This guide compares leading VPN providers like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, along with budget-friendly options like Private Internet Access and Surfshark, ensuring you choose the best fit for your organization's remote connectivity needs.
Remote access to company resources introduces security challenges, especially when employees use unmonitored devices. Effective VPN solutions for remote work employ robust protocols and strong encryption to ensure online privacy and secure sensitive data. Dedicated IP addresses or servers serve as secure access points and prevent unauthorized IP addresses from connecting.
Additional crucial features include DNS leak prevention and a kill switch mechanism, which halts internet traffic if the VPN connection unexpectedly terminates. Moreover, VPN remote access software must deliver sufficient speed to support seamless file sharing and uninterrupted video conferencing for employees.
Presenting the top five remote access vpn software options renowned for their robust features. These selections leverage strong VPN protocols and encryption standards to ensure secure communication between corporate servers and employees' devices.
NordSecurity, a leader in online security, focuses on enhancing user and company data protection through its diverse range of products. Among these, NordVPN and NordLayer stand out for remote teams, with NordLayer serving as a comprehensive SASE framework.
NordVPN equips employees with essential security tools for secure access to company resources. It includes the capability to utilize dedicated IP addresses across five countries, effectively controlling access to critical corporate systems. Moreover, administrators can specify authorized IP addresses that are permitted to connect to private servers or company systems, ensuring stringent access control measures.
Additionally, NordVPN employs AES-256 encryption and robust secure protocols, ensuring robust security protocols for safeguarding sensitive data.
Establish a virtual LAN using mesh networking
NordVPN's standout feature includes its mesh network capability, allowing up to 60 devices to connect within a virtual local area network (LAN). Each device is assigned a unique name and specific IP address, facilitating administrators in managing access to corporate resources. This setup also enables remote employees to securely share files through encrypted tunnels. For a comprehensive exploration of NordVPN's mesh network functionality, refer to our detailed review.
In addition to its mesh network, NordVPN offers other valuable security features tailored for remote teams. For instance, in regions where VPN services are restricted, obfuscated servers provide a crucial solution by concealing VPN usage. This ensures employees can utilize VPN technology without concerns about potential repercussions.
Furthermore, NordVPN enhances security with double VPN servers, providing an additional layer of protection. This feature is particularly beneficial for organizations supporting remote journalists, human rights activists, and whistleblowers.
Pros & cons of NordVPN
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Pricing plans of NordVPN
NordVPN offers affordability, particularly with its two-year plan providing the best value for money. It's important to note that dedicated IPs are available for an additional cost of $70 per year. Each plan supports up to ten simultaneous connections and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
|
Plan |
Features |
Devices |
Price (1-month) |
Price (1-year) |
Price (2-year + 3 months) |
|
Basic |
Unlimited GB |
10 |
$12.99 |
$4.99/month ($59.88/year) |
$3.55/month ($95.76/2 years) |
|
Plus |
Unlimited GB |
10 |
$13.99 |
$5.99/month ($71.88/year) |
$4.44/month ($119.76/2 years) |
|
Ultimate |
Unlimited GB |
10 |
$15.99 |
$7.99/month ($95.88/year) |
$6.21/month ($167.76/2 years) |
ExpressVPN stands out as our top VPN provider, particularly for consumer use. From a business perspective, however, it may not match NordVPN's capabilities due to the absence of dedicated IP addresses, crucial for securely accessing corporate systems remotely.
Nevertheless, ExpressVPN excels in regions where VPN services are restricted. It employs obfuscation technology across all its servers, ensuring VPN usage remains discreet and secure, unlike NordVPN which does not have this feature.
Similar to our top picks, ExpressVPN implements AES-256 encryption and robust secure protocols to guarantee strong security measures. Moreover, its VPN servers utilize TrustedServer technology, which wipes data with each reboot, ensuring no digital traces are left behind for ISPs or potential hackers.
ExpressVPN also adopts perfect forward secrecy, rotating encryption keys regularly. This approach ensures that even if one encryption key is compromised, all traffic remains secure and unreadable. Furthermore, ExpressVPN boasts lightning-fast speeds, ensuring seamless file sharing and virtual meetings for remote employees without any interruptions.
Deploy volume licensing subscriptions
Instead of individually subscribing team members to ExpressVPN, you can opt for volume licensing subscriptions, which allow you to purchase and manage licenses for the entire team under a single account. This makes ExpressVPN scalable for rapidly expanding teams. You can begin with five licenses and easily scale up to more than 50 licenses as your team grows.
Pros & cons of ExpressVPN
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Pricing plans of ExpressVPN
Volume licensing subscriptions are obtainable through ExpressVPN by requesting a custom price. This arrangement enables employees to install ExpressVPN across all their devices, including computers, routers, streaming media consoles, and mobile devices. It's worth noting that each license supports a maximum of eight simultaneous connections.
|
Plan |
Features |
Devices |
Price |
Guarantee |
|
1-month plan |
Unlimited GB |
8 |
|
30-day money-back guarantee |
|
6-months plan |
Unlimited GB |
8 |
|
|
|
15-months plan |
Unlimited GB |
8 |
|
Private Internet Access (PIA) may not match the overall quality of NordVPN or ExpressVPN, but it offers compelling features for remote teams.
Employees benefit from essential security measures including robust encryption, protocols, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. PIA MACE adds an extra layer by blocking access to malicious websites, reducing the risk of cyber threats such as ransomware and man-in-the-middle attacks.
PIA also impresses with its upload speeds, consistently ranking among the top for U.S.-based teams needing to upload large files. However, its download speeds may lag for global teams, though this can be mitigated by using the port forwarding tool to enhance performance.
Maximize the benefits of dedicated IP addresses
Similar to other top choices, PIA offers dedicated IP addresses across six countries. Each dedicated IP is unique and fixed for individual employees, providing flexibility for secure network access. This setup allows you to manage access to company resources by grouping and allowlisting IPs as needed.
Pros & cons of Private Internet Access
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Pricing plans of Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA) does not offer a volume licensing subscription option, requiring each employee to subscribe individually. However, PIA is known for its affordability, particularly with the three-year plan providing excellent value for money. Each plan also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, offering flexibility in case of any changes.
|
Plan |
Devices |
Price |
Guarantee |
|
1-month plan |
10
|
|
30-day money-back guarantee |
|
6-months plan |
10
|
|
|
|
2-year plan + 2 months |
10
|
|
Surfshark earned its place on our list primarily due to its unlimited simultaneous connections, ideal for small businesses and teams. However, it lacks advanced remote access VPN features like dedicated IP addresses or volume licensing. Nonetheless, Surfshark remains a dependable choice thanks to its strong security measures and high-speed performance.
It includes essential security features such as VPN protocols, encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection. Surfshark also offers multi-hop servers, which add an extra layer of security by routing traffic through two servers.
Moreover, as one of the fastest VPN services available, Surfshark facilitates seamless file sharing and video conferencing for employees without interruptions.
For users in regions with VPN restrictions, Surfshark's camouflage mode proves useful by concealing VPN usage. Additionally, Surfshark features CleanWeb, an effective malware and ad blocker that enhances security by preventing access to malicious websites where sensitive company information could be compromised.
Unlimited simultaneous connection capability
Surfshark's standout feature is its ability to support unlimited simultaneous connections, making it ideal for smaller businesses unable to afford a VPN subscription for each employee. What's notable is that Surfshark maintains consistent speed regardless of the number of devices connected simultaneously, thanks to its unlimited bandwidth and data allowance.
Pros & cons of Surfshark
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Pricing plans of Surfshark
Surfshark is free VPN software for remote access. It supports unlimited simultaneous connections, but users on the free plan are limited to accessing servers in 10 countries and have a monthly data cap of 10GB.
Besides, it is known for its budget-friendly pricing. The two-year plan provides excellent value, making it easy to cover a small team with just one subscription.
|
Plan |
Features |
Price (1-month) |
Price (15-month) |
Price (2-year + 3 months) |
| Surfshark Starter |
|
$15.45/month |
|
$2.19/month $59.13 billed every 2 years |
| Surfshark One |
|
$15.95/month |
|
$2.69/month $72.63 billed every 2 years |
| Surfshark One+ |
|
$17.95/month |
|
$4.29/month $115.83 billed every 2 years |
CyberGhost is a user-friendly remote access VPN suitable for all employees, with intuitively placed basic features and concise descriptions for advanced tools. This accessibility caters well to both remote work beginners and seasoned users navigating CyberGhost.
In terms of security, CyberGhost covers all essential features, including secure encryption, protocols, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. It also includes an ad and malware blocker, recommended to keep enabled to safeguard against malware infiltrating your company network.
Additionally, CyberGhost offers dedicated IP addresses across seven countries, providing flexibility in controlling access to corporate networks.
However, one significant drawback is its slower speeds. On the bright side, employees have access to over 115 server locations, allowing them to choose the closest geographically located server. In general, closer proximity to the VPN server enhances performance for users.
Continuous protection using intelligent rules
If you're juggling multiple tasks as a remote employee, it's easy to forget to activate your VPN, which can jeopardize both your personal data and your company's security. CyberGhost mitigates this risk with smart rules that allow you to automate secure connections when detecting specific WiFi networks or when opening work-related applications.
Pros & cons of CyberGhost
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Pricing plans of CyberGhost
CyberGhost's monthly plan is positioned at the higher end of the pricing spectrum and includes a 14-day money-back guarantee. However, extended plans provide substantial discounts and feature an extended 45-day money-back guarantee, offering added flexibility and value.
|
Plan |
Features |
Devices |
Price |
|
1-month plan |
Unlimited GB |
7 |
|
|
6-months plan |
Unlimited GB |
7 |
|
|
2-year plan |
Unlimited GB |
7 |
|
Organizations should consider transitioning from traditional VPNs to AnyViewer for remote desktop access due to its superior performance, enhanced security features, and ease of deployment.
AnyViewer eliminates the complexity of VPN setups, offering a more user-friendly experience. Its advanced security measures enhance data protection and privacy. Moreover, AnyViewer's high-performance streaming capabilities ensure a seamless user experience, making it an ideal solution for modern remote work environments.
If you're still uncertain about why you should switch from traditional VPNs to AnyViewer for remote access, consider the answers to the following three questions.
VPN alternatives like AnyViewer simplify IT management and deployment by providing a portable version that eliminates the necessity for complex hardware setups and ongoing maintenance.
AnyViewer enables IT teams to centrally manage remote access through a unified dashboard, simplifying user grouping and role permission management.
Screen walls are supported, allowing IT teams to monitor multiple devices within a single window and promptly take control of any device for instant remote support.
The mass deployment setup process significantly reduces the time and effort needed to deploy and manage remote access, thereby simplifying IT departments' support for remote workforces.
AnyViewer ensures secure access to corporate resources through advanced encryption protocols, two-factor authentication (TFA), and secure connections. It employs industry-standard security measures to safeguard data both in transit and at rest, ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information.
Furthermore, AnyViewer's access control features empower IT administrators to establish detailed permissions, guaranteeing that only authorized users can access specific resources.
AnyViewer enhances performance and connectivity through optimized network protocols that minimize latency and improve data transfer speeds. Its high-performance streaming technology ensures a smooth remote desktop experience, allowing users to access applications and files with minimal lag. This results in a responsive and efficient remote work experience, surpassing traditional VPN solutions that often encounter connectivity issues.
In summary, choosing the right VPN remote access software means finding a balance between security, speed, and user-friendliness. NordVPN stands out with robust encryption and unique features like dedicated IPs and mesh networking. ExpressVPN is great for regions with VPN restrictions, while Private Internet Access and Surfshark offer budget-friendly options with solid security. CyberGhost is easy to use but may be slower. AnyViewer emerges as a top alternative for its simple setup, strong security, and excellent performance, ideal for modern remote work setups.