The internet has given us a multitude of online products and services to choose from. From Netflix to Amazon Prime, and even Disney Plus, there are several different options for entertainment. There’s the same kind of variety when it comes to sports live streaming, education, and just about anything else you can think of.
These online services have changed the world massively, but they can be costly. These different services can add up very quickly and start to hurt your wallet after a while. Then there are the regular price increases that you also have to keep in mind, especially when all the different companies inflate their prices at the same time.
However, there is a way that you can get some discounts on all of these products and services. You just need the help of a handy cybersecurity tool that can be installed on your device. The cybersecurity tool that you need is a virtual private network, also known as a VPN for short. If you want to find some of the best VPNs for discounted online services, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about unlocking these cheaper subscriptions.
Subscription Prices Differ Around the World,
Believe it or not, the monthly subscription fees that users pay for online products and services differ depending on your geographical location. You might find that they are cheaper in some countries compared to others. It’s not a mistake or a scam, it’s just smart business!
If you’re in the United States, or another first-world country you’ll find that the prices are much higher. The subscription fees charged in these countries are inflated because the companies can benefit from a larger profit margin, but they can still be assured that they will sell their product or service. That’s because first-world countries usually have stronger currencies, their residents have higher salaries, and they also have more disposable income available to them to use. In other words, people have more money to spend on online products and services.
On the other hand, you’ll find that the prices for online subscriptions are significantly lower in third-world countries. In some cases, you might find a sports streaming service that’s as much as 70% cheaper in a third-world country compared to a first-world country! It comes down to the fact that third-world countries often have weaker currencies, and the residents need to deal with less disposable income due to smaller salaries. This means that companies need to reduce their prices if they want to generate more sales in these countries (even if it is at a smaller profit margin).
The same price inflation concept is used by websites that allow you to book flights and accommodation. This means that you might have been overpaying for your holidays in the past, and there is a way that you can get massive discounts on your next trip!
Before we get into the cybersecurity tool that’s going to help you save a fortune, it’s important to understand how these websites know where you’re accessing them from. Websites use your IP address to determine your device’s geographic location. An IP address is a unique string of numbers that is used to identify your device on the internet. Keep this in mind, because it’s going to be important when we discuss VPNs in the next section.
Use a VPN to Get Discounts
The cybersecurity tool that you need to install on your device is a VPN. VPNs are designed to encrypt your internet connection, allowing you to browse the internet anonymously without having to worry about government surveillance or falling victim to cybercrime such as digital eavesdropping on unsecured networks. Unfortunately, though, this won’t save you money. It’s a different VPN feature that’s going to help you save some extra cash!
VPNs have several secure servers that you can connect to. Each of these servers is located in different cities and countries around the world. When you connect to one of these servers, your internet traffic will be routed through it. The VPN will hide your real IP address, and since your internet traffic is being routed through the VPN server, it will appear as if your device is accessing the internet from the country where the server is located.
In essence, this will change your device’s virtual location, even without changing your physical location. All you need to do is connect to a server in a different country to see how it affects the prices of the online subscriptions you want to buy, or the flights and accommodation you want to book. For example, if you’re in the United States, try connecting to a VPN server in Kenya to see how it affects the price of the service you’re looking for.
One important factor to keep in mind is that not all subscription fees change in different countries. Some subscriptions have the same prices across the entire world. Also bear in mind that some products and services might be available in all countries, and you might experience geo-blocking when trying to buy subscriptions using a VPN server in a foreign country.
Make Sure to Use the Right VPN
There are hundreds of VPNs available on the market. You need to make sure that you choose the right VPN otherwise you won’t be able to get cheaper subscriptions.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that you should always use a premium VPN as opposed to a free one. It’s tempting to use a free VPN (we are talking about saving money after all), but it’s not worth it!
Free VPNs have an extremely limited selection of global servers to choose from, which means that you will struggle to jump between different virtual locations to find the best possible price for your online subscriptions. Free VPNs also have slow connection speeds, which will lead to a frustrating browsing experience as you have to wait for websites to load.
As if that wasn’t enough, VPNs also come with daily bandwidth limitations that prevent you from using more than 500 MB of data per day. Once your data runs out, you can’t use the VPN anymore, which will leave you unable to explore different websites or use the products and services you just bought.
