Everyone who is conscious about their online security understands the importance of a Virtual Private Network (VPN). It is the solution for privacy seekers and travelers who do not want to miss out on their favorite shows that might be geo-restricted, due to their location.
There are many trivial things, when you travel, that become very counterproductive when it comes to internet security. From insecure public Wi-Fi to geo-blocked websites, not to mention government surveillance and even locked bank accounts; the only thing that can come in and serve a better option is a good VPN. No matter where you travel in the world, a good VPN will make your journey safer and easier at almost no cost at all. All you might care about is how to get Wi-Fi on vacation – just ask you hosts though. The only thing that we advise against is using free Wi-Fi overseas without a good VPN – you will be open to third-party scrutiny.
We get that the process isn’t always easy and can be a bit confusing sometimes, that is why our team has put together this guide to help you navigate your way around the use of VPN. In this post, we will let you into what a VPN actually is, why you would really want to use one when you are travelling and how to use it even if it’s your first time. In this post, we will also highlight exactly what VPNs are (and are not) good for, and then we will go ahead to recommend some of the best VPNs for travelling. After reading this, you wouldn’t ask “should I have VPN on my phone whilst travelling?” anymore.
The variety of VPN providers and plans available in the market, it is not easy at all to figure out which one would work best for your needs. But here are some features that matter most when considering good VPN sites:-
The VPN service provider should have apps for the platforms you use : as a user, you must ensure that all of the devices you are taking with you whilst travelling are supported by the service provider you choose. Let’s say you are travelling with a Mac and an iPhone, you will need the MacOS and iOS versions of the VPN software you choose. Same applies when you’re using Windows or Android instead, you will need to ensure that you will be able to download apps for those from the VPN service you choose.
You will also need to check for restrictions or extra fees for simultaneous device connections : when a service provider restricts the number of devices that you can simultaneously on your VPN account, you will get to know how annoying that could be. With this, all your devices are all at risk of insecure networks, and you might have to continually disconnect one and connect another every time you want to use any of them. That’s why you need to look for a service that allows you to connect as many devices at the same time as possible.
The VPN service provider you choose must work in as many countries as possible : Many VPN softwares are created differently from others, that’s why many are way easier to block than the others. You need to look for support for the OpenVPN protocol and user reviews that shows you the ability of the VPN service you choose to work in China in the last few months. You will definitely need a VPN that still works in china. The Chinese government happens to be the best at blockingVPNs, this means that any VPN that can easily work in China, will definitely work anywhere else.
The speed is another important factor to consider– Whilst it is true that the use of a VPN will normally slow your connection down, because now your data is going through another server instead of going directly to the required destination. However, the extent to which it decreases depends on the features of the VPN service provider you have chosen. Features including distance, overloaded networks, and bandwidth restrictions. Speeds in Spain can drop by about 20% when using a VPN server in Madrid, and up to 40% when using a server in New York. That’s why it is advised to use a trial version of any VPN before you pay for it, so that you can run speed tests to know how fast or slow their service really is.
The VPN service provider you chose should include an auto-connect feature – a VPN service provider can only protect you when you use their services. This sounds like something you already know, but believe me, it is an easy thing not to remember especially when you are in a hurry. You need to look out for an auto-connect feature in the VPN service provider you choose, could be for every network or at least the insecure ones. By enabling this feature, you have enabled your VPN within a short time of connecting to a Wi-Fi network, which keeps you safe even when you have got other things to think about or surf about.
The VPN service provider you choose should have servers where you need them, and as many as there could be : The more servers a VPN service provider has, the better for the user. Sometimes, a particular server can be blocked by the website you are logged on to. But let’s say you have other servers you can choose from, it’s nothing more than a minor problem that can be fixed by changing servers
The VPN service must be easy to install and use – Even iif you buy into the idea that they are the best in the world, if you choose a VPN that is hard to install or even use, then it wouldn’t be worth the stress. Whilst on Mac and Windows, this definitely means that you just need to download and run the installer from the service provider’s website, on Android and iOS, you will need to get it from the App or Play Store. And if your account hadn’t been signed up for beforehand, you will be asked to do that during installation. You will also be asked a few questions about how you would like to use the VPN (automatically or manually, and what kind of connection it should make for you), but the default options are normally very fine.
Even though you might have heard or felt otherwise before now, using a VPN is not difficult at all. You only need to follow these easy steps to install and set up your overseas VPN free and get started:
Once all these have been satisfied, it shouldn’t be any harder using your installed VPN services. The software will connect automatically if set up to do that, or you would just need to push or punch a couple of clicks or taps to get it started.
Regardless of this though, not every VPN service provider makes the process very easy. To set up mobile VPN apps and services can most times be very difficult. That’s why we have created a VPN review of the very best VPNs you can use for easier and smoother installation and connection.
If you are looking for where to get a VPN or the best VPN to buy, it is always best to check in the app store or on their website. But before you go in search of one, here is a rundown of the best VPNs for travelling. Our suggestions are compatible with Google travel router and any other good and handy travelling router_
NordVPN boasts of having one of the best security features as unseen in many other VPN services globally. The service provider uses high-grade 256-bit encryption, to hide their user’s online activities.
Their services also come with an automatic kill switch that protects the user’s browsing if their VPN connection is interrupted. As a result of this, users can worry less about data leaks. The service provider also has a strict no logs policy, which is essential for travelers anywhere in the world. What this does is that it ensures that you can safely surf the internet or stream from any location, and not have your internet activities stored or sold to third parties. This makes it one of the best VPNs for work whilst on a trip. With enhanced VPN routers for canada and other parts of the world where they have servers.
A good VPN should be able to protect the user’s identity and easily unblock geo-restrictions, more so when the user is outside his home or in a country where the internet is censored. NordVPN can easily bypass even the strictest censorships even in tough regions such as China, Iran, and the UAE. NordVPN provides extra protection called CyberSec. This feature blocks ads and protects users from interfacing with websites that have malware. NordVPN has a whopping 5,400+ servers spread across 60 countries. Their large network of servers also means that users can easily connect to an endpoint in their home country to watch missed episodes of their best shows and catch on up on important shows from other countries interchangeably. NordVPN’s SmartPlay DNS enhances user’s connection for speedy and easy streaming. The feature ensures that users don’t need to do any manual work by automatically adjusting settings. This service can unblock 140+ streaming services worldwide, including Netflix US and BBC iPlayer. NordVPN provides their users with unlimited bandwidth and data. This means that once you are logged on to their service you can browse, download, and stream on the go, and never have to worry of caps and other limitations.
Users who are interested in sharing NordVPN with friends whilst travelling can connect up to 6 connections simultaneously which means that all their devices will be protected by the service provider during their journey. You can try the VPN service for free by taking advantage of the 30 days money-back guarantee. And you can rely on their 24/7 live chat for help before, during and after setup.
ExpressVPN has a worldwide network of over 3,000 servers spread across 90 countries, users are sure to find a server that best serves their interest in the country they are travelling to. ExpressVPN also has a feature that frequently refreshes their IP addresses, this ensures that they will not be seen as belonging to a VPN. As a result, users are able to bypass every geo-restriction, including Netflix US that has a very powerful anti-VPN capabilities. ExpressVPN also works in censored countries like China, Iran, and the UAE. Users can continue to surf the internet and also view their social media whilst also reading the news as they travel around the world. With Express VPN, change country as much as you want, they got you.
The service provider's Smart Location feature choses the closest server location to the user so that they can enjoy speedy download speeds. This makes it very easy to enjoy a fast connection anytime and anywhere and one of the best choices for American VPN connection. They also offer unlimited bandwidth which helps users to browse wherever they are, and not having to worry about throttling speeds as they browse. They also offer unlimited data. ExpressVPN offers one of the toughest measures as unseen in many other VPN service providers. They feature a 256-bit encryption, the OpenVPN protocol, and DNS leak protection. ExpressVPN also boasts of a no-logs policy accompanied by an automatic kill switch, which means that third-party agencies are kept away from what you are doing with your internet.
Every well-versed traveler will find ExpressVPN’s split tunneling feature very suitable for browsing as it makes it very much flexible. The split tunneling feature helps users to choose between using their IP address and the VPN service with just a click. Which means that the user can do internet banking via their VPN whilst also streaming their best shows on WiFi hotspots.
ExpressVPN provides users with a 30 days money-back guarantee that makes it possible for users to try out their services with no risk at all. Users can also rely on the service providers 24/7 live chat to get questions answered and also vent their needs.
For travelers looking for simple and easy to use VPN services, CyberGhost is the best option for you. Their service is very easy to set up and lets users to configure their own connection features with just one click. Simple setup results in hassle free connections when users are out and about and really need to quickly log in and surf the internet. CyberGhost gives their users access to over 6,400 VPN servers in more than 90 countries, including streaming-enhanced servers that unblock geo-blocks and lets users get access for HD streaming globally. This is also one of the best VPNs to use in Canada.
Even though CyberGhost can’t unblock China’s Great Firewall, they provide their users with great features for streaming, browsing, and torrenting whilst in many other locations outside their home. CyberGhost is very trustworthy and are cautious about their user’s details, this is the same with almost all the other suggestions we have made and will still make. The VPN service provider is dedicated to protecting their user’s online privacy. As if this is not enough, they also offer military-grade encryption of 256-AES, and also features an automatic kill switch, a no-logs policy and DNS leak protection. CyberGhost has the ability to connect up to 7 devices at the same time, this gives users enough space to share their subscription on their many devices and with their companions as they travel.
Users can also take advantage of the service providers 45 days money-back guarantee to try CyberGhost risk-free.
Surfshark consists of up to 3,200+ VPN servers spread across over 65 countries. They have streaming enabled servers in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, which means that users can always find a very fast nearby server for their chosen streaming location. Without a fast and reliable server connection while travelling, one would easily end up logging into your social media to make quick observations or join an important meeting only to stare forever at a loading screen. Surfshark has great speed for accessing the services like ESPN to get necessary updates on the latest sports shows whilst also streaming Netflix from any corner you find most relaxing.
Surfshark is a very budget-friendly VPN service, and it gives even more value by including unlimited simultaneous connections on a single subscription. This means that with Surfshark, users can connect to the internet with as many devices as they want and from anywhere they are, which makes the service provider best for VPN family plan. Their services also boasts of top-notch security featuring 256-bit encryption, all this to keep the users online identity hidden at every given time and especially from prying third eyes that might be looking to extract your online information Surfshark also offers an automatic kill switch and a no-logs policy to make sure that users information is protected from leaking leaked or getting stored. Surfshark’s NoBorders Mode feature uses special servers to override geo-blocked sites in the toughest regions you can think of. By turning on the NoBorders Mode, users can even bypass the Chinese Great Firewall, and get instantly connected with family and friends back at home. Surfshark boasts of the MultiHop feature – double VPN encryption that journey's your internet traffic through two distinct servers for an extra layer of security. This is very important for people who are in areas where they really battle strict censorships.
Users can try their services out risk-free with their 30 days money-back guarantee that is indeed guaranteed. Users can also check out their 24/7 live chat support to get the pressing questions answered speedily.
PrivateVPN is amongst the best VPN to use whilst travelling because it has a very simple interface and it is also very easy to use. PrivateVPN setup is quick and very easy to kick start for anyone – beginner or an experienced user who might regard the advanced mode. PrivateVPN is dedicated to giving their users a very beautiful and very friendly experience. Even when a user runs into some kind of distress, they can hook on to live support through the service providers TeamViewer feature. Whilst hooked up on this feature, users can get assistance during installation, and it also comes in very handy when searching for the right server or anything else the user might find uneasy before, during and after set up.
PrivateVPN has over 150 VPN servers spread across 60 countries with strategic global positioning. Even though its server coverage is little, don’t let that stop you from taking advantage of other exotic features accruable from this service provider. Their speeds are reliable and makes for good performance when connected to servers in Asia, Europe, and the US. They have dedicated servers that are channeled to access specific content online. This allows users to easily access streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu without going through the stress of testing multiple servers. PrivateVPN boasts of the industry peak point security feature that comprises a 256-bit AES encryption, which is a military-grade security protocol used by many governments. They also offer an automatic kill switch and a very strict zero-logs policy.
PrivateVPN is situated in Sweden, which means that it is part of the 14-Eyes Alliance jurisdiction, this regardless of protocols doesn’t call for one to worry seeing that it doesn’t affect their no-logs policy. They still sell or share any of your information to any third party, even if requested by the authorities, because they don’t keep logs to start with.
Users can try PrivateVPN out risk-free via their 7-day free trial, and a 30 days money-back guarantee that is tested and trusted from experience and recommendations.
ZenMate boasts of over 2,700 servers in 70+ locations globally positioned for the best streaming experiences whilst travelling, including in the UK, Hong Kong, France, Germany and VPN online Spain servers. For users who are visiting Europe, they will be given seamless access to a great number of servers, but they may have limited connections elsewhere outside Europe. The service provider is best for creating a UK VPN account. ZenMate is incredibly easy to set up on any device. All the user has to do is to follow a few easy steps to install, and then with a single click, they are ready to connect and stream all they want. They are also good as a Germany proxy VPN.
Zenmate has very dedicated streaming profiles. Users would not need to test multiple servers when they need to re-watch their best shows on any featured streaming service. Their services can bypass most geo-restrictions, which is a great feature for travelers as they can easily gain access to content from their home location. But ZenMate cannot bypass China’s Great Firewall, which makes it a bad option for people on a trip to China or out from China. ZenMate also has one of the best security encryptions available, 256-bit AES. Their services feature an automatic kill switch and a zero-logs policy, which ensure that users are safe whilst online.
Users who wish to evaluate ZenMates services risk-free can check out their free 7-day trial and 30 days money-back guarantee that has been proven effective.
VyprVPN’s service offers great help for accessing geo-blocked sites and overriding censorships with their unique Chameleon protocol. The Chameleon protocol gathers the user’s metadata to fight VPN blocks and bypass deep packet inspections, so much so that no one gets to know that the user is using a VPN.
Another great feature of VyprVPN is that it works in China. Which means that browsing and streaming your best shows whilst you travel across Europe and Asia and everywhere around the world, won’t be a problem at all. VyprVPN makes use of a 256-bit AES encryption, a no-logs policy and an automatic kill switch to protect their user’s identity. The service provider has a NAT firewall that gives an added layer of security whilst users are on the go. This feature also stops hackers and botnets from accessing the user’s computer without the user knowing. VyprVPN comprises over 70+ global locations that grants access to covet and make use of over 300,000 IP addresses. This access to so many IP addresses translates to the ability to connect to a different IP address if the original suffers a block or any other issue that affects IP addresses
VyprVPN allows users to connect as many as 5 devices simultaneously and on a single, so the user can browse on any of their devices whilst travelling.
Probably you are not convinced yet and you want to give this VPN service provider a risk-free trial, then you can make use of their 30 days money-back guarantee. They also offer 24/7 customer support for users who might need help getting started or might have encountered some issues whilst setting up.
No. VPNs don’t replace Wi-Fi. Even a VPN needs the internet to function. The VPN only hides the internet Wi-Fi users Wi-Fi VPN connection whilst they surf the net. A VPN Wi-Fi connection is possible.
Yes! They are. The ones without criminal intentions.
The truth remains that not all VPNs are worthy of your trust because of many security reasons but all the VPNs suggested on this post were researched and tested to ensure that they are good for use.
No. it is appealing, but you must know that some of these free VPN services are ill managed and serve for more dubious purposes for their owners. I won’t use a VPN that will expose my VPN location easily like most free VPNs do, I bet you don’t want that too.
