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Best VPN for Digital Nomads 2026: Tested Across 20+ Countries

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We tested 8 VPNs across 20+ countries over 18 months. Here are the best VPNs for digital nomads who need speed, security, and reliable streaming access.

If you work remotely from coworking spaces, cafes, and Airbnbs around the world, your internet connection is your lifeline — and it is almost never secure. We have spent the last 18 months living and working as digital nomads across 20+ countries, connecting to hundreds of shared networks. Along the way, we tested 8 VPNs under real remote-work conditions: multi-hour Zoom calls from Bali, Git pushes from Lisbon, client deliverables uploaded from Mexico City, and banking sessions from Chiang Mai.

The difference between a VPN built for casual browsing and one built for professional remote work is enormous. Digital nomads need a VPN that handles sustained daily use without killing connection speeds, protects client data on untrusted networks, unblocks banking apps and work tools across borders, and keeps streaming working for those evenings when you just want to decompress. Not every VPN can do all of that reliably.

After 18 months, 20+ countries, and over 400 data points, we narrowed it down to four VPNs that actually deliver for the digital nomad lifestyle. Here is exactly what we found.

Quick Comparison: Best VPNs for Digital Nomads

Feature NordVPN Surfshark ExpressVPN ProtonVPN
Price/mo $3.39/mo (2yr)$2.19/mo (2yr)$6.67/mo (1yr)$4.49/mo (2yr)
Servers 6,400+ in 111 countries3,200+ in 100 countries3,000+ in 105 countries4,800+ in 95 countries
Speed Loss 8-12%15-22%10-15%18-30%
Devices 10Unlimited810
Streaming Excellent (95%+)Very Good (85%+)Excellent (95%+)Good (70%+)
Best For Overall remote workBudget / teamsCensored countriesPrivacy-first nomads
Visit NordVPN Visit Surfshark Visit ExpressVPN Visit ProtonVPN

1. NordVPN — Best Overall VPN for Digital Nomads

4.7
4.7 out of 5 stars
Our Rating
Speed
4.8
Security
4.8
Remote Work
4.9
Streaming
4.7
Value
4.5

Servers: 6,400+ in 111 countries | Devices: 10 | Price: $3.39/mo (2-year plan) | Protocol: NordLynx (WireGuard)

NordVPN is the VPN we use every single day as digital nomads, and after 18 months of continuous testing it has earned that position. The reason is simple: NordLynx delivers the fastest speeds of any VPN we tested, and speed is the single most important factor when your income depends on a stable internet connection.

Why NordVPN Wins for Remote Work

We ran NordVPN through full 8-hour workdays across coworking spaces in Bali, Chiang Mai, Lisbon, Medellin, and Mexico City. The results were consistent: 8-12% average speed loss compared to a direct connection. On a 100 Mbps coworking connection, that translates to roughly 88-92 Mbps through the VPN — more than enough for simultaneous Zoom calls, screen sharing, cloud file syncing, and Slack.

Where NordVPN truly separates itself from competitors is connection stability under load. During a 3-hour client presentation over Google Meet from a coworking space in Canggu (Bali), NordVPN maintained a steady connection with zero drops and no noticeable quality degradation. Surfshark, tested on the same network the following week, had two brief disconnections during a similar call.

Meshnet: The Killer Feature for Nomads

Most VPN reviews barely mention Meshnet, but for digital nomads it is genuinely transformative. Meshnet lets you route your internet traffic through another device you own — such as a computer or router at your home base.

Here is why this matters:

  • Banking without lockouts. We configured Meshnet to route through a device at our US home address. Every banking session — Chase, Schwab, Fidelity — registered as a US login. Zero fraud alerts, zero account freezes, zero phone calls to customer support. Over 18 months, this single feature saved us hours of headaches.
  • Consistent IP for work tools. Some enterprise tools (VPNs-within-VPNs, corporate dashboards, client portals) whitelist specific IP ranges. Meshnet gives you a stable home IP without relying on NordVPN’s shared servers.
  • File access. We accessed files on a US-based NAS drive from Thailand, Portugal, and Colombia without any third-party remote desktop software.

Threat Protection Pro

NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro blocks malicious websites, phishing attempts, and intrusive ads — even when you are not connected to a VPN server. For digital nomads who constantly visit unfamiliar local websites (booking services, coworking sites, local SIM carrier pages), this is a meaningful security layer. During our testing, Threat Protection flagged 7 suspicious domains we encountered on local booking sites across Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Pricing

  • 2-year plan: $3.39/month ($81.36 total upfront)
  • 1-year plan: $4.59/month ($55.08 total)
  • Monthly: $12.99/month

At $3.39/month, NordVPN costs about $0.11 per day. For a tool you use every working hour of every working day, that is exceptional value. The 30-day money-back guarantee eliminates risk entirely.

Pros

  • Fastest speeds of any VPN tested (8-12% loss with NordLynx)
  • Meshnet for home IP routing -- eliminates banking lockouts
  • Threat Protection Pro blocks phishing and malware
  • 10 simultaneous device connections
  • 6,400+ servers across 111 countries
  • Rock-solid connection stability during long work sessions

Cons

  • More expensive than Surfshark ($1.20/mo more on 2yr plan)
  • Meshnet requires a device running at your home base
  • Obfuscated servers work in China but not as reliably as ExpressVPN
  • Linux client is command-line only
Get NordVPN -- Best for Digital Nomads →

2. Surfshark — Best Budget VPN for Digital Nomads

4.5
4.5 out of 5 stars
Our Rating
Speed
4.3
Security
4.5
Remote Work
4.4
Streaming
4.3
Value
4.9

Servers: 3,200+ in 100 countries | Devices: Unlimited | Price: $2.19/mo (2-year plan) | Protocol: WireGuard

If you are watching your burn rate — and most digital nomads are, especially early on — Surfshark delivers 85-90% of NordVPN’s performance at 35% less cost. The unlimited device connections alone make it the obvious choice for nomads traveling with a partner, a small team, or simply a lot of gear.

Speed and Stability for Remote Work

Surfshark uses the standard WireGuard protocol, and while it is not quite as fast as NordVPN’s NordLynx implementation, it handles remote work demands well. We measured 15-22% speed loss on nearby servers — slightly more than NordVPN but still fast enough for video calls, cloud-based development, and file syncing.

Where we noticed the gap was on congested coworking WiFi. On a crowded afternoon at a popular Canggu coworking space with a base speed of 40 Mbps, Surfshark delivered 28-32 Mbps. NordVPN on the same network delivered 35-37 Mbps. Both were usable for a Zoom call, but Surfshark left less headroom. On faster connections (80+ Mbps), the difference was negligible.

We worked full days on Surfshark across coworking spaces in Lisbon, Playa del Carmen, and Medellin without any deal-breaking issues. Video calls were stable, Google Workspace performed normally, and GitHub operations were responsive. Two brief disconnections over 3 weeks of daily use — both recovered within seconds via the kill switch.

Unlimited Devices: The Team Advantage

Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections on a single subscription is unmatched. Every other VPN on this list caps you at 8-10 devices.

For digital nomads, this means:

  • Traveling couples share one $2.19/month subscription across all their devices
  • Small remote teams in a shared villa or coliving space can all use one account
  • Protect everything — laptop, phone, tablet, e-reader, streaming stick, travel router — without ever hitting a connection limit

We tested Surfshark with 14 devices connected simultaneously. All maintained stable connections. No performance degradation, no connection refusals. If you travel with a partner or a small team, this alone justifies choosing Surfshark over NordVPN.

GPS Spoofing on Android

Surfshark offers a unique GPS override feature on Android that goes beyond IP-based location masking. It actually overrides your device’s GPS coordinates to match your VPN server location. This is useful for apps that use GPS rather than IP geolocation — some banking apps, ride-hailing services, and region-locked apps check GPS independently of your IP address.

We used this in Mexico to access a US-only fintech app that verified location via GPS. Surfshark’s GPS override made the app believe we were in New York. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and ProtonVPN cannot do this.

CleanWeb Ad Blocker

Surfshark’s CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers, and known malware domains at the DNS level. On ad-heavy local websites in Southeast Asia and Latin America, we measured a 30-45% reduction in page load times with CleanWeb active. It also blocked 4 known malicious domains during our testing period — twice from local accommodation booking sites.

Pricing

  • 2-year plan: $2.19/month ($54.75 total upfront)
  • 1-year plan: $3.19/month ($38.28 total)
  • Monthly: $15.45/month

At $2.19/month with unlimited devices, Surfshark offers the best raw value of any VPN on the market. Split that between two people and you are paying $1.10/month each for enterprise-grade encryption.

Pros

  • Cheapest quality VPN at $2.19/month
  • Unlimited simultaneous device connections
  • GPS spoofing on Android for location-dependent apps
  • CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers, and malware
  • Good enough speeds for most remote work tasks
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • 15-22% speed loss is noticeable on slow connections
  • Streaming unblocking less consistent than NordVPN (85% vs 95%)
  • No Meshnet equivalent for home IP routing
  • Limited obfuscation capabilities for censored countries
  • Slightly less stable on congested WiFi networks
Get Surfshark -- Best Budget Pick →

3. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Nomads in Censored Countries

4.6
4.6 out of 5 stars
Our Rating
Speed
4.7
Security
4.9
Remote Work
4.5
Streaming
4.7
Value
3.7

Servers: 3,000+ in 105 countries | Devices: 8 | Price: $6.67/mo (1-year plan) | Protocol: Lightway

ExpressVPN is the most expensive VPN on this list at nearly double NordVPN’s price. For most digital nomads, that premium is hard to justify. But if your nomad lifestyle takes you to China, the UAE, Russia, Iran, Turkey, or Vietnam — countries that actively block VPN traffic — ExpressVPN is the only VPN that works reliably enough to stake your livelihood on.

The Censorship Test

Our colleague spent 6 weeks working remotely from mainland China (Shanghai and Shenzhen), testing all four VPNs on this list daily. The results were definitive:

  • ExpressVPN: Connected successfully on 85-90% of attempts. Maintained stable connections for 4-6 hours at a stretch. Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, and GitHub all accessible. Required server switching 1-2 times per day.
  • NordVPN (obfuscated): Connected on 60-70% of attempts. More frequent drops, especially during peak hours. Usable but frustrating for sustained work sessions.
  • Surfshark: Connected on 40-50% of attempts. Too unreliable for professional remote work in China.
  • ProtonVPN: Connected on 30-40% of attempts. Not recommended for China.

We also tested in the UAE (Dubai, 2 weeks) and Turkey (Istanbul, 3 weeks). ExpressVPN worked flawlessly in both — VoIP calls, social media, news sites, and work tools all accessible without interruption. NordVPN also performed well in Turkey and the UAE, but ExpressVPN was noticeably faster at reconnecting after network switches.

Critical advice for nomads heading to censored countries: Download and configure your VPN before you arrive. App stores are restricted in China, and VPN websites are blocked in many censored countries. Set up ExpressVPN at home, test it, bookmark the recommended server list, and consider keeping a backup VPN (NordVPN) installed as well.

Lightway Protocol and Speed

ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol delivers speed that is competitive with NordVPN’s NordLynx. We measured 10-15% speed loss on nearby servers — fast enough for all remote work tasks. Lightway’s standout advantage is reconnection speed: when you switch from WiFi to mobile data, or move between networks in a coworking space, Lightway reconnects in under 2 seconds. NordLynx typically takes 3-5 seconds. For nomads who hop between networks multiple times per day, this adds up.

TrustedServer: RAM-Only Architecture

ExpressVPN runs every server on RAM only — no hard drives, no persistent storage. Every server reboot wipes all data. This was validated when Turkish authorities physically seized an ExpressVPN server during a criminal investigation and recovered zero user data.

For digital nomads handling client data, proprietary code, financial information, or sensitive communications, TrustedServer provides the strongest infrastructure-level privacy guarantee available. Even if a government compels ExpressVPN to hand over server data, there is nothing to hand over.

Streaming and Entertainment

ExpressVPN matches NordVPN’s streaming capabilities with a 95%+ success rate across Netflix (US, UK, Japan), Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. The MediaStreamer feature (Smart DNS) also works on devices that cannot run VPN apps natively — useful for hotel smart TVs and older streaming devices.

Pricing

  • 1-year plan: $6.67/month ($99.95 total upfront)
  • 6-month plan: $9.99/month ($59.94 total)
  • Monthly: $12.95/month

ExpressVPN does not offer a 2-year plan, and its cheapest option is nearly double NordVPN. For most nomads, this premium is not worth it. But if you regularly work from countries with internet censorship, the reliability difference is worth every cent. Think of it as business insurance for your internet access.

Pros

  • Most reliable VPN in censored countries (85-90% success in China)
  • Lightway protocol reconnects in under 2 seconds
  • TrustedServer RAM-only architecture -- zero persistent data
  • Excellent streaming unblocking (95%+)
  • Polished, intuitive apps across all platforms
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Most expensive option at $6.67/month
  • No 2-year plan available
  • Only 8 simultaneous device connections
  • No Meshnet equivalent for home IP routing
  • Overkill for nomads who stay in uncensored countries
Get ExpressVPN -- Best for Censored Countries →

4. ProtonVPN — Best VPN for Privacy-Focused Digital Nomads

4.4
4.4 out of 5 stars
Our Rating
Speed
4.1
Security
4.9
Remote Work
4.2
Streaming
3.9
Value
4.3

Servers: 4,800+ in 95 countries | Devices: 10 | Price: $4.49/mo (2-year plan) | Protocol: WireGuard / Stealth

ProtonVPN is built for a specific type of digital nomad: the one who treats privacy as a non-negotiable professional requirement, not just a nice-to-have. Journalists, activists, lawyers, security researchers, and anyone handling sensitive client information will find ProtonVPN’s privacy credentials unmatched by any competitor.

Swiss Privacy Fortress

ProtonVPN operates under Swiss privacy law — among the strongest in the world. Switzerland is not part of the EU, not subject to Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing agreements, and has a long legal tradition of protecting individual privacy. Swiss courts have repeatedly rejected foreign government requests for user data when those requests did not meet Swiss legal standards.

Every ProtonVPN app — iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux — is fully open-source and published on GitHub. Independent security researchers regularly audit the code. This level of transparency is unique among major VPN providers. If a backdoor existed, the open-source community would find it.

ProtonVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited by Securitum, confirming that no user activity, connection timestamps, or IP addresses are recorded.

Secure Core: Double-Hop for Maximum Protection

Secure Core routes your traffic through hardened servers in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden before connecting to your destination server. This means that even if the exit server is compromised, your real IP address remains hidden behind the Secure Core server.

The trade-off is speed: Secure Core adds 40-50% speed reduction on top of the standard VPN overhead. We measured 30-50 Mbps on connections that would normally deliver 80-100 Mbps through ProtonVPN’s standard servers. That is usable for web browsing, messaging, and email, but not ideal for video calls or large file transfers.

When to use Secure Core: Connecting from countries with invasive surveillance (China, Russia, Iran), handling highly sensitive client data, or any situation where maximum anonymity is required. For daily remote work, standard ProtonVPN servers are faster and sufficient.

Speed Reality for Remote Work

ProtonVPN’s speeds are the weakest on this list. We measured 18-30% speed loss on nearby servers — roughly double NordVPN’s overhead. On fast coworking connections (100+ Mbps), this is fine. On the slower WiFi you often encounter in Southeast Asia and Latin America (20-40 Mbps base), the additional overhead is noticeable during video calls and screen sharing.

We worked remotely on ProtonVPN for 2 weeks in Lisbon. Video calls on Zoom and Google Meet were stable on the coworking’s 150 Mbps connection (ProtonVPN delivered ~110 Mbps). But in a Bali cafe with 25 Mbps base speed, ProtonVPN’s overhead dropped us to 17-20 Mbps — enough for a basic video call, but screen sharing was choppy.

VPN Accelerator, ProtonVPN’s speed-boosting feature, helped on slower connections, squeezing an extra 10-20% speed out of congested networks. It does not close the gap with NordVPN, but it makes a meaningful difference on marginal connections.

The Free Tier

ProtonVPN offers the only trustworthy free VPN tier in the market. No data caps, no ads, no data selling. The limitations:

  • 5 server locations (US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland)
  • 1 device connection
  • Medium speeds (typically 15-40 Mbps)
  • No streaming unblocking, no Secure Core

For nomads on a tight budget: The free tier is adequate for securing public WiFi while browsing and messaging. It is not fast or feature-rich enough for sustained remote work, but it is infinitely better than no VPN at all.

Pricing

  • 2-year plan: $4.49/month ($107.76 total upfront)
  • 1-year plan: $5.99/month ($71.88 total)
  • Monthly: $9.99/month
  • Free tier: $0

Pros

  • Strongest privacy credentials -- Swiss law, open-source, audited
  • Secure Core double-hop for maximum anonymity
  • Only reputable free VPN tier with no data caps
  • 10 simultaneous device connections
  • Part of the Proton ecosystem (ProtonMail, ProtonDrive)
  • NetShield blocks ads, trackers, and malware

Cons

  • Slowest VPN on this list (18-30% speed loss)
  • Streaming unblocking inconsistent (70% success rate)
  • Not reliable in China or heavily censored countries
  • More expensive than NordVPN ($1.10/mo more on 2yr plan)
  • Secure Core significantly reduces speed further
Get ProtonVPN -- Best for Privacy →

How We Tested These VPNs

We do not write VPN recommendations from a desk. Every VPN on this list was tested under real digital nomad working conditions over an extended period.

VPNs tested: NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN, CyberGhost, PIA, IPVanish, Mullvad

Testing period: 18 months (August 2024 through February 2026)

Countries tested: Thailand, Indonesia (Bali), Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Portugal, Spain, Germany, UK, Turkey, UAE, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Morocco, South Africa, USA, Canada

Data points collected: 400+

Testing methodology:

  • Speed tests on every network using Speedtest by Ookla, Fast.com, and Cloudflare’s speed test — three consecutive tests per session, median result recorded
  • Remote work simulation: 8-hour work sessions including Zoom/Google Meet calls, screen sharing, cloud file syncing (Google Drive, Dropbox), Git operations, and Slack
  • Streaming tests across Netflix (US, UK, Japan), Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video from 10+ countries
  • Security audits: DNS leak tests, WebRTC leak tests, kill switch verification (deliberate connection drops), and IP leak testing via ipleak.net and browserleaks.com
  • Censorship testing in China (via colleague), UAE, Turkey, and Vietnam
  • Banking access tests with Chase, Schwab, Bank of America, Wise, and Revolut across multiple countries
  • Connection stability tracking over multi-week periods on each VPN — logging disconnections, reconnection times, and dropped calls

Every speed test followed identical protocol: connect to VPN, wait 30 seconds for stabilization, run 3 tests, record median. Baseline tests without VPN were run on the same network at the same time of day for comparison.


What Digital Nomads Need From a VPN

Not all VPN features matter equally to digital nomads. After 18 months of full-time remote work across 20+ countries, these are the features that actually impact your daily life.

Speed That Supports Video Calls

Your VPN runs all day, every day. A 5% speed loss is invisible. A 30% speed loss turns a Zoom call into a pixelated nightmare. Speed is the single most important factor for nomads who work remotely. You need a VPN that maintains at least 25 Mbps after overhead — the minimum for smooth HD video calls with screen sharing. On the variable-quality WiFi you encounter while traveling, every percentage point of speed retention matters.

Security on Untrusted Networks

Digital nomads connect to dozens of different WiFi networks every month — coworking spaces, cafes, hotel lobbies, airport lounges, Airbnb routers. Every one of these is a potential attack vector. A VPN encrypts all traffic between your device and the VPN server, making it unreadable to anyone intercepting packets on the local network. This is not theoretical. Packet sniffing on public WiFi is trivial with freely available tools, and we have personally witnessed it at popular coworking spaces in Southeast Asia.

Beyond encryption, a reliable kill switch is essential. If the VPN connection drops — which happens occasionally on unstable WiFi — the kill switch immediately blocks all internet traffic until the VPN reconnects. Without it, your real IP address and unencrypted traffic leak onto the local network for however long the reconnection takes.

Geo-Unblocking for Banking and Work Tools

Banking apps are the most common headache for digital nomads. Many banks flag foreign IP addresses as suspicious, triggering account freezes, forced password resets, or outright lockouts. A VPN lets you connect through a server in your home country, making your bank think you never left. Beyond banking, some enterprise SaaS tools, government portals, and client platforms are region-restricted. A VPN with servers in your home country solves this.

Enough Device Connections

The average digital nomad carries a laptop, phone, and tablet at minimum. Many also use a travel router, e-reader, or streaming device. You need a VPN that covers all of them simultaneously. NordVPN’s 10 connections and Surfshark’s unlimited connections both handle this well. ExpressVPN’s 8-device limit is tighter but still workable for most solo nomads.

Split Tunneling

Split tunneling lets you route some apps through the VPN and others through your direct connection. This is useful for local services (ride-hailing, food delivery, maps) that work better with a local IP, while keeping work tools and banking routed through the VPN. NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN all offer split tunneling on Android and Windows. macOS and iOS support is more limited across all providers.


VPN Use Cases for Digital Nomads

Here are the specific scenarios where a VPN made a measurable difference during our 18 months on the road.

Protecting Client Data on Shared Networks

If you handle client data — designs, code, financial records, legal documents — you have a professional obligation to protect that information. Connecting to a shared coworking WiFi network without a VPN and transferring client files is a security lapse that could cost you a contract or expose you to liability. A VPN ensures all data in transit is encrypted with AES-256, the same standard used by financial institutions and governments. This is table stakes for professional remote work.

Accessing Home Banking From Anywhere

We logged into US banking apps from 15+ countries during our testing. Without a VPN, Chase flagged our Thailand login and locked our account on day three — requiring a 40-minute phone call to resolve. After switching to NordVPN with Meshnet routing through our home address, we had zero banking issues across 15 countries and 18 months. Surfshark and ExpressVPN also prevented banking lockouts when connected to US servers, though occasional sessions required reconnecting to a different server.

Streaming and Decompression

After a full day of remote work, you want to watch your shows. Without a VPN, your Netflix library changes every time you cross a border. Hulu stops working entirely outside the US. BBC iPlayer is UK-only. A VPN lets you connect to your home country’s server and access your paid streaming services as if you never left. NordVPN and ExpressVPN both delivered 95%+ unblocking success across all major platforms.

Bypassing Censorship in Restricted Countries

If your nomad route includes China, the UAE, Vietnam, Russia, Turkey, or Iran, you will encounter government-imposed internet restrictions. Google services blocked. Social media inaccessible. VoIP calls banned. A VPN with strong obfuscation capabilities — ExpressVPN being the most reliable — lets you access the open internet and maintain your normal workflow. Without one, you may find yourself unable to use basic work tools.

Avoiding Dynamic Pricing Discrimination

Airlines, hotels, and online services sometimes show different prices based on your IP address and perceived location. We verified this firsthand: a flight from Bangkok to Bali was quoted at $187 with a Thai IP, $165 with a US IP, and $142 with an Indian IP. A VPN lets you compare prices from different virtual locations. This is not a guaranteed savings every time, but over a year of nomad travel, the cumulative savings can be significant.

Securing Mobile Hotspot Tethering

When WiFi is unavailable, nomads tether to their phone’s mobile data or eSIM connection. This traffic passes through local carrier infrastructure — and in some countries, carriers log and inspect mobile traffic. A VPN encrypts tethered traffic just as it does WiFi traffic. NordVPN’s IKEv2 protocol handles the frequent micro-drops of cellular connections particularly well, reconnecting seamlessly when signal strength fluctuates.


Router-Level VPN Setup for Digital Nomads

One of the most practical VPN configurations for digital nomads is installing the VPN directly on a travel router. This protects every device that connects to the router — laptop, phone, tablet, streaming stick — without requiring VPN apps on each device.

Why Use a Travel Router

A travel router like the GL.iNet Beryl AX ($79) or GL.iNet Slate AX ($109) sits between you and whatever WiFi network you are connecting to. You connect the router to the hotel/cafe/coworking WiFi, then connect your devices to the router’s private network. The router handles VPN encryption for all connected devices.

Benefits:

  • One VPN connection protects everything. Even devices that cannot run VPN apps (smart TVs, gaming consoles, IoT devices) are protected.
  • Consistent security. You never forget to activate the VPN because it is always on at the router level.
  • Bypass captive portals once. Log into the hotel WiFi captive portal on the router, and all your devices connect through the router without individual portal logins.
  • Separate work and personal networks. Some travel routers support dual SSIDs — one routed through the VPN, one direct.

Which VPNs Support Router Installation

NordVPN and Surfshark both offer native support for GL.iNet routers with OpenVPN and WireGuard configuration. Setup takes about 10 minutes. ExpressVPN also supports router installation but recommends their own Aircove router ($189). ProtonVPN supports manual OpenVPN configuration on compatible routers.

Our recommendation: The GL.iNet Beryl AX running NordVPN via WireGuard. We used this setup for 4 months across Southeast Asia and found it to be the most reliable and fastest combination. Average speed loss through the router VPN was 12-18% — slightly more than the app due to the router’s processing overhead, but fast enough for all work and streaming tasks.

Setup Tips

  • Use WireGuard, not OpenVPN. WireGuard is significantly faster on travel routers with limited processing power.
  • Pre-configure multiple server profiles before you travel — your home country, plus 2-3 commonly used locations.
  • Carry the router’s power adapter and a short ethernet cable in case you need to connect to a wired network (common in hotels and serviced apartments).

VPNs We Tested but Don’t Recommend

For transparency, here are the VPNs we tested alongside our top four picks that did not make the cut for digital nomad use.

CyberGhost: Decent speeds in Europe but performance dropped significantly in Southeast Asia and Latin America — the two most popular digital nomad regions. Streaming unblocking was inconsistent (60% Netflix success rate). Server network heavily skewed toward Europe. Not suited for nomads who move between continents.

Private Internet Access (PIA): Strong privacy credentials and a massive server network, but speeds were below average in our Asian and Latin American tests. The app interface feels dated and cluttered compared to NordVPN and ExpressVPN. A fine VPN for home use, but not competitive enough for the demands of full-time remote work while traveling.

IPVanish: Marketed toward streaming, but we found its geo-unblocking inconsistent (65% success on Netflix US). Speeds were acceptable but not impressive. Customer support was the slowest of any VPN we tested — 25+ minute wait times on live chat. When your VPN goes down during a client call, you cannot afford to wait 25 minutes for help.

Mullvad: Exceptional privacy credentials and a unique anonymous payment model, but only 700+ servers in 40 countries. For nomads who need servers in Thailand, Indonesia, Colombia, Mexico, and other popular nomad hubs, the limited network is a dealbreaker. No streaming unblocking capabilities. A great privacy tool, but not built for the digital nomad use case.


Final Verdict

After 18 months of testing across 20+ countries, here is our definitive recommendation for digital nomads.

Best overall for digital nomads: NordVPN — The fastest speeds, Meshnet for banking without lockouts, Threat Protection for security on sketchy networks, and rock-solid stability during long work sessions. At $3.39/month, it is the VPN we use every day and recommend without reservation.

Best for budget-conscious nomads: Surfshark — Unlimited devices, strong security, and the lowest price in the market at $2.19/month. The speed gap with NordVPN is real but manageable for most remote work tasks. Ideal for couples and small teams.

Best for nomads in censored countries: ExpressVPN — The only VPN that reliably works in China (85-90% success). If your itinerary includes countries that block VPN traffic, ExpressVPN’s premium price ($6.67/month) is justified by its unmatched reliability.

Best for privacy-first nomads: ProtonVPN — Swiss jurisdiction, fully open-source apps, and the only trustworthy free tier. The best choice for journalists, lawyers, and anyone handling highly sensitive data.

The bottom line: every digital nomad needs a VPN. Unsecured cafe WiFi, locked banking apps, censored internet, geo-restricted streaming — these are daily realities of the nomad lifestyle. A VPN solves all of them for less than the cost of a coffee. Pick the one that matches your priorities, install it before your next flight, and work with confidence from anywhere in the world.

Get NordVPN -- Our #1 Pick for Digital Nomads → Get Surfshark -- Best Budget VPN → Get ExpressVPN -- Best for Censored Countries → Get ProtonVPN -- Best for Privacy →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do digital nomads really need a VPN?

Yes. Digital nomads regularly connect to untrusted networks -- cafe WiFi, coworking spaces, airport lounges, hotel networks. A VPN encrypts all traffic, preventing data theft on these networks. It also bypasses geo-restrictions on banking apps, streaming services, and work tools that may be blocked in certain countries.

Which VPN is fastest for remote work?

NordVPN is the fastest VPN we tested for remote work. Using its NordLynx protocol, we measured average speed losses of only 8-12% compared to direct connections. This is fast enough for video calls, large file transfers, and cloud-based development tools.

Can I use a free VPN as a digital nomad?

We don't recommend free VPNs for digital nomads. Free VPNs have severe data caps (usually 500MB-2GB/month), slower speeds, fewer server locations, and questionable privacy practices. ProtonVPN's free tier is the only exception worth considering, but it's limited to 3 server locations and 1 device.

Should I install a VPN on my router?

Yes, if you use a travel router like the GL.iNet Beryl AX. Installing the VPN on your router protects every device that connects to it -- laptop, phone, tablet -- without needing separate VPN apps on each. NordVPN and Surfshark both support router installation.

Will a VPN slow down my internet for video calls?

With a good VPN like NordVPN or Surfshark, the speed impact is minimal -- typically 8-15% slower. This is not noticeable for video calls, which only need 3-5 Mbps. You may notice it on very slow connections under 10 Mbps. In that case, connect to the nearest server for best performance.

Which VPN works best in China and other censored countries?

ExpressVPN is the most reliable VPN in heavily censored countries like China, Iran, and Russia. Its obfuscation technology disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS. NordVPN's obfuscated servers also work but are less consistent in China specifically.