Best VPN deals: Protect your privacy for the lowest prices

Best VPN deals: Protect your privacy for the lowest prices

Whether you’re looking for something that will give you the privacy you need or access to location-restricted streaming content, we’ve got you covered with the very best VPN deals currently available. But not all deals are worth it, so we only highlight those offered by reputable providers that we’ve personally reviewed and recommend. We’ve also included some helpful answers to common questions about VPN shopping at the bottom of this article. Before you decide on a new VPN, be sure to check out our roundup of the best VPNs to help you choose the right service for your needs. Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it’s possible some of these VPN discounts will have expired before this article’s next update. Best VPN deals NordVPN , now $3.99 per month for 24 months + 3 free months (73% off at NordVPN) ExpressVPN , now $4.99 per month for 24 months + 4 free months (61% off at ExpressVPN) Surfshark VPN , now $2.49 per month for 24 months + 3 free months (86% off at Surfshark) Proton VPN , now $4.49 per month for 24 months (55% off at Proton VPN) FastestVPN , now $23 for lifetime plan (93% off at FastestVPN with coupon) Private Internet Access , now $2.03 per month for 36 months + 3 free months (83% off at PIA) PrivadoVPN , now $1.48 per month for 24 months + 3 free months (87% off at Privado VPN) IPVanish VPN , now $2.19 per month for 24 months (70% off at IPVanish) CyberGhost , now $2.19 per month for 24 months + 2 free months (83% off on CyberGhost) NymVPN , now $2.59 per month for 24 months (80% off on NymVPN) Our Editors’ Choice and top overall VPN pick, NordVPN is offering a great deal on its long-term 2-year plan for only $3.99 per month (73 percent off). Upon sign up you’ll even get an extra three months of service thrown in at no charge. Not only is Nord the most feature-rich VPN on the market, but it is also the fastest we’ve ever tested—you can’t really go wrong here. Surfshark is another of our top picks here at PCWorld, and this VPN is going for just $2.49 per month for two years (86 percent off). Included are an additional three extra months for free when you sign up. Alternatively, you could opt for the ExpressVPN deal that’s currently $4.99 per month for two years (61 percent off). Both services come with a stacked line-up of privacy and security features. Personally, I think the Surfshark deal provides a bit better value right now because not only is it cheaper, but the extra included free months are a nice bonus. NymVPN ‘s “Early Bird Promo” deal is also worth checking out as it’s a limited time event being offered right now to celebrate the full release of the VPN. For $2.59 per month for two years (80 percent off) you’ll gain access to its proprietary decentralized mixnet that leverages blockchain technology to create even greater anonymity for users. Privacy and blockchain buffs should snag this deal quickly while it lasts. FAQ 1. What is the best VPN deal? Right now, the 2-year plan for NordVPN ‘s Plus tier is the best deal. For only $3.99 per month you’ll get access to the best VPN with the fastest speeds, excellent streaming compatibility, and top-notch privacy and security features. Included in the deal are a bonus three extra months of service for free as well. 2. When’s the best time to shop for a VPN? Typically you’ll want to time your VPN shopping around a prominent sales period. The biggest sales periods are Black Friday/Cyber Monday in late November . The best sales often occur leading up to and during these two events and they are great times to snag a VPN subscription for cheap. Many VPN providers have even begun extending these deals past Cyber Monday and through to the end of the year. 3. What should I look for in a VPN deal? There are a few things you should keep in mind when shopping for a good VPN deal. The first thing to consider is, of course, your budget. How much are you willing to spend each month? How much can you afford to drop on a longer-term plan with an upfront payment? You’ll also need to determine how long you intend to use the VPN. Do you just need it for a short trip? A few months? Or forever? The very best VPN deals are generally on longer-term plans for two or three years. After you decide on your budget and how long you’ll use the VPN, next you can start comparing features. Look at the number of servers and locations for each VPN. A good starting point is to look for services that have at least 1,000 servers and 30 or more country locations. The next thing to consider is VPN speed. This may be tricky to do since you aren’t likely to be able to test connection speeds without first paying to use the service. Reading reviews online will give you a general estimate. Look for reviews, like ours, that give you a relative average of connection speeds rather than direct Mbps speed comparisons for a more accurate picture. Finally, compare each VPN’s privacy protections. Does it have a no-logs policy? Has it undergone any independent audits of its servers? Where is the VPN company located? All of these are critical and you’ll want to go with a VPN that has clear and transparent data collection policies. 4. What is a VPN? A VPN creates a secure tunnel between your PC and the internet. You connect to a VPN server, which can be located in the United States or a foreign country (like France or Japan). Your web traffic then goes through that server to make it appear as though you’re browsing from that server’s location and not from your actual location. When you’re using a VPN, it’s difficult for others to snoop on your web-browsing activity. Only you, the VPN service, and the website you’re visiting will know what you’re up to. A VPN can be a great solution to a variety of concerns, such as online privacy, anonymity, greater security on public Wi-Fi, and, of course, spoofing locations.

Best PC computer deals: Top picks from desktops to all-in-ones

Best PC computer deals: Top picks from desktops to all-in-ones

Whether you’re looking for a productivity desktop, a gaming PC powerhouse, or a stylish all-in-one Windows machine, we’ve got you covered. The team at PCWorld sort through all of the daily computer sales and put together a curated list of the best deals available. But not all deals are really deals, so we only choose those offered by reputable companies and that include great hardware to ensure you get the best value for your money. We’ve also included some helpful answers to common questions about buying a computer at the bottom of this article. If you’re considering a laptop instead, be sure to check out our best laptop deals , updated daily. Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it’s possible some of these computer discounts will have expired before this article’s next update. Best gaming desktop computer deals Thermaltake LCGS Quartz i1460 , Core i5-14400F/RTX 5060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $899.99 (18% off on Amazon) Alienware Aurora , Core Ultra 9 285/RTX 5080/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,724.99 (8% off on Dell) Alienware Aurora , Core Ultra 7 265F/RTX 5060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,149.99 (26% off on Dell) Omen 45L , Core Ultra 7 265K/RTX 5070/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,999.99 (23% off on HP) CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme , Core i5-13400F/RTX 5060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $889.99 (10% off on Amazon) CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme , Core i5-14400F/RTX 5060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $979.99 (11% off on BestBuy) Skytech Blaze 4 Mini , Ryzen 7 7800X3D/RX 9060XT/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,299.99 (9% off on Skytech) My top picks: The best budget buy right now is the Thermaltake LCGS Quartz i1460 for $200 off on Amazon. Packing a Core i5-14400F CPU and RTX 5060 GPU, this is an excellent value for a budget gaming rig. Dell is also running a great deal on its Alienware Aurora for $275 off on its website. This build rocks a powerful Core Ultra 9 285 and RTX 5080 GPU—it’s one of the best prices you’ll find for a strong upper-midrange build with the latest-gen hardware. Best mainstream desktop computer deals GMKtec M7 , Ryzen 7 6850H/32GB RAM/512GB SSD, $365.99 (25% off on Amazon) Apple Mac Mini 2024 , M4/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $499.99 (17% off on Amazon) AceMagician K1 Mini PC , Ryzen 7 5700U/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $279.00 (30% off on Amazon) AceMagic Vista Mini N1 , Alder Lake-N N97/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $169.00 (35% off on Amazon) Beelink SER5 MAX , Ryzen 7 6800H/32GB RAM/500GB SSD, $319.00 (20% off on Amazon) Kamrui GK3 Plus , Intel Alder Lake N95, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, $154.99 (26% off on Amazon) My top picks: Amazon is offering the GMKtec M7 mini-PC for $120 off. This mini-PC not only rocks an Ryzen 7 Pro 6850H CPU and a whopping 32GB of RAM, but comes with excellent connectivity features to boot. It’s a great mini-PC and at this discount the value can’t be beat. If you’re more of a Mac fan, then this rare deal on the latest M4 Mac Mini for $100 off on MicroCenter is for you. The latest 2024 Mac Mini is a seriously good option for those looking to get great mini-PC performance for the price. The M4 chip has outstanding processing power and this model also comes with a good amount of RAM and onboard storage. Best all-in-one computer deals All-in-one desktop computers combine a PC’s hardware with a modern display to make a desktop computer that has both form and function. Since everything is built together, you can save precious desktop space with an all-in-one. They make capable work computers and they can also be excellent home computers with the wide range of features appealing to the whole family. Yoga 27 AiO , Core Ultra 5 125H/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/27-inch 1440p touch display, $929.99 (24% off on Lenovo) HP OmniStudio X AiO , Core Ultra 5 125H/16GB RAM/256GB SSD/31.5-inc 4K display, $1,219.99 (20% off on HP) Dell 27 AiO , Core 5 120U/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/27-inch 1080p display, $779.99 (16% off on Dell) iMac M4 , M4/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 5K display, $1,522.36 (10% off on Amazon) My top picks: The Yoga 27 AiO for $300 off on Lenovo’s site is a powerful all-in-one. Desktops from Lenovo are renowned for their reliability and this all-in-one gives you some premium features on top of it all. It comes with a latest-gen Core Ultra 5 CPU and a crisp 1440p touch display to sweeten the deal. Alternatively, the HP OmniStudio X AiO for $310 off on HP’s website is a worth splurge. Thanks to the stunning 31.5-inch 4K display, this flagship all-in-one from HP provides solid performance features and immediately upgrades any desk space. Computer deals FAQ 1. What are good websites to find computer deals? There are a ton of sites that sell computers, and scouring through all of them would take you a lot of time—that’s why we do it for you here and highlight the best deals we find. However, to save you some time and frustration, you need to be smart about where you look at any given time of the year. If you’re looking for a new computer during the holidays or around popular sale periods such as Black Friday or back-to-school, then you are likely to find great deals directly through first party vendor websites. These include the retail storefronts of popular computer manufacturers such as HP, Dell, and Lenovo. However, if you are looking in between sales periods, it’s generally a good idea to search through large third-party retailers such as Amazon , Adorama , Walmart , BestBuy , and Newegg . Oftentimes these websites will offer limited Deals of the Day type sales in hopes of getting rid of excess stock. On the upside, you can score still-decent PCs at a steep discount. 2. When’s the best time to shop for a PC computer? Typically you’ll want to time your PC computer shopping around a prominent sales period. The biggest sales periods are Black Friday/Cyber Monday in late November and Amazon Prime Day in early-to-mid July. The best sales often occur leading up to and during these two events and they are great times to snag a new PC computer for cheap. Other holiday shopping periods such as the New Year sales in January, President’s Day sales in April, and the back-to-school sales event in August are also good times to find discounts on computers. 3. What type of desktop should I get? You’ll see a ton of options when searching for a desktop computer, but they all mainly fit into four main categories: productivity tower PCs, gaming PCs, mini PCS, and all-in-ones (AiO). Which you should end up buying is entirely dependent upon what your needs are and what you want to do with your computer. If you are looking for something that will work in a home office or family room, then a productivity PC or AiO with a solid CPU and lots of RAM and storage is probably the way to go. If gaming is your main concern, a gaming PC can offer a lot more bang for your buck than a laptop and you should focus on getting the best GPU possible. Or if you just want something that can fit anywhere and provide basic computing then a mini PC is a good bet. 4. What CPU and GPU should I get? When looking at your new computer’s CPU, get at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, both of which will provide plenty of processing power for everyday computing tasks. If you don’t intend to do any PC gaming, then feel free to save some money by going with integrated graphics. However, if you are looking to get your game on, we recommend at least an Nvidia GeForce 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, as these are the least expensive discrete graphics cards that can handle ray tracing well. If you aren’t interested in those cutting-edge lighting effects, however, the RTX 3050 and Radeon RX 6600 also provide good 1080p gaming performance at even lower prices. 5. How much memory and storage does my PC need? As for RAM, we think its best to shoot for 16GB at the minimum for productivity and gaming, but for family computers and internet browsing, 8GB should suffice. Storage size is dependent upon your personal needs, but it is generally a good idea to opt for an SSD over an standard HDD as they are much faster and don’t significantly affect the price of a desktop. Before deciding, it’s best to consider what your intended use of the computer will be. Are you just doing work or web browsing? Then something like 512GB will be plenty. If you want to load up a lot of large files such as games or content creation projects, then you’ll need at least 1 or 2TB or storage. However, just remember that even if your computer doesn’t have enough storage built-in you can always upgrade your SSD or go with an external drive to increase your available storage options. 6. Is it a good idea to buy a refurbished computer? Refurbished computers are used machines that have been repaired, upgraded, and cleaned for the purpose of reselling. They’re usually open-box returns, overstock, or models with minor cosmetic damage (scratches, scuffs, etc). Refurbished computers can be a bargain hunter’s dream as they’re likely still in good (or great) condition and you can save a lot of money. That being said, refurbished computers can have their downsides as well. In addition to cosmetic blemishes, some of the internal components might be a little older or outdated and they might not be in peak condition due to previous usage. If you do consider buying a refurbished computer I recommend looking at eBay as they offer a one-year warranty. You can also check out manufacturer’s retail storefronts like Dell’s Outlet Store and Apple’s Refurbished Store —just be sure to look at the terms of warranty offered before purchasing.

A new policy document authored by seven Chinese government departments outlines plans to create a globally competitive brain-computer interface industry by 2030 (Emily Mullin/Wired)

A new policy document authored by seven Chinese government departments outlines plans to create a globally competitive brain-computer interface industry by 2030 (Emily Mullin/Wired)

Emily Mullin / Wired : A new policy document authored by seven Chinese government departments outlines plans to create a globally competitive brain-computer interface industry by 2030 —  A new policy document outlines China's plan to create an internationally competitive BCI industry within five years …

Now’s a great time for Apple to bring back this long-removed iMac feature

Now’s a great time for Apple to bring back this long-removed iMac feature

A while ago, Apple used to include a software feature with macOS on older models. It was called Target Display Mode, and it allowed you to turn an iMac into an external display once your iMac was too dated to be a usable computer. The company got rid of it with the introduction of the 5K iMac due to technical limitations at the time – though said limitations no longer pose a challenge. more…

An interview with CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz on the company's M&A strategy as it acquires Madrid-based data observability startup Onum for about $290M (Allie Garfinkle/Fortune)

An interview with CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz on the company's M&A strategy as it acquires Madrid-based data observability startup Onum for about $290M (Allie Garfinkle/Fortune)

Allie Garfinkle / Fortune : An interview with CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz on the company's M&A strategy as it acquires Madrid-based data observability startup Onum for about $290M —  George Kurtz, cofounder and CEO of CrowdStrike  —  COURTESY OF CROWDSTRIKE  —  Cybersecurity is more than just software …