Working online or remotely seems to be a dream for many people. They seem to think it’s easier to work poolside … Honestly, I’d rather be poolside any day than holed up in a cubicle. Being a digital nomad is great, but what about all the other temptations that impact deadlines? Have you ever tried to stay focused in a dorm room? Have you managed to connect to the Wi-Fi at the airport? What if the pool is too distracting and you end up in the pool instead? There goes your motivation!
To succeed online, you need to discipline yourself well. You can’t procrastinate too much, because eventually you’ll have to deal with tight deadlines and crappy Wi-Fi. To make your life easier, more productive, and more organized, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite digital procrastination tools. If you’re a blogger or freelancer, these apps and tools will definitely come in handy. These tools for nomads will help you be more productive!
SurfsharkVPN
Surfshark is probably the best choice for the budget-conscious traveler. The thoroughly modern VPN product can be had for as little as a few cents – and thanks to Surfshark’s consumer-friendly policies that allow unlimited simultaneous connections, you can even share it with friends, family, or travel companions, making it even more affordable.
Surfshark allows cryptocurrency payments, so you can completely separate your identity from your VPN usage. Of course, since Surfshark maintains a strict no-logging policy on its network of RAM-only servers, there are very few traces of your activities.
Speaking of networks, you can connect to more than 3,200 servers in 65 countries via OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec and WireGuard tunnels, protected by NSA-grade 256-AES GCM encryption. Surfshark also offers anti-malware protection, pop-up blocking and ad tracking, IP/DNS/WebRTC leak protection and a kill switch to keep you protected at all times.
The best part for nomads is that you can configure your Wi-Fi network individually – for good performance on your home network and maximum security on public Wi-Fi. All of this is possible with Surfshark.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a VPN service based in the British Virgin Islands. It offers over 3,000 servers in 60 locations in 94 countries worldwide.
It is one of the best VPNs in the industry today, with a huge market share and amazingly fake servers that work perfectly even in countries like China.
Since digital nomads are especially vulnerable to cyberattacks and phishing, ExpressVPN uses shared tunnels, DNS servers, and bank-grade encryption protocols to keep your devices safe.
In addition, ExpressVPN can help unlock many streaming channels like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu from any country. In fact, ExpressVPN is also one of the best VPNs for streaming movies.
One of the best things about using ExpressVPN is that it offers 24-hour chat support, so travelers can talk to a customer service representative at any time of the day or night.
NordVPN
NordVPN is number three on the list of best VPNs for digital nomads because it offers many of the features digital nomads look for in a VPN. It is a Panama-based vpn company, which makes it a privacy-friendly vpn company. NordVPN currently has over 5,200 vpn servers in 59 countries spread across different continents.
Aside from the fact that you have many options when it comes to choosing countries for your digital nomadic journey, NordVPN is a completely log-free VPN that does not store any identifiable logs.
Therefore, it is a great VPN for digital nomads to keep their online business private as it has made it to the list of best VPNs for anonymous internet access.
Since NordVPN’s 3-year plan costs only $3.33/month, it is really affordable for digital nomads who want to save a few bucks on vpn.
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN is an impressive service, especially with its budget-friendly pricing. It offers military-grade 2048-bit AES-256 encryption and doesn’t store user logs, making it a safe option for secure browsing.
You can protect up to six devices at once with a single subscription, and the connection speeds are amazing.
One of the features we really like about PrivateVPN is the free remote support with TeamViewer. This unique service can be really useful if you’re just getting started with the nomadic life and need help setting up your network security devices.
PrivateVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to give you even more peace of mind.
PureVPN
PureVPN is a Hong Kong-based online privacy service with over 6,500 servers in 141 countries worldwide. When it comes to evaluating the best VPN for digital nomads, PureVPN is probably the best choice.
To keep Digital Nomad’s network secure, PureVPN offers bank-level encryption, such as OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec protocols, as well as a kill switch option. Since PureVPN does not store user logs, digital nomads can use their devices securely without worrying about data theft.
PureVPN has a strict no-logging policy, you don’t have to worry about your data being sold to third parties. Best of all, PureVPN is very affordable and has a 31-day refund policy.
How to Look for in a VPN Service
- How many countries are supported? This is very important if you want to watch TV from certain countries. This is also important if you are buying tickets from other countries.
- Is there a bandwidth limit? Free options seem great until you realize they have bandwidth limitations. Make sure you know approximately how much data you’ll need to download. If you plan to use streaming services over your connection, a paid VPN is a must.
- Will all devices work together with simultaneous connections? If you’re traveling with a Macbook, an iPhone, and an iPad (or similar devices), you may want to connect all three devices to WiFi. Make sure that the option you choose allows simultaneous connections from different devices through one account.
- How fast is the connection? Many providers throttle the speed, especially with free accounts. If you plan to work online and deal with large files, it’s best to have a fast connection.
- Is traffic logged? One of the benefits of a VPN for digital nomads is security and anonymity. Your ISP and the government can’t see what websites you’ve visited. However, some VPN providers log user sessions. Check with the company before you sign up.
- What is the quality of customer service? If you need an emergency connection at one of the Internet cafes in Shanghai, you may be disconnected at 3am on a Saturday night. Is there any customer service available at that time? Did they respond quickly? Is the customer service efficient and professional?
- Is there an Android and iOS app available? If the service does not offer an app for iOS and Android, move on. All of the services on this list have apps for the two major mobile operating systems
Summary
If you’re a digital nomad – or want to be one – don’t forget to be prepared and don’t deny yourself one of the most important tools you can bring with you. Without a VPN, you’ll be exposed to all sorts of restrictions and censorship when you move around the world. With a VPN, however, you’ll be free to browse the Internet whenever you want and do whatever you want. Not to mention that you’ll be safe from intrusive governments and other online threats that lurk in the dark corners of the Internet.
