It’s wise to use a VPN for online banking, because it adds an extra layer of security to your connection. It anonymizes your identity and prevents hackers from getting access to your sensitive data. This is especially important when using public Wi-Fi networks that are usually not secure.
We have tested the security features of dozens of VPNs and have found that the following are the best VPNs for online banking:
- NordVPN: The best all-around VPN for online banking
- ExpressVPN: A reliable no-logs VPN provider
- Surfshark: Feature-rich VPN offering an unlimited number of connections
- CyberGhost: Inexpensive VPN with several security features
- PIA: A VPN with top-notch privacy and a wide network of servers
NordVPN is our top choice because it offers the best features to encrypt your data and ensure your security. This VPN also offers a Threat Protection feature that will safeguard your from malicious actors trying to steal your information by installing malware to your device. Hit the button below to get the best deal on NordVPN for safe online banking.
For more details about all our recommendations regarding the best VPN for online banking, check out the full article below.
Online banking is extremely convenient but comes with serious risks, such as malware, phishing, credit card fraud, and more. One way to protect yourself is by using a VPN or virtual private network to add an extra layer of security to your internet connection. A VPN helps to anonymize you online and makes it difficult for hackers to get hold of your sensitive information.
We have tried and tested all the VPNs on our list of the best VPNs for online banking and have done extensive research to provide you with the most secure online banking VPNs and how they can protect you. Keep reading if you want to find out more about the security features of each VPN and why you need one for online banking.
Which is the Best VPN for Banking?
The table below summarizes the best VPNs for online banking and how they compare to each other. We have also included the type of protocols each one has to give you a better idea of how secure each VPN is, along with their price to help you choose the one that is more affordable to you.
| Feature | 1. NordVPN | 2. ExpressVPN | 3. Surfshark | 4. CyberGhost | 5. PIA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of servers | 5,000+ | 3,000+ | 3,200+ | 9,000+ | 33,000+ |
| Number of countries | 50+ | 90+ | 100 | 90+ | 84 |
| Obfuscation Technology | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Encryption | 256-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit (choose between 128-bit and 256-bit in PIA’s Settings menu) |
| Leak protection | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, Wireguard | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec | OpenVPN, IKEv2, Wireguard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, Wireguard | OpenVPN, Wireguard, L2TP/IPsec, PPTP |
| Price | $3.29/month | $6.67/month | $2.49/month | $2.19/month | $2.19/month |
| Purchase | Get NordVPN | Get ExpressVPN | Get Surfshark | Get CyberGhost | Get PIA |
Keep reading below for more details about each of these top banking VPNs.
1. NordVPN: The best online banking VPN overall
Features:
- Standard AES-256 encryption
- Automatic kill switch
- Double VPN feature
- Threat Protection
- Dedicated IP address
- Strict no-logs policy
- Great customer support through live chat and email
Based on our extensive tests and research, we picked NordVPN as the best VPN for banking. The AES-256 encryption cipher it uses is the most secure protocol in the market. It is extremely difficult to crack and ensures your sensitive information is kept safe at all times. By using this protocol, your data cannot be leaked through vulnerabilities in your connection.
A kill switch is another important feature NordVPN offers. If the VPN malfunctions, the kill switch will cut your connection to the internet, preventing any of your data from leaking online.
For more enhanced security, NordVPN also has a DoubleVPN feature that routes your internet traffic through two individual servers, thereby providing you with an extra layer of protection as your data is encrypted twice.
The Threat Protection feature automatically blocks malicious sites or fake banking sites. This also makes NordVPN one of the best VPNs with an antivirus feature for secure online banking.
A dedicated IP address is also a great addition to a VPN, and not many providers offer it. A dedicated IP is essential for online banking as banks can sometimes block your online access when you log into your account from too many different IP addresses. Having a dedicated IP address will prevent this from happening. However, you’ll need to pay an extra $70.00 for this feature.
The only downside with NordVPN is that the quality of the live chat will depend on the agent and that, for some websites, you may need extra verification, which may be time-consuming.
NordVPN is priced at just $3.29 a month when you opt for the two-year plan. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try the service risk-free. Tap the button below to get the best NordVPN deal.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
Read more details about our first choice as the best VPN for online banking in our full NordVPN review.
2. ExpressVPN: A secure and reliable VPN provider
Features:
- Military-grade 256-bit encryption
- Automatic kill switch
- Obfuscation technology
- Certified no-logs VPN
- Excellent customer service with 24/7 live chat and email support
ExpessVPN made it second in our list of the best VPNs for banking. This provider also encrypts your data with the top-notch AES-256 cipher that some of the top VPN providers use.
ExpressVPN also has another strong point which is its kill switch feature which prevents any of your data from getting exposed online. An automatic kill switch will immediately cut you off from the internet if the VPN stops working for whatever reason. However, ExpressVPN does not give you a clear indication of when the kill switch is activated, which some users may find concerning.
Another major advantage of ExpressVPN is its obfuscation technology which makes it the best VPN for online banking. This feature doesn’t let your online banking app detect that you’re using a VPN. Sometimes, banks may block a VPN connection which is why it is useful to have this feature.
Finally, ExpressVPN is a no-logs VPN which means that it never keeps track of your usage or online activities. This prevents third parties, including government authorities, from getting access to your data or online banking details.
Another downside of ExpressVPN, apart from the kill switch notification, is that it is expensive compared to other premium VPNs, starting at $6.67 a month for the annual plan. But given the value it offers, we think it’s worth the cost for a secure online banking experience. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee which means you can try the service risk-free and then get your money back.
Hit the button below to check out the best ExpressVPN deal.
- Very easy-to-use VPN
- Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e., Netflix)
- Thousands of servers in 105 countries
For more details on the security features of this VPN provider, check out our full ExpressVPN review.
3. Surfshark: Feature-rich VPN with unlimited connections
Features:
- AES 256-bit encryption
- Kill switch
- Camouflage Mode
- Dedicated Bypasser tool
- NoBorders Mode
- CleanWeb feature
- Unlimited connections across devices
Surfshark also has some excellent features that will protect you while doing your online banking activities. The Camouflage Mode that Surfshark offers obfuscates VPN traffic to prevent websites of banks from detecting that you’re using a VPN. This ensures that your access to your bank accounts never gets blocked by your bank.
Its Bypasser tool makes Surfshark the best VPN for online banking, as it allows specific apps and sites to bypass the VPN when needed. This is ideal for mobile banking apps that sometimes don’t work as well when you’re connected to a VPN. Moreover, its NoBorders Mode overcomes network restrictions in areas with stricter internet censorship like China, for example, and provides you with a secure online banking experience.
Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature completely removes all ads or trackers. This feature also blocks cookie pop-ups and prevents websites from keeping track of which pages you visit.
Finally, another great addition to the vast array of Surfshark’s features that make it one of the best VPNs for banking is the unlimited connections it offers which can be useful when you want to share the VPN with family or friends.
However, one drawback of Surfshark VPN is that it doesn’t offer a dedicated IP, which can be an issue for some online banking users that want to use just one specific IP address when doing online banking. Moreover, Surfshark does not allow you to manually select a server, which may offer you faster speeds.
Surfshark is available for just $2.49 a month when you opt for the two-year plan. Like other top online banking VPNs, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can get a refund if you don’t enjoy the service. Get Surfshark at an unbeatable price by clicking the button below.
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
Read more about what Surfshark has to offer in our full Surfshark review.
4. CyberGhost: Affordable VPN with fast servers for online banking
Features:
- Industry-standard AES-256 encryption
- Automatic kill switch
- DNS leak protection
- Large server network of over 9,000+ servers in 90+ countries
- Dedicated IP address
- Smart Rules customization feature
CyberGhost is another excellent VPN provider in our best VPN for banking list. The service provider will keep your personal information secure while doing online banking through several security measures.
It offers a great combination of features for secure online banking, such as the highly regarded AES-256 encryption, an automatic kill switch, and DNS leak protection. We have tested whether CyberGhost allows any of your data to leak online, and we were pleased to see that the VPN does what it promised. Our IP was hidden successfully every time we used the VPN provider.
The extensive server network CyberGhost offers ensures that you can always find a secure high-speed server near you no matter where you are.
The Smart Rules feature lets you create your own rules for different situations that protect your online banking. For instance, you can set a rule for what happens when an unsecured Wi-Fi network is detected. This can prevent your device from connecting to an unsafe network so that your sensitive banking data is protected from prying eyes. You can also configure CyberGhost to launch each time you open mobile banking apps.
On the downside, CyberGhost does not currently have obfuscation technologies like the other VPNs on this list, and it may be a bit pushy with its ads. Nonetheless, starting at just $2.19 a month for a two-year plan, CyberGhost is one of the best cheap VPNs you can get. Moreover, you get an extended 45-day money-back guarantee so that you can cancel risk-free. Hit the button below to claim the deal.
- Very user-friendly
- High quality for a low price
- Torrents and Netflix possible
You can read more about the great features this VPN provides in our CyberGhost review.
5. PIA: Top-notch privacy with a large server network
Features:
- Standard AES-256 encryption
- DNS leak protection
- Kill switch
- Built-in ad blocker
- Expansive server network of over 33,000 servers spread across 84 countries
- Strict no-logs policy
- Dedicated IP
- Antivirus as add-on
PIA is the final VPN we recommend on our list for the best VPN for banking. It offers an efficient ad-blocker called MACE, which alerts you when you are about to visit a website that may contain malware like a Remote Access Trojan that can control your device. MACE blocks you from accessing that site to ensure your online transactions are safe and you have a secure online banking experience.
The VPN provider’s strict no-log policy prevents it from saving any of your sensitive information. So, you can rest assured that the VPN does not track your online activity, and your details will not be shared with third parties. Actually, PIA is considered one of the best no-log VPNs on the market.
Another feature that PIA offers that makes it a great VPN for online banking is its antivirus software. This will protect you against hackers that try to infect your computer with malware like a computer virus and other malicious software.
PIA earns the fifth spot in our list because it is based in the US, which is a 5 Eyes country. This means that if it is required, it may share your info with other member countries.
PIA is available for as little as $2.19 per month when you opt for the two-year plan. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it risk-free.
- Strong focus on privacy and security
- Good price
- Fast and stable servers
Read more about how PIA can protect your sensitive data online in our full Private Internet Access review.
How We Picked the Best VPNs for Online Banking
We’ve hand-picked all the best VPNs for online banking based on our tests regarding their security features, user-friendliness, and pricing. Below we give you a few more details on what makes a VPN app good for online banking:
- Baseline security: Keeping your bank login credentials safe is crucial. A good VPN for online banking has high-grade encryption protocols and a strict no-logging policy.
- Additional safety features: Kill switches, ad blockers, and any other extra safety features are crucial to protect your online banking activities.
- Ease of use: When you’re checking a balance or paying the utilities, you don’t need to install a VPN on your router. You just need a quick connection routing and encryption. So ease of use is great to have in a VPN for online banking.
- Server locations: If a VPN doesn’t have servers in your country, you’ll have a harder time signing into your online banking applications, especially if you’re traveling and need to log into your bank account without triggering the anti-fraud failsafe of your bank.
- Pricing and support: The core VPN application is most important, but the service on top of that matters too. Consider your budget and whether or not a VPN offers qualitative support.
If you like our picks above, but can’t decide yet, don’t worry. Despite their simplistic interfaces, VPNs are complex applications. That’s why we’ve curated this list after extensive testing to help users choose the best VPN for safe and secure online banking.
Is a VPN Safe for Online Banking?
Yes, a VPN is safe for online banking as it offers you much-needed protection while accessing your online bank account. We also have an entire article about the safety of online banking, which will be a great read alongside the information we provided you here.
Here are some of the reasons to use a VPN for online banking:
- Secures your internet connection when you’re using public Wi-Fi. This way, you can access the internet through an encrypted “tunnel” instead of directly through public Wi-Fi. Once the data travels through that server, it can’t be traced.
- Anonymizes your activity online. Your IP address is not visible to anyone when you’re connected to the VPN. This prevents hackers or other third parties from spying on you when you’re banking online.
- Encrypts your internet traffic. Banks encrypt their own platforms, of course. This ensures that your data doesn’t get stolen from their database. But a VPN encrypts all of your internet traffic, securing data on your end as well.
- Gives you extra security features. A kill switch, for instance, automatically terminates your internet connection if you get disconnected from the VPN server. This way, your privacy is never affected during an online banking session.
- Helps you access your bank account from anywhere. If you’re abroad, it might be difficult to log into your bank account. With a VPN service, you can just change your IP to your home country, and you’re in!
Transaction data and login credentials for bank accounts should be stored safely. If your computer is hacked during online banking, it can endanger those sets of data, threatening your privacy, security, and possibly even your money. That’s why a VPN is important for secure online banking and other financial online activities, like investing through apps such as Acorns and Ally Invest. It’s an added layer of security to your banking needs.
But it’s not the only reason a VPN is good for online banking. Banks have security mechanisms built into their online platforms. So if you travel to a foreign country and access your bank account, those security mechanisms might think it’s someone else. To avoid any confusion and potential account freezes, get a VPN and connect to a server from your country.
Can You Use Free VPNs for Online Banking?
Using a free VPN for online banking may not be such a great idea. Free VPNs can be a great fix when you need to quickly change your IP. But they’re not a reliable long-term choice. And they’re especially a bad pick for secure online banking.
Here’s why. Free VPNs can change your IP address (in most cases). But they don’t employ the best security and encryption protocols. Moreover, most of them won’t have extra security features like a kill switch. And to top it all, free VPNs are much more likely to keep logs of your activity. Some may even steal your data.
So you’re not protected, and you’re not anonymous. That’s why we don’t recommend free VPNs to safely access online banking apps. An untrusted free VPN service can hamper your online banking security and may even trigger the safety measures of your bank. It will think it’s a hacker accessing your account from a different place, and it might even freeze your account until the situation is clear.
VPNs to Avoid
There are several VPNs you should avoid when using your online banking app. This is because there may be hidden dangers with those VPN providers, like data leaks and a lack of a secure encryption protocol.
When using a VPN for online banking, you should ensure that it will keep your information private and keep you safe online. While making payments through an online banking app, you share a lot of sensitive information. Hence, the VPN you use should have top-notch security protocols and features to safeguard this data.
The table below lists some VPN providers that are definitely not the best VPNs for banking. We don’t recommend these VPNs for various reasons, including DNS leaks, security concerns, and potential malware within their software that make them very dangerous for online banking activities.
| VPN Provider | Why You Should Avoid It |
|---|---|
| Secure VPN | The VPN has a vague privacy policy, does not mention the security protocol it uses, and we observed DNS leaks during our tests, which can be dangerous as your online activity will be visible to others. |
| BeetVPN | This service provider keeps logs of user data and is very slow, which makes using it impractical, especially if you’re looking for a secure online banking experience. |
| iProVPN | During our tests with this VPN service, Microsoft Defender warned us that the software might contain a virus. Also, we could not connect to any of its servers, which is obviously not a good sign for a VPN for online banking. |
| Tuxler VPN | Based on our testing circuit, we observed that Tuxler VPN collects a lot of user data and shares it with third parties and doesn’t specify which security protocols it uses, which is a concern if you want to use it for online banking. |
Conclusion: The Best VPN for Banking and Online Safety
The best VPN for banking should bolster the privacy of your personal data. It should also help prevent third parties from getting access to your information while also letting you log into your online bank account from different geographical regions.
All the VPNs we included in our list of the best VPNs for online banking have great features like AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, robust security protocols, and leak protection. However, based on our comprehensive tests, we recommend NordVPN as the best VPN for online banking. Its DoubleVPN feature, Threat Protection, and dedicated IP really make this provider stand out among others.
If you want to know more about being safe online, check out our articles below:
- Is Online Baking Safe?
- How to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi
- 10 Tips for a Safer Online Shopping Experience
Got a question about choosing the best VPN for online banking? Check out our FAQ section below. Click or tap a question to view the answer.
A good VPN is safe for online banking, however not all of them have features that will keep your data private. It’s vital to pick a trusted service that can protect you online. We’ve picked the five best VPNs for online banking and our top recommendations include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark.
NordVPN is our top choice for online banking because it has a range of security features including an automatic kill switch and a DoubleVPN that encrypts your information twice. You can read more in our full NordVPN review. If you’re looking for cheaper options, CyberGhost and Surfshark are also great choices.
Yes, you can access online banking from abroad with a VPN. Many banks restrict you from accessing your account from other countries. But using a VPN can help bypass this restriction because you can connect to a VPN server in your country and then access your account.
One of the cheapest VPNs with a wide server network that can help you access online banking is CyberGhost. Read our CyberGhost review for all the details.
