When travelling abroad, protecting your digital privacy and maintaining access to your favourite content becomes crucial. A reliable VPN (Virtual Private Network) shields your connection on public Wi-Fi networks whilst allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions. After extensive research, we’ve compared seven leading VPN services to help you choose the best option for your travel needs.
Top Recommendations for Travellers
Surfshark emerges as the best overall VPN for travellers, offering unlimited device connections, excellent security features, and the most competitive long-term pricing at £1.99 per month for a two-year plan. For those seeking premium features and proven reliability, NordVPN represents the gold standard, particularly with its Threat Protection Pro antimalware capabilities and extensive server network across 126 countries.
Detailed VPN Comparison
NordVPN – Premium Protection with Advanced Features
NordVPN stands as our top premium choice, offering exceptional security and travel-friendly features. The service provides Threat Protection Pro antimalware protection with its Plus plan and above, making it ideal for travellers who need comprehensive security.
Pricing: Monthly plans start at £12.99, but the best value comes with the two-year plan at £3.09 per month. The Plus plan, which includes antimalware protection, costs £3.99 per month on the two-year subscription.
Device Support: Covers up to 10 simultaneous devices across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux platforms.
Key Features:
- Over 8,000 servers in 126 countries
- Military-grade encryption and audited no-logs policy
- Kill switch and DNS leak protection
- Excellent streaming capabilities for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Top tip: A free NordVPN subscription is included with the Revolut Metal card. This is just one reason we think the Revolut card is the best spending option for travellers.
Surfshark – Best Value for Unlimited Devices
Surfshark offers the most compelling package for travellers, particularly families or those with multiple devices. The service provides unlimited simultaneous connections, making it perfect for protecting all your devices without restrictions.
We used Surfshark for a year to get around geofencing on BBC iPlayer and found the service worked quite well. In fact, were it not for the free NordVPN subscription included with our Revolut Metal plan, we’d probably still be using Surfshark.
Pricing: Monthly subscriptions cost £15.45, but the two-year plan drops to just £1.99 per month, representing exceptional value.
Device Support: Unlimited device connections across all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and smart TV applications (including jailbroken Amazon Fire TV sticks).
Key Features:
- 3,200+ servers across 100+ countries
- Integrated antivirus protection with the One plan
- Advanced features including multi-hop connections and kill switch
- Excellent streaming performance
- 30-day money-back guarantee with 7-day free trial on mobile
PureVPN – Affordable Long-term Option
PureVPN provides solid value for budget-conscious travellers, offering comprehensive server coverage at competitive prices.
Pricing: Monthly plans cost £12.95, whilst the two-year plan offers £2.14 per month, making it one of the cheapest premium options available.
Device Support: Protects up to 10 devices simultaneously across major platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.
Key Features:
- Over 6,000 servers in 65 countries
- Always-on audit feature for transparency
- Port forwarding support for advanced users
- Kill switch and split tunnelling
- 31-day money-back guarantee
- No antivirus protection included
Panda Dome VPN – Integrated Security Suite
Panda Dome VPN comes bundled with comprehensive antivirus protection, making it suitable for travellers who want an all-in-one security solution.
Pricing: The VPN is included free with Panda Dome security suites, offering 150MB daily traffic. Premium unlimited plans are available within the broader Panda Dome Premium package.
Device Support: Compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices, with automatic activation on unsecured networks.
Key Features:
- Full antivirus suite included
- Servers in 60+ countries
- Automatic protection on public Wi-Fi
- High-security encryption with no-logs policy
- Limited free tier with 150MB daily allowance. Unlimited on the Premium tier.
HideMyName VPN – Ultra-Budget Long-Term Value
HideMyName VPN offers exceptional long-term value for budget-conscious travellers, with the most competitive five-year pricing plan available. Based in Belize, this lesser-known provider delivers solid basic functionality without premium frills.
Pricing: Monthly plans cost $11.00, but the exceptional value comes with the five-year plan at just $2.00 per month, making it the cheapest long-term option amongst all compared services. Shorter-term plans are available, with the one-year subscription at $4.00 monthly ($48 total).
Device Support: Protects up to 5 simultaneous devices across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux platforms. The service requires using an account ID rather than email for login, adding a layer of anonymity. With support for five devices, you can share your account with your travel partner.
Key Features:
- 140+ servers across 45 countries
- AES-256 encryption with OpenVPN protocol support
- Kill switch and DNS leak protection
- Basic split tunnelling functionality
- Good streaming performance for Netflix but cannot access BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime or Disney+ reliably
- No antivirus protection included
- 24-hour free trial with 500MB bandwidth
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Performance Considerations: HideMyName VPN offers reliable security but has notable speed limitations. Testing shows significant speed reductions, particularly on distant servers, with some locations experiencing up to 98% speed decreases. However, the service maintains stable connections and provides adequate performance for basic browsing and streaming.
Best For: Travellers seeking maximum long-term savings who prioritise affordability over premium features. The service excels for users who need basic VPN functionality without advanced security tools or extensive server networks.
Avast SecureLine VPN
Avast SecureLine VPN provides dependable protection for users seeking a straightforward, privacy-focused solution from a reputable cybersecurity brand. The absence of a monthly plan means you’ll need to commit to at least a year, but the pricing is reasonable for the VPN category – with a one-year plan typically running around $4.59–$4.99 per month, and two- and three-year options offering only a slight discount. The real standout is the free trial: a generous 60-day period (with payment details required) and a no-credit-card 7-day trial, both rare among major VPNs.
Pricing:
- 1-year plan for 10 devices is £28.09
- 2-year plan for 10 devices is £50
- No monthly plan option
Key features:
- Server coverage: 700+ servers in 35–37 countries, including a modest number of streaming- and P2P-optimized servers.
- Encryption: Military-grade AES-256 with support for OpenVPN, WireGuard (Windows/Android), Mimic (proprietary stealth protocol), and IPSec/IKEv2 (macOS/iOS).
- Kill switch: Yes – cuts internet connection if the VPN drops to prevent data leaks.
- Leak protection: Yes, including DNS leak protection.
- Smart VPN: Automatically activates on unsecured networks for added convenience.
- Split tunnelling: Available on Android only, letting you choose which apps use the VPN.
- Streaming: Reliable for some platforms, but unblocking major streaming services is inconsistent—Netflix may work, but BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ are often blocked
Best for: Users who want reliable, user-friendly encryption across multiple devices with minimal fuss – especially travellers, families, or those who already trust Avast products. Privacy power users or streaming enthusiasts should probably consider alternatives.
Shellfire VPN – Free Tier Available
Shellfire VPN provides both free and premium tiers, making it accessible for budget-conscious travellers, though with significant limitations. If you want to test out how a VPN works and how it will help you on your travels, a free Shellfire account is a great starting place.
Pricing: Premium plans range from £11.95 monthly to £2.79 per month on the two-year plan. A free tier offers unlimited bandwidth but restricted to 1Mbps speed.
Device Support: Premium plans support only 1 device, limiting its usefulness for travellers with multiple devices.
Key Features:
- Free unlimited bandwidth tier (Germany and US servers only – which means that BBC iPlayer does not work with this service)
- 52 servers across 37 countries on premium plans
- 256-bit AES encryption on paid plans
- Netflix and BBC iPlayer support
- No antivirus protection
- Shortest money-back guarantee at 14 days
Interestingly, Shellfire offer the Shellfire Box, a compact VPN server that plugs directly into a router to encrypt and filter all internet traffic from all your devices. Unfortunately, this device cannot be used as a VPN bridge for on-ship WiFi.
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Essential Features for Travel VPNs
Public Wi-Fi Security
When travelling, you’ll frequently connect to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks in airports, hotels, and cafés. A quality VPN encrypts your data using military-grade AES-256 encryption, protecting sensitive information from hackers and snoopers on the same network.
Kill Switch Protection
A kill switch is crucial for travellers, as it automatically blocks all internet traffic if your VPN connection drops, preventing your real IP address and location from being exposed. All seven VPNs in our comparison offer this essential feature.
Geo-blocking Bypass
Travel VPNs excel at helping you access your home country’s streaming services while abroad. NordVPN and Surfshark demonstrate the best performance for unblocking Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and other geo-restricted content.
Server Network Coverage
A comprehensive server network ensures reliable connections worldwide. NordVPN leads with 8,000+ servers across 126 countries.
Warning for cruise travellers
There is one thing cruise travellers need to be aware of – a VPN may interfere with your cruise ship’s app. The Princess Medallion app will not work while your VPN is connected, for instance.
You must disconnect the VPN before trying to order room service or a drink. Or do anything else with the onboard app.
Recommendations by Use Case
Best for Families: Surfshark
With unlimited device connections and competitive pricing at £1.99/month, Surfshark provides exceptional value for families travelling together.
Best VPN for Business Travellers and Power Users: NordVPN
NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro and extensive server network make it ideal for business users who need reliable security and performance. The option for P2P VPN connectivity offers ultimate anonymity.
Best for Budget Travellers: PureVPN
At £2.14/month for long-term plans, PureVPN offers solid performance at an affordable price point.
Best All-in-One Security: Panda Dome VPN
For travellers wanting comprehensive antivirus protection alongside VPN service, Panda Dome provides integrated security.
Final Verdict
Surfshark emerges as the best VPN for most travellers, combining unlimited device support, excellent security features, competitive pricing, and reliable streaming capabilities. Its £1.99 monthly cost on two-year plans represents outstanding value.
For users prioritising premium features and maximum security, NordVPN remains the gold standard, particularly with its integrated antimalware protection and extensive server network, despite higher costs.
Budget-conscious travellers have excellent options: HideMyName VPN offers unbeatable long-term value at £2.00 per month on five-year plans, making it ideal for cost-sensitive users who need basic VPN functionality. Alternatively, Avast Secureline is a safe, middle-of-the-road pick for mainstream users – especially if you value ease of use.
For comprehensive security beyond VPN protection, Panda Dome VPN’s integrated antivirus suite offers excellent value, particularly for travellers who need complete digital protection.
Shellfire VPN is worth checking out if you only need to protect a single device – or can get by with a free, low-speed connection.
People also ask
A VPN is needed for travel to keep your internet connection secure, especially on public Wi-Fi, protecting your data from hackers, and to access websites and services as if you were in your home country, bypassing geo-restrictions. Travel hackers also claim a VPN will help you find better travel deals by changing your virtual location to take advantage of localised pricing.
Using a VPN is legal in most countries, but some countries with strict internet censorship (like China) may restrict or ban VPN use. It’s important to check the local laws of the country you are in before using a VPN. Bizarrely, the UK government is considering restrictions on VPN use.
Using a free VPN for travel can be risky because many free VPNs compromise privacy by selling user data, have security weaknesses, or may even contain malware, so they are generally not recommended for safe travel use. However, some reputable VPN providers offer limited free plans or trials that can be safer options – at least to test the service before committing to a subscription.
You can set up a VPN by installing the VPN app on your devices or configuring it on your travel router, then connecting to the VPN server using the provided credentials or configuration files. Your chosen VPN provider will supply full instructions for each of your devices.
A VPN may slightly reduce your internet speed due to encryption and server distance, but many top VPNs maintain fast connections suitable for streaming and browsing. Cruise ship satellite internet connections tend to be slightly slower, so VPN effects may be even more noticeable.
Yes, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it much harder for hackers to intercept your data on public Wi-Fi networks.
You can try changing VPN servers, using stealth or obfuscated servers if supported, or switch to VPN protocols designed to bypass censorship.
VPN protocols vary in speed and security; WireGuard and OpenVPN are popular for travel due to their balance of fast speeds and strong encryption.
Yes, VPNs let you change your virtual location, which can sometimes reveal cheaper prices based on regional pricing differences.
Yes, most top VPNs are designed to work seamlessly with mobile apps and can unblock popular streaming services while travelling.
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