VPN for Travel and 5 Reasons Why You Should Use One

NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for traveling, thanks to its impressive network of over 5500 servers across 59 countries worldwide. It also comes with a host of first-rate security and privacy features.

If you are looking for the best VPN for traveling abroad, NordVPN is an excellent option. Travelers will gain protection for up to 6 devices, and the VPN is compatible with all major devices and operating systems, with native apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. You can enjoy a secure internet connection on all of your devices simultaneously with Nord.

NordVPN offers servers in 59 countries worldwide. Its extensive server network covers many continents, including North America, Europe, Asia, and South America.

NordVPN enables travelers to connect to an overseas server location easily. Simple open the easy-to-use app and select a server in your desired country from the vast server network.  For an optimal connection speed, select a server that is close to your actual geographical location.

There is a Quick Connect option on the NordVPN desktop and mobile apps, automatically connecting you to the best available server in speed and proximity. This is a useful option for travelers that want to ensure they can get a safe connection quickly while on the move.

Regarding user privacy, NordVPN is an excellent VPN for travel. The VPN operates on military standard AES-256 bit encryption and uses first-rate tunneling protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and its own NordLynx protocol. The provider also offers double VPN technology, which will reroute your internet data through two different servers to encrypt it twice rather than just once.

NordVPN even has a strict no-logs policy which means that your internet activity will remain completely private, and NordVPN will never store or misuse your private information. This policy has been independently audited to reassure users of its validity.

NordVPN also offers an excellent 24/7 live-chat option if you run into any issues while using the service. There is a 30-day refund policy, too, allowing you to test the product risk-free before committing to a paid subscription plan.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is arguably the best VPN for traveling abroad. It allows you to browse, stream, and game with ease, no matter your location.

ExpressVPN is a great VPN for travel and comes with support for 5 devices simultaneously, sufficient for the average user, although less than some of its competitors. There are excellent clients for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux and dedicated browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

The service operates on military standard 256 bit AES encryption which is great for travelers that want to know their internet connection is fully protected. The VPN offers a choice of first-rate protocols, too, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPsec, to ensure your private information and actual IP address remain private.

ExpressVPN also offers a cryptographic key system to encrypt and decrypt user data with a unique key for every server. The encryption keys are not stored on a hard drive, which means no one except ExpressVPN can access them. There is Perfect Forward Secrecy technology, too, which serves to alter the encryption key every time you start a VPN session; this ensures that your current connection cannot be linked to any one of your previous ones.

Express is one of the best VPNs for streaming fans too. It enables access to a host of popular streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+. There is unlimited bandwidth, too, meaning you do not need to worry about how much data you consume when using the VPN while traveling.

If you need a VPN, ExpressVPN is an excellent option, thanks to its impressive range of VPN locations, security features, and the first-rate user experience it provides. If you run into difficulties while using the service, there is a 24/7 live chat option and a range of comprehensive setup and support guides available on the website.

There is a 30-day refund guarantee allowing you to make sure you are happy with the service provided while traveling abroad before committing to a paid subscription plan.

Hotspot Shield VPN

Hotspot Shield is another one of the best VPN providers on the market. The company has heavily invested in its VPN product in recent years, which shows through the stellar technology on offer.

Hotspot’s proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol offers the fastest speeds of any VPN product, with an average of over 400Mbps on its United States servers. Even on long-distance server connections, Hotspot Shield is impressive. Like many other VPN providers, Hotspot Shield supports P2P file sharing and torrenting and is also successful at unblocking a range of streaming services while you’re traveling.

There is protection for up to 5 simultaneous connections, and the VPN is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. All of the VPN apps are well-designed and simple to use, even for beginner VPN users.

There is room for improvement when it comes to the provider’s no-logging policy. Hotspot Shield does log a limited amount of data, including session information, domains accessed, and IP addresses. Unlike many other VPN companies, Hotspot Shield has not yet released an independent audit of its privacy policy and software, which may concern some users.

A generous 45-day refund policy allows you to test the service risk-free and request a full refund if you are not completely happy with the product.

Hotspot Shield is one of the only premium VPN services to offer a free version. Often free VPNs come with strict bandwidth limitations and lower connection speeds, yet Hotspot’s free VPN does come with 500MB of data usage each day, 2Mbps speeds, and 1 device connection. Unfortunately, this may not be enough to fully protect your device and give you internet freedom when traveling.

Surfshark VPN

Surfshark is arguably the best budget VPN product on the market, especially considering its offer of unlimited device connections and impressive worldwide server network.

Surfshark’s price remains unbeaten on the VPN market, and its unlimited device connections make it one of the best choices if you are traveling away from your home country. The VPN is compatible with all major devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.

It is a great option for beginner VPN users thanks to its user-friendly interface, free from complicated jargon and complications. The Quick Connect button allows an automatic connection to the best available server, while the All Locations option shows all available server locations.

The VPN operates on military-grade 256-bit encryption and first-rate protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. There is a 2048-bit DHS-RSA key exchange for additional security. This means that no one, including your Internet Service Providers (ISPs), can view your private online activity.

CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost is a popular VPN product that offers access to an extensive VPN server network across over 90 countries. It also comes with excellent security features to ensure you stay safe when you’re traveling.

CyberGhost offers a host of easy-to-use security features and an excellent server network across more than 90 different countries worldwide. The VPN operates on military-grade AES-256 bit encryption and a host of advanced protocols, including IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, and L2TP/IPsec, to ensure you stay safe when browsing abroad.

There is Perfect Forward Secrecy technology too to ensure the encryption and decryption keys are altered frequently to protect your private data from the prying eyes of your internet service provider and cybercriminals. The VPN also comes with a reliable kill switch to ensure your internet connection is cut if your VPN fails for any reason. This ensures that no unencrypted data or your real IP address is exposed.

The provider is also successful at accessing various streaming sites such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, iPlayer, and Disney+. A handy server list on the CyberGhost website displays the best servers for each streaming library. There is unlimited bandwidth, too, meaning that you can stream, game and torrent as much as you like without worrying about how much data you consume.

CyberGhost’s strict no-logging policy ensures user data remains completely private as the company will never store, misuse or sell your identifying information.

A single subscription enables protection for up to 7 simultaneous devices, which is more than most VPN services offer. This means that you will be able to access the VPN on all of your devices. There are apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The provider also offers a generous 45-day refund policy for additional peace of mind.

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN offers a highly secure VPN product that is one of the best for privacy and security. The Switzerland-based provider has an excellent reputation in the internet privacy industry.

ProtonVPN offers an extensive range of servers across Europe and the rest of the world. Although its server network is smaller than others on the list, it provides users with many IP address options while traveling.

ProtonVPN has heavily invested in its product in recent years, further improving an already excellent service. The VPN operates on military-standard AES-256 bit encryption to ensure your browsing activity remains safe while traveling. There is Perfect Forward Secrecy technology, too, to ensure encrypted data is almost impossible to decipher.

There are several subscription plans available with ProtonVPN, including a free VPN version. The free plan comes with unlimited bandwidth and access to servers in the US, Japan, and the Netherlands. It’s a viable option for travelers who don’t want to spend a lot of money but want VPN protection abroad.

The number of simultaneous connections increases depending on the plan you purchase, but you can get up to 10, which is great. ProtonVPN has dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.

IPVanish VPN

IPVanish is a trustworthy VPN provider that comes with an impressive number of servers. There is a transparent no-logs policy and a generous 30-day refund policy, too, for extra peace of mind.

IPVanish comes with a range of sophisticated security and privacy features, many of which are rarely seen elsewhere. The VPN company owns and manages all of its servers end-to-end, which is much more secure than relying on third-party hardware. This is extremely reassuring for security-conscious users.

The VPN operates on AES-256 bit encryption and OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols as standard. There is also the option to select between OpenVPN 1194 or 443 ports or scramble your Open VPN server’s traffic for additional security. The kill switch ensures no unencrypted data or your real IP address ever becomes exposed should your connection drop while connected to a public wi-fi network when traveling.

A subscription with IPVanish comes with a 30-day refund policy as standard. The provider accepts payment with a credit card or via PayPal; however, there is, unfortunately, no option to pay anonymously with Bitcoin.

Private Internet Access VPN

Private Internet Access VPN is a powerful security service that comes with an eye-watering network. It is compatible with many devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. There is a 30-day refund policy, too, for additional peace of mind.

While it may not be the fastest or most affordable VPN product on the market, PIA is a hugely popular choice and a great option if you want to use a VPN as a traveler. Its vast server network is a major selling point, especially for users visiting many countries on their travels.

PIA is one of the best VPNs for streaming and gaming, thanks to its high connection speeds. It even offers a SOCKS5 proxy for faster download speeds if you need them.

The VPN comes with a range of advanced security features, including malware blocking technology to ensure you are protected even if connected to a public Wi-Fi hotspot.

PIA is a relatively affordable option, too, as long as you are ready to commit to a longer-term subscription plan. If you opt for PIA’s 1-year option, you will only have to pay $3.33 a month, which is cheaper than most other VPNs on the market. There is a risk-free refund policy, too, meaning that you are protected on all of the provider’s subscription plans.

TunnelBear VPN

TunnelBear is one of the best VPNs on the market for beginner users, thanks to its range of user-friendly features and well-designed clients. There is support for up to 5 simultaneous device connections and dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

The Canadian-based provider offers a simple, fuss-free service that is suitable even for users who are new to using a VPN product. TunnelBear has even completed independent security audits of its VPN product and service to give you peace of mind that your private activity and online data will remain completely safe and anonymous.

Connection speeds may not be the fastest, but they are sufficient for most online tasks. However, TunnelBear may not be the best option for streaming fans as it struggled to gain access to some geo-restricted services, including BBC iPlayer and Netflix, which is disappointing.

Unfortunately, there is no money-back guarantee which is surprising considering that most premium VPNs offer a type of refund policy or free trial. However, there is a free version, which we recommend that you test before signing up for a paid subscription option.

Windscribe VPN

Windscribe offers one of the most reliable VPNs on the market and is consistently improving its product. There is support for an unlimited number of device connections, too, which is a major benefit, especially for those looking for value for money.

The VPN provider is a popular name in the internet security industry. It comes with dedicated apps for the most popular devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and well-designed browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

It is a relatively good choice for streaming fans and is successful at accessing a range of geo-restricted services, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube. This means that you can continue to watch your favorite shows from home when traveling abroad.

Unfortunately, there is no live chat, which is disappointing, considering that most premium providers offer 24/7 support. This means that you may be waiting a while for any queries you may have while using the VPN.