Whether you are travelling for business or for leisure, it is important to consider the security risks when connecting to the internet especially public WiFi/hotspot networks, such as those found in hotels, airports, cafes, libraries, etc. You might think that by setting a strong password or installing a strong anti-virus, you will be fully protected from cyber crimes, like: hacking, phishing or identity theft. However, we hate to say that it is not true. As along as your IP address is visible to servers, your personal data and sensitive information (contact information, payment details, etc.) are exposed to cyber criminals and all peeping Toms on the internet. Moreover, due to geo-restrictions, you might face lots of hassle when trying to access websites in the country you are travelling to. For example, a lot of popular websites (such as: Google, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Wikipedia, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Spotify, Sky Sports & so on) are blocked in tens of countries.
That is why, it is highly recommended to use a VPN while travelling for a number of reasons:
1- Protecting personal data from hackers, identity thieves and phishers
2- Bypassing geo-restrictions to access any web content
3- Protect your privacy and browsing activities while connecting to public WiFi/hotspots
4- Boost internet connection speed
5- Overcome internet censorship anywhere you go
6- Secure online banking and business transactions
Best 5 VPNs for Travelling
In this section, we have selected the best 5 VPN service providers that work very well for travellers and businessmen who are always on the go and regularly connect to public WiFi/Hotspots.
1- PureVPN
One of the best VPN choices for travelling is PureVPN. PureVPN is based in Hong-Kong which is far from US & EU jurisdiction for maintaining a private environment when travelling and using the internet. Further, it rolls out a massive network of servers to make bypassing geo-restrictions much easier.
Pros | Cons |
| *Not based in the US | * No free trial |
| * 750+ servers in 141 countries | *Hassling customer support |
| * Split tunneling | |
| * Compatible with 20+ devices | |
| * 5 Simultaneous connections | |
| * Unlimited server switching | |
| * Unlimited bandwidth | |
| * Military-grade 256-bit encryption (OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, SSTP, and IKEv2) | |
| * 88,000+ IPs | |
| * Dedicated IPs | |
| * DDoS Protection | |
| * Kill Switch | |
| * NAT Firewall | |
| * Fast speed | |
| * No logging policy | |
| * Smart Purpose feature | |
| * Has its own network of servers | |
| * Chrome VPN extension | |
| * 7-day money-back guarantee | |
| * P2P/torrenting |
2- Buffered VPN
Comes in the second place is Buffered VPN for its superb features especially when it comes to travelling. Buffered offers a port scanning feature which discovers the fastest and most secure port when connected to public WiFi/hotspot networks. Moreover, port scanning allows users to connect to public networks without the need to request for a password.
Pros | Cons |
| *Not based in USA | *Does not support other protocols than OpenVPN |
| *Military-grade 256-bit Blowfish encryption | *Partially keeps logs |
| *Supports OpenVPN protocol | *Mobile clients are not available (manual set-up only) |
| *30+ server locations | *Does not accept anonymous payments (e.g: Bitcoin) |
| *Shared IPs | * No kill switch |
| *5 Simultaneous connections | *No free trial |
| *User-suggested servers are constantly added | *No auto-reconnect feature |
| *DNS leak protection | |
| *Dedicated servers for media streaming (e.g: Netflix) | |
| *Port scanning feature | |
| *Solid performance | |
| *Stylish software clients | |
| *Multi-platform compatibility (Windows, Mac, Linux) | |
| *Unlimited bandwidth | |
| *Unlimited server switching | |
| *24/7 Excellent live chat support | |
| *30-day money-back guarantee | |
| *Compatible with routers, gaming consoles and Smart TVs |
3- SaferVPN
SaferVPN is an Israeli-based VPN that was launched in 2013 to help users get unlimited access to geo-restricted content on the internet. SaferVPN gives an overall solid performance through several impressive features, including a large network of servers that are strategically spread across major locations making is reliable and excellent for travelling needs.
| Pros | Cons |
| *400+ servers in over 30 countries | *Keeps logs |
| *Free Trial | *No simultaneous connections |
| *Unlimited server switching | *P2P/torrenting is not allowed |
| *14-day money-back guarantee | |
| *Fast speed | |
| *24/7 live chat support | |
| *Auto-WiFi protection | |
| *Multiple protocols (OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, and IKEv2) | |
| *Kill switch | |
| *NAT Firewall | |
| *Strong 256-bit encryption | |
| *Auto-diagnose fix | |
| *Offers business plans | |
| *Not based in the US | |
| *Multi-compatibility with platforms and devices (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, etc.) | |
| *Unlimited bandwidth | |
| *Accepts anonymous payments, such as: Bitcoin |
4- bVPN
Based in the Netherlands, bVPN has a lot to offer for travelling netizens. This VPN is ideal for those who are travelling in the Middle East to countries, such as: Dubai, Egypt, Lebanon, etc. bVPN offers reliable VPN services for both personal and business needs which makes it a very good VPN for travelling purposes. Furthermore, bVPN sports a “smoke tunnel” feature which acts as a double encryption for bypassing the toughest firewalls and geo-restrictions as well as providing an even safer browsing.
Pros | Cons |
| *Not based in the US | * No kill switch |
| *Servers in 20+ locations | |
| *6 Simultaneous connections | |
| *Multi-platform compatibility (Windows, Mac OS, Android, Linux, iOS) | |
| *Strong 256-bit encryption | |
| *Multiple protocols (OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, SSH, Smoke tunnel) | |
| *Supports business needs | |
| *WiFi protection | |
| *No logging policy | |
| *Unlimited bandwidth | |
| *Unlimited server switching | |
| *Live chat support | |
| *DNS leak protection | |
| *Smoke tunnel feature | |
| *Free trial (90 mins for Windows & Mac, 3 days for Android & iOS) | |
| *7-day money-back guarantee | |
| *P2P/torrenting is allowed |
5- SurfEasy VPN
SurfEasy is one the few VPN services that dedicate a password protected dongle for travelers. Though based in Canada (member of the FIVEY), SurfEasy does not keep any user’s activity logs and has done well on speed tests. Moreover, it has one of the largest network of servers which makes it a great choice when travelling abroad.
Pros | Cons |
| *Cheap | *Based in Canada |
| *User-friendly client | *Does not accept anonymous payments, like: Bitcoin |
| *30-day free trial | *Does not support Linux |
| *7-day money-back guarantee | *No kill switch |
| *Does not keep activity logs | *No DNS leak protection |
| *1000+servers in 28+ countries | |
| *Solid performance & reliability | |
| *Fast speed | |
| *Multi-platform compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Amazon) | |
| *VPN extensions for browsers (Opera, Chrome, etc.) | |
| *5 Simultaneous connections | |
| *P2P/Torrenting | |
| *Tracker blocker | |
| *WiFi protection | |
| *Live chat support | |
| *Bank-level 256-bit OpenVPN encryption protocol | |
| *Unlimited bandwidth (for paid subscriptions) |
Conclusion
It is better to be safe than sorry when using the internet while travelling. It is extremely important to take serious security measures as long as you will be connected to public networks while travelling for either business or on a holiday. Therefore, choosing the right VPN service would make your travelling experience completely worry-free when it comes to surfing the web.
