Best VPN for travel

1. NordVPN: the best overall pick for travelers, with a 30-day money-back guarantee and strong phone apps.
2. Surfshark: the best budget VPN, with unlimited devices and servers in 100 countries.
3. ExpressVPN: a polished option with servers in 113 countries and an eSIM on its top plan.
4. Proton VPN: the widest country coverage and a free plan, plus the Stealth protocol for restrictive networks.
5. CyberGhost: a low two-year price and the longest refund window of the five.

Provider reviews

These five providers were chosen from the cloaked providers we cover and from published roundups. We have not run our own speed tests for this page, so where speed is mentioned it is attributed to the source that reported it. Prices and server counts come from each VPN provider’s own site where we could open it, and they change often, so check the current offer before you buy.

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is the one we put first for travelers. Gizmodo and Tom’s Guide both rank it as the top overall travel pick, and Gizmodo calls it the fastest VPN on phones. That is the best performance to look for, because most people use a phone for maps, messaging and banking on the road.

Plans are called Basic, Plus and Complete. Plus adds Threat Protection Pro, and Complete adds 1 TB of NordLocker storage. Review sites list the two-year Basic plan at about $3.39 a month, but NordVPN’s own pricing page would not load when we checked, so confirm the price on the site. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on every plan, so you can try it at home before you leave.

The drawback is that there is no traditional free trial. Mobile users may be offered a 7-day trial, but otherwise you pay first and rely on the refund. Published server and country counts also vary between sources, so treat any figure you see as approximate until you check NordVPN directly.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is the pick for travelers who carry a lot of gear, and it is the most affordable VPN here for a family. Every plan allows unlimited simultaneous devices, so a couple or a family can put phones, tablets and laptops on one subscription without counting connections.

The provider’s site lists more than 4,500 servers in 100 countries, all upgraded to 10Gbps. The page we saw was priced in Canadian dollars, at CA$3.39 a month for the Starter and One plans on the 24-month term and CA$5.39 for One+. We could not confirm the USD price. All three plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The drawback is coverage. A hundred countries is plenty for most itineraries, but Proton VPN lists more than 140 and ExpressVPN lists 113, so Surfshark is the weaker choice if you plan to visit less common destinations.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN lists servers in 113 countries on all plans. Gizmodo singles it out as the kindest to phone battery on a long travel day, which is a practical point if you spend hours in airports and on trains.

On two-year plans the provider lists Basic at $2.99 a month, Advanced at $4.49 and Express Pro at $7.49. Device limits are 10, 12 and 14 respectively. The Pro plan includes a 5-day holiday.com eSIM, a useful extra for a short trip. New users get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The drawback is cost over time. Third-party reviews report that renewal prices are noticeably higher than the introductory offer, so note the renewal date when you sign up. Its server count is also not shown on the order page, so we do not quote one.

4. Proton VPN

Proton VPN has the widest country list of the five. Its VPN Plus plan lists more than 20,000 servers in over 140 countries and covers 10 devices. The two-year deal is $3.49 a month ($83.76 for the first 24 months), and Proton Unlimited is $7.99 a month. Paid plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

It is also the only provider here with a real free plan. Free costs $0, covers one device, has medium speed and connects you to one of 10 randomly selected countries. Research notes that the free plan does not let you stream, so it suits messaging and browsing, not video. A guest mode connects to a free server automatically, and a browser extension can help where the app is blocked from app stores.

Proton’s Stealth protocol is open source, based on WireGuard and TLS, and designed to get through networks that block VPNs. It is available on all plans, including Free, on Android, Windows, macOS and iOS.

The drawback is that the free plan’s single device and random country choice make it a backup, not a main travel setup. If you want to choose where you appear to be, you need a paid plan.

5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is the cheap VPN pick on this list at the headline rate, and the cheapest long-term option. The provider lists two years plus two months at $2.19 a month ($56.94 billed), six months at $6.99 a month and one month at $12.99.

Its refund policy is the most generous: 45 days on the multi-year and six-month plans, though only 14 days on the monthly plan. The site lists more than 9,600 servers and protects 7 devices on every plan. Other sources give higher server counts, so we use the provider’s figure.

The drawbacks are the 7-device cap, which is the lowest of the five, and the lack of a country count on the pricing page. Research puts it at around 100 countries, but we could not confirm that on the provider’s site.

What to look for in the best VPN for travel

A VPN that works well at home can disappoint abroad. These are the points that matter most when choosing the right VPN, and a recommended VPN should do well on each.

• Country coverage. Servers in the places you visit give you faster local connections, and servers at home let you use your regular accounts. More countries means more choice.
• Device limits. Count every phone, tablet and laptop you will take, and make sure the VPN supports all of them. Surfshark has no limit, ExpressVPN allows 10 to 14, Proton VPN Plus covers 10 and CyberGhost covers 7.
• Phone performance. Most travel use happens on a phone, so battery use and the quality of the mobile app matter more than desktop features.
• Obfuscation. Some networks apply VPN blocks to filter VPN traffic out. A VPN like Proton VPN includes the Stealth protocol, which is built for that case.
• Refund window. A 30-day guarantee lets you test the service before and during a trip. CyberGhost offers 45 days on longer plans, so check the policy of every VPN on your shortlist.
• Price after the first term. Introductory prices are low, and renewals can be higher. Check both.
• Ease of use. A great VPN connects in one tap when you are tired and on a slow hotel connection.

Why VPNs for traveling help on the road

Public Wi-Fi in hotels, cafes and airports is shared with strangers. A VPN provides encryption that scrambles your traffic between your device and the VPN server, so other people on the same network cannot read it. It also lets you connect through a server in your home country, which can help with banking sites and with any streaming service that restricts content by location, such as Netflix, so you can stream your usual library. A VPN does not make you anonymous, and it will not fix a phishing email, so keep your devices updated and use strong passwords.

Are free VPNs safe to use?

You can, with limits. Proton VPN’s free plan is the most credible one in this group, but it covers a single device and you cannot stream on it. Free services from another VPN company often earn money from ads or data, so read the privacy policy before you trust one. If you only need to check email on a hotel network, a free plan is better than nothing. For regular travel, a premium VPN on a paid plan is a more reliable VPN choice.

Which of the best VPNs fits your trip

• One phone and a short trip: NordVPN or Proton VPN.
• A family with many devices: Surfshark, since there is no device limit.
• A longer stay with a tight budget: CyberGhost, or Surfshark on a 24-month plan.
• Widest choice of countries: Proton VPN.
• A short trip where you also need mobile data: ExpressVPN Pro, which includes a 5-day eSIM.

How to set up the best VPN for travel

Set everything up before you leave, whether you’re traveling for work or leisure. App stores can be geofenced abroad, and VPN websites and apps may be blocked in countries such as China and the UAE, so do not count on downloading them on arrival.

1. Pick a provider and buy the plan. A popular VPN is fine if it covers your destinations. Use the money-back guarantee as a safety net while you test.
2. Install the VPN software on every device. Put the VPN apps on your phone, tablet and laptop, and sign in on each one.
3. Test at home. VPN testing takes only a few minutes: connect to a server in another country, load a website, and check that you can stream and that banking apps behave as you expect.
4. Turn on the kill switch and auto-connect. If your VPN offers them, this keeps your traffic protected when the VPN connection drops or when you join a new network.
5. Choose a VPN protocol. The default is usually the right one. If a network blocks the VPN, try a different protocol or an obfuscated option such as Stealth on Proton VPN.
6. Save a backup. Keep your account details somewhere you can reach them offline, and consider a browser extension as a second route.
7. Check local rules. Read your government’s official travel advice to confirm that VPN use is allowed in the countries on your route.

VPN laws when you travel

VPNs are legal in most countries, but a few restrict them. In China, VPNs are technically legal but heavily restricted, and most services are blocked. Enforcement against tourists has historically been rare. In the UAE, VPNs are legal for approved uses, and the risk comes from using one to reach blocked content or to hide a crime. Sources disagree on penalties, so we do not give a figure. Check official travel advice before you go, and follow local law.

Best VPN for travel FAQs

Which are the best travel VPNs?

NordVPN is our top VPN pick for most people. Gizmodo and Tom’s Guide both rank it first among the top VPNs for travel, and it has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark is the better choice if you want a lower price or unlimited devices.

Should I use a VPN when traveling?

Yes, a VPN is a good idea on shared networks, though you do not strictly need one. Encryption protects your traffic there, and a VPN lets you reach home services from abroad. If you only use your own mobile data, the benefit is smaller.

Is it safe to use public Wi-Fi without a VPN?

It is riskier. On a shared network, other users may be able to see unencrypted traffic, and fake hotspots can capture data. A VPN encrypts your connection, and HTTPS sites add their own protection, but a VPN gives you an extra layer on every app.

Can I use a free VPN while traveling abroad?

Yes, but with limits. Proton VPN’s free plan covers one device, has medium speed and does not let you stream. It is fine for basic browsing and messaging, and a paid plan suits anything beyond that.

Which VPN service works in the most countries?

Proton VPN lists the widest coverage, with servers in more than 140 countries on its Plus plan. ExpressVPN lists 113 countries and Surfshark lists 100. Check that your destinations are on the list before you buy.

Should I set up my VPN product before I leave?

Yes, install and test it at home. Some app stores are geofenced and VPN sites or apps can be blocked in places like China and the UAE, so downloading on arrival may not work.

Are VPNs legal in every country?

No. Most countries allow them, but some restrict or limit their use. China and the UAE are the two most often cited, and rules change, so read official government travel advice for each stop on your trip.