5 Best VPNs for Remote Workers & Nomads (2025) Top Options Compared

Editor’s Take

Nord is one of the leading brand names among VPN services, especially for casual users. We included NordVPN as a top choice for digital nomads and remote professionals thanks to its balance of speed, security, and ease of use. With a worldwide network of servers, it is consistently ranked among the fastest VPNs on the market. 

Although it isn’t the best choice for hiding from your boss, NordVPN provides reliable performance around the world. This makes Nord a solid choice for anyone seeking to bypass geographic restrictions, bolster network security, and prevent location-based tracking for things like streaming. 

Pricing and plans

NordVPN offers four plan tiers. Pricing can vary substantially, depending on if you commit to a monthly, yearly, or two-year subscription. 

For customers who want payment anonymity, prepaid NordVPN digital cards are also available for sale on Amazon.

✅NordVPN consistently ranks among the fastest VPNs, crucial for Zoom calls, large file uploads, and remote desktop work.

✅Features like AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and Threat Protection (malware/phishing blocker) keep your data safe on public Wi-Fi.

✅NordVPN garners strong reviews for its mobile apps. 

❌Unlike services like StarVPN, NordVPN doesn’t offer static U.S. residential IPs, which might be needed to bypass corporate geo-checks.

❌While Nord offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s no free plan for casual or budget-conscious users.

❌Advanced users may find fewer low-level configuration options compared to something like Mullvad or self-hosted WireGuard setups.

Proton VPN

Excellent for free VPN, privacy

Editor’s Take

StarVPN (not to be confused with the similarly-named “Star VPN”) has gained a reputation in the digital nomad community for its residential IP capabilities. While the vast majority of VPN services rely on commercial IP addresses, StarVPN provides static residential IPs on its premium plans. This makes the service a much better choice for hiding your location from your employer.

When paired with a travel router for remote work, StarVPN can make it look like you are working from a home address in the U.S. or another fixed location. Although StarVPN isn’t as fast or reliable as setting up a VPN on your home network, it’s the best existing option for nomads and remote workers who can’t run the DIY method.

Pricing and plans

StarVPN offers a limited-data free version, as well as a commercial VPN for $8/month. The coveted residential IP addresses are only available on StarVPN’s premium plans, though.

✅StarVPN is one of the only VPNs that offers residential IP addresses.

✅While VPNs with residential IP addresses can be shady, StarVPN rotates through IPs less frequently. 

✅You can choose which protocol works best for you. 

❌Some users report significant reductions in speed (including during Zoom calls), making StarVPN a risky choice for users that require fast internet. 

❌StarVPN’s residential IP service is expensive for the casual user. 

❌Some users complain of dropped connections and occasional outages.

Editor’s Take

Mullvad is a popular choice for security-conscious professionals around the world, including remote workers and digital nomads. The company’s commitment to extreme privacy separates it from other VPNs – no email is required for signup, there is no tracking whatsoever, and the company accepts anonymous cryptocurrency payments. We also like that you can purchase prepaid Mullvad cards through various retailers, including Amazon.

Under normal conditions, Mullvad maintains surprisingly fast speeds for a VPN with a relatively low server count. However, performance has been known to vary based on server on server location, protocol, and overall network traffic.

Pricing and plans

Mullvad takes a refreshingly simple approach to pricing. The company’s VPN service costs €5 ($5.77) per month, and that’s it. No upsells, no gimmicks, no nonsense.

✅Mullvad accepts various forms of payment, including cryptocurrency, PayPal, and even cash mailed in envelopes to its Sweden headquarters. 

✅No email is required for signup; users are assigned randomized tokens. 

✅Mullvad doesn’t try to upsell users or offer discounts for longer subscriptions. 

❌Performance on servers far from your location (e.g., Asia from the U.S.) can drop by 40–60%.

❌Doesn’t reliably unblock Netflix or other geo-restricted content.

❌Lacks some of the extra tools offered by more consumer-oriented VPNs.

Editor’s Take

Surkshark is another mainstream VPN utilized by many remote workers and digital nomads for casual use. You are allowed unlimited connections on all of Surfshark’s plans, making it a good choice for families and remote teams with many devices. We also like that the service offers sizable discounts (though only if you commit to two years).

Pricing and plans

Surkshark offers three paid plans. When you commit for two years, the monthly price goes down to a mere $2.19, although month-to-month pricing is more expensive.

✅Surfshark imposes no limit on connections, making it a good choice for travelers and remote workers with many devices. 

✅Surfshark’s prices are lower than competitors if you take a 2-year commitment. 

✅Users can enjoy extremely fast download speeds on Surfshark’s network. 

❌Surfshark’s pricing is rather expensive if you choose to pay month-to-month. 

❌Doesn’t offer a free version of its VPN, although it does offer a 30-day money back guarantee. 

❌On average, Surfshark loses a lot of upload speed retention, making it a poor choice for users that need to upload a lot of large files.

Guided to Choosing a VPN for Remote Work and Digital Nomads

When it comes to VPNs, there really isn’t a “best” that works for every remote worker. A lot depends on your own personal needs and what you’re looking to get out of the service. 

In this section, we’ll walk through different use cases and features that you should consider before making your decision. 

How does a VPN work?

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a tool that helps you stay private and secure online by hiding your real location and encrypting your internet traffic.

When you use the internet—say, by visiting a website or logging into a work system—your computer sends out a message from your public IP address (which is like your home address on the internet). The website or network you’re connecting to can see that IP address, which tells them where you are in the world.

Instead of going straight to the website, your computer connects first to a VPN client (a small app running on your device) that sends your traffic to a VPN server. The server could be located anywhere, like back in your home country. The VPN then passes your request on to the website or service you’re using.

From the website’s point of view, it only sees the VPN server’s IP address. It appears as though you’re connecting from wherever that server is located, not from your actual location.

In short, a VPN is like a secure tunnel that hides your internet activity and makes it look like you’re browsing from somewhere else. It’s an essential tool for privacy, security, and location flexibility, especially for digital nomads.

Choosing a VPN

The best VPN depends on your own individual needs as a traveler and remote worker. Consider what you’re looking to get out of the service before you commit.

Benefits of using a VPN

A VPN is a useful tool for remote workers, especially digital nomads working overseas. Consider these use cases as you research various providers.

Accessing blocked sites

Some sites maintain restrictions that prevent overseas internet users from accessing them, including many U.S. government and corporate websites. Other countries like China, the UAE, and Turkey have enacted censorship or local firewalls. If all you need from a VPN is occasional access to a blocked site, a free or low-cost VPN should satisfy your needs. 

• Best VPNs: Proton, NordVPN, Surfshark

Streaming

Many VPN users just want to access cheaper subscription prices or content libraries from other regions (e.g., watching U.S. Netflix from Europe or paying less for Spotify/YouTube Premium). However, 4K streaming will require a VPN with faster speeds. 

• Best VPNs: NordVPN, Surfshark

Privacy and security

For users who prioritize privacy and security, choose a VPN that encrypts all your online activity, masks your IP address, and allows for total anonymity.

• Best VPNs: Mullvad

Hiding from your employer

Many remote workers need to appear as though they’re working from a particular city or country, when in reality they live overseas or in a totally different state. This requires you to choose a VPN that offers static residential IP addresses, so you always look to be working using a home internet connection. 

• Best VPNs: StarVPN

Cost of a VPN for remote workers

How much you pay for a VPN varies depending on the VPN’s features and the payment plan that you choose. 

• Free VPN: A few companies offer free versions of their VPN. Keep in mind that your speed is usually greatly reduced on a free service. Stick with reputable providers like Proton that don’t push ads or take your personal data.

• Self-hosted VPN: If you’re tech savvy, it’s possible to set up your own self-hosted VPN. Equipment costs will total around $170. Walkthrough by an IT pro will likely cost several hundred dollars more. 

• Basic VPN: Many VPN providers offer big discounts if you pay upfront for a 2-year plan. If you go with a longer commitment, your monthly price could be as low as $2.19 to $4.49 for a VPN with basic features. For a month-to-month payment plan, you’re looking at a price point between $5.77 and $15.45. 

• Premium VPN: Choose a premium plan you want additional features like anti-malware, password managers, browsing protection, and ad blocking. Starting cost be will be around $7.39 monthly for a two-year commitment, and $12.99 for a month-to-month plan. 

• Residential IP: You can obtain a residential IP using a self-hosting VPN at your residence, or by using a service such as StarVPN. The latter’s monthly plans start at $20 a month for static residential IPs. 

Glossary: Key VPN terms and what they mean

❓FAQs

Are VPNs legal?

VPNs are legal in most countries, including the UK and U.S., as long as you use them lawfully. Some countries ban all but government-approved VPNs.

Do VPNs slow down my internet?

Yes, because your data travels farther and is encrypted. However, most reputable VPNs only reduce speeds slightly (often 5–20%), which isn’t noticeable for the majority of users.

➡️Further reading: Learn more about why VPN speeds drop from the pros.

Are there free VPNs?

Free VPNs exist, but many have risks like limited data, slower speeds, fewer features, and questionable privacy practices. Only use free VPNs from reputable companies, such as Proton.