10 Everyday VPN Hacks That Actually Save You Money
Stop Overpaying. Start Location-Hacking.
Hack #1: The YouTube Premium Price Plunge
This is the most popular hack for a reason. YouTube Premium costs a lot in the US and UK, but it's incredibly cheap in countries like Turkey or Argentina. By using a VPN to follow a guide on how to change your IP address to one in those countries, you can sign up and lock in a huge discount.
How to do it: Connect your VPN to a server in a country like Turkey. Open a new incognito browser, go to YouTube, and sign up. You'll see the local price, which is often just a couple of dollars a month. This can save you over $100 a year.
Hack #2: The Netflix Nomad Subscription Trick
Similar to YouTube, Netflix has different subscription prices. While they are very strict about watching content from other libraries, they are less concerned with where you sign up. You can use one of the best VPNs for streaming to get a cheaper monthly plan.
How to do it: Check subscription prices in countries like Pakistan or Turkey. Connect your VPN to a server in the cheapest one, create a new Netflix account, and pay. After you're subscribed, you can turn the VPN off and watch your local library as normal.
Hack #3: Cheaper Flights by Switching Your Point of Sale
This one is a must for travelers. Airline websites and search engines show you prices based on your 'point of sale' (your location). Booking the exact same flight can be much cheaper if you look like you're booking from a different country.
How to do it: Always use an incognito window. Search for your flight. Now, connect your VPN for travel to the airline's home country, or the destination country. Clear your browser cache (or use a new incognito window) and search again. The price difference can be huge on international trips.
Hack #4: Deep Discounts on Hotel Bookings
Hotel booking sites use the same dynamic pricing tricks. They show different prices for the same room based on where you are browsing from. This can even be useful if you're trying to book a hotel in the UK from somewhere else, provided you have a reliable VPN service for the UK.
How to do it: Search for your hotel normally. Then, connect your VPN to a server in a different country (especially less wealthy ones) and search again. You'll often see a 10-20% drop in price for the exact same booking.
Hack #5: Slashing Car Rental Costs
Completing the travel trifecta! Car rental prices are often inflated for tourists. Booking a car for a trip in Australia, for example, might be cheaper if you use a reliable VPN with Australian servers to book from a server in Sydney versus one in London.
How to do it: Use your VPN to connect to a server in the city where you are renting the car. Go to the rental website and book. This simple step can shave a big chunk off the "tourist tax" they charge.
Hack #6: Cheaper Software & SaaS Subscriptions
This money-saving trick isn't just for travel. Software companies like Adobe, Microsoft, and many others use **regional pricing**. This is a common tactic, especially when looking to access software, and you can find recommended VPNs for businesses to help you save.
How to do it: Do some research on software prices in different regions. Connect your VPN to a country with a lower price, visit the official website, and buy your subscription. This can save you hundreds over a year.
Hack #7: Access Geo-Restricted Sales & E-Commerce Deals
Ever heard of a "UK-only" or "US-only" online sale? Many e-commerce stores restrict their best deals to specific regions. A VPN lets you bypass these geo-restrictions and access the sales. Find out which services are the best VPNs to unblock websites for maximum savings.
How to do it: If a brand is having a big sale in Germany, connect your VPN to a German server. Visit the store's website, and you'll see the local German site with its sale prices. You may need a shipping forwarder for this, but for big-ticket items, it's worth it.
Hack #8: Save on Online Learning Platforms
Online course platforms are famous for dynamic pricing. The price you see for a course can depend on your location, or even if you've visited the site before. A VPN gives you a fresh start. This trick can be especially useful if you're buying courses, as some sites even price based on your device type, which is why you may need one of the best VPNs for mobile browsing.
How to do it: Find a course you want on Udemy or a similar site. Note the price. Now, connect your VPN to a different country, open a new incognito window, and check the price again. It's often magically 'on sale' for a fraction of the cost.
Hack #9: The Spotify Family Plan Arbitrage
Spotify's Family Plan is a great deal, but it's an even better deal in other countries. You can sign up from a cheaper region, like India or the Philippines, but you'll need one of the recommended VPNs for India to pull it off. You can then share it, often for less than a single-person plan in the US or UK.
How to do it: Connect your VPN to a server in a country like India. Sign up for a Family Plan. You might need to find a plausible local address using online maps. Once you're signed up, you can invite your family members, and they don't need to use a VPN.
Hack #10: Beat Bandwidth Throttling for Better Performance
This hack saves you money indirectly. Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) slow down your internet (throttle you) when they see you're doing high-bandwidth things like streaming, gaming, or torrenting. A VPN hides your activity, so your ISP can't throttle you. Get the right tool, whether you need the best VPN for streaming sports, one designed for smooth gaming, or a reliable VPN for torrenting.
How to do it: By encrypting your traffic, the VPN stops your ISP from seeing what you're doing. They just see that you're using data. This means they can't single out your stream or game to slow it down. You get the full speed you're paying for, saving you time and frustration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to use a VPN to get cheaper prices?
In most of the world, **VPN use is perfectly legal**. To check the specifics for your region, you can consult our guide on whether VPNs are legal to use or illegal. However, using a VPN specifically to obtain regional discounts might violate a company's terms of service (ToS). The risk is generally low, with the most likely outcome being a canceled order or subscription. Legal repercussions are extremely rare for this type of activity, but it's important to be aware of the potential ToS violation.
Will I get banned for using a VPN to subscribe to a service?
While possible, it's highly unlikely. Most major services like Netflix and YouTube are more focused on preventing access to geo-blocked content than on canceling subscriptions bought from another region. As long as you have a valid payment method, the subscription is usually secure.
Do I need to keep the VPN on after I subscribe or make a purchase?
Generally, no. For subscriptions like YouTube Premium or Spotify, you only need the VPN active during the initial sign-up and payment process. Once your subscription is active, you can use the service from your normal connection. For accessing geo-blocked content libraries (like watching UK Netflix from the US), you will need to keep the VPN on.
Why are prices for the same thing different in other countries?
This is called regional pricing. Companies set prices based on the average income, market competition, and economic conditions of a specific country. They charge what they believe the local market can bear. This creates opportunities for savvy users with a VPN to digitally 'shop' in a region with lower prices.