VPN bundles and extras
Most big VPNs now sell a ladder of plans, each adding another app: antivirus, a password manager, cloud storage. Here's what each step adds, which extras don't apply in Australia, and what they cost over three years.
Last updated 8 Oct 2026
The short version
- The cheapest plan has the whole VPN. The dearer ones add other apps, not a better VPN.
- Some headline extras, like data removal and identity theft insurance, are for US or European residents only.
- A bundle is worth it only if you'd otherwise pay for those apps, and would use these ones.
What the dearer plans cost
Each provider's plans on the same plan length, with the 3-year cost including renewals, in Australian dollars (≈ means an estimate from US dollars). The last column is how much more each plan costs per month than the cheapest, averaged over 3 years.
Surfshark, 2-year plans
| Plan | What it adds | 3-year cost | Extra a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | The VPN, CleanWeb ad blocking and Alternative ID (email aliases). | $228.21 | – |
| One | Adds antivirus, Alert (data breach alerts) and scam protection. | $271.62 | +$1.21 |
| One+ | Adds Incogni data removal and identity theft cover, neither of which is open to Australian residents. | $374.44 | +$4.06 |
Plan contents from Surfshark. Prices are from our latest daily check.
NordVPN, 2-year plans
| Plan | What it adds | 3-year cost | Extra a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | The VPN. | $348.05 | – |
| Complete | Adds malware protection, a password manager, 1 TB of cloud storage and data breach monitoring. | $504.14 | +$4.34 |
| Complete Max | On the Australian pricing page, the same extras as Complete. Its data removal and identity cover are for other countries only. | $714.02 | +$10.17 |
Plan contents from NordVPN. Prices are from our latest daily check.
Proton VPN, 2-year plans
| Plan | What it adds | 3-year cost | Extra a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plus | The VPN, NetShield ad blocking, and the free versions of Proton Mail, Drive and Pass. | $268.44 | – |
| Proton Unlimited | Adds Proton Pass Plus (password manager, unlimited email aliases, dark web monitoring), Mail Plus and 500 GB of storage. | $498.84 | +$6.40 |
Plan contents from Proton VPN. Prices are from our latest daily check.
ExpressVPN, 2-year plans
| Plan | What it adds | 3-year cost | Extra a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | The VPN, ad and malicious-site blocking, and 10 email aliases. | ≈ $289.87 | – |
| Advanced | Adds tracker blocking, the ExpressKeys password manager, more email aliases and a small travel eSIM. Its Identity Defender is for US customers only. | ≈ $387.72 | ≈ +$2.72 |
| Pro | Adds a dedicated IP and unlimited email aliases. | ≈ $646.54 | ≈ +$9.91 |
Plan contents from ExpressVPN. Prices are from our latest daily check.
Extras Australians can't get
The most expensive plans often lead with data removal (asking data brokers to delete your details) and identity theft insurance. Those are mostly for other countries:
- Surfshark's Incogni data removal is for US, UK, EU, Swiss and Canadian residents, and its identity theft cover for US residents only (Surfshark).
- ExpressVPN's Identity Defender (data removal, alerts and insurance) is for US customers only (ExpressVPN).
- NordVPN's data removal and identity theft cover aren't in its Australian plans.
So in the table below, an extra only counts if it's included in a plan at no extra cost and open to Australians. Paid add-ons, like CyberGhost's and PIA's antivirus, don't count.
| VPN | Extras in some plans |
|---|---|
| CyberGhost | Data breach alertsID Guard (data breach alerts, using Have I Been Pwned) comes free with multi-year plans. Antivirus (Security Suite) and the dedicated IP are paid add-ons. |
| ExpressVPN | Password manager and email aliasesAdvanced and Pro include the ExpressKeys password manager. Every plan includes ExpressMailGuard email aliases, with more on dearer plans. Identity Defender (data removal, alerts and insurance) is for US customers only. |
| Mullvad | NoneOne flat plan with no bundled antivirus, password manager or similar. The Mullvad Browser is free and separate. |
| NordVPN | Antivirus, password manager, cloud storage and data breach alertsComplete and Complete Max add malware protection, a password manager, 1 TB of cloud storage and data breach monitoring. Incogni data removal and identity theft cover are for other countries only. |
| Private Internet Access | Data breach alertsCheckout includes a free Email Breach Monitor. Antivirus is a paid add-on, for Windows only. |
| Proton VPN | Password manager, email aliases, data breach alerts and cloud storageProton Unlimited (sold on the VPN pricing page) adds Proton Pass Plus (password manager, unlimited email aliases, dark web monitoring), Mail Plus and 500 GB of storage. VPN Plus gets only the free versions of Pass, Drive and Mail. |
| Surfshark | Antivirus, data breach alerts and email aliasesStarter includes Alternative ID (email aliases). One adds antivirus, Alert (data breach alerts) and scam protection. One+ adds Incogni data removal and identity theft cover, which aren't available to Australian residents. |
Is a bundle worth it?
- Price the parts. If you already pay for a password manager or cloud storage, the bundle may save money. If you don't want them, it's money for nothing.
- Check the renewal. Bundles renew at a higher price too, and the gap between plans often widens at renewal. The 3-year cost above includes it.
- Think about leaving. Your passwords, files and email aliases live with the VPN company. Switching VPN later means moving all of them.
- Windows has antivirus built in. Microsoft Defender comes with Windows. A paid one is a choice, not a necessity.
Mullvad sells one plan with nothing bundled; CyberGhost and PIA one VPN plan each, with a free data breach alert. Their full prices are on the comparison.