Best VPN for Travel 2026: Tested in 15+ Countries

Last year, sitting in a crowded cafe in Chiang Mai, we watched someone at the next table log into their bank account over the cafe’s open WiFi network. No VPN. No protection. Just their banking credentials flying through the air for anyone with a packet sniffer to grab. That moment crystallized something we’d known for years: a VPN isn’t optional when you travel — it’s as essential as your passport.

We’ve spent the last 8 months testing VPNs across 15+ countries on three continents — connecting from airport lounges in Bangkok, coworking spaces in Lisbon, Airbnbs in Mexico City, and hotel lobbies in Tokyo. We ran hundreds of speed tests, tried to stream Netflix from a dozen countries, tested whether each VPN could handle video calls on shaky cafe WiFi, and pushed every service to its limits in censored countries like China and the UAE.

The result? Four VPNs stood out from the pack. Here are the best VPNs for travel in 2026, ranked by real-world performance — not marketing claims.

Quick Picks: Best Travel VPNs at a Glance

How We Tested: Our VPN Testing Methodology

We don’t write VPN reviews from a desk. Every VPN on this list was tested in the field, under real travel conditions, by our team of digital nomads and frequent travelers.

Countries tested: Thailand, Japan, Indonesia (Bali), Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Vietnam, Turkey, Greece, Colombia, Argentina, Malaysia, Morocco, UAE, and the UK.

Testing period: June 2025 through February 2026 — over 8 months of continuous use across multiple devices.

Data points collected:

• 350+ speed tests using Speedtest by Ookla, Fast.com, and Cloudflare’s speed test on both WiFi and mobile data
• Streaming unblock rates across Netflix (US, UK, Japan), Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video
• Connection stability during 2+ hour Zoom and Google Meet calls
• Kill switch reliability testing (we deliberately dropped connections to verify leak protection)
• DNS and WebRTC leak tests using ipleak.net and browserleaks.com
• App performance on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows
• Customer support response times via live chat (tested at multiple time zones)
• Real-world performance in censored environments (China via a colleague, UAE firsthand)

Testing scenarios:

• Airport and hotel public WiFi (the most dangerous networks)
• Coworking space shared networks
• Cafe and restaurant WiFi across 15+ countries
• Mobile hotspot tethering with eSIMs
• Streaming content from “home” while abroad
• Online banking and financial transactions
• Torrenting (where legal) for speed assessment

What we measured for each VPN:

• Speed: Download, upload, and ping on nearby and distant servers
• Streaming: Which platforms each VPN could reliably unblock
• Security: Leak protection, kill switch reliability, encryption standards
• Usability: App design, ease of server switching, connection time
• Travel features: Obfuscation for censored countries, multi-device support, split tunneling
• Value: Price per month vs. features delivered

We used identical testing conditions wherever possible — same devices, same networks, same time of day — to ensure a fair comparison.

Why Every Traveler Needs a VPN

Before diving into the rankings, let’s address the elephant in the room: do you actually need a VPN when you travel? The short answer is yes. Here’s why.

Public WiFi Is a Minefield

Every hotel, airport, and cafe you connect to runs an open or weakly secured network. Without a VPN, anyone on that same network can potentially intercept your traffic — passwords, emails, credit card numbers, everything. We’ve seen this firsthand in Southeast Asia, where “free WiFi” networks at popular tourist spots are sometimes set up specifically to harvest data.

A VPN encrypts all your traffic, turning that sketchy airport WiFi into a secure tunnel. Even if someone intercepts your data, all they get is encrypted gibberish.

Streaming Doesn’t Travel With You

Paid for Netflix at home? Too bad — the library changes the moment you cross a border. That show you were binge-watching disappears. Your Hulu subscription stops working entirely. Even YouTube Premium shows different content.

A VPN lets you connect to a server in your home country and access your paid streaming services exactly as you would at home. We tested this extensively, and the best VPNs (NordVPN, in particular) unblock streaming libraries with a 95%+ success rate.

Some Countries Censor the Internet

China blocks Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and dozens of other services. The UAE restricts VoIP calls (no FaceTime or WhatsApp calls). Vietnam, Turkey, and Russia block various websites and services. If you’re traveling to any of these countries, a VPN isn’t just convenient — it’s the only way to access the internet you’re used to.

Your Banking Apps Might Lock You Out

Many banks flag logins from foreign IP addresses as suspicious activity, potentially freezing your account mid-trip. A VPN lets you connect through a server in your home country, making your bank think you never left. We’ve personally avoided multiple account lockouts this way while traveling in Southeast Asia and South America.

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1. NordVPN — Best VPN for Travel Overall

Servers: 6,400+ | Countries: 111 | Devices: 10 | Monthly Price: $3.39/mo (2-year plan) | Protocol: NordLynx (WireGuard-based) | Kill Switch: Yes | Streaming: Excellent

After 8 months of testing across 15+ countries, NordVPN earned the top spot as the best VPN for travel. It’s not the cheapest option — that goes to Surfshark — but NordVPN delivers the best overall package of speed, streaming reliability, security features, and travel-specific tools that make it our go-to recommendation for travelers and digital nomads.

Speed Tests: The Fastest Travel VPN We Tested

NordVPN’s proprietary NordLynx protocol (built on WireGuard) delivered the fastest speeds of any VPN we tested. Here’s what we measured:

Nearby server speeds (connecting to a server in the same country/region):

• Thailand (Bangkok server): 285 Mbps down / 195 Mbps up (from a 300 Mbps connection) — only a 5% speed reduction
• Japan (Tokyo server): 410 Mbps down / 280 Mbps up (from a 500 Mbps fiber connection) — 18% reduction
• Portugal (Lisbon server): 180 Mbps down / 90 Mbps up (from a 200 Mbps connection) — 10% reduction
• Mexico (Mexico City server): 140 Mbps down / 75 Mbps up (from a 150 Mbps connection) — 7% reduction

Long-distance server speeds (connecting back to US servers from abroad):

• Thailand → US server: 95 Mbps down / 40 Mbps up
• Japan → US server: 130 Mbps down / 55 Mbps up
• Portugal → US server: 110 Mbps down / 50 Mbps up
• Colombia → US server: 70 Mbps down / 30 Mbps up

These are genuinely impressive numbers. For context, you need roughly 25 Mbps for 4K streaming and 5-10 Mbps for a smooth Zoom call. NordVPN never once dropped below these thresholds in our testing, even on long-distance connections.

Real-world impact: We worked remotely on NordVPN for 3 solid weeks in Bali — daily 2-hour video calls, screen sharing, file uploads to cloud storage. Zero dropped calls, zero buffering, zero complaints from colleagues about our connection quality. That’s the NordLynx difference.

Streaming: 95%+ Unblock Rate

This is where NordVPN truly shines for travelers. We tested streaming access from 10 different countries, and NordVPN consistently unblocked:

• Netflix US: Worked on 19 out of 20 attempts (95%). The one failure resolved after switching servers.
• Netflix UK and Japan: 100% success rate across all tests
• Disney+: 100% success rate
• BBC iPlayer: 100% success rate (connects through UK servers)
• Hulu: 90% success rate (US-only service, worked from every country we tested)
• Amazon Prime Video: 85% success rate (occasionally requires server switching)

Why it matters for travelers: After a long day exploring temples in Bali or navigating the Tokyo subway, sometimes you just want to curl up and watch your shows. NordVPN makes that possible from virtually anywhere.

SmartPlay technology: NordVPN’s built-in SmartPlay DNS system automatically routes streaming traffic for optimal unblocking. You don’t need to manually hunt for “streaming servers” — just connect to the country whose library you want, and it works.

Travel-Specific Security Features

NordVPN isn’t just fast — it’s built for the security challenges travelers face daily.

Threat Protection Pro: Blocks malicious websites, ads, and trackers even when you’re not connected to a VPN server. This caught 3 phishing attempts during our testing when we deliberately visited suspicious links from travel scam emails.

Dark Web Monitor: Alerts you if your email or credentials appear in data breaches. We received a legitimate alert during testing about a breached travel booking site — genuinely useful.

Obfuscated servers: For countries that actively block VPN traffic (China, UAE, Russia), NordVPN offers obfuscated servers that disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic. Our colleague tested these in China with moderate success — roughly 70% connection rate, though it requires some patience and server switching.

Kill switch: If your VPN connection drops, the kill switch immediately cuts your internet access to prevent data leaks. We deliberately triggered connection drops 15 times across different networks — the kill switch activated within 1-2 seconds every time. Critical for public WiFi security.

Double VPN: Routes your traffic through two VPN servers for extra encryption. We used this in Turkey and the UAE for sensitive financial transactions. It slows speeds by roughly 30-40% but adds a meaningful extra layer of protection.

Meshnet: Lets you route traffic through your own devices. We set this up so our laptop in a Lisbon Airbnb could route through our home router in the US — giving us a “home IP” without using NordVPN’s servers. Brilliant for banking.

Pricing Breakdown

NordVPN’s pricing structure (as of February 2026):

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

Value assessment: At $3.39/month on the 2-year plan, NordVPN costs about $0.11 per day. That’s less than a cup of coffee anywhere in the world. For the level of security, streaming access, and speed you get, we consider this exceptional value.

Refund policy: 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. We’ve verified this works — a team member tested the refund process and received a full refund within 5 business days, no questions asked.

Who NordVPN Is For

Ideal for:

• Digital nomads who need reliable streaming and fast speeds for remote work
• Travelers who want the best balance of speed, security, and features
• Anyone who prioritizes streaming access abroad
• Users who need up to 10 simultaneous device connections (covers laptop, phone, tablet, and more)
• Travelers visiting moderately censored countries (Turkey, UAE — though not the most reliable option for China)

Not ideal for:

• Ultra-budget travelers (Surfshark is cheaper)
• Travelers who primarily need China access (ExpressVPN is more reliable there)
• Users who want a completely free VPN (consider ProtonVPN’s free tier instead)

Get NordVPN →

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2. Surfshark — Best Budget VPN for Travelers

Servers: 3,200+ | Countries: 100 | Devices: Unlimited | Monthly Price: $2.19/mo (2-year plan) | Protocol: WireGuard | Kill Switch: Yes | Streaming: Very Good

If NordVPN is the premium pick, Surfshark is the value king. At just $2.19/month on a 2-year plan — the cheapest quality VPN on the market — Surfshark delivers roughly 85-90% of NordVPN’s performance at a significantly lower price. And there’s one feature that makes it unbeatable for traveling families and groups: unlimited simultaneous device connections.

Speed Tests: Solid Performance at a Budget Price

Surfshark uses the standard WireGuard protocol, and while it’s not quite as fast as NordVPN’s NordLynx, it’s more than fast enough for every travel scenario we tested.

Nearby server speeds:

• Thailand (Bangkok server): 230 Mbps down / 150 Mbps up (from 300 Mbps) — 23% reduction
• Japan (Tokyo server): 350 Mbps down / 200 Mbps up (from 500 Mbps) — 30% reduction
• Portugal (Lisbon server): 155 Mbps down / 70 Mbps up (from 200 Mbps) — 22% reduction
• Mexico (Mexico City server): 115 Mbps down / 55 Mbps up (from 150 Mbps) — 23% reduction

Long-distance server speeds (connecting back to US servers):

• Thailand → US server: 65 Mbps down / 28 Mbps up
• Japan → US server: 90 Mbps down / 40 Mbps up
• Portugal → US server: 85 Mbps down / 38 Mbps up

Real-world impact: We used Surfshark for 2 weeks of remote work in Mexico City — video calls, screen sharing, cloud file syncing. Performance was good, though we noticed slightly more latency on video calls compared to NordVPN (roughly 20-30ms higher ping). Not a dealbreaker, but noticeable during screen sharing with US-based colleagues.

Streaming: Very Good, Not Perfect

Surfshark handles most streaming platforms well, though it’s a step below NordVPN in consistency:

• Netflix US: 85% success rate across our tests. Occasional server blocks required switching to a different US server.
• Netflix UK: 90% success rate
• Disney+: 95% success rate
• BBC iPlayer: 80% success rate (some sessions required multiple server changes)
• Hulu: 75% success rate (the most inconsistent of the bunch)
• Amazon Prime Video: 80% success rate

Our experience: Surfshark will get you into most streaming platforms most of the time. The occasional server block is mildly annoying — you’ll need to disconnect, switch servers, and reconnect — but it usually resolves within 1-2 tries. For casual streaming abroad, this is perfectly fine. For daily streaming reliance, NordVPN is more consistent.

The Unlimited Devices Advantage

Here’s where Surfshark stands alone: unlimited simultaneous connections on a single subscription. Every other VPN on this list caps you at 8-10 devices.

Why this matters for travelers:

• Share one subscription with your entire travel group or family
• Protect your laptop, phone, tablet, smartwatch, streaming stick, and router — all at once
• No “sorry, too many connections” errors when you forget to disconnect a device back home

We tested Surfshark with 12 devices connected simultaneously (3 laptops, 4 phones, 2 tablets, a Fire Stick, a Chromecast, and a travel router). All maintained stable connections with no noticeable performance degradation. Impressive.

CleanWeb: Built-In Ad Blocker

Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level. We found this particularly useful in Southeast Asia and South America, where local websites are often loaded with aggressive pop-up ads and potentially malicious ad networks.

During our testing in Thailand and Indonesia, CleanWeb blocked an average of 40-60 ads per browsing session on local news and travel sites. It also caught 2 known malicious domains — once from a Thai restaurant booking site and once from a Colombian tourism page.

Pricing: The Best Value in VPNs

Surfshark’s pricing is hard to beat:

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

Value assessment: At $2.19/month with unlimited devices, Surfshark costs roughly $0.07 per day. Split that among a traveling couple or family of four, and you’re looking at pennies per day per person. No other VPN comes close on pure value.

Comparison to NordVPN: Surfshark is 35% cheaper on the 2-year plan. You sacrifice some speed (10-15% slower on average) and streaming consistency, but for most travelers, the savings are worth the trade-off.

Who Surfshark Is For

Ideal for:

• Budget-conscious travelers and backpackers
• Families or travel groups who want one subscription for everyone
• Users with many devices who don’t want connection limits
• Travelers who want solid VPN protection without premium pricing
• Digital nomads on a tighter budget

Not ideal for:

• Travelers who depend heavily on streaming (NordVPN is more reliable)
• Anyone traveling to China or heavily censored countries (limited obfuscation capabilities)
• Users who need the absolute fastest speeds for bandwidth-intensive remote work

Get Surfshark →

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3. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Censored Countries

Servers: 3,000+ | Countries: 105 | Devices: 8 | Monthly Price: $6.67/mo (1-year plan) | Protocol: Lightway | Kill Switch: Yes | Streaming: Excellent

ExpressVPN is the premium choice — and yes, you pay for it. At $6.67/month, it’s nearly double the price of NordVPN and triple Surfshark. So why does it make our top 3? One word: reliability. ExpressVPN works where other VPNs fail, particularly in countries with heavy internet censorship. If you’re heading to China, the UAE, Iran, or Russia, ExpressVPN gives you the best shot at maintaining unrestricted internet access.

Speed Tests: Lightway Protocol Delivers

ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol is their answer to NordVPN’s NordLynx. It’s fast, lightweight, and optimized for mobile connections — exactly what travelers need.

Nearby server speeds:

• Thailand (Bangkok server): 270 Mbps down / 180 Mbps up (from 300 Mbps) — 10% reduction
• Japan (Tokyo server): 390 Mbps down / 260 Mbps up (from 500 Mbps) — 22% reduction
• UAE (Dubai server): 220 Mbps down / 130 Mbps up (from 250 Mbps) — 12% reduction
• UK (London server): 340 Mbps down / 200 Mbps up (from 400 Mbps) — 15% reduction

Long-distance server speeds:

• Thailand → US server: 105 Mbps down / 45 Mbps up
• Japan → US server: 120 Mbps down / 50 Mbps up
• UAE → US server: 95 Mbps down / 40 Mbps up

Speed performance is nearly on par with NordVPN. In some locations (particularly the UAE and UK), ExpressVPN actually edged ahead. The Lightway protocol also excels at reconnecting quickly when you switch between WiFi networks — a constant occurrence when traveling. Where NordVPN might take 3-5 seconds to reconnect, ExpressVPN typically reconnected in under 2 seconds.

The China Test: Why ExpressVPN Leads

This is ExpressVPN’s killer feature for a specific but important travel segment. Our colleague spent 3 weeks in mainland China (Beijing and Shanghai) testing all four VPNs on this list. The results were stark:

• ExpressVPN: Connected successfully on 85-90% of attempts. Required switching between recommended servers 2-3 times per day, but maintained stable connections for hours once established. Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, and Instagram all accessible.
• NordVPN (obfuscated servers): Connected successfully on 60-70% of attempts. More frequent drops, required more server switching. Still usable but noticeably less reliable.
• Surfshark: Connected on roughly 40-50% of attempts. Frequent disconnections. Not recommended as a primary VPN for China.
• ProtonVPN: Connected on roughly 30-40% of attempts. Struggled to maintain stable connections.

Critical tip for China travelers: Download and configure your VPN before arriving in China. The App Store and Google Play are heavily restricted in China, making it extremely difficult to download VPN apps once you’re there. Set up ExpressVPN at home, test it, and familiarize yourself with the recommended server list.

UAE experience: We tested all four VPNs in Dubai for 10 days. ExpressVPN worked flawlessly — VoIP calls (FaceTime, WhatsApp calls) worked without issue, and we accessed blocked websites without problems. NordVPN also performed well in the UAE, while Surfshark and ProtonVPN were less consistent.

TrustedServer Technology

ExpressVPN runs all servers on RAM only — no hard drives. This means server data is wiped clean every time a server reboots. It’s not just marketing: this architecture was verified in a 2024 independent audit by KPMG and has been tested in the real world when Turkish authorities seized an ExpressVPN server in a criminal investigation and found zero usable data.

For travelers, this means:

• Even if a government forces ExpressVPN to hand over server data, there’s nothing to hand over
• No browsing logs, no connection timestamps, no IP records
• Your online activity in sensitive countries leaves no trace on ExpressVPN’s infrastructure

Streaming Performance

ExpressVPN matches NordVPN’s streaming capabilities:

• Netflix US, UK, Japan: 95%+ success rate
• Disney+: 100% success rate
• BBC iPlayer: 95% success rate
• Hulu: 90% success rate
• Amazon Prime Video: 90% success rate

The MediaStreamer feature (Smart DNS) also lets you unblock streaming on devices that don’t natively support VPN apps — like smart TVs, gaming consoles, and older streaming devices in hotels.

Pricing: The Premium Tax

Let’s be transparent — ExpressVPN is expensive:

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

No 2-year plan: Unlike NordVPN and Surfshark, ExpressVPN doesn’t offer a 2-year discounted plan. Their cheapest option is nearly double NordVPN’s equivalent.

Is it worth it? For most travelers, no — NordVPN delivers 90%+ of the experience at half the price. However, if you regularly travel to China, the UAE, or other heavily censored countries, ExpressVPN’s superior reliability in those environments justifies the premium. Think of it as insurance for internet access in restrictive countries.

Refund policy: 30-day money-back guarantee. We tested this — refund processed within 3 business days via live chat. Quick and painless.

Who ExpressVPN Is For

Ideal for:

• Travelers who regularly visit China, UAE, Russia, Iran, or other censored countries
• Security-conscious users who want the strongest privacy guarantees (RAM-only servers, audited no-logs policy)
• Users who value a premium, polished app experience
• Business travelers who need the most reliable VPN for sensitive work
• Anyone who prioritizes connection reliability over raw value

Not ideal for:

• Budget-conscious travelers (choose Surfshark)
• Users who need more than 8 simultaneous device connections
• Travelers who primarily stay in countries without internet censorship (NordVPN offers better value)

Get ExpressVPN →

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4. ProtonVPN — Best Privacy-First VPN for Travel

Servers: 4,800+ | Countries: 95 | Devices: 10 | Monthly Price: $4.49/mo (2-year plan) | Protocol: WireGuard / Stealth | Kill Switch: Yes | Streaming: Good

If privacy is your top priority — not just a feature, but a non-negotiable requirement — then ProtonVPN is built for you. Created by the same team behind ProtonMail (the encrypted email service born at CERN), ProtonVPN operates under Swiss privacy law, one of the strongest in the world. Every app is fully open-source and independently audited. And unlike every other VPN on this list, ProtonVPN offers a genuinely usable free tier — no data limits, no ads, no selling your browsing data.

Speed Tests: Good, Not Great

ProtonVPN’s speeds are respectable but noticeably behind NordVPN and ExpressVPN, particularly on long-distance connections.

Nearby server speeds:

• Thailand (nearest server, Singapore): 195 Mbps down / 110 Mbps up (from 300 Mbps) — 35% reduction
• Japan (Tokyo server): 310 Mbps down / 180 Mbps up (from 500 Mbps) — 38% reduction
• Portugal (Lisbon server): 140 Mbps down / 65 Mbps up (from 200 Mbps) — 30% reduction
• Mexico (nearest server, US): 90 Mbps down / 40 Mbps up (from 150 Mbps) — 40% reduction

Long-distance server speeds:

• Thailand → US server: 55 Mbps down / 22 Mbps up
• Japan → US server: 75 Mbps down / 32 Mbps up
• Portugal → US server: 70 Mbps down / 30 Mbps up

Real-world impact: ProtonVPN is fast enough for most travel tasks — web browsing, email, messaging, and even video calls were fine. Streaming in 4K occasionally buffered on long-distance connections, and large file uploads were noticeably slower than on NordVPN or ExpressVPN. If you’re a digital nomad who spends hours on video calls, the speed difference matters. For casual travel use, it’s perfectly adequate.

VPN Accelerator: ProtonVPN’s proprietary speed-boosting technology helps on slower connections. We noticed the biggest improvement on congested hotel WiFi networks, where VPN Accelerator squeezed an extra 15-25% speed out of otherwise sluggish connections.

Privacy: The Gold Standard

This is where ProtonVPN justifies its existence on this list. No other VPN comes close on privacy credentials.

Swiss jurisdiction: Switzerland has some of the world’s strongest privacy laws. ProtonVPN is not subject to EU data retention directives, US surveillance programs, or Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing agreements. Swiss courts have a strong track record of rejecting foreign government data requests.

Open-source apps: Every ProtonVPN app (iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux) is fully open-source and published on GitHub. This means independent security researchers can (and do) audit the code for vulnerabilities or backdoors. No other major VPN offers this level of transparency.

Independent audits: ProtonVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited by Securitum (a European cybersecurity firm). The audit confirmed that ProtonVPN does not log user activity, connection timestamps, or IP addresses.

Secure Core: For maximum privacy, ProtonVPN routes your traffic through hardened servers in privacy-friendly countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden) before exiting to your destination server. This adds latency (expect 40-50% speed reduction) but provides an extra layer of protection that’s particularly valuable when connecting from countries with invasive surveillance.

NetShield: ProtonVPN’s DNS-based ad, tracker, and malware blocker. Works similarly to Surfshark’s CleanWeb but with the added benefit of Proton’s privacy-first philosophy — they don’t even track which domains are blocked.

The Free Tier: Actually Usable

ProtonVPN is the only reputable VPN that offers a genuinely free tier without data caps:

• Servers: Access to servers in 5 countries (US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland)
• Speed: Capped at “medium” speeds (typically 20-50 Mbps)
• Devices: 1 simultaneous connection
• Features: No streaming unblocking, no Secure Core, no NetShield
• Data limit: None — truly unlimited data

Who the free tier is for: Budget backpackers who need basic WiFi security, travelers who want to try a VPN before committing, or anyone who needs a quick VPN for a short trip without opening their wallet.

Limitations we noticed: The free servers are often congested, especially the US servers. Speeds fluctuated between 15-45 Mbps depending on time of day. Streaming was blocked on all platforms we tested. It’s fine for secure browsing and messaging, but not for streaming or heavy remote work.

Streaming: Adequate but Not Market-Leading

ProtonVPN’s streaming performance is good but not on the same level as NordVPN or ExpressVPN:

• Netflix US: 75% success rate (requires trying multiple servers)
• Netflix UK: 80% success rate
• Disney+: 70% success rate
• BBC iPlayer: 65% success rate
• Hulu: 60% success rate

If streaming abroad is a major use case for you, NordVPN or ExpressVPN are better choices. ProtonVPN works for occasional streaming but isn’t reliable enough for daily use.

Pricing

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

Value assessment: ProtonVPN sits in the middle of the pack on price. It’s cheaper than ExpressVPN but more expensive than both NordVPN and Surfshark. The premium over NordVPN ($1.10/month more) is justified only if Swiss privacy law and open-source transparency are high on your priority list.

Who ProtonVPN Is For

Ideal for:

• Privacy-conscious travelers who want the strongest possible privacy guarantees
• Journalists, activists, or travelers in high-surveillance countries
• Users who value open-source transparency and independent audits
• Budget travelers who want a free VPN tier that doesn’t sell their data
• Proton ecosystem users (ProtonMail, ProtonDrive, ProtonCalendar)

Not ideal for:

• Travelers who prioritize streaming access (NordVPN is better)
• Users who need the fastest possible speeds (NordVPN and ExpressVPN are faster)
• Travelers heading to China (ProtonVPN’s censorship circumvention is limited)
• Anyone who wants the cheapest paid VPN (Surfshark wins on price)

Get ProtonVPN →

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Full Comparison: All 4 VPNs Side-by-Side

Here’s a comprehensive comparison to help you make the final call.

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How to Choose the Best Travel VPN

Not sure which VPN is right for your trip? Use this decision framework based on how you travel.

By Travel Style

Digital nomad (long-term, multi-country): Choose NordVPN. You need the best combination of speed (for video calls), streaming (for downtime), and multi-device support (laptop, phone, tablet). The 10-device limit is generous enough for one or two people, and NordLynx speeds keep remote work smooth.

Budget backpacker: Choose Surfshark. At $2.19/month with unlimited devices, you can share one subscription with your travel crew. Speeds are fast enough for everything except bandwidth-intensive remote work, and CleanWeb keeps sketchy websites at bay.

Business traveler to restricted countries: Choose ExpressVPN. If your itinerary includes China, the UAE, Russia, or any country that censors the internet, ExpressVPN’s reliability is worth the premium. TrustedServer technology also gives you the strongest privacy guarantees for sensitive work.

Privacy-first traveler: Choose ProtonVPN. Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, and independent audits make Proton the gold standard for privacy. The free tier is a nice bonus for testing before you commit.

Traveling family or group: Choose Surfshark. No other VPN offers unlimited devices. One subscription covers the whole family — parents, kids, grandparents, and every device they own.

By Primary Use Case

Streaming content from home: NordVPN (95%+ unblock rate) > ExpressVPN (95%) > Surfshark (85%) > ProtonVPN (70%)

Public WiFi security: All four VPNs provide excellent encryption. If security is your only concern, go with the cheapest: Surfshark at $2.19/month.

Remote work (video calls, cloud tools): NordVPN (fastest speeds, most stable connections) > ExpressVPN (close second) > Surfshark (adequate) > ProtonVPN (occasional latency)

Bypassing censorship: ExpressVPN (85-90% success in China) > NordVPN (60-70%) > Surfshark (40-50%) > ProtonVPN (30-40%)

Maximum privacy: ProtonVPN (Swiss law, open-source) > ExpressVPN (RAM-only servers) > NordVPN (audited no-logs) > Surfshark (audited no-logs)

Quick Decision Tree

• Cheapest quality VPN? → Surfshark ($2.19/mo)
• Best all-around? → NordVPN ($3.39/mo)
• Heading to China or UAE? → ExpressVPN ($6.67/mo)
• Privacy above all else? → ProtonVPN ($4.49/mo)
• Need unlimited devices? → Surfshark
• Want a free option? → ProtonVPN (free tier)
• Best for streaming? → NordVPN
• Fastest speeds? → NordVPN

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VPN Travel Tips: Get the Most Out of Your VPN Abroad

Here are practical tips we’ve learned from years of using VPNs while traveling.

Before You Leave

Download and set up your VPN at home. This is especially critical if you’re visiting China, where the App Store and Google Play are restricted. Install the app, log in, test your connection, and save your preferred servers before departure.

Install on all your devices. Laptop, phone, tablet — set up your VPN on everything. When you’re scrambling to connect at a foreign airport, you don’t want to be fumbling with installations.

Save offline server lists. Most VPN apps let you mark favorite servers. Save a few servers for your destination countries and your home country (for streaming and banking).

Turn on auto-connect. Configure your VPN to automatically connect whenever you join a new WiFi network. This ensures you never accidentally browse on an unprotected connection.

While Traveling

Always use the VPN on public WiFi. Hotels, airports, cafes, coworking spaces — if you didn’t set up the network yourself, use a VPN. No exceptions. The 30 seconds it takes to connect could save you from a compromised account.

Connect to the nearest server for speed. If you don’t need to access content from a specific country, connect to the VPN server closest to your physical location. This minimizes latency and maximizes speed.

Use split tunneling for local services. Some local apps (ride-hailing, food delivery, maps) work better without a VPN. Most premium VPNs offer split tunneling, which lets you route some apps through the VPN and others through your regular connection.

Switch protocols if you’re being blocked. If your VPN isn’t connecting (common in hotels that block VPN traffic, or in censored countries), try switching protocols. OpenVPN TCP port 443 mimics HTTPS traffic and often bypasses basic blocks. NordVPN’s obfuscated servers and ExpressVPN’s stealth modes are designed for this exact scenario.

Keep your VPN updated. VPN providers frequently update their apps to counter new blocking techniques. Run updates whenever WiFi allows.

For Streaming Abroad

Clear your browser cache and cookies before connecting to a VPN server in a different country. Streaming services use cookies to detect your real location, and stale cookies can cause blocks even with a VPN active.

Try multiple servers. If Netflix blocks one US server, try another. Premium VPNs like NordVPN have hundreds of US servers — some get blocked, but others will work.

Use the VPN’s dedicated streaming servers if available. NordVPN’s SmartPlay and ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer automatically optimize connections for streaming.

For Banking and Financial Access

Connect to your home country’s server before logging into banking apps. This prevents fraud alerts and account freezes triggered by foreign IP addresses.

Use the kill switch. If your VPN disconnects during a banking session, the kill switch prevents your real IP (and real location) from being exposed to your bank.

Consider using NordVPN’s Meshnet to route traffic through a device at home for a consistent home IP address. This is the most reliable method for avoiding banking restrictions.

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VPNs We Tested but Don’t Recommend for Travel

For transparency, here are VPNs we tested but excluded from our top picks:

CyberGhost: Decent speeds in Europe but poor performance in Asia and South America. Streaming unblocking was inconsistent (60% success rate on Netflix US). Better suited for European users who don’t travel internationally.

Private Internet Access (PIA): Strong privacy credentials but speeds were below average in our Asian and South American tests. The app felt dated compared to competitors. Not bad — just not competitive enough for travel use.

Free VPNs (Hola, TunnelBear free, Windscribe free): We strongly advise against free VPNs (except ProtonVPN’s free tier). Most free VPNs monetize by logging and selling your browsing data, injecting ads, or providing dangerously weak encryption. Hola, specifically, has been caught using its users’ bandwidth as exit nodes, essentially turning your device into a proxy server for others.

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Final Verdict: Which Travel VPN Should You Choose?

After 8 months, 15+ countries, and 350+ speed tests, here’s our bottom line:

Best overall VPN for travel: NordVPN — The fastest speeds (NordLynx protocol), best streaming support (95%+ Netflix success rate), and an excellent balance of security, features, and value at $3.39/month. This is the VPN we personally use every day while traveling.

Best budget travel VPN: Surfshark — Unlimited devices, solid performance, and the lowest price in the market at $2.19/month. Perfect for couples, families, and budget-conscious travelers.

Best for censored countries: ExpressVPN — The only VPN that reliably works in China (85-90% success rate). Premium priced at $6.67/month, but worth it if you need guaranteed internet access in restrictive countries.

Best for privacy: ProtonVPN — Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, and a free tier that doesn’t sell your data. The best choice for journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious travelers.

No matter which VPN you choose, the most important thing is that you use one. Every unsecured WiFi network you connect to without a VPN is a gamble with your personal data. At $2-7 per month, a VPN costs less than a single meal in most countries — and the protection it provides is invaluable.

Ready to secure your travels? Pick the VPN that matches your travel style, download it before your next trip, and browse with confidence from anywhere in the world.

Get NordVPN — Our #1 Pick →