The refund rules in one table
Every cell below comes from the provider's own terms or help page, read on the date shown in the sources. Where a page is silent, the cell says so. A missing rule is not a promise that something is refundable.
| Provider | Window | Who qualifies | App-store purchases | Payment methods excluded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 30 days from first purchase [1] | Initial subscription only; renewals not eligible unless local law requires [1] | Apple: refund via Apple, not NordVPN. Google Play: NordVPN can refund, or Google Play within 48 hours. Amazon and retailers: contact them [1] | Not stated [1] |
| Proton VPN | 30 days from initial purchase; full refund [4] | Once per user; cancellation and request both inside 30 days; bought via Proton's website or apps [4] | Apple: cancel, then reportaproblem.apple.com. Google Play: Proton support or Google Play [3] | Cash and bank transfer [3][4] |
| ExpressVPN | 30 calendar days from initial purchase [5] | New subscribers only; not renewals or redemption codes such as gift cards [5] | In-app sign-ups via Apple App Store or Google Play have no access to the guarantee [5] | Not stated; some promotions excluded [5] |
| Surfshark | 30 days from initial purchase [6] | Initial purchase of each service, one refund per service; recurring payments non-refundable [6] | Not addressed in the refund section; resellers other than Paddle, Google Play or Cleverbridge refund their own sales [6] | Prepaid and gift card payments [6] |
| Mullvad | 14 days from payment [7] | Not further limited on the page [7] | App Store and resellers: request from them [7] | Cash and crypto [7] |
Add-ons, upgrades and business plans
Add-ons are where buyers get caught. A guarantee written for a first subscription often says nothing about a dedicated IP bought later, or excludes it outright.
| Provider | Rule found | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Dedicated IP bought in Nord Account auto-renews; cancelling auto-renewal is not a refund; coupon-bought dedicated IPs do not auto-renew [2]. The refund policy page has no add-on rules [1] | Ask support about an add-on refund before you buy, not after |
| ExpressVPN | Upgrading to a longer term or adding licenses does not create a new guarantee period; the section does not mention dedicated IP [5] | Try the plan you want first, rather than upgrading near day 30 |
| Surfshark | Choosing the anonymous Dedicated IP option makes that purchase non-refundable; Alternative ID purchases are non-refundable [6] | Treat these as final sales |
| Proton | Business subscribers are not acting as consumers, and statutory withdrawal rights do not apply to the extent the law allows [4] | A business plan is a weaker position than a personal one |
| Mullvad | After 14 days, remaining time can under some conditions be refunded [7] | Late requests are possible but not promised |
How long the money takes to come back
NordVPN says a refund shows as processing for up to a few hours (up to 4 hours after a system change) and funds can take up to 10 business days to reach you [1]. Proton's help page lists 5 to 10 business days for cards, 1 to 2 working days for PayPal and Bitcoin, about 5 to 10 days for App Store refunds and about 3 to 5 days for Play Store refunds [3]. Its terms allow up to 30 days and refund only in the original currency to the original method [4].
ExpressVPN says refunds are generally processed within seven days to the original form of payment. Non-crypto refunds are sent in US dollars, so a non-USD purchase may come back as a different amount. Crypto refunds go back in the same coin and amount [5]. Surfshark may hold a refund until it has verified your account and refunds crypto in the same coin, for the purchase's US dollar value at the exchange rate on the refund date [6]. With volatile coins, those two rules can give quite different results.
Why app-store purchases change the deal
When you subscribe inside an iPhone or Android app, the store is the seller. Apple's refund page says some purchases might be eligible, you request through reportaproblem.apple.com, and you should wait 24 to 48 hours for an update [8]. That is a request, not a guarantee. Google's policy page says contacting the developer is often the quickest route, and lists partial subscription refunds as available only in Israel, France or Germany [9].
Among these providers, ExpressVPN is the clearest case: an in-app sign-up has no access to its 30-day guarantee [5]. If you want a VPN provider's own guarantee to apply, buy on its website and install the app afterward.
Worked example: testing a VPN on a travel router before a trip
Say you leave in 21 days and want a VPN on your travel router. With a 30-day window, buying today leaves 9 days of the window after departure. With Mullvad's 14 days from payment, the window closes a week before you leave. You would have to do all testing at home, or buy closer to the trip and test in the first days away.
Either way, do the router setup in the first week: install the profile, run a leak test, and connect from a captive-portal network such as a café. If it fails, you are still well inside the window. Then set a calendar reminder a few days before the renewal date. Three of the five providers exclude renewals outright [1][5][6].
| Day | Action | Window left (30-day / Mullvad 14-day) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Buy on the provider's website, not in an app store | 30 / 14 |
| 1 to 3 | Set up the router profile; run DNS, IPv6 and kill-switch tests | 27 to 29 / 11 to 13 |
| 7 | Test on a captive-portal network and a phone hotspot | 23 / 7 |
| 13 | Request a Mullvad refund by now; the window ends 14 days after payment [7] | 17 / 1 |
| 21 | Departure | 9 / closed |
| 29 | Last full day to request a 30-day refund | 1 / closed |
Checklist before you pay
Run through these before entering card details. Each one comes from a rule in the table above.
- Buy on the website if you may want a refund; app-store sign-ups follow the store's rules [1][5][8].
- Avoid cash, bank transfer, gift cards and prepaid cards if a refund matters; several providers do not refund them [3][6][7].
- If you pay in crypto, check whether the refund comes back in coin at the original amount or at the refund-date rate [5][6].
- Do not add a dedicated IP or alternative-ID add-on during the trial period unless you accept it as a final sale [2][6].
- Note the renewal date and turn off auto-renewal if you are unsure; renewals are excluded at NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark [1][5][6].
- Proton allows one refund per user, so do not plan on a second trial later [4].
Questions before you decide
Can I get a refund on a VPN renewal?
Usually not. NordVPN says a subscription is no longer eligible once it renews unless local law requires otherwise. ExpressVPN excludes renewal purchases, and Surfshark says all recurring payments are non-refundable. Cancel auto-renewal before the renewal date if you do not plan to keep the service.
I bought the VPN through the Apple App Store. Who refunds me?
Apple. NordVPN says it cannot refund App Store payments, Proton tells you to cancel in your Apple Account and then use reportaproblem.apple.com, and ExpressVPN says in-app sign-ups do not get its 30-day guarantee. Apple's page says some purchases might be eligible and to wait 24 to 48 hours for an update.
Can I claim Proton's 30-day refund twice?
No. Proton's terms say refunds can only be requested once per user, and both the cancellation and the refund request must be made within 30 days of the initial purchase.
Does cancelling NordVPN's dedicated IP give me money back?
Not by itself. NordVPN's dedicated IP page says cancelling auto-renewal in your Nord Account is not a refund and refers to the general refund policy. Dedicated IPs bought with a coupon code do not auto-renew at all.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- NordVPN Help Center: What is your refund policy? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Help Center: Dedicated IP renewal and cancellation Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Proton VPN: How to cancel a Proton VPN subscription Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Proton: Terms of Service (section 9, Terms of Payment) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- ExpressVPN: Terms of Service Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Surfshark: Terms of Service Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Mullvad: Terms of service Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Apple Support: Request a refund for apps or content that you bought from Apple Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Google Play Help: Learn about Google Play refund policies Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.