Huge Backlash After VPNSecure Cancels All VPN Lifetime Plans
The VPN deactivated all lifetime plans at the end of April, leading to a massive outcry on Reddit and Trustpilot.
Written by Jackie Leavitt (Co-Chief Editor)
Reviewed by Aleksander Hougen (Co-Chief Editor)
Last Updated:
Thousands of VPNSecure accounts were deactivated, with users being notified by an email that included a renewal offer.
According to the email, VPNSecure’s current owner purchased the VPN two years ago in May 2023 and claims the previous owner didn’t disclose thousands of lifetime users. The new owners discovered these users a couple months after the purchase.
VPNSecure claims that these lifetime deal accounts (LTDs) put a strain on the company’s resources, “providing no sustaining income to help us improve and maintain the service.”
VPNSecure began by deactivating any account that had been dormant for over six months before moving on to the rest of the lifetime plans. There have been no reports of refunds, but the email shares an “exclusive renewal offer” valid until May 31, 2025: $55 for three years, or $19 for one year.
VPNSecure Backlash
Massive backlash has erupted from former VPNSecure lifetime users, with many voicing skepticism about the company’s ignorance to the lifetime plans.
At the time of writing, VPNSecure’s Trustpilot score is 1.2 stars, with 84% of the 570 reviews being 1 star. Many are using Trustpilot to vent their frustration, and — to its credit — VPNSecure has been replying to each comment.
Following the backlash on Reddit and Trustpilot, VPNSecure sent another email to lifetime users with more details. According to VPNSecure’s owners, their “asset-only” acquisition netted them “the tech, the brand, and the infrastructure/technology—but none of the company, contracts, payments, or obligations from the previous owners.”
Some users were quick to point out the digital breadcrumbs of VPNSecure’s lifetime plans discoverable through a Google or Wayback Machine search, including this VPNSecure 2018 lifetime deal. However, lifetime subscriptions were offered largely through third parties, such as StackSocial and Wccftech, the latter of which offered lifetime deals for $39 in 2016.
InfiniteQuant CEO Romain Brabant explained to The Register: “The technical debt and server costs associated with supporting a legacy promise made many years ago became unsustainable for a modern VPN infrastructure.”
Be Careful With Lifetime Deals
This drama emphasizes the dangers of lifetime subscriptions — users might expect to have a service for their life, but usually these deals last only as long as the company’s life. Cloudwards does not know of any lifetime VPN deal being offered by any reputable VPN service — though there are cloud storage lifetime deals that you can trust.
Despite VPNSecure’s renewal offer to former lifetime users, it’s clear from the backlash that many see this as a violation of trust and a burned bridge. If you’re looking for a VPNSecure alternative, check out our best VPN guide for trustworthy and affordable VPN options.