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Quick Answer
- You need a VPN for banking or work on hotel and airport Wi-Fi, home streaming outside the EU, and countries that block apps you use.
- You don’t if you stay on mobile data or an eSIM, and travel inside the EU (paid streaming follows you there by law).
- Our pick: NordVPN, €3.89/month on 2 years, 10 devices, obfuscated servers, six no-logs reviews.
- Cheapest: Surfshark €2.49/month with unlimited devices. Free: Proton VPN (1 device, 10 countries).
- Install before you fly: provider websites and app listings can be blocked abroad.
The guides
Do you need one? The short decision
| Your trip | VPN? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Inside the EU, on your own mobile data | No | Mobile data is private to you, and paid streaming follows you within the EU |
| Banking or working on hotel, airport or café Wi-Fi | Yes | The BSI advises a VPN for confidential data on foreign Wi-Fi |
| Home streaming outside the EU | Usually | Libraries change by country; results vary by service |
| China, UAE, Turkey and other countries that block apps | Check the rules first | Some block VPN sites, and the UAE punishes VPN misuse |
| One short trip, light use | A free plan | Proton VPN Free covers 1 device with no data cap |
What the VPNs cost
| Two-year price | Paid upfront | Devices | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN Basic | €3.89/month | €93.36 for 24 months | 10 |
| Surfshark Starter | €2.49/month | €67.23 for 27 months | Unlimited |
| ExpressVPN Basic | €2.49/month | €69.72 for 28 months | 10 |
| Proton VPN Plus | €3.49/month | €83.76 for 24 months | 10 |
Prices were read on each provider’s site from a German IP on 24 September 2026 and renew higher after the intro term (NordVPN Basic at €139.08 a year). The full comparison, including renewals and audits, is in the best VPN for travel guide.
A VPN, an eSIM and a travel card solve different problems
A VPN protects and relocates your connection. A travel eSIM gives you your own mobile data, which often removes the need for public Wi-Fi in the first place. And the fees you pay abroad come from your card, not your connection: see what Revolut charges abroad before you land.
Frequently asked questions
Do you really need a VPN when traveling?
Not always. The US Federal Trade Commission says public Wi-Fi is usually safe because most sites now encrypt traffic, while Germany’s BSI advises opening confidential data on a foreign Wi-Fi network only through a VPN. You need one if you bank or work on hotel or airport Wi-Fi, want your home streaming outside the EU, or are going somewhere that blocks the apps you rely on.
When do you NOT need a travel VPN?
When you stay on your own mobile data or a travel eSIM, do no sensitive logins on shared Wi-Fi, and travel inside the EU, where paid streaming services must give you your home library anyway under the EU portability regulation. In that case a VPN adds little and you can keep the money.
Which VPN is best for travel?
NordVPN for most travellers: €3.89 a month on the two-year Basic plan (German prices, September 2026), 10 devices, obfuscated servers for networks that block VPNs and six independent no-logs reviews. Surfshark is cheaper at €2.49 a month with unlimited devices, and Proton VPN has the only free plan worth using.
How much does a travel VPN cost in 2026?
Two-year plans read from a German IP in September 2026 cost €2.49 a month (Surfshark Starter, ExpressVPN Basic), €3.49 (Proton VPN Plus) and €3.89 (NordVPN Basic). One month on its own costs €14.99 at NordVPN and €16.45 at Surfshark, so for more than one trip a year the long plan is cheaper.
- Up to 10 devices on one account
- Obfuscated servers for networks that block VPNs
- 30-day money-back guarantee