Best VPN for Travel 2026: NordVPN vs Surfshark vs Proton

How we compared them (and what we did not do)

We did not run speed tests, and we do not rank VPNs on how fast they felt on one hotel connection: that result says more about the hotel than the VPN. This comparison uses what each provider publishes and can be held to: its price in euros, device limit, server network, the tools it offers for blocked networks, and who has audited its no-logs claim. Every figure was read on the provider’s own site on 24 September 2026 from a German IP; prices differ by country and change often, so treat them as a snapshot.

The four travel VPNs compared

Two warnings about that table. First, NordVPN’s own pages disagree on its country count (the homepage says 225+ locations, the servers page mentions 118 and 150 countries in different places), so we quote servers and locations only. Second, a lower monthly price over 27 or 28 months is not the same as a cheaper VPN: compare the amount paid upfront and the renewal.

Which one for which trip

Most travellers: NordVPN

NordVPN is the safe default because nothing in its spec sheet is weak for a traveller. Ten devices cover a couple’s phones, laptops and tablets. The obfuscated servers, reached through its NordWhisper protocol, are built to hide the fact that you are using a VPN at all, which is what matters on a hotel or airport network that blocks VPN traffic. It also includes Meshnet, which NordVPN describes as open source and free to use, for reaching your own devices at home from abroad. The paid tiers add NordVPN’s scam and malware protection (now called next-gen antivirus) and, on Ultimate Max, a dedicated IP, which helps if your bank flags logins from shared VPN addresses.

Families and groups: Surfshark

Surfshark’s plans cover unlimited devices, so one subscription protects every gadget a family packs. The Starter plan is €2.49 a month on a 27-month term. Its NoBorders mode switches on automatically when the app detects a restricted network. The catch: the pricing page does not show a renewal price as a number, so check it in your account before the intro term ends.

Frequent flyers on long contracts: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN’s Basic plan is €2.49 a month over 28 months and renews at €79.95 a year, the lowest renewal of the paid plans we could verify. Its Lightway protocol has post-quantum protection on by default and has been audited repeatedly by Cure53 and Praetorian. It covers 10 devices on Basic, 12 on Advanced and 14 on Pro.

Tight budget or short trip: Proton VPN Free

Proton VPN’s free plan has no data cap and no ads and is covered by the same Securitum no-logs audit as the paid plans. The limits are real: one device, servers in 10 countries chosen at random, and slower speeds than Plus. For securing a laptop on hotel Wi-Fi during a one-week trip, it is enough. Proton’s Stealth protocol, which disguises VPN traffic, is included even on the free plan.

What a travel VPN actually does for you

A VPN encrypts the traffic between your device and the VPN server, so the operator of a shared network cannot see what you do. How much that matters depends on who you ask. The US Federal Trade Commission says connecting through public Wi-Fi “is usually safe” because most sites now encrypt traffic themselves. Germany’s federal cyber security office, the BSI, advises against opening confidential data over a foreign Wi-Fi network at all, and if it cannot be avoided, doing it only through a VPN. Both are right: HTTPS protects the content of most sites, a VPN also hides which sites you use and protects apps that handle encryption badly. Our public Wi-Fi guide goes through the real risks.

The second use is access. Streaming libraries, some banking apps and some news sites change or refuse service by country. Inside the EU you often do not need a VPN for that: since 1 April 2018, EU rules oblige paid streaming services to give subscribers their home library when they travel temporarily to another EU country. Outside the EU, see our guide to streaming abroad, including what Netflix does when it detects a VPN.

Third, a small number of countries restrict VPNs or the apps travellers rely on. Check our VPN rules by country before you go to China, the UAE, Turkey, Vietnam or Egypt.

Set it up before you fly

1. Buy and install at home. App stores and provider websites can be blocked abroad.
2. Install on every device you are taking, and sign in once on each.
3. Test your bank. Connect to a server in your home country and open your banking app, so you find out now whether it objects to VPN addresses.
4. Turn on the kill switch, so traffic stops rather than leaks if the connection drops.
5. Know your obfuscation setting (NordWhisper, NoBorders or Stealth) if you are heading somewhere that blocks VPNs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best VPN for travel in 2026?

For most travellers NordVPN: €3.89 a month on the two-year Basic plan (read from a German IP in September 2026), 10 devices, 7,800+ servers, obfuscated servers through its NordWhisper protocol and six independent no-logs reviews. Surfshark is the cheapest paid pick at €2.49 a month with unlimited devices. Proton VPN is the only one of the four with a free plan worth using.

Is there a good free VPN for travel?

Proton VPN Free is the one free plan among the big four: no data cap and no ads, but 1 device, servers in 10 randomly selected countries and lower speed than the paid plan. Its Stealth protocol, which disguises VPN traffic on restrictive networks, is included even on the free plan.

How much does a travel VPN cost in 2026?

On two-year plans, read from a German IP in September 2026: Surfshark Starter €2.49 a month, ExpressVPN Basic €2.49, Proton VPN Plus €3.49 and NordVPN Basic €3.89. Month-to-month plans cost €14.99 to €16.45. Every intro price renews higher: NordVPN Basic at €139.08 a year, ExpressVPN Basic at €79.95.

Does any VPN work reliably in China?

None of the four providers promises it on its own website. NordVPN says VPNs can work in China but a stable connection is difficult, and ExpressVPN publishes a troubleshooting page for users who cannot connect there. If you go, install the app before you arrive and use the provider’s obfuscation mode.

Should I install the VPN before I leave home?

Yes. Some countries block VPN provider websites and app store listings, and NordVPN’s own China guide advises getting the VPN running before you arrive. Install it on every device at home, sign in, and connect once to check that your banking app works through it.

The short version

If you want one answer, take NordVPN on the two-year Basic plan, install it on everything tonight and use the 30-day money-back window to check it works with your bank and your streaming services. If you are a family with a pile of devices, Surfshark. If you only need hotel Wi-Fi covered for a week, Proton VPN Free.