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Last reviewed: by the Smart Savings Guides editorial team. How we research and update articles.
Short answer: not always, but it's a sensible extra layer on Wi-Fi you don't control. Most websites and apps now encrypt your connection, so hotel, airport and café Wi-Fi is far safer than it used to be. A VPN adds protection on networks you can't check, keeps the network owner from seeing which sites you visit, and is one good option for banking on the road. Mobile data from a travel eSIM is another. Here's when each makes sense.
Key takeaways
- HTTPS does most of the work. The FTC says that because most sites now use encryption, public Wi-Fi is usually safe for sites showing a lock or https.
- A VPN helps on networks you can't vet, like open hotel or airport Wi-Fi. The NSA advises using one if you have to connect to public Wi-Fi.
- For banking, use mobile data or a VPN, plus your bank's official app and two-factor authentication.
- A VPN isn't a shield against scams. It won't stop phishing, fake websites or weak passwords.
- Check local law. A few countries restrict or ban VPNs.
What a VPN does, and what it doesn't
A VPN (virtual private network) creates an encrypted tunnel from your device to a server run by the VPN company. Everyone between you and that server, including the hotel network, other guests and anyone running a fake hotspot, sees only scrambled traffic.
| A VPN helps with | A VPN doesn't help with |
|---|---|
| Snooping by the network owner or other people on open Wi-Fi | Phishing emails, texts and fake login pages |
| Hiding which websites you visit from the local network | Weak or reused passwords |
| Apps that don't encrypt everything they send | Malware you install yourself |
| Some fake-hotspot tricks, once the VPN is connected | Making you anonymous: the VPN company can see your traffic instead |
That last point matters. Using a VPN moves trust from the Wi-Fi network to the VPN company, so choose one with a clear privacy policy and, ideally, an independently checked no-logs policy.
How risky is public Wi-Fi now?
Less than its reputation suggests. In its guide Are public Wi-Fi networks safe?, the FTC explains that most websites now encrypt the data you send, so connecting through a public network is usually safe when the address bar shows a lock or https. It notes it can be hard to tell whether a mobile app uses encryption, though most do.
The risks that remain are mostly about networks you can't verify. The NSA's guidance on securing wireless devices in public settings warns that even password-protected public Wi-Fi may not encrypt traffic, and that attackers can set up look-alike networks. It recommends using a personal hotspot where you can and, if you must use public Wi-Fi, a VPN plus HTTPS-only sites.
When a VPN is worth it on a trip
| Situation | Our suggestion |
|---|---|
| Open hotel, airport or café Wi-Fi | Use a VPN, or switch to mobile data for anything sensitive |
| Hotel Wi-Fi with a room-number login page | Same as open Wi-Fi: other guests share the network |
| Your own travel eSIM or phone hotspot | Optional; mobile data isn't shared with strangers the way public Wi-Fi is |
| Work laptop | Use your employer's VPN and follow its travel rules |
| Online banking or tax and benefits accounts | Mobile data or a VPN, plus the official app (see below) |
| Maps, weather, reading news | Public Wi-Fi is usually fine on https sites |
If you already have a travel eSIM, using its data for logins and payments is often the simplest fix. See how much data you need for a trip and how to avoid surprise roaming charges.
Safer online banking abroad
- Use your bank's official app, or type the bank's address yourself. Don't follow links in texts or emails, and don't sign in on shared or hotel-lobby computers.
- Prefer mobile data from your eSIM or SIM for banking. On hotel Wi-Fi, connect your VPN first.
- Keep two-factor authentication working. If your bank texts you codes, keep your home number active for texts. Our guide to keeping your number with a travel eSIM explains how. App-based codes or passkeys work without a signal.
- Expect extra security checks. Banks may add verification or block sign-ins that look unusual, such as a new country or a VPN server. If that happens, try a VPN server in your home country, or turn the VPN off and use mobile data.
- Turn on transaction alerts so you spot card fraud quickly, and check whether your bank wants to know about travel.
Public Wi-Fi habits that help with or without a VPN
- Confirm the network name with staff before you join. Fake hotspots often copy the hotel's name.
- Turn off auto-join for open networks, and "forget" hotel and airport networks when you leave.
- Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you're not using them, as the NSA recommends.
- Update your phone, laptop and browser before you go, and use strong passwords with two-factor authentication, as the FTC advises.
- Watch for look-alike sites. The FTC notes that scam sites can use encryption too, so a lock icon alone doesn't prove a site is real.
Are VPNs legal everywhere?
VPNs are legal in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and most of Europe. A few countries restrict them: China only allows government-approved VPN services, Iran bans unauthorized use, Russia blocks many VPN services, and the UAE punishes using a VPN to commit or hide a crime. Rules change, so check the "Local laws" section of your destination's page in the US State Department travel advisories or the UK government's foreign travel advice, and follow local law while you're there.
Two VPNs to consider
Sponsored links: we may earn a commission if you buy a subscription through these links, at no extra cost to you. We haven't tested either service on every network in every country. Both are paid services with a money-back period, so you can try one before a trip.
- NordVPN: apps for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and Linux, with up to 10 devices on one subscription. Every plan includes Threat Protection, which blocks known malicious websites and ads while you're connected. NordVPN's no-logs policy has been independently assessed several times, most recently by Deloitte at the end of 2025. New subscriptions bought on NordVPN's own website have a 30-day money-back guarantee (app-store purchases follow the store's refund rules). Works on phones and computers.
See NordVPN plans - VeePN (Windows or Mac): a VPN app for Windows 7 to 11 and macOS 12 Monterey or later, with a kill switch that cuts your connection if the VPN drops. Plans cover 5 to 20 devices depending on the tier. Refunds: 14 days on weekly and monthly plans, 30 days on plans of six months or longer; discounted trial fees aren't refundable. Our VeePN link is for its Windows and Mac apps only, so open it on your laptop or desktop computer. Not available through our link in Russia and other CIS countries, Iran or Vietnam.
Get VeePN for Windows or Mac
Prices change often and the first term is usually discounted, so check the renewal price before you pay. You don't need a VPN to use the free tips on this page.
How the two compare
| NordVPN | VeePN (via our link) | |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Linux | Windows and Mac computers only |
| Devices per subscription | Up to 10 | 5 to 20, depending on the plan |
| Extra protection | Threat Protection (malicious sites and ads) on every plan | Kill switch on desktop |
| Money-back period | 30 days on new subscriptions bought on its website | 14 days (weekly or monthly) or 30 days (6 months or longer) |
| Where | Available worldwide through our link | Not through our link in CIS countries, Iran or Vietnam |
Details checked October 16, 2026 against NordVPN's refund policy, VeePN's refund policy, VeePN's supported platforms and each provider's pricing pages. Terms change, so confirm before you buy.
Free options first
You may not need to pay at all. Your phone's mobile data or personal hotspot avoids public Wi-Fi entirely, and some employers, universities and security suites include a VPN. Be careful with free VPN apps: running servers costs money, so check how a free VPN pays for itself and what its privacy policy says it collects before you install it.
Set it up before you leave
- Install the VPN on each device and sign in at home, on a connection you trust.
- Test it once: connect, open your bank's app, and check everything works.
- If the app offers a kill switch or auto-connect on untrusted Wi-Fi, turn it on.
- Save your VPN account email and password in a password manager, not in a note on your phone.
- Install and test your travel eSIM too, so you have a mobile-data backup.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a VPN on hotel Wi-Fi?
It's not strictly necessary for https websites, which are already encrypted, but it's a sensible extra layer because you share the network with strangers. For banking or work, use a VPN or your own mobile data.
Is it safe to do online banking abroad?
Generally yes, if you use your bank's official app, mobile data or a VPN on public Wi-Fi, and two-factor authentication. Avoid shared computers and links in unexpected messages.
Will my bank block me if I use a VPN?
Some banks add security checks or block sign-ins that come from VPN servers or unfamiliar countries. If that happens, choose a server in your home country or turn the VPN off and use mobile data.
Do I need a VPN with a travel eSIM?
Usually not for everyday use. Mobile data isn't shared with other people the way public Wi-Fi is. A VPN is still useful whenever you switch to hotel or airport Wi-Fi to save data.
Are VPNs legal in every country?
No. They're legal in most countries, but some, including China, Iran and Russia, restrict them. Check official travel advice for your destination and follow local law.
Will a VPN slow my connection?
A little, because traffic takes an extra hop. Picking a server close to where you are usually keeps the slowdown small.
See NordVPN plansGet VeePN for Windows or Mac
Sponsored links: we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. VeePN through our link is for Windows and Mac computers only and isn't available in CIS countries, Iran or Vietnam.
Sources
Official sources this article relies on, checked October 16, 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm details at the source.
- Are public Wi-Fi networks safe? (consumer.ftc.gov)
- guidance on securing wireless devices in public settings (nsa.gov)
- US State Department travel advisories (travel.state.gov)
- UK government's foreign travel advice (gov.uk)
- NordVPN's refund policy (support.nordvpn.com)
- VeePN's refund policy (help.veepn.com)
- VeePN's supported platforms (help.veepn.com)
Getting ready for a trip? Read the main travel connectivity guide, compare eSIMs, roaming and local SIMs, or see how to set up a travel eSIM.