9 products tested & ranked

We Tested 9 VPNs for Digital Nomads — Here's What's Actually Worth It

Work from Bali, Lisbon, or Chiang Mai with confidence. We tested VPNs for the speed, reliability, and security that remote workers depend on daily.

Featuring:

NordVPN·

ExpressVPN·

Proton VPN·

Surfshark·

Private Internet Access+4 more

Helping 12,000+ professionals choose the right tools

Quick Answer

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

See all reviews

Best Overall

9.0

NordVPN

From $2.99/mo (Basic 2-year). Plus from $3.89/mo. Complete from $5.39/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Feature-packed VPN with 7,000+ servers in 118 countries, NordLynx protocol for top speeds, and advanced security tools including Threat Protection.

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Best for Small Teams

8.8

ExpressVPN

From $2.44/mo (Basic 2-year). Advanced from $4.49/mo. Pro from $7.49/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Premium VPN with blazing-fast Lightway protocol, 105 country coverage, and a proven track record of working in China and other restricted regions.

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Best Value

8.7

Proton VPN

Free plan available with unlimited data. Paid from $3.59/mo (2-year). Proton Unlimited $7.99/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Swiss-based privacy-focused VPN with a generous free tier, Secure Core servers, and fast speeds across 127 countries. Built by the team behind ProtonMail.

Try Proton VPN

Why Digital Nomads Need a Specialized VPN

Digital nomads face unique challenges that casual travelers do not. You need a VPN that delivers consistently fast speeds for video calls and file transfers, works reliably across dozens of countries, and protects sensitive business data on shared co-working space networks. Downtime or slow connections mean lost productivity and missed deadlines.

How We Test for Remote Work

We evaluate each VPN during real remote work sessions including Zoom calls, Slack messaging, cloud file syncing, and SSH connections. We test from popular digital nomad hubs in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Speed consistency matters more than peak speed, since a VPN that drops during a client call is worse than one that is slightly slower overall.

Essential Features for Nomad VPNs

Look for split tunneling so you can route work apps through the VPN while streaming locally, dedicated IP options for accessing company resources, reliable kill switches to prevent data leaks, and multi-device support since nomads typically carry a laptop, phone, and tablet.

0Products Tested

0+Hours of Testing

0+Years Experience

0Expert Reviewers

Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions when you purchase through links on this site. This never influences our ratings or recommendations. Our reviews are based on independent, hands-on testing. We believe in full transparency about how we make money. Read our full disclosure →

Our Top Picks

#1 Top Pick

NordVPN

Best for Remote Work

9.0

Excellent

Try NordVPN

#2 Runner Up

ExpressVPN

Most Reliable Worldwide

8.8

Very Good

Try ExpressVPN

#3 Also Great

Proton VPN

Best Privacy for Nomads

8.7

Very Good

Try Proton VPN

#1 Our Top PickFrom $2.99/mo (Basic 2-year). Plus from $3.89/mo. Complete from $5.39/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN

Power users who want a feature-rich VPN with the largest server network

Read Full Review →

Excellent

Reliability9.2

Multi-Device8.5

Server Network9.5

Split Tunneling9.0

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	NordVPN9.0/10	ExpressVPN8.8/10	Proton VPN8.7/10	Surfshark8.5/10	Private Internet Access8.0/10	Mullvad VPN8.2/10	VyprVPN7.8/10	IVPN7.8/10	StrongVPN7.2/10
Starting Price	From $2.99/mo (Basic 2-year). Plus from $3.89/mo. Complete from $5.39/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.	From $2.44/mo (Basic 2-year). Advanced from $4.49/mo. Pro from $7.49/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.	Free plan available with unlimited data. Paid from $3.59/mo (2-year). Proton Unlimited $7.99/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.	From $1.99/mo (Starter 2-year). One plan from $2.49/mo. Unlimited devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.	From $1.98/mo (3-year plan). Unlimited devices. Open-source apps. 30-day money-back guarantee.	Flat rate: 5 euros/month (~$5.50). No contracts. Anonymous accounts. Cash payment accepted.	From $3.00/mo (2-year plan). Monthly $12.95. 10 devices. Chameleon protocol. 30-day money-back guarantee.	Standard: $6/mo or $60/yr (2 devices). Pro: $10/mo or $100/yr (7 devices). Anonymous accounts.	From $3.97/mo (yearly plan). Monthly $10.99. 12 devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Speed Consistency	9.0	9.3	8.5	8.3	7.8	8.8	7.8	8.0	7.0
Split Tunneling
Dedicated IP Option
Simultaneous Devices	10	10	10	Unlimited	Unlimited	5	10	2-7	12
Server Countries	118	105	127	100	91	50+	70+	45+	46
Monthly Price	$2.99/mo	$2.44/mo	$3.59/mo	$1.99/mo	$1.98/mo	€5/mo (~$5.50)	$3.00/mo	$5.00/mo	$3.97/mo
Multi-Platform Support	9.0	9.5	8.5	8.5	8.0	8.0	8.0	7.5	7.5
	Try NordVPN	Try ExpressVPN	Try Proton VPN	Try Surfshark	Try PIA VPN	Try Mullvad	Try VyprVPN	Try IVPN	Try StrongVPN

Detailed Reviews

Very Good

ExpressVPN

Editor's Choice

Most Reliable WorldwideTravelers who want premium reliability and performance, especially in censored countries

Reliability9.5

Multi-Device8.5

Server Network9.2

Split Tunneling8.5

Pros

Lightway protocol delivers industry-leading speeds with minimal battery drain
Reliably works in China and other censored countries
Servers in 105 countries ensure fast connections worldwide
Intuitive apps make VPN setup effortless for beginners
Aircove Go portable router provides whole-network VPN for travel

Cons

More expensive than competitors even with new tiered pricing
Basic plan limited to 10 simultaneous device connections
No dedicated ad or tracker blocking on the Basic plan
Split tunneling not available on iOS

Pricing: From $2.44/mo (Basic 2-year). Advanced from $4.49/mo. Pro from $7.49/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Premium VPN with blazing-fast Lightway protocol, 105 country coverage, and a proven track record of working in China and other restricted regions.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

Proton VPN

Best Privacy for NomadsPrivacy-conscious travelers and those who want a reliable free VPN option

Reliability8.8

Multi-Device8.0

Server Network9.0

Split Tunneling8.5

Pros

Best free VPN plan with unlimited data and no ads
Swiss jurisdiction provides strong privacy legal protections
Secure Core routes traffic through privacy-friendly countries
Open-source apps independently audited for transparency
Stealth protocol helps bypass censorship in restricted regions

Cons

Free plan limited to servers in 5 countries with medium speeds
Premium plans slightly more expensive than Surfshark and PIA
Only 10 simultaneous connections on paid plans
Streaming unblock not as consistent as ExpressVPN and NordVPN

Pricing: Free plan available with unlimited data. Paid from $3.59/mo (2-year). Proton Unlimited $7.99/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Swiss-based privacy-focused VPN with a generous free tier, Secure Core servers, and fast speeds across 127 countries. Built by the team behind ProtonMail.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

Surfshark

Best for TeamsBudget travelers and families who need unlimited device connections at a low price

Reliability8.0

Multi-Device10.0

Server Network8.5

Split Tunneling8.5

Pros

Unlimited simultaneous device connections on all plans
Among the cheapest premium VPNs at .99/month on 2-year plan
NoBorders mode designed for use in censored countries
CleanWeb effectively blocks ads and trackers
7-day free trial available on all platforms

Cons

Speeds slightly slower than ExpressVPN and NordVPN on distant servers
Renewal price jumps to /year after promotional period
Smaller server network than NordVPN and CyberGhost
Upload speeds can drop significantly on some server locations

Pricing: From $1.99/mo (Starter 2-year). One plan from $2.49/mo. Unlimited devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections, 100+ country coverage, and unique privacy features like IP Rotator and NoBorders mode.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

Private Internet Access

Budget travelers who want unlimited devices and proven security at the lowest price

Reliability7.5

Multi-Device10.0

Server Network8.0

Split Tunneling8.5

Pros

Unlimited simultaneous device connections on all plans
Open-source apps provide full code transparency
No-logs policy verified in actual court proceedings
One of the cheapest VPNs at .98/month on 3-year plan

Cons

US jurisdiction within Five Eyes intelligence alliance
Connection speeds less consistent than top-tier competitors
Interface is less polished than ExpressVPN or NordVPN
Does not work reliably in China or other censored countries

Pricing: From $1.98/mo (3-year plan). Unlimited devices. Open-source apps. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Veteran VPN provider with unlimited simultaneous connections, open-source apps, and one of the lowest prices in the market at $1.98/mo on 3-year plans.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

Mullvad VPN

Privacy purists, journalists, and travelers who need maximum anonymity

Reliability8.5

Multi-Device7.0

Server Network7.0

Split Tunneling8.0

Pros

Anonymous accounts requiring no email or personal information
Simple flat-rate pricing at 5 euros/month with no contracts
DAITA provides advanced AI traffic analysis protection
Accepts cash and cryptocurrency for maximum anonymity

Cons

Only 5 simultaneous device connections
Fewer server locations than major competitors
Not optimized for streaming service unblocking
Minimalist interface may be confusing for VPN beginners

Pricing: Flat rate: 5 euros/month (~$5.50). No contracts. Anonymous accounts. Cash payment accepted.

Ultra-private VPN with anonymous accounts, flat-rate pricing, and no personal data required to sign up. Favored by privacy advocates and journalists.

Read Full Review →

Good

VyprVPN

Travelers to censored countries who need the Chameleon protocol to bypass VPN detection

Reliability8.0

Multi-Device8.0

Server Network7.5

Split Tunneling7.5

Pros

Chameleon protocol specifically designed to bypass deep packet inspection
Self-owned servers with Swiss privacy jurisdiction
Strong track record of working in China
10 simultaneous connections cover most travel needs

Cons

Smaller server network than major competitors
Slightly slower speeds compared to NordVPN and ExpressVPN
No free plan or trial available
Higher priced than budget alternatives like Surfshark

Pricing: From $3.00/mo (2-year plan). Monthly $12.95. 10 devices. Chameleon protocol. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Travel-tested VPN with proprietary Chameleon protocol designed to defeat VPN blocking, self-owned servers, and a strong track record in China.

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Good

IVPN

Privacy-focused travelers who want a Wirecutter-endorsed VPN with transparent practices

Reliability8.5

Multi-Device7.0

Server Network7.0

Split Tunneling7.5

Pros

Recommended by EFF and NYT Wirecutter for travel
Anonymous account system with no personal data required
Open-source apps regularly audited
Multi-hop connections for enhanced privacy

Cons

Only 2 devices on Standard plan, 7 on Pro
More expensive than budget VPN alternatives
Smaller server network than major competitors
Not optimized for streaming service unblocking

Pricing: Standard: $6/mo or $60/yr (2 devices). Pro: $10/mo or $100/yr (7 devices). Anonymous accounts.

Transparent, privacy-first VPN recommended by EFF and NYT Wirecutter. Anonymous account system, open-source apps, and strong obfuscation for restricted regions.

Read Full Review →

Good

StrongVPN

Travelers who want a straightforward, no-frills VPN that works in China

Reliability7.5

Multi-Device8.5

Server Network7.0

Split Tunneling7.0

Pros

12 simultaneous device connections included
StrongDNS smart DNS feature for streaming on all devices
Works in China with obfuscation features
Straightforward no-frills approach to VPN service

Cons

Smaller server network limited to 46 countries
Speeds not as fast as top-tier competitors
App design is basic and could use a refresh
Less well-known with fewer independent audits

Pricing: From $3.97/mo (yearly plan). Monthly $10.99. 12 devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Straightforward VPN with 12 simultaneous connections, servers in 46 countries, and a proven track record of working in China via StrongDNS.

Read Full Review →

Our Testing Methodology

We test VPN performance during video conferencing, file transfers, and cloud app access from digital nomad hubs worldwide. We evaluate speed consistency, connection stability over 8-hour work sessions, multi-device performance, and features critical for remote work like split tunneling and dedicated IPs.

Written by

Marcus RiveraSaaS Integration Expert

Marcus has spent over a decade in SaaS integration and business automation. He specializes in evaluating API architectures, workflow automation tools, and sales funnel platforms. His reviews focus on implementation details, technical depth, and real-world integration scenarios.

API IntegrationBusiness AutomationSales FunnelsAI Tools

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

Why Digital Nomads Need a Specialized VPN

How We Test for Remote Work

Essential Features for Nomad VPNs

Our Top Picks

Head-to-Head Comparison

Detailed Reviews

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

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Cons

Our Testing Methodology

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