'3 Months Free' Promos: The Real Per-Month Math
"Get 3 months free" promotions are legitimate — the extra months are actually added to your subscription. But the math behind them is often presented to make the per-month rate look lower than a straight comparison would reveal.
How the Math Works
Example: Surfshark 2-year plan normally = 24 months at $2.49/mo = $59.76 total. With "3 months free" = total cost $59.76 spread over 27 months = $2.21/mo effective. The "3 months free" reduces the effective per-month rate by ~11%, not 12.5% (which would be if 3 months were added to the price of a 24-month plan). The total cost is unchanged — you're paying the same amount over more months.
When "3 Months Free" Promotions Are Active
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and New Year are the primary windows when bonus month promotions are added on top of standard promotional rates. Mid-year, most providers don't run bonus-month promotions — the standard 2-year rate is what's available. Check the checkout page for whether a bonus-month promotion is active at the time of your purchase.
Is It Worth Waiting for a "3 Months Free" Deal?
At NordVPN: 3 months free saves approximately $10.47 in effective value (3 × $3.49). If Black Friday is 3 months away and you don't need the VPN urgently, waiting saves ~$10. If you need the VPN now, $10 is not worth 3 months of unprotected browsing or content-access limitations — just buy at the current rate.
Get NordVPN — Check Current Bonus Offers Get Surfshark — Check Current Bonus OffersFrequently Asked Questions
Are '3 months free' VPN promotions legitimate?
Yes — the free months are genuinely added to your subscription. The mathematical reality is that you're paying the same base subscription price over a longer period, which reduces the effective per-month cost by ~10–12%. The months are real; the framing of 'free' is marketing language for what's actually an extended-term price.
How do I calculate the real per-month cost of a VPN with bonus months?
Total price ÷ total months (including bonus) = effective per-month rate. This is the number to compare across providers, not the advertised per-month rate which may not include bonus months in the denominator.
Do bonus months apply at renewal?
No — bonus month promotions are introductory offers. At renewal, you'll pay the standard annual or 2-year rate without the bonus months. Factor this into your total cost model if you plan to continue the subscription past the introductory term.