Travel is when your digital life gets the most exposed—because you rely on networks you don’t control. Airports, hotels, cafés, trains, and coworking spaces often run shared Wi-Fi that’s convenient, but not designed for privacy.
A travel VPN encrypts your internet connection and masks your IP address. That can reduce risk on public Wi-Fi, help you access home services while abroad, and limit tracking on unfamiliar networks.
But here’s the honest part: a VPN is only one layer. It won’t stop phishing, malware, or weak passwords. In this guide, we’ll show you which VPNs work best for travel—and the small habits that make the biggest difference on the road.
Why Travelers Use a VPN
Public Wi-Fi Is a Real Risk
Many public networks are shared and poorly secured. A VPN helps encrypt your traffic so other people on the network can’t easily snoop on what you’re doing.
Access Home Services While Abroad
Travel often triggers geo-blocks or “unusual login” security checks. A VPN can help you connect from your home region when needed.
Reduce Tracking on Travel Networks
Hotels, airports, and mobile providers may monitor or throttle traffic. A VPN makes it harder to profile you based on browsing and can reduce some throttling patterns.
Safer Remote Work on the Go
If you’re using Slack, email, admin panels, or client tools while traveling, a VPN is a simple way to reduce exposure on shared networks.
How We Chose the Best VPNs for Travel
Connection reliability across multiple regions
Stability on hotel and airport Wi-Fi (including captive portals)
Ease of use on mobile devices
Server availability worldwide
Privacy policy + jurisdiction considerations
Consistency for streaming and travel services
We prioritize real travel usability—quick connects, stable performance, and apps that work well on mobile—over lab-only speed numbers.
Quick Comparison Table
VPN
Best For
Countries Covered
Public Wi-Fi Security
Streaming Access
Devices
Overall Rating
NordVPN
Overall travel performance
110+
Excellent
Very strong
6
9.8/10
ExpressVPN
Speed & reliability abroad
100+
Excellent
Very strong
8
9.6/10
Surfshark
Unlimited devices while traveling
100+
Very good
Strong
Unlimited
9.4/10
Proton VPN
Privacy-focused travelers
70+
Excellent
Good
10
9.2/10
Detailed VPN Reviews for Travel
NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most reliable choices for travel thanks to its broad server coverage, strong security features, and consistently stable performance on hotel and airport Wi-Fi.
Pros
Stable on hotel and airport Wi-Fi
Large global server coverage
Strong security features (good for public networks)
Reliable for travel streaming needs
Cons
Limited to 6 devices per account
Desktop app can feel feature-heavy for casual users
Best for: Travelers who want a strong all-round VPN with good global coverage and solid performance on unstable connections.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a great travel pick when you want speed consistency and an app that ‘just works’ across different countries and networks.
Pros
Strong speeds worldwide
Very easy to use on mobile
Solid privacy track record
Reliable in more restrictive regions
Cons
Higher price than many competitors
Fewer built-in extras than some rivals
Best for: Travelers who value simplicity and reliability and don’t want to tweak settings.
Surfshark
Surfshark stands out for families and multi-device travel because it supports unlimited devices under one subscription while still offering strong travel performance.
Pros
Unlimited devices (great for families)
Good global coverage
Lightweight apps that travel well
Often strong value for long plans
Cons
Speeds can vary more on very distant servers
Less ‘set-and-forget’ consistency than the top two in some regions
Best for: Families, groups, and digital nomads traveling with multiple phones, tablets, and laptops.
Our Commitment to Honest Travel Advice
We aim to write travel VPN recommendations like a real guide, not a sales pitch. A VPN can be extremely useful on public Wi-Fi, but it’s not a cure-all. We focus on practical travel scenarios, clear limitations, and recommendations that prioritize user safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
In most countries, VPNs are legal. Some regions restrict VPN use or regulate providers. If you’re traveling somewhere sensitive, check local rules before relying on a VPN.
A VPN can reduce risk on hotel Wi-Fi by encrypting your traffic. It’s especially useful before logging into email, banking, or travel accounts.
Some speed loss is normal, but good VPNs keep it minimal. For the best speeds, use the closest server and avoid peak-hour overloaded locations.
Yes. Install and sign in before you leave. In some countries, VPN websites or app stores can be restricted, making setup harder once you arrive.
A VPN can help on public Wi-Fi by encrypting your connection, but it doesn’t prevent phishing. For sensitive banking actions, a mobile hotspot is often safer when available.
Mobile data is generally safer than unknown public Wi-Fi. If you must use public Wi-Fi, a VPN is a smart baseline layer.
Some hotels use captive portals, strict firewalls, or unstable routers. Try reconnecting after the portal login, switching protocols in the VPN app, or using mobile hotspot as a backup.
No VPN can guarantee access everywhere all the time. Streaming access changes often. The best travel VPNs tend to be more consistent, but results can vary by country and platform.