The 7 best holiday VPN deals - starting at just $1.13 a month

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Let's face it, you're probably still struggling to find the perfect Christmas present for that friend or family member. It could also be that some shiny new devices are already under the tree ready to be open. In either case, one of the best VPN services might be just the right last-minute gift.

A VPN is a tool that spoofs your real IP address while encrypting all the data leaving your smartphone, tablet or computer. Besides preserving your online anonymity when surfing the web, it can also lend itself to many different uses.

Looking to bypass blocks on websites enforced by your government, school or work place? A VPN can do that for you as it will trick your ISP to think that you're browsing from a totally different place. Likewise, it can easily unblock worldwide content on streaming platforms when traveling abroad. It can even deliver better performance for online gamers and torrent freaks.

Luckily for you, there are some amazing VPN deals around for this festive season. You'll then still have time to either net yourself or give away some secure and improved internet experiences without spending the big bucks. The best on our list start off from a tiny $1.13 a month - incredible value.

Do yourself, or someone else, a favour and start the New Year with a more secure digital life. Below we detail in full the seven best VPN deals around that you cannot miss.

Top 7 best holiday VPN deals:

1. PureVPN: 5-year plan | $1.13 a month with code TECH15 | Save up to 89%
Above all the VPN deals we've seen this year, PureVPN's discount on its 5-year plan is definitely the one shining the most.

The already discounted pricing is even lower for TechRadar readers. Add the code TECH15 at checkout to drop the price from $1.33 to a <a href="https://www.purevpn.com/vpn-special-deal?aff=27226&a_bid=6e0928ec&siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-MT8Wwkk7RyffSOE4ENF7_Q&data1=hawk-custom-tracking" target="_blank">staggering $1.13 a month, meaning less than $70 all-in. And, If you don't want to commit for long, no worries as there are some discounts even on shorter plans.

2. Surfshark: 2-year plan + 2 months FREE | $2.05 a month | Save 84%
Already the best cheap VPN on the market all year round, Surfshark is even more affordable for this festive season. This means that you can fill the Christmas stocking with great quality for a very small price.

Sign-up for its 2-year plan to get 2 months of free protection on top. With a massive 84% off, you'll pay the equivalent of <a href="http://get.surfshark.net/aff_c?offer_id=61&aff_id=1691&aff_click_id=hawk-custom-tracking&aff_sub2=hawk-article-url" target="_blank">$2.05 per month for 26 months of privacy. You can even secure all your family with just one subscription thanks to its unlimited connections allowance.

3. PIA: 2-year plan + 4 months FREE | $2.03 a month | Save 82%
A provider that we've seen improving all year, Private Internet Access prides itself to be a VPN well-suited for both everyday users and IT experts thanks to its customizable features to be used across its impressive 10k+ server list.

While it always sits on the cheap side, the provider went on the extra mile for this holiday VPN deal. Subscribe to its 2-year subscription to have 4 months of FREE protection for what works out to be <a href="http://privateinternetaccess.com/offer/future_60e7q6mk5?aff_click_id=hawk-custom-tracking&aff_sub2=hawk-article-url" target="_blank">just $2.03 a month.

4. CyberGhost: 2- year plan + 4 months FREE | $2.03 a month | Save 84%
Hanging on our cybersecurity tree there's also CyberGhost. Excellent privacy, huge network coverage, impressive speeds and decent unblocking: it has it all.

This Christmas it also gets a really affordable gift when you buy the two-year plan. Not just a great discount, though, but also a tasty extra 4 months free are included. This means that the effective cost comes down to a rather spectacular <a href="https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/offer/futpl_ottvxmlvg?aff_click_id=hawk-custom-tracking&aff_sub2=hawk-article-url" target="_blank">$2.03 per month.

5. NordVPN | 2 years | $2.99/month | Save 63%
NordVPN isn't really matching the impressive Christmas discounts mentioned above. But 63% off is still a great bargain if it comes from the biggest name among all VPN services.

Subscribe to the 2-year plan and you'll see the pricing drop at <a href="http://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=564&url_id=22771&aff_id=3013&aff_click_id=hawk-custom-tracking&aff_sub2=hawk-article-url" target="_blank">just $2.99 a month. Not bad at all considering the provider offers top-notch security with loads of extra features and a strong unblocking track record.

6. Hide.me | 1 year + 3 months FREE | $3 a month
Despite being a lesser-known provider compared to its competitors, Hide.me is a privacy-focused and fast VPN that comes stuffed with expert-level tweaks.

What's more, the provider is offering something special to new users for its holiday VPN deal. Its one-year plan can be yours for just a <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=92X363&xcust=hawk-custom-tracking&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fhide.me&sref" target="_blank">$3 monthly fee. Even better, the price won't go up at renewal either. Merry Christmas to you!

7. ExpressVPN: 1 year + 3 months FREE | $6.67 a month | Save 49% | FREE cloud backup
ExpressVPN deal can't quite compete with the prices above, but the provider is TechRadar's #1 trusted VPN for privacy and unblocking. So, if you don't care much about spending a bit more, you should definitely consider it.

Sign up for its 1-year plan to get 3 months of free protection on top. What's more, TechRadar readers will also get <a href="https://go.expressvpn.com/c/4550836/1330033/16063?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fexpressvpn.com%2Foffer%2Fcoupon%3Foffer%3D3monthsfree%26a_fid%3D744" target="_blank">1-year of Backblaze cloud storage at no extra cost. You can always try it out risk free with its 30-day money back guarantee.

How to choose the best VPN deal

Depending on your Christmas budget and how long you're ready to commit, you should really think of what you or the receiver of your gift actually want to use the VPN for. As a rule of thumb, the following key areas are factors to consider for any kind of usage.

For starters, a VPN is primarily security software. This means that its main goal is to protect users' privacy and anonymity online. So, strong encryption together with different protocols to choose from, a good range of security options and a clear no-logs privacy policy should be the backbone of your service.

Good network coverage is then a must for enjoying reliable and fast connections. The closer the server is to you the faster it will be - no matter the provider you choose. A huge array of servers also minimizes the chance of these being overcrowded. Checking if your chosen VPN has servers located in your country is also essential to safely browse locally. But don't worry, all the providers listed above should easily thick this box.

At this point you should choose the service that better suits your needs. Keen gamer? Blazing fast speeds are a must. Looking for a reliable streaming VPN? Pick a provider with a great unlocking track record. And, as many platforms like Netflix are trying hard to prevent this, you should look out for additional features like obfuscation technology or SmartDNS to boost your chances.

Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life – wherever cybersecurity, markets, and politics tangle up. She believes an open, uncensored, and private internet is a basic human need and wants to use her knowledge of VPNs to help readers take back control. She writes news, interviews, and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, tech policies, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for TechRadar and TechRadar Pro. Got a story, tip-off, or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to chiara.castro@futurenet.com