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There’s a lot to think about when selecting a VPN for travel. Leveraging our years of expertise in the VPN space coupled with what you’ll need when traveling, here’s what to look for: 

Server network

Specifically for travel, you’ll want a large VPN server network. More overall connectivity options are beneficial; you’ll also want plenty of countries if you plan on any international travel. Therefore, it's important to consider both the total number of servers and the number of servers per country.

For instance, some VPNs have thousands of servers sprinkled through only a few nations. At the high end, you'll find VPNs with servers in 100 or more countries, although I'd recommend picking a VPN with a presence in at least 50 international locations. Many servers in a smaller handful of countries might work if you only travel to one of those spots. For regular international adventures, greater country choice comes in handy. 

Privacy

VPNs add a layer of protection by encrypting your traffic and masking your IP address, making it harder for cyber attackers to access your browsing data. When traveling, you’ll likely use open wireless networks at an airport terminal, in the hotel lobby or at a coffee shop, but a VPN keeps your browsing data private from snooping ISPs, prying network administrators or compromised Wi-Fi networks. 

Look for a strict no-logging policy that's been audited by a reputable third-party to back up zero-log claims. You'll want to use a VPN provider that has modern encryption -- either AES 256-bit or ChaCha20, depending on the VPN protocol.

For VPN protocols, WireGuard and its equivalents or derivatives -- like NordVPN's NordLynx and ExpressVPN's Lightway -- typically offer fast speeds with robust security. OpenVPN meanwhile is a tried-and-tested protocol with strong security, but slower speeds. IKEv2/IPSec can be handy for mobile devices, since it seamlessly handles switching between mobile and Wi-Fi networks. But in my experience, our top-rated VPNs all handled network switching on mobile devices flawlessly.

Obfuscation, which tries to disguise your VPN use as standard web traffic, can be useful in scenarios where you need to hide the fact that you're using a VPN, such as while on school Wi-Fi or when traveling to a country where VPNs are frowned upon. You can find obfuscated servers as well as obfuscation-focused VPN protocols, such as NordVPN's NordWhisper or Proton VPN's Stealth.

A standard VPN connection should suffice for fundamental privacy or streaming. But if you've got serious privacy concerns, consider a VPN specialty servers that bolster your privacy even further. Double hop, or multi-hop, uses two VPN connections instead of one to make it even harder to trace your web traffic back to your device. Tor over VPN, or Onion over VPN servers, use Tor -- The Onion Routing -- to make it more difficult to follow your internet activity back to your device. Double VPN and Tor over VPN servers both achieve similar feats, but using different technologies. Depending on your needs, a VPN, Tor, a proxy server or a combination of privacy protections might be the right choice to use.

Device compatibility

You’ll want a VPN that runs on the gadgets you’re bringing on your trip. Make a list of the devices you want to bring along with a VPN installed, and ensure your provider has apps for those electronics. Luckily, most providers offer solid Windows, MacOS, Android and iPhone or iPad apps. Many offer Linux VPN apps, but only some feature a graphical user interface, which is more beginner-friendly than a command-line interface. If you want to tote your Linux laptop along, look for a VPN with a Linux GUI app. Although most folks don’t travel with streaming devices, you might tote along a Fire Stick, Android TV box or Apple TV for your hotel room. 

Speed

All VPNs slow down your internet upload and download speeds somewhat since your data gets encrypted, but the fastest options drop your connectivity by an average loss of only 10% to 25%. Especially if you’re performing internet-intensive tasks like streaming video in 4K, Zooming for work, gaming or uploading YouTube videos, you’ll want a fast VPN. Even if you aren’t, reliable internet speeds are great for a better experience when checking your email and browsing the web. 

Streaming support

Aside from privacy, many people use VPNs to unblock region-restricted content. For instance, you can use a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer -- normally available only in the UK -- from other countries, like the US, meaning you can stream shows like The Jetty. Similarly, a VPN is useful when traveling. If you’re on vacation in a foreign country but want to access Netflix libraries from your home country to continue your binge-watching, a VPN makes that possible. Check which VPNs unblock the streaming services you want to watch from abroad. If you want to stream movies and television shows, consider one of the best VPNs for Netflix or best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video.

Price

VPNs range from about $6 a month to around $100 annually. Generally, you’ll get a discount by paying for a year or more of service upfront, but we don’t recommend shelling out for more than 12 months at a time. While the VPN you pick might initially be fast, secure and excellent for streaming, it could get acquired by a shady company, suffer a data breach or get slower during a year. We suggest sticking to an annual plan for the best value and the least risk. 

A VPN makes a great travel companion thanks to its privacy features and geographic unblocking. Because a VPN encrypts your internet traffic, it protects your data to a degree from others on a public Wi-Fi network seeking unencrypted data. Websites you visit don’t see your actual IP address and instead view an IP given to you by your VPN software, making it harder to view personal information such as your physical location or online activity. You’re still susceptible to malware, viruses and phishing attacks, so keep in mind that a VPN isn’t an antivirus software replacement. You can find antivirus software bundled with some VPNs and vice versa.

VPNs can spoof apps and internet-connected services like websites into thinking you’re located in a different region. For example, you might be on holiday in the UK but want to access your Gmail while still making it look like you're at home in the States, a VPN could help. Or perhaps you’d like to stream a movie that is only available on US Netflix while in Canada. Using a VPN, you can make it appear like you’re in a different city, state or country.

While traveling, you might use mobile data on your phone or tablet. Some wireless carriers throttle, or slow down, streaming videos over cellular data, which may result in worse video quality. But a VPN could help you circumvent throttling restrictions while on mobile data or using cruise ship Wi-Fi.

Whether for entertainment purposes or bypassing regional content restrictions, VPNs can circumvent location restrictions. If a VPN isn't already on your holiday packing list, it should be.

I couldn’t use this article as an excuse to travel extensively but I have country-hopped regularly, with notable stints in the UK, Peru and Sierra Leone. On a trip to Rome in 2019, I downloaded a VPN on my laptop and Android phone before leaving so I could stream Netflix from the hotel and access my Gmail without triggering a security alert (at the time, I was using VPN Unlimited, although I’ve since switched to NordVPN). To select the best VPNs for travel, we rigorously assessed dozens of providers by running speed tests, checking for DNS leaks, poring over terms of service, using apps and streaming videos. We researched VPN provider server networks, factoring in the overall number and country locations, which dictate whether a virtual private network is suitable for globe-trotting.

PIA

Private Internet Access brings a lot to the table, particularly for regular travelers. Its large server network blankets the globe with 35,000 servers in 91 countries. ExpressVPN and Surfshark deliver more individual country choices but PIA’s sheer number of servers lets you easily find an optimal connection. It’s an especially great VPN for folks traveling domestically or to one of the worldwide locales where Private Internet Access maintains a decent presence. In our experience, we found PIA unblocked Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus and Netflix on US and UK servers, making it a good VPN for streaming. 

Its wallet-friendly pricing sets you back just $12 monthly, $40 for the first year ($50 annually upon renewal) or $79 total for three years. By comparison, most VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN typically charge $60 to $100 a year. The value-packed Surfshark charges about $48 for your first year and its price jumps to $60 after its initial sweet introductory pricing.

Despite its relatively low cost, PIA doesn’t cut corners. Although it’s not the most feature-rich VPN, you’ll get a solid privacy suite, including a kill switch that stops your internet if your VPN gets disconnected, split tunneling for using a VPN for some apps but not others and 256-bit encryption over OpenVPN or IKEv2 with ChaCha20 on WireGuard. There’s multihop, which routes your connection through another server for additional privacy, and obfuscated servers, making it tougher for apps or ISPs to identify when you’re using a VPN. PIA also boasts unlimited simultaneous connections -- the pricier NordVPN limits you to 10. 

Unfortunately, PIA delivered middling internet speeds in our testing with an average speed loss of 48%. All VPNs slow down your connection somewhat, with the fastest VPNs offering an average internet speed loss of 25% or less. Folks with faster internet connections like fiber shouldn’t notice a difference even with a higher speed loss but PIA isn’t ideal for people with slower speeds like satellite internet users. With its decent features, pricing transparency and subscriptions that significantly undercut the competition, PIA remains a solid VPN that boasts a generous server network, unlimited simultaneous connections and relative affordability compared to VPN rivals. But for the price, you're better off with Surfshark, which is faster and offers a larger global server network.

Read our PIA review.

IPVanish

IPVanish offers 3,200-plus servers in 113 countries, which is in the same ballpark as NordVPN, Proton VPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark. (Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) In our experience, IPVanish's internet download speeds were uneven, with a 44% average internet download speed loss in our 2024 testing, with fast speeds marred by occasionally noticeable dips, which could impact gaming or 4K streaming.

IPVanish provides plenty of perks, including unlimited simultaneous connections, user-friendly apps and great streaming capabilities. It streams and unblocks region-restricted content from Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu and Netflix with aplomb. At $13 monthly, $40 for the first year or $53 total for two years (the one- and two-year plans renew at $90 a year) IPVanish initially saves you money upfront compared to competitors like ExpressVPN or NordVPN.

IPVanish works fine for casual use, but you can get a VPN with more robust privacy features and faster internet speeds, all of which benefit travel. IPVanish’s user-friendly apps make it a decent choice for beginners seeking a VPN to add peace of mind and allow for streaming abroad. But wallet-friendly VPNs PIA and Surfshark are better options for the money because of their larger server networks.

Read our IPVanish review

CyberGhost

With 11,500-plus servers spanning 100 countries, CyberGhost offers loads of choices for international travel. It’s decent for streaming from BBC iPlayer, Netflix and other sites. You can use specific servers optimized for streaming, but streaming works on all servers. CyberGhost remains wallet-friendly at $13 per month, $42 every six months or $57 total for the first two years of service (you’re billed annually after 24 months of service on its two-year plan). 

CyberGhost's high internet speed loss isn’t ideal for demanding applications like 4K streaming or gaming. CyberGhost does provide some useful features, including a kill switch, which shuts off your internet if your VPN gets disconnected, and split tunneling for selectively choosing some apps to route through your VPN. But CyberGhost lacks advanced privacy features like Tor Over VPN or double-hop servers, both of which make it even more difficult to trace your traffic back to its source. All things considered, CyberGhost is acceptable for casual use like streaming videos or web browsing, and its exhaustive server network is particularly well-suited to travel. Uneven speed loss and middle-of-the-road privacy features mean you’ve likely got better choices. 

Read our CyberGhost review.

Whether for travel, streaming service content unblocking or to allow for a greater number of users, VPN companies have been aggressively upgrading their server networks. Notably, NordVPN and Proton VPN massively improved server infrastructure in 2026. NordVPN now offers 9,300-plus servers in 135 countries, including servers in all 50 US states. Meanwhile, Proton VPN provides a staggering 20,000-plus servers in 145 countries. In 2025, ExpressVPN debuted server locations in all 50 US states. With VPNs including NordVPN and ExpressVPN featuring servers in each of the United States, the services are great for travel to and within the United States, as well as solid for streaming regional sports content, such as NFL, WNBA or NWSL games.

Our top-rated VPNs -- ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN and Mullvad -- all now offer Linux GUI apps, which are easier to use for beginners than command-line-only apps. So if you're a Linux user and want to bring your Linux laptop along while traveling, you can install an intuitive graphical user interface VPN app.

Alongside traditional VPN protocols, like WireGuard (or its equivalents) and OpenVPN, some VPN providers now provide obfuscation-focused VPN protocols, such as NordVPN's NordWhisper and Proton VPN's Stealth, which try to mask the fact that you're using a VPN. If you need to have a VPN running in a situation where VPNs are frowned upon -- such as in certain countries or on school Wi-Fi, for instance -- an obfuscation-centric VPN protocol could come in handy.

Several VPN providers, including NordVPN and Mullvad, underwent independent audits of infrastructure or protocols.