As we spend more and more of our lives online, digital privacy and security are becoming critical concerns. From invasive advertising and government snooping to data breaches and geo-restrictions, there are countless threats to our personal information and freedom on the internet.
One of the best tools to protect yourself is a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a remote server, hiding your true identity and location. This shields your sensitive data from hackers and spies, and also allows you to access content that may be blocked in your region.
While there are some limited free VPNs available, most enforce data caps, throttle speeds, and log customer activity. To get the performance, security and privacy you need, it‘s well worth investing in a paid VPN service from a reputable provider.
Fortunately, Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer some of the best discounts of the year on top-rated VPNs. Many premium services slash prices by 70% or more on longer-term plans. With deals this good, now is the perfect time to protect yourself with a VPN for the long haul.
So which VPNs have the best offers for Black Friday 2024? After researching the sales and testing the services ourselves, here are our top picks:
ZenMate VPN – 85% off 3-year plan + 3 months FREE
ZenMate is a reliable VPN based in Germany with an excellent reputation for privacy and performance. For Black Friday, it‘s offering a whopping 85% discount on its 3-year plan, dropping the monthly cost to just $1.64. You also get 3 months free, so you‘ll pay only about $59 for 39 months total. That‘s less than the typical price for a single year of VPN coverage!
Here‘s what you get with ZenMate VPN:
- Servers: 4800+ in 81+ countries
- Encryption: AES 256-bit
- Protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard
- Logging: Strict no-logs policy
- Torrenting: Allowed on specific servers
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, browsers
- Simultaneous devices: Unlimited
- Customer support: 24/7 live chat
ZenMate boasts an enormous network of fast servers across Europe, North America and Asia, allowing you to unblock geo-restricted streaming content almost anywhere. It secures your data with unbreakable encryption and a kill switch, and its apps are user-friendly. You can protect all your devices and even share your account with family.
NordVPN – 68% off 2-year plan + 3 months FREE
NordVPN is one of the most well-known and trusted names in the VPN industry. This Panama-based provider is currently offering 68% off its 2-year plan plus 3 free months, bringing the monthly rate to $3.09.
NordVPN‘s key features:
- Servers: 5500+ in 59 countries
- Encryption: AES 256-bit
- Protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard (NordLynx)
- Logging: Independently audited no-logs policy
- Torrenting: Dedicated P2P servers
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Chrome, Firefox
- Simultaneous devices: 6
- Customer support: 24/7 live chat
NordVPN has an impressive fleet of servers, all running on RAM to ensure no data can be stored. Its NordLynx protocol provides blazing speeds for streaming, gaming and downloading. The service aced independent audits of its no-logging policy and security practices. Extras include double VPN, Onion over VPN and malware protection.
Surfshark – 84% off 2-year plan + 2 months FREE
Founded in 2018, Surfshark is a newer name that‘s quickly gained a stellar reputation, especially for unblocking streaming sites. Its 2-year Black Friday deal shaves 84% off the standard monthly price, plus throws in 2 months free. You‘ll pay $2.21/month for 26 months.
At a glance:
- Servers: 3200+ in 65 countries
- Encryption: AES 256-bit
- Protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard
- Logging: Strict no-logs policy
- Torrenting: Allowed on all servers
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, FireTV, Apple TV, browsers and more
- Simultaneous devices: Unlimited
- Customer support: 24/7 live chat and email
Surfshark lets you connect as many devices as you want, making it ideal for large households. It excels at defeating VPN blocks on Netflix and 30+ other services. The WireGuard protocol ensures swift, stable performance. Special features include double VPN, split-tunneling and a warrant canary.
ExpressVPN – 49% off 12-month plan + 3 months FREE
British Virgin Islands-based ExpressVPN consistently ranks among the top VPNs on the market for its security, speed and unblocking abilities. Its 12-month Black Friday deal knocks 49% off the monthly rate and includes 3 bonus months.
ExpressVPN offers:
- Servers: 3000+ in 94 countries
- Encryption: AES 256-bit
- Protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, Lightway
- Logging: No browsing logs, independently audited
- Torrenting: Allowed on all servers
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, browsers, game consoles, smart TVs
- Simultaneous devices: 5
- Customer support: 24/7 live chat
ExpressVPN is known for its blazing speeds, thanks to its next-generation Lightway protocol. The vast server network spans 94 countries, giving you tons of options for bypassing geoblocks. Its TrustedServer technology runs servers entirely on RAM, and its zero-knowledge DNS ensures your online activity remains private. ExpressVPN also boasts the best 24/7 customer support in the business.
CyberGhost – 84% off 2-year plan + 4 months FREE
CyberGhost is a massive VPN service with an equally huge Black Friday discount. You can score 84% off its 2-year plan and get 4 extra months for free, averaging $2.19 per month for 28 months total.
CyberGhost quick facts:
- Servers: 7700+ in 91 countries
- Encryption: AES 256-bit
- Protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard
- Logging: No logs policy
- Torrenting: Optimized P2P servers
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire TV & Fire Stick, Android TV, Apple TV
- Simultaneous devices: 7
- Customer support: 24/7 live chat and email
CyberGhost is based in privacy-friendly Romania and has a massive network of servers spanning the globe. Specialty servers are optimized for streaming, torrenting and security. The service passed an independent audit of its no-logs policy in 2022. Desktop and mobile apps are easy to use, and 24/7 support is available if you need help.
How to Choose the Best Black Friday VPN Deal
All the VPNs we‘ve highlighted have excellent Black Friday offers, but how do you decide which is right for you? Here are some key factors to consider:
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Length of plan: Most Black Friday deals require committing to 1-3 years to get the lowest price, paid upfront. Consider how long you‘re willing to subscribe to lock in savings. A shorter plan gives you more flexibility, while a longer term means not having to worry about renewing for a while.
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Refund period: Even with the steep discounts, you‘re still paying a chunk of money upfront. Look for VPNs with generous refund periods so you can test out the service risk-free. Most providers offer 30-45 days; a few (like CyberGhost) give you up to 45 days.
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Simultaneous connections: Will you be sharing your VPN with family or using it on all your gadgets? Make sure the provider allows enough connections for your needs. Surfshark is the only one on our list that permits unlimited devices.
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Server locations: If you want to unblock websites in a specific country, make sure the VPN has servers there. The more countries, the more content you can access. All the VPNs we‘ve recommended have large global networks.
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Compatibility: Ensure the VPN offers apps for all the devices and operating systems you use. Each provider lists supported platforms on their website.
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Speed: For buffer-free streaming and quick downloads, you‘ll want a VPN with fast connection speeds. WireGuard is a new protocol that‘s much faster than OpenVPN. NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost and ZenMate all support WireGuard. ExpressVPN uses its own proprietary Lightway protocol for top speeds.
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Security: To protect yourself from digital threats, choose a VPN that uses AES-256 encryption, secure protocols, and a kill switch. Bonus features like RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and multi-hop (double VPN) are also great to have.
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Privacy: Ensure the VPN has a no-logs policy, ideally one that‘s been verified by an independent audit. Avoid free VPNs that use weak encryption, log data and show ads.
Conclusion
With rising online censorship and surveillance, VPNs are essential tools for protecting your digital privacy and freedom. They encrypt your internet traffic and hide your IP address, shielding your browsing from snoops and letting you access a free and open internet.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring some of the best deals on top-rated VPN services. With discounts as high as 85% on long-term plans, you can secure your online life for years to come at an affordable price.
Our top picks for Black Friday 2024 include ZenMate, NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. All feature powerful security, strict no-logs policies, large server networks, and excellent unblocking abilities. But the specific VPN you choose depends on your unique needs and preferences.
Remember that the steepest VPN discounts tend to be available for only a limited time. Most Black Friday deals end a few days after Cyber Monday. So if you see an offer you like, don‘t wait too long to snag it. Protect yourself with a premium VPN at an unbeatable price while you can!
