5 Best VPNs for Traveling

We are reader supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Learn more.

Suppose you travel a lot or plan to do domestic/international travel soon.

In that case, you need a VPN to unblock content from home, secure your internet experience abroad and safeguard your digital privacy. Thus, NordVPN is the best VPN for traveling.

Being a digital nomad has allowed me to travel to different countries/cities and test 21+ free and paid VPN providers. Of these, only CyberGhost, Surfshark, PureVPN, and PIA come close to NordVPN in travel VPN requirements.

In this piece, I’ll discuss how I tested these VPNs for traveling, how they compare against one another, and how to get the best of them.

Traveling can be fun, but losing access to the content you had back home is frustrating. For example, you stop getting Hulu once you’re outside the US, lose access to BBC iPlayer outside the UK, and much more.

Likewise, you don’t know how secure the internet infrastructure is in the country you’re visiting, especially if you’ll be connecting to public Wi-Fi network services.

You may only be one network connection away from having a hacker steal your sensitive banking logins, account passwords, conversations, and other sensitive details exchanged on these networks.

That’s not to mention the local P2P laws, which may get you in trouble if you download torrent files without encrypting this activity from your ISP in the new country.

I considered these and more before testing these VPNs. And, having been to over a dozen cities, my top VPNs have shown reliability everywhere.

In a rush? Read the summary of my best VPNs for traveling below to get started.

Unblock Geo-Restricted Websites and Ensure Your Digital Privacy With These VPNs for Traveling

fia tv geo-restriction
Avoid geo-blocking to content you love like this when traveling. Grab a VPN today!

You don’t have to worry about losing connection to your family and friends on your favorite social media networks, suffering withdrawal from your preferred streaming services, or looking over your shoulder when torrenting content abroad anymore.

Here’s how my top VPNs be the best travel pal for you:

  • NordVPN – Download torrents securely over specialized P2P servers, unblock content available in 59 countries, and encrypt your internet data over 5200+ servers.
  • CyberGhost – Avoid server overcrowding to get the best VPN experience over 9000+ servers, unblock content in 90+ countries, and securely torrent/stream/play games on this provider.
  • Surfshark – Protect your mobile devices, PCs, gaming consoles, routers, and other internet-enabled units from a single Surfshark account with unlimited simultaneous connections.
  • PureVPN – Get quantum-resistant servers in the US and beyond for premium data privacy, enhanced DDoS protection on all servers, and premium unblocking activity in 78+ countries.
  • PIA – Traveling away from the USA? Get the largest selection of US servers in every state to unblock general and niche content on the web from anywhere.

If you’re like me, you’ve fallen in love with more than one VPN on that list.

So, I’ve shared details of my travel VPN tests below to help you make the best buying decision and choice.

Let’s discuss!

Reviews, Tests, and Comparisons of My Top VPNs for Traveling

I tested my top travel VPNs based on US servers that unblock most of the web’s content, global servers to access content from everywhere, fast speeds, reliable privacy, and security. For the speed tests, I used a base 45Mbps connection.

Here’s how my top VPNs performed.

NordVPN – 1970+ US Servers & DDoS-Protected 5200+ Global Servers

unblock welt tv with nordvpn
Unblock content anywhere with NordVPN while you travel the world!

NordVPN is the largest collector of US servers listed, offering 1970+ servers in 15 US cities. That’s not as many US cities as Surfshark and PIA, but it beats the other providers in this regard.

I’m fascinated by the large US server count since this location holds the largest content library on the web. So, you can unblock and access the freest internet, streaming services libraries, and other choice content from anywhere while connected to these servers.

Knowing that, it’s no wonder many VPN users will also want to connect to these servers. Since you have 1970+ of these, the chances of overcrowding a server are low. You can even click on the general United States server location to let NordVPN automatically assign the best and fastest server to you.

nordvpn us server locations

To be sure these servers aren’t a fluke, I conducted two quick tests on them.

First, I checked that they don’t leak any IP or DNS requests.

Thanks to NordVPN’s active AES 256-bit encryption on all servers and protocols, these servers never leaked my IP.

NordVPN even has a kill switch that you should always activate when traveling to prevent IP address/internet activity exposure if the VPN connection randomly drops.

nordvpn internet and app kill switch

Secondly, I unblocked some US-only content like Hulu, MLB TV, NHL TV, CNN Go, Peacock TV, and the ViX US version, all with ease.

I even streamed up to 4K content on these and wasn’t surprised to learn that NordVPN managed 33Mbps speeds on my connection.

nordvpn internet speed test

Lest I forget, always enable the in-house NordLynx protocol on NordVPN to get the fastest speeds and security. It’s the provider’s exclusive alternative to WireGuard, which you get on most other providers.

nordvpn connection settings

However, NordVPN wasn’t the fastest VPN I tested. Moving on.

NordVPN’s server library consists of 5200+ servers in 59 countries.

Thus, you’re not limited to unblocking content in the US only.

This is suitable for non-US citizens and residents who want local content in their countries, access their banking apps without raising red flags or connect to gaming peers in another country.

I’ve managed to unblock NRK TV (via Norway servers), BBC iPlayer (via UK servers), and France TV (on the French servers).

watch the seria a league over nordvpn
NordVPN gets RAI TV streams over Italian servers

But NordVPN offers the least country count on this list.

So, some users might not find a server in their country here.

Instead, choose CyberGhost (90+ countries) and Surfshark (100+ countries) for the best chance of finding a server in almost any country.

Remember NordVPN’s encryption I mentioned earlier? It does more than keep IP leaks away.

It’s also responsible for keeping your ISP, public Wi-Fi operator (hotel, Starbucks, airport, anywhere else), and local government out of your internet data. This is important if you’re in countries with several data retention laws and invasive ISPs that look at everything you’re doing online.

nordvpn advanced wifi protection
NordVPN uses automatic public Wi-Fi protection on strange networks

This also ties into the reason I trust NordVPN for torrenting files.

After all, I’m sure any ISP I use or copyright trolls won’t see the torrent sites I visit or know the files I downloaded. Everything stays on NordVPN’s servers.

For example, I once unblocked The Pirate Bay in Canada, even though it’s blocked in some regions. I haven’t gotten any notices from Rogers to indicate it caught on to my torrent downloads.

NordVPN continues the impressive run with specialty P2P servers to speed up torrent downloads and bypass ISP throttling while at it.

nordvpn p2p servers

The best part is that NordVPN uses a no-logs policy.

Thus, it won’t have any data to hand over to government authorities if they ask for what you’ve been doing online over its servers.

But don’t use the VPN for anything illegal, as that breaches its Terms of Use and may get you in trouble with the country you’re traveling to.

Finally, you can install and use NordVPN on your mobile devices and PCs for protection on all devices. It even allows six simultaneous device connections to enjoy all its features on multiple units without paying for another plan.

Even though this is the least simultaneous connection offered here, I doubt you’ll use it up if you’re a solo traveler.

While NordVPN isn’t the cheapest provider I reviewed, it’s surely one of the most affordable in the VPN industry.

NordVPN pricing
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

And you can grab these NordVPN discounts for an even better deal.

Pros

Cons

CyberGhost – 1300+ US Servers & 9000+ Torrenting, Streaming, and Gaming Servers

stream hayu over cyberghost
CyberGhost unblocks Hayu TV from Canada

CyberGhost goes head-to-head with NordVPN on multiple fronts.

Still, they’re unique in how they offer some services to aid your traveling experience.

For instance, CyberGhost has 1300+ servers in 11 US cities, behind NordVPN, and probably the second least US server haul on this list.

However, I’m impressed with CyberGhost’s ease of use on these servers, quickly helping you to find those US servers that are best for downloading torrent files, playing mobile/PC games, or streaming content.

cyberghost us server locations

In fact, CyberGhost tells you what streaming platform (like Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, etc.) its servers are best optimized for.

Of course, I didn’t take any of these at face value. So, I tested for server security (and got zero leaks, by the way) and unblocking ability.

CyberGhost unblocked my preferred US content streams every time without buffering or lag.

I also noticed that the non-streaming-optimized servers are equally great for unblocking content anywhere. Thus, you’re not limited to only the US services CyberGhost mentions on its servers.

Like NordVPN, CyberGhost handled all the streaming tests on my PC and mobile device without lag. Checking the speeds that ensured this buffer-less streaming, I got 37Mbps! That’s higher than NordVPN’s speeds, and it’s the second fastest on this list.

cyberghost internet speed test

This shows that this provider really optimizes its servers for speed.

While CyberGhost falls behind NordVPN on the US server count, it wins on the global server front. With an arsenal of 9000+ servers in 90+ countries, you stand a better chance of accessing local content anywhere.

Non-US travelers who want to access content in their country, or anyone who needs a specific server somewhere else for various reasons, will feel at home here.

I connected to a few of these servers to stream BBC iPlayer (UK servers), France TV (France servers), Crave TV (Canada servers), and Qatar TV channels (Qatari servers) without lag. I never doubted CyberGhost’s unblocking but had to ensure it maintains stellar speeds on other servers too, which it does.

traveling internet challenges reddit post
Traveling to Germany or anywhere else? Solve these issues with a VPN

But CyberGhost lacks an in-house protocol like NordVPN.

So, it’s best to choose WireGuard to get amazing speeds and security.

You can also select IKEv2 on mobile for even faster speeds and lesser encryption burden.

Speaking of encryption, CyberGhost is reliable at keeping your new ISP, the government in your new country, or hackers out of your internet data.

In fact, I use its automatic public Wi-Fi connection feature to protect my banking activities and sensitive internet operations whenever my device picks up a public Wi-Fi connection.

cyberghost saved wi-fi networks

Furthermore, it needs no telling that you can download torrent files securely over CyberGhost. It even has more torrent-optimized server locations than NordVPN. This ensures a higher chance of landing a local torrent server in the country you’ve traveled to, getting the best download speed while unblocking torrent sites securely.

use piratebay with cyberghost

And there’s the recently audited no-logs policy too.

Even if the country you’re traveling to can prove you’re using CyberGhost, the VPN can’t tell the authorities what you were doing on its servers.

How neat!

I found that CyberGhost supports router apps and smart TVs.

But I didn’t care much for that since I don’t travel with those devices.

Instead, I was happy to see its easy-to-setup mobile and PC apps.

Even so, the PC app (I use Windows) can take a minute to figure out.

This is where the VPN service could take a book out of NordVPN’s simple user interface design.

cyberghost home dashboard

In a final double gut punch to NordVPN, CyberGhost offers more simultaneous device connections (seven) and is priced lesser than NordVPN. This makes it a better VPN provider for multiple travelers who want to protect all their devices without paying more for a VPN subscription.

cyberghost vpn subscription plans and pricing
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

Plus, you can get these CyberGhost deals to save more and enjoy a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Pros

Cons

Surfshark – 600+ US Servers & 3200+ Global Servers on Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

unblock zdf with surfshark
Surfshark unblocks and stream ZDF Live from German servers

Are you traveling for the holidays with family and need an affordable VPN for everyone? Do you have a lot of devices to secure while on your trip?

Are you part of a travel group with other online security and privacy enthusiasts like yourself?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, Surfshark is the best VPN. Thanks to its unlimited simultaneous connections and bandwidth, it could easily become your cheapest VPN provider.

Fortunately, Surfshark doesn’t mask poor performance, speed, and security with its unlimited simultaneous connections offer. In fact, it’s the fastest VPN provider I tested, offering 39Mbps speeds on my base connection.

surfshark internet speed test

I got these speeds using WireGuard, the fastest Surfshark protocol.

So, you know what protocol to connect to for the best speed and security.

However, it carries the least US servers. But with a haul of 600+ servers in 25 US cities, it covers the second largest US locations (behind PIA) for even more regional options. This may come in handy when you want to unblock a Major League Baseball game blacked out in some US regions, for example.

surfshark us server locations

I tested Surfshark’s encryption promise on these servers and got zero IP/DNS request leaks. I also unblocked Hulu US, Disney+ US, Amazon Prime Video US, and Netflix US on its US servers. Likewise, I got some US-specific content like ESPN+ and CNN, so these servers get the job done.

Besides unblocking content streams in 4K, Surfshark has also helped me save money while abroad. I remember connecting to these US servers to enjoy some Black Friday deals on Amazon. Those deals weren’t available to me once I disconnected the VPN since I was outside the USA.

So, you can even connect to any of Surfshark’s servers to browse cheaper hotels and flight prices when traveling.

unblock hbo with surfshark in germany reddit
Does this sound like you? Get Surfshark to unblock anything anywhere, ASAP

Speaking of Surfshark’s servers, this provider brings 3200+ reliable servers in 100+ countries. This might be the least server count on the VPNs I listed here, but that’s the most countries. In fact, only CyberGhost comes close.

Thus, you’ll get elusive countries that aren’t on other VPN providers.

Again, unblock anything anywhere!

One of the things I quickly liked about Surfshark is its easy-to-use iOS app.

This is like the Android app build, so you get the same experience.

Thus, I was up and going in less than 5 minutes; most of that time was spent paying for the VPN and downloading the app.

Its PC apps are also wonderful and highly straightforward.

In fact, I’m hard-pressed to choose a winner between Surfshark and NordVPN here.

But it doesn’t have a P2P-optimized server section like NordVPN and CyberGhost. Instead, I had to ask the customer support staff which ones are best for downloading torrents. Fortunately, it has a 24/7 live chat option (like the other VPNs).

surfshark support on p2p server locations

You don’t have to worry about your torrent download, content streaming, web unblocking, or censorship-bypassing activities falling into the government’s hands. Besides Surfshark’s encryption on all servers, it also has an audited no-logs policy.

Suppose you don’t do anything illegal on these servers.

In that case, you won’t be breaking its ToS, and the VPN provider won’t have any data about your activities to share with any government.

Remember that you can use Surfshark on unlimited devices? Yet, it’s cheap!

Screenshot MS 1 1
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

How about these Surfshark discounts to save more and test the VPN risk-free for 30 days?

Pros

Cons

PureVPN – 1800+ Quantum-Resistant US Servers for Reliable Streaming & Content Unblocking Abroad

stream la liga mx matches over purevpn
Want to stay in touch with your La Liga MX matches? PureVPN's got you covered!

PureVPN is the closest to NordVPN in the US server count, offering 1800+ servers in 11 cities. Its US servers also feature reliable encryption and unblock US-available content anywhere.

Given that most of the web is unrestricted in the USA, these US servers can bypass censorship/geo-restrictions better.

Besides, PureVPN has a New Jersey server which is lacking among the other VPN providers. Not even PIA has a server in this region, and it boasts extensive US servers in almost every city.

But why does the New Jersey server matter? New Jersey has access to legal online US-betting websites if you like to place online bets in the US.

Outside of this location, you may be unable to place online bets in the USA.

unblock draftkings with purevpn
I unblocked DraftKings with PureVPN's New Jersey server

I’ve tested PureVPN to place small bets on Roobet, GG Poker, and DraftKings. I’m confident it’ll handle other US-available betting and online gambling services just fine.

During my content unblocking tests, I discovered that PureVPN also has streaming-optimized servers like CyberGhost, but only in the USA.

Luckily, that didn’t affect its ability to unblock content streams, bypass geo-blocks, and defeat censorship anywhere else.

Enough of the US servers. What about the other PureVPN servers?

purevpn servers

All 6500+ servers in 78+ countries put PureVPN ahead of NordVPN on server counts and locations. So, you can access country-specific content in even more regions with this provider.

I tested these servers with BBC iPlayer (UK servers), Canal TV (Mexico servers), and Bilibili (Hong Kong servers) to ensure they live up to their name too.

The VPN unblocked everything I threw at it, but it’s not as fast as the other VPNs I tested, recording a mere 27Mbps.

purevpn internet speed test

That’s still fast enough for 4K streams, but almost a half connection drop from the base 45Mbps speeds I started with.

Luckily, PureVPN also has specialty P2P servers like CyberGhost and NordVPN. Connect to these to download torrents, and you’ll never have to worry about

  • Your favorite torrent sites being blocked from you
  • Your foreign ISP throttling your torrent download speeds
  • Copyright trolls coming after you for your torrent downloads
  • The foreign government/authorities finding out what files you pulled off torrent sites
purevpn p2p server locations

But there’s more.

Like the other providers, PureVPN combines encryption with a no-logs policy to ensure top-notch data privacy. It’s been audited twice for its no-logs claims, more than any other VPN provider listed here.

Even so, it adds quantum-resistance technology to some of its servers for extra protection.

So, your online data is protected from next-gen quantum computer hacks.

That keeps the most privacy-invasive governments out of your online data and ensures strict digital privacy anywhere!

get lower price on online purchase with vpn reddit
Keep getting lower prices on online purchases in your country with PureVPN

Unfortunately, this extra protection isn’t on all servers yet.

But it’s better than nothing, especially as it’s the only provider with this feature.

PureVPN uses a similar interface on mobile and PC. Thus, it’s also easy to set up and use but might require a slight learning curve for the first time.

I got around the major icons and features in about seven minutes, and I’m sure you can, too.

purevpn mobile app
PureVPN's simple iOS interface

You can also use the VPN on your preferred mobile and PC devices.

With ten simultaneous device connections, it’s a preferred VPN for a larger travel group. Of course, that’s nothing compared to Surfshark, but it beats the others listed so far.

The best part is that PureVPN is the cheapest provider I reviewed here, despite all its premium offerings.

purevpn pricing
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

Interested? Save more with these PureVPN offers and get a 31-day risk-free guarantee.

Pros

Cons

PIA – Access the Most Extensive US Sever Reach & Massive Global Server Count Abroad

stream cnn go with private internet access
Don't miss out on CNN Go content with PIA, not even if you're outside the USA

PIA’s offering of US servers in 50 states is surreal, beating the other VPN providers with servers in a few cities. Even Surfshark doesn’t cover 25 states since some of the 25 cities it has servers in are in the same state.

This shows you how massive PIA’s offering is and ensures you can access content from any part of the USA.

I prefer this VPN for US travelers who want to stay in touch with everything happening at home, no matter what state or region it’s happening in.

After all, blackouts, state licensing restrictions, and related issues won’t affect you as much if you can connect to a home-state server.

The US server spread is also important for US residents traveling domestically. You don’t want to get to another state and learn that you can’t watch your favorite NHL teams, place bets online, or access certain US services.

I used PIA to unblock the Netflix US library, HBO Max US, and CNN Go news. I also hopped around these servers and tested their encryption, always finding that I never leak IP/DNS requests on them.

This encryption assures me that my foreign ISPs never see whatever I do online, no matter how briefly. I refuse to be another statistic or data collection source for any ISP – not after paying for the service I’m getting!

private internet access ipleak test

Thankfully, PIA extends its generous spread to other countries.

While it doesn’t state the exact number of servers it has, it mentions they’re in 84 countries. This is only behind Surfshark and CyberGhost.

So, you’ll hardly want servers to unblock some region-specific content.

In fact, you’re also more likely to find a local server of the country you’re visiting on PIA. That way, you can encrypt your local connection over public Wi-Fi/local ISP networks and retain access to the country’s online content/services.

To be sure of its content-unblocking ability outside the US, I successfully streamed FI races on Servus TV (Austrian servers), watched anime on Crunchyroll (Nigerian servers), and got Kazakh TV (on Kazakhstan servers). I wasn’t surprised at the buffer-less streaming experience since PIA already promised up to 10Gbps speeds per server!

The best part is that you can even sort its mobile and PC servers by latency to get the fastest ones rather than manually testing the servers.

There’s something similar on PureVPN, showing the ping values of the servers. On CyberGhost, you can get your average distance to the servers to approximate your latency.

However, PIA’s mobile and PC app interface may be confusing if you’re a first-time VPN user. Fortunately, you can switch to a simpler view on iOS devices and quickly figure out the controls on PC also.

Even so, I’ll have preferred that it comes straightforward like my other providers. But I can’t complain since it has an unmistakable quick-connect button like the others. Click on that, and you’re ready for data encryption over any server.

traveling with vpn reddit post
Some of the reasons to connect to a PIA server when traveling

The only issues I have with PIA are that it’s never been audited for its promised no-logs policy, and it’s based in the USA. Given that the USA is a 14 Eyes region with some serious data retention laws, the VPN provider may be collecting your data.

But it has an open-source code that can be verified by anyone for no logs, and it’s never been in a data-sharing scandal. So, it’s safe to say the provider keeps to its word.

If you like everything else you see, PIA entices you with ten simultaneous connections, too, second joint highest with PureVPN.

And it’s also affordable, so you don’t have to break the bank for this one.

Private Internet Access Plans & Price
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

How about some PIA discounts to sweeten the deal?

Pros

Cons

How to Setup a VPN for Traveling?

It’s best to enable the VPN kill switch, choose the correct protocol per region you’re in, and connect to a suitable server for proper travel VPN setup.

Here’s a stepwise guide to get the best of your VPN while traveling domestically or to other countries:

  1. Purchase a reliable travel VPN. I recommend NordVPN.
  2. Download the VPN app for your preferred device. It’s best to download the app from your device’s official app store or via the VPN’s website. I’ll use Windows for this demonstration.
  3. Enable the VPN kill switch to prevent IP/DNS leaks on disconnection. Go to Settings > Kill Switch > toggle Internet Kill Switch.”
nordvpn internet and app kill switch
  1. Optional: Configure the app kill switch to protect certain apps from IP leaks. I prefer the all-encompassing internet kill switch, though.
  2. Select a preferred VPN protocol. Use NordLynx for speed and security.
nordvpn connection settings
  1. Optional: Choose OpenVPN protocols instead to use obfuscated servers to bypass firewall blocks, VPN traffic blocks, and tough censorship in some countries.
  2. Go to the NordVPN home page. Search for a preferred server. I’ll use the United States for this example.
nordvpn us server locations
  1. Click on the United States location to get the fastest server in the fastest city. Or manually select the city you’ll prefer to connect to.
  2. Wait for the connection confirmation and test for leaks. I use www.ipleak.net.
  3. If there are no leaks, unblock content from anywhere and browse the internet securely.

Can You Use a Free VPN While Traveling?

You can use a free VPN while traveling, but it won’t give you the best internet connection speeds, reliable security, and dependable privacy features and may compromise your internet experience.

free vpns not worth it reddit post
Real-life proof that free VPN services aren't worth it

Some free VPN providers are also known to throttle bandwidth and collect your personal data to sell to third parties. After all, they need to get paid for their ‘free’ service.

Instead, choose an affordable yet reliable VPN provider like NordVPN with encrypted server technology, an exclusive ultra-fast protocol, and a premium suite of privacy features.

Enjoy Your Travels

Whether you’re going to Canada for some sightseeing, holidaying in the Caribbean, doing business in China, or meeting new friends in other US states, a VPN will always be handy to protect you online.

Since you never want complete strangers to pry into your personal life on trips, you should also accord your online sessions the same level of privacy.

Thankfully, NordVPN makes that happen. With 5200+ servers in 59 countries, you can unblock content almost anywhere, encrypt your internet activity, download torrents securely, and stream content like home.

Don’t forget to grab these NordVPN discounts to save more and test the VPN risk-free for the first 30 days.

Try NordVPN Risk-Free!
Protect private web traffic from snooping, interference, and censorship. All plans are covered by a no-hassle 100% money-back guarantee for your first 30 days of service.
Grab the exclusive gift from NordVPN!
LIMITED-TIME OFFER
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
CLAIM MY GIFT NOW
NordVPN deal
EXCLUSIVE February DEAL!
Our partner, NordVPN, offers an exclusive discount for a limited time! Don't miss out on the chance to save extra money.
OFFER EXPIRES IN:
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
TODAY!
VIEW EXCLUSIVE OFFER
Or Try NordVPN for FREE