I'm currently trying to make a smart decision on a new VPN, mainly focusing on better privacy, securing my connection on public Wi-Fi, general browsing, and maybe some occasional streaming on the side. This has led me down the rabbit hole of comparing the big-name subscription services against the very tempting "lifetime" deals.
Specifically, I've noticed that FastestVPN (Save Big with Best VPN Deals February 2026 From FastestVPN) is running a lifetime plan for a one-time payment of just $20 if you use the coupon code CM20. That price is almost too good to ignore, but I have a major hesitation about whether these lifetime deals are actually sustainable in the long run. Can they truly keep up with the continuous server maintenance, infrastructure costs, and necessary security updates year after year?
On the other hand, I'm also looking at established, recurring subscription options like NordVPN (https://nordvpn.com/pricing/), which I know is reliable, offers a massive server network, and has strong, audited security features, although it costs significantly more on a yearly basis. Then there's Surfshark (How much does Surfshark cost? Check the pricing - Surfshark), which seems to be the more affordable premium choice, offering the excellent benefit of unlimited device connections, but again, that's a recurring expense.
My main concern is reliability and long-term value for money. Has anyone here used FastestVPN for an extended period? I'd really appreciate honest feedback on whether speeds become inconsistent, if server access degrades, or if customer support becomes non-existent as more lifetime users join. Is the $20 FastestVPN deal a genuinely smart purchase for someone with my needs, or would I be safer investing more in a trusted, subscription-based service like NordVPN or Surfshark for guaranteed performance and updates over the next few years?
I've only been using Zorin OS for a week and it's my first foray into Linux, so I've only tried a few VPNs that looked easy to install - mostly flatpaks. I wanted an easy to use GUI with split tunneling.
IVPN has a great reputation and I installed their flatpak from the Software Store, but the flatpak doesn't support split tunneling. Apart from that it was great.
I tried the Proton flatpak from the software store too. It worked fine, but again the flatpak doesn't support split tunneling (I think it's a flatpak thing).
Next I tried the Windscribe linux app, which I downloaded from their website. That was a straighforward install, but I couldn't get the split tunneling to work (but I never could on Windows either).
Finally downloaded the Proton Linux app direct from their website (because it looked quite easy) and... it worked! So far. And I have split tunneling!
If I hadn't have wanted split tunneling then any of these would've been suitable.
Another option I tried was the Adguard VPN browser extension on Brave, but the ping times are double what they are using an app. A browser extension might be something I'll look into in the future though if the Proton GUI becomes temperamental.
I have been using Proton VPN for several years and have been extremely happy with it, password manager is pretty good too.
If you are just worried about your connection in coffee shops and such, here lately I have been using tailscale with exitnode set to a server at my house. Tailscale is free although you should really pay the $10 usd per month to support them if you decide to use it.
When it comes to the nature of what you look for in a VPN, the best general advice is to spend the extra for better software. It's the same philosophy I use for other things where the nature of the purchase is important enough that cost is a secondary factor - tires for instance. Safety is important. The recurring expense is unavoidable. (I have had a good experience thus far with Surfshark.)
2nd that vote for Proton. Had a few issues at first getting it up and running but it works well. I've heard good things about Express VPN and Mullvad.
Make sure the VPN you try has:
30 day money back guarantee,
A No-Logs policy,
Regular 3rd party audit of their policies available,
Solid reputation (you got to read the reviews)