A lifetime VPN seems like a good idea on paper. Pay once, get the benefits of a VPN forever, right? Unfortunately, many lifetime VPN providers tend to go out of business fast. After all, running such a service requires a constant revenue stream, whether it's for maintenance, upgrades, and other expenses. Fortunately, we've found the best VPNs with a lifetime subscription that have so far stuck to their promises.
The benefits of a lifetime VPN are clear. Unblock streaming content, encrypt your data against hackers and ISP data logging, or bypass Internet censorship and firewalls wherever you are. Pretty flexible for a one time payment VPN.
What puts people off from such offers are the drawbacks, which are impossible to ignore. Besides a lack of variety, lifetime VPNs have no true guarantee of lifetime service. Moreover, such providers tend to offer average performance when compared to, say, the options listed in our best VPN guide.
Finally, you can only get a refund within the first 15-30 days. While that's true of most VPNs, their money-back plans are geared around monthly or yearly subscriptions. Thankfully, lifetime VPN subscriptions are pretty cheap in general, so you'll most likely get good use out of your payment.
As long as you understand the risks, you should have no problem using the best lifetime VPNs listed below. If you're not sold on the idea afterwards, we've also prepared two solid VPN alternatives to use for a lifetime.
Best Lifetime VPN Subscriptions
We ranked the best lifetime VPNs according to price, server count, speed, privacy protections, and similar characteristics. On top of that, we tested how well the VPNs work for streaming. We also made sure to go through their terms of use to look at money-back plans and logging policies. Naturally, VPNs should have easy-to-use apps on as many platforms as possible.
Based on the criteria above, we've found the 2 best lifetime VPN services available today.
1. FastestVPN - Cheap and Straightforward Lifetime VPN
FastestVPN is a truly cheap lifetime VPN at only $20 per subscription by following the link above. For that price, you get 250+ servers in 35+ countries, as well as polished apps for all platforms (desktops, smartphones, smart TVs, routers, and even browser extensions).
The provider is based in the Cayman Islands, which has no mandatory data retention laws. What's more, FastestVPN has a truly strict no-logs policy, which also extends to their website as well. No IP or device-related data will ever be stored on their servers. You get a wide choice of protocols to choose from, such as OpenVPN, IKEv2, OpenConnect, L2TP, and more.
No WireGuard support, sadly. It's not exactly the fastest VPN by any means, either. That said, it proves sufficient for high-quality streaming and even unblocks some of the more popular services (such as US Netflix). Subscribers get to connect up to ten different devices per account. So if you're looking for a lifetime VPN strictly for streaming, FastestVPN is a solid choice.
Despite being a relatively small provider, they're nice enough to offer 24/7 live chat support. Sadly, they only have a 15-day money-back guarantee, whereas most VPNs typically let you test out their features for at least 30 days.
PROS
- Cheapest one time payment VPN
- Privacy-focused jurisdiction (Cayman Islands)
- Strict no-logs policy
- Works well for streaming
- Live chat support
CONS
- Only a 15-day money-back guarantee
- Few countries available
2. VPN Unlimited - Best Lifetime VPN for Streaming
VPN Unlimited is a pricier lifetime subscription VPN than FastestVPN, although the upgrade is well worth the extra cost. For a one-time fee of $159.99, you gain access to their 3,000+ servers in 80+ locations around the world.
You can use their intuitive apps on all major platforms, including Mac, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. By default, there's a five-device limit per account. Alternatively, you can opt for the $239.99 lifetime VPN option if you want to link five extra gadgets to your subscription.
Their privacy policy mentions that they follow a "strict no-logging policy", but that's not exactly the case. They collect a good chunk of device info, as well as your IP and geographic location (the latter of which is deleted after your session ends). As such, we don't recommend it for privacy purposes or torrenting, although it's pretty good for streaming.
For one, it supports the lightweight and secure WireGuard protocol. It has fast speeds and works with services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and HBO Max, which is a decent selection for a one time payment VPN. Plus, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee and live chat support for any issues you may encounter.
PROS
- Good speeds overall
- Decently sized server network
- Unblocks popular streaming sites
- 30-day money-back plan.
- Live chat available.
CONS
- Logs too much data
- Five Eyes jurisdiction (US)
What Is a Lifetime VPN Subscription?
As the name implies, a lifetime VPN subscription means you pay a one-time fee to use the VPN indefinitely. This usually involves a larger sum to avoid dealing with subscription renewals. Although, some providers offer pretty cheap deals on their lifetime VPN offers.
Are Lifetime VPNs Worth It?
Generally, no. While you may pay less money in the long run, the service quality will be average at best. Even the best VPN with a lifetime subscription (such as VPN Unlimited) has a limited number of servers when compared to more traditional VPNs.
If you're looking for a more reliable way to unblock streaming content, we suggest ExpressVPN for the best results. Not only does it work with most streaming sites, but you get 3,000+ high-speed servers in 94 countries to work with.
How Much Does a Lifetime VPN Subscription Cost?
It depends on the provider. For instance, FastestVPN is the cheapest one time payment VPN, available at only $20. Meanwhile, VPN Unlimited offers a pricier option ($159.99 as of December 2022), but with a larger server selection and better unblocking capabilities.
Follow the links in our mini-review section to get the best deals possible.
Can I Get a Lifetime VPN Subscription for Free?
Sadly, no. Any lifetime subscription VPN gives up a steady revenue stream by offering a one time payment plan. Making it free would only shorten the time it takes for the service to shut down.
You can still get a free VPN you can use indefinitely, albeit with severe limitations. Few servers, slow performance for non-subscribers, and limited unblocking capabilities. Some free VPNs even log and sell your data to advertisers to make ends meet or inject ads into your browser. Keep that in mind if you choose to go with a free provider.
The Drawbacks of Lifetime VPN Services
Lifetime VPN services can be unreliable for a few different reasons. For one, there aren't many options to choose from. Then you have below-average performance and no guarantee of lifetime service or even extended refunds in case the business shuts down.
1. Not Many Options Available
Very few VPN providers offer a legitimate lifetime subscription nowadays. It can also be hard to distinguish which one's a scam and which one isn't.
The best VPN choice for a lifetime is a long-standing provider like ExpressVPN. They have a proven track record for quality and have been in the industry for a solid 13 years so far.
2. Average Performance and Features
Even the best VPN with a lifetime subscription available can't compete with more established providers with traditional payment plans. This is especially true if you're looking for a VPN to stream geo-blocked content on Netflix and other platforms.
Just compare the features of any lifetime VPN service to the best VPNs for streaming, and you'll see what we mean.
3. No Guarantee of Lifetime Service
Be sure to check the terms of service of any lifetime VPN service before signing up. There you'll find the provider's own definition of "lifetime". Is it the service's lifetime? A person's? A cat's?
Even if their policies state you'll get the best VPN service for a lifetime, there's no telling whether the business will stay afloat that long.
4. No Extended Refund Policy
To be clear, you still get the usual 15 to 30-day money-back guarantees on lifetime VPN subscriptions. But once those 15-30 days are up, that's it. If the service goes under in the meantime, your lifetime subscription is basically over.
Then again, you get a better deal than paying a monthly fee. Just understand the risks before hopping onto any such plan.
Best Alternatives to a Lifetime VPN Service
As mentioned above, you're better off going with a high-quality VPN with years of experience in the industry. That way, you have a more solid guarantee that the service will be around for the foreseeable future. We've ranked two top-notch VPNs for lifetime use according to the same criteria as before. Server count and coverage, speed, logging policies, money-back guarantees, ease of use, and any bonus features they may offer.
Based on these qualities, we believe these are the 2 best alternatives to a lifetime VPN service.
- ExpressVPN - Our #1 Rated VPN for a Lifetime
- NordVPN - Lifetime VPN Alternative with Enhanced Security
1. ExpressVPN - Our #1 Rated VPN for a Lifetime
ExpressVPNÂ is the best VPN you can use for a lifetime, and they have a great track record to prove it. Their subscription nets you access to an ultra-fast, 3,000+ server network in a whopping 94 countries. ExpressVPN works on pretty much any major operating system, and you can connect up to five devices simultaneously.
Their service has successfully passed an independent security audit and comes with the super fast and safe Lightway protocol as well. The provider keeps no identifiable user logs and even has RAM-based servers to discard any data present on their systems when reset. Basically, you won't have to worry about privacy when torrenting or performing sensitive transactions online.
ExpressVPN can unblock pretty much any streaming site out there, including popular options like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. All their servers come with built-in obfuscation. In other words, your VPN activity is hidden in areas with VPN blocks, as well as any online services that try to filter VPNs (e.g., Netflix).
On top of everything, you get the free Threat Manager feature, which blocks intrusive ad trackers at the DNS level. The provider also offers free live chat support 24/7 and comes with a no-questions-asked 30-day money-back plan for any subscription.
PROS
- User-friendly apps
- Ultra fast servers
- 94 countries available
- Works with most streaming services
- 24/7 live chat
CONS
- Five simultaneous connections
2. NordVPN - Lifetime VPN Alternative with Enhanced Security
NordVPN is an amazing (and affordable) lifetime VPN alternative for privacy-conscious users. Besides the usual options, NordVPN offers NordLynx, its own take on the WireGuard protocol. Expect fast speeds on over 5,500+ servers located in nearly 60 countries worldwide.
Naturally, the VPN has passed multiple security audits and has RAM-disk servers to protect your privacy against any potential threats. We like their various specialty servers - double VPN, onion-over-VPN, torrenting-optimized servers, obfuscated (stealth) servers, and so on.
Whether you need some extra anonymity, a better torrenting experience, or to bypass VPN blocks, NordVPN is a solid choice. Best of all, you get an all-in-one Threat Protection system. Block ads, intrusive trackers, malicious websites that may steal your data, and more. It even scans downloaded files for malware on Mac and Windows.
Their apps are easy to use and work on most major systems without a hitch. Use the VPN on up to six devices simultaneously, and stream all your favorite content on platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and others. Finally, you get expert live chat support 24/7, and all subscriptions are backed by a 30-day money-back plan.
PROS
- Easy to use apps
- Fast and great for streaming
- Multiple independent audits
- Advanced security features
- 24/7 live chat support
CONS
- Only 59 countries available
Final Thoughts
While they (understandably) get a bad rep, not every lifetime VPN is a scam. That said, you still need to read the fine print. As long as you understand the risks of using a one time payment VPN and do your research, you're good to go.
If you're looking for the best VPN with a lifetime subscription on a budget, we recommend trying FastestVPN. Follow the link to get the cheapest deal on a VPN that works well for streaming, keeps no user logs, and lets you connect up to ten devices per account.
Otherwise, check out our best VPN guide for 15 quality providers, each with its unique take on the VPN formula.
Have you ever used a lifetime VPN provider? What were your experiences with their app? Let us know down in the comments.