VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network”. When you use a VPN, you connect to the internet through one of the VPN’s servers. In doing so, your device’s traffic is encrypted, protecting you from some of the security threats coming from public wifi hotspots (more on these later!). Aside from being beneficial for your privacy, a VPN lets you unblock geo-restricted content including streaming services such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
However, not all VPNs are created equal. Some are much faster than others, some have privacy flaws and others won’t work with your favorite streaming services.
In case you’re short of time, here’s a quick summary of the best VPNs for public wifi hotspots:
The best VPNs for public wifi hotspots are those that provide a high level of security while offering high-speed servers and easy to use apps. We’ve narrowed down the options and only selected the VPNs that offer the following:
Best VPNs for Public Wifi Hotspots
NordVPN: Best VPN for accessing public wifi. Over 5,000 servers worldwide for unblocking Netflix, Skype and more. Easy VPN to use and 24/7 live chat support. Secure with encryption, a no logs policy and automatic VPN connection for wifi (Android). Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Surfshark: Best budget VPN. Growing network of servers, excellent unblocking ability, lots of security extras, and no connection limit. Beginner-friendly apps and around-the-clock support.
ExpressVPN: Strong security and excellent speed. Servers in 94 countries unblock most geo-restricted content including Netflix. Easy to use, 24/7 customer support and plenty of security features including encryption and a kill switch.
CyberGhost: Fast and reliable servers for streaming and video calling. Secure up to 7 devices simultaneously. Protects your privacy with encryption, a strict no-logs policy and wifi auto-protect feature.
IPVanish: Secure up to 10 of your devices. Servers in 60 countries for unblocking geo-restricted content. Keeps zero traffic logs and secures your data with encryption.
PrivateVPN: Fast VPN service for streaming and video calling. Easy to use apps and safe to use with encryption, a no-logs policy, and kill switch.
Highest level of security with encryption.
Additional security such as DNS leak protection and kill switch.
No logs policy that protects your privacy.
Fast and reliable servers for browsing, streaming and video calling.
A network of servers in dozens of countries worldwide.
Customer support with a live chat feature.
User-friendly apps for desktop and mobile.
Best VPNs for public wifi hotspots – at a glance
We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for pubilc wifi hotspots.
Best VPNs for public wifi hotspots
Here’s our list of the best VPNs for public wifi hotspots to protect your privacy:
1. NordVPN
Jan 2023
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
- Background
- FireTV
Website: www.NordVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
NordVPN is our top pick for a public wifi VPN. It’s blazing fast and offers approximately 5,300 servers worldwide. Whether you’re connecting to a public wifi hotspot at your hotel or a local restaurant, there’s plenty of secure servers to choose from. This VPN is ideal for unblocking geo-restricted content, such as Netflix to catch up on your favorite TV show or Skype to keep in touch with family and friends.
We’ve found that NordVPN is very well designed. It’s quick and easy to use with a wide range of apps and browser extensions offered. Aside from 24/7 live chat support, you can use NordVPN on up to 6 devices simultaneously. NordVPN protects you from hackers and snoopers with the use of 256-bit AES encryption. As well as a strict no-logs policy, NordVPN offers DNS leak protection and a kill switch feature. NordVPN also has an automatic VPN connection for wifi feature, automatically connecting you to the VPN when you join a wifi network.
Choose NordVPN and you’ll have access to apps on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux and Android TV. Also available are browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. Routers require manual setup.
BEST VPN FOR PUBLIC WIFI HOTSPOTS:NordVPN It has over 5,000 high-speed servers worldwide and unblocks geo-restricted content including Netflix and Skype. Secure to use at public wifi hotspots thanks to encryption and a strict no logs policy. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee making it a risk-free option.
Pros:
- Over 5,000 secure servers to choose from worldwide
- Fast speeds for streaming Netflix and video calling on Skype
- Automatic VPN connection for wifi, protecting you from hackers
- Secure up to 6 devices simultaneously
- Customer support available 24/7 via live chat
Cons:
- No app available for routers
Read our full NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.Surfshark.com
Surfshark’s security suite really stands out. To start, it packs all the features you get with higher-priced providers such as military-grade encryption, perfect forward secrecy, and leak protection. In addition, it comes with a kill switch in all apps, split tunneling, and automatic wifi protection. No logs are ever maintained.
Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, and Android. There are also browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, and Surfshark is compatible with some routers.
BEST BUDGET PROVIDER:Surfshark is an excellent low-cost alternative. It offers automatic wifi protection and a kill switch in all apps. Plus it’s a great unblocker and doesn’t limit connections. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Offers automatic wifi protection
Kill switch in all apps
Doesn’t log any data
Allows unlimited connections
Not the fastest VPN
Our score:
3. ExpressVPN
Website: www.ExpressVPN.com
Due to the risks involved with using public wifi hotspots, security is of the utmost importance. ExpressVPN boasts excellent security. It uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your device’s traffic. Also offered is DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and split tunneling, all of which make it more difficult for your device and data to be compromised. Lastly, ExpressVPN doesn’t store any identifying logs of its users, ensuring the protection of your privacy.
ExpressVPN apps are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and routers. Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also offered.
SECURE AND RELIABLE:ExpressVPN is a highly secure VPN. Ideal for streaming and video calling at public wifi hotspots. Easy to use apps, 24/7 live chat support and highly secure with encryption, kill switch, and no logs. You can try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Fast servers in 94 countries for browsing, streaming and video calling at public wifi hotspots
Keeps you safe when using public wifi with encryption and a kill switch
Unblocks most geo-restricted content including Netflix
Wide range of apps and browser extensions that are easy to use
Includes 24/7 live chat support
Slightly more expensive than the other VPNs on this list
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
4. CyberGhost
Website: www.Cyberghost.com
Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS
CyberGhost is a fast and reliable VPN service with strong security to boot. It has an ever-growing network of servers which stands at over 3,700 at the time of writing. CyberGhost offers unlimited bandwidth and traffic which is great whether you’re browsing, streaming or video calling using a public wifi hotspot. What’s more, you can use your CyberGhost account to secure up to 7 of your devices simultaneously.
We’re impressed by the level of security provided by CyberGhost. Firstly, this Romania-based VPN has a strict no-logs policy that ensures your personal information remains private. Further security features include 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection and a kill switch. As such, you’ll be able to use public wifi hotspots with reduced risk. CyberGhost has a wifi auto-protect feature, offering the option of automatically starting a VPN connection to protect you in the process.
EXCELLENT OVERALL SECURITY:CyberGhost keeps you secure when using public wifi hotspots. Offers encryption, a no logs policy and kill switch. Unblocks geo-restricted content for browsing, streaming and video calling. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Servers are fast and reliable for streaming or video calling at public wifi hotspots
Wifi auto-protect feature ensures your VPN is on before you connect to public wifi
Over 3,700 servers for unblocking geo-restricted content worldwide
Secure up to 7 of your devices simultaneously
Strong overall security with encryption and a strict no-logs policy
Some difficulties unblocking certain streaming services
Users have to follow manual setup for Linux and routers
Read our full CyberGhost review.
5. IPVanish
Website: www.IPVanish.com
IPVanish is well worth considering if you or your family have a lot of internet-connected devices. The reason is that IPVanish lets you secure up to 10 devices simultaneously which is particularly important if you’re using public wifi with family and friends. This VPN service has a respectable network of over 1,200 servers which are located across 60 countries. As such, you should have no problem finding the right server for your needs and unblocking geo-restricted content.
Having tested out the various IPVanish apps we can say that they’re simple to use. You’ll find various options to customize your preferences while you can also search for servers via a map as well as by region and latency. Customer support is available should you encounter any issues. With zero traffic logs, IPVanish is a secure VPN to use and includes 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch and DNS leak protection. You’re also presented with various ‘On Demand’ options. This allows you to automatically connect to IPVanish, protecting from unsafe public wifi hotspots.
IPVanish apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Fire TV. However, manual configuration is required in the case of Linux and routers.
SECURE UP TO 10 DEVICES:IPVanish allows up to 10 simultaneous connections which is ideal for families using public wifi hotspots. Keeps zero traffic logs and uses encryption to secure your data. 7-day money-back guarantee.
Great for families using public wifi as it allows up to 10 simultaneous connections
‘On Demand’ security options let you auto connect to VPN, ensuring protection from public wifi
Apps are quick and easy to use for beginners
Protects you with encryption and a kill switch
Headquartered in a Five Eyes country (USA)
Doesn’t offer any browser extensions
Read our full IPVanish review.
6. PrivateVPN
Website: www.PrivateVPN.com
What stands out about PrivateVPN is how user-friendly it is. We recommend this easy VPN for anyone as the apps are simple to navigate while selecting a server takes seconds. PrivateVPN is headquartered in Sweden and states that it doesn’t keep any traffic logs. Your privacy is also protected with 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection and a kill switch feature that ensures your internet traffic is cut should the VPN connection drop.
PrivateVPN apps are offered for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. If you want to use this VPN with Linux or a router, some manual configuration is needed.
UNINTERRUPTED STREAMING:PrivateVPN offers high speed servers for streaming and video calling. Offers user-friendly apps and keeps your connection on public wifi hotspots secure with encryption and a kill switch. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Fast servers for browsing and streaming on public wifi networks
Doesn’t keep any traffic logs
Security features such as encryption ensure you’re protected
Allows up to 6 simultaneous connections
A smaller network of around 100 servers
A limited selection of apps with no browser extensions
Read our full PrivateVPN review.
Methodology: How we find the best VPNs for public wifi
Choosing a VPN to keep your data secure and private while using public wi-fi can be tricky. At Comparitech, we use a precise VPN testing methodology to test the market.
Below, we have included some of the important features we tested for when recommending the best VPNs for public wifi hotspots:
How to get a VPN for public wifi hotspots
We recommend you use a VPN not only for public wifi hotspots but for any time, anywhere to keep your information safe. Regardless of when and where you use a VPN, the process is always the same:
Are VPNs legal in my country?
The legality of VPNs varies by country. Thankfully, VPNs are legal in the vast majority of countries. Indeed, the only countries in which VPNs are illegal (or at the very least a grey area) are the following:
How to get a VPN for public wifi hotspots in four easy steps
Find a secure VPN for use at public wifi hotspots – we recommend NordVPN.
Download the app or browser extension of the VPN.
Open the VPN app or browser extension and connect to a server.
You’re now connected to the VPN and more secure as a result!
Belarus
China
Iran
Iraq
North Korea
Oman
Russia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Why do I need a VPN for public wifi hotspots?
Whether you’re in your local cafe or in a hotel abroad, public wifi hotspots can be highly convenient. The problem is that public wifi hotspots can also be a threat to your privacy and are something of a hacker’s paradise. Unfortunately, many public wifi hotspots aren’t secure and are used for phishing your private information.
For example, Man in the Middle attacks (MITM) involve hackers positioning themselves between your device and a web server. This allows them to see what you’re doing online, from the websites you’re visiting, to the content of messages you’re sending. Needless to say, this can be highly detrimental to your privacy. In some cases, this results in the loss of your data and even identity theft.
By using a VPN, you can create a private tunnel between your device and the VPN server. Traffic is encrypted in the process, protecting you from snoopers such as your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or the hotspot provider. The best VPNs for public wifi hotspots offer important security features such as encryption, protection from DNS leaks and a kill switch. There should also be a strict no-logs policy to protect your privacy.
What else can I do to stay safe when using public wifi hotspots?
Aside from using a VPN, there are a few things you can do to improve your online security when using public wifi hotspots:
Can I use a free VPN for public wifi hotspots?
We strongly recommend against the use of free VPNs for public wifi hotspots for the following reasons:
Double check the name of the network to which you’re connecting. Using a network with a similar name to a legitimate network is one of the tricks used by hackers.
If possible, avoid using public wifi hotspots for tasks that require sensitive information such as online banking or making purchases with your credit card. The same goes for passwords – you’re better off using a good password manager to be safe.
Make sure you connect to websites that use HTTPS and SSL. This makes your connection to the websites much more secure. You can easily see if a website uses HTTPS as it should display a closed padlock icon at the beginning of the address bar.
Stick to secure networks that require a password where possible. Whether this is a cafe or a hotel, this is much safer than connecting to a public wifi hotspot that is completely open and without security.
Disable the automatic wifi connection on your phone. Many smartphones automatically connect to nearby wifi networks to ensure you don’t go without internet. You can set your device to ask before connecting to a network.
Free VPNs are not secure. Many free VPNs lack encryption, DNS leak protection and other important security features such as a kill switch. Without these, your online security isn’t any better than that of a person who isn’t using a VPN. As a result, you’ll be an easy target for hackers, particularly when connected to public wifi hotspots.
Free VPNs can’t be trusted. Very little is truly free and this is certainly the case with VPNs that claim to be free of charge. Free VPNs typically make money by logging your data and selling it to the highest bidder. Others make money from ads which may interrupt your browsing and streaming.
Free VPNs are slow. This can be a frustrating experience when you want to browse, stream, and video call. Due to the fact that many free VPNs have a lot of users and very few servers, the server load becomes too high and your bandwidth is restricted. This is not the case with the best VPNs for public wifi hotspots in this list.
For total peace of mind, choose a VPN provider with a password manager for your devices.
A VPN encrypts your data and helps to keep you safe from online threats, so it’s always worth using one when you can.
