
There is a school of thought that VPNs are a tool that only some businesspeople need.
This is not the case.
Whether you work for yourself, a small company, or a giant multinational corporation, the benefits of using a VPN remain the same and are equally as important.
But, of course, different people need VPNs for various reasons, and the type of work you do and the company you work for will help to define which VPN is the right one for you.
In this article, we are going to help. We have tested all the best VPNs and identified which features are most beneficial to different business people.
We’re concentrating mainly on small businesses with under 20 employees. If you’re a large company, you will need a dedicated corporate VPN which is outside the scope of this guide.
Below we reveal the results as well as explain which features you need to be looking out for.
Table of Contents
Top 7 VPNs for Business
- NordVPN – Highly Recommended
- Perimeter 81
- IPVanish
- ExpressVPN
- VyprVPN
- PrivateInternetAccess
- TorGuard
1. NordVPN
- Dedicated business VPN service
- Scalable user configuration
- Added business features
- Audited no log policy
- Strong encryption
- Registered off-shore
- No Paypal options
- Not the fastest
Some of the VPNs on this list are here because of a specific feature they excel at, but if you want a superb all-around VPN that ticks all the boxes, then NordVPN is the provider for you and they’re our #1 top pick for small business.
NordVPN offers you a combination of strong encryption and privacy protections that match any other VPN around.
The fact that they are based offshore makes their no user logs guarantee rock solid. This is combined with lightning-fast speeds, thanks in no small part to their recent investment in new VPN servers.
NordLayer (previously NordVPN Teams) is their dedicated business offering.
Their server network is one of the biggest around and is one of the few, which combines an extensive network of locations with a number of servers in popular server locations like the USA and the UK.
NordVPN also allows six simultaneous connections and offers one of the most cost-effective deals around, especially if you sign up for a year or more. If you require more than this, then NordLayer allows you to adapt it to a dedicated solution for your needs.
It also offers additional security features such as split tunneling, a kill switch, double VPN (double data encryption), dedicated DNS servers, dedicated VPN server options, a static IP address or dedicated IP address, and more.
NordLayer offers advanced network control, the ability to transfer licenses, custom gateway creation, server load monitoring, custom teams and more.
Not even your internet service providers will know what you’re accessing online.
NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free. If you have just a few employees check out NordVPN. If you have more then NordLayer from NordVPN is your solution.
Best VPN for Business
30-day money back guarantee
2. Perimeter 81
- Dedicated business VPN service
- Strong security
- Supports Wireguard
- Dedicated support staff
- Unlimited devices
- No consumer service
Perimeter 81 is one of the best business VPN services for business and offers numerous features that make them ideal for protecting your private data and encrypting your web traffic.
They offer a zero-trust network service that ensures once your employees are connected, they are secure on your network. They are protected using identity-based access rules, traffic encryption, 2FA, monitoring, and much more.
Perimeter 81 also offers a cloud-based VPN alternative which is excellent for remote workers, especially if they’re working on sensitive projects that can’t afford to be leaked online. This alternative also operates on a zero-trust network.
Their VPN service has excellent security features such as private DNS, split tunneling, always-on VPN, ‘military-grade’ encryption, automatic Wi-Fi security, dedicated IP address options, and multiple VPN protocols such as IPSec, OpenVPN, and WireGuard.
The Perimeter 81 VPN service offers a fast and easy network with unlimited data usage and excellent speeds.
With the number of servers at 700 and server locations at 81, you’ll never fail to have secure network access. Your dedicated account manager will make sure of this.
You can have unlimited devices approved for connection to the Perimeter 81 secure network, so your staff can access the office network remotely.
All of the above makes Perimeter 81 an excellent choice of VPN provider for any small business owner. Perimeter 81’s Virtual Private Network allows you to protect your business’s private data while allowing remote employees to access the business network from remote locations.
Perimeter 81 offers priority support to its business customers, so you’ll always have access to someone to troubleshoot any problems.
3. IPVanish
- Time proven service
- Strong encryption
- Supports Wireguard
- 30-day money back guarantee
- Large range of apps
- No dedicated business mode
- Unaudited no log policy
- Registered in the US
IPVanish is a tremendous all-around VPN, but it offers a few features that businesspeople especially will benefit from. Principal among these is the number of concurrent connections available with each subscription.
IPVanish offers unlimited simultaneous connections to every user. Multiple connections mean you can not only protect all your devices, but if you are a small business, you may even be able to keep all your staff safe and secure too.
They also boast a great range of apps which means you can use IPVanish on just about any device you can think of.
As well as this, IPVanish users can also benefit from some of the fastest VPN connections around. Their encryption is right up there with the very best, too, with 256-bit AES used as a standard for all users.
Other security features include a kill switch, split tunneling, NAT firewall, DNS leak protection, and two-factor authentication.
IPVanish also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so your investment is risk-free.
Their strong encryption combined with a firm no user logs policy means your online privacy is assured and a vast server network that includes all the major business destinations around the world.
Throw in IPVanish’s competitive pricing, and all this combined makes them the best business VPN around.
4. ExpressVPN
- Audited no log policy
- Huge range of apps
- Top security & encryption
- Registered off-shore
- No dedicated business mode
- Owns VPN ‘review’ sites
- Expensive month-by-month
ExpressVPN is one of the very best all-around VPNs on the market, but there are a few areas where it is lacking for business users.
When it comes to locations, there are few better. ExpressVPN has a large number of servers, 3,000 to be exact. They also have server locations worldwide, making ExpressVPN ideal for connecting with global partners or if you have to travel for your work.
It has some of the most robust encryption around, and it is another provider that is based offshore (in the British Virgin Islands), which means your privacy is assured too. As the name suggests, ExpressVPN’s connections speeds are also very impressive.
However, ExpressVPN only offers five concurrent connections to each subscriber. This might be enough for you, but many would ideally like more.
The other downside is the price. It is more expensive than the others on this list, and while their high level of service justifies this, if you run your business on a budget, you might prefer to opt for a cheaper provider.
5. VyprVPN
- Dedicated business service
- Audited no log policy
- Registered in Switzerland
- 30 concurrent connections
- Easy to use apps
- Not the fastest
- Minimal app coverage
VyprVPN commonly comes out top of business VPN tests thanks primarily to their exclusive business VPN service.
If you work with a large company or multinational, this is worth exploring, but for small companies and freelancers, you might not need dedicated business VPNs. Their regular service is still a robust and efficient choice for small business users.
Their encryption is as good as any other provider, and when it comes to privacy, they are up there with the very best. Their independently verified no logs guarantee means your online privacy will be assured with VyprVPN.
They also offer a sizeable server network, fast connection speeds, and thirty simultaneous connections for every subscriber.
VyprVPN have some excellent features such as split tunneling, a built-in kill switch, dedicated server options with a dedicated IP address, deep packet inspection prevention, a dedicated business VPN server, and two-factor authentication.
They do only have apps for Mac, Windows, Android and iOS devices, but that will be enough for most people.
6. PrivateInternetAccess
- Biggest number of servers
- Court tested no log policy
- 10 concurrent devices
- Registered in the US
- No dedicated business service
If you want a low-budget VPN that still delivers excellent service, then PrivateInternetAccess could be the one for you. They performed well in our recent cheap VPN tests, and for the price, their service is impressive.
With PrivateInternetAccess, you can enjoy connections to up to ten devices, decent encryption, and a reliable no user logs policy.
Their server network is huge and has one of the largest number of servers in the world, with server locations in all of the popular countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, etc.
Connection speeds are good but not the fastest, although they should still be sufficient for most users.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee which gives you plenty of time to test their service, and if you want to keep subscription costs to a minimum, PrivateInternetAccess is a good bet.
7. TorGuard
- Large range of servers
- Apps for most devices
- No dedicated business service
- Not the fastest
TorGuard is one of the best business VPNs for your business and has a large number of servers, 3,000 to be exact. TorGuard has server locations in the UK, USA, Germany, Hong Kong, and many others.
Their service is a no-logs VPN that has no leaks and is 100% private, so your employees and work colleagues can access the internet in a safe and secure manner.
When it comes to connection speed, TorGuard offers a zero capped connection speed, so downloading large documents or video files isn’t a problem.
It’s worth noting that TorGuard supports all operating systems and devices, so every device can have secure access to the office network.
TorGuard has excellent 24/7 customer support to help with any queries that you may have and operate 365 days a year. You’ll even be provided with a dedicated account manager to help with any problems you may have connecting to the company network.
Your dedicated account manager will be available 24/7. As far as VPN providers go, TorGuard is not the best but one of the best business VPNs around.
How to get a VPN for your business
To securely connect to a business VPN and have secure remote access to your business network, follow these steps. I’ll be using NordVPN/NordLayer as an example.
Step 1
Sign up for one of NordVPN’s packages by heading to their website.
Keep in mind how many accounts and users you will need and sign up several accounts if need to. Consider NordVPN for smaller businesses or NordLayer if you need scalability.
Step 2
Download the NordVPN app to your device(s); this can be achieved by heading to your device’s app store or by visiting the NordVPN websites app page.
Ensure your co-workers know the official source to download their app safely.
Step 3
Log into the NordVPN service using your email and password.
Now, choose a location to connect to by clicking the “Quick Connect” button. This will automatically select the fastest location (VPN server) for you to connect to.
Step 4
Wait for your connection to establish (it takes around 10 seconds), and then browse the internet using your secure internet connection.
How to choose a VPN for Business
When it comes to selecting the best business VPN services, there are a number of factors that you should take into consideration. Some of these key factors are listed below.
Self-hosted or cloud-based
Some business VPNs mentioned on the list above operate in the cloud. By operating in the cloud, they’re extremely easy to set up, manage, and scale.
You can easily host files and apps directly on the cloud-based VPN server. By doing so will allow remote employees to have access to everything by using the VPN app.
You can always host your own business VPN either on-site or cloud-based, but this requires more IT knowledge and more resources.
Does it have a good dashboard
When it comes to managing your business VPN accounts, it’s always nice to have a well-designed dashboard.
Being able to keep your employees securely connected to your chosen business VPN is priceless and will make your life easier in the long run.
As they say, “time is money”, so ensure you don’t waste any time using a complicated dashboard.
Security
This is an obvious one, but always make sure you’ve chosen a business VPN that has excellent security in place.
256 bit AES military-grade encryption is the standard that all VPNs should have, and any VPN worth the investment should have a no-logs policy.
A no-logs policy will ensure that your business data is kept private. Several consumer VPNs on this list, such as ExpressVPN, have had their no logging claim verified.
Third-party authentication helps increase the trust in their claim.
Other business security features such as a kill switch, split tunneling, simple cloud migration security, centralized billing, leak protection, 2FA, and a wide range of VPN protocols (better than the PPTP security protocols) are equally important.
Customer care or support staff
A business VPN with a great support network and customer care is priceless to any business owner looking to set up a VPN.
The likelihood is that problems will occur from time to time, so it’s always nice to have a knowledgeable customer support team waiting to answer your questions.
Occasionally customer support will be limited to that countries working hours, but most VPNs are moving towards 24/7 live chat support.
Some services even include an account manager or a dedicated VPN management portal.
Site to site
Some dedicated business VPNs offer a site to site connection. This allows you to create an encrypted tunnel between two networks.
This is incredibly useful for businesses with multiple offices.
Network segmentation
Sometimes you can segment your network into smaller parts to help protect important data while still allowing regular access to other files and applications.
The ability to scale
If you’ve got plans to expand your business in the near future, be sure to check that the business VPN you’ve selected allows you to increase the number of users that you have.
Some services, such as IPVanish, offer unlimited connections so that you can protect your internet traffic on multiple devices.
If you need more than a dedicated business VPN from NordLayer or Permiter81 is the way to go.
Why is a VPN useful for business?
There’s a number of different reasons why VPN services are useful for businesses.
Firstly, they offer guaranteed online security and privacy to ensure your company keeps embarrassing data leaks to a minimum and limits the chance of falling victim to corporate espionage or state-sponsored surveillance.
It also helps you if you have to work on the go. With a VPN, you can use public Wi-Fi in places like airports, coffee shops, and trains without having to worry about what you are doing online.
They work on all your mobile devices as well as your computers too.
Then there is the benefit for digital nomads and other travelling business people. If you have to travel overseas for work, with a VPN, you can still access everything from back home, even if you find yourself somewhere like China, where internet access is severely restricted.
Do I need a dedicated business VPN?
It depends. If you are a freelance worker or work with a small company, then probably not; regular consumer VPNs offer you all the security and privacy you need with unlimited connections available with providers like IPVanish.
You can even give several of your team secure access to the internet and protect their internet traffic without having to pay big bucks.
If, however, you work for a bigger company, then a dedicated business VPN could be a better choice.
They will generally offer a better means to get all your staff protected in a more cost-effective way and can provide many additional essential business tools that big businesses, in particular, will benefit from.
VyprVPN offers just such a service. To find out more, follow the link on this page and search on their website for their dedicated business plan packages.
Do I need a VPN as a small business owner?
Yes, you do. Small businesses still need to be able to access their data securely; they need to be able to work remotely, and; they often need to be able to travel too.
Using a VPN helps to facilitate all of this. The basic features of a VPN are beneficial to all businesses, large or small.
Indeed, in many ways, small businesses get a better deal than big ones because VPNs can protect your business from the sort of incidents that wouldn’t harm a big business much but can be catastrophic for smaller ones.
In Summary
All businesses need to be using a VPN. As we have explained, it can help with data and intellectual property security, online privacy, accessing online services on the go, and travelling overseas.
In this article, we have revealed which VPNs are the best for business in 2021. NordVPN came top of the pile thanks, in no small part, to its ten concurrent connections and excellent all-around service.
NordLayer is their dedicated business alternative if you need more services and scalability.
We have explained some of the critical features that businesses benefit from and which VPNs are best.
Think about what features best suit your needs and then follow our advice. Whichever VPN you choose from this list, you can be sure of the peace of mind that comes with an excellent VPN service.