Months on the road through a string of hostels, night buses, and cafe WiFi is a different kind of travel than a two-week trip — and it puts a different kind of pressure on your budget, including whatever you're spending on a VPN.
Backpackers tend to rely on public WiFi more than any other type of traveler, simply because it's often the only option in hostels and budget accommodation. That makes security genuinely useful here — but so does keeping monthly costs down over a trip that might run six months or longer.
What backpackers should prioritize
- Low cost over a long stretch. A VPN you're paying for over many months adds up — the per-month rate matters more here than on a short trip.
- Coverage for every device you're carrying. Often a phone and a lightweight laptop or tablet, sometimes shared with a travel companion.
- Simplicity. You want something you can set up once and not think about again, especially on patchy hostel WiFi.
Surfshark
For long trips, Surfshark's combination of a lower price on extended plans and unlimited devices makes it easy to justify for months of continuous travel — you're not paying more because you're covering more devices.
Get Surfshark's Latest Deal →Making a VPN part of your routine on the road
- Turn it on as a habit the moment you connect to hostel or cafe WiFi, without needing to think about it each time.
- Download the app before you leave home — connectivity to app stores isn't guaranteed everywhere on your route.
- Pick a plan length that roughly matches your trip so you're not paying for months you won't use, or scrambling to renew mid-trip.
If streaming matters more than budget
Long trips often mean wanting your usual shows during downtime too. If reliable streaming access matters as much to you as cost, it's worth weighing that against our best VPN for streaming abroad guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a VPN for a multi-month backpacking trip?
Long trips typically mean relying heavily on hostel and cafe WiFi across many countries, which increases exposure compared to a short trip — making a VPN more useful, not less.
Will a VPN work in every country I visit while backpacking?
Most countries allow VPN use without restriction, though a small number regulate or restrict it, so it's worth checking rules for specific destinations on longer routes.