In this era, internet security is essential to keep you in shape digitally, especially as a traveler. A VPN can be a reliable traveling companion that keeps your virtual life secure, increases your privacy, and give you full access to services outside your home country. It can also help you bypass geo-restricted content whenever a business trip kicks in. We have done the hard work, making it extremely easy for you to make an informed decision based on your personal preference.
Quick Check: Best VPN services for business travelers 2022
- ExpressVPN – Best Security
- NordVPN – Best Features
- CyberGhost VPN – Best for Traveling
- Surfshark VPN – The Cheapest
What is a VPN, and how does it work?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Going by the name, you can think of it as a computer software intricately designed to keep your online connections private and, most importantly, secure. To use a VPN, you need to subscribe to a VPN Provider, download and install their software, and choose a server location. Only 3-steps, and you are already good to go.
Most of the time, you will select a specific server location because you want your computer to appear like it is in a particular country (such as the United States). As a business traveler, you probably have services and subscriptions in your home country you want to use, which might not be available in the country you visit.
The moment you enable the VPN software on your device, it instantly creates a unique route for your subsequent browsing activities. In addition, it encrypts all outgoing or incoming data that you share on the internet, including sensitive personal information such as bank details, login credentials, etc.
Why do you need a VPN?
What pushes people to use a VPN service? Let’s have a look and explore the most important benefits.
Hoaxes use weaknesses in human behavior to ensure they are replicated and distributed. In other words, hoaxes prey on the Human Operating System.
—Stewart Kirkpatrick
Stay safe when using Public / Free Wifi
Free Wifi is not free after all; you may pay with your personal data. You risk exposing sensitive information such as your bank login and credit card details to the wifi administrator who can monitor your online activities. Additionally, most public/free Wifi at cafés, airports, and parks lack reliable security protocols, making it a fertile ground for internet spoofers to thrive. Having a VPN would protect your privacy even when using these public/free wifi networks.
VPNs also protect you against identity theft, stopping cybercriminals from using your internet habits to steal your banking, financial, employment, and identifying data, like your address. A VPN hides all your login details and sensitive data by ensuring that your online connections are first encrypted when using public Wifi.
Stop Price Discrimination
It is no secret that many ecommerce websites track browsing behavior with cookies so that they can change prices based on your location and browsing habits. For example, airlines collect your data whenever you visit their websites. They use these cookies to study your online flight-related histories and can use them to determine your flight fares as they look to maximize profit.
Using a VPN bypasses the airliners’ AI technology and will hide your IP address, making it impossible for them to track you.
Access Geo-Restricted Content
If you travel often, you will need the help you can get from a VPN to access certain websites. As VPNs let you browse the internet from a server outside your home country, you can access content that would otherwise be geo-restricted (restricted by an IP address). In particular, if you travel to China, you will be unable to open even the most popular social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the likes. But, again, a VPN comes in handy, removing all forms of location-based restrictions.
In addition, full-screen General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) banners could also block your favorite news and booking websites. For example, people from Europe will most likely hit the “Temporarily unavailable for users in Europe” banner when accessing the MakeMyTrip.com web page. Using a VPN is a convenient way to unlock all website content, giving you the access to enjoy your favorites websites and go about your usual business.
Things you should look out for when choosing a VPN
As a business traveler, there are different measures you can take to protect your privacy. Using a reliable and trusted VPN gives you an edge in maintaining complete anonymity. Here are a few concrete requirements to consider when choosing a VPN.
- Multiple server locations: A VPN with an extensive network of servers globally will ensure you have plenty of options to unblock content from no matter where you are living.
- Connection Speed: A slow internet connection can be frustrating when consuming content from the internet. Therefore, you will need to review VPN services with fast connections to get things done online without interruptions or hiccups.
- Cross-platform compatibility: As a business individual, you need the flexibility you can get in a VPN, especially if you have more than one device, including your mobile phone.
- Ease of use: Unfortunately, quite a few VPNs out there are confusing or otherwise annoying to use. You want a VPN you just set and forget; leave it to run in the background as you go about your business online.
And the latest trend is the “Kill Switch.” A VPN’s kill switch feature is one of the newest technological additions designed to protect your privacy. It shuts down all online activity or traffic once it senses an internet connection loss. The automatic shutdown helps keep your activity anonymous and secure.
Best VPN providers for business travelers
We have analyzed the key features you should consider in order to choose the best business VPN when you travel, and these are our top four picks:
ExpressVPN
We chose ExpressVPN because it ticks all the boxes for everything you need in a VPN. It is a top-notch platform that supports all modern gadgets, blazing connection speed, over 3’000 servers in 160 locations within 94 countries worldwide, smart security features, supremely easy-to-use platform with a 30-day money-back guarantee (refund policy).
ExpressVPN is more expensive than many of its main competitors in terms of pricing. For instance, you will get charged $12.95 per month when you use it only for a month or $99.99 for the entire year. With our promotion code, you will get an additional 3-months for free to lower the cost to $6.66 a month.
Facts overview for ExpressVPN:
- Adware Blocker: No
- Dedicated IP Address: No
- Encryption: AES-256
- # of Devices: 5
- Kill Switch: Yes
- Money-back guarantee: 30-days
Who should use it?
Those who are looking for a best-in-class VPN service and are okay to pay for it. ExpressVPN is known for their security features.
NordVPN
Choosing between NordVPN and ExpressVPN is a tough choice. It’s more like comparing an Audi to a BMW; both are great. Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN is a complete package, offering rapid server speeds, double encryption for an extra layer of security, and multi-platform compatibility. In addition, it is one of the most secure VPNs out there, combining AES-256 encryption with an ad and malware blocker and double VPN services, aka multi-hop connections. NordVPN, with its 5’400 servers located in over 60 countries, is one of the few VPNs that works with Netflix, an essential factor for many traveling for business.
The NordVPN’s standard plan also comes with a $99 price tag for one year. However, signing up for two years secures a considerable discount and brings down the cost to $3.29 per month. And if you are looking for a business solution, NordVPN also offers a Team subscription for small businesses, though its pricing is unclear.
Facts overview for NordVPN:
- Adware Blocker: Yes
- Dedicated IP Address: Yes (extra monthly cost)
- Encryption: AES-256
- # of Devices: 6
- Bandwidth: Unlimited
- Kill Switch: Yes
- Money-back guarantee: 30-days
Who should use it?
Those with a flexible VPN budget but want value in return. NordVPN is known for their best set of features.
CyberGhost
If you are a business traveler looking to use a VPN for the first time, CyberGhost could be an ideal option. It has one of the most intuitive and easy-to-use apps and website interfaces with a minimal learning curve. This VPN solution strikes a perfect balance of a powerful feature set and an intuitive interface for users of all skill levels. Many travelers love CyberGhost, because it offers perhaps the largest and the most well-distributed VPN server networks we have seen, powered by the latest VPN technology available. You can choose from its over 8’000 server locations across 91 countries. Like other leading VPNs, CyberGhost uses AES-256 encryption to protect your data, and it is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and more.
Hands down, CyberGhost is an affordable, feature-packed VPN product in the marketplace. On top of that, it offers a 45-days refund policy, which is one of the most prolonged available refund policies. The monthly cost of $12.99 is the highest in this comparison. However, when signing up for the 3-year plan, you can lower the monthly fee to $2.29.
Facts overview for CyberGhost:
- Adware Blocker: Yes
- Dedicated IP Address: Yes (extra monthly cost)
- Encryption: AES-256
- # of Devices: 7
- Bandwidth: Plan dependent
- Kill Switch: Yes
- Money-back guarantee: 45-days
Who should use it?
If your focus is on streaming and you might need a bit extra time to test the solution. CyberGhost is ideal for those traveling.
Surfshark VPN
Surfshark is one of the newer VPN providers in the industry, but after its inception in 2018, it has made a real name for itself. Standing out with some unique features that include split tunneling and multi-hop connections, which bounce your tunnel across multiple servers for extra security. Despite being one of the cheapest you will find, it does not scrimp on features. Surfshark’s excellent security structure would ensure you are protected anywhere you may be worldwide. In addition, its no-log policy guarantees you of having your digital freedom and privacy intact. Even this VPN solution is rather late in the market than the others; Surfshark already has 3’200 servers in 65 countries. In our test, Surfshark’s performance was higher than NordVPN, but lower than ExpressVPN.
Surfshark’s shortest subscription of $12.95 per month is very similar to most of its competitors. However, you get the best savings when you opt for the 24-months option . On top of that, the 1-year plan adds an extra two months free with a fully refundable policy for 30 days. It is hard to beat that.
Facts overview for Surfshark:
- Adware Blocker: Yes
- Dedicated IP Address: No
- Encryption: AES-256
- # of Devices: Unlimited
- Bandwidth: Unlimited
- Kill Switch: Yes
- Money-back guarantee: 30-days
Who should use it?
Those looking for a solid, feature-rich VPN primarily for personal use and secondarily for working from home. Surfshark VPN is the cheapest options of the VPN Services we evaluated.
Conclusion
Because you travel often, you should not compromise on quality when choosing a VPN. It is important to find the right VPN that combines the features that would make your traveling abroad convenient and fulfilling. Our recommendation is based on your most essential needs as a business traveler. Enjoy.
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