When you work and travel, you’ll realize that there are a few gadgets and tools that can make your life a lot easier. From portable monitors and mobile WiFi devices to backpacks and noise-canceling earphones, each can be a real gamechanger. Another great tool to have is a VPN. But which are the best VPNs for digital nomads and remote workers?
A VPN, or a Virtual Private Network, can be a huge asset when you’re working remotely. When you realize what VPN is and how it can help you, you’ll wonder why you haven’t had one before. We’re going to cover the basics of a VPN and share our choices of the best VPNs for digital nomads and remote workers.
Read our choices for portable monitors, another HUGE benefit for digital nomads.
* Just to let you know that this article may contain affiliate links. If you click on them we might receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Contents
What Is A VPN?
Technology is an incredible development, but it also has the potential to be very scary. Every time you take a snap of your smoothie bowl or a video of your partner acting the fool (both things that we’ve done) it’s stored in the cloud forever. Our security and privacy have become very loose. And that’s where a VPN comes in to play.
VPN is the abbreviation for a virtual private network, a tool that masks your internet protocol (IP) address and prevents your private information and browsing habits from being vulnerable on an unsecured WiFi network.
A VPN establishes a secure and encrypted connection, enhancing the user’s privacy. This is done by connecting your device as though it were a network and accesses various websites as an encrypted VPN connection. The VPN forwards your request as well as the response from the website – all through a secure connection. By doing so, there are several benefits that make work a lot easier.
Why Do You Need A VPN?
A VPN may sound like a very complicated tool, especially for technologically-adverse individuals. However, the benefits are useful for everyone. Each person will have their own, unique benefits that come from using a VPN, but here are a few general ones.
- Gain access to a site that has been blocked by another country. For example, Indonesia blocks torrenting sites so a VPN will be useful in that instance
- Securing a connection and make browsing private, thereby keeping your data and online movements to yourself
- Access a home or business network while traveling
- Adding an additional layer of security if processing payments on an unsecured network (consider how many payments you’ve made while working at a coffee shop…)
- Access different content streaming platforms, such as Netflix, that may have limitations on content reaching certain geographical boundaries
- Visit geo-blocked websites
- Increase speed by selecting a server that is closer to you
- Possibly secure cheaper flights if you change your VPN to the country you are traveling to (some sights offer different prices depending on where your IP address is based)
- Use a VPN to change your IP address if you’ve been blacklisted from your server, for example, you’ve tried your password too many times
What To Consider When Buying A VPN
Like most things in life, not all VPNs are created equally. The best VPNs for digital nomads and remote workers will have certain features that set them apart from the rest.
Here are a few factors to consider when investing in a VPN. Ask yourself these questions when looking through the sea of VPNs available (or picking from our list below).
- Does the VPN respect your privacy with a no-log policy?
- Are there data limits for using the VPN?
- Where is the server of the VPN located?
- Can the VPN be set up on multiple devices?
- The cost of the VPN
How to Buy A VPN
VPNs vary in prices, but a good quality VPN will cost you between $5 USD – $15 USD per month depending on the package that you choose. There are VPNs too, but they come with other costs. For example, they may not be the most secure, they don’t have the highest bandwidth, there’s a higher disconnection rate, and don’t offer support.
Buying a VPN is a super easy concept. You simply need to visit the VPNs website, sign up as a user, download the VPN and activate it when needed.
Best VPN For Digital Nomads
All of the below VPN providers offer a mobile VPN as an option and have a kill switch. Compare VPN specifics and find out what makes each of these tools unique.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN gets our vote as the number one choice. Ollie uses ExpressVPN and it comes highly recommended. It’s super speedy, offers 24/7 customer support and even allows for a 30-day risk-free trial.
- Access to 3,000+ servers
- The number of countries/locations: 94 countries, 160 locations
- Supported operating systems: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux
- The number of simultaneous connections: 5
- Affordability: $$$
Find out more about ExpressVPN here.
NordVPN
NordVPN is another really popular VPN for digital nomads. It’s powerful and user-friendly, giving secure access to plenty of servers around the world. It also offers a bonus feature of Malware protection.
- Access to 5,465 servers
- The number of countries/locations: 59 countries
- Supported operating systems: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux
- The number of simultaneous connections: 6
- Affordability: $$$
Find out more about NordVPN here.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a really reliable VPN and a fan-favorite among digital nomads and remote workers. It has access to a high number of servers and wide coverage. The VPN itself is user-friendly and if you run into any trouble, there is Live Chat support.
- Access to 6,600+ servers
- The number of countries/locations: 90 countries, 111 locations
- Supported operating systems: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux
- The number of simultaneous connections: 7
- Affordability: $$$
Find out more about CyberGhost here.
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access has several perks going for it. The setup is quick, you can connect to a server with a single click and there’s a kill switch available.
- Access to 12,011+ servers
- The number of countries/locations: 74 countries
- Supported operating systems: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux
- The number of simultaneous connections: 10
- Affordability: $$
Find out more about Private Internet Access here.
Hide My Ass (HMA)
HMA’s biggest sell is their Freedom Mode which connects to the best available server in a nearby country with free speech protection automatically. This is particularly useful when visiting countries where the government monitors internet usage very carefully.
- Access to 1,100+ servers
- The number of countries/locations: 290+ locations worldwide
- Supported operating systems: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux
- The number of simultaneous connections: 5
- Affordability: $
Surfshark
Surfshark allows you to operate easily and is designed with American users in mind. It is user-friendly and offers 24/7 customer support. One of the biggest perks of Surfshark is the unlimited connections, making it one of the best value-for-money options.
- Access to 1,700+ servers
- The number of countries/locations: 63 countries: 63 countries
- Supported operating systems: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux
- The number of simultaneous connections: unlimited
- Affordability: $$$
Find out more about Surfshark here.
Get Connected
As you can see, VPNs make the life of a digital nomad significantly easier. There are several reasons to invest in one, and the cost only makes this suggestion even more alluring. By connecting to a VPN, you’re able to operate privately on a secured network, no matter where you are in the world.
If you’re looking for some more digital nomad tool suggestions, you can read more here.
- Portable hotspot, MiFi, and internet solutions for digital nomads
- Best banks for digital nomads
- 10 Best noise-canceling headphones for digital nomads (and buds)
- Best gifts for digital nomads
- Top 10 digital nomad backpacks for laptop and essentials
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