Best VPN UK you can pay monthly

By the Grow & Guard editorial team · Last updated · 8 min read

Long VPN deals look cheap per month but lock you in for one or two years. If you only need a VPN for a trip, a project or a trial run, a monthly plan makes more sense. All three VPNs below sell monthly plans and offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Ad This page contains affiliate links, marked Ad. If you buy through one we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How we make money.

3D illustration of a security shield with a padlock, a key and a password field

Quick answer

  • Best all-rounder: NordVPN. 10 devices, extra security features on higher plans and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Best for privacy and a free option: Proton VPN. A genuinely free plan, plus paid plans covering 10 devices.
  • Best for lots of devices: Surfshark. Unlimited simultaneous connections on one account.

Comparison at a glance

From each provider's pricing page on 1 November 2026. Prices are shown in your local currency on their sites and change often, so we have not quoted them here.
VPNMonthly planDevicesFree planMoney-back
NordVPNYes10 at onceNo30 days
Proton VPNYes10 at once on paid plans; 1 on freeYes (servers in 10 countries)30 days
SurfsharkYesUnlimitedNo30 days

Monthly or long-term: the trade-off

VPN providers price monthly plans much higher per month than one- or two-year plans. The long plans are paid upfront and, as NordVPN's terms say, renew automatically at the then-current renewal price, which can be higher than the introductory price. A monthly plan costs more per month but lets you stop at any time. A sensible approach: start monthly, use the 30-day money-back period to check speed and streaming from where you are, then decide whether a longer plan is worth it.

What a VPN does and does not do

  • Does: encrypt your connection between your device and the VPN server, which protects you on public Wi-Fi, and hide your IP address from the sites you visit.
  • Does not: make you anonymous, protect you from phishing emails or weak passwords, or replace antivirus and updates.
  • Using a VPN is legal in the UK. Breaking a streaming service's terms or the law while using one is still your responsibility.

The VPNs in detail

Top pick

1 NordVPN: best all-rounder

NordVPN sells three plans: Basic (VPN plus scam and phishing protection and ad blocking through its DNS), Complete (adds anti-malware, a cross-platform password manager and 1TB of encrypted cloud storage) and Prime (adds further identity features, some of which are only available in the US). Every plan covers 10 devices at once and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. NordVPN says it has thousands of servers in more than 225 locations, and it offers monthly as well as yearly plans.

Good points

  • 10 devices on every plan
  • Extra security tools on Complete
  • Monthly plans available
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Watch out for

  • Long plans renew at higher prices
  • Some Prime extras are US-only
  • Lots of upsells at checkout
Visit NordVPN Ad Affiliate link

2 Proton VPN: best for privacy and a free option

Proton VPN comes from the Swiss company behind Proton Mail. Its free plan secures one device and connects to servers in 10 countries chosen at random, which makes it a useful no-cost option for occasional public Wi-Fi use. Paid plans cover 10 devices at once and unlock its full network of more than 20,000 servers in over 140 countries. Proton offers a 1-month plan and a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can switch plans with prorated credit.

Good points

  • Genuinely free plan
  • 10 devices on paid plans
  • Large server network
  • Swiss-based company

Watch out for

  • Free plan is limited to one device and random countries
  • Monthly price is much higher than long plans
Visit Proton VPN Ad Affiliate link

3 Surfshark: best for lots of devices

Surfshark's stand-out feature is unlimited simultaneous connections, so one subscription can cover every device in a household or a small team. It offers 1-month, 12-month and 24-month plans, all with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and higher tiers add extra security features.

Good points

  • Unlimited devices
  • Monthly plan available
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Watch out for

  • Long-plan headline prices often include promotional extra months
  • Renewal prices are higher than introductory prices
Visit Surfshark Ad Affiliate link

Which VPN should you choose

  • You want one subscription with extra security tools: NordVPNAd.
  • You only need a VPN occasionally, or care most about privacy: start with Proton VPNAd's free plan.
  • You need to cover lots of devices: SurfsharkAd.

Comparing two or three in more depth? See NordVPN vs Proton VPN vs Surfshark.

How we compared these VPNs

We compared plans, device limits, free options and refund terms from each provider's official pricing pages on 1 November 2026. We have not run our own speed tests for this page; speeds depend heavily on your location and connection, so use the 30-day money-back period to test from where you are. See how we review.

Sources we checked

All checked on 1 November 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm on the provider's site before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

Which VPNs let you pay monthly in the UK?
NordVPN, Proton VPN and Surfshark all offered monthly plans when we checked in November 2026, each with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Is there a good free VPN?
Proton VPN has a free plan that secures one device and connects to servers in 10 countries chosen at random. It is a reasonable option for occasional public Wi-Fi use.
Is it legal to use a VPN in the UK?
Yes. Using a VPN is legal in the UK. What you do while connected is still subject to the law and to the terms of the services you use.