Gjurgjica Panova
Updated on: December 24, 2023
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Use a VPN on Airplane Wi-Fi in 2024:
- Step 1: Choose a fast and secure VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN, as it has strong security features and the fastest speeds on the market.
- Step 2: Download and install the VPN. The whole process shouldn’t take longer than 2 minutes.
- Step 3: Open the VPN app and connect to a server. You can now securely go online via your Wi-Fi connection on the plane!
Airplane Wi-Fi is convenient, but it comes with certain risks — it’s like connecting to a public Wi-Fi network in the air. Hackers can intercept your data, gain access to your digital life, and steal your personal information.
The best way to secure your traffic connected to airplane Wi-Fi is with a VPN. It encrypts your traffic, which makes it unreadable, even to someone who manages to intercept it. Plus, it hides your real IP address and assigns you a new one that matches the location of the server you choose to connect to.
The best VPN to connect on an airplane is ExpressVPN. It comes with advanced security features that will protect your data from cyberattacks and the fastest speeds on the market for all of your online activities during your flight.
Best VPNs for Airplane Wi-Fi in 2024
- 🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best overall VPN for airplane Wi-Fi.
- 🥈2. Private Internet Access — Customizable + fast speeds for airplane Wi-Fi.
- 🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Dedicated servers for streaming on airplane Wi-Fi.
- 4. NordVPN — High-end security VPN for all activities on airplane Wi-Fi.
- 5. Surfshark — Beginner-friendly VPN with affordable plans.
- Comparison of the Best VPNs for Airplane Wi-Fi in 2024.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Airplane Wi-Fi in 2024
Approved by our experts
ExpressVPN is my top pick for airplane Wi-Fi, as it comes with top-notch security features that protect your security and privacy, and it has industry-leading speeds for all online activities.
ExpressVPN offers advanced security features to keep your data safe on a plane, including:
- RAM-only servers. These types of servers write data to the RAM instead of the hard drive. They delete all data with each server reboot.
- An audited no-logs policy. ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited and confirmed multiple times, which proves that the VPN doesn’t store your IP address or browsing history.
- Full leak protection. ExpressVPN has DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection, so your real location won’t be leaked to third parties while traveling. I tested ExpressVPN at home and while connected to public Wi-Fi, and I never experienced any leaks.
- Perfect forward secrecy. This security feature changes the encryption key for each session, so even if a hacker accesses the most recently generated encryption key, they would only be able to see a limited amount of data — any past or future traffic will remain hidden.
- Threat Manager. It prevents ad trackers from spying on your browsing habits and blocks connections to malicious sites. In my tests, ExpressVPN stopped me from visiting suspicious sites 100% of the time.
- Ad blocker. Blocks annoying ads, allowing websites to load faster.
My favorite thing about ExpressVPN is that it’s the fastest VPN on the market. In my speed tests, websites loaded instantly, and HD and 4K videos played without any interruptions. I tested it on public Wi-Fi, too, and I barely noticed that I was using a VPN. I also think it’s great that ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries.
ExpressVPN is excellent for streaming. It works with 100+ streaming sites, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube, so you’ll be able to catch up on your favorite shows and movies on long flights.
It’s also very easy to use. It has a quick-connect feature that finds the fastest possible server for your location, and it divides its server locations into regions, so you’ll have no trouble finding the server you’re looking for even if you need to manually connect to it.
ExpressVPN has plans starting at $6.67 / month. All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Customizable VPN With Fast Speeds For Airplane Wi-Fi
Private Internet Access (PIA) apps are very flexible, which is great if you want to customize your VPN connection while in the air. You can easily change protocols (OpenVPN or WireGuard) and encryption levels (128-bit AES or 256-bit AES) to get faster or more secure connections on the plane’s Wi-Fi. Plus, you can set it up to automatically connect to any of its servers in 91 countries when it detects a public Wi-Fi network, which comes in handy both on the plane and at the airport.
The provider offers pretty fast speeds. I tested it at home and on public Wi-Fi since my internet connection is really fast. I was impressed that I got pretty similar results — websites and HD videos loaded in 1–2 seconds on both networks, and I only experienced very minor buffering.
PIA has advanced security features, like full leak protection (I never saw any leaks in my tests), RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy. I like that its audited no-logs policy has been audited and confirmed multiple times and that it regularly releases transparency reports — they show the requests the VPN received for user data and how it didn’t comply with any of them.
Still, one of PIA’s best features is its ad blocker, PIA MACE, which is one of the best ad blocker on the market. In my tests, it successfully blocked all ads, including on ad-heavy websites, and it stopped me from visiting shady sites every time I tried to click on one.
PIA is great for streaming, too — it works with 30+ streaming sites, like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Max (as confirmed by my US colleague). That said, I prefer ExpressVPN as it works with 100+ streaming sites.
Private Internet Access offers plans that start as low as $2.11 / month. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Dedicated Servers for Streaming On Airplane Wi-Fi
CyberGhost VPN has 100+ dedicated streaming servers, which makes it an excellent pick if you want to watch your favorite shows and movies on a plane. Its streaming servers work with 50+ streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, and DAZN and are optimized to provide the best possible streaming speeds.
The VPN provider has advanced security features, such as RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and an audited no-logs policy. It offers DNS and IPv6 leak protection but no WebRTC protection (unlike ExpressVPN) — however, this isn’t really a deal-breaker since I never experience any leaks while connected to its servers.
CyberGhost has a decent ad and malicious blocker. In my tests, it only blocked ads in search engines and not on sites — it isn’t as good as Private Internet Access’s MACE or ExpressVPN’s ad blocker. Still, I did like that it comes with an Identity Guard feature that allows you to check whether your email and passwords have been compromised in a data breach, which is convenient on and off a plane.
I was impressed by the VPN’s speeds. Websites loaded in no more than 2 seconds, and HD videos played with minor buffering in the beginning, both on my home network and public Wi-Fi. It’s also pretty great that CyberGhost’s server network is huge — it has servers in 100 countries. You can also use its auto-connect feature and let the VPN find the fastest server for you.
CyberGhost VPN has cheap plans ($2.03 / month). Its long-term plans are backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee, and its monthly plan offers a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
4. NordVPN — Secure VPN for All Online Activities on Airplane Wi-Fi
NordVPN has top-notch security features that will protect your data and keep all of your online activities private while connected to airplane Wi-Fi. It uses RAM-only servers, its no-logs policy passed multiple independent audits, and it has perfect forward secrecy and full leak protection.
One of my favorite NordVPN features is Threat Protection. It blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites, as well as protects you from malware-infected downloads, which is pretty important if you’re downloading files to your device while connected to an airplane Wi-Fi network. If NordVPN detects a malicious file, it deletes it right away before it gets a chance to get onto your device.
I also really like its Dark Web Monitoring feature, which alerts you when any personal identification data tied to your account’s email address has been breached. It gives you the chance to react quickly if something like this happens while you’re connected to the airplane’s Wi-Fi.
When it comes to speeds, NordVPN ranks high. While connected to public Wi-Fi, sites and HD videos loaded in under 3 seconds, and I was able to stream 4K videos with almost no buffering. NordVPN’s server network is decent, with servers in 61 countries, so you can still find a nearby server in most locations, but it’s still smaller than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access’s.
If you’re a fan of streaming, then NordVPN is a great pick. It works with all popular streaming sites, including Amazon Prime, Disney+, as well as 10+ Netflix libraries.
At $3.39 / month, NordVPN’s prices are very competitive. Each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Surfshark — Beginner-Friendly VPN With Affordable Plans
Surfshark’s a pretty good pick if you’ve never used a VPN before. Its apps are very easy to navigate, and all settings and features come with helpful explanations, so you won’t have to spend too much time figuring out what feature to turn on and off. There’s also a quick connect feature that connects you to the fastest server in your location.
The provider has strong security features, such as perfect forward secrecy, RAM-only servers, and an audited no-logs policy. However, unlike my top 2 picks, Surfshark only has DNS leak protection. Still, I never experienced any leaks while connected to Surfshark in any of my tests.
Surfshark had decent speeds in my tests. When connected to public Wi-Fi, websites and HD videos loaded in 3–4 seconds, and I was able to stream content without any major interruptions. Plus, the VPN has servers in a whopping 100 countries, giving you plenty of options to choose the fastest server.
Surfshark’s streaming support is good. The VPN works with 50+ streaming sites, including 10+ Netflix libraries and Amazon Prime Video. However, it doesn’t work with Disney+ (I couldn’t watch Disney+ Macedonia in my tests, and my colleague in the US was unable to watch Disney+ US), which you can do with both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.
Surfshark’s plans are pretty cheap, starting at $1.99 / month, so it’s an ideal option if you’re on a budget. Each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Surfshark review
Comparison of the Best VPNs for Airplane Wi-Fi in 2024
VPN Not Working on Airplane Wi-Fi? Try These Troubleshooting Tips
Attempt to Connect to an Alternate Server
Servers experience temporary downtime, get overloaded, or are under maintenance. If that’s the case, your VPN won’t be able to establish a connection. The best way to get around this is to try and connect to a different server. I recommend looking for a server in the same location or in the same area to get the best possible speeds.
Purge All VPN App Cache
The files and data your VPN app accumulates can become corrupted and interfere with your VPN’s ability to connect to its servers. To fix this issue, you’ll need to clear your VPN’s app cache.
To remove the cache from your VPN app, navigate your device settings. Then, go to Applications > Manage Installed Applications > [Your VPN App] > Clear Cache.
Check Whether It’s the VPN Connection
If the airplane Wi-Fi connection is down, the VPN won’t be able to connect to a server. The only way to check whether that’s the case while on the plane is to try to visit a site or open an app without first connecting to the VPN. If you can’t access anything online, then it’s probably not your VPN app that’s causing connectivity issues, and you’ll just have to wait for the airplane Wi-Fi to reestablish its connection.
Reinstall Your VPN App
Sometimes, making changes to your VPN settings may cause connection issues. To resolve this, try reinstalling the VPN app, which will revert all configurations back to their factory settings.
To reinstall the app, navigate to your device’s home screen, access Settings, then Applications. Select Manage Installed Applications, find your VPN app from the list, and choose Uninstall. After that, you can download and install the VPN from your device’s app store.
Ensure Your VPN App Is Up-To-Date
An outdated VPN app can be a source of multiple issues. In most cases, your outdated VPN app can’t connect to the VPN’s servers because it’s no longer compatible with the updated servers. Fixing this is pretty straightforward; go to your device’s app store and check if there’s an update available.
To avoid this issue, turn on the auto-download feature in your device’s app store. This automatically downloads and installs all updates for your VPN app, ensuring you benefit from the most recent improvements and fixes.
Why You Need a VPN on Airplane Wi-Fi
- Security & privacy. Airplane Wi-Fi networks are public, which makes them a potential target for cybercriminals, as they lack the security measures of private networks. When you connect to a VPN, your data is encrypted before it leaves your device. The encrypted data is then sent through a secure tunnel to the VPN server. This encryption ensures that even if someone intercepts your data, they won’t be able to read it. VPNs also hide your IP address, which reveals your general location, and a lot of the good ones also come with extras like an ad, tracker, and malicious site blocker.
- Avoid bandwidth throttling. Some Wi-Fi providers might limit your speed if they detect high data usage or certain types of traffic. With a VPN, your traffic is encrypted, so the internet provider won’t be able to throttle your speed based on the type of activity.
- Secure multiple devices. Most VPN services allow you to connect multiple devices under a single subscription. This means you can protect not just your laptop but also your smartphone, tablet, or any other device you might be using on the plane.
Do Free VPNs Work on Airplane Wi-Fi?
Yes, free VPNs work on airplane Wi-Fi, but I don’t recommend using them.
The biggest downside for me is that many free VPNs lack basic security features, which defeats the purpose of using a VPN while connected to airplane Wi-Fi in the first place. There are some good free VPNs that are pretty secure, though they too limit certain features to paid users including strict limits on bandwidth and speed.
This is why I suggest investing in a premium VPN — it provides you with superior security, rapid speeds, and excellent support for streaming while using airplane Wi-Fi, any other public networks, or even when you’re at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to use a VPN on airplane Wi-Fi?
It’s absolutely safe to use a VPN on airplane Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi networks, including those on airplanes, are commonly targeted by hackers, as they can intercept unencrypted traffic and steal personal data or spread malware. All VPNs on this list encrypt your data, which means even if a malicious party intercepts your data, they won’t be able to read it. They also come with advanced security features, like full leak protection, and extras like malicious site blockers to further protect your browsing while connected to airplane Wi-Fi.
Do VPNs work in Airplane Mode?
VPNs won’t work in airplane mode if your device is disconnected from the internet. However, on most devices, you can manually turn Wi-Fi back on after switching to airplane mode. If you’re on an airplane and have access to in-flight Wi-Fi, you can connect to the Wi-Fi network and then activate your VPN. This way, your device will be in airplane mode, but you can still use a VPN over the airplane’s Wi-Fi.
How does airplane Wi-Fi work?
Airplane Wi-Fi operates in 2 ways: air-to-ground (ATG) and satellite technology. With air-to-ground technology, towers on the ground send signals up to receivers on the airplane. This type of connection works well over land where ground towers are accessible.
Satellite technology involves satellites that send signals that are received by the plane through antennas located typically on the top of the plane. Satellite technology allows for broader coverage, including over oceans. While most airline Wi-Fi connections are secure, you can never be 100% — this is why I recommend using a VPN when you’re in the air.
Will a VPN slow down my internet speed on airplane Wi-Fi?
A VPN will slow down your internet speed due to the encryption process and the extra miles that your internet traffic needs to travel to get routed through the VPN server before it gets to its final destination. However, a high-quality VPN, like ExpressVPN, minimizes the latency and maintains fast speeds across all servers.
