The Best VPN for Travel: Stay Safe and Secure Anywhere in the World
The best VPN for travel encrypts your connection on hotel, airport, and café Wi-Fi, lets you reach your home banking and streaming services, and works on every device you pack. Our pick is ExpressVPN, because its no-logs policy has been independently audited by KPMG, its servers run on RAM only, and one plan covers 10 to 14 devices.
Whether you travel for work or pleasure, protecting your data deserves a place on your packing list.
Most travelers overlook cybersecurity when planning a trip, then spend days on shared Wi-Fi networks anyone can join. A VPN creates a private, encrypted connection on top of that public network, so your activity stays between you and the sites you use.
What Is a VPN, and Why Do I Need It?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s a simple way to improve your online security, privacy, and access while you’re away from home.
Most websites already encrypt your connection, but apps, older sites, and the network itself can still expose information. A VPN routes all your traffic through an encrypted tunnel between your device and a server you choose.
Using a VPN for travel has three main benefits:
- It hides your real IP address and location from the networks you use.
- It encrypts your data on shared Wi-Fi.
- It lets you reach services from home that may be unavailable where you are.
How Does a VPN Work?
Connecting to a VPN is simple. You subscribe to a provider, install its app, pick a server location, and tap connect.
The VPN then sits between you and the internet, hiding your IP address and encrypting your data. If someone on the same network intercepts it, they only see scrambled traffic.
Our Pick: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommendation for travelers because its privacy claims are independently checked rather than just promised.
Accounting firm KPMG audited its TrustedServer system and found reasonable assurance that it does not log users’ activity, as of February 28, 2025. TrustedServer runs on RAM only, so data is wiped every time a server reboots.
ExpressVPN Quick Facts
Plans: Basic, Advanced, and Pro
Devices at once: 10 on Basic, 12 on Advanced, 14 on Pro
Price: About $13 a month on a monthly plan, much less per month on one- or two-year plans (checked October 2026)
Privacy: No-logs policy audited by KPMG, RAM-only servers
Travel extras: Advanced and Pro plans include a password manager and bonus eSIM data
Downside: Pricier month to month than budget VPNs
What to Look For in a Travel VPN
Whichever provider you choose, check these six things before you subscribe.
- An audited no-logs policy: The VPN shouldn’t record your browsing. Look for a policy checked by an independent auditor, not just a marketing claim.
- Speed and server spread: Every VPN slows your connection slightly. Servers in many countries, including near where you travel, keep that slowdown small.
- A kill switch: If the VPN drops, a kill switch blocks traffic until it reconnects, so nothing leaks over open Wi-Fi.
- Multiple devices: Make sure one plan covers your phone, laptop, and tablet at the same time.
- Works on restrictive networks: Some hotel and national networks block VPN traffic. Features that disguise VPN traffic help it connect.
- 24/7 support: When the VPN won’t connect at midnight in a new time zone, live chat matters more than an FAQ page.
8 Reasons to Use a VPN for Travel
Some of these reasons matter on every trip. Others only apply in certain countries, so we’ve been clear about what a VPN can and can’t do.
1. To Keep Your Online Activity Private on Public Wi-Fi
Even with a local SIM or roaming, you’ll end up on hotel, airport, or café Wi-Fi at some point.
Shared networks can expose your activity to anyone on them who knows how to look, and fake hotspots with official-sounding names are a common trap. A VPN encrypts everything before it leaves your device.
2. To Access Websites and Apps Blocked Where You Are
Some countries block social networks, messaging apps, or foreign news sites. Connecting to a server in another country can restore access.
Check the local rules first, though. VPN laws vary, and some countries restrict which VPNs you can use, which we cover below.
Best VPN for Travel: ExpressVPN
Heading abroad? Use ExpressVPN to access your social media accounts, unblock your favorite entertainment sites, and stay connected with friends and family. Oh, and get cheaper flights, of course.
You can get 3 extra months free of ExpressVPN when signing up for a 1-year plan. That’s a 49% saving and a monthly cost of just $6.67! You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. To Bank Online Without Triggering Fraud Alerts
A sudden login from a new country can make your bank flag or freeze your account, which is the last thing you want far from home.
Connecting to a server in your home country makes logins look familiar and protects them on public Wi-Fi. Some banks block known VPN addresses, so also tell your bank you’re traveling and keep a backup card.
4. To Compare Travel Prices From Other Countries
Airlines, hotels, and booking sites can set different prices by country, so a VPN lets you check what other markets see.
In our experience, the saving is often zero once currency conversion is included. It’s worth a quick check on big bookings, but don’t buy a VPN for this alone.
5. To Avoid Throttled Streaming
A VPN usually makes your connection slightly slower, not faster. The exception is when a network deliberately slows certain traffic, like video streaming.
Because the VPN hides what kind of traffic you’re sending, it can get around that throttling on some hotel and mobile networks.
6. To Get Past Hotel and Network Firewalls
Government blocks aren’t the only restriction you’ll meet. Hotels, conference centers, and co-working spaces sometimes block sites or services on their own networks.
A VPN connection usually gets you to work tools and sites those filters stop.
7. To Use Your Home-Country Shopping and Streaming Sites
Many online shops and services redirect you to the local version of their site when you travel. That makes it hard to order something to your home address or reach the account you already have.
Connecting to a server at home brings back the version you know. Streaming services set their own rules on VPN use, so check their terms.
8. To Get Search Results in Your Own Language
Abroad, Google may show results in the local language and prioritize local sites.
Connecting to a server at home returns the results you’re used to. You can also change the language in your Google settings, which works without a VPN.
Is It Legal to Use a VPN Abroad?
Using a VPN is legal in most countries. What you do while connected is still subject to local law.
A few popular destinations restrict them. In China and Russia, only government-approved VPN services are legal. The UAE allows VPNs for legitimate use, but its cybercrime laws are broad enough to give authorities wide room in enforcement.
Check your destination’s current rules before you travel, and install your VPN at home, since app stores in some countries remove VPN apps. This is general information, not legal advice.
The Bottom Line
A VPN is one of the cheapest ways to protect your data on the road. Its main job is securing public Wi-Fi and reaching your home accounts, not unlocking cheap flights.
If you want one that’s independently audited and covers every device you pack, ExpressVPN is our pick. Planning a longer trip? See our guide to the best travel jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Using a VPN for Travel
What is a VPN and why do travelers need one?
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, creates an encrypted connection between your device and a server you choose, hiding your IP address from the network you’re on. Travelers use one to protect logins and payment details on hotel, airport, and café Wi-Fi, and to reach home banking, shopping, and streaming accounts that may behave differently abroad.
How does a VPN work when traveling?
You install the VPN app, choose a server location, and connect. All your traffic then travels through an encrypted tunnel to that server before reaching the internet, so the local network only sees scrambled data. Websites see the server’s location instead of yours, which is why connecting to a server at home makes your accounts behave as if you never left.
Can a VPN help me access blocked websites while traveling?
Often, yes. Connecting to a server in another country can restore access to sites and apps blocked where you are. However, some countries restrict VPN use itself. China and Russia only allow government-approved VPNs, and the UAE permits VPNs for legitimate use under broad cybercrime laws. Check local rules before you travel.
Can a VPN help me get cheaper flights and hotels?
Sometimes, but rarely by much. Booking sites can set different prices by country, so a VPN lets you compare what other markets see. In practice, the difference often disappears once currency conversion and card fees are included. Treat it as a quick extra check on expensive bookings, not a reason to buy a VPN.
Will a VPN stop my bank from freezing my account abroad?
It can help. Connecting to a server in your home country makes your logins look like they come from your usual location, which reduces fraud flags, and it protects the session on public Wi-Fi. Some banks block known VPN addresses, though, so also tell your bank about your travel dates and carry a backup card.
What should I look for in a travel VPN?
Look for an independently audited no-logs policy, servers in many countries, a kill switch that blocks traffic if the connection drops, enough simultaneous devices for everything you pack, features that work on networks that block VPNs, and 24/7 live support. ExpressVPN, our pick, offers 10 to 14 devices depending on the plan and a KPMG-audited no-logs policy.
Is public Wi-Fi safe if I use a VPN?
A VPN makes public Wi-Fi much safer, because it encrypts your traffic before it leaves your device, so others on the network can’t read it. It can’t protect you from everything. Avoid hotspots with suspicious names, keep your device updated, and don’t enter details on sites that show security warnings, even with the VPN on.
Is it legal to use a VPN abroad?
In most countries, yes. A handful restrict them: China and Russia only permit government-approved VPN services, and the UAE allows VPNs for legitimate use but has broadly worded cybercrime laws. Whatever the country, illegal activity remains illegal while connected. Check current rules for your destination and install your VPN before you leave home.
- About the Author
- More info
Tim Kroeger is the founder and editor of Universal Traveller, covering luxury stays and active travel. Based in Bangkok, he draws on 15+ years of travel across 112+ countries, from reviewing luxury hotels to bikepacking through Southeast Asia. He also writes about luxury wellness and longevity travel at tim-kroeger.com, where he developed the Restorative Index.
