.png)
1 year ago
191 BOOK THIS SPACE FOR AD
ARTICLE ADTravel is back. And with the holiday season bearing down on us, it's not looking like it will slow down anytime soon.
With that in mind, a travel VPN is an easily overlooked tool to keep your data safe and give you peace of mind when you're on the go. Of all the situations you might find yourself in when using a VPN, perhaps the most mission-critical is when you're traveling. When you're away from home, you're dependent on whatever communication infrastructure exists where you are. You might have a strong Wi-Fi connection in the airport or café, but is it secure?
Also: 12 gift ideas for travelers this holiday season
That's where a VPN comes to the rescue. The best VPNs create secure tunnels that protect your internet traffic. This gives you one extra layer of protection against having financial information or login credentials stolen.
Keep in mind that VPNs are illegal in some countries, precisely because the host government wants to snoop on all traffic. Make sure you check into local laws before you do something that may be frowned upon, possibly with quite serious consequences.
Also: Best mobile VPNs
The service you use at home may be great for streaming movies, but VPNs can serve a much more serious purpose when you're abroad. Choose carefully.
pros
Supports a massive number of devices 160 server locations Transparent privacy policycons
Keeps some connection logs Only five concurrent connectionsExpressVPN specifications: Server locations: 160 | Simultaneous connections: 5 | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and a whole lot more | Logging: No browsing logs, some connection logs | Money-back guarantee: 30 days
ExpressVPN has a sizable server network comprising 160 server locations in 94 countries. No matter where you're traveling, there's a good chance you'll be able to connect to a local server.
Exclusive offer: Get three extra months free
A key advantage of ExpressVPN is the private DNS it runs on every VPN server when it comes to travel. That means that when you're trying to access Gmail, for example, ExpressVPN's DNS will give you an actual IP address for Gmail. If you're relying on your local host network's DNS, you have no idea what actual IP address you're being sent to. It looks like Gmail, but is it really? Or did you just give a hostile government or organized crime your Gmail credentials? Make use of ExpressVPN's private DNS.
Read the review: Our ExpressVPN review
ExpressVPN is a widely used VPN provider that supports a large number of platforms and devices. It's also one of the best VPNs for iPhones and a top VPN for Android, which makes it extra useful for traveling. You can use the native app or setup ExpressVPN manually on all of the following:
WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSChromebookChromecastAmazon Fire tabletRouters (including Asus, Linksys, and Netgear models)Nintendo SwitchPlayStationXboxAmazon Fire TV & Fire StickApple TVRokuChromeFirefoxEdgeExpressVPNs privacy policy clearly lays out what information it collects. It doesn't log information that could be used to identify you, such as your IP address, browsing history, or DNS queries. However, it does track the dates you connect, how much data is transferred, and the server location. ExpressVPN has made this information very clear and easily accessible, which is a plus.
pros
Unlimited simultaneous connections Over 3,200 servers No logsSurfshark VPN specifications: Servers: 3,200+ | Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Firefox, Chrome | Logging: No activity logs | Money-back guarantee: 30 days
Surfshark VPN can be a steal at only $2.05 per month with the current Black Friday deal for a two-year plan. In our most recent testing, its speed was middle of the pack (54% speed reduction), but it was reliable and had fast connection times. Surfshark VPN is as secure as they come, we found no DNS leaks and the company doesn't log your activity while using the service.
Surfshark also offers private DNS capabilities, as well as what they call NoBorders mode. This feature is designed to enable you to access sites regardless of restrictive border connections. Be careful, though. Countries restricting access tend to frown on bypassing those restrictions.
Read the review: Our Surfshark VPN review
Surfshark VPN comes with a number of standard features, including split tunneling, kill switch, MultiHop (double VPN), static IP address, rotating IP address, and an ad/tracker blocker. There are also inexpensive add-on tools, including a tracker-free search engine, data breach scanner, and antivirus software.
pros
Large server network Reliable and fast Easy-to-use native appscons
Limited to six simultaneous connectionsNordVPN specifications: Servers: 5,000+ | Simultaneous connections: 6 | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Logging: No activity logs | Money-back guarantee: 30 days
In our review of NordVPN, it was fast (only reducing speeds by 32%) and had a reliable and consistent connection. NordVPN's performance was generally consistent across a wide range of test situations. This means that if you're traveling, you're likely to be able to count on the same performance from NordVPN no matter where you're connecting.
Autumn sale: Get three free months with a two-year plan
NordVPN also supports P2P sharing and is one of our favorite VPNs for torrenting. It offers a second layer of encryption through its Double VPN feature and has a dedicated IP if you're trying to run a VPN that also doubles as a server. As far as compatibility goes, NordVPN supports all of the major platforms and has additional browser plugins for Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.
Also: How to set up and use NordVPN
Overall, NordVPN is a solid choice. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which should give you enough time to test out the product and see if it's a good fit for you.
pros
Unlimited simultaneous connections Highly configurable app Fast connection timescons
Didn't hide our VPN connection Slower download speedsIPVanish VPN specifications: Servers: 2,000+ | Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, Android TV, Chrome | Logging: No activity logs | Money-back guarantee: 30 days
IPVanish is a highly configurable product with a user-friendly interface and a raft of configuration options for the app. The app gives you a good number of server selection options and shows you the ping speed and server load for each location. These features can be valuable when you're on the road because it gives you the option to choose the optimal server based on your current location.
Read the review: Our IPVanish review
IPVanish's connection speed was fast, but the download speeds were subpar (cuts speeds by 73%) compared to other services in our most recent testing for the fastest VPNs. It also wasn't able to hide the fact that we were connecting from a VPN. However, the connection was still secure. In certain areas, the inability to hide the VPN connection could create problems, so that's something to keep in mind if you're traveling to a country that doesn't allow VPNs.
We found the best VPN for travel is ExpressVPN, with servers in 94 countries and 160 locations. ExpressVPN has a fast and reliable connection and offers top-notch security features, like private DNS. It also supports the most popular mobile platforms and a wide range of other platforms and devices. So even when you're not traveling, ExpressVPN can secure your internet connection from just about any device.
| Best VPN for travel | Price | Kill switch | Logging | Simultaneous connections |
| ExpressVPN | $6.67/mo w/ 1-year plan + 3 free months | Yes | No browsing logs, some connection logs | 5 |
| Surfshark VPN | $2.05/mo w/ 2-year plan + 2 free months | Yes | None, except billing data | Unlimited |
| NordVPN | $3.69/mo w/ 2-year plan + 3 free months | Yes | None, except billing data | 6 |
| IPVanish VPN | $3.19/mo w/ 1-year plan + 3 free months | Yes | None, except billing data | Unlimited |
The travel VPN that best fits your needs is going to provide a balance between security and speed. Some VPNs prioritize encryption and other security measures over performance, and while this won't affect your web browsing or streaming speeds too much, it's still a factor to consider.
Choose this travel VPN... | If you need... |
ExpressVPN | A massive server network |
Surfshark or IPVanish | Unlimited simultaneous connections |
NordVPN | Consistent performance across multiple devices and platforms |
IPVanish | Reliable and highly configurable VPN |
We looked at a list of different metrics to decide which were the top picks for travel VPNs, including ping speeds, encryption, platform compatibility, and the number of servers each brand has worldwide.
Also, we made sure that each of our picks offered the best possible security, which means that your data will not be visible at all while using the program, and certain features (like a kill switch) are included.
There are a number of sources. First, it's always a good idea to reach out to your VPN vendor. They often have a good feel for the countries their services operate in. If you're an American citizen, contact the US State Department. It lists travel advisories for US citizens, and they have foreign service officials who can provide general guidance. Check the travel advisories web page. Your nation's foreign ministry may have a similar service if you're outside the US.
No, no way. VPNs can, generally, protect your data while it's in motion. But if your computer or phone is seized (whether or not it's encrypted), it's possible governments can access your data. Some governments might simply hold your devices for whatever reason they deem useful. Online services you access in-country might have less protection than the very same services in your host country. And, of course, there are all the normal travel security issues, like being careful what you spend, how you handle cash, who you trust, and so on that could cause risk while traveling.
Yes. Don't assume any network endpoint is safe when traveling. Always make sure your connections are encrypted when communicating from any network connection.
Many VPN services definitively claim you can save hundreds of dollars on flights by using a VPN to change your location. And there are plenty of blog posts with anecdotal evidence supporting the theory that a VPN can help cut the price of your plane ticket. But the reality is less clear, and the most likely scenario is that no one knows for sure how much, if at all, a VPN can help you score cheap flights.
Airfare prices are set by algorithms based on a complicated number of factors, such as demand. You could notice a price different using a VPN to spoof your location, but the change in cost may or may not be related to your location. From a practical standpoint, it's difficult to account for every possible variable. Also, given the amount of data available on consumers, maybe the real advantage in using a VPN is remaining anonymous.
Another way to look at it is, if a VPN actually reduces the cost of airfare, it's most likely not going to have as big of an impact as other factors. There are other tactics for booking cheap flights that should be higher on your priority list. Booking early and keeping an eye out for price drops (check if there are change fees before booking), or traveling during days or times of day when there is less demand are great ways to secure the best possible prices on flights.
If the services we've highlighted in our best travel VPNs list aren't a good fit for you, there are other reputable products worth trying out. Proton VPN, VyprVPN, and Atlas VPN are all secure and reputable providers that could better suit your needs.
You can also check out ZDNET's guide on the top VPNs for more options.
You can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media at @DavidGewirtz on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.
Bengali (Bangladesh) · 
English (United States) ·