Significant price shifts are rare in the budget VPN market, making Private Internet Access’s (PIA) drop from $2.03 to just $1.75 per month a notable event.

While PIA has recently been overshadowed by rising competitors like Norton VPN, this new low price reasserts its value.

At $45.55 upfront for 24 months, it’s now cheaper than our current budget champion, Surfshark. Plus, you're getting comparable app support and more technical flexibility for less.

If PIA’s utilitarian interface and complex settings feel like overkill, there are several user-friendly alternatives to consider.

ExpressVPN remains my top recommendation VPN for beginners. Right now, it's only $2.77/month, which is cheap for most VPNs. It’s significantly faster than PIA and offers a more seamless experience for unblocking global streaming libraries.

Surfshark is another strong contender. It currently clocks in faster and cheaper than ExpressVPN, though its security suite is slightly leaner. While the extra speed is a bonus, don't expect it to outperform ExpressVPN when it comes to consistently unblocking streaming services.

For those who want the best of all worlds, NordVPN is the answer. As our #1 rated VPN, it commands a slight premium — typically starting just north of $3 per month.

For that extra dollar, you’re getting industry-leading security, elite streaming performance, and a perfect balance of "set-and-forget" ease with enough customizability for when you want to tinker.