“What’s a VPN?” we hear you ask. Well, firstly it stands for a “virtual private network”, and it’s a piece of software that gives you more privacy and anonymity online by protecting your browsing activity.

When you connect to the internet on your computer it creates an encrypted, virtual tunnel between your device and the VPN server, meaning your data is more protected.

Initially, this type of software was developed for large corporations who needed to protect their sensitive information from being sent over public and private networks. But the personal VPN market has grown exponentially, and many people now use them not only for keeping their data secure but also for accessing streaming services in different countries.

This is particularly useful if you’re a frequent traveller, or want to access a wider range of content – for example, American Netflix in the UK. Do keep in mind that, while perfectly legal, using a VPN to disguise your location is normally not permitted in the content provider’s terms of service.

Don’t be put off if you see the dollar or the euro sign when it comes to paying for a VPN in the UK – the software can be purchased from anywhere in the world.

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Whether you’ll be using your VPN because you need more TV and film options or simply want to protect your data, it pays to keep an eye out for the best deals. Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you and scoured the internet for the cheapest prices.

As with so many things, the longer a VPN contract you commit to the lower the monthly cost of your subscription. Keep an eye on your billing period to ensure that your VPN provider doesn’t automatically roll you over to a more expensive plan when your offer runs out after two or three years.

According to our guide to the best VPN software, NordVPN is the best for using on an iPhone. It’s one of the best-known apps and it allows you “access to its network of over 5,000 servers across 62 countries,” noted our writer. When used as an app, it’s very simple, “with a clear map for access to its servers and a ‘quick connect’ button to take you to the nearest and probably fastest server with a single tap”.

You can now save 59 per cent on a two-year plan, meaning it’ll cost £69.36 for the period, slashing the average monthly price from £8.79 to £2.49 per month.

Read the full NordVPN review

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If you’re starting to feel like there is absolutely nothing left to watch, subscribe to ExpressVPN and you can bypass the geographical restrictions on leading streaming services. In our guide to the best VPN software, our reviewer said this software is best for your Mac or PC as well as Amazon Fire devices.

In terms of the latter, our writer said that it’s “important to choose a VPN that already has native app support”, and if you are an “Amazon Prime subscriber, you will also be able to stream content from a specific country on your Amazon device by going into the settings and changing the country and region”. With this saving on ExpressVPN’s 12-month plan you’ll pay £65.16 up-front, which works out to £5.43 per month.

Read the full ExpressVPN review

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Considered the top VPN option for Android users, it also excels in the fact it can be used on an unlimited number of devices. “This is great for families with multiple computers, tablets, and phones no matter what operating system they are using,” noted our writer in the guide to the best VPNs.

It’s also easy to navigate and features a range of privacy tools and connection options. A new two year subscription costs £45.36 upfront, which works out at £1.89 per month, a 69 per cent saving over the monthly subscription plan.

Read the full Surfshark review

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If you find that your video streaming service is constantly buffering, Hotspot Shield might be the answer, as it’s “one of the fastest VPNs that is currently available on the market”, said our writer in their review of the best VPNs. It’s also a great choice if you’ve exhausted all that British Netflix has to offer and want to access content from across the pond.

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Providing access to thousands of servers around the world, CyberGhost is another particularly useful service if you’re looking to access video content. Sign up to a three-year subscription for £68.25 and you get three months free, which works out at just £1.75 per month – an 82 per cent discount on the rolling monthly sub.In the event that you’re not happy with the service, it includes a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full CyberGhost review

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Commonly known as PIA, this service provides the usual protection you’d expect from a VPN and unblocks all your favourite streaming apps, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. According to the brand, it’s easy to use and set up, so make use of the discount on its plans today. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can always back out if it’s not for you. This deal is billed at £65 for three years, with three free months added on top, which works out at £1.67 per month and amounts to a saving of 83 per cent over a rolling monthly subscription.

Read the full Private Internet Access review

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Safely access the internet wherever you are with IPVanish. Like other VPNs, it will make your IP address anonymous online, but when you sign up for a year, IPVanish throws in 500GB of encrypted online file storage for free.

That makes it easy and secure to send and access files between your devices, as well as stream content from other parts of the world. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee too, so you can try the VPN before you commit.

Read the full IPVanish review

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ProtonVPN made the top spot in our list of the best free VPNs. Our reviewer said: “A free account with ProtonVPN limits you to three locations around the globe – the Netherlands, Japan and the US – and just one simultaneous connection. Unlike most free VPNs, your data allowance isn’t capped, meaning you can browse for as long as you want, but your bandwidth is shared with other free users.” For faster VPN speeds we recommend the paid-for version, which can be had for £3.43 per month or £6.85 for higher speeds.

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For the latest discounts on VPN software and other tech offers, try the links below:

To find the best offers around, try our compare pages on the best mobile phone deals and the best SIM-only deals