How to choose a VPN for travelling
A VPN can help on hotel and airport Wi-Fi, but it isn't essential for every trip. Here's what to check before you pay for one, and where using one could get you into trouble.
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Quick answer: a VPN is useful if you'll rely on hotel, airport or café Wi-Fi. Look for an independently audited no-logs policy, a kill switch, apps for all your devices, and clear renewal pricing. Before you go, check the UK government's travel advice for your destination: some countries restrict or ban VPNs.
We haven't tested any VPNs yet, so this guide doesn't rank them. It sets out what to check so you can compare them yourself. You can see the products we've researched on our reviews page, and how we assess them on how we test.
When a VPN helps on a trip
A VPN creates an encrypted connection between your device and the VPN company's servers. On a trip, that helps in two ways:
- Public Wi-Fi. The hotel, airport or café network can't see or tamper with what you send. Which? says VPNs make it harder for hackers to intercept and read your data. See Is hotel Wi-Fi safe? and Is airport Wi-Fi safe?
- Privacy from the local network. Whoever runs the network can't see which websites you visit.
When it doesn't
- On mobile data. If you're mostly using your phone's data or its hotspot, you're not sharing a network with strangers.
- Against scams. A VPN won't stop you typing your details into a fake page.
- As a replacement for the basics. Device updates, strong passwords and two-factor authentication matter more.
Not sure you need one at all? Start with Do I need a VPN?
What to check before you pay
1. An independently audited no-logs policy
A VPN company can see your traffic, so you're trusting it instead of the hotel network. Look for a published no-logs policy that an independent firm has audited, and check the date of the audit. A promise on a homepage isn't the same thing.
2. A kill switch
Which? explains that if your VPN connection drops, a kill switch disables your device's internet connection so no unencrypted data leaves it. On patchy hotel Wi-Fi, connections drop often. Check the kill switch is available on your phone as well as your laptop.
3. Apps for every device, and enough connections
List what you'll take: phone, tablet, laptop, perhaps a partner's phone. Check there's an app for each, and how many devices one subscription covers at the same time. Which? calls these simultaneous connections.
4. Server locations
A server near where you are usually gives a better connection. If you want to reach UK services while you're away, check the provider has UK servers.
5. Realistic speed
Which? found that nearly all VPNs slowed connection speeds in its tests, though the best kept speeds quick. Hotel Wi-Fi is often slow already, so expect some drop.
6. The price, and the renewal price
Which? warns of a large price rise at renewal, which usually happens automatically. Before you pay:
- Note the introductory price and the renewal price.
- Note the renewal date in your calendar.
- Check how to turn off auto-renewal.
7. Refund terms
If a provider offers a money-back guarantee, read the terms before you buy: how many days you have, whether it applies to every plan and payment method, and how you ask for the refund. If you're buying for one trip, the refund window may end before you're home.
Free VPNs
Which? says many free VPNs impose tight data limits, and typically stop working when you reach them. In its own testing it found free VPNs very slow. A free VPN might cover light browsing on a short trip, but check who runs it and how it makes money before you trust it with your traffic.
Check the law where you're going
Some countries restrict or ban VPNs. Examples from the UK government's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice:
| Country | What the FCDO travel advice says |
|---|---|
| China | Online products and services such as VPNs need to be licensed by the Chinese government |
| Turkmenistan | VPNs are illegal and are usually blocked as soon as the authorities identify them |
These are examples, not a complete list, and rules change. Before you travel, read the Safety and security page, including its laws section, in the FCDO travel advice (opens in a new tab) for each country on your trip. If the advice says VPNs are restricted, follow local law.
If a country restricts VPNs, don't assume a VPN will work or that using one is safe. Plan around it: download maps, tickets and documents before you go.
Streaming and terms of service
A VPN can make it look as if you're somewhere else. Which? points out that streaming services have licensing agreements that decide what can be shown in each region, and that switching your location with a VPN to get around this is against their terms and conditions. Which? also says services including BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus and Netflix increasingly block content when they detect a VPN. Check your streaming service's own terms before you travel rather than relying on a VPN.
Before you go
- Decide whether you'll rely on public Wi-Fi at all.
- Check the FCDO advice for every country on your trip.
- Install and test the VPN at home, on every device, before you leave.
- Note the renewal price and date.
- Run our Travel Check.
Sources
- Best VPNs 2026 — Which? (opens in a new tab)
- Do you really need a VPN? — Which? (opens in a new tab)
- How to keep your data safe when using public wi-fi – 8 quick tips — Which? (opens in a new tab)
- China travel advice: safety and security — GOV.UK (FCDO) (opens in a new tab)
- Turkmenistan travel advice: safety and security — GOV.UK (FCDO) (opens in a new tab)
- Foreign travel advice — GOV.UK (FCDO) (opens in a new tab)
Last checked: 22 September 2026
Optional · commercial links
Tools that can help
The steps above are free. If you would rather have a tool take care of it, these are the ones we link to.