Gifting a VPN: Subscriptions, Cards & Family Setups
Gifting a VPN subscription is one of the more practical gifts you can give someone who travels, works remotely, or cares about privacy — and unlike most software gifts, VPNs have a real recurring-use case rather than being used once and forgotten. The mechanics of gifting, however, vary by provider and aren't always obvious.
Gift Subscription vs Gifting Your Account
Most VPN providers don't offer formal "gift subscription" products the way streaming services do. What exists is usually one of three models: (1) you purchase a subscription and share login credentials, (2) you purchase a subscription to a new account using the recipient's email address and forward them the credentials, or (3) the provider offers a gift card or prepaid code system.
Sharing login credentials is within ToS for most VPNs that offer multi-device plans — NordVPN's 10-device limit means you could share credentials with a family member and both use the subscription simultaneously. Surfshark's unlimited-device plan makes this even more flexible. The legal and ToS nuance: check whether "sharing" means simultaneous use by two distinct people or just multiple devices of one user. Most providers allow household sharing implicitly.
VPN Gift Cards & Prepaid Codes
A handful of providers offer prepaid gift cards available at retail (Best Buy, Amazon) or as digital codes. These let you give a fixed credit toward a VPN subscription without creating an account yourself. The recipient applies the code to their own new or existing account.
NordVPN and Surfshark digital gift codes are available through authorized retailers. ExpressVPN has offered gift cards in some markets. The advantage: the recipient chooses their own plan length and controls the account. The disadvantage: prepaid codes typically apply at full monthly rate, not at the 2-year promotional rate — making them more expensive per month than the standard deal-page purchase.
NordVPN — Family Sharing
$3.49/mo2-yr plan · 10 devices · 30-day money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections supports a family household. Purchase on recipient's email for a true gift, or share credentials within a household.
Get NordVPN for familySurfshark — Unlimited Devices
$2.49/mo27-mo plan · Unlimited devices · 30-day money-back guarantee
Unlimited device plan — gift once, covers the whole family without device-count math.
Get SurfsharkSetting Up a VPN for Someone Else
The most thoughtful approach for gifting a VPN to a less tech-savvy person (parents, grandparents): purchase using their email address, set up the app on their main device during your visit or via remote screen share, and walk them through connecting once. The "install and connect once" setup removes the barrier that prevents many non-technical users from ever activating a VPN they intend to use.
For this use case, choose a VPN with the simplest interface: PrivateVPN and Surfshark both offer one-tap connection experiences that require no configuration knowledge after initial setup.
Get PrivateVPNFamily Plan Structures
VPNs don't have "family plans" in the streaming sense — pricing is flat regardless of household size. The workaround is maximizing device count: Surfshark's unlimited-device plan and PIA's unlimited-device plan effectively function as family plans. One subscription, multiple household members, no additional cost.
| Provider | Device Limit | Effective Family Use | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | Unlimited | Excellent — no device math | $2.49/mo |
| PIA | Unlimited | Excellent — no device math | $1.33/mo |
| NordVPN | 10 | Strong — covers most households | $3.49/mo |
| PrivateVPN | 10 | Strong — simple interface | $2.00/mo |
| VeePN | 10 | Adequate | $2.50/mo |
Gift Subscription Timing
If you're gifting for a birthday or holiday, time the purchase to avoid wasting subscription days. Options: (1) purchase and activate immediately, then inform the recipient, (2) purchase a prepaid code in advance and deliver the code for the recipient to activate when ready, or (3) if the provider allows, purchase for a future start date (most don't offer this explicitly — contact support to ask).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a VPN subscription as a gift?
Yes — purchase using the recipient's email address to create an account in their name, or purchase a digital gift card/code where available (NordVPN and Surfshark sell these through authorized retailers). Gift codes typically apply at monthly rates rather than 2-year promotional rates, making the deal-page purchase more economical for longer subscriptions.
Do VPNs have family plans?
No formal family plan exists at most providers. The workaround is device-unlimited plans: Surfshark and PIA both offer unlimited simultaneous connections for a single subscription price, which functions as a family plan in practice.
Is it against VPN ToS to share an account with family?
Most major providers allow simultaneous use across multiple devices — NordVPN allows 10, Surfshark is unlimited. Sharing within a household is generally implicit in these policies. Sharing with someone outside the household is a grayer area; check the provider's current ToS for specific language around 'personal use' vs 'household use.'