Traveling abroad and looking to stay secure online? A Virtual Private Network (VPN) not only protects your privacy while using public wifi, but it also allows you to spoof your location and appear to be back home. We reveal the best VPNs for traveling abroad plus how to set up a VPN for the first time.

Whether you’re traveling abroad for work or pleasure, it’s often essential to be able to access the same platforms that you use at home, including banking, credit cards and financial services, communication apps (such as WhatsApp and Skype), and streaming services. For example, you may be looking to stream content from sites like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, or Sling TV, but these companies restrict their services based on your location. Plus you have issues with governments blocking access to sites like Google, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Using a VPN while traveling overseas will help in masking your specific geographical location and making it appear that you’re somewhere else, tricking blocked websites into allowing you access.

We deep dive into each of the providers we feature below, but if you just want a quick summary, here is our list of the best International VPNs for traveling abroad.

We found these to be the best VPNs for international travel:

  • NordVPN: Our top choice for traveling abroad! Veteran provider with over a decade of service under its belt. Fastest speeds and plenty of servers to choose from. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: Best budget VPN. Unblocks tons of streaming platforms and has no restrictions on how many devices you can connect.
  • ExpressVPN: Large network of speedy servers operating in 94 countries. Can unblock just about anything.
  • CyberGhost: Beginner-friendly apps and some of the fastest streaming servers in our testing.
  • IPVanish: Preferred by Kodi users for apps that integrate well with remote-controlled Streaming devices. Fast and secure.
  • PrivateVPN: Great for unblocking most streaming services. Servers in 63 countries.
  • AtlasVPN: A fast and reliable service with apps for all platforms. Works with Netflix, Hulu, iPlayer, HBO, and many more.

A VPN sets up and also encrypts your internet connection, preventing monitoring by Internet service providers (ISPs), hackers, and government agencies. This is especially important while traveling as you’ll likely use a cellular connection and expose your device to public wifi internet networks which are prime spots for hackers to lie in wait.

How do I set up a VPN?

Using a VPN isn’t complicated at all. Follow these simple steps to get started.

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

Here’s how to set up a VPN for traveling abroad:

  • Pick a suitable VPN provider. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
  • Download the VPN apps on your smartphone, laptop, and tablet.
  • Ensure you do so directly from the relevant app store or directly from the VPN provider’s site.
  • Repeat the process for all your devices.
  • Open the app and follow the instructions that the company relays on your screen.
  • After installation is complete, restart all devices.
  • When back online, open the VPN app and connect to a server in a location of your choice.
  • The app will run in the background but be careful not to disconnect it.
  • Congrats! Now you can use the internet just like you did back home – but with your internet activities private.

Note: Wifi networks and internet speeds are dependent on the country’s overall connectivity to the web. Using a VPN connection won’t amplify speed or give you blazing access like you’re used to back home, and the encryption factor will mean that your speeds may diminish to some extent. If you’re traveling to countries with poor internet access such as those in the Horn of Africa, then be mindful that a VPN can only do as much as the internet connection that feeds it.

Best VPNs for traveling abroad – at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for traveling abroad.

The best VPN providers for international travelers abroad

After you’ve understood the importance of a VPN when you’re away from trusted internet networks, the next order of business is to settle on a provider. The following information gives you an overview of what we feel are the 6 best VPNs for traveling abroad:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

NordVPN is our first choice for an international travel VPN. This is the fastest VPN we’ve tested and boasts consistently stable connections. It’s tried and tested when it comes to evading government restrictions on internet services, as well as being able to unblock geo-restricted streaming services. It works really well in China which is a bonus for those traveling there regularly.

This provider doesn’t store any user data and can be considered a completely logless provider. At the same time, NordVPN has rigorous security standards including 256-bit encryption, the OpenVPN protocol, an internet kill switch, and DNS leak protection.

Apps are available for Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, and MacOS. A basic plan allows for six devices to connect concurrently.

BEST VPN FOR TRAVEL:NordVPN is our #1 choice. It offers lots of customizable features at a price you can’t beat. Strong security and privacy and thousands of servers to choose from. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee making it risk-free.

Pros:

  • Incredible speeds
  • Privacy-focused service
  • Won’t break the bank
  • Suitable for power users
  • Apps for all major platforms
  • 24/7/265 support

Cons:

  • Desktop app can be a little clunky

Our score:

Read our review of NordVPN.

2. Surfshark

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark is a great budget-friendly provider that has a growing network of 3,000 servers across 60 countries. It’s fast, reliable, and even works in China. Further, as it has no connection limit, you can secure all of your devices at the same time.

This service keeps no logs and includes numerous advanced security features. There’s 256-bit AES encryption, for instance, as well as a kill switch (in all versions), ad-blocking, malware-scanning, and protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks.

Better still, Surfshark is as versatile as it is secure. It reliably unblocks stubborn platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu, meaning you can watch whatever you like, wherever you are in the world.

Surfshark apps are available for Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, and Linux.

BEST BUDGET OPTION:Surfshark offers strong security features, a true zero-logs policy, and great unblocking potential. It doesn’t impose a device limit. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast and reliable

  • Works in China

  • Unblocks some of the most popular streaming platforms abroad

  • Strong focus on your privacy and security

  • 24/7 support

  • Still has the occasional slow server

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN can unblock a bunch of popular streaming services (including US Netflix and the UK’s BBC iPlayer) and comes with military-grade encryption protocols to boot. It even works in repressive states like China, Indonesia, and Iran, where many sites are regularly blocked. The cloaking abilities of ExpressVPN will ensure that you stay a step ahead of the authorities and enjoy an unencumbered internet experience.

ExpressVPN uses 256-bit AES encryption, also referred to as ‘military-grade.’ Included is a built-in internet kill switch as well as DNS leak protection, so your information always remains locked within the encrypted private tunnel.

This provider follows a policy of not storing any detailed user logs, including IP addresses. ExpressVPN offers modern, intuitive apps for Android and iOS, as well as sleek desktop versions for both Windows and MacOS. A single subscription allows for five simultaneous connections.

SECURE STREAMING:ExpressVPN is a robust service choice. It has fast speeds, strong security, and excellent customer service. Includes 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Slightly more expensive than other providers

Read our review of ExpressVPN.

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost is registered in Romania and does not have to comply with any data retention laws. It has considerably enhanced its core product since Crossrider acquired it in 2017 and now has a large focus on streaming. The number of servers it hosts has risen sharply from just a few dozen initially to over 4,900. They’re housed in 60 countries overall and operate out of 84 worldwide locations.

The company uses 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, an internet kill switch, and DNS leak protection as default. Their privacy policy is further strengthened with an internal policy of not logging any IP addresses. Additional internet security features include an ad blocker, anti-malware defense, an anti-tracker, and an “immunizer” against ransomware attacks.

You can access the service on Android, iOS, Windows, Linux and MacOS. At the moment, a single subscription allows for seven devices to connect concurrently.

Easy-to-use apps:CyberGhost is fast, intuitive, and beginner friendly. Its roster of services is also on the upswing. 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Very easy to use and ideal for beginners

  • Streams HD video without any problems

  • Allows 7 connections simultaneously

  • Less suitable for power users

  • Doesn’t work in China or UAE

Read our full user review of CyberGhost.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish is another excellent choice for folks looking to benefit from fast download speeds and ultra-secure privacy. These are both crucial factors when evaluating a VPN to use abroad, especially if you intend to stream video or access services like Skype, Google, WhatsApp, and your local bank account.

The company chooses to operate its entire network of servers independently, as opposed to other providers that either rent space in server farms, or outsource management to a third party. This means it’s in total control of user traffic.

IPVanish is a known favorite with torrenters and Kodi users because it enables them to download the Android APK directly to their device. The interface is remote control-friendly for Kodi devices that lack a keyboard and mouse. It also manages to unblock streaming sites such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub.

This provider uses a system known as dynamic IP; when you connect to the service, you are assigned a new IP address for the entire duration of your session. That is yours alone and will not be assigned to another user. It’s only after you disconnect that the address goes back into the pool and will be used by another individual.

IPVanish offers 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, DNS leak protection, and an internet kill switch. This means your IP address will remain hidden from prying eyes.

Apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows, and MacOS. This provider recently upgraded its packages to allow 10 devices to connect at the same time, making it a far more generous allocation than the industry standard of five. What’s more, it offers 24/7 live chat for customer support.

TORRENTING & STREAMING VPN:IPVanish is ultra-secure, quick, and a favorite with streamers and torrenters. It adheres to a no-logs privacy policy and comes with all the bells and whistles of a modern VPN. 7-day money-back guarantee.

  • High speeds

  • 10 simultaneous connections

  • Customer support available 24/7

  • Doesn’t allow for anonymous registration

Read our full review of IPVanish.

6. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN offers great speeds on global connections and consistently unblocks streaming media sites. Not only will it unlock Netflix USA, but it’ll also do the same for Netflix in the UK, Canada, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Italy, and France.

One of this provider’s strong points is its support options. Staff is available around the clock via live chat and can also remotely fix the problem for you if you grant them permission. This service offers a very secure connection as it uses 256-bit encryption, SHA256 authentication, and 2,048-bit RSA keys. There’s an internet kill switch as well as IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection. PrivateVPN has a policy of not storing any internet traffic logs.

It’s so confident about its product that it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all packages. A basic plan will allow five devices to connect at the same time. Apps are included for iOS, Android, MacOS, and Windows.

PERFECT FOR STREAMING:PrivateVPN unblocks a plethora of streaming sites. It focuses on quality as opposed to quantity to get the job done. Includes 30-day money back guarantee.

  • Faster than many other providers

  • Able to unblock several streaming services

  • Anonymous signups are allowed

  • Limited server network

  • Has live chat, but they only operate during European business hours

Read our review of PrivateVPN.

7. AtlasVPN

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.atlasvpn.com

AtlasVPN was first launched in 2019. The VPN service has since been acquired by Nord Technologies which means that the VPN is set to grow and improve greatly in the next few years. That said, it is already off to a blinding start. It represents superb value for money and has an impressive feature set.

Apps are available for all popular platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Firestick. Those apps come with DNS leak protection, a kill-switch, AES encryption (IKEv2 protocol), and malware filtering and adblocking.  It also provides super-fast WireGaurd connections, which makes it one of the fastest VPNs on the market.

In terms of accessibility, this VPN works with Netflix US, iPlayer, Hulu, Disney Plus, Prime Video,  HBO Max, and many other streaming services. This makes it a great all-rounder for streaming while traveling. You can try it yourself using its money back guarantee.

FANTASTIC CONNECTION SPEEDS:AtlasVPN is a low-cost option ideal for streaming and gaining online privacy and security while traveling. The VPN is low-cost and lets you connect an unlimited number of devices. Fast WireGuard protocol for playing games. Has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Servers available in 30+ countries worldwide

  • Excellent speeds for streaming and torrenting

  • Ideal to gain privacy and security on public wifi

  • Doesn’t work in China

  • Fewer advanced features than our top recommendations

Find out more in our AtlasVPN review.

Should I use a free VPN for travel abroad?

The primary reason you want to use a VPN when abroad is to safely and securely access your favorite entertainment channels, use public wifi connections, or engage in online financial transactions. The caveat here is that the method you use to obfuscate your location will deploy robust encryption protocols and deliver an excellent experience. The VPNs we’ve recommended in this article will definitely do that, but don’t hold your breath when it comes to the free options.

Free VPN services don’t invest enough money in cloaking technology and aren’t interested in shipping the same product as paid services. You might be able to connect to a server but be prepared to be inundated with spammy advertisements and frequent interruptions to convince you to upgrade to a paid package. Free VPNs have lots of users and relatively few servers, which means servers are often overloaded. This makes free VPNs a poor fit for online data-intensive tasks like streaming video, playing online games, or even accessing banking and financial services.

Many unethical and unscrupulous providers have been caught illegally mining user data and selling it to third-party advertisers. Others have been known to infect host devices with malware and one has even gone a step further and leveraged idle bandwidth to build botnet armies.

Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Sling TV, and others are bound by contracts to restrict their media content to IP addresses from specific countries. They will be liable to pay millions of dollars in penalties if they’re found shirking from this commitment. That’s the reason such entertainment giants spend an inordinate amount of money beefing up their online security to detect and block VPNs. Their network administrators can easily detect free VPNs because they might not run an encrypted layer.

However, the sophisticated and advanced VPN providers we’ve highlighted will do the job of protecting your location without breaking a sweat.

How do I decide on a suitable international VPN service?

VPN services are heavily prevalent all over the internet. Some users may fall in the trap of assuming they’re all the same. The reality, however, is that VPN services vary greatly — you definitely need to be prudent and exercise caution before deciding on one that works for your needs.

Here are some factors to consider before settling on a service:

Strength of network

Some VPN services offer thousands of servers, while others restrict their selection to about a hundred. There’s no hard and fast rule on which one’s better, but something to consider is where the servers are located. You don’t want a high concentration in a specific area while the rest of the world is ignored. Virtual Private Networks are used to stay in touch with content from back home as well as unlock social media sites where they might be restricted. Hence you should evaluate server options in major countries and the regions where you want to access it. For example, if you’re an Aussie traveling abroad then you should look at the availability of servers in Australia to keep up with content from back home.

Number of simultaneous connections

When you travel in a group such as with friends and family, you may want to invest in a VPN plan that allows you to share the service with your travel mates. This way you can whittle the cost per person to less than a dollar a month. 

Supported platforms

Before deciding on a suitable provider, you’ll want to check that the service is compatible with your preferred platforms. If you’re a PC and Android user, then you definitely want the VPN service to work on both. Not all VPN companies offer apps for the platform you’re looking for. For example, only a handful of VPNs have a Fire Stick app and even fewer VPNs have a Linux GUI. If you’re unsure on whether a provider is compatible with your device then it’s a good idea to check with customer support before purchasing a plan.

Easy to install and set up

VPN services incorporate sophisticated engineering but that doesn’t mean they should be clunky to setup and install. The best services make it extremely easy for users to register, install, and navigate through the options. You should be able to simply download the native software, log in, and let the app do the rest with the click of a few buttons. Anything more taxing than that points to a clunky user experience which you should avoid.

What other security protocols should I follow while traveling?

A VPN should sort you out for the most part, but here are a few additional steps you can take to make sure your trip runs smoothly:

Choose a strong password and enable 2-factor authentication wherever possible. Some Android phones have a setting where the device can be unlocked if it detects it’s in close vicinity of the user. Turn this setting off, because a thief could pilfer your phone and access its contents immediately. Update all your device software before leaving your home country so all security patches are fully functional and you’re protected as much as possible. Back up your phone every day so that important information, such as photos or work documents, are safely uploaded to the cloud and will always remain accessible, even if you lose your device.

How do I access WhatsApp and similar services where they are blocked?

Your travels might take you to lands far and wide where internet freedoms and individual liberty aren’t guaranteed. As a result, you might see that commonplace services you take for granted, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Skype, are blocked.

For example, according to FreedomHouse, WhatsApp is blocked or restricted in the following countries:

  • Azerbaijan
  • Bangladesh
  • Brazil
  • China
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Montenegro
  • Saudi Arabia
  • The Gambia
  • Turkey
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Yemen
  • Zimbabwe

In some of these countries, the entire suite of WhatsApp features will be blocked while others might only stymie access to voice and video calls. Whatever the case, you certainly want to remain connected with loved ones from back home.

In this situation, all you need to do is make sure there’s a VPN downloaded and installed on your device before you step on the plane. Doing so before you leave is important because VPNs are blocked in certain countries too. If you wait until arriving in the destination country, it’s possible that local ISPs might stop you from accessing the VPN website.

Once you arrive, simply turn on the VPN app, connect to a server where you know WhatsApp works well (such as the US, Canada, or Europe), and only use the chat application once a connection has been successfully established.

Note that VPNs themselves are blocked in some countries. We have separate guides on using a VPN in China and VPN use in UAE and Saudi Arabia.

A VPN encrypts all the internet traffic between your device and the VPN server. This prevents anyone listening in on the wi-fi network from being able to decipher any data they happen to intercept.

Travelers headed to countries where governments censor the web can use VPNs to bypass blocks on websites and apps. This is important for being able to communicate and get information from back home.

Lastly, VPNs unblock region-locked content. If you can’t access a streaming site due to location restrictions, a VPN can often bypass those restrictions. 

Once the VPN is installed on your smartphone and/or laptop, all you need to do is launch the app, select a location, and hit the Connect button. A few moments will pass while the connection is established, and you’ll then be able to access blocked apps and websites. The VPN will stay connected in the background while you use other apps.

After connecting to a new wi-fi network, just open your VPN app and connect. Once the connection is established, all your internet data will be secured.

Some VPN apps include a feature that will automatically connect your device to the VPN if it recognizes that you’re connected to a new or unsecured network. This is handy if, like me, you’re forgetful about turning on the VPN manually.

There are more practical reasons to use a VPN too. For instance, some hotels might place restrictions on the type of website you can access using their wifi. Once connected to a VPN, the hotel can no longer see which sites you’re trying to visit, which means they can’t block your requests. 

If you’re struggling with slow speeds while connected, there are a couple of things you can do to help. First off, try doing just one thing at a time – this means halting any downloads or torrents while trying to stream. You should also choose a server that’s as close to your location as possible and use a wired connection instead of wifi if that’s an option.

Downloading your VPN before you travel should allow you to use it as normal. It also means you won’t have to download it while using an unsafe public wifi network and potentially exposing yourself to hackers and snoopers. Overall, it’s a good idea to be prepared so that you can browse and stream with peace of mind while traveling.