Best VPNs for Small Business Owners

A VPN is one of the most affordable security investments a small business can make. Here are the top options, compared on speed, privacy, and price.

By Wisdom Snake Editorial Team | Published April 22, 2026

Why remote and hybrid work creates real VPN-shaped security gaps Top business VPNs compared - NordLayer, ExpressVPN, Perimeter 81, Surfshark VPN protocols explained: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and what to avoid The five non-negotiable features for any business VPN Why free VPNs are actively dangerous for business use Why Small Businesses Need a VPN A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet connection and masks your IP address. For small business owners, this means secure remote work, safe use of public Wi-Fi, and protection of sensitive business communications from interception. With remote and hybrid work now the norm, employees connecting from coffee shops, hotels, and home networks create real security exposure (which most people overlook). A business VPN is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce that risk across your entire team. For most people, if anyone on your team works outside the office - even occasionally - a business VPN isn't optional. It's table-stakes security infrastructure. Top Business VPNs in 2025 NordLayer (by NordVPN) is purpose-built for businesses with centralized team management, dedicated servers, dedicated IP addresses, and strong AES-256 encryption. It supports SAML 2.0 SSO, making it easy to manage access for larger teams. Pricing starts at $7/user/month. ExpressVPN offers exceptional speeds and servers in 105 countries. It's easy to set up for non-technical teams and has consistent performance across mobile, desktop, and router-level installations. Business plans start at $8.32/user/month. Perimeter 81 is a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution ideal for businesses with remote teams that need granular access controls - restricting who can access which internal resources. Plans start at $8/user/month. Surfshark Business offers unlimited device connections per user - a significant advantage for employees who work across multiple devices - at a competitive $2.49/user/month for larger teams. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) tools like Perimeter 81 go beyond traditional VPNs - instead of giving employees access to your entire network, they grant access only to the specific resources each person needs. This significantly limits the blast radius if one account is compromised. Quick comparison VPN Starting price Best for NordLayer $7 / user / month Centralised team management & SSO ExpressVPN $8.32 / user / month Speed and ease of setup (105 countries) Perimeter 81 $8 / user / month Zero Trust access controls for remote teams Surfshark Business $2.49 / user / month Unlimited devices on a budget Understanding VPN Protocols The protocol your VPN uses determines the balance between speed and security. WireGuard is the newest and most efficient protocol - faster and lighter than its predecessors while maintaining strong security. OpenVPN is the established industry standard, widely audited and trusted. IKEv2/IPSec is excellent for mobile devices that frequently switch between Wi-Fi and cellular. Avoid outdated protocols like PPTP, which have known vulnerabilities. Most modern business VPNs default to WireGuard or OpenVPN and manage protocol selection automatically. Key Features to Prioritize For business use, these features are non-negotiable: No-logs policy - independently audited to confirm the provider doesn't store connection records Kill switch - automatically cuts internet access if the VPN drops, preventing unencrypted traffic leaks Split tunneling - route only business traffic through the VPN while allowing direct access for personal use Centralized admin dashboard - manage team members, revoke access, and monitor connections from one place Dedicated IP option - useful for businesses that whitelist IPs for internal systems or client portals Setting Up a VPN for Your Team Deployment is straightforward with modern business VPNs. Most support SAML or SCIM provisioning so you can add and remove team members through your identity provider (Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra). Require…

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a VPN slow down my internet?

Premium business VPNs typically reduce speeds by 5 - 20%. With a fast base connection, this is rarely noticeable for business tasks. Cheap or free VPNs often cause much more significant slowdowns.

Do I need a VPN if I use HTTPS websites?

HTTPS encrypts the content of web traffic, but a VPN also masks your IP address, prevents metadata collection, and secures all traffic including apps and services that may not use HTTPS.

Can my employees share one VPN account?

Most business VPN plans charge per user. Sharing accounts violates terms of service and can create security risks. Team plans are available from most providers at significant per-user discounts.