Tech / Technology

Best VPN deals in November 2023: Black Friday sales are going live

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Here’s a roundup of the best VPN deals for November 2023. Using a VPN is an easy way to bypass geo-restrictions, protect company data while working remotely, and browse privately on public WiFi networks.
an over-the-shoulder view of a man using a vpn on a laptop

UPDATE: Nov. 2, 2023, 11:20 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest and greatest VPN deals.

Best VPN deals this week:

Best roster of features

NordVPN Standard (2 years + 3 months)

$2.99/month
(save $10/month)

the nordvpn logo


Most globally diverse server network

ExpressVPN (1 year + 3 months)

$6.67/month
(save $6.28/month)

the expressvpn logo


Best for privacy wonks

Proton VPN Plus (30 months)

$3.99/month
(save $6/month)

the proton vpn logo


Best for streaming

CyberGhost VPN (2 years + 3 months)

$2.11/month
(save $10.88/month)

the cyberghost vpn logo


Best for VPN newbies

TunnelBear Unlimited (1 year)

$3.33/month
(save $6.66/month)

the tunnelbear logo

Using a virtual private network (or VPN) is an easy way to bypass geo-restrictions on streaming and gaming content, protect company data while working remotely, and browse privately on public WiFi networks. Most providers’ plans cost anywhere from $2 to $13 per month, though many lure customers in with discounted introductory rates that skyrocket after your initial term. To help you lock in a plan that’ll fit your budget in the short and long run, we’re compiling a weekly roundup of the best deals on all the VPNs we’ve personally tested. Below, you can check out our top picks as of November 2.

NordVPN

Power users shouldn’t think twice about signing up for NordVPN, an industry giant that bundles its highly customizable VPN service with advanced security features like Tor access, a dark web monitor, and malware protection. New users can sign up for a two-year Standard plan at just $2.99/month (billed $80.73 upfront) during its Black Friday sale, which is 77% off its usual $12.99/month rate and its cheapest price of the year. (If you don’t see that discount reflected, try pulling up the NordVPN website in an incognito window.) The plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and renews annually at $8.29/month after your first term ends.

Optional add-ons include:

Read Mashable’s review of NordVPN.

ExpressVPN


the expressvpn logo

Credit: ExpressVPN


ExpressVPN (1 year + 3 months)

$6.67/month (save $6.28/month)



ExpressVPN is a well-established VPN service with a globally diverse server network, a user-friendly app, a built-in tracker blocker, and a strong commitment to user privacy. Its monthly rate also hovers around the high end of the spectrum at $12.95, so we recommend opting for its 15-month plan at $6.67/month (billed $99.95 upfront) — that’s a 49% savings and covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Your subscription will convert to an $8.32/month annual plan after the first term is up.

Read Mashable’s review of ExpressVPN.

Proton VPN


the proton vpn logo

Credit: Proton VPN


Proton VPN Plus (30 months)

$3.99/month (save $6/month)



Proton VPN is another great pick for privacy wonks with open-source apps and ultra-transparent company policies. It offers a decent free plan, but we recommend its Plus tier for full access to its server network, streaming and P2P support, multi-hop, up to 10 simultaneous connections, and Tor access. Monthly subscriptions typically go for $9.99, but you’ll save 60% and pay just $3.99/month (billed $119.70 upfront) if you commit to a 30-month plan during its Black Friday sale. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies here, too.

Read Mashable’s review of Proton VPN.

CyberGhost VPN


the cyberghost vpn logo

Credit: CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost lays claim to a massive network with special servers optimized for streaming, gaming, and P2P to help minimize lag. New customers can sign up for a 27-month plan at just $2.11/month (billed $56.97 upfront), saving 84% on its standard monthly fee of $12.99. Your subscription will renew as a $4.75/month annual plan after the initial term is up, which still isn’t terrible — and like all of CyberGhost’s multi-year plans, it comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee plus free access to its ID Guard and Privacy Guard tools. If you don’t want to commit to anything just yet, you can try CyberGhost for free for up to a week, depending on the platform.

Optional add-ons include:

  • Dedicated IP — $2.50/month $5/month (save 50%) for two years

Read Mashable’s review of CyberGhost VPN.

TunnelBear


the tunnelbear logo

Credit: TunnelBear


TunnelBear Unlimited (1 year)

$3.33/month (save $6.66/month)



Our go-to recommendation for anyone who’s never used the technology before, TunnelBear is a simple, lightweight VPN with an intuitive (and adorable) interface. Though it’s incapable of unblocking international streaming sites, it should serve you well for basic web surfing. Pick its Unlimited plan over the free version for unlimited browsing and priority customer service, which costs $3.33/month (billed $39.99 upfront) when you enroll for one year during its Fall Sale — that’s 67% off its usual $9.99/month rate and its lowest price of the year. (You might have to click through to its “Plans” page to see the offer, FYI.) There’s no money-back guarantee, unfortunately, but refunds are offered on a case-by-case basis.

Read Mashable’s review of TunnelBear.

Private Internet Access (PIA)


the private internet access logo

Credit: Private Internet Access

It’s nothing particularly special, but for users in search of a basic VPN with open-source apps, built-in ad blocking, and unlimited simultaneous connections, PIA is worth a look. You’ll pay only $2.11/month (billed $56.94 upfront) for 27 months of coverage during its lingering Halloween Special Sale, which takes 82% off its regular rate of $11.99/month; that does include a 30-day money-back guarantee. You’ll switch to an annual plan at $4.75/month after the initial term is over.

Optional add-ons include:

Read Mashable’s review of PIA.

IPVanish


the ipvanish logo

Credit: IPVanish


IPVanish (2 years)

$2.99/month (save $10/month)



Another middle-of-the-road pick, IPVanish makes up for a lack of advanced security features with a minimalist, straightforward app and support for unlimited simultaneous connections. You can get your first two years for $2.99/month (billed $71.76 upfront), which shaves 77% off its usual monthly rate of $12.99 and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. After that term is up, you’ll get bumped to $7.50/month on an annual plan.

Read Mashable’s review of IPVanish.

Editor’s note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable’s publisher. Any IPVanish products or services featured on Mashable are covered independently by our team.

Tech / Technology

Black Friday Xbox deals 2023: Save on ‘Assassin’s Creed’ franchise, more

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Gaming deals are always bountiful during the Black Friday season. Here are the best Xbox deals ahead of the big shopping event.
'Assassin's Creed Valhalla' screenshot

UPDATE: Nov. 1, 2023, 1:00 p.m. EDT This article has been has been updated with the latest early Black Friday deals for Xbox games, consoles, accessories, and more.

Best Xbox deals for Black Friday 2023

Best game deal

‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ Deluxe Edition

$19.99 at Microsoft Store
(save $60)

'Assassin's Creed Valhalla' Deluxe Edition box art


Best hardware deal

SteelSeries Arctis 9X wireless gaming headset


Best subscription deal

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate logo

No matter what console you play on, Black Friday is always going to be an absolute treat for gamers everywhere. Get ready, because steep deals on games, consoles, accessories, and more are coming in hot. And by “coming in hot,” we mean right now.

Xbox players, this one’s for you. To keep you safe from the holiday shopping stress, we’ve compiled a list of all the best Xbox-related deals, including great discounts on console bundles, Game Pass subscriptions, and games both new and old. Read on and have at it — just make sure to keep checking back with us, as we’ll be adding new deals as they come in.

Xbox deals

Why we like it

With the smaller, more focused Assassin’s Creed Mirage just recently being released, some AC fans may still be clamoring for the open-world style that has now become the franchise’s bread and butter. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will certainly scratch that itch — it’s massive, and it’s a direct predecessor to Mirage, so you’ll probably want to play it anyway. You can pick up a copy of the deluxe edition in the Microsoft Store for just $19.99 right now, a full $60 off the original price ahead of Black Friday.

Xbox games

Xbox hardware

Consoles

Controllers

Headsets

More Xbox deals

Subscriptions

Tech / Technology

Are the ‘Saw’ movies on any streaming service? Here’s how to watch every single ‘Saw’ film online.

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Here’s how you can watch every ‘Saw’ film in the franchise, including the newly-released ‘Saw X’.
three screen captures from Saw movies with Amanda, Jigsaw, and an unknown man

UPDATE: Nov. 1, 2023, 11:00 a.m. EDT This article has been updated to reflect the digital release of ‘Saw X’ and current pricing.

Stream every film in the ‘Saw’ collection with these quick links:

BEST FOR LONG-TERM VIEWING

Peacock Premium

$39.99/year with code BIGTENFAN
(save $20)

Peacock logo


RUNNER-UP

Starz

$5 for your first month, then $9.99/month
(save $4.99)

Starz logo


BEST FOR ‘JIGSAW’

Amazon Prime Video

free 30-day trial, then $8.99/month

Amazon Prime Video logo


BEST FOR ‘SPIRAL’

Hulu

free 30-day trial, then $7.99/month

Hulu logo


BEST FOR STUDENTS

Peacock for students

$1.99/month for 12 months
(save $4/month)

Peacock logo


BEST FOR ‘SAW X’

Rent on Amazon Prime Video

$17.74 for Prime members
(save $2.25)

Amazon Prime Video logo

The year is 2004. Facebook just launched, pleated mini skirts and Ugg boots are popular, and audiences are watching the movie Saw in theaters for the very first time. Nearly two decades later, Facebook is still the most used social media platform in the world, pleated mini skirts and Ugg boots are back in style (much to my dismay), and Saw is back in theaters with its 10th installment.

On Sept. 29, Jigsaw returned to the big screen in Saw X — a curious prequel set to take place between the original Saw and Saw II. Yes, Tobin Bell reprises his role as horror icon John Kramer and he’s joined in the cast by Shawnee Smith, Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand, Michael Beach, and Renata Vaca. In what should come as no surprise, things start hopeful and lead to a twisted, gruesome torture game. The website calls it “the untold chapter of Jigsaw’s most personal game.” Mashable film critic Siddhant Adlakha calls it “the best (and only good) Saw movie since 2009.”

Check out the trailer below for a sneak peek.

Considering it’s been nearly 20 years since the first film was released, you might need to revisit the earlier flicks before heading to the theaters or renting Saw X at home. Fortunately, every iteration is streaming online — but not all in one place. Here are the best ways to watch every single Saw film online — and the best deals to snag to complete your movie marathon.

What streaming service has the Saw movies?

As with most things in the streaming age, the Saw franchise is scattered across multiple streaming services. Fortunately, the majority of the films — the original through the seventh film — can all be found on one streamer. The eighth and ninth films are harder to come across. So, if you’re setting up a Saw movie marathon to prepare yourself for Saw X, you’re going to need a couple of different subscriptions. Luckily, we’ve figured out the best options for you below.

Can I watch Saw X online?

While Saw X isn’t streaming quite yet (it is still in select theaters, after all), it did get an early digital release for those hoping to watch the 10th installment at home. Currently, you can either rent the film for $19.99 or purchase it for $24.99 at digital retailers like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, or Vudu. If you’re a Prime member, you can even save a few bucks and rent Saw X for only $17.74 or purchase it for $22.74.


Amazon Prime Video logo

Credit: Amazon Prime Video


Rent ‘Saw X’ at Amazon Prime Video

$17.74 for Prime members (save $2.25)



Where to watch every Saw movie online

The free streaming service Tubi used to carry a chunk of the Saw films, but unfortunately, that’s no longer the case. There are still ways to stream some of the films for free or at least at a discount, however. Here’s a breakdown of where to watch every Saw film online, as well as the best current deals for each.

Best for long-term viewing: Peacock


Peacock Premium

$39.99/year (save $20) with code BIGTENFAN



Currently, seven of the ten Saw films are available to watch on Peacock Premium. Not to mention, Lionsgate has a multi-year movie output agreement with Peacock for future theatrical releases. That means, eventually, Saw X will likely find its home on Peacock as well, making it a solid long-term viewing deal. You could sign up for a monthly subscription for just $5.99/month or commit long-term and pay just $39.99 for the whole year (regularly $59.99/year) by using the code BIGTENFAN at checkout (valid at the time of writing).

Are you a student with a valid university ID? You can score a Peacock Premium student subscription for only $1.99/month for your first year. That’s a $4/month discount.

Films included: Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, Saw: The Final Chapter, and (most likely) eventually Saw X

Runner-up: Starz


Starz

$5 for your first month, then $9.99/month



Similarly, Starz has a more immediate output deal with Lionsgate films, meaning Saw X will probably find its first streaming home on Starz before heading over to Peacock. Starz is also home to seven of the existing saw films. The only difference is the cost. Currently, Starz is offering a $5/month for your first month. That gives you just enough time to watch all seven Saw films in its library. Unfortunately, after your first month, the cost will jump to $9.99/month, making it less attractive for long-term viewing.

Films included: Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, Saw: The Final Chapter, eventually Saw X

Best for Jigsaw: Amazon Prime Video


Amazon Prime Video logo

Credit: Amazon Prime Video


Amazon Prime Video

free 30-day trial, then $8.99/month



The eighth film in the Saw franchise, Jigsaw, is currently only available to stream on Amazon Prime Video or MGM+. It can’t ever be easy, can it? Amazon Prime Video was also home to six other Saw films, but as of Nov. 1, they’re no longer available for streaming. Fortunately, both Prime Video and MGM+ offer free trials, so you can sign up, stream Jigsaw, then cancel before incurring any charges. Prime Video offers a 30-day free trial (if you haven’t been a customer in the last 12 months) before charging $14.99/month for Prime or $8.99/month for Prime Video only. MGM+ offers a seven-day free trial before you’ll have to pay $5.99/month. In either case, be sure to cancel before your trial ends if you don’t want to pay full price.

Films included: Jigsaw

Best for Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021): Hulu


Hulu

free 30-day trial, then $7.99/month



Regardless of how you feel about Chris Rock’s Spiral: From the Book of Saw, it’s still considered part of the Saw franchise as the ninth installment. The 2021 horror flick is currently only available to watch on Hulu. The good news is Hulu offers a free 30-day trial to new and returning users, which gives you enough time to tune into Spiral and cancel before being charged the $7.99 monthly fee.

Films included: Spiral: From the Book of Saw

Other ways to watch the Saw movies online

If you only want to watch individual films in the franchise or just can’t fathom signing up for another streamer, you can also rent or purchase the films directly from digital retailers like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Vudu, and more. Generally, it costs $3.99 to rent each film and $5.99 to purchase a digital copy in UHD or 4K (if available), but Amazon Prime Video has each film available at a discounted rate if you’re a Prime member. Pro tip: Saw and Spiral are currently available to rent for free (at the time of writing) for Prime members.

Note: rentals give you 30 days to watch and 48 hours after you start the film.

Tech / Technology

Best PDF app: Just $70

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Save on a lifetime subscription to Document 365 at the Mashable Shop.
close up of laptop screen showing Document 365

TL;DR: Through October 31, a lifetime subscription to Document 365 Lite is on sale for only $69.97 — that’s a 76% discount from its usual $299.95 price tag.


Those who work in the professional business world — from full-time office dwellers to part-time couch workers — know the frustration of programs limiting productivity. Unless you have an Adobe subscription, you’ve likely run into PDF issues like viewing and editing, but we may have a solution.

Document 365 is an app designed for the increasingly nomadic workplace for viewing, editing, and signing PDFs across devices. We have the web’s lowest price for a limited time: $69.97 (reg. $299.95) for a lifetime subscription.

Your one-stop shop for PDF management

With Document 365, you can say goodbye to PDF headaches or expensive subscriptions. Next time you’re sent a PDF — whether you’re at the office with your desktop, at a coffee shop with your laptop, or on your commute with your phone — view, edit, markup, sign, convert, and more with Document 365.

Take a look at Document 365’s most notable features:

  • Edit: Add text boxes, highlights, notes, and more.

  • Manage: Sign, fill out forms, organize pages, split or combine PDF files, and attach voice memos.

  • Scan: Turn paper documents into searchable PDFs or editable text files with optical character recognition (OCR).

  • Convert: Alter files to and from PDF formats.

  • Security: Protect your app, scans, and PDFs with password protection and watermarks.

Pay once and keep the app for life

A lifetime subscription to Document 365 means you can use the program on up to five devices — iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows included — for life after a one-time payment. Wave goodbye to traditional barriers of PDFs and Adobe subscription fees with this cross-device document solution.

Get Document 365 with this lowest-on-web price for a lifetime subscription: $69.97 (reg. $299.95) through October 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT, no coupon needed.

Prices subject to change.

Tech / Technology

Best TV deal: Lifetime access to Curiosity Stream for $170

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Lifetime access to educational content from Curiosity Stream is on sale for $169.97. This is 57% off the subscription’s regular price of $399.99.
Movie offerings from Curiosity Stream displayed side by side, diagonally, across the whole screen

TL;DR: As of October 30, you can get a lifetime of access to educational content with Curiosity Stream for only $169.97 instead of $399.99. That’s a savings of 57%.


While many of us love mind-numbing TV, it’s nice to throw some enriching content into the mix once in a while. But if none of the show selections in your streaming subscriptions appeal to your brain, check out Curiosity Stream.

Touted as Netflix for documentaries, Curiosity Stream is a multi-award-winning streaming platform dedicated to serving content to satisfy your inner nature admirer, science enthusiast, history buff, and technology geek. Through the month of October, you can score a lifetime subscription for only $169.97.

A Curiosity Stream subscription yields limitless access to thousands of films, series, and shows that will beef up your knowledge. Founded by Discovery Communications’ John Hendricks, the service offers on-demand streaming on a vast library of content spanning science, technology, history, nature, and art. It includes series like Planet of Treasures, Engineering the Future, Deep Time History, and Into the Jungle. In 2017, Curiosity Stream bagged its first Emmy Award for Stephen Hawking’s Favorite Places, which clinched the News and Documentary Awards trophy for Outstanding Graphic Design and Art Direction.

You can watch world-class documentaries anytime, anywhere, using any device — multiple devices even. All content is downloadable for later viewing, so you can enjoy them even without an internet connection. They’re also all in high-definition for a more immersive experience. Plus, with regular content updates, you’ll never worry about running out of things to stream. Whenever you want to learn something new, just hit play.

Unlike most streaming services that demand a recurring fee to continue enjoying content, Curiosity Stream only requires a one-time payment for a lifetime’s worth of access to the library.

Instead of $399, you can get it for just $169.97, no coupon needed, until October 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Prices subject to change.