---
title: "VPN Price Index Methodology | vpnrank.io Research"
description: "How vpnrank.io collects, verifies and publishes the VPN Price Index, including scope, update cadence and limitations."
url: https://vpnrank.io/research/vpn-price-index-methodology
language: en
updated: 2026-10-05
---

vpnrank.io research methodology

# VPN Price Index methodology

vpnrank.io reads each tracked VPN's public checkout once a day: the published series holds 87 daily captures of 6 providers between 10 July 2026 and 12 October 2026, and the current prices were verified on 21 October 2026. This page explains how we collect, check and publish the price data shown in the VPN Price Index. It is intended to make the work inspectable—not to overstate what pricing data can prove.

Current prices verified: 2026-10-21 [View the live index →](https://vpnrank.io/vpn-price-index)

## How often do VPN prices change?

Between 10 July 2026 and 12 October 2026, the entry 2-year price at the 6 euro-priced checkouts vpnrank.io tracks changed 23 times, each move between €0.20 and €0.60 a month. CyberGhost changed most often (13 times), so how often a price moves depends on the provider.

## Do VPN prices go up when you renew?

Yes, at every tracked checkout that prints a renewal price. On 12 October 2026, 5 of the 6 entry plans vpnrank.io tracks showed a renewal price, and each renewed at 1.1–3.3× the introductory monthly rate (Private Internet Access lowest, NordVPN highest); Surfshark’s checkout printed none.

From the tracker’s daily checkout captures (87 snapshots, 10 July 2026 to 12 October 2026). Price changes count euro-priced checkouts only, so a currency switch is never read as a price move. Introductory and renewal prices are read as printed at checkout; the full series is on the [VPN Price Index](https://vpnrank.io/vpn-price-index).

## What the index measures

The VPN Price Index records publicly displayed consumer prices and plan terms for the VPNs covered by vpnrank.io. It focuses on advertised long-term and monthly prices, introductory discounts, money-back windows and the billing information visible at a provider’s public checkout.

## How we collect prices

Our tracker checks public pricing pages daily. It records visible plan prices, promotion language and renewal information when it is displayed. Automated collection identifies changes; it does not replace editorial review.

## How we verify a change

Before a changed price is reflected in the published index, we check the relevant public checkout details, including currency, billing period, included months and refund terms. We publish the date on which the current figures were last verified.

## How we calculate summaries

Market summaries such as the median, average and range are calculated from the provider-level records used on the Price Index. Introductory prices are kept separate from month-to-month prices so that a discounted headline rate is not presented as the cost of a flexible monthly subscription.

## Scope and limitations

Prices can vary by country, currency, tax treatment, device, campaign, customer status and the time at which a checkout is opened. The index is a transparent record of the offers we observed, not a guarantee that every visitor will see the same price. It does not measure every VPN on the market or every local promotion.

## Corrections and updates

If you identify a factual error or have evidence that a published price or term has changed, contact hello@vpnrank.io with the relevant public URL and details. We review supported corrections and update the published record when appropriate.

## Reuse and citation

The current data feed is free to use for journalism, research and apps with attribution to vpnrank.io. When citing live data, include the access date and link to the Price Index.

Citation: vpnrank.io. *VPN Price Index*. Accessed \[date\]. https://vpnrank.io/vpn-price-index

[Request a historical or custom data cut →](mailto:hello@vpnrank.io)

Structured data (JSON-LD):

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```

```json
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```

```json
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```