Month-by-Month: When Each VPN Provider Discounts
VPN providers don't discount uniformly throughout the year — there's a predictable calendar of when each provider runs their best deals. Here's the month-by-month picture based on historical patterns.
| Month | Deal Activity | Who's Strongest |
|---|---|---|
| January (1–15) | High — post-holiday deals | NordVPN, Surfshark |
| February | Low — standard promo rates | Any — no event drivers |
| March | Low-Moderate | Back-to-spring campaigns vary |
| April | Low | Standard rates |
| May | Low-Moderate | Some providers run spring deals |
| June | Moderate | Pre-summer push; some discounts |
| July | Low-Moderate | Mid-year check; some Amazon Prime Day adjacency |
| August | Moderate | Back-to-school; student deals active |
| September | Low-Moderate | Post-back-to-school |
| October | Moderate — pre-BF buildup | Some providers start early |
| November | Very High — Black Friday | All providers — deepest deals |
| December (1–5) | High — Cyber Monday + week after | All providers |
The Two That Matter Most
Black Friday week (late November) and January 1–15 are the two highest-value windows. These account for 80% of genuinely better-than-standard deals. The rest of the calendar has modest deal activity that rarely exceeds a single bonus month over the standard promotional structure.
Mid-Year Consideration
If you're reading this in July 2026: mid-July is not a peak deal window. The current promotional rates at NordVPN ($3.49/mo) and Surfshark ($2.49/mo) are the standard offers. The next meaningful deal window is late November (Black Friday). If you need a VPN now, the current rate is the deal — don't wait 4+ months to save $10.
Get NordVPN — Current Rate Get Surfshark — Current Rate Get PrivateVPN — Current RateFrequently Asked Questions
When is the best month to buy a VPN?
November (Black Friday) is peak. January 1–15 is the second-best window. These two periods account for the deepest deals — typically bonus months on top of already-promotional rates. Outside these windows, standard promotional rates are the deal.
Do VPN prices ever drop in summer?
Occasionally — some providers run summer promotions in June/July, typically with a bonus month or small rate adjustment. These are modest compared to Black Friday deals. If you need a VPN in summer, the current rate is reasonable and summer deals are unlikely to save more than $5–10.
Is there any advantage to buying a VPN in January vs December?
January 1–15 sometimes extends Black Friday deals with a 'New Year' framing. If you missed the Black Friday window, January gives you a second chance at similar or equivalent deals. After January 15, the deal calendar goes relatively quiet until pre-summer.