Tech / Technology

Best cheap VPN in November 2023 (UK)

Posted on:

The best cheap VPNs deals, including popular services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark.
NordVPN on phone

The best VPNs aren’t necessarily the most expensive. Some of the best VPNs are actually really affordable, which is great news for anyone looking to secure cheap online security, data protection, and increased streaming options.

You have come to the right place if you’re looking for a premium VPN with advanced features, without the big price tag. We’ve lined up some great value options for absolutely everyone, and there is no need to compromise on security, connection speed, customer support, or anything else.

But first, there are a few things we need to cover.

What is a VPN?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide valuable protection for your data and identity when you’re navigating the online world. How do they do this? VPNs offer online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address and makes all of your information unreadable.

All of your activity is untraceable and secure, because your online traffic passes through an encrypted tunnel. Everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware. VPNs are primarily designed to provide online security, but there is another reason that millions of people use these services.

VPNs can also be used to stream movies and shows from around the world, and the process is actually really simple. We’ve already mentioned how VPNs provide anonymity by hiding your real IP address. Well, this technique can also be used to manipulate the streaming market. By hiding your real IP address and connecting you to a server in another location, you can trick your favourite streaming sites into thinking that you are based in a different country. This provides access to all the extra content that would normally be restricted in your location.

Should you use free VPNs?

The question that everyone wants an answer to is whether you actually need to pay for a VPN. There are plenty of free VPNs out there, but do these offer the features you need to browse, shop, and stream securely? Unfortunately, there is often a catch with free versions (usually in the form of a limitation on your data usage or connection speed).

Occasional users will probably be satisfied with a free VPN, but if you’re going to be streaming or downloading on a regular basis, you should look elsewhere. The only exception to this rule is a free trial. These come without limitations, but obviously don’t tend to last for a long time.

The conclusion is that the best option for securing your data and streaming more content from around the world is with a paid subscription. The sad fact is that you’ll have to pay to gain access to advanced security features without limitations on your usage. It’s not all bad news though, because there are plenty of cheap plans out there, especially if you’re willing to commit to a lengthy contract.

What should you consider before subscribing to a VPN?

The process of actually selecting a VPN can be seriously tricky, especially if you don’t know what to consider. Most of the best VPNs offer many of the same features with similar packages, so it’s important to know what matters.

To make your life a little bit easier, we have shortlisted a few things to consider before making any sort of decision:

  • Network size and location — The best VPNs offer a large network of geographically diverse servers. The more servers (and server locations) offered by a VPN, the more likely you are to find a reliable and fast connection. This is also particularly important for streaming, as you should always be able to connect to a server in the country with the content you want to watch.

  • Trustworthiness — We recommend finding an experienced provider with a strong track record and a clear privacy policy. It’s important that your VPN of choice guarantees your data won’t be logged or collected. If it isn’t obvious what happens to your data, you should steer clear.

  • Jurisdiction — It’s a good idea to look for VPNs based in the British Virgin Islands, Panama, Switzerland, and other privacy-friendly countries. VPNs based in countries that fall under the jurisdiction of the intelligence-sharing alliances should be avoided: the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Spain. VPNs in these countries can be forced by authorities to collect and hand over user data.

  • Customer support — VPNs can be difficult to understand if you’re not an experienced user, and even if you are, problems can occur. Whether you’re a total beginner or not, customer support is key for dealing with any potential issues that might arise. You should also consider whether customer support is offered by phone, email, or web chat.

Make sure you carefully consider these features before deciding on the VPN that suits you and your lifestyle. Once you have narrowed down your options, you can begin the process of finding the best deals.

What is the best VPN?

We’re sorry to burst your bubble, but there isn’t one VPN that stands above all the rest. The best VPN for you really comes down to your own set of personal preferences. Once you find a few options that tick your boxes, you need to consider the best deals.

We have reached out to partners in order to provide you with market-leading prices on VPN subscriptions, with performance and security in mind. All of these VPN services have been handpicked not only because of the prices and deals on offer, but because they all offer the most important features to protect your online data and identity.

There are also plenty of services to consider on this list if your priority is unlocking streaming sites like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. Online security should always be the priority, but we know that many subscribers use these services to unlock more content from around the world. We get it, and we’re here to help.

These are the best deals on cheap VPNs in 2023.

Tech / Technology

Best web hosting deal: As low as $15 for life

Posted on:

Save on a lifetime of iBrave Cloud Web Hosting at the Mashable Shop.
woman sitting at desk working on laptop

TL;DR: If you need a place to host your website, this new-user offer on three different tiers of iBrave Cloud Web Hosting gives you a reliable place at a significant discount for a limited time. Choose from hosting for one website for $14.97, 10 websites for $29.97, or unlimited websites for $69.97 for life — that’s up to 94% off through Nov. 9.


Whether you’re launching a personal blog, a small business website, or a global e-commerce platform, a reliable and secure online presence is a must. And a web host like iBrave can help you do that. For a limited time, you can choose from three different iBrave lifetime subscriptions to suit your needs — and save some money while doing so.

Created by experts with over 20 years of experience, iBrave was made to ensure your website is always fast, available, and secure. It has a user-friendly control panel featuring over 80 one-click install apps, including WordPress. And the load-balanced platform was made to ensure that your website won’t crash because of what someone else is doing.

These options include unlimited monthly bandwidth, subdomains, SSD storage, MySQL databases, and email addresses. Lifetime access to iBrave gets you daily backups and antivirus and antispam protection to help keep things safe. However, the amount of websites included is the main difference between them. 

This offer is only available to new users and does not include free unlimited domain names. A domain is required, which customers can obtain by buying a new domain or using an existing one.

Pick a plan that suits your needs best and order by November 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get these reduced prices on a lifetime subscription:

• iBrave Cloud Web Hosting (unlimited websites), on sale for $69.97 (reg. $899).
iBrave Cloud Professional Web Hosting (ten websites), on sale for $29.97 (reg. $539).
iBrave Cloud Startup Web Hosting (one website), on sale for $14.97 (reg. $179).

Prices subject to change.


iBrave Hosing logo with two tablets

Credit: iBrave Hosting

Tech / Technology

Best Black Friday Kindle Unlimited deal: 67% off (UK)

Posted on:

A three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited is on sale for £9.49 this Black Friday, saving you 67% on list price.
Kindle in hands

TL;DR: A three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited is on sale for £9.49 this Black Friday, saving you 67% on list price.



Kindle Unlimited logo

Credit: Kindle Unlimited

Black Friday feels like a long way away, but it’s really not. The deals are already dropping, which means you should be shopping.

Until Nov. 27, a three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited is on sale for under £10. This Black Friday deal saves you 67% on list price. That’s a significant saving on a service that offers so much.

A Kindle Unlimited subscription provides access to over 1 million titles, thousands of audiobooks, and selected magazine subscriptions available on any device. You can read anytime and on any device with the Kindle app.

After the three-month promotional period, your subscription will automatically renew for £9.49 per month. You can cancel this automatic renewal function at anytime though, so there’s no pressure to pay anything more than the deal price. If you know that you won’t want to renew, we recommend doing this right away.

Get three months of Kindle Unlimited for under £10 this Black Friday.

Tech / Technology

Best hookup apps and dating sites for casual sex: Updated for October 2023

Posted on:

Looking for a hookup? Here are the best apps to find a casual fling or a one-night stand.
Cartoon graphic of a person on a dating app.

It may be cuffing season, but year-round, casual dating, hookup culture, and no-strings-attached relationships are pretty common. In this new era of dating, hookup apps are on just about everyone’s smartphone. And for good reason. You watch TV on demand (thank you Netflix) and your food can be ordered and delivered to your door while you sit on the couch (hello Uber Eats), so why would finding a potential partner be any different?

What is hookup culture?

The phrase “hookup culture” refers to casual sex or uncommitted sexual encounters — you know, good old-fashioned consensual sex just for the sake of it.

Way back when, before dating apps became a thing, people would rely on chance encounters or social gatherings (mainly parties or bars) to meet someone new to have a casual fling with. (How archaic!) But now, with the plethora of dating and hookup apps available, we’ve found ourselves firmly in what I’d like to call our hookup culture era, and finding a partner is as easy as swiping right on a profile photo.

The dedicated hookup app is a gateway to hot instant gratification, and the coolest thing is that you can decide where to find your fling and how much or little you’d like to know about the person before getting down and dirty.

What makes a good hookup app?

The best hookup apps don’t have to be a one-and-done situation. Sure, things can be kept as anonymous as taking a nameless person home from the bar, but there’s also nothing wrong with ensuring that the person getting to see you naked doesn’t have the world’s worst sense of humor. Plus, getting along well with a hookup, even if you’re not looking for anything serious or exclusive, can help if you are looking for a regular friends-with-benefits situation.

Though many of these hookup apps make it obvious that people are looking for *that,* people on more generalized dating apps can avoid a lot of messiness if a heads-up about intentions is given within the first few DMs. Many apps even include an option to mark what you’re looking for so your intentions can be clear from the get-go.

Basically, there’s no one “best hookup app”, but you’ll probably also want to skip any apps that feature a 10-minute questionnaire about romance and future families or ones that require expensive subscriptions intended for people who want long-term relationships.

Photos are also a huge factor in good hookup apps. Some apps and dating sites hide people’s pics unless you have a paid subscription, and we don’t really love that — for physical attraction reasons and safety reasons. Apps that show the full view of someone’s profile are the way to go.

Whether you want to pay for a hookup app is totally up to you, but we will say Tinder and Hinge have great free versions. You can likely find a hookup by the weekend without paying a cent.

Whether you’re looking for casual sex or are simply looking to exchange nudes, here are our picks for the best hookup apps right now:

Tech / Technology

Alexa turns nine: Save with Amazon device deals

Posted on:

Ring in nine years of Amazon Alexa with these deals on Amazon devices today, Nov. 3. at Amazon.
photo collage of amazon devices including Amazon Fire Max, Kindle Scribe, Amazon Fire TV, and Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Blink doorbell camera

Amazon is celebrating nine years of Amazon Alexa. To ring in the occasion, tons of Amazon devices are on sale for seriously competitive prices.

Best Amazon Alexa birthday celebration deals


Best Amazon Fire Tablet Deal

Amazon Fire Max 11 Tablet

$149.99 at Amazon
(save $80)

Amaxon Fire Max 11 tablet


Best Amazon Echo Deal

Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)

$39.99 at Amazon
(save $50)

Echo Show 5


Best Fire TV Deal

INSIGNIA 50-inch Fire TV

$199.99 at Amazon
(save $100)

INSIGNIA 50-inch Fire TV


Best Kindle Deal

Kindle Scribe


Best Home Security Deal

Blink Mini

$39.99 at Amazon
(save $60)

Set of three Blink Mini cameras

It’s been nearly a decade since Amazon’s Alexa came into our lives, streamlining our homes with hands-free voice command technology. To celebrate the occasion, the retailer has launched a sale on Amazon devices that work with Alexa, from Fire TVs to tablets, Kindles, and Echo devices. The sale launched today, Nov. 3, and will run until Alexa’s official birthday on Nov. 6.

Some of these deals match the prices we saw last month over Prime Day (we’ve marked these with a 💰), while others have dropped to new all-time lows (we’ve marked these with a 🔥). With Black Friday around the corner, we’ll likely see some of these deals (or very similar ones) pop back up after this sale is over. However, since many of these gadgets are at their record-low price, we recommend scooping up the ones you want sooner rather than later just to be safe.

Happy birthday, Alexa!

Best Bundle deal

Why we love it

As if our favorite Amazon Devices going on sale wasn’t cause for celebration enough, the sale also includes hard-to-top bundles, such as this one that includes an Amazon Fire TV stick and remote, plus a Blink video doorbell. Normally, this bundle retails for $119.98: it’s a fantastic deal for anyone who wants to integrate more smart-home technology into their lives without investing in a ton of new gear. With the Fire TV stick, you can access new worlds of streaming without having to invest in a new TV or a bunch of streaming subscriptions. Meanwhile, the Blink video doorbell increases your home’s security, and all you need is your smartphone to get it up and running.

More great Amazon bundle deals

Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) with free smart color bulb$39.99 $109.98 (save $69.99) 🔥

Blink Whole Home Bundle$101.98 $214.97 (save $112.99) 💰

Best Amazon Fire Tablet deal


Amazon Fire Max 11 Tablet

$149.99 at Amazon (save $80)



Why we love it

At $64.99, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet is at back down to its lowest price on record, which we saw last month for Prime Day. With an 11-inch display screen, an octa-core processor, 64GB of storage, and a 14-hour battery life, this is Amazon’s most formidable tablet yet, proving itself a worthy alternative to the iPad. If you already use Alexa-controlled devices across your home, then this tablet is an even greater resource: it can connect with all of your Amazon smart home devices, acting as an efficient control hub that you can easily manipulate through voice commands. The cherry on top of the savings is that you also get three free months of Microsoft 365 Personal when you buy. (Just be sure to cancel before the trial is over if you don’t want to get charged!)

More great Amazon Fire Tablet deals

Amazon Fire Kids tablet $54.99 $109.99 (save $55)💰

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $74.99 $149.99 (save $75)💰

Amazon Fire HD Kids Pro tablet$119.99 $199.99 (save $80)💰

Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus tablet — $94.99 $179.99 (save $85)💰

Best Amazon Echo deal


Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)

$39.99 at Amazon (save $50)



Why we love it

The Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) has some new features, including totally revamped sound. It brings two times the bass, plus has enhanced vocal clarity. Streaming music from your Amazon devices has never sounded so good. With a display size of 5.5 inches, this is one of the smaller Echo Show models, making it favorable for those rooms in your house where you want the benefit of a smart entertainment hub without it taking over the space —like your home office or bedroom. At just $39.99, this price brings us right back to Prime Day.

More great Amazon Echo deals

Amazon Echo Show 8$59.99 $129.99 (save $70)💰

Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids$44.99 $99.99 (save $50)💰

Certified Refurbished Echo Studio$134.99 $179.99 (save $45)💰

Best Fire TV Deal


INSIGNIA 50-inch Fire TV

$199.99 at Amazon (save $100)



Why we love it

At a record-low price of $199.99, this INSIGNIA 50-inch Fire TV has beat even its Prime Day price. While the savings certainly draw us to this deal, it’s not the only reason we love this TV. With 4K HD, you can stream your favorite shows and movies with enhanced clarity and resolution, granting you an even more immersive experience. Plus, this TV’s sound is just as superb as its visuals. Thanks to a built-in audio enhancement suite, audio feels ultra-realistic and expands your room’s sense of space. Being a Fire TV, you can also take advantage of voice control and thousands of streaming apps and channels.

More great Amazon Fire TV deals

Toshiba 43-inch Amazon Fire TV$189.99 $279.99 (save $80)🔥

Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-series Fire TV$309.99 $449.99 (save $140)

Amazon Fire 65-inch Fire TV Omni Series 4K$599.99 $759.99 (save $160)

Best Kindle deal

Why we love it

Kindle Scribes aren’t cheap: new models are listed on Amazon for upwards of $360. If you’re in the market, we recommend shopping for Certified Refurbished: especially as today’s sale takes the price to under $250. The Kindle Scribe does it all: whether you want to download and read your favorite books, draw and sketch, or journal and take notes, this digital notebook is your hub for your creative endeavors. There have also been some pretty cool updates made, including more brush types, the ability to create folders and subfolders, and an import function that lets you send documents straight from Microsoft Word.

More great Amazon Kindle deals

Kindle Scribe (16 GB)$204.99 $284.99 (save $80)

Kindle Scribe (16 GB)$234.99 $309.99 (save $75)

Best home security deal


Blink Mini

$39.99 at Amazon 9save $60)



Why we love it

With Blink Mini, you not only get to glimpse what’s going on in your home when you’re not there, but it also lets you talk back and forth, just like you’re there. Whether you have pets, children, or guests, this can be a great way to stay in touch and have peace of mind while you’re away. This set comes with three indoor cameras, and when you take the savings into account, that comes out to just $13.33 per camera. The only other time we’ve seen the price this good was over Prime Day. If you’re curious about indoor home security, now is the time to give it a try.

More great home security deals

Blink Mini Pan-Tilt camera$29.99 $50.99 (save $30)💰

Blink Video Doorbell + 2 Outdoor (3rd Gen) camera system$119.98 $239.98 (save $120)🔥

Blink Outdoor 4 (4th Gen) — $134.99 $269.98 (save $135)💰

Tech / Technology

How to watch ‘Invincible’ Season 2: streaming date, free trials, and more

Posted on:

‘Invincible’ is finally back for another season. Here are the best ways to watch it, including free trials and deals on Amazon Prime Video.
still from Invincible season 2

Quick links for watching ‘Invincible’ Season 2 on Amazon Prime Video:

BEST FOR NEW USERS

Amazon Prime trial

free for 30 days

Amazon Prime Video logo


BEST FOR STUDENTS

Amazon Prime Student

6-month free trial, then $69/year

Amazon Prime Student logo


BEST FOR EVERYONE ELSE

Amazon Prime Video logo

It’s been a long time coming, but Invincible Season 2 has finally arrived. Well, part of it.

After the brilliantly bloody first season, fans have been eagerly awaiting another installment of the animated adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s comics. Starting Nov. 3, you can watch the first of four episodes (part one), released weekly. Season 2 picks up with rookie superhero Mark Grayson (aka Invincible) reeling in the wake of his father Nolan’s (aka Omni-Man’s) betrayal. Mark focuses on rebuilding his life — and finishing high school — in the face of more training, new threats, and inevitably, more bloodshed. Considering the comic spanned from January 2003 to February 2018 with nearly 150 issues, there’s plenty of source material to draw from for Season 2 and beyond.

Here’s a glimpse at what we’re in for in Invincible Season 2:

When is Invincible Season 2 coming out?

Invincible seasons 2 and 3 were greenlit back in April 2021, but delays largely due to COVID shutdowns caused a bit of a struggle in getting the next installments out to fans. It’s been nearly three years since the first season debuted and the time has finally come for Season 2 (well, part of it). Audiences can tune into Invincible Season 2 starting on Friday, Nov. 3. Its first four episodes will be released weekly until Friday, Dec. 1. The other four episodes will arrive in early 2024, but the exact date has not been announced.

What streaming service is Invincible on?

Sorry, Netflix users. Invincible is an Amazon Prime Video original series, thus it can only be watched on Amazon’s streaming service. If you’re already an Amazon Prime subscriber, you’re good to go — just sign into your account, navigate to Prime Video and the first episode will be waiting for you starting Nov. 3. If not, we’ve got you covered with the best ways to save money on a subscription.

Can I get Amazon Prime Video for free?

The million-dollar question we all want the answer to: how can you watch Invincible Season 2 for free? I’m happy to tell you that there is a way. But unfortunately, you can only take advantage of it if you haven’t been a Prime user in over a year (or ever). Otherwise, you can score a discounted subscription if you’re a student (or still have access to a .edu email address) or simply subscribe to Prime Video only (not a full Prime subscription) to save some money. We’ve unraveled all the details for you below.

Best for newbies: Amazon Prime Video free trial


Amazon Prime Video trial

Free for 30 days for new and returning users



In a time where free trials are disappearing left and right, it’s refreshing to know that Amazon still offers a 30-day trial of its Prime membership to new and returning users. If you’ve never subscribed to Prime in the past or you canceled or paused your membership over a year ago, you can take advantage of the free month of service. You’ll get all of the Prime perks a paid member gets for those 30 days — including access to Prime Video to watch Invincible seasons 1 and 2 — despite not paying a cent. Plus, you can take advantage of the benefits of a Prime membership for Amazon’s Black Friday sales. Just be sure to cancel your trial before the 30 days are up if you want to avoid charges.

Best for students: Amazon Prime Student


Amazon Prime Student

6-month free trial, then $69/year



Students with an active .edu email address can score the mother of all deals on Prime by subscribing to an Amazon Prime Student account. You’ll get your first six months completely free, which gives you access to not only Prime Video, but also plenty of other goodies like free food delivery through GrubHub+, a free three-month trial of Calm, discounted Amazon Music and Kindle subscriptions, as well as the usual Prime perks. After your six free months, it’ll only cost you $69/year (reg. $139/year) — that’s 50% in savings — so long as you keep your student status. Cancel any time. The best part about the six-month trial is that you’ll be able to watch parts 1 and 2 of Invincible Season 2 for free.

Best for everyone else: Amazon Prime Video only

What most people probably don’t realize is that you can subscribe to Amazon Prime Video without subscribing to Amazon Prime. For those who aren’t eligible for the free trial, this is your best bet for saving some money and watching Invincible Season 2. Rather than paying $14.99/month for Prime, you can sign up for a month of Prime Video only for just $8.99. That saves you $6 per month, which definitely adds up. Plus, you can cancel at any time with no commitment. This won’t necessarily save you money, but it’ll keep you from wasting it once the season is over.