Not for everything, but it's worth having. Most sites and apps already encrypt your traffic with HTTPS, which is why the FTC says public Wi-Fi is usually safe for ordinary browsing. A VPN covers the gaps that encryption leaves.
Where a VPN actually helps
- Hotel, airport and cafe Wi-Fi. You don't know who runs the network. The EFF notes that a VPN hides your traffic from the local network owner and your ISP, including metadata like which sites you visit.
- Banking and home accounts. Banks, brokerages and some government sites flag or block logins from foreign IP addresses. Connecting through a US server can stop the lockouts and verification loops.
- Your own services. Home cameras, a work network or US-only apps often expect a US connection.
- Devices on shared networks. Running it on a travel router covers a laptop, phone and Fire Stick at once.
A VPN such as NordVPN handles those jobs. What it won't do is stop phishing, malware or a fake login page, and the sites you sign in to still see what you do there. EFF also points out that your traffic becomes visible to the VPN provider instead, so pick one with a no-logs policy that's been audited.
Check local law first
Rules vary a lot. Freedom House's Freedom on the Net 2025 ranks China and Myanmar as the worst environments for internet freedom, and VPNs that aren't government-approved are restricted in China. In the UAE, VPNs are allowed, but using one to reach blocked services such as calling apps can bring fines of Dh500,000 to Dh2 million. Look up the rules for your destination and stay on the right side of them.
You can travel without one, but it fixes the most common connection hassles.