Best VPNs for Travel in 2025 (Access Any Website)

Picture this: You're at a Paris café, finally on public Wi-Fi after a long flight, but hackers lurk, ready to steal your data. Public networks abroad are risky — but a top VPN encrypts everything, turning hotspots secure from Tokyo to Timbuktu. No more worries; just protected browsing on the go.

The perks go beyond safety: VPNs bypass geo-blocks, letting you stream Netflix or access sites anywhere, like a global key to online freedom. With endless options, picking the right travel VPN has always been tough — until now. We've tested the market's best to reveal the top VPNs for travelers. Ready for secure adventures?

How to start using a travel VPN

1. Subscribe to a premium VPN
   Any of the VPNs we have profiled in this article will do a great job for you.
2. Create an account
3. Connect to a public server
4. Open your VPN
5. Connect to a VPN server
   Which server you join will depend on your location. In general, you want to choose the one that’s closest to you physically. This will give you the best performance.
6. Start surfing safely

What should every VPN for traveling have?

Not every VPN is built the same, and you’ll want only the best when you’re abroad. When choosing which service will fit us perfectly, these were the criteria we followed.

• Affordability — We made sure that each VPN on this list has a great price/quality ratio.
• Fast speeds — All premium services we chose use ultrafast VPN protocols like WireGuard, NordLynx, and Lightway.
• Impenetrable security — They provide military-grade encryption to protect your data.
• Streaming — You might want to keep up with your favorite TV show while on the road, so a VPN that can unblock content for all major streaming services is needed.
• Tools and features — There are a lot of VPNs on the market to choose from. To get you the most value for your money, we've looked out for ones with useful tools and features like ad blocking.
• Huge server network — The VPN services we recommend have servers spread across the planet so you can connect from anywhere.

Top VPNs for Travel

1. NordVPN — Best VPN for travel with secure and reliable apps, excellent support for streaming, fast speeds, and extra privacy features (with a 77% off coupon)
2. Surfshark — Affordable VPN for travel with unlimited connections and a great price 87% off coupon >
3. ExpressVPN — A reliable VPN for travel with user-friendly apps Visit site >
4. Proton VPN — Travel VPN with huge worldwide server network for reliable access Visit site >

Now that you've seen our list, let's take a more detailed look at each service.

NordVPN — The top travel VPN

NordVPN has 7,600+ ultra-fast servers in 165 locations around the world, which makes it perfect for traveling. All of them support NordLynx, a WireGuard based VPN protocol that offers the fastest speeds on the market. And this is exactly what we saw in our NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison. When doing a speed test from a NordVPN server in Seattle, we managed to get over 903 Mbps download speeds. This is more than enough for streaming with your VPN while traveling.

Luckily, NordVPN isn’t just a one-trick pony. Its security is also top-notch, which can be linked back to its AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption. This is also an audited no-logs VPN, meaning that it doesn’t save any user data. If you truly value your privacy, you shouldn’t settle for anything less. It has a slick new interface too:

NordVPN has gone through many external audits initiated by various cybersecurity companies. For example, PwC showed that NordVPNs privacy policies were strictly implemented. VerSprite went a step further and did an in-depth pen test which concluded that the app's security is on a very high level.

NordVPN’s premium features

As with any other service on the list, NordVPN offers a lot of additional tools that separate it from the competition. We are talking about…

• Obfuscated servers — By default, VPNs simply make you anonymous. But with the right technology, censors can still detect that you are using a VPN. They can’t see what you’re looking at, but they can block you completely if they wish. Obfuscation goes a step further by making your VPN traffic look like regular internet traffic. This is crucial if you’re traveling through a country with an oppressive regime, like UAE, China, or Russia.
• Double VPN servers — Double your encryption by rerouting your data through an additional VPN server. This will somewhat affect your speed.
• Onion Over VPN servers — Combines NordVPN with the Tor network for ultimate protection. This should be your last resort, as it will significantly slow down your internet speed.
• Dedicated IP servers — NordVPN's Dedicated IP servers provide you with a unique, static IP address assigned exclusively to a specific server, enabling faster connections, fewer CAPTCHA challenges, and secure access to corporate networks or private resources without sharing with other users.
• Kill Switch —  A fail safe mechanism that will cuts your connection to the internet if the connection to the VPN server fails.
• Threat Protection Pro — Blocks intrusive ads and stops malware and trackers from profiling you (an advanced VPN ad blocker)
• Private DNS — Encrypts DNS queries ensuring your browsing activity remains secure from third parties and even your own ISP.
• Post-quantum encryption — Available on NordLynx, it uses the ML-KEM (Kyber) algorithm to protect data against future quantum computer attacks.

See all NordVPN features here >>

NordVPN can also easily unlock many streaming sites that would otherwise be unavailable when traveling abroad. It is actually the perfect VPN for watching Netflix and is also a great VPN for Hulu. One subscription will allow you to connect up to ten platforms simultaneously.

The app has an intuitive interface, making it the perfect option for new users. If you can’t figure something out, 24/7 live chat service is always just a click away. The only downside is its price, but you can try it out basically for free as there is a 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN plans	Basic	Plus	Complete	Prime
1-month	$12.99/month	$13.99/month	$14.99/month	$17.99/month
1-year	$4.99/month	$5.99/month	$6.99/month	$8.99/month
2-year	$3.09/month	$4.39/month	$5.39/month	$7.39/month

Deal: Get 77% OFF NordVPN 2-year plans >

For a deeper insight, check out our NordVPN overview.

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Surfshark — An affordable VPN for travel

Surfshark is the best cheap VPN you can currently find on the market. It has 3200+ servers in more than 100 countries which are reliable, fast, and most importantly – secure.

Surfshark's servers fully support WireGuard. While it is slower than NordLynx, it is still one of the fastest VPNS and a vast improvement over the old OpenVPN protocol. With it, we managed to achieve over 750 Mbps when connected through a Seattle server.

This makes it a perfect VPN for travel, as you can stream shows in 4K, quickly download torrents, or even play competitive online games, like Warzone. Surfshark can easily bypass geo-blocking algorithms so that you can unlock every site, no matter your location.

Now, let's take a look at security. Surfshark's servers have 256-bit AES or ChaCha20 encryption and operate in RAM-only mode. This leaves no trace of your online activities. Surfshark aims for full transparency, which is why you can find a complete warrant canary report on its website.

But, you should never put trust in a company solely on its words. This is where external audits can help us determine how safe Surfshark really is. Numerous aspects of the service have passed third-party audits, including its no-logs policy, which was recently audited by Deloitte.

The Surfshark Windows VPN apps we tested were secure and user-friendly. They are also packed with features.

Surfsharks premium tools

• Bypasser (Split Tunneling) — Allows you to control which traffic bypasses the VPN and goes directly to the internet. Anything that needs protection can use Surfshark's encryption, while other traffic can go direct to the internet for the best speed possible.
• Camouflage mode (Obfuscation) — Conceals from your internet service provider (ISP) that you are using a VPN.
• CleanWeb — A real-time protection tool that blocks ads, malware, and trackers from infecting your device.
• MultiHop (Double VPN) — Surfshark has 14 MultiHop servers that will provide you with better encryption at the cost of a bit of speed.

See all Surfshark features here >>

What really makes Surfshark a great travel VPN is its affordability. A subscription has a low price, and lets you simultaneously connect an unlimited number of devices. The app is available on almost every platform on the market. Whether you need a VPN for Linux, or a VPN for iPad and other devices, Surfshark has you covered.

In case you need technical assistance, you can contact their 24/7 professional customer service via live chat. And if that's not enough, you can also try out Surfshark for a month, thanks to their generous 30-day refund policy. This essentially makes it a free trial VPN.

Surfshark plans	Starter	One	One+
1-month	$15.45/month	$17.95/month	$20.65/month
1-year	$3.19/month	$3.09/month	$6.09/month
2-year	$1.99/month	$2.49/month	$3.99/month

Deal: Get 87% OFF Surfshark 2-year plans >

There is always more to learn, so head out to our Surfshark review.

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ExpressVPN — A user-friendly VPN for travel

ExpressVPN was founded in 2009, and since then it has become one of the most popular VPNs around. It offers 3000+ servers in 105 countries worldwide that operate on TrustedServer technology in RAM-only mode (no hard drives). This offers a very high level of server security, as we also see with Surfshark and NordVPN.

ExpressVPN has built its own protocol called Lightway. In our tests for the Surfshark vs ExpressVPN comparison, we found that Lightway was a bit slower than the WireGuard protocol, but still plenty fast. It will be adequate if you need a VPN for streaming, torrenting, or anything else.

Lightway was extensively tested by Cure53, and their pentest concluded that it’s very safe. In addition to that, ExpressVPN subjects itself to an unending stream of external audits that continually confirms that the service is sound. You would be hard-pressed to find a service with a better track record. It will keep you secure if you need a VPN for torrenting.

ExpressVPN premium tools

• Split Tunneling
• Network Lock — Works the same as the kill switch on NordVPN and Surfshark.
• Device Groups — Connect each device to a different server at the same time.
• Threat manager — This blocks trackers hidden within apps on your device.

The ExpressVPN app is available on a majority of available devices ranging from Windows and Mac to Chromebook and routers. They also have a dedicated app if you need a VPN for Firestick. There are also excellent browser extensions giving you the ability to use the VPN for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge that will stop all WebRTC leaks. The app is also able to unlock all popular streaming sites with ease.

A single subscription will let you connect eight devices simultaneously. Although there is no trial, you have access to 24/7 live chat support and can refund ExpressVPN in the first 30 days if it does not live up to your expectations.

ExpressVPN plans	Basic	Advanced	Pro
1-month	$12.99/month	$13.99/month	$19.99/month
1-year	$4.99/month	$5.99/month	$8.99/month
2-year	$3.49/month	$4.49/month	$7.49/month

Deal: Get 73% OFF ExpressVPN 2-year plans >

This ExpressVPN review should answer all of your remaining questions.

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Proton VPN — Reliable travel VPN with huge server network

Proton VPN, developed by the Proton Mail team, stands out for travelers seeking ironclad security on the go. Its externally-audited no-logs policy and advanced encryption keep your data anonymous and protected, whether you're connecting to sketchy hotel Wi-Fi or public hotspots abroad. Meanwhile, its enormous network of 15,000+ servers in 122 countries virtually guarantees that you will have access to a nearby Proton VPN server.

Proton VPN has a number of advanced features that make it a strong travel VPN. The NetShield feature doubles as an ad-blocker, shielding you from trackers and malware — much like NordVPN's Threat Protection. Secure Core (its take on Double VPN) routes traffic through multiple servers for extra layers of defense. The new Stealth protocol is its version of obfuscation, improving the service's ability to function securely wherever you are in the world. This versatility ensures seamless, worry-free browsing across borders, without compromising your privacy.

For globetrotters who stream or download, Proton VPN unblocks key services like US Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, plus it supports torrenting on most servers. Pair it with Proton Mail via bundled plans for all-in-one secure communication. Note that Proton VPN provides live chat support only during Swiss business hours, and that its 30-day money-back guarantee is pro-rated.

Overall, despite a few minor nits, Proton VPN's privacy-first design makes it a reliable travel companion for secure, unrestricted access worldwide.

Proton VPN plans	Proton VPN Plus	Proton Unlimited
1-month	$9.99/month	$12.99/month
1-year	$3.99/month	$9.99/month
2-year	$3.59/month	$7.99/month

Deal: Get 64% OFF Proton VPN 2-year plans >

You can find much more information in our Proton VPN review.

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How to start using a travel VPN [the full guide]

1. Subscribe to a premium VPN

NordVPN would be our top choice, as it has the best speed and security, and the strongest server network.

2. Download and install the VPN app

To avoid any possible snags you should do this step before you leave on your trip.

3. Launch the VPN app and connect to a VPN server

We recommend that you use a VPN server that is close to your actual location. This way, you will get the best performance. However, this isn’t always possible as many sites and services are locked to specific geographic regions. For those, you will want to connect to a VPN server in a region where the service is available. For example, if you want to unlock YouTube TV, you will have to use a US server. Generally, connecting to the United States will unlock a majority of regionally restricted websites.

4. Start using your travel VPN

For the best security, you should always use the VPN. This is particularly true if you are using hotel or public WiFi hotspots, since those often have little or no security, making them ideal locations for hackers to steal a traveler's data, even ID and credit card info.

Troubleshooting: Why doesn’t it work?

Many sites, like HBO Max or FanDuel, implement geo-blocking to prevent users from outside a specific region from accessing their sites. All of the VPNs we recommend are capable of defeating most geo-blocking schemes, but sometimes they need a bit of help.

The first step is to connect to a VPN server in a region that the service supports. In most cases, once you do that, you will be able to log in using your usual credentials.

If that doesn't work, you should take advantage of your VPN's live chat support line. Contact support and tell them what content or website you are trying to connect to. They should be able to guide you to a server that will work.

Why you shouldn’t use free VPNs for traveling

Premium VPNs cost money that could go toward food or museum tickets, so free options seem appealing for saving cash. But they're often a bad idea due to limited funding and high maintenance costs. They have:

• Poor server networks: Free VPNs offer fewer locations, limiting your access.
• Monthly data limits: Most cap usage at 1-2 GB, which travelers can quickly exhaust.
• Slow speeds: They rely on outdated OpenVPN, causing buffering and low-quality streaming compared to premium protocols like NordLynx.
• Security risks: A study of 270+ free Android VPNs revealed over 38% contain malware, 80% have weak/no encryption, and 75% use trackers to monitor users. Ultimately, free VPNs prioritize selling your data to advertisers over protecting you — potentially costing far more than a premium subscription.

Conclusion — The best travel VPNs

In this article, we looked at the reasons you need a VPN for travel, along with the characteristics of good travel VPNs and even how to use them. We also covered the four VPNs our testing identified as the best options for use while traveling. Our #1 recommendation is NordVPN. It is fast and secure, with a large global network and a very reasonable price. You can get this top-rated VPN at the best available price by clicking this discount link.

While NordVPN is our top recommendation, any of the VPNs we recommend here is an excellent choice. Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN are each high-performance, highly-respected services. The choice is up to you. Just make sure you install one of these top VPNs before your next trip.