SafePaper’s 12 Black Friday VPN Deals 2025: Fake vs. Real

• How price tricks, fake discounts, and privacy risks mislead users

San Francisco, CA — November 24, 2025, Every November, the same question comes back to bite shoppers: Is this discount real, or just good marketing? For VPN deals, the answer may be trickier than most. This year, dozens of services are promoting eye-popping offers, but a closer look suggests many of these savings might be more illusion than reality. From long billing cycles to recycled pricing wrapped in fresh banners, the tactics are subtle, but effective.

To help users cut through the noise, independent privacy site SafePaper has examined 12 of the most promoted VPN Black Friday offers in 2025. Their findings, based on pricing history and renewal terms, highlight which brands are offering genuine discounts and which are simply reshuffling numbers. You can also explore the full SafePaper breakdown of the real vs. fake VPN deals guide.

The Tricks Behind ‘$1.99/month’ and ‘76% Off’

On the surface, offers like “$1.99/month” or “76% off” seem like no-brainers, until you look at what you’re actually paying. Most VPNs don’t sell month-to-month subscriptions at that rate. Instead, they spread a large upfront payment across two or even three years, then promote the average monthly cost as if it’s your actual bill.

For example, a plan that costs $71.76 up front for two years might be marketed as “$2.99/month”. That low number only exists on paper. You’re still committing to a multi-year contract, and if the provider changes its terms, quality, or policies during that time, there’s little recourse.

The same illusion applies to percentage discounts. “76% off” usually compares the long-term plan to the provider’s most expensive monthly rate, a plan few people actually choose. By anchoring the discounts to a premium that’s rarely paid, the sale looks deeper than it really is.

Some brands even adjust their base prices just before Black Friday, then apply a discount to the inflated number. The end result? A deal that looks fresh but doesn’t save you much, if anything, compared to October or September.

When a VPN Sale Isn’t Really a Sale

Not every Black Friday banner leads to a better deal. In fact, some of the most recognized VPN brands in 2025 are using the holiday to promote prices that haven’t actually changed, or have even increased.

Surfshark VPN

Take Surfshark, for instance. While its homepage features bold Black Friday messaging, SafePaper’s price tracking shows that the actual subscription costs have remained nearly identical for months. In some cases, the “deal” prices were already active in September and October, only now framed with seasonal branding.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN offers another example. Its Black Friday landing page is polished and prominent, but the prices listed as of late November were unchanged from earlier in the month. When contacted, the provider’s support team did not confirm any special offer terms. Despite this, ExpressVPN has appeared on multiple “Best Black Friday VPN Deals” lists, some of which are labeled as sponsored content.

What Real Value Looks Like

Genuine VPN discounts do exist this Black Friday, you just have to know where (and how) to look.

Windscribe

Windscribe stands out for both its pricing clarity and rare renewal policy. It dropped its one-year plan from $69 to $29, no bundling or gimmicks. That’s a 58% cut with an effective rate of just $2.42/month. More notably, Windscribe auto-renews at the same discounted price until canceled, something no other provider promises.

Proton VPN

Proton VPN also took a straightforward approach. Its “VPN Plus” plan dropped from $59.88 to $35.88 for the first year, with no artificial “bonus months” added to stretch the numbers.

Their Black Friday offers include visible price drops, simple math, and no buried renewal traps.

Conclusion: What to Trust, and What to Skip

A flashy discount doesn’t always mean a better deal, especially when the math is designed to mislead. Real savings come with clear prices, fair terms, and no guesswork.

This Black Friday, take a closer look before you click. To compare all 12 VPN offers side by side, and see which are worth it, check out SafePaper for more analysis on VPNs and cybersecurity.

About SafePaper

SafePaper is an independent digital privacy publication based in the U.S., focused on trustworthy, no-fluff guides for everyday internet users. Its team of researchers manually tests VPNs, browsers, and privacy tools to help users stay safe, stay informed, stay free.

Media Contact: Paige West

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: SafePaper