A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one of the most used features today for travelers who want to expand their Netflix catalog without worrying about geographic restrictions and for travelers who wish to access Social Media in countries that ban it.
If you’re reading this, chances are you already use a basic free VPN during your travels and are wondering whether you should upgrade to a paid VPN.
In this short article, I will list the Top 5 reasons to switch from free to paid VPN during your travels. Enjoy my wonder friends!
#01: Enhanced Security and Privacy
Protecting your data is one of the main reasons why many people use VPNs and while free VPNs provide basic encryption, sometimes this isn’t enough to protect you.
Paid VPNs offer better protection and also go the extra mile to protect your data. Some paid VPN services, such as Surfshark, also notify you of possible malware and other spyware that your device might have so you can deal with it as soon as possible.
If protecting your data is a high priority, upgrading from free to paid VPN is a no-brainer.
#02 Faster Connection Speeds
While using a free VPN you might sometimes notice a sudden drop in internet speed when you’re streaming a film or doing a video call. This is due to overcrowded and limited servers.
Paid VPN services have a larger number of servers to ensure faster and more consistent connection speeds for all of its users without any connection drops.
#03 Unlimited Bandwidth and Data Usage
An important thing to consider when using a Free VPN is that sometimes they come with a data cap limit after which your connection speed will fall drastically.
Usually, this is around 10 GB so if you’re using a VPN for streaming, this will only last you around 10 hours of streaming HD films/shows. Paid VPNs solve this issue with unlimited data usage.
#04 Access to Geo Restricted Content Worldwide
As technology marches on, streaming sites have started to find ways around VPNs. Free VPNs with limited servers were the first ones to get affected by this and streaming services such as Netflix, Disney Plus or Max have started to deny access to VPN users.
Some select paid VPN companies have invested a lot in technology that prevents VPN detection and are still compatible with streaming sites making them a popular option to expand your catalog.
This PC World article, updated October 2024, mentions some popular paid VPNs that still work with streaming sites.
#05 Customer Support
Troubleshooting is a very important aspect of any service and this is easy to overlook when things go smoothly. But how about when there’s a problem?
Free VPN customer service leaves a lot to be desired since most of them are simply apps or browser extensions that don’t have a proper customer support team behind them.
Paid VPN services are proper business companies with robust costumer support that will help you with any question you might have regarding installation or problem-solving.
How Much Does a Paid VPN Plan Cost?
It will depend on the company you hire. A reasonable price is 5 USD per month so 60 USD per year and companies usually have deep discounts during Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving) so be on the lookout to grab a nice deal.
There are usually free trials so why not give it a go and personally experience the difference between a Free and a Paid VPN my wonder friends?
I hope you have enjoyed this article about the benefits of using a VPN during your travels. Don’t forget to subscribe to get more awesome updates and tips straight to your email!
Have you upgraded to a paid VPN during your travels? Would you like to? Share your thoughts and let me know what you think.
Until next time, my friends!!!
