With the ever-evolving internet industry, the world is converting into a web-based realm and the concept of the “global village” is only getting more realistic. Jobs are increasingly converting online, and employers are encouraging employees to take up remote work.
The trend of work-from-home and especially freelancing has been increasing throughout the world including in Canada. Freelancing has revolutionized the job industry and a lot of Canadians are bidding farewell to their conventional jobs in a bid to kick off their career as freelancers.
Though working remotely is relatively straightforward, however, there are several risks attached to working online, including online privacy and security. Thanks to the tech industry, there are few best Canada VPNs that you can use to keep yourself secure while working online in Canada.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are considered one of the most advanced tools for online security. Netizens are now more concerned about their privacy and data security and using VPNs has become a norm. VPNs encrypt your web traffic carrying your sensitive data and keep it hidden from spying eyes. On top of that, VPNs re-route your internet traffic through remote servers, allowing you to conceal your actual location and get access to censored or geo-restricted content.
That said, let’s find out what are the 3 trusted VPNs for freelancers in Canada.
The 3 Trusted VPNs – Overview
Whether you are a freelancer or a tech geek, it’s vital for you to safeguard your online presence from the potential security risks that come with working online. Here’s an overview of the 3 trusted VPNs:
ExpressVPN: The overall best VPN for freelancers. Offers fast speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and 3,000+ servers in 90+ countries worldwide. Loaded with several trailblazing security features.
Surfshark: Pocket-friendly VPN if you are looking for a VPN on a budget. Offers 3,200+ servers in 65 countries and comes with military-grade encryption protocols.
NordVPN: The largest server network VPN for remote workers. Offers several state-of-the-art security features, including military-grade AES-256 Encryption and Server Obfuscation. Also offers a staggering 5,500+ servers in 59 countries.
Important Factors To Consider While Selecting A VPN In Canada
With all the benefits that a VPN offers, it is very obvious that freelancers and remote workers will receive great utility from it. Apart from just helping these individuals to make their professional work environment secure, a VPN will boost their personal security as well. But what to look for in a VPN when you are picking one from so many options? What are the factors that are most vital?
Before we move on to our best VPN suggestions for freelancers, here are the things in pointers for you to check when selecting a VPN for your freelancing work:
Fast connections: A poor VPN will affect your internet connection and will slow it down. But for your ease, we have distinguished the VPNs that are fast and won’t make your internet slow, and will not affect your work as well.
Strong encryption: A VPN needs to provide you with the best encryption to make it completely secure and impossible to break. The industry-standard encryption of 256-bit is the appropriate one.
Cross-platform Compatibility: You would want one VPN to protect all of the devices you have, so look for the providers that offer software that supports different platforms.
No log policy: A good VPN should keep no logs of the data of their users, and you can be at peace that none of your activities are being recorded.
No traffic restrictions or bandwidth limitations:Many free VPNs will limit the internet speed or keep the bandwidth caps, which is obviously not good. We have collected those reputable VPN services that are paid but don’t offer any bandwidth limits or put any traffic restrictions.
3 Trusted VPNs For Freelancers In Canada
<Let’s start the in-depth analysis of 3 trusted VPNs for freelancers in Canada.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for online security. It offers ultra-fast speeds, steady servers, and unlimited bandwidth. It offers an extensive network of 3,000+ servers located in 90+ countries worldwide, giving you plenty of remote locations to access geo-restricted content.
This VPN never compromises on security and provides military-grade encryption protocols like AES-256 encryption. Moreover, its other security features like DNS & IP leak protection, split tunneling, No-logs policy, and automated kill switch ensure your privacy and never reveal any user-identifying information.
If you are taking a break from your work, ExpressVPN helps you keep entertained with its ability to unblock geo-restricted platforms like Hulu, Netflix, Disney, Prime Video, etc.
ExpressVPN is compatible with all the major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Android, macOS, and iOS. So, you won’t be facing any compatibility issues. Moreover, you can use a single subscription on 5 devices at a time. You can even secure your entire network by configuring it on your Wi-Fi router.
You can get an ExpressVPN subscription for $6.67/month with its 12-month plan, including a 30-day refund offer. It also offers 24-hour technical support through live chat and email.
Pros:
- Incredibly fast servers
- Supports torrenting, gaming, and streaming
- Widespread network in 94 countries
- No-logging policy
- Top-notch security features
- 24/7 customer support
Cons:
- Subscription cost is higher than competitors
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is among the most budget-friendly premium VPNs available right now. Despite its cheaper pricing plans, it doesn’t compromise on features and security. Although it’s a relatively new market player, Surfshark has quickly established itself as one of the trusted VPNs to use for all online activities in Canada, including freelancing.
This VPN hosts a widespread network of more than 3,200 servers in 65 countries. You can use these servers to access geo-blocked data, including the streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video if you need a breather from work.
Surfshark boasts impressive speeds and an excellent set of advanced security features like AES-256-Bit encryption, double VPN, split tunneling, automated kill switch, and IP leak protection. Moreover, it has a no-logging policy that doesn’t record user data.
Dedicated apps are offered for Windows, Android, Linux, macOS, and iOS and you can also configure this VPN manually on Wi-Fi routers. Surfshark is currently offering its 24-month plan for $2.49 per month and you will get unlimited simultaneous connections and a 30-day refund offer.
In case you run into a problem, Surfshark’s live chat support is available 24/7.
Pros:
- Stringent No-log policy
- Supports torrenting and streaming
- Strongest encryption protocols
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
Cons:
- Some in-app features require extra charges
- Inconsistent speeds
3. NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the best and most trusted VPNs for freelancers and remote workers working from home in Canada. This VPN has managed to stay in the business for many years with so many other options popping up and it keeps delivering a solid performance over its vast network of servers.
Right now it operates over 5,500 servers in around 59 different countries. One big plus of NordVPN is that it even works in countries like China where typically VPNs are always blocked. Apart from that, it is an excellent pick for anyone who loves streaming and works with Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
NordVPN also offers some of the most advanced security features. These features include perfect forward confidentiality, AES-256 encryption, protection from leaks, an automated kill switch, and a double VPN. It also gives a vast range of unintelligible servers that helps you avoid the web sieving techniques like ‘deep packet inspection’ which is used in China.
Dedicated apps are available for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can get a subscription to NordVPN for $3.99 per month and can use it on 6 devices at a time.
Pros:
- Extensive server network
- Several top-notch security features
- Great for torrenting and streaming
- No-logs policy
- 24/7 Live support
Cons:
- Monthly subscriptions are expensive
- Static IP addresses
Conclusion
Freelancers and telecommuters enjoy the luxury of flexible working hours which allows them to work even on the move. They can ditch the traditional office desks and work from any location they want for their convenience.
However, remote working, especially freelancing, comes with potential security risks and you must ensure that online privacy and data security are never breached. That’s why we recommend using one of our recommended trusted VPNs in Canada when you are freelancing. A VPN improves your online security and enhances your privacy, keeping you safe from potent hackers. With the added advantage of supporting multiple devices, you can conveniently protect your laptop, smartphone, and other devices simultaneously, ensuring comprehensive security across all your freelancing endeavors.
