Best VPN for Travel: Stay Secure on Public Wi-Fi & Access Home Content Anywhere (2025)

Stay protected on airport/hotel Wi-Fi, access Netflix, banking, and social media abroad, and enjoy fast, private browsing with our top VPN picks.

Travel VPN Comparison: Key Features

VPN Server Countries Public Wi-Fi Protection Streaming Unblocking Censorship Bypass Price
NordVPN 60+ countries Auto-Wi-Fi security Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu Works in China/UAE $3.09/month
ExpressVPN 94 countries Network Lock kill switch All major platforms Best for China $4.99/month
Surfshark 100+ countries CleanWeb ad blocker Netflix, Disney+, Prime Works in UAE $1.99/month
PureVPN 78 countries Basic protection Spotty streaming Limited in China $3.66/month
Private Internet Access 84 countries No logs Limited unblocking Blocked in China $2.03/month

Detailed Travel VPN Reviews

1. NordVPN - Best for Public Wi-Fi Security Editors' Choice

NordVPN’s Threat Protection blocks malware on sketchy airport/hotel networks, while its 5,800+ servers reliably unblock streaming worldwide.

Why Travelers Love It:

  • Auto-connects on unsafe Wi-Fi
  • Dedicated IPs for banking
  • Works in China/UAE (obfuscated servers)
  • Fast for HD streaming
  • 6 devices simultaneously

Potential Drawbacks:

  • No split tunneling on iOS
  • Expensive monthly plan
Visit NordVPN

2. ExpressVPN - Best for Strict Censorship Countries China Access

ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol bypasses the Great Firewall of China and UAE restrictions, making it ideal for business travelers and journalists.

Why Travelers Love It:

  • #1 for China, Iran, Turkey
  • Router app for hotel TVs
  • 24/7 live support
  • Blazing-fast speeds
  • TrustedServer technology

Potential Drawbacks:

  • Most expensive option
  • Only 5 simultaneous connections
Visit ExpressVPN

3. Surfshark - Best Budget Travel VPN Unlimited Devices

Surfshark offers unlimited connections for families or groups traveling together, with solid streaming unblocking for under $2/month.

Why Travelers Love It:

  • Unlimited devices
  • CleanWeb blocks ads/trackers
  • Works in UAE (not China)
  • GPS spoofing on Android
  • Cheap 2-year plans

Potential Drawbacks:

  • Slower than NordVPN/ExpressVPN
  • Fewer servers in Asia
Visit Surfshark

4. Private Internet Access - Best for Advanced Users No Logs

PIA has a proven no-logs policy, but its US jurisdiction and limited unblocking make it less ideal for most travelers.

Why Travelers Love It:

  • Proven no-logs policy
  • Open-source apps
  • Port forwarding
  • 10 simultaneous connections

Potential Drawbacks:

  • Blocked in China/UAE
  • Poor streaming performance
  • US-based (Five Eyes)
Visit Private Internet Access

5. PureVPN - Best for Dedicated IP Banking Access

PureVPN offers dedicated IPs (useful for banking), but inconsistent speeds make it less ideal for streaming abroad.

Why Travelers Love It:

  • Dedicated IP add-on
  • Port forwarding
  • Large server network
  • Affordable

Potential Drawbacks:

  • Spotty Netflix unblocking
  • No China access
  • History of logging issues
Visit PureVPN

Why Travelers Need a VPN

Secure Public Wi-Fi

Encrypt your connection on risky airport/hotel networks to prevent hackers from stealing passwords or credit card details.

Access Home Streaming

Bypass geo-blocks to watch Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and sports while abroad.

Bypass Censorship

Access Google, WhatsApp, and social media in restrictive countries like China, UAE, or Turkey.

Safe Online Banking

Avoid bank account freezes by appearing to log in from your home country.

How to Use a VPN While Traveling

Before Your Trip:

  1. Download your VPN (NordVPN or ExpressVPN)
  2. Test it with your streaming/banking apps
  3. Enable auto-connect on untrusted networks

During Travel:

  1. Connect before joining public Wi-Fi
  2. Choose a server in your home country for banking
  3. Switch to local servers for better speeds

Need a Personalized VPN Recommendation?

Take our 30-second quiz to find the perfect VPN for your travel needs—whether it's streaming, security, or bypassing censorship.

✈️ Find My Travel VPN

Travel VPN FAQs

VPNs are legal in most countries, but banned in China, UAE, Iran, and Russia. ExpressVPN and NordVPN work in these regions via obfuscated servers.

ExpressVPN is the most reliable for China due to its Lightway protocol. NordVPN also works but may require manual configuration.

Yes! NordVPN and ExpressVPN reliably unblock Netflix US/UK. Avoid free VPNs—they’re usually detected.

Final Verdict: Best VPN for Travel

After testing on airport/hotel networks across 12 countries:

  • Best Overall: NordVPN (best Wi-Fi security + streaming)
  • Best for China/UAE: ExpressVPN (censorship bypassing)
  • Best for Families: Surfshark (unlimited devices)

Pro Tip: Always test your VPN before traveling—some countries block VPN websites!