Wherever the trip takes you,
your connection stays yours.
We compared NordVPN and Surfshark on the things that matter most on the road: public WiFi safety, streaming access abroad, speed, and price. Here's which one to pick.
Three moments on every trip where a VPN earns its keep
You don't need a VPN to hide — you need one to stay in control of your own connection while you're away from home.
Airport & hotel WiFi
Open networks are a favorite target for snooping. A VPN encrypts your traffic before it ever touches the shared network.
Access abroad
Banking apps, streaming libraries, and news sites sometimes behave differently once you cross a border. A VPN keeps things familiar.
Shared & work devices
Traveling with a laptop, tablet, and phone means more entry points. Covering all of them is easier with the right plan.
NordVPN and Surfshark, reviewed for travel use
Both are established providers with independently audited no-logs policies. Here's where each one stands out.
- Large global server network across 110+ countries
- Consistently fast, low-impact speeds on long-haul connections
- Threat Protection blocks trackers and malicious sites
- Independently audited no-logs policy
- Reliable for unblocking major streaming libraries abroad
- Unlimited devices on a single account — cover the whole trip, or the whole family
- CleanWeb blocks ads and trackers by default
- Camouflage Mode helps on restrictive networks
- Independently audited no-logs policy
- Generally the lower-cost option of the two
The best VPN for every kind of trip
Different trips have different priorities. Here's our pick depending on what matters most for yours.
Best VPN for streaming Netflix & BBC iPlayer abroad
NordVPNStreaming platforms actively block VPN traffic, so reliability matters more than server count here. NordVPN's speed and consistency make it the safer bet for watching your usual shows while you're away.
See NordVPN's deal →Best budget VPN for frequent travelers
SurfsharkIf you travel often and want to keep costs down without cutting corners on security, Surfshark's longer plans are typically the cheaper option of the two, without giving up audited no-logs protection.
See Surfshark's deal →Best VPN for airport & hotel WiFi
NordVPNShared networks are where snooping risk is highest. NordVPN's Threat Protection adds a layer against malicious sites and trackers on top of standard encryption, which is exactly what an unfamiliar network calls for.
See NordVPN's deal →Best VPN for digital nomads & remote work
SurfsharkWorking on the road usually means a laptop, phone, and tablet all connected at once — sometimes shared with a partner. Surfshark's unlimited device count covers all of it under a single plan.
See Surfshark's deal →Best VPN for business travelers
NordVPNJoining calls and accessing work systems from hotel rooms and lounges calls for a VPN that just stays connected. NordVPN's large, stable server network is built for exactly that kind of reliability.
See NordVPN's deal →Best VPN for backpacking on a budget
SurfsharkLong trips through multiple countries mean multiple devices and a tighter budget. Surfshark's low cost per device makes it easy to justify for months of travel at a time.
See Surfshark's deal →Full comparison at a glance
| Feature | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 110+ | 100+ |
| Devices per account | 10 | Unlimited |
| Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256 / ChaCha20 |
| No-logs policy | Independently audited | Independently audited |
| Ad / tracker blocker | Threat Protection | CleanWeb |
| Obfuscation for restrictive networks | Yes | Yes (Camouflage Mode) |
| Streaming performance | Excellent | Very good |
| Best suited for | Solo travelers wanting top speed | Families & multi-device setups |
"I switched it on the moment I landed and didn't think about it again for the whole trip — that's exactly what I want from a travel VPN."
"Working from airport lounges used to make me nervous. Not anymore."
"Setup took less than two minutes — picked a location and I was connected before boarding finished."
Everything you're wondering about
If you connect to any public WiFi — airport, hotel, café — a VPN encrypts that connection so others on the same network can't see your traffic. It also helps keep your apps and streaming behaving the way they do at home.
VPNs are legal in the large majority of countries. A small number of countries restrict or ban them, so it's worth checking local rules before you travel there.
There's a small speed cost from encryption, but both NordVPN and Surfshark are built to keep that impact minimal on nearby servers.
Choose NordVPN if speed and server coverage matter most to you. Choose Surfshark if you're traveling with several devices or want the lower-cost option.
Protect your connection before you board
Both providers offer money-back guarantees, so there's little risk in trying the one that fits your trip.