VPN Refund Policies: How to Get Your Money Back
By Mike De Socio | Published: 2025-11-04 12:00:00 | Source: CNET
VPNs are becoming more popular: Nearly half of American adults reported using one in a recent CNET poll. But what do you do if you end up with buyers’ remorse after signing up for a VPN service?
VPNs can give you privacy from other parties who could potentially snoop into your online activity. This works by encrypting your traffic and masking your IP address so you can hide the sites you visit and access geo-restricted streaming content.
But some VPN services are better than others. Trust us, we know. At CNET, we thoroughly test, rate, and review dozens of VPN programs.
Money back guarantees are a common feature of the VPN industry. Most VPN services let you try their service for 30 days and get your money back if you’re not satisfied within that time period, according to Marius BridisCTO at NordVPN. But it depends on the brand. The standard is 30 days, but some are up to 14 days while others are up to 60 days.
If you find yourself in need of a VPN refund or cancellation of services, you will first need to make sure you request this within the warranty window outlined in your provider’s terms of service. However, the ease of the whole process depends on some basic factors that you want to know more about.
Basic terms for VPN refund
Most major VPN providers offer a no-questions-asked refund for their services during some sort of introductory period. This period can range from 14 to 60 days but most commonly is 30 days.
However, sometimes there are conditions attached to the refund policy. Here are some common conditions:
- First time use: Generally, you are only eligible for a VPN refund if this is your first time using that specific service.
- payment method: Refund policies for some VPN providers may vary based on how you originally paid for the service. For example, if you use a gift card or coupon code, you may have trouble getting a refund, depending on the service provider.
- Limitations of use: In some cases, You may not qualify To get a refund if you’ve used more than a certain VPN data limit. None of CNET’s recommended VPNs limit refunds based on data usage.
- Third Party Purchases: If you purchased through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you may be subject to the third-party providers’ refund policies. These app stores often offer a 7-day free trial instead of longer money-back guarantees. You’ll also likely need to initiate your refund through those platforms first.
How to request a refund from your VPN provider:
The VPN refund process will vary slightly for each provider. But in general, the process will likely look like this:
- Contact your VPN provider’s customer service. You can usually do this by email, online chat, or sometimes by phone.
- State your request: Tell them that you are not satisfied with the service, that you would like to cancel your membership and request a refund.
- Provide your account details: Customer service will likely ask you to confirm your account information before proceeding with the refund.
- Get confirmation: When your refund is approved and processed, you should receive some sort of confirmation from the VPN provider.
Most providers allow you to cancel your subscription online and request a refund through customer service after canceling. Try logging in and going to your billing page to see if there’s a one-click option to request a cancellation.
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Most VPN providers allow you to log in to your online account to process the cancellation. But you will need to contact customer service to initiate the refund part of the process.
Potential challenges with refunds
While most VPN providers make the refund process very easy, it is important to understand some important challenges you may encounter along the way:
- Exceeding the time frame: If your refund policy includes an introductory period of 14 or 30 days, you will have difficulty getting a refund if you exceed this time limit.
- payment method: Sometimes, your payment method may prevent you from receiving a refund. For example, Mullvad VPN We do not provide refunds for cash or cryptocurrency payments.
- Policy abuse: If you violate the VPN’s terms of service, your right to a refund will likely be voided. For example, using a VPN to stream content that violates copyright laws may void your eligibility for a refund, depending on your VPN provider’s terms and conditions.
If you encounter these (or other) issues with your VPN refund, you can try contacting your credit card company to dispute the charge, according to Fred Kwongvice president and chief information security officer at DeVry University. If you send your credit card company a screenshot of your money-back guarantee policy, they can likely take it from there and fight for a refund on your behalf.
Tips for a successful refund
There are several ways you can increase your chances of successfully obtaining a VPN recovery.
- Turn off auto-renewal: This will prevent you from being charged for the second month of service, for example, during which it may be difficult to get your money back.
- Act quickly: The sooner you submit your refund request, the more likely it is that it will fall within the acceptable window for refund guarantees.
- Be polite and clear: Anytime you interact with customer service agents, being courteous and patient can go a long way in getting what you want.
- Document everything: Keeping records of your initial purchase, as well as any history of contact with customer support, can be helpful when it comes time to request a refund.
Bottom line
Requesting a VPN refund can be simple, as long as you follow the service providers’ terms and conditions and submit your request within the allotted introductory period.
However, it is important to be aware of the finer details before signing up for any service. By doing this, you can be confident that if or when you want your money back, you’ve met the requirements to get it quickly and easily.
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