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In a July 2019 comparison, monthly VPN plans from four providers cost about $12, while several multi-year plans had advertised monthly equivalents below $3. Those low figures generally represented the per-month cost of a longer commitment—not a monthly bill at that rate. To compare fairly, look at the total due, the term, and the date and source of each offer.
What VPN subscriptions cost in a 2019 comparison
Tom’s Hardware’s July 28, 2019 comparison listed monthly rates from $11.95 to $12.99 for four providers. Its longer-term figures were lower when expressed as a monthly equivalent. The table below reproduces the comparison’s listed values; it does not establish that every rate was available throughout 2019 or in every country.
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| Provider | Monthly plan | One-year plan (monthly equivalent) | Two-year plan (monthly equivalent) | Three-year plan (monthly equivalent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CyberGhost | $12.99 | $5.99 | $3.69 in the table; $3.29 in the article’s prose | $2.75 |
| NordVPN | $11.95 | $6.99 | not stated in the comparison table | $2.99 |
| Surfshark | $11.95 | $5.99 | not stated in the comparison table | not stated in the comparison table |
| ExpressVPN | $12.95 | $8.32 | not stated in the comparison table | not stated in the comparison table |
Source for all values in the table: Tom’s Hardware, July 28, 2019. Its two-year CyberGhost figure conflicts internally: the prose says $3.29 per month, while the comparison table says $3.69. Neither should be treated as a verified single rate.
Why a low monthly equivalent may cost more upfront
A displayed monthly equivalent spreads the price of a longer subscription across its months. It does not necessarily mean the provider charges that amount each month. In a January 2019 Windows Central comparison, NordVPN cost about $12 for one month, about $84 for one year, or about $96 for two years. The annual and two-year amounts were billed as lump sums; the two-year plan worked out to roughly $4 per month. These are rounded comparison figures, not a guarantee of every promotion offered that year. Windows Central’s comparison
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- Monthly equivalent: useful for comparing the average cost over a term.
- Total billed: the amount you may need to pay at checkout for that term.
- Commitment: how long the subscription lasts before renewal or expiry.
A low equivalent can therefore be a poor fit if you want flexibility, cannot pay the larger total upfront, or may stop using the service before the term ends.
Other reported 2019-era price records
NordVPN’s retrospective three-year entry
TheBestVPN’s retrospective price history lists NordVPN at $3.49 per month for a three-year plan in November 2019. This is a secondary historical record, not proof that the offer was available to every customer or for the entire month. TheBestVPN price history
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ExpressVPN review prices
WIRED lists ExpressVPN at $12.95 monthly, $59.95 for six months, and $99.95 yearly. The accessible listing does not establish that these exact prices were published in 2019, so they are best read as reported review prices rather than a dated 2019 snapshot. WIRED’s ExpressVPN review
How to compare a historical VPN offer
- Check the date and source. A provider’s price can change, and a retrospective price-history entry is not the same as a contemporaneous offer page.
- Write down the total due. Do not compare a multi-year monthly equivalent with a month-to-month charge without also comparing the upfront total.
- Match the term. Compare monthly with monthly, annual with annual, and multi-year with multi-year where the source provides comparable figures.
- Read the offer terms. Promotions and renewal prices can affect the cost after the initial term; the figures above do not establish renewal terms.
The sources here provide snapshots, not a complete record of every provider, promotion, country, currency, or day in 2019. Treat them as historical comparisons, not prices that can be assumed to remain available.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
