lifetime subscription VPN

A lifetime subscription to a VPN can be a tempting offer. For a single 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 normal 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.

If you simply want a VPN with a longer-than-average term, here’s a shortlist of our top suggestions.

Best Lifetime VPN alternatives:

  1. NordVPN: Our top recommendation. Excels in most areas and offers plans for up to two years. 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 3 years.
  3. ExpressVPN: Great all-around VPN with plans for up to 15 months.
  4. CyberGhost: Easy-to-use option with plans up to 39 months long.
  5. PrivateVPN: Simple VPN that unblocks plenty of streaming services. Plans last up to 13 months.
  6. Atlas VPN: Fast speeds and consistent unblocking. Connect all of your devices at once. It offers the option of a three-year subscription plan.

WANT TO TRY THE TOP VPN RISK FREE?

NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up at this page. You can use the VPN rated #1 for a long-term subscription with no restrictions for a month—great if you want to test if the service if is the right fit for you. 

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn't right for you and you'll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

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. Lifetime subscriptions are often used as a desperate cash injection for an already struggling business.

Lifetime VPN subscriptions often work like Ponzi schemes. A provider starts out selling lifetime subscriptions until new buyers dwindle out and the cost of operations exceeds income. The provider then goes dark and takes off with the money.

Not all lifetime subscriptions are bad investments. NordVPN and Windscribe, two providers we recommend, have both offered them for limited time periods in the past. The key thing to note is that they were limited-time offers sold alongside standard subscription pricing. If a VPN’s only revenue comes from lifetime subscriptions, it’s best avoided.

You may come across some lifetime VPN subscriptions that appear to be from reputable providers but are actually offered by third-party resellers. Resellers may make claims in their advertising that the VPN provider itself can’t fulfill.

Best lifetime subscription VPNs – at a glance

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 for lifetime subscription VPNs.

No valueNordVPNSurfsharkExpressVPNCyberGhostPrivateVPN
WebsiteNordVPN.comSurfshark.comExpressVPN.comCyberghost.comPrivateVPN.com
Ranking for lifetime subscriptions12345
Streaming ServicesNetflix
Amazon Prime
BBC iPlayer
Hulu
Netflix
Amazon Prime
BBC iPlayer
Hulu
Netflix
Amazon Prime
BBC iPlayer
Hulu
Netflix
Amazon Prime
Netflix
Amazon Prime
Avg Speed (Mbps)100+ Mbps100+ Mbps100+ Mbps100+ Mbps39 Mbps
Popular Sites Unblocked95%88%86%85%85%
Total number of servers6,000+3,200Undisclosed11,000+200+
Simultaneous Connections10Unlimited8710
Best deal (per month)$3.09
Up to 69% off + 3 months FREE
$2.29
Save 85% on a 2 year Starter plan
$6.67
SAVE: 49% + 3 months free
$2.03
SAVE 84% on the 2 year plan
$2.00
Save 85% on a one year plan + 24-months free

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

So, instead of “lifetime” VPN subscriptions, we’ve rounded up a few VPNs with extra-long plans that last longer than one year. These VPNs also meet all of our other criteria:

  • Fast speeds
  • Strong security
  • No logs
  • Unblocks region-locked content
  • Live customer support

We talk more about our testing methodology later in this article. For now, here are the best lifetime subscription VPN alternatives: 

1. NordVPN

NordVPN Mar 2024

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background FireTV

Website:  www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

Longest plan: 24 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.

NordVPN is a budget-friendly provider that doesn’t skimp on speed, security, or streaming. It’s one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested thanks to its new Wireguard-based protocol, NordLynx. On top of that, it unblocks tons of 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 60 countries.

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

Pros:

  • Fastest VPN
  • Unblocks most popular streaming services
  • Solid security
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • No logs at all

Cons:

  • Occasionally slow to connect

Our score:

4.5 out of 5

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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Up to 69% off + 3 months FREE
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2. Surfshark

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website:  www.Surfshark.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

Longest plan: 24 months

Surfshark’s 2-year plan includes a hefty discount on the monthly price. Surfshark is a newer provider that’s particularly well-suited for streaming region-locked content from abroad, but it also boasts good speeds and strong security.

Surfshark is the only VPN on this list to allow an unlimited number of simultaneous connections, which makes it a great option for a family or group of friends. It unblocks Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video, among others.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Amazon Firestick.

Pros:

  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Great for unblocking region-locked streaming sites
  • Strong security
  • Round-the-clock live support

Cons:

  • Not the fastest

Our score:

4.5 out of 5

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. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website:  www.ExpressVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

Longest plan: 15 months

ExpressVPN, at the time of writing, offers new users three free months of service whenever you buy a one-year subscription.

ExpressVPN boasts very fast speeds and excellent security. It operates servers in 94 countries and unblocks a wide variety of streaming sites from around the world including 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 military-grade encryption, data leak protection, and a network lock that prevents unencrypted data from being sent or received if the VPN connection drops.

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

Pros:

  • Fast speeds
  • Great security
  • No identifying logs
  • 24/7 live chat support

Cons:

  • Slightly more expensive than rivals

Our score:

4.5 out of 5

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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4. CyberGhost

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website:  www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

Longest plan: 39 months

CyberGhost makes it easy to unblock your favorite streams from abroad and has the longest subscription plan on this list. Unlike other VPNs that force you to guess which servers to use, CyberGhost lists servers by what streaming services they unblock.

Strong encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch are built into CyberGhost’s apps. The company operates servers in more than 60 countries. Speeds are above average, and it doesn’t store any logs. Customer support is available 24/7 on the website.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Strong security
  • Decent speeds
  • Unblocks lots of streaming services
  • Live chat support

Cons:

  • Doesn’t work in China
  • The parent company has a checkered reputation

Our score:

4.5 out of 5

LONGEST TERM:CyberGhost's 3 years plus 3 months deal is the closest you’ll get to a lifetime subscription. It comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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5. PrivateVPN

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website:  www.PrivateVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

Longest plan: 13 months

PrivateVPN is a newer provider with a smaller network, 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 excellent, and the app is very novice-friendly. PrivateVPN checks all the boxes when it comes to privacy and security as well, including uncrackable encryption, a kill switch, and data leak prevention.

At the time of writing, you can get a 1-year plan with an additional month for free. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Pros:

  • Great for unblocking streams
  • Fast speeds
  • Good security
  • Live chat support

Cons:

  • Smaller server network

Our score:

4.5 out of 5

THE LITTLE GUY:PrivateVPN boasts excellent 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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Save 85% on a one year plan + 24-months free
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6. Atlas VPN

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background FireTV

Website:  www.AtlasVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

Longest plan: 39 months

Atlas VPN currently offers a three-year plan, which comes with an extra three months free. Needless to say, you can make the biggest savings when you choose a more long-term plan such as this. While Atlas VPN has a smaller network of servers, its speeds and strong unblocking more than make up for this. Indeed, it’s an ideal option for streaming because it works well with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

What makes Atlas VPN particularly good value is that it lets you secure as many devices as you like at the same time. Furthermore, it has a lot of security features on offer. First, there’s 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. Then, there are MultiHop servers and even an ad blocker. Your privacy should also be protected because Atlas VPN doesn’t keep identifying its users’ logs.

Atlas VPN provides apps for desktop (Windows and Mac) and mobile (Android and iOS). Apps can also be downloaded for Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. However, no support is offered for Linux or routers.

Pros:

  • Three-year plan represents good value for money
  • Very fast server speeds for non-stop streaming
  • Secure all of your devices at once

Cons:

  • Only offers around 750 servers in all
  • Unclear whether it keeps some connection logs

Our score:

4 out of 5

STREAMING-FRIENDLY:AtlasVPN provides high-speed connections for lag-free streaming of Netflix, Disney,+, HBO Max, and more. Allows unlimited simultaneous connections. MultiHop servers included. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Atlas VPN review.

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See also:

Methodology: How we find the best lifetime VPN alternatives

Each VPN is subject to our testing methodology. This is a series of things we specifically look for in a lifetime VPN alternative. Here’s an overview of the criteria:

  • Subscription length: While most reputable VPNs do not offer lifetime subscriptions, we look for those that provide lengthy plans including 24 and 36-month options.
  • Value: The price of a subscription and discounts for longer periods are taken into consideration. We also consider a money-back guarantee a huge part of the value, as well as the number of device connections supported.
  • Security: We cover all areas of 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. We will only ever recommend a VPN that excels in security.
  • Servers: There are two specific criteria when it comes to servers – how many there are and how far they cover. We expect to see a large server network but, more importantly, great geographical coverage for things like streaming geo-restricted content.
  • Speeds: 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 conduct speed tests to ensure that we’re only recommending the fastest VPNs.
  • Devices: Each VPN service we look at needs to be accessible on a number of platforms. That means apps for all popular operating systems and devices, like Windows, macOS, Android and IOS. We also give extra points for browser extensions and router configurations.
  • Unblocking ability: We want to make sure that any VPN service we recommend has the ability to unblock geo-restricted content. This includes popular platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu so that you can enjoy your favorite shows and movies from back home while traveling in other countries.

Want to know more about how we assess VPNs? Read our VPN testing methodology here.

Lifetime VPN FAQ

Are all lifetime VPN subscriptions scams?

While paying once and using a VPN for life may sound appealing, it’s essential to be aware of the potential risks and downsides of these types of subscriptions.

Many lifetime VPN subscriptions are scams or unreliable. VPN providers may be unable to sustain the high operating costs of offering lifetime subscriptions, leading to poor service quality and even bankruptcy. Additionally, some VPNs may sell user data or cancel “unlimited” VPN subscriptions at anytime, posing significant risks to user privacy and security.

Which lifetime subscription VPNs should I avoid?

A quick search on Google will bring up no shortage of VPNs that offer lifetime subscriptions. At the time of writing, they include KeepSolid VPN Unlimited and SlickVPN. These VPNs don’t meet our standards of quality.

Even if you do find a lifetime subscription from a provider you trust, we would recommend avoiding it. VPNs are services, and they can degrade in quality over time. Give yourself the flexibility to change providers if the one you’re using stops meeting expectations.

What does "lifetime" really mean?

You might assume that a “lifetime” VPN subscription refers to your own lifetime, but the fine print might not align with that assumption. It could refer to the lifetime of the VPN company or the life of a pet. “Lifetime” is a loose marketing term and shouldn’t be taken literally.

Is a free lifetime VPN safe?

Free VPNs don’t really offer “lifetime” subscriptions because you don’t need to subscribe to them in the first place.

That being said, we generally recommend against using free VPNs. Free VPNs tend to lack sufficient security, their connections are slow, and they’re blocked by most major streaming services.

Free VPNs are not charities; they have to make money somehow. They often harvest users’ personal data for advertising purposes. Some inject ads into your web browser, and a few even carry malware. This is not what you want from a service designed to protect your privacy.

In short, stick to reputable paid VPNs.

Why doesn’t every VPN have a lifetime subscription option?

Many VPN providers choose not to offer a lifetime subscription plan because reviewers and experts often frown upon them. As a result, this type of subscription plan is thought to lead to negative comments. 

VPN services cannot guarantee that their service will not change over time, be acquired, or simply cease to operate. As a result, purchasing a lifetime subscription is something of a gamble, and you can’t be sure that what you pay for now is the service you will have in perpetuity.

Furthermore, VPNs cannot necessarily promise that their service will remain at the same cost forever. Service charges, server rental costs, and other costs incurred by a VPN provider could potentially change over time. This may force the VPN to begin charging more for its service. Under these circumstances, pre-purchased lifetime plans could backfire and cause the VPN to go bust.

With this in mind, most VPNs find it better simply to charge a fair price for shorter-term plans. This is because they can definitively honor these subscription periods without a risk to consumers or the VPN’s reputation.

Can I get discounts for long commitments with a VPN?

Yes, you can save significantly when you commit to a long VPN subscription. Generally, you’ll pay more per month if you opt for a month-to-month plan (although you won’t have to commit as much money up-front). Most major VPNs offer discounts with their annual subscriptions, while an increasing number now offer multi-year plans. It’s not unusual to save as much as 70 or 80 percent per month when you commit to a two or even three-year subscription.

Does NordVPN offer a lifetime subscription plan?

The answer is no. NordVPN previously offered a lifetime subscription plan, but they have since abandoned this offer. This decision was made due to their commitment to providing a high level of security and privacy for their customers.

Although NordVPN no longer offers a lifetime subscription plan due to its dedication to providing reliable and secure service, it does offer several other offers that you can check out above.