Best lifetime subscription VPNs (and why to avoid them)

A lifetime subscription to a VPN can be a tempting offer. For a one-time fee, you get unlimited access to a VPN without ever having to renew a subscription. The up-front cost is higher than what you would pay for a regular subscription, but in theory, you will save a lot of money in the long run. But don’t be too quick to take advantage of a lifetime VPN subscription. They tend to be associated with low-quality VPN providers and carry significant risks for buyers.

The biggest risk of a lifetime VPN is that the service provider will go out of business before you die. Read the fine print, and you’ll see there’s no recourse for buyers to get a refund if the VPN provider shuts down. So, if the VPN provider doesn’t make enough money to keep operations afloat, users get the short end of the stick.

For this reason, we recommend a VPN with a longer-than-average term. It’s not a lifetime subscription, but it’s for a number of years at a significantly reduced cost. Here’s a short list of our top suggestions.

Best lifetime VPN alternatives:

1. NordVPN: Our top lifetime VPN alternative. Excels in most areas and offers plans for up to 27 months. Great speed and security. Comes with a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly.
2. Surfshark: Solid budget-friendly VPN for streaming and privacy. Plans go up to two years, with a considerable discount for a longer commitment.
3. IPVanish: Unlimited device connections, fast speeds, and two-year plans are available at a competitive price.
4. ExpressVPN: Great all-around VPN with plans for up to 28 months. Solid speeds and a stellar reputation.
5. CyberGhost: Easy-to-use option with plans up to 26 months long. The largest network of servers on the market.
6. PureVPN: Quick and beginner-friendly with affordable five-year plans. Lots of advanced privacy features.
7. ProtonVPN: Fast, security-focused, and reliable for most activities. The longest plan lasts two years.
8. PrivateVPN: Simple VPN that unblocks plenty of streaming services. Plans last up to 36 months.

Our long-term subscription VPN testing criteria

Instead of “lifetime” VPN subscriptions, we’ve rounded up a few VPNs with plans that last longer than one year. These VPNs are also strong performers in the following important areas:

• Speed: The last thing you want is to get locked into a lengthy subscription with a VPN that’s too slow to use. To make sure that doesn’t happen, we carried out multiple speed tests for each provider.
• Features: We looked for VPNs with longest subscriptions available. We also looked for those with a global presence and that allowed lots of devices to connect simultaneously.
• Security and privacy: VPNs should be able to keep you safe while online. We assessed which were able to do this by evaluating them against 16 different security and privacy criteria.
• Streaming: Relatively few VPNs are able to access geo-restricted content from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. We tested which platforms each VPN provider worked with and also scored them on any other pro-streaming features.
• Ease of use: We like providers that prioritise user-friendliness. To find which do this, we evaluated each against 10 unique ease-of-use criteria.

We talk more about our testing methodology later in this article.

Our recommended VPNs compared

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice.

Best lifetime subscription VPNs (more than one-year-long plans)

Here’s a closer look at the best lifetime subscription VPN alternatives:

1. NordVPN

Apr 2025

Longest plan: 27 months

NordVPN has offered lifetime and three-year subscriptions in the past, but at the time of writing, the longest possible term is two years — with an extra three months thrown in for good measure.

It’s one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, thanks to its home-grown WireGuard-based protocol — NordLynx. Speeds in our tests varied between 192 Mbps and 201.89 Mbps, which is extremely quick.

Overall, the provider was more than 57 Mbps faster than the combined average speed of the other tested providers.

In addition, NordVPN unblocks many streaming sites, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.

Connections are protected by strong encryption, leak protection, and an app-specific kill switch that can block certain apps from the internet if your VPN connection drops for any reason. Servers are located in more than 118 countries.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV.

BEST LIFETIME VPN:NordVPN is a our top choice. NordVPN’s 2-year deal comes with a steep discount on the monthly price and includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Longest plan: 24 months

Surfshark’s two-year plan includes a hefty discount on the monthly price. Surfshark is particularly well-suited for streaming region-locked content from abroad and has worked with all the platforms we tested it with.

It’s also fast. In our three tests, the provider averaged 187.7 Mbps — which is plenty quick enough for streaming, gaming and torrenting. 

The provider has several interesting features, including a range of static IP addresses, an ID-generating tool, and the option to automatically rotate your IP address while connected.

It uses strong 256-bit encryption, built-in leak protection, and a NoBorders mode for evading VPN blocks.

Surfshark allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections and has apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Amazon Firestick.

BUDGET OPTION:Surfshark lets you connect all your devices for everyone in your household without worrying about device limits. Surfshark comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

Longest plan: 24 months

IPVanish offers plans ranging from one month to two years. The Essential plan is the cheapest, but if you can afford just over a dollar a month more, you can upgrade to the Advanced plan. This plan comes with 1TB of cloud storage and a secure, sandboxed browser.

The provider has more than 2,400 servers in 140 locations. These are easy to access thanks to a handy map on the app’s dashboard (though you can use a search function or scroll through a country list if you prefer).

The speeds are excellent. In our tests, the provider averaged 162.9 Mbps while we were connected to its US servers. 

This is more than fast enough to carry out day-to-day activities such as gaming or streaming without interruption.

Those with subscriptions to multiple streaming platforms will appreciate the fact that IPVanish works with a great many of the big-name providers. We successfully used it to access Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney Plus.

Connections are protected using 256-bit AES encryption, while built-in leak protection ensures your location is kept hidden. Other features include obfuscation, split tunneling and a choice of connection protocols.

One of our favorite things about IPVanish is that it allows unlimited device connections. This makes it a great option for households who want to share an account.

UNLIMITED CONNECTIONS:IPVanish works with numerous streaming platforms and has low-cost subscriptions lasting up to 24 months. Try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our full review of IPVanish.

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4. ExpressVPN

Longest plan: 28 months

ExpressVPN, at the time of writing, offers new users four free months of service when they buy a two-year subscription. Alternatively, they can get three free months when purchasing a one-year plan.

The provider boasts excellent security and servers in an impressive 105 countries. ExpressVPN is a solid streaming VPN, and we successfully used it to unblock Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video.

Live chat support is available 24/7 year-round. The company keeps no identifying logs about what you do with the VPN. Every connection is secured with AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption, data leak protection, and a network lock that prevents unencrypted data from being sent or received if the VPN connection drops.

Connection speeds were reliably fast, with test results ranging from 129.43 Mbps to 143.63 Mbps.

Overall, the provider achieved an average speed of 134.4 Mbps, which is suitable for high-resolution streaming and lag-free gaming.  

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, and certain wi-fi routers.

SOLID ALL-ROUNDER:ExpressVPN offers value for money and although it might not offer a lifetime subscription, it’s certainly a VPN you could use for a lifetime. Take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

Longest plan: 26 months

CyberGhost has a two-year plan with an additional two months’ free. It also has six-month and one-month plans available.

The provider makes it easy to access your favorite streams from abroad. Unlike other VPNs that force you to guess which servers to use, CyberGhost lists servers by the streaming services they unblock.

CyberGhost’s apps feature strong encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch, and they are particularly easy to use compared with some providers.

The company operates 10,000+ servers in more than 100 countries. When we tested its US servers, speeds were above average. You can see the results below.

CyberGhost’s top speed was 170.07 Mbps, though its overall average was tempered by slightly slower speeds at noon and in the afternoon. 

The provider doesn’t store any logs and has built-in leak protection. Customer support is available 24/7 on the website. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

LONGEST TERM:CyberGhost's two years plus two months deal is great value. Plus it comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. PureVPN

Longest plan: 60 months

PureVPN lets you sign up for one month, one year, or two years. Notably, there’s also a five-year plan — which is far longer than most providers.

This VPN has more than 6,000 servers in 65 countries. It’s a fantastic option for anyone looking to stream, torrent, or access their usual sites abroad.

Speed-wise, the provider is fast enough for all day-to-day tasks. You can see the individual results of our speed tests in the chart below.

Although speeds were a little variable, the average download speed of 135.6 Mbps was excellent. 

One of the best things about this service is its ease of use. It has uncrackable encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a no-logs policy that’s been independently-verified four separate times.

What’s more, if PureVPN realizes you’re in a country with strict online restrictions (such as China), it’ll automatically obfuscate your traffic, hiding the fact that you’re using a VPN at all.

Up to 10 devices can be secured at once, and staff are on-hand 24/7 via live chat. PureVPN has its own apps for iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, and Linux. Further, it provides manual configuration instructions for anyone looking to install it on a router.

EASY TO USE:PureVPN is a fantastic choice for novices and its inexpensive long-term plans make it an even more attractive option. Doesn’t compromise on security, works with all manner of stubborn sites, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of PureVPN to learn more.

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7. ProtonVPN

Longest plan: 24 months (paid) or indefinite (free)

ProtonVPN doesn’t have a lifetime plan but you can use its free version indefinitely. This restricts your speeds, which servers you can use, and how many devices you can connect.

The two-year paid subscription comes with a more than 50 percent discount, making it a very affordable VPN. It grants access to the full network (12,000+ servers in 117 countries) and lets you access a wide range of streaming sites. You’ll also be able to chat directly with staff in case anything doesn’t work as expected.

Speeds are also vastly faster with the paid plan. These ranged between 125.91 Mbps and 141.14 Mbps in our tests.

Overall, the provider averaged 135.2 Mbps, making it fast enough for all of your online activities.  

Now, this is a more advanced service so it might not be the best option for novices. Experienced users will appreciate its split tunneling and port forwarding support, automatic ad and tracker-blocking, and multi-hop Secure Core servers, though.

ProtonVPN also boasts unbreakable encryption, leak protection, a kill switch, and a proven no-logs policy. You can even pay with Bitcoin or cash, meaning it’s possible to sign up without providing any personally identifiable information.

ProtonVPN apps are available for Android, Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Linux. If you need to protect more than 10 devices simultaneously, it can be manually installed on most routers.

NO LOGS VPN:ProtonVPN puts your privacy first, boasts first-class performance, and can unblock just about any region-locked site. Paid subscriptions last up to two years and include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our complete ProtonVPN review.

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8. PrivateVPN

Longest plan: 36 months

PrivateVPN has a generous three-year plan available at the affordable price of $2 a month. The provider has a smaller network than the other VPNs in this list, but don’t let that dissuade you. It’s one of the best VPNs around when it comes to unblocking streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.

Speeds are fast enough for streaming in 4K, though you wouldn’t be able to comfortably do this on more than a few devices simultaneously.

In our tests, the provider averaged 61.6 Mbps. While slower than the other VPNs we tested, this is still faster than the majority of providers that are available.

PrivateVPN checks all the boxes when it comes to privacy and security as well, including uncrackable encryption, a kill switch, and data leak prevention.

Novice-friendly apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Users can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.

THE LITTLE GUY:PrivateVPN boasts solid performance, security, and streaming access despite its small size. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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Methodology: How we find the best lifetime VPN alternatives

In order to find the best lifetime VPN alternative, we tested providers in several important areas:

Speed

If you’re simply browsing, speed might not be too important. However, if you’re streaming, downloading, or gaming, you will need a fast VPN that you can rely on. We conducted speed tests in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon to find which providers were fastest.

We used their US servers and took measurements using the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app. To approximate the experience of the average user, we rate-limited our connection to 250 Mbps (the median broadband speed in the US is 274.16 Mbps at the time of writing).

Speed results were summed, averaged and converted to a score out of 10 for each provider. This makes it possible to see how VPNs compare with one another rather than focusing on their raw speeds.

NordVPN came out top relative to the other tested providers. Surfshark also scored notably highly. Both providers are suitable for users fond of demanding online tasks like multiplayer gaming.

Features

We started by looking at the maximum subscription length for each provider, and then converting the result to a score out of 10. We then scored VPNs on the number of countries they supported and then on the number of simultaneous connections they allowed.

The scores were summed and averaged to give an overall score out of 10 for each service.

PureVPN scored highest, with 8.8. This was primarily due to its mammoth 60-month subscription option — most VPNs max out at 24 months. Surfshark came in at second place, with NordVPN and IPVanish tying for third.

Streaming

We wanted to make sure that any VPN service we recommended had the ability to unblock geo-restricted content. This involved testing each provider with popular services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. We also looked for features such as smart DNS that make it possible to stream using VPN-incompatible devices. You can see where each provider’s streaming strengths lay in the table below.

Each of the above metrics was given a score, which we added together to create an overall score out of 10. This makes it easy to see which provider is most effective for streaming.

Interestingly, three providers tied for first place: NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. All three providers have spent years sharpening their streaming games and can unblock pretty much everything.

Security and privacy

We cover a variety of aspects relating to security and privacy in our assessments. We look for things like 256-bit AES encryption, a network kill switch, multiple VPN protocols, and a no-logs policy. You can see all of the metrics we use in the table below.

Each of the above metrics was assigned a score. These were summed to generate an overall score out of 10 for each provider — the results of which you can see below.

NordVPN and Surfshark each scored 9.5, suggesting they are equally well-placed to keep you safe online. ProtonVPN is also an excellent choice.

Ease of use

New users in particular can be intimidated by some VPN software. With this in mind, we try to steer clear of VPNs that are hard to get to grips with. Instead, we look for providers that aim for user-friendliness and perform well against the metrics shown below.

As before, we scored each of the metrics and then summed them to create overall scores out of 10 for each provider.

NordVPN stood out with its score of 9.6. It provides a slick service that’s great for those with no VPN experience. IPVanish and ExpressVPN also provide a refreshingly hassle-free experience.

Lifetime VPN FAQ