VPNs for Digital Nomads
Having a VPN helps you be more anonymous online, encrypts your Internet usage, and allows you to effectively track your laptop or mobile device into thinking you are in another location.
What is a VPN?
VPNs, short for Virtual Private Network, are programs or applications that allow you to use the Internet through secure, encrypted tunnels. So, for many, getting a VPN service will be all about privacy: you may want to use it to help keep your online life completely anonymous from prying eyes or even the government.
Why do you need a VPN service?
Surfing the web or conducting transactions on an unsecured Wi-Fi network means you could be exposing your private information and browsing habits. That’s why a virtual private network, better known as a VPN, should be a must-have for anyone concerned about their online security and privacy.
Think of all the times you’ve been on the go, reading emails while standing in line at the coffee shop or checking your bank account while waiting at the doctor’s office. Unless you’ve logged into a private Wi-Fi network that requires a password, any information transmitted during your online session could be vulnerable to eavesdropping by strangers using the same network.
The encryption and anonymity provided by a VPN help protect your online activities: sending emails, shopping online, or paying bills. VPNs also help keep your web browsing anonymous.
VPN Privacy: What does a VPN hide?
– Your browsing history
– Your IP address
– Your location
– Your devices
– Your web activity
What are the best VPNs?
1- ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN complements its excellent privacy credentials with excellent streaming performance as well, something that is increasingly important in today’s market. In comparison with all other VPNs, ExpressVPN unblocks most Netflix locations and offers content by streaming, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and many more.
First of all, no matter what device you’re using (iPhone, Windows PC, Amazon Fire Stick, or even a router), ExpressVPN is easy to download. This service is perfect for VPN novices and experts alike.
It also has all the extra features you won’t want to miss. That includes a very reliable kill switch to cut your connection and prevent leaks if the VPN is interrupted, split tunneling so you can route some apps through the VPN and allow others, plus DNS leak protection, class-leading encryption, servers in 94 countries, and a robust zero-logging policy.
2- NordVPN
NordVPN is comprehensive and does many jobs very well. With a kill switch, all the basic protocols plus NordLynx-based WireGuard, excellent encryption, and blazing connection speeds, it’s a comprehensive package.
Nord’s applications are stable and reliable, and within them, you can choose from over 5100 servers in 60 countries. It also supports P2P and, combined with additional privacy features such as Double Hop and Onion over VPN, is an excellent choice for those looking to stay under the radar.
3- Surfshark VPN
It may not have the same variety of servers or reliable speeds as the previous two VPN services, but Surfshark is still packed with features and is excellent for unblocking restricted apps and services.
At less than half the price of some of its competitors, while offering comparable performance in many areas, it’s an excellent choice for those looking to save money.
While ExpressVPN offers five simultaneous connections and Nord offers six, all of Surfshark’s plans are unlimited. That means that no matter how many devices you want to install a VPN on, one Surfshark plan can do it all.
Overall, Surfshark is an excellent budget option, and when you consider its incredibly low price, any little problems you have seem to disappear!
4- CyberGhost
A VPN provider based in Romania, which means it is outside the supervision of Five Eyes, CyberGhost is a company focused on privacy and protection. Although its VPN service is among the most expensive on the list it’s still a good option.
A CyberGhost plan provides its users with 24/7 customer support, seven simultaneous connections, and a 45-day money-back guarantee, the longest period of any VPN provider on the market.
The security package includes antivirus software, a privacy tool that allows you to customize your information sharing settings, and a security updater that tracks when applications on your laptop need to be updated.
5- IPVanish
IPVanish is a US-based VPN provider that falls under the jurisdiction of Five Eyes. IPVanish reports a large number of shared IP addresses available for use. With over 40,000 IP addresses, your digital anonymity is enhanced due to the small likelihood that you will use the same IP address twice.
The VPN costs a reasonable price and allows you to simultaneously connect an unlimited number of devices. However, IPVanish is not compatible with popular streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. Therefore, if you’re interested in enjoying streaming content and want to access streaming libraries from around the world, you may want to consider another VPN provider. If streaming is not your priority, IPVanish is a good option for households with many devices in use at the same time.
6- PrivateInternetAccess
It may not be the fastest VPN, the cheapest, or the most powerful, but Private Internet Access (often referred to simply as PIA ) is still a good VPN provider with more than enough features to justify a place on the list of options.
Its most notable claim from recent VPN reviews is a big increase in the number of PIA servers. It took things from a mediocre 2,000 to an almost unfathomable 30,000+. The latest count is at over 10,000, which still puts it well ahead of the rest when it comes to pure server numbers.
PIA offers a healthy mix of privacy features and security protocols (including WireGuard); this extends to its top-tier Chrome extension, which adds the option to block access to location, third-party cookies, website senders, and more.
7- PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN’s strengths include a zero-logging policy, torrent support, robust security, and reliable connections. Stealth VPN mode is excellent for bypassing censorship.
It is a solid option for streaming Netflix, with reliable speeds and designated servers for Netflix. Designated servers can also access Hulu, and Amazon Video.
PrivateVPN’s apps are also very easy to use and give you a lot of freedom to customize your settings without overwhelming you with options.
8- PureVPN
PureVPN has over 6,000 servers spread across around 80 countries, ten simultaneous connections to your account, and a large number of servers running at 20 Gbps.
PureVPN works with a wide range of devices. Other advantages include:
– payment with Bitcoin
– the presence of handy split tunneling tools
– unblock streaming sites like Netflix and Disney+.
9- ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN has a network of servers that has exploded in the last few years from a few hundred to nearly 2000 and has made notable improvements to its clients and applications, adding new features and support.
Proton has also really improved its streaming abilities, becoming a reliable provider for getting around geo-restrictions when you’re overseas. It quickly surpassed BBC iPlayer, outperformed Amazon Prime Video, and gives access to foreign Netflix catalogs without much trouble; that’s in a year when more reputable providers have struggled. Though it should be noted that this is only the case if you have a Plus subscription, you won’t get this kind of quality from its free or basic tiers.
10- Hotspot Shield VPN
Hotspot Shield VPN provides full access to over 1,800 servers in over 80 countries, support for connecting up to five devices, 24/7 customer support, and, absolutely no ads.
Hotspot Shield’s patented Catapult Hydra protocol that helps deliver some of the fastest and most consistent download speeds.
In addition to being able to run the service on devices where you can use your native Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS apps, Hotspot has also added functionality to support use on routers, Linux and TV transmitters. A SmartVPN feature, which allows you to select websites where the VPN will be bypassed, is another welcome addition, especially if you only want to keep your VPN enabled when shopping, banking, streaming, etc.
If you just want a VPN that helps you stream more varied content, Hotspot unblocks most major streaming services. Unfortunately, Netflix’s recent strategy to freeze IP proxies is working quite well and Hotspot Shield is currently useless as a VPN for Netflix.
11- Norton VPN
Norton Secure VPN has a solid security system by the name of NortonLifeLock and an affordable and flexible pricing scheme that places it as a good VPN option.
A revamped design for its client software along with new features such as split tunnels and a kill switch help tremendously. Added to this is the lifting of the ban on BitTorrent and P2P traffic.
12- Atlas VPN
Atlas VPN’s mobile-focused service is great for beginners and has easy-to-use apps and a good free version.
It’s also amazing for unblocking streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer, keeping your browsing ad-free with its ad-blocking feature, and making sure your data hasn’t been leaked thanks to its powerful data breach checker.
AtlasVPN lets you choose from over 700 servers in 31 countries. It also has a functional kill switch and implements a reliable no-logs policy.