Best VPNs for travel in 2023

A travel VPN is necessary if you frequently go abroad and can’t access your favorite content due to geo-restrictions. Not only does it keep your data safe when you’re connected to public Wi-Fi networks, but it also helps you find cheaper flights.

Not every VPN is right for traveling, though. After testing several services, we curated a list of the ones that deserve to be called a truly international VPN.

We found that the best VPN for travel has security features that protect your data and a large server network that gives you access to content libraries from many different regions.

In this article, you’ll find the 5 best VPNs for travel in 2023 that you can use safely browse the web on the go.

Top 5 VPNs for traveling abroad

1. ExpressVPN – Best overall traveling VPN in 2023
2. Private Internet Access – Traveling VPN with over 10,000 servers
3. NordVPN – Best travel VPN with the most security features
4. Surfshark – Best International VPN for Androids
5. CyberGhost – Most user-friendly overseas VPN

To find the best traveling VPN, we tested many different services. Here are some of the things we considered during the tests:

• Number of servers – The more servers you get, the more geo-restricted content you can unblock.
• Speed – A fast VPN will let you watch content without any buffering.
• Security features – Features like kill switch and split tunneling will protect your data when you’re traveling.
• Compatibility – A good travel VPN should be fully compatible with most operating systems and platforms.
• Price – We made sure you get good value for money with our recommended travel VPNs.

The best VPNs for traveling in 2023

Using a VPN, you’ll be able to protect your online data when you’re traveling, unblock geo-restricted content, and find cheaper flights. Here are the top 5 VPNs for traveling:

1. ExpressVPN – Top VPN for traveling in 2023

ExpressVPN

1

9.7

/10

Visit ExpressVPN

Pros & cons

• Lightway provides fast speeds when traveling
• Comes with various security features to protect your data when traveling
• 3000+ RAM-based servers in 94 countries
• Unblocks almost all streaming sites

• Expensive

ExpressVPN is the best travel VPN because of the level of protection and number of servers it provides. Using its proprietary protocol Lightway, it offers incredibly fast speeds and robust security. No matter where you are in the world, ExpressVPN will keep your online traffic safe with the numerous security features it offers and allow you to enjoy geo-restricted content from 94 countries.

All of its servers run on volatile memory, so no information is retained after you switch the VPN off.

It has a native app for all major operating systems including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, so you can watch geo-restricted content on any device when you’re abroad without compromising your security.

If you have to travel to places where VPNs are restricted, then there’s no better service than ExpressVPN since it works in China and many other strict regions. Check out our in-depth review of ExpressVPN to see what else it offers.

You can get ExpressVPN for $6.67 per month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. Private Internet Access – Travel VPN with a high server count

Private Internet Access

1

9.4

/10

Visit Private Internet Access

Pros & cons

• Pay with cryptocurrency to maintain anonymity when traveling
• Use a dedicated IP to access geo-restricted sites when you’re abroad
• No-log travel VPN with military-grade encryption

• No RAM-based servers

Private Internet Access’s biggest advantage is the huge server network it offers. It’s an excellent VPN for people who travel to Europe since most of its servers are located there and in North America. You can use it on 10 devices simultaneously and unblock a vast geo-restricted content library using its 10,000 servers when you’re abroad.

For an additional fee, you can get a dedicated IP address when you’re traveling so you don’t end up getting blocked from geo-restricted sites. It also comes with a kill switch, an ad and tracker blocker, and split tunneling. 

PIA also uses military-grade encryption to protect your online traffic when you’re traveling overseas and just like NordVPN, it also has multi-hop routing.

Boost your security with PIA’s multi-hop routing. 

You can also install PIA as a Google Chrome extension, which will allow you to enable the VPN for specific sites.

PIA is available for $2.19 per month. Before making any major commitment, we recommend using the free 7-day trial version.

3. NordVPN – International VPN with the best security features

NordVPN

1

9.6

/10

Visit NordVPN

Pros & cons

• Massive RAM-based server network in 59 countries
• Security features to protect your data when you’re traveling
• Unblocks most streaming platforms
• NordLynx gives consistent speed when you’re abroad

• No trial version for iOS and desktop

NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol will make sure you get fast speeds no matter where you go. Just like ExpressVPN, it has a substantial fleet of RAM-based servers, but its coverage isn’t as extensive. Nevertheless, you can use it to easily find cheaper flights and watch geo-restricted content from 59 countries.

To keep your online traffic safe, NordVPN provides a myriad of advanced security features.

DoubleVPN, for example, routes your online traffic through two servers to give you additional security. Other features include split tunneling, a kill switch, P2P-optimized servers, and Threat Protection.

NordVPN has the most security features, which make it a great travel VPN.

You can easily stay updated with content back home when you’re traveling with NordVPN. It’s capable of unblocking most major streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and HBO Max.

NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee and its prices start at $4.19 per month.

4. Surfshark – Travel VPN geared towards Android users

Surfshark

1

9.5

/10

Visit Surfshark

Pros & cons

• Travel VPN with servers in 100 countries
• NoBorders mode lets you bypass Internet censorship when you’re traveling
• GPS overriding gives extra anonymity when you’re abroad

• Located in the Netherlands

Surfshark has aworldwide server network of 3200 servers in over 100 countries, even more than NordVPN and ExpressVPN. It also offers a wide range of security features to protect your data when you’re traveling. One of those features is “NoBorders mode,” which lets you surf the web freely if you’re in a country where it’s heavily restricted. It covers unlimited simultaneous connections so if you’re traveling with family, Surfshark is a solid choice.

The Netherlands, where Surfshark is based, is a member of the 9 Eyes alliance, which makes it obligatory for it to share data with the government. Fortunately, it has a no-log policy that’s been audited by Deloitte, one of the Big Four firms.

CleanWeb will keep you safe from pesky ads and trackers when you’re abroad and the Android version of the app has a feature called “GPS overriding.” The feature gives you extra anonymity by changing your device’s GPS coordinates.

Surfshark is available for $2.49 per month and has a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can try a free 7-day trial version on Android, iOS, and macOS.

5. CyberGhost – Best traveling VPN for beginners

CyberGhost

1

9.3

/10

Visit CyberGhost

Pros & cons

• NoSpy servers secure your data when you’re traveling
• Streaming-optimized servers to watch content from back home
• International VPN with servers in 91 countries

• NoSpy servers aren’t available for the monthly plan
• Doesn’t include too many advanced features

CyberGhost is a simple and easy-to-use travel VPN that has over 9000 servers in 91 countries. It has dedicated servers for streaming so you won’t have to spend any time manually searching for them when you’re traveling. These servers are optimized for specific streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. You can also use its P2P-optimized servers to download torrents no matter where you are in the world.

While it doesn’t have too many advanced security features, it’s perfect for people who just want to stream geo-restricted content from back home.

It’s an inexpensive international VPN that comes with multiple protocols including WireGuard and OpenVPN. Just like other top VPNs, CyberGhost safeguards your data with AES-256 military-grade encryption.

When you’re traveling or using a public Wi-Fi network, CyberGhost protects your data with its NoSpy servers. These servers are only available for the yearly plans, but they’re incredibly useful for people who travel frequently.

You can get CyberGhost for $2.19 per month with a 45-day money-back guarantee. It has a free 24-hour trial version on Windows and macOS.

Methodology: how we tested travel VPNs

As mentioned above, not every VPN is capable of protecting your data when you’re traveling overseas. We carefully tested over 20 VPNs to find the best ones. Here are some things we considered when testing the travel VPNs:

1. Number of servers – A VPN with a high number of servers will come in handy when you’re traveling and want to unblock geo-restricted content. It makes it easier for you to find the right server that lets you access content from back home (or any other region).
2. Speed – All the VPNs on our list use WireGuard and Lightway, two of the fastest protocols in the VPN industry. You’ll never have to worry about slow connection speeds when you’re on the go.
3. Security features – The VPNs on our list include a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and many other features to keep your data secure when you’re connected to a public Wi-F.
4. Compatibility – Most VPNs have limited apps for smartphones and tablets, but the ones on our list are fully compatible with most operating systems and platforms, and have all the essential security features.
5. Price – All the VPNs on our list are top services that provide good value for money. They’re not too expensive and you can try them for 30 days before purchasing a subscription.

Comparison of best VPNs for travel

Here’s a table to help you quickly understand the differences between the best travel VPNs:

Why use a VPN for traveling

The reason why we consider VPNs a travel essential is because they protect your online traffic when you’re abroad and you can access geo-restricted content from back home. Another reason is that you can find cheaper flights since many sites charge less depending on where you’re located.

If you’re traveling in a country like China, where the Internet is censored and monitored, then a VPN will hide your browsing activities from the government and your ISP. It’ll also allow you to browse the web freely.

Using advanced security features provided by VPNs, you can protect your online traffic and keep your data safe from cyber attacks and other types of online threats.

When traveling, it’s common to connect to public Wi-Fi, especially in airports or hotels. Public Wi-Fi connections are usually not safe and one of the best ways to keep your data secure on them is by using a VPN.

You may also feel the need to watch movies and TV shows from back home when you’re traveling. A VPN will change your IP address to make it appear as if you’re located in your home country. This will open up your country’s entire content library.

You can also use a VPN to use Binance and other services if you’re traveling in a country where they’re restricted.

Finally, a VPN will help you find cheaper flights. Many websites engage in a practice called “price discrimination.” They charge different prices depending on where you’re located. Airfare sites tend to charge more if you frequently visit them. By using a VPN and changing your location, you’ll be able to save money.

Why you should use a VPN while traveling according to NordVPN. (Source: nordvpn.com)

How to use a VPN when traveling abroad

Using a VPN when traveling abroad is simple. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Pick a VPN from our list that has good security features and a high number of servers.
2. We recommend ExpressVPN because it has a large number of servers in 94 countries.
3. Download and install the VPN on your device.
4. Find and connect to a server of your choice.
5. Start browsing the web safely while you’re traveling abroad!

Should I use a free VPN when traveling?

No, you shouldn’t use a free VPN when traveling. There are some free services you can use, but we recommend going with a premium one like ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access VPN since they’re more reliable.

Most free VPNs tend to sell their users’ data through advertisements and they have limited features and servers. In many cases, the servers won’t be able to unblock geo-restricted content.

ProtonVPN has a free version with unlimited data usage, but it only lets you connect to 3 server locations.

Premium VPNs are much safer than free ones because most of them have a strict no-log policy and RAM-based servers. They usually come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can easily try them before making any commitment. Some even have a trial version that you can use for free.

CyberGhost, for example, lets you use its desktop version for 24 hours without making you enter credit card details.

Is it worth getting a VPN for travel?

Yes, getting a VPN for travel is essential because you need a tool that’ll protect your online traffic when you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi or in a foreign country.

You can use it to watch geo-restricted content from back home. For example, if you’re traveling to Japan from the USA, you’ll need a VPN to watch American content on Netflix.

ExpressVPN is the best travel VPN because it has powerful security features and over 3000 servers in 94 countries.

We don’t recommend using free VPNs for traveling since many of them will sell your data for profit.

Instead, get a premium VPN with a money-back guarantee so you can return it if you’re not satisfied with the service.

All in all, a travel VPN is an absolute necessity since it’s one of the easiest ways to keep your data secure and watch geo-restricted content when you’re abroad.