After testing several free VPNs, I found NordVPN to be the best overall lifetime VPN.
NordVPN features plans for up to two years, offering fast speeds and excellent security throughout the service’s duration. The VPN is also suitable for unblocking streaming services in geo-restricted areas. A kill switch feature, leak protection, and strong encryption protect all NordVPN connections.
Other lifetime VPN alternatives include Surfshark, CyberGhost, IPVanish, and PrivateVPN.
Top 3 VPNs You Can Basically Get for a Lifetime
Surfshark is an affordable lifetime VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections. It’s excellent for unblocking streaming services and provides solid security, thanks to its military-grade encryption and kill switch.
NordVPN offers excellent security and fast speeds across 5400+ reliable servers for unblocking services from anywhere. Its most extended plan lasts up to 2 years and allows uninterrupted streaming, split tunneling, and a strict no-logs policy.
CyberGhost is another privacy-oriented provider with 9,000+ servers across 90+ countries. Its 2-year plan offers excellent connection speeds, unlimited bandwidth, robust security features, and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Lifetime VPNs, in this context, don’t necessarily mean a one-time purchase for lifetime service. Instead, these VPNs provide more than two years of services without compromising privacy or security features.
I have discussed these lifetime Virtual Private Networks below and why they earned a spot on the list.
Searching for the Best Lifetime VPNs? Grab These!!!
Lifetime VPNs have drawbacks, but they’re worth the try if they offer top-notch security services. That said, here are the five best lifetime VPNs that you can try.
- NordVPN: Best Overall Lifetime VPN
- Surfshark: Budget-Friendly Lifetime VPN With a 2-Year Plan
- CyberGhost: Reliable Lifetime VPN With 26 Months’ Subscription
- IPVanish: Best Lifetime VPN With Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
- PrivateVPN: User-friendly Lifetime VPN for Unblocking Multiple Streaming Services
The above list is just the icing on the cake. Get the full bite below.
Best Lifetime VPNs: Tests and Comparisons
I tested 18+ VPN providers using criteria like subscription prices and duration, server coverage, compatible devices, reliable privacy, speed, and security features, but only five passed my tests.
Here’s how they differ and why they’re the best “lifetime” VPNs.
NordVPN - Best Overall Lifetime VPN
NordVPN is the best overall lifetime VPN and one of the most reputable providers in the industry for distinct reasons.
For starters, NordVPN’s most extended subscription lasts up to 2 years. Even though that’s not a lifetime, this duration is long enough to enjoy the provider’s first-class protection.
I tested the 2-year plan and got all the security features without limits or extra charges.
That said, what makes NordVPN the best overall lifetime VPN on my list is its many security options. NordVPN protects its user’s data with AES-265 encryption and a solid no-logs policy, ensuring your data is in safe hands during your subscription.
On top of its super security standards, NordVPN boasts fast speeds across 5400+ servers in 60 countries. I connected to these servers, and the speed drop was negligible enough to ensure fast downloads and streams.
And if you’re wondering, the NordVPN “lifetime” subscription is supported on multiple devices, including Android, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Windows. Moreover, you’ll get to use the subscription on up to six devices simultaneously.
If you’re up for the 2-year plan, try this one-time NordVPN discount and get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- 5400+ servers in 60 countries to unblock content from anywhere
- Up to 2 years subscription with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- No logs policy to protect against data leaks
- Up to six simultaneous connections
- User-friendly VPN provider that works on mobile, PCs, smart TVs and other devices
Cons
- More expensive than Surfshark and CyberGhost
- Not as many connections as the other VPNs
Surfshark - Budget-Friendly Lifetime VPN With a 2-Year Plan
Surfshark is the most budget-friendly “lifetime” VPN, featuring a 2-year plan and unique features tailored to your needs.
Surfshark even offers unlimited simultaneous connections, ensuring you don’t have to pay for an extra plan to secure all your devices during the lifetime usage. Only IPVanish comes close here, with the next (PrivateVPN) offering just ten connections.
Being a pocket-friendly lifetime VPN, Surfshark’s combination of WireGuard and P2P servers always delivers secure and fast torrenting, every time and anywhere. And if you’re having trouble streaming due to geo-restrictions, I’ve comfortably used Surfshark to unblock Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
There’s also a kill switch feature, which keeps my true IP/DNS secure whenever my network connection drops or the VPN disconnects for other reasons.
Thus, ensuring another level of data privacy against snoopers and packet sniffers.
Besides, Surfshark offers 3200+ servers in 100 countries, representing more regions than NordVPN covers. That’s why I had no issues accessing content from anywhere (even Voot via India servers and NRK TV over Norway servers).
To try the 24-month plan, check out these discount offers and enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- 3200+ servers in 100 countries for unblocking streaming services
- P2P-optimized servers for torrenting
- More affordable than NordVPN
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Up to two years subscription with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Not as many servers as NordVPN
- Slower than NordVPN
CyberGhost - Reliable Lifetime VPN With 26 Months’ Subscription
CyberGhost is another reliable lifetime VPN offering 9000+ servers in 90+ countries. These servers are fast and optimized for streaming, gaming, and torrenting.
Besides, CyberGhost’s most-extended plan goes up to 26 months at a stretch, more than NordVPN and Surfshark offer.
My CyberGhost tests also revealed that the VPN provider reflects its name in the privacy features you’ll receive, particularly hiding your IP address to make you an online “ghostie” on any of its servers.
My network connection dropped a few times during my CyberGhost tests, but the VPN’s kill switch switfly turned off my internet connection.
Thus, my internet traffic data remained private while the VPN re-established a server connection.
CyberGhost also offers unlimited bandwidth on all servers, like the other VPNs on this list. So, you don’t have to worry about using up your bandwidth volume over your lifetime plan duration.
This was useful since my ISP is notorious for cutting my internet speed allocations, especially when streaming, downloading files, or gaming.
But over CyberGhost’s servers, I didn’t have such concerns anymore.
Like Surfshark, CyberGhost is also a cheap “lifetime” VPN alternative.
But you can save more with these fantastic deals and enjoy a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- 9,000+ servers in 90+ countries to unblock content from anywhere
- Unlimited bandwidth against ISP throttling
- Affordable lifetime VPN with 45-day money-back guarantee
- Up to 2 years + 3 months subscription, better than Surfshark and NordVPN
- 45-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Slower speeds than NordVPN and Surfshark
IPVanish - Best Lifetime VPN With Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
IPVanish also offers unlimited simultaneous connections, just like Surfshark, and native apps for mobile and PC devices. Thus, you can enjoy your “lifetime” usage across preferred devices.
I tested this VPN by downloading its apps and connecting different devices in my household simultaneously. As advertised, it held the demand perfectly. Likewise, my sisters unblocked Netflix and BBC iPlayer, and I browsed the web privately without ISP throttling at the same time!
Besides, IPVanish also supports torrenting, which is excellent news for torrenting fans. I unblocked access to The Pirate Bay over its Sweden servers, even though the website is restricted on my ISP, and downloaded a few files without getting nasty copyright notices.
Moreover, like its name, IPVanish, your IP address disappears once connected to any of the 2,200+ servers in 75+ locations.
Although the VPN wasn’t as fast as NordVPN or Surfshark, its WireGuard protocol was genuinely built for speed.
Like the others, IPVanish also uses a kill switch to disable your internet whenever the VPN connection drops. That’s why I’m always confident of switching from mobile data to Wi-Fi (or vice versa) while connected to IPVanish without fearing a data leak to hackers, the government, or my ISP.
Lastly, IPVanish’s 2-year plan isn’t as cheap as Surfshark or CyberGhost. However, it’s less expensive than NordVPN.
You can use our fantastic IPVanish deals with a 30-day money-back guarantee to save even more on your 2-year purchase.
Pros
- 2200+ servers in 75+ locations to unblock content from anywhere
- Unlimited bandwidth for protection against ISP throttling
- Cheaper lifetime VPN than NordVPN
- 2-year plan stretch with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited simultaneous connections across PCs and mobile devices without bandwidth throttling
Cons
- Costlier than Surfshark and CyberGhost
- Not as fast as NordVPN and Surfshark
PrivateVPN - User-Friendly Lifetime VPN for Unblocking Multiple Streaming Services
PrivateVPN is a user-friendly lifetime VPN for unblocking multiple streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
The PrivateVPN app features a simple and advanced view, making it easier for newbies and advanced users to find their way around quickly.
Besides, PrivateVPN supports up to 10 simultaneous connections.
Apart from its easy-to-use app, PrivateVPN uses the standard AES 256-bit encryption to keep your activity and information private.
I tested this by connecting to a few random servers and activating my Wireshark client to see if it read my web data. Instead, I got gibberish output confirming that the encryption works!
PrivateVPN is also an affordable VPN, but it falls short of the others, with only 200+ servers in 63 countries.
While this is the least server count here, I’ve never encountered any connection issues using this VPN. Plus, it offers free (dynamic) dedicated IP addresses, which you must pay for on NordVPN and CyberGhost.
Additionally, PrivateVPN offers unlimited bandwidth over fast connection speeds. I could unblock 4K content on Netflix without buffering on its standard servers. Moreover, PrivateVPN features port forwarding for torrent clients and gaming enthusiasts to enjoy faster speeds and remote device connections.
Finally, the VPN offers a 36-month plan, which is the most-extended period on the list after CyberGhost’s two years and three months.
You can try out these exclusive deals with a 30-day money-back guarantee to test the three years plan.
Pros
- 200+ servers in 63+ countries for unblocking content from anywhere
- A stealth feature to bypass DPI firewalls
- 36-month plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Up to 10 simultaneous connections
- Port forwarding to improve remote gaming connections and torrenting speeds
- Free dedicated and dynamic IP addresses
Cons
- Least number of servers
- Slower than Surfshark and CyberGhost
Can You Get a Lifetime VPN for Free?
Getting a lifetime VPN for free is possible, but they’ll have limited server options, low data allowances, and slow speeds, which makes them unreliable for many tasks.
Likewise, some “free lifetime VPNs” can be scams that will collect your internet traffic data, log your online activities, and may even introduce malware to your device.
Reasons to Avoid Lifetime VPNs
Even though lifetime VPNs advertising a one-time price forever may sound like a great idea, they have some setbacks. Here are several reasons to avoid lifetime VPNs:
- Trustworthiness: Lifetime Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) often come from relatively untested or unknown companies. Thus, it can be challenging to determine their security and reputation. This is a concern, especially since users should trust VPNs to protect their privacy and sensitive information online.
- Service Quality: Some lifetime VPNs offer low-quality services, including slow speeds, unreliable connections, and limited servers. As a result, they’re poor for most online activities such as torrenting, gaming, etc.
- Outdated Services: Lifetime Virtual Private Networks won’t keep up with VPN industry developments since they don’t have the financial incentive to do so, leaving you with outdated and vulnerable services.
- Hidden Costs: Lifetime VPNs may come with hidden costs or demand additional fees for advanced features. Thus, the Virtual Private Network may cost more in the long run than you would have paid for a reliable service provider like NordVPN.
- Limited Customer Support: Some lifetime VPNs may not offer 24/7 customer support. This can make finding solutions to issues encountered while using the service challenging.
- Lack of Accountability: Some lifetime VPNs are startups or less established companies. So, accountability may be lacking if something goes wrong or the company shuts down. This can also make it difficult to seek compensation for any harm from using the VPN.
How to Set up a Lifetime VPN?
Once you’ve picked your preferred lifetime VPN, here’s how to set it on your device.
- Subscribe to a reliable lifetime VPN. I’ll use the best overall VPN on the list, NordVPN, for this demonstration.
- Download the NordVPN app for your device. I will use the Windows PC app for this step.
- Launch NordVPN and log into your account.
- Enable the NordVPN kill switch to prevent data leaks when your connection becomes unstable.
- Choose the correct protocol. I recommend NordLynx for NordVPN. Alternatively, choose WireGuard (or its alternatives) on your preferred VPN.
- Connect to the recommended server or choose one from the list.
FAQs
Is It Safe to Use a Lifetime VPN?
A lifetime VPN can only be safe if you choose a reputable provider that offers high-quality privacy and security services. Furthermore, the safety of using a lifetime VPN depends on the reputation and trustworthiness of the VPN provider, the security and privacy policies the lifetime VPN service provider has in place and the quality of the premium VPN service itself.
How Long Does a Lifetime VPN Last?
Some VPN providers offer a lifetime subscription, but in most cases, reputable VPN providers offer a “lifetime” one that only lasts a few years.
This means that the actual duration of the subscription varies from one provider to the other. So, check the length of the lifetime subscription of your preferred provider to understand what you’re signing up for.
Try the Best Lifetime VPN for Longer Protection
After several tests, I confirmed that NordVPN is the best lifetime VPN, with up to 2 years to enjoy its services at a stretch. The VPN offers incredible speeds, top-shelf online protection, a DoubleVPN feature, and supports up to six simultaneous connections.
Grab these fantastic NordVPN deals to save more and enjoy exclusive security features for up two years.
