6 Best Travel VPNs in 2024

Now that traveling is officially back on the table, many people are looking for a way to enjoy their favorite content and visit their favorite sites away from home. But is that even possible? Of course, it is! With a powerful VPN for travel, you can go virtually anywhere in the world and still watch your local news channels and shows.

Not only that, but you can also stay safe while traveling abroad because VPNs encrypt your Internet connection and protect your personal information from third parties. Also, with the best VPN for travel, your online activity will be hidden, and you'll be able to browse safely no matter where you're at.

However, if you want to stream your favorite shows and movies as if you were at home, you need to choose your VPN provider carefully. That’s because you’ll want a VPN that can stream even without requiring an extra-fast connection. Thus, you need to use the best VPN for streaming available. Or, if you wish to keep on playing online games even while traveling, you need the best gaming VPN. 

But how will you know which the best VPNs are?

Well, this article will give you a detailed list of the 5 best travel VPN providers. Also, you'll get to learn how to set them up with a step-by-step guide.

So, without further ado, let's begin!

How to Set Up a VPN for Traveling Abroad

To set up a VPN for traveling abroad, you need to subscribe to a suitable VPN and connect to a server in your preferred country. Here's everything you need to do:

1. Subscribe to a VPN suitable for traveling (we recommend ExpressVPN).
2. Download and install the VPN app on the devices you'll be using while traveling.
3. Open the app and sign-in to your VPN account.
4. Connect to a VPN server in your home country or whichever country you want.
5. You can now access the Web without restrictions. That’s it!

Best VPN for Travel

The best VPN for traveling abroad must have a wide server network that covers multiple countries, including your home country. Also, it needs servers with a fast Internet connection so that you can watch shows and movies with no buffering, play games with low ping, and surf the Web seamlessly. The VPN must be compatible with many devices as well. Lastly, your travel VPN must have strong encryption to safeguard your connection, keep your location hidden, and protect your personal information.

According to the criteria above, the top 5 best VPNs for travel are:

1. ExpressVPN - Our #1-Rated VPN for Travel
2. NordVPN - Most Secure VPN for Public Wi-Fi
3. CyberGhost VPN - Travel VPN with a Wide Server Network
4. PIA - Best VPN for Traveling for More Advanced Users
5. Surfshark - Best Fully-Automated VPN
6. IPVanish – Suitable VPN for Inexperienced Users

1. ExpressVPN - Our #1-Rated VPN for Travel

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for travel because it covers 94 countries with more than 3,000 top-of-the-line servers. According to our tests, it’s the fastest VPN on the market and allows its users to stream and game with fast Internet connection speeds all over the world.

Thanks to its fast performance, you can use ExpressVPN to stream content in 4K, no matter how far away you are from your home country. Also, you can unblock virtually any streaming platform because ExpressVPN has strong content-unblocking capabilities. 

You can use this VPN for many purposes, including protecting your privacy online, gaming, streaming, bypassing geo-restrictions, and more.

ExpressVPN has military-grade encryption and strong security and privacy measures, which will keep you safe 24/7. Also, you can use it simultaneously on 5 devices, meaning that you can connect your phone, laptop, and tablet to ExpressVPN while traveling.

By connecting all your devices to ExpressVPN while traveling, you will protect yourself from cyberattacks, viruses, malware, and many other types of online threats. Also, your devices will be protected even when you're using public Wi-Fi networks in hotels, airports, etc.

Lastly, ExpressVPN has excellent 24/7 live chat support. Also, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which enables you to get a full refund within 30 days after subscribing.

2. NordVPN - Most Secure VPN for Public Wi-Fi

NordVPN is another great VPN for traveling you can use. It is among the most secure VPNs thanks to its many security and privacy features, including military-grade encryption, strict no-logs policy, multiple VPN protocols, and more.

One of its most unique features that’s great for travelers is its double encryption, which routes your traffic through 2 secure servers at once. Thanks to this feature, not only will you be safe online, but you'll also be able to unblock all the popular streaming platforms in countries with strict Web blocks and restrictions.

When it comes to speed, be ready to experience some throttling with NordVPN. It is not as fast as ExpressVPN, but it's still fast enough to get the job done successfully.

NordVPN covers around 60 countries worldwide and has more than 5,500 servers you can choose from and use. So, if the server you selected doesn't work, you can still choose another server in the same country and use that one instead.

You can connect from 6 devices simultaneously to NordVPN and use it on your phone, computer, and tablet. And if you have any questions, you can contact NordVPN's customer support team 24/7 via live chat. Finally, you can get a full refund within 30 days of your subscription, thanks to NordVPN's 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. CyberGhost VPN - Travel VPN with a Wide Server Network

CyberGhost is a great travel VPN with one of the largest server networks out there. It has more than 9,000 servers in 90 countries, making it an excellent choice for frequent travelers who visit new places often.

The provider will also keep your data safe, and your real location will be hidden thanks to its powerful security and privacy features. Also, it has a strict no-logs policy in place, which will hide your online activity from everyone except you, meaning not even CyberGhost will be able to see what you do online.

CyberGhost is not nearly as fast as ExpressVPN, so you can expect medium speeds from this provider. However, if you're looking for a secure VPN provider covering many countries and keeping you safe, then CyberGhost can do the job for you with no problems.

This VPN can unblock various streaming platforms originating from a huge number of countries worldwide and allows you to connect up to 7 devices at the same time. More precisely, those servers are optimized specifically for streaming. There are also special servers for torrenting and gaming, in addition to standard VPN servers.

Its money-back guarantee lasts 45 days, and you can request a full refund before those 45 days are up via CyberGhost's 24/7 live chat.

4. PIA - Best VPN for Traveling for More Advanced Users

PIA (Private Internet Access) is an excellent travel VPN for more advanced users because it offers the freedom to tweak its settings. For example, you can change this VPN’s level of protection, increase or decrease the level of encryption, and plenty more. 

If you max out the security settings, your Internet connection speed will suffer. Also, if you don't do anything to change PIA's settings, you'll get medium connection speeds and some throttling. So, don't expect ultra-fast connection speeds from this provider, unless you optimize it for speed.

As for PIA's server network, its exact number of servers is not known, but it reportedly exceeds 35,000 servers in 80+ countries. So, no matter where you go, you will have your pick of servers to connect to and use. What’s unique about PIA is that it has servers in every single US state. 

In addition to all the features above, PIA also offers excellent security and privacy features that will keep you safe online and ensure that your real location and personal information don't get leaked. It has a strict no-logs policy that will keep your online activity hidden even when traveling and using public Wi-Fi networks.

Also, the provider offers round-the-clock customer support via live chat and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. Surfshark - Best Fully-Automated VPN

As a relatively new VPN, Surfshark has become one of the best VPNs on the market fairly quickly, thanks to its fully-automated features and beginner-friendly interface. Namely, the fully-automated features that Surfshark offers have made the VPN an excellent option for beginners and those who don't have much technical experience or skills.

Aside from that, Surfshark covers 100 countries worldwide with over 3,200 servers. So, it's excellent for those who are always on the go. Also, Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs on the market. Thus, you can expect a fast Internet connection from the provider and stream whatever you want in 4K with no buffers.

Since it offers fast connection speeds, Surfshark is also suitable for gaming. In addition, it has strong content-unblocking capabilities and can unblock different sites and streaming platforms from numerous countries worldwide.

When it comes to security, Surfshark has strong encryption and leak protection, which will keep your real location hidden at all times. Also, it has a strict no-logs policy and conducts regular independent audits.

Lastly, Surfshark doesn't limit the number of devices you can connect to simultaneously. The provider also has 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money-back policy.

6. IPVanish – Suitable VPN for Inexperienced Users

IPVanish is a worthy contender for the top VPN for travel title because it offers servers in 75 locations worldwide as part of its larger network of 2200+ servers that spans 54 countries.

The VPN provides speeds up to 25 Gbps on many of its servers if your Internet connection is capable enough to take advantage of it. This makes it a great choice for streaming and gaming. With IPVanish’s global servers, you can stream movies and TV shows on Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and more. All you need to do is connect to a VPN server in a country where the content is available. 

Furthermore, unlimited bandwidth and unlimited simultaneous connections ensure that you have absolute freedom while using the VPN to unblock geo-restricted content.

When it comes to devices, IPVanish supports all major platforms. The VPN app is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. You can also configure it on a router to use the VPN on any device by simply connecting to your WiFi network.

IPVanish uses AES 256-bit encryption and offers the option to choose from Wireguard, IKEv2, OpenVPN, and IPsec VPN protocols. There are also SOCKS5 proxy servers that offer faster speeds, albeit at the expense of security.

You can get this travel VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee that promises to protect your purchase. Lastly, IPVanish’s customer support is available 24/7 via live chat and email to assist you.

Best VPNs for Traveling Compared

	ExpressVPN	NordVPN	CyberGhost VPN	PIA	Surfshark	IPVanish
Jurisdiction	British Virgin Islands	Panama	Romania	United States	Netherlands	United States
Logs	No logging - independently audited	No logging - independently audited	No logging - independently audited	No logging - independently audited	No logging - independently audited	No logging - independently audited
Servers	3000+ servers in 94 countries	5500+ servers in 60 countries	9500+ servers in 90+ countries	Thousands of servers in 84 countries	3200+ servers in 100+ countries	2200+ servers in 50+ countries
Supported Devices	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, and more	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, and more	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, and more	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, and more	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, and more	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, and more
Simultaneous Connections	5	6	7	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Supports	Torrenting, gaming, Netflix, Hulu, etc.	Torrenting, gaming, Netflix, Hulu, etc.	Torrenting, gaming, Netflix, Hulu, etc.	Torrenting, gaming, Netflix, Hulu, etc.	Torrenting, gaming, Netflix, Hulu, etc.	Torrenting, gaming, Netflix, Hulu, etc.
Features	Kill switch, split tunneling, SmartDNS, and more	Kill switch, split tunneling, Double VPN, and more	Kill switch, split tunneling, NoSpy servers, and more	Kill switch, split tunneling, SOCKS5 proxy, and more	Kill switch, split tunneling, MultiHop, and more	Kill switch, split tunneling, SOCKS5 proxy, and more
Customer Support	24/7 live chat, email, and more	24/7 live chat, email, and more	24/7 live chat, email, and more	24/7 live chat, email, and more	24/7 live chat, email, and more	24/7 live chat, email, and more

Why Do I Need a VPN for Travel?

You need a VPN for travel to stay safe while using public Wi-Fi networks. That’s because public Wi-Fi networks aren't safe and can expose you to cyberattacks. Other reasons why you need a VPN for travel include the following:

• To watch content from your home country – If you want to watch your domestic news channels or other programs, you'll need a VPN to connect to a server in your home country. By connecting to a server in your home country, you'll be able to watch all the content and access all the sites you want as if you were at home.
• Unblock geo-restricted content – Certain countries have strict content restrictions and bans in place that prevent their citizens and tourists from accessing certain types of websites. To avoid that, you need a travel VPN to connect to a server where the content you want to watch is available.
• To hide where you are – Traveling under the radar is virtually impossible in this day and age. However, you can hide your digital footprint with a suitable travel VPN. With it, you can change your location and make it seem like you're at home or in an entirely different country than you actually are. 

What to Look for in the Best Travel VPN?

The best VPN for international travel needs to have a wide network of servers in multiple countries. Other features to look for in the best travel VPN include the following:

• Strong security and privacy – One of the VPNs' main tasks is to keep you safe. So, when choosing a VPN, make sure that it offers strong security and privacy features. Some of the features you should look for include AES-256 encryption, a no-logs policy, DNS and IP leak protection, a kill switch, anti-tracking, and more.
• Compatibility – You can't always use your laptop while traveling. Most of the time, using your phone or tablet is more convenient. That's why you need a VPN that is compatible with multiple devices. 
• 24/7 customer support – When choosing a VPN, ensure it offers 24/7 customer support. That way, you'll be able to contact an agent whenever you have a question or issue. Also, you'll receive a solution much more quickly.
• Strong content-unblocking capabilities – Not all VPNs can bypass geo-blocks. Namely, only the best travel VPN providers can do that. And if you want to easily unblock your favorite content, you need a powerful VPN that has strong content-unblocking capabilities.

How Do I Access Blocked Websites and Apps While Traveling Abroad?

You can access blocked websites and apps while traveling abroad with a travel VPN. VPNs are the most reliable and best way to bypass geo-restrictions and unblock certain types of digital content.

VPN providers have strong content-unblocking capabilities, allowing you to access anything you want. But how do they do that?

Well, they do that by encrypting your data and hiding your location. By hiding your location, the content that you want to watch will no longer be blocked. Also, the site that you want to access will think that you're accessing it from a country where it is available (as a VPN will spoof your location). 

To learn more about VPNs, we offer a couple of handy resources. First, read more about what is a VPN, if you’re a first-time user. And then, here’s how VPNs work. 

Can I Find Cheaper Flights and Hotel Tickets Using a VPN?

Yes, you can find cheaper flights and hotel tickets using a VPN. The VPN will disguise your real IP address and give you another one based in a different country. That way, you'll be able to find cheaper flights and tickets.

The trick is to find out where certain flights are cheaper and connect to a server in that country. The same goes for hotel tickets. Once you find out, you can simply search for a server in that country via your VPN app, and you'll be set.

Can I Use a Free VPN for Travel?

Yes, you can use a free VPN for travel - but we don’t recommend going for a free VPN. 

Free VPNs are unreliable and usually not safe. They don't have strong encryption or security or privacy features to keep you safe online. 

Also, they can't unblock many sites or streaming platforms. So, the chances of a free VPN unblocking the content you want to watch, especially in a country where such content is strictly regulated, are very slim.

Moreover, free VPNs have very strict data caps and usually allow you to connect only one device at a time. Furthermore, most free VPN providers have servers in a few countries only. So, your options will be very limited. 

Final Thoughts

Getting a travel VPN is the most reliable way to stay safe online while traveling. Your chosen VPN will encrypt any Internet connection and keep your information safe. Also, it will hide your real location and enable you to watch content from home or any other country while traveling abroad.

We recommend ExpressVPN to all travelers, as it has a wide server network, strong content-unblocking capabilities, and lightning-fast performance. With it, you can browse the Internet safely with no lag or disruptions!

That's all for our best travel VPN guide. If you have questions or remarks, share them in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!