Remote work is permanent, and so are the security risks that come with it. Every time an employee connects from a coffee shop, airport lounge, or home network, company data travels through infrastructure you do not control. A business VPN encrypts that traffic and ensures only authorized users reach internal resources. In 2026, the landscape has split into two camps: traditional VPNs that tunnel all traffic through encrypted servers, and zero-trust network access (ZTNA) platforms that authenticate each request individually. Both solve the same core problem - securing remote access - but the approach matters depending on your team size, compliance requirements, and IT resources. Once your network is secured, make sure your remote team has the right project management tools and CRM platform to stay productive.
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We tested eight leading solutions across criteria that matter to business teams: connection speed, encryption standards, admin controls, ease of deployment, multi-device support, and total cost of ownership. Here is how each one stacks up.
1. NordVPN Teams (Nord Layer)
NordVPN Teams (NordLayer) Best Overall
NordLayer, the business arm of NordVPN, delivers enterprise-grade security with consumer-grade simplicity. The platform combines traditional VPN tunneling with zero-trust network access features, giving IT admins granular control over who accesses what. The 2026 update introduced threat detection that blocks malicious domains in real time, device posture checks before granting access, and a centralized admin panel that manages hundreds of users without dedicated IT staff. With over 60 server locations and NordLynx protocol built on WireGuard, connection speeds are consistently fast enough for video calls and large file transfers.
- Pricing: Lite $8/user/mo; Core $11/user/mo; Premium $14/user/mo; Custom enterprise pricing
- Pros: Fast NordLynx protocol, easy admin panel, threat filtering, device posture checks, 60+ locations
- Cons: Premium tier needed for full ZTNA features, no self-hosted option
- Best for: Mid-size remote teams (10-200) that want VPN + ZTNA in one platform
- Rating: 4.7/5
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN Fastest Speed
ExpressVPN remains the gold standard for raw connection speed. The proprietary Lightway protocol consistently delivers the lowest latency in independent tests, making it ideal for remote workers who depend on real-time applications like video conferencing, VoIP, and remote desktop sessions. Servers run exclusively in RAM - no data ever touches a disk, which passed a 2025 independent audit by Cure53. While ExpressVPN lacks a dedicated business admin panel, its reliability and speed make it the top choice for small teams and individual remote workers who need performance above all else.
- Pricing: $8.32/mo (annual); $9.99/mo (6-month); $12.95/mo (monthly)
- Pros: Fastest speeds (Lightway protocol), RAM-only servers, 105 countries, split tunneling, audited no-log policy
- Cons: No centralized team management, per-device licensing, higher price point
- Best for: Small teams and freelancers who need the fastest, most reliable connection
- Rating: 4.6/5
3. Surfshark
Surfshark Best Budget
Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account, which is a significant advantage for businesses equipping employees with multiple devices. At $2.49 per month on a two-year plan, the per-device cost is effectively the lowest in the market. The CleanWeb feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level. The 2026 release added Surfshark Nexus, a network architecture that routes traffic through multiple servers dynamically, improving both speed and privacy. For budget-conscious teams that need basic VPN protection without per-seat pricing, Surfshark is hard to beat.
- Pricing: $2.49/mo (2-year); $3.99/mo (annual); $15.45/mo (monthly)
- Pros: Unlimited devices per account, CleanWeb ad/malware blocking, Nexus multi-hop, very affordable
- Cons: No team admin panel, speeds slightly below NordVPN and ExpressVPN, newer company
- Best for: Startups and small teams on tight budgets that need basic encryption for all devices
- Rating: 4.3/5
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Get Tool Recommendations4. Perimeter 81
Perimeter 81 Best ZTNA Platform
Perimeter 81, now part of Check Point, is purpose-built for businesses that want zero-trust network access from day one. Unlike traditional VPNs that grant full network access upon connection, Perimeter 81 segments access by application, role, and device posture. The admin dashboard provides real-time visibility into who is connected, what they are accessing, and from where. Automatic Wi-Fi security activates the VPN when employees join untrusted networks. For companies with compliance requirements - SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001 - Perimeter 81 provides audit logs and policy enforcement out of the box.
- Pricing: Essentials $8/user/mo; Premium $12/user/mo; Premium Plus $16/user/mo; Enterprise custom
- Pros: True zero-trust architecture, application-level segmentation, compliance audit logs, device posture checks
- Cons: Minimum 5-user commitment, higher cost than consumer VPNs, occasional connection drops reported
- Best for: Compliance-driven organizations (finance, healthcare, legal) with 20+ remote workers
- Rating: 4.4/5
5. Cisco AnyConnect (Cisco Secure Client)
Cisco AnyConnect Enterprise Standard
Cisco AnyConnect - rebranded as Cisco Secure Client in 2025 - is the default VPN for enterprises that already operate Cisco infrastructure. It integrates natively with Cisco firewalls, Meraki SD-WAN, Duo MFA, and Umbrella DNS security. The client supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android with consistent behavior across all platforms. For organizations already invested in the Cisco ecosystem, AnyConnect provides seamless integration and centralized management through Cisco SecureX. The downside is complexity: deployment requires dedicated IT staff and Cisco hardware.
- Pricing: Bundled with Cisco Secure Firewall licenses; standalone approximately $3-8/user/mo depending on tier
- Pros: Deep Cisco ecosystem integration, Duo MFA built in, enterprise-grade reliability, split tunneling controls
- Cons: Requires Cisco infrastructure, complex deployment, expensive for small teams, steep learning curve
- Best for: Enterprises already running Cisco firewalls and networking equipment
- Rating: 4.2/5
6. OpenVPN
OpenVPN Best Self-Hosted
OpenVPN is the open-source standard that most commercial VPNs are built upon. The OpenVPN Access Server provides a web-based admin interface for managing users, certificates, and access policies on your own hardware or cloud instances. For teams that need complete control over their VPN infrastructure - where data is stored, which servers traffic routes through, and how authentication works - OpenVPN is the only option that puts everything in your hands. The 2026 Cloud Connexa offering adds a managed cloud option for teams that want OpenVPN protocol without managing servers.
- Pricing: Community (free, self-hosted); Access Server $0 (2 connections free), then $11/connection/mo; Cloud Connexa from $5/connection/mo
- Pros: Full self-hosting control, open-source transparency, no vendor lock-in, works on any infrastructure
- Cons: Requires server management expertise, no built-in threat detection, UI is functional but dated
- Best for: Teams with IT staff who need full control over VPN infrastructure and data sovereignty
- Rating: 4.3/5
7. Tailscale
Tailscale Best Zero-Config
Tailscale is not a traditional VPN - it is a mesh networking tool built on WireGuard that creates direct, encrypted connections between devices. There is no central server to bottleneck traffic. Each device connects directly to the others through NAT traversal, which means speeds are nearly identical to a direct connection. Setup takes under five minutes: install the client, sign in with SSO, and every authorized device can reach every other authorized device. Access control lists (ACLs) define which devices can talk to which services. For developer-heavy teams, Tailscale also integrates with Terraform, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines.
- Pricing: Free (3 users, 100 devices); Personal Pro $5/user/mo; Starter $6/user/mo; Enterprise custom
- Pros: Near-zero configuration, mesh topology (no central bottleneck), WireGuard-based, excellent developer tools
- Cons: Not a full replacement for site-to-site VPN, requires all devices to run Tailscale, limited to connected devices
- Best for: Developer teams and tech-forward companies that want secure mesh networking without VPN complexity
- Rating: 4.7/5
8. Twingate
Twingate Best for Replacing Legacy VPN
Twingate is built specifically to replace traditional VPNs with a zero-trust model that does not require network changes. It deploys connectors alongside your existing infrastructure - on-prem servers, AWS, GCP, Azure - and creates secure tunnels to specific resources without exposing the entire network. Users never see an IP address or deal with VPN clients; Twingate runs silently in the background, authenticating each access request against identity providers like Okta, Azure AD, and Google Workspace. The split-tunneling architecture means only business traffic goes through Twingate while personal browsing remains direct, eliminating the speed complaints that plague traditional VPNs.
- Pricing: Free (5 users); Starter $5/user/mo; Business $10/user/mo; Enterprise custom
- Pros: No network changes needed, silent background operation, resource-level access control, SSO integration
- Cons: Requires connector deployment, newer company with smaller community, limited to resource access (not full tunnel)
- Best for: Companies migrating away from legacy VPNs toward zero-trust without rearchitecting their network
- Rating: 4.5/5
Side-by-Side Comparison
| VPN | Type | Starting Price | Speed | Team Admin | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordLayer | VPN + ZTNA | $8/user/mo | Fast | Yes | Mid-size remote teams |
| ExpressVPN | Traditional VPN | $8.32/mo | Fastest | No | Speed-critical work |
| Surfshark | Traditional VPN | $2.49/mo | Good | No | Budget teams |
| Perimeter 81 | ZTNA | $8/user/mo | Good | Yes | Compliance-driven orgs |
| Cisco AnyConnect | Enterprise VPN | ~$3-8/user/mo | Good | Yes | Cisco ecosystem |
| OpenVPN | Self-hosted | Free / $5/conn | Variable | Yes | Full infrastructure control |
| Tailscale | Mesh / ZTNA | Free / $6/user | Near-native | Yes | Developer teams |
| Twingate | ZTNA | Free / $5/user | Near-native | Yes | Legacy VPN replacement |
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Get Matched to the Right VPNHow to Choose the Right VPN for Your Team
Under 10 employees, no IT staff? Surfshark (unlimited devices, lowest cost) or Tailscale Free (zero configuration, mesh networking). Both work without dedicated administrators.
10-50 remote workers? NordLayer delivers the best balance of speed, admin controls, and price. The centralized dashboard manages everyone without requiring Cisco-level expertise.
Compliance requirements (SOC 2, HIPAA)? Perimeter 81 or Twingate. Both provide audit logs, role-based access, and device posture checks that compliance auditors expect.
Developer-heavy team? Tailscale. The mesh architecture, Terraform integration, and peer-to-peer connections match how engineering teams actually work.
Replacing an existing VPN? Twingate deploys alongside existing infrastructure without network changes. Migrate incrementally rather than ripping and replacing.
Enterprise with Cisco gear? Cisco AnyConnect integrates natively with your existing firewalls, Meraki, and Duo. Adding a different VPN creates unnecessary complexity.
Traditional VPN vs Zero-Trust: Which Approach?
Traditional VPNs (ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordLayer) encrypt all traffic and route it through secure servers. They are simple to understand and deploy but grant broad network access once connected. Zero-trust solutions (Tailscale, Twingate, Perimeter 81) authenticate each request individually, granting access only to specific applications or resources. Zero-trust is more secure for distributed teams because a compromised device cannot pivot across the entire network. However, traditional VPNs are simpler for small teams and provide full traffic encryption including personal browsing. For most growing businesses, a hybrid approach like NordLayer - which offers both VPN tunneling and ZTNA features - provides the best of both worlds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a business VPN for remote workers in 2026?
Yes. A business VPN encrypts all traffic between remote employees and company resources, preventing data interception on public Wi-Fi, home networks, and co-working spaces. Most compliance frameworks including SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR require encrypted access to sensitive systems.
What is the difference between a traditional VPN and a zero-trust network?
A traditional VPN creates an encrypted tunnel giving users full network access once connected. Zero-trust solutions like Tailscale and Twingate authenticate each request individually, granting access only to specific resources rather than the entire network. Zero-trust is considered more secure for distributed teams.
How much does a business VPN cost per user?
Business VPN pricing ranges from $3 per user per month for basic solutions like Surfshark to $8-18 per user per month for enterprise platforms like Perimeter 81 and Cisco AnyConnect. Zero-trust alternatives like Tailscale offer free tiers for small teams and charge $5-18 per user for larger deployments.
Which VPN is fastest for remote work in 2026?
ExpressVPN and NordVPN consistently rank highest in speed tests, both using proprietary protocols (Lightway and NordLynx respectively) that minimize latency. For business use, Tailscale and Twingate offer near-native speeds because they use direct peer-to-peer connections rather than routing all traffic through a central server.
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