It is common sense to use a VPN while traveling. However, common sense is not always a common practice so we advise you to be smarter than the next guy and have a VPN turned on at all times. This, BTW, is how we roll.
There are multiple reasons why you would want to use a VPN while traveling. To start, you will get to “feel at home” as a VPN lets you choose the virtual location of your desire. So if you’re a US citizen going on a vacation to Europe, you can always stay on virtual U.S. soil with a VPN. This will let you bypass some restrictions that could be imposed on non-Americans.
Similarly, you’ll get to bypass silly content filters in high-censorship countries where access to major news outlets as well as services like YouTube and Skype could be blocked. Not if you’re using a VPN that will circumvent these restrictions and let you access the Internet in its entirety, without anyone knowing a thing about it.
All that being said, here are the best VPNs for travel:
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
- You can't pay with PayPal
Summary
Its network includes more than 5,000 servers spread across 60 countries, which directly translates into faster speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology "doing its thing" in the background.
NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — whether it's accessing a banned site from some country that filters out the internet, torrenting, accessing streaming services, or just wanting to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs.
We highly recommend NordVPN to anyone looking for reliable service.
Pros
Cons
- Good for both torrenting and streaming
- Works in China
- Solid network with servers in 60+ countries
- Easy to use apps on multiple platforms
- Live chat isn't always available
- Fairly pricey
Summary
Whether you need a VPN for watching Netflix shows or downloading files via BitTorrent, Astrill can help you out — all while keeping your identity under the radar. And this is especially true if you live or work in China when the company's stealth protocols will kick in to let you access all the popular sites that are by default blocked by the country's censors.
Astrill's apps are easy to use and available on all popular platforms. Nevertheless, they still manage to provide a host of advanced features tech-savvy folks are used to get. Highly recommended, again, especially if you're looking to bypass the Great Firewall of China.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
ExpressVPN has great desktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps and browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others.
However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use. We can't emphasize this enough. One could tell a lot of time has been spent making sure even the advanced features are easily accessible. And we love it for that. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust.
Pros
Cons
- Fast download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc.
- Great for torrenting
- Advanced privacy features (i.e. Tor over VPN)
- Relatively small number of servers
- There are no browser extensions
- Live chat support is not always available
Summary
Specifically, you can rely on PrivateVPN for both torrenting and streaming, without paying a premium. It is, in fact, one of the most affordable options in its league and we love it for that.
Customer support may not be on par with bigger players but it's not like you should experience many problems anyway. You will get the same level of security and privacy as with other services, and a single license will let you run PrivateVPN on up to 6 devices. Pretty cool.
Pros
Cons
- Works in China
- Many servers in Asia
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Advanced services like VyprVPN Cloud
- No browser extensions
- Torrenting could be better
Summary
It manages to bypass restrictions in high-censorship countries and elsewhere by relying on its proprietary Chameleon protocol, which can easily slide under the radar.
VyprVPN is also great for accessing video streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu and so on — delivering the true buffer-free experience every single time. It will also work with BitTorrent, and consequently - Kodi.
VyprVPN has a strict zero-logs policy. Period.
What makes a VPN great for travel?
There are several things that make a VPN great for travel. According to our opinion, here are the factors that matter the most:
Speed
What you want is a VPN which you won’t even notice running in the background. It won’t slow down your Internet and will deliver the web pages like there is no (VPN) app running in the background. If you want to download some files, you can do it without worrying it will take forever.
Reliability
What good is speed one day if you can’t have it the next one? In fact, we would take reliability over speed on any given day. In that sense, we would prefer a service that is slightly slower than the fastest one for which we know it won’t work in the same fashion next time we need it.
Ability to bypass censorship
You may be taking the freedom to access information for granted in your country, but unfortunately – that is not the case all around the world. In some countries, for instance, you can’t even access CNN and BBC, as well as other major media outlets. And the same goes for social media, VoIP apps, and so on.
Access to streaming services
Because of the way streaming rights are traded on the world market, when you leave your home country – you may not be able to access your favorite streaming service from abroad. As far as Netflix or any other similar service sees, your account has been compromised and someone else is trying to access it from a different location.
Anonymity
There is no reason to leave your digital footprint in your own country let alone in the one you’re just visiting. With a VPN, you get anonymity that will prevent (or at least make it harder) for various government agencies to track you down. Simply start your VPN app and let it encrypt all data coming to and from your devices.
Are there free VPNs for travel?
Yes, there are free VPNs but we do NOT suggest using them. You see, it takes a lot of money to build a solid server network which has a direct impact on the VPN service’s reliability. As you could imagine, this is something free solutions can’t do except if they sell your data. And that kinda kills the point of getting a VPN in the first place.
And so we suggest everyone to get a VPN with a proven track record to work from all around the world. That’s what this list of Best VPNs for Travel is all about.
For what it matters, most VPNs listed here offer a money-back guarantee, meaning that you can ask for your cash back if you determine that the service doesn’t work for you. Heck, we entice you to do that after extensively using a VPN during the money-back period. There is no need to throw away money for something you can’t rely on — especially when you know there are other great VPNs out there.
Look beyond travel…
You need a VPN for many things not just when traveling. In that sense, a good VPN will:
- Protect your privacy from the government and big corporations
- Bypass restrictions imposed by the government or various organizations
- Change your IP address so you get unrestricted access to Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, HULU, and other video streaming services
- Encrypt and protect private data from cybercriminals
The top contenders that check all these boxes include the following:
