5 Best VPNs for WiFi in 2023 – Work and Travel Safely

Having Wi-Fi at your home and out in public is just so convenient. You can easily connect to the internet without any pesky cables or wires. But have you ever wondered if the Wi-Fi connection you’re connecting to is secure without a Wi-Fi VPN?

Even with multiple risks of free Wi-Fi, over 80% of the users still connect to it without using a VPN. Also, it’s easy for hackers to launch attacks on a Wi-Fi connection. In this case, man-in-the-middle attacks are super common. That’s where the best VPN for WiFi comes in.  You need to defend your system so that the hackers can’t use the vulnerabilities of a Wi-Fi connection to their advantage and access your sensitive data, including email and passwords.

Therefore, if you want to enjoy the convenience of a cable-less internet connection without taking any chances on your security, you must use a reliable VPN for Wi-Fi. To help you pick the top VPN service to use, we have compiled a list below just for you. However, ExpressVPN is my top choice for Wi-Fi.

Why do I need a VPN for Wi-Fi?

Using a VPN for Wi-Fi is crucial to safeguard your online privacy, especially in public places. Public Wi-Fi networks are vulnerable to cyber snooping, which can expose your online activities. Whether on your computer or mobile device, a VPN ensures your data remains secure and private when connected to public Wi-Fi.

Here are some other reasons why you’ll need a VPN:

• Protects you from cyber threats: A VPN can efficiently hide your browsing data and any other activities across the web so that cyber criminals don’t get their hands on your data. They can anonymize your IP address and keep you safe from actors.
• Secures sensitive information: Using a VPN will ensure your confidential data i.e. login credentials, banking information, personal data, etc., is safe. It’ll even encrypt your data to ensure no third party can access it.
• Secures you while working remotely: Once a hacker gains access to your device, there’s a possibility they may hack your company as well. Using a VPN can help in preventing such cyberattacks and their consequences.

5 Best VPNs for Wi-Fi in 2023 [Detailed Analysis]

We tested 50+ VPN services based on security, encryption, servers, speeds, device compatibility, and more. Out of these, we shortlisted 5 VPNs that worked great on Wi-Fi :

1. ExpressVPN – The Best VPN for WiFi

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for WiFi as it offers a large server network that operates at consistently fast speeds. It is packed with advanced security features. These include an AES 256-bit encryption, keeping all your sensitive data secure even if a cybercriminal compromises your Wi-Fi connection. Its no-logs policy itself ensures not to collect any user data.

Good quality encryption is essential for Wi-Fi since these are notoriously vulnerable to hackers and security threats. So, ExpressVPN offers the best protocols, including IKEv2, OpenVPN, and Lightway. Since it’s headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, it won’t pry into your connection as it’s not a member of the 5 and 14 Eyes alliance.

Moreover, the ExpressVPN threat Manager feature enhances Wi-Fi security. It identifies and blocks potential threats, providing an added layer of protection while using Wi-Fi networks.

ExpressVPN server list offers a vast network of 3000+ servers in 105 countries across the globe, ensuring fast and secure connections for users. These servers enable seamless access to geo-restricted content like using ExpressVPN with Netflix, Disney+, Max, Hulu, and more meanwhile maintaining privacy online.

We tested the speed of ExpressVPN on a 100 Mbps connection, and it didn’t let us down. We got a blazing-fast download speed of 89.64 Mbps and an upload speed of 84.64 Mbps.

This speed is enough to download P2P files within minutes.

The VPN comes with extremely user-friendly apps for all devices and works great on Wi-Fi networks. If you don’t want to download its app on all your devices, then you can always directly set up ExpressVPN on your router and connect all your devices to it. It can be considered as the best Wi-Fi router for use with VPN.

The VPN connects up to 5 devices on a single subscription. It also comes with 24/7 live chat support in case you face any issues. ExpressVPN cost $6.67/mo (Black Friday Deal: Grab 3 Free Months + 49% OFF 12-Month Plan) on its annual plan along with a 3-month free subscription to users. For more information, check out our ExpressVPN review.

2. Surfshark – Affordable VPN for Wi-Fi

Surfshark is the most affordable VPN for Wi-Fi. The VPN comes at a super-affordable price of $1.99/mo (Get 86% + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan), and despite the price, offers a great service.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Surfshark guarantees zero logs. This ensures that the VPN won’t collect any user data itself. Not only that, but Surfshark also offers industry benchmark protocols and security features like a kill Switch, AES 256-bit encryption, and even an ad-blocker to block trackers on Wi-Fi networks.

The VPN also comes with a Whitelister feature that lets you decide which apps or websites you want to route through the VPN-enabled connection and otherwise. Let’s not forget that Surfshark is one of the few VPNs that come with the latest WireGuard protocol that offers fantastic speed and security.

Surfshark servers list consists of 3200+ servers in 100 countries, which helps you in unblocking multiple streaming services. We use Surfshark with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu on Wi-Fi with no ISP throttling.

The Surfshark speed test revealed that it can achieve an extremely fast download speed of 81.32 Mbps and an upload speed of 76.12 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection.

We achieved blazing-fast speed results on the US servers.

In terms of performance, Surfshark offers unlimited bandwidth and works great on all devices. These include iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Fire Stick, Linux, routers, and more.

Surfshark prices offer affordable plans, which are backed up by a 30-day refund policy on all its plans. Find out more about the qualities of this service in our Surfshark review.

3. NordVPN – Secure VPN for Wi-Fi

NordVPN is, without a doubt, the most secure VPN for Wi-Fi. This VPN comes with a variety of advanced security features along with a massive server network of 5500+ servers, perfectly capable of securing users on Wi-Fi.

NordVPN’s security features include double encryption that protects your online security even when you are connected to Wi-Fi. It further comes with obfuscation technology that doesn’t let your ISP know that you’re using a VPN on your connection.

It is also one of the best VPNs to deter snoopers and cyber-criminals, thanks to its powerful 256-bit encryption. NordVPN’s kill switch and no logs are also pretty effective when it comes to privacy and online protection.

NordVPN server list offers 5500+ servers in 60 countries, delivering high-speed and encrypted connections. This diverse server network provides users with the flexibility to access content on BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Netflix with NordVPN and maintain anonymity online.

The speed test for NordVPN clearly indicates how fast this VPN can actually perform. On a 100 Mbps connection, it delivered an impressive download speed of 83.82 Mbps and an upload speed of 44.64 Mbps.

NordVPN proved to be a true streaming VPN by delivering fast-speed results during our test.

Unlike Surfshark, NordVPN offers 6 multi-logins. This way, you can either connect 6 of your devices or enjoy a router-enabled Wi-Fi connection on all your devices. NordVPN costs are available at just $3.99/mo (Get 57% Off + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan) and offer a risk-free 30-day refund policy on it. For more information, check out our NordVPN review.

4. IPVanish – The Fastest VPN for Wi-Fi

IPVanish is the fastest VPN to use on your Wi-Fi connection. The VPN will guard your online privacy and activity when on Wi-Fi while offering great speeds for you to enjoy browsing with this VPN. While testing its speeds, IPVanish delivered an average speed of 78.76 Mbps on my 100 Mbps connection.

IPVanish further comes with amazing security to stay away from all cybercriminals. It has the strongest 256-bit encryption to keep your online activity safe. It also offers you a dedicated IP and allows you to torrent anonymously.

This VPN also comes with split tunneling that lets you split your traffic between a VPN-enabled connection and your normal one. While being based in the US, and a member of the 5 Eyes, this VPN comes with a strict no-logs policy that ensures not to collect any user data.

IPVanish servers list offers has 2000+ servers in countries. To check its unblocking, we connected IPVanish with different streaming platforms. However, IPVanish with Netflix worked fine than other services.

Upon testing IPVanish speed, we achieved an average download speed of 86.75 Mbps and an upload speed of 73.67 Mbps, and there we no buffering issues.

No significant speed drop was recorded during IPVanish speed testing.

IPVanish offers unlimited bandwidth as well as unlimited simultaneous connections to users, making it a great VPN to use on Wi-Fi. Aside from being affordable, IPVanish also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Users can try the IPVanish free trial before making their full purchase.

Check out our detailed IPVanish review for more information.

5. CyberGhost – User-friendly VPN for Wi-Fi

CyberGhost is the most user-friendly VPN for Wi-Fi and its enabled devices. Browsing and streaming with CyberGhost is the easiest thing to do, as it offers optimized servers for all online activities.

CyberGhost also offers 10319+ servers and powerful encryption to help you stay safe on Wi-Fi. Not only that, but CyberGhost also offers powerful protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, SSTP, PPTP, IKEv2, and even L2TP.

It comes with a DNS leak protection feature that ensures your IP address doesn’t leak to any website or authority. It creates an encrypted tunnel between the connection and websites you visit so no third party can snoop in at any time. Furthermore, CyberGhost is based in Romania, a country safe from all data retention laws, which is a plus.

CyberGhost is a fantastic VPN service with an ever-expanding network of 10319+ servers in 100 countries. With unlimited bandwidth and traffic, it’s perfect for browsing, streaming, or torrenting on public Wi-Fi hotspots. CyberGhost Netflix allows you to enjoy all your favorite shows and movies from anywhere in the world.

On our CyberGhost speed tests, we received a download speed of 75.47 Mbps and an upload speed of 69.34 Mbps on our 100 Mbps internet connection. The good thing about this VPN is its dedicated servers, which make CyberGhost VPN for torrenting easy.

Enjoy decent streaming speed using CyberGhost’s servers.

Best of all, CyberGhost works with all major operating systems and offers an extensive 45-day money-back guarantee. Another thing we really like about CyberGhost is the fact that it offers 7 simultaneous connections. Users have the advantage of using CyberGhost’s free trial for 1 day to test its services on Wi-Fi.

Find out more about the qualities of this service in our CyberGhost VPN review.

How we selected the best VPN for WiFi 2023

Given the vast array of VPN options available in the market, choosing the best VPNs for public wifi can be quite challenging. However, it is evident that security should be the foremost concern. With this in mind, we took into account several key factors while selecting these VPNs:

• Encryption: The encryption used by a VPN is crucial in ensuring the security of your data against hackers and third parties. Therefore, we have specifically selected providers that offer top-tier and unbreakable AES encryption.
• Security features: A VPN’s security is enhanced by the availability of supplementary features. For instance, a kill switch, traffic obfuscation, and threat detection, which further safeguard your online activities.
• Speed: We have selected providers that offer solid speeds, ensuring that the VPN service does not noticeably affect the performance of your device or disrupt your work.
• No-logs policy: We have exclusively chosen reputable VPNs that have a strict no-logs policy. This means that your data will not be stored or shared with third parties.  You can rest assured that your information remains confidential.
• Supported platforms: We have ensured that the recommended VPN providers support at least four major platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. This ensures compatibility and seamless protection across a range of devices.
• Simultaneous connections: To maximize the value of your investment in a VPN service, we have chosen providers that allow you to protect multiple devices with a single subscription. This feature enables you to secure all your devices without the need for additional subscriptions.
• Pricing: We’ve only picked out VPNs that offer value for money. We wouldn’t want you to break the bank while opting for a VPN for the sake of your security. If you opt for the annual pricing plans, you’ll be investing in the long run and won’t have to renew your subscription every month.

The risks of using a Wi-Fi

Engaging in everyday online activities may seem harmless, but when connected to Wi-Fi, it can quickly become a risky endeavor. Here are some of the dangers associated with using public networks:

• Information theft: When connected to a public Wi-Fi network, cybercriminals can intercept the communication between you and the websites or services you access. This interception allows them to potentially read and steal sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, or personal data.
• Malware infiltration: Hackers actively search for vulnerabilities in devices connected to public networks. Once they identify a vulnerability, they can exploit it to distribute malware to your device. This malware can lead to various malicious activities, including data theft, unauthorized access, or even complete control of your device.
• Business-wide attacks: If you frequently work in public spaces and rely on public Wi-Fi, using these networks can pose a significant risk to your organization. An attacker targeting the public network could potentially gain access to your business network, leading to a company-wide breach, compromising sensitive data, and causing severe damage.
• Redirection to untrusted websites: Hackers may employ tactics such as DNS spoofing or malicious redirects to direct you to untrusted websites that lack secure protocols. These deceptive websites aim to trick you into revealing your sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial details.

To mitigate these risks, it is essential to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when connecting to Wi-Fi. The best VPN for WiFi security encrypts your internet traffic, ensuring that your data remains secure and inaccessible to prying eyes.

Additional Methods to Ensure Your Safety While Utilizing Public Wi-Fi Hotspots

When using public Wi-Fi hotspots, it’s important to take steps to ensure your online security.

• Double-check the name of the network you’re connecting to, as hackers often use fake networks with similar names to legitimate ones.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi hotspots for sensitive tasks like online banking or making purchases. If you need to use passwords, consider using a password manager for added safety.
• Look for HTTPS and SSL in the address bar when connecting to websites. This means your connection to the website is secure and encrypted, making it much harder for anyone to intercept your data.
• Stick to networks that require a password where possible, such as those in cafes or hotels. This is much safer than connecting to a completely open public Wi-Fi hotspot.
• Disable automatic Wi-Fi connections on your phone to ensure you’re only connecting to secure networks. You can set your device to ask before connecting to a network for added security.

How does a VPN protect you on Wi-Fi?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) safeguards your online presence when using Wi-Fi by employing data encryption. Essentially, your activities and personal information traverse through an encrypted tunnel, rendering them indecipherable to third parties such as governments, ISPs, or cyber criminals.

Additionally, a VPN masks your true IP address. When you connect to a VPN server, the IP address visible to others is that of the server itself. Moreover, certain VPNs offer the option to enable LAN invisibility, ensuring that your device remains hidden from other users connected to the public network.

Tips for staying safe on a Wi-Fi networks

Enhancing your protection on Wi-Fi networks requires more than just relying on a VPN. It’s essential to be aware of potential threats and take proactive measures. Here are some tips to ensure comprehensive protection:

• Disable auto-connect: Prevent your devices from automatically connecting to Wi-Fi networks. By doing so, you minimize the risk of unknowingly connecting to a malicious network, as hackers can position themselves between you and the Wi-Fi connection.
• Avoid typing sensitive information: Public Wi-Fi networks often lack robust security measures, making it easier for hackers to intercept and access your sensitive information, such as passwords or banking details. It’s advisable to refrain from entering such information while connected to public wifi.
• Visit secure websites only: Hackers can redirect you to fraudulent websites, compromising your data. To mitigate this risk, ensure that you only access websites with secure protocols (HTTPS) that encrypt your communications and protect your information.
• Be cautious of shoulder surfing: When using your devices in public spaces, be mindful of your surroundings. Cybercriminals may attempt to peek at your screen and gather sensitive information while you’re typing. Stay vigilant and shield your screen to protect your privacy.
• Practice good password hygiene: Consider using a password generator to create strong and unique passwords for each website or service. To manage multiple passwords securely, employing a password manager is highly recommended.
• Enable two-factor authentication: Adding an extra layer of security by enabling two-factor authentication makes it significantly harder for cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to your accounts. Without the additional authentication method, they will be unable to bypass this added protection.
• Set the Wi-Fi network to “Public”: To minimize your visibility on the public network, adjust your device’s Wi-Fi settings to categorize the network as “Public.” Additionally, on Windows devices, take advantage of the “disable device discoverability” feature, further limiting your exposure to other devices on the network.

By implementing these precautions, alongside utilizing a VPN, you can significantly enhance your security and protect yourself from potential threats while using Wi-Fi networks.

Top VPNs for Wi-Fi on Android

If you are a user of Android devices, you should always connect to the Wi-Fi through a VPN. Public Wi-Fi is especially vulnerable, as they usually have only basic encryption. As a result, any traffic that passes through the public Wi-Fi from your Android device is at risk of interception by authorities or hackers.

To ensure your safety online while using Wi-Fi on an Android device, you should always use a VPN service. The VPN providers reviewed above are compatible with Android OS and also use the most advanced encryption protocols. Particularly, ExpressVPN is known for its state-of-the-art encryption standards.

Good encryption standards include protocols such as OpenVPN and IKEv2 (for mobile devices). On the other hand, encryption techniques like PPTP have become obsolete, as they are highly insecure forms of encryption. It is important to consider which encryption protocols are supported by a VPN provider before deciding to purchase one for your Android device.

Therefore, you should use ExpressVPN or other alternatives listed above to gain safe and secure access to public Wi-Fi on your Android. The kinds of malware and security threats that target Android devices are increasing with the passage of time. Purchasing a well-encrypted and reliable VPN is thus a worthwhile investment if you want to protect your Android device.

You can read our guide on the best encrypted VPN services to learn more about modern encryption algorithms that offer the best security.

Best Free Wi-Fi VPNs 2023

The VPN industry consists of a large number of VPN providers. However, there are only a few providers that offer VPN services for free. Those VPN companies that do offer free versions do so in the form of watered-down software with several limitations.

For instance, most free VPN services commonly offer only a few server options and limited bandwidth. In addition, they also have unsatisfactory logging policies and usually record user data. This information is then sold to advertisement companies for a profit. Since free VPN providers must make money to fund their operations somehow, they resort to these tactics to make revenue.

Therefore, it is generally a bad idea to use a free Wi-Fi VPN for Android and most devices. We strongly recommend using paid VPN services to ensure your security and encrypt your data. Nonetheless, there are a select few free VPN providers that actually do offer good VPN features.

ProtonVPN is one of the best free VPNs for Public Wi-Fi services that is worth a try. This VPN provider is unique since it is the only VPN service that provides unlimited bandwidth with no caps. Moreover, it uses the most advanced robust security protocols, such as OpenVPN, to encrypt your data passing through the Wi-Fi network. Thus, ProtonVPN is the best free wifi VPN for Android you can acquire for free.

You can also protect your VPN Wi-Fi Password network through a VPN-based router. Read our guide on the VPN router for more information.

What is Publicly Available Wi-Fi?

Publicly available Wi-Fi is located in public places where people can gain easy access to the internet. You encounter public Wi-Fi in your daily life when visiting public places. Due to the nature of this Wi-Fi, many people access the internet.

Where is this Wi-Fi available?

The most common places where these Wi-Fi can be found include:

• Restaurants, café, coffee shops
• For airports, subways, and trains, ProtonVPN is one free VPN service that is worth a try. This VPN provider is unique since it is the only VPN service that provides unlimited bandwidth with no caps. Moreover, it uses the most advanced
• Hotels and hostels (Use the best VPN for hotel Wi-Fi to stay safe)
• Tourist places
• Malls, etc.

Whenever any Wi-Fi is easily accessible to anyone and is located in a public place, it is said to be public Wi-Fi. The reason why the internet is available to the public for free is so that their customers would spend extra time at their restaurants or shop. Extra time means more sales for shops.

Why Public Wi-Fi is Insecure?

Public Wi-Fi networks are insecure because it doesn’t require you to enter a password for their access. These are unencrypted connections, which means snoopers and cybercriminals can gain access to anyone’s device who is using Wi-Fi at the time. These snoopers can gain hold of your accounts, credit card information, pictures, and videos.

Other than your phone being hacked by snoopers, there is another possibility that you will become a victim of a man-in-the-middle attack. Snoopers can intercept the data being transferred from one device to another and can eavesdrop on your communication.

Malware is easily injected by hackers onto your devices, which means everything you do on your device is easily recorded. Lastly, fake hotspots or Wi-Fi are created to tempt users to access them. As a result, malware is injected, and users are most likely to hack your phone. That’s why using the best VPN for public Wi-Fi Reddit is a must.

What Information is at Stake?

As we have made you aware of why public Wi-Fi is insecure, there is another thing that you need to be aware of. You must know which information is likely to get affected when snoopers try to inject malware or get access to your device. These are listed below:

• Location of your home
• Bank account details
• Internet history
• Pictures and videos
• Files and apps
• List of phone contacts
• Communication with friends
• Passwords, etc.

All the above information is easy to access once a hacker gets hold of your device within public Wi-Fi. Many cases emerge in tourist attractions and when boarding airplanes. In both situations, you are desperate to use the internet and require a Wi-Fi connection.

Secure your Information from Being Stolen on a Public Wi-Fi

There are several ways to protect your online data and device while using a Wi-Fi network, but a Wi-Fi VPN stands at the top of the league. It encrypts your online data, and so does your IP, which means none of the users on the particular Wi-Fi network will ever know you’re using the same network.

When connecting to a VPN, not only snoopers or hackers would be able to know that you exist over the Wi-Fi, but not even the business owner will be able to know your existence. Your privacy and security are protected at all times.

You can further take various precautionary measures before connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Some of these are listed below:

• Disable/Turn off sharing settings so no one can access your mobile device
• Use HTTPS websites whenever you use the internet
• Use a Firewall
• 2-factor authentication on all login credentials
• Turn off Wi-Fi when not in use
• After using, select ‘Forget’ on a particular Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi VPN – The Ultimate Solution

The important factor that protects your online activity and device is to get a Wi-Fi VPN. Nothing gives you better online protection than a VPN because it completely hides you on the internet, and one would ever know that you exist online.

Moreover, tourists are more vulnerable targets for cybercriminals due to their frequent desire to share updates on social media, which necessitates a constant internet connection. Consequently, tourists often fall prey to cyberattacks, resulting in the theft of their valuable data. A highly recommended precautionary measure is to consistently use a reliable traveling VPN. In this regard, ExpressVPN stands out as my top recommendation.

Wi-Fi VPNs to Bypass Blocked Websites in Schools

To prevent students from spending too much time on the internet, schools normally block social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and similar others. These limitations are enforced by school administration so that students can focus on their studies.

However, the best VPN for school Wi-Fi can easily bypass blocked websites in schools and let students access Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many social media websites. A VPN wifi hack will change your IP address and allow you to bypass geo-restrictions.

Sometimes, school Wi-Fi blocks VPN; in that case, you have to confirm with the VPN provider whether it could break the blockage or not.

Further, when you subscribe to a VPN for school, you can unblock streaming websites such as YouTube or Netflix while also playing games by unblocking gaming websites. It makes torrenting and accessing WhatsApp easier. However, you may want to avoid the best VPN for school Wi-Fi free of cost since they may land you in hot waters due to their unreliability.

The NSA’s Take on Wi-Fi Hotspots & VPNs

In a report published in June this year, the National Security Agency (NSA) recommends using a VPN service provider when connecting to publicly available Wi-Fi hotspots. In the report, the NSA acknowledges the additional cost of subscribing to a VPN service but does not consider this to be a reason that outweighs the importance and benefits of a good VPN service.

In my experience, subscribing to a premium VPN provider that charges is much better and wiser than putting your bank details, credit card number, and personal information on the line every time you decide to check your mail while connecting to a public Wi-Fi hotspot.

The report titled Best Practices for Keeping Your Home Network Safe highlights that the underlying security infrastructure of most publicly available wireless hotspots is often weak. This is because hotspot providers seldom go beyond investing in the speed and bandwidth of their Wi-Fi hotspots.

A Word on Wi-Fi VPNs from the Files of the FCC

An online report published by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), titled The Cyber Security Planning Guide, recommends that businesses providing internet-based remote access to users should exercise caution. The FCC recommends the use of VPNs as a tried and tested method that can provide the security and access authentication required for corporate infrastructure.

The report gives special attention to the need to ensure adequate security and encryption when using/setting up Wi-Fi in business settings. Note that the FCC (established in 1934) is the US government’s response to the evolving threats that come forth with developments in communications technology.

In the same vein, a report by the Chief Information Officers Council this May asserts that the cryptographic strength that must be in place for a wireless network (Wi-Fi) to be secure can only be maintained through a VPN!

FAQs – Best VPN for WiFi

Final Advice

Don’t compromise the security of your personal and financial information; because without a VPN, you are just a sitting duck for data snoopers. Your privacy is in your hands!

This is why we recommend you get a reliable VPN for your Wi-Fi connection. ExpressVPN is my most trusted choice for this. This VPN offers the ultimate security features that keep you secure on your Wi-Fi connection, thousands of servers across the globe, and multiple simultaneous connections, which makes this provider the best VPN for WiFi.

The suggested services in this article work best as either school Wi-Fi, hotel Wi-Fi VPN, or a public Wi-Fi VPN.