NordVPN

NordVPN is a virtual private network that encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a server in a country you choose, so shared wifi in hotels, airports, and coworking spaces cannot be used to snoop on your logins and banking. If you spend months at a time on networks you do not control, that encrypted tunnel is the main reason to run one. Cafe and coworking hotspots are convenient but rarely secured well, and a VPN closes that gap without changing how you work.

What it does for nomads specifically

Beyond encryption, NordVPN lets you set your apparent location by connecting to a server in a specific country. That solves two everyday problems: checking prices in your home currency instead of a "foreign visitor" markup, and reaching subscriptions or banking portals that flag logins from unfamiliar countries. It runs on NordLynx, a protocol built on WireGuard that is faster than the older OpenVPN tunnels most competitors still use, and that speed difference shows when you are already fighting a mediocre hotel connection. The company is based in Panama, outside the surveillance-sharing alliances that cover the US and much of Europe, and its no-logs policy has been checked by independent auditors, which is more than most VPN brands do.

Strengths for remote work

The server network is large, with thousands of servers across more than 100 countries, so you rarely get stuck on a congested or distant option. Meshnet connects you directly to your own devices or a teammate's machine over an encrypted link, which is handy for reaching a home NAS or a work laptop left at a coworking desk. Threat Protection blocks trackers, ads, and known malware domains at the network level. It is a light extra layer next to whatever antivirus you already run, not a replacement for it.

Where it falls short

A VPN does not fix the practical annoyances of working abroad. Some streaming platforms and banking sites actively detect and block VPN traffic, so you will occasionally hit a wall even with a working connection, and switching servers is the usual workaround rather than a guarantee. The speed cost versus a raw connection is smaller than it used to be thanks to WireGuard, but on already-weak hotel or rural wifi, adding any VPN hop can turn a marginal video call into a choppy one. It is also a subscription you have to keep active and renew across devices, not a one-time purchase.

Pricing reality

NordVPN sells multi-month and multi-year plans priced well below the month-to-month rate, which is normal across the VPN category, so check the term length before you commit at the higher single-month price. One subscription covers several devices at once, enough for a laptop, phone, and tablet. If your main use case is basic wifi security rather than streaming or heavy location-shifting, a lighter and cheaper competitor may cover what you actually need.