a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can pay with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for anonymity.

IPVanish | 2 years
Was: $3.33 per month
Now: $2.19 per month at IPVanish
IPVanish is a well-known and trusted VPN provider that's been around for a long time – and it's especially good if you're the techy type that likes lots of settings to play with.

What you get:

🚀 Great connection speeds
🔐 Reliable privacy tools
💸 The biggest saving on this page ($28.80 overall)

The current Black Friday deal drops IPVanish to a very reasonable $2.19 per month, which is a huge discount from its regular price. And, of course, you get 30 days to clain a refund.

Norton VPN Plus | 1 year
Was: $3.33 per month
Now: $2.50 per month at Norton
Norton is a huge name in antivirus, but it has recently invested a lot in its VPN, too. Norton VPN Plus lives up to the Norton name, and is a very reliable, if slightly basic option.

What you get:

🔐 Unlimited VPN from a trusted name
😌 Beginner-friendly apps
💲 Huge 60-day money-back guarantee

Norton VPN is a bargain at $2.50 per month ($29.99 all-in), and the current deal makes the middle tier cheaper than the basic one – save your cash, and get more in the process!

ExpressVPN | 2 years + 4 months free
Black Friday deal: $3.49 per month at ExpressVPN ExpressVPN hasn't launched its full Black Friday deal yet, but recent pricing changes have made it more affordable than ever.

What you get:

🔐 Class-leading privacy and security
🚀 Incredible speeds on Windows
📱 Super-simple, polished apps

Prices start from $3.49 per month ($97 all-in), and currently you can claim 4 months free. There's also a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can make sure you enjoy using it.

Hide.me | 2 years + 5 months free
Was: $2.67 per month
Now: $2.07 per month at Hide.me
Hide.me is super customizable, and has a long history of being a trusted, privacy-focused VPN service. What's more, this Black Friday deal is the cheapest I've seen it since last year.

What you get:

🔐 Powerful, private apps
📺 Useful streaming unblocking
🤓 Tons of expert-level tweaks

Hide.me is great value at $2.07 per month ($59.95 all-in), bringing it down to compete with the likes of Private Internet Access and Surfshark.

CyberGhost | 2 years + 4 months free
Was: $2.19 per month
Now: $2.03 per month at CyberGhost
CyberGhost is owned by the same company as ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, and it's almost always the same price as the latter. It focuses on streaming, and is a trusted, reliable VPN.

What you get:

📺 A focus of reliable streaming
📱 Useful apps on all devices
💰 Generous 45-day money-back guarantee

At $2.03 per month ($48.72 up front), CyberGhost is one of the cheapest VPNs this Black Friday. What's more, you'll have 45 days to make up your mind, with one of the longest money-back guarantees of any VPN.

Olivia joined Tom's Guide in October 2023 as part of the core Tech Software team, and is currently VPN Commissioning Editor. She regularly uses VPNs to make sure they deliver what they promise, and specializes in testing VPNs with streaming sites.

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