Right now, some of the best bargains you’ll get will be on tech – whether it’s phones, cheap Internet and VPNs, or even laptops and gaming systems that once might have required a serious cost-benefit analysis to even consider purchasing. These products are now a staple of our lives, and this means great things for you in terms of both variety and pricing.
The rise of the popularity of VPNs is not just due to this, but also a growing need for security by all categories of users. Cybersecurity experts recommend setting up a VPN as the first step in securing your data and privacy. Their widespread use also leads us to flexible and affordable deals, even lifetime subscriptions that give you unlimited data and peace of mind in exchange for a one-off payment.
But what is a VPN, and why do I even need one?
A VPN is simply a ‘virtual private network.’ It bypasses your Internet Service Provider’s servers (that can be tracked and connected to your location) in exchange for a secure server and an ability to access the internet from any virtual location.
This protects your identity from governments, trackers, and anyone that has an interest in your data, financial transactions, and browsing activity for any reason. It also frees you from “geo-blocking” where certain content or websites might not be available in your region.
A VPN liberates you from all this and much more on both your computer as it stops your data being sold for profit, identity theft, and hacking. Everyone is exposed to these risks at all times, and a VPN is your only sure-fire bet against any of it.
Services such as Ivacy VPN now offer you a lifetime subscription, so let’s go ahead and take a look at whether it is worth it or not.
A VPN for your lifetime
A good VPN can run around at around $50 a year if you purchase a renewable model. This allows you to pay from month to month (or annually), but it racks up a higher cost over a longer period if you add it up. A lot of services are charging their customers in this way – the “fee” that is marketed to you is a lower number, but the cash that you pay them in total is a much larger amount than the minimum that you could be paying.
A lifetime subscription bypasses all this trickery and gets you what you want, simple and straightforward. If you’ve found the VPN that works for you, ticks all the boxes, and is here to stay, why wouldn’t you want to pay less for the same service and never have to worry about downgrading?
Is the commitment worth it?
The average cost of a lifetime subscription is less than half of what you’d usually pay. A payment of 20 dollars, and that’s it. This would often get you less than a year with a good VPN. It sounds too good to be true, but it might just be.
Like the downside of a free VPN, the same rule-of-thumb applies here. A lot of third-party providers claim to sell discounts and coupons for VPN services. It’s like the difference between an established bank and a loan shark. One might promise more flexibility and a lower rate, but your legal rights are next to non-existent and the very purpose of a VPN, that is security – compromised.
For example, a provider that offers a lifetime subscription through its own official channel is Ivacy VPN. With a VPN such as Ivacy, there’s no risk of the middleman making a deal on both ends with the provider and the user and giving you fewer benefits for more money. Ivacy offers a lifetime subscription that costs just $1 per month, with a 30-day back guarantee.
Are there any free options?
VPNs now come in a wide range of options, depending on your data needs and your budget. Protecting yourself online has, in fact, never been more affordable – yes, even free.
The catch with a free service, however, is that they still need to make money. A VPN service that bills itself as free will do so by throttling your connection and draining your data fast. This will force you to rely on the VPN, which will then encourage you to update to a paid option anyway to enjoy a connection with normal speed.
Some of them may even confuse your Internet settings permanently, what with the scarier prospect of your free VPN service being a scam altogether. Always go for the more prominent and more reputable brands backed up by publishers such as CNET, Engadget, Lifehacker, and the likes.
Conclusion
Thus, it pays to pay for your VPN. Every provider worth their salt offers a wide range of paying options, deals, and more exclusive features for more money. Premium services even include specialized servers for torrenting, gaming, and extra security features for citizens of dictatorships and censor-happy governments.
A lifetime subscription entitles you to all this plus a complete vanishing of your worries when it comes to making payments. It’s like paying for an online bodyguard and arming yourself and your Internet with a fort.
Photo credit: The feature image “private sign” has been done by Dayne Topkin. The photo “two women facing security camera” was taken by Matthew Henry. The picture “man wearing black shirt” has been prepared by Patrick Hutchins.
Source: David Shepardson (Reuters) / Ivacy VPN review by VPNpro
Editorial notice: This article has been prepared in collaboration with partners.
