4 reasons why a VPN is the ultimate bargain hunter’s tool

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iv reasons why a VPN is the ultimate bargain hunter'south tool

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VPNs are widely regarded equally essential tools for staying individual online – and that's a stone-common cold fact. When we surveyed our readers though, a whopping 25% of those who didn't use a VPN claimed that toll was the defining factor in their determination.

What many people are unaware of is that VPNs aren't simply security software, and by combining a cheap VPN with some savvy shopping techniques it's possible to salve money in a whole agglomeration of ways – and your VPN may well get-go to pay for itself.

Hither, we'll be running down a number of tips to make your money go further when using a VPN, from picking the right service to start off with, to saving greenbacks online. Time is coin, as they say, then let's go straight into information technology.

• Stay protected with the about secure VPN services
• Bank check out our list of mutual mistakes to avert when using a VPN
• More: Is OpenVPN still fit for purpose?

i – Choice a good value VPN

As with any important purchase, doing a picayune inquiry earlier you part ways with your coin is worth the time it takes. When picking a VPN, though, it tin can truly be a minefield for the uninitiated.

You might be tempted to go for a gratis VPN, and while some deliver a passable service, for the total package you're all-time off going for a premium provider. Costless services almost always restrict data and server locations, and to become the well-nigh out of the post-obit steps, they just can't cutting information technology.

You also don't want to pick the very cheapest selection on offer, either, as you lot practice tend to go what y'all pay for. If you're later on the lowest monthly cost, we'd recommend something like VyprVPN, which offers a 3-year plan for just $1.67 a month.

If y'all want excellent admission to streaming sites, though, you might want to spend a little more and get our tiptop-rated cheap service Surfshark, which isn't much more expensive at $2.49 a month.

For the fullest functionality we'd recommend ExpressVPN or NordVPN, but although the prices aren't that much college, if you're on a budget Surfshark may be the improve choice.

(Image credit: Nathan Dumlao)

2 – Access streaming sites and get more from Netflix

Every network seems to exist coming out with a premium streaming service these days, and that means each provider has a slimmer selection. If you're happy to only watch Disney content, maybe Disney+ is enough for y'all, but for real depth and breadth you'll need a subscription to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and even DAZN and ESPN for sports.

With a Netflix VPN and a little research, though, you'll notice that certain shows are available on different platforms around the world – and you tin access them by only changing your VPN server.

For example, all of The Office U.s. is available on Netflix in the UK, whereas in the Us information technology's a Peacock exclusive – and you have to pay to watch by flavour 6. If you've already got Netflix, connecting to a U.k. server will let you lookout man every episode without any extra cost.

Using Flixwatch.co is the best style to find sectional content and movies in unlike Netflix catalogues, and Justwatch.com is useful for all the other services.

iii – Avert dynamic pricing for flights and car rental

If you've ever scoped out the price of a flight, left the site, and returned to cheque it out again, yous'll probable have seen a more than expensive toll compared to hours, or even minutes agone. That's called Dynamic Pricing, and it'south done in role to encourage y'all to buy now to avoid and even steeper price hike in the near future.

This can all be avoided by using a VPN. Since each time you lot connect you're assigned a new IP address, to the site you look like a different person looking for the first time. Combined with Incognito or Private Browsing on your browser to evade cookies, this ways you lot tin be sure that you're getting the true price each time you await.

Dynamic pricing is also used for hotel bookings and car rental amidst other things, so information technology'due south definitely worth using a VPN here. As well, equally a side notation, disconnect and reconnect your VPN each fourth dimension you cheque to refresh your IP.

four – Go cheaper prices on subscriptions

Many subscription services tailor their prices to certain regional markets, and often (but not always) countries with a lower GDP per capita will get a better price.

Nosotros won't give any specifics, merely services like Netflix, Spotify, Apple Music, Function 365, and fifty-fifty premium news sources like The Economist can be found with substantial discounts in unlike parts of the earth.

This procedure is very much a instance of trial and error, though – and in some cases you'll need a credit carte du jour registered in the jurisdiction to sign upwards. To go around this, gift cards can often exist purchased on Amazon or direct from the provider, only not in every instance.

The rewards certainly merit testing the waters, though, and much more than information about detail services can exist found elsewhere online.

Bottom line

While a quality VPN requires a minor investment, making sure to utilise information technology to its full potential can save y'all a considerable amount of money – and if you practice a lot of travelling or shopping online, it could well start to pay for itself.

Mo is VPN Editor at Tom's Guide. Solar day-to-twenty-four hours he oversees VPN, privacy, and cybersecurity content, and too undertakes contained testing of VPN services to ensure his recommendations are accurate and upwardly to date. When he's not getting stuck into the nitty-gritty settings of a VPN you've never heard of, you lot'll notice him working on his Peugeot 205 GTi or watching Peep Show instead of finally putting upwardly those shelves.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/features/4-reasons-why-a-vpn-is-the-ultimate-bargain-hunters-tool

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