It was one of those drizzly afternoons in Porto last April—the kind where the granite buildings look extra moody—when I finally hit my breaking point with 'device math.' I was trying to load a design file on my laptop, my partner was mid-pitch on a video call, and my phone was trying to update a banking app. Then I tried to turn on the Fire Stick to have some background noise, and there it was: the dreaded 'Device Limit Reached' pop-up. It felt like being told I couldn't bring a third bag onto a budget flight, except the bag was my own sanity.
Just a quick heads-up: this site uses affiliate links. If you end up signing up for a VPN through one of these links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I’ve personally paid for every single one of these subscriptions while bouncing between Airbnbs for the last three years—mostly because I refuse to live in a world where I can't watch University Challenge just because I'm in a different time zone. I only recommend what has actually survived a 2am hotel Wi-Fi meltdown. Full transparency policy here.
The Logistical Nightmare of the Modern Nomad Couple
When we first left London in 2022, we thought we’d be those minimalist travelers with one laptop each. Fast forward to mid-2026, and our tech bag has basically become a sentient being. Between the two of us, we’re carrying two work laptops, two personal phones, a tablet for reading, and a dedicated streaming stick that lives in my handbag. That is six devices before we’ve even considered the 'emergency' old laptop or the occasional smart TV we try to hijack in a rental. Most premium VPNs act like a grumpy bouncer at a club; they only let a certain number of your gadgets in at once.
For a long time, ExpressVPN was my ride-or-die. It’s incredibly fast and the 'Lightway' protocol is basically magic for reconnecting when you move from a cafe to your hotel's dodgy Wi-Fi. But they have an 8-device limit. That sounds like plenty until you realize that in a partnership, you hit that ceiling before you’ve even finished unpacking the coffee press. There is nothing quite like the 'VPN divorce' that happens when you accidentally kick your partner off a high-stakes work call because you wanted to check the football scores on your phone. If you've ever wondered if ExpressVPN is good for Microsoft Teams calls, the answer is yes—as long as you aren't fighting over the last available slot in the connection limit.
The Surfshark Solution: Why Unlimited Actually Matters
This is where my 2026 setup shifted. I started leaning heavily into Surfshark because they just stopped counting. Their 'Unlimited Devices' policy isn't just a marketing gimmick; it’s a lifestyle change for anyone who travels with more than one screen. I installed it on everything: the laptops, the phones, the Fire Stick, even that tablet I only use for recipes. No more logging out of one device to make room for another. It’s the digital equivalent of finally finding a hotel room with enough power outlets for both of you.
While living in a slightly crumbling apartment in Lisbon earlier this year, I really put this to the test. We had two video calls going, a Netflix stream in the background, and I was downloading a massive design asset. The connection held up, though I’ll admit, the more devices you pile on, the more you’re at the mercy of the actual 'pipe' of internet coming into the building. It’s like a shared shower in a hostel; if everyone turns the tap on at once, someone’s going to get a cold shock. But for sheer flexibility, Surfshark is the best VPN for travel with multiple devices simply because it removes the mental load of managing logins.
The Feature That Saved My Banking Apps
One thing no one tells you about living out of a suitcase is the 'Captcha Hell.' When you’re on a VPN, Google and your bank often get very suspicious. I spent a frantic morning in a Mexico City cafe last month trying to pay a bill, only to have my bank freeze my account because it thought I was suddenly in Manchester while I was actually ordering a second taco. I was stuck in a loop of identifying 'all squares with a bus' for twenty minutes.
Surfshark’s 'Bypass' mode (technically called split tunneling) is the unsung hero here. It lets me tell certain apps—like my banking or food delivery apps—to ignore the VPN and just use the local Mexican Wi-Fi. Meanwhile, my browser stays firmly planted in London so I can keep my BBC iPlayer stream ready to go. It’s a lifesaver for avoiding those 'suspicious activity' flags that can ruin a Tuesday. It’s also handy if you’re trying to figure out why your VPN is not working with Sky Go; sometimes just splitting the traffic is the easiest fix.
Comparing the Heavy Hitters for 2026
Since I refuse to be caught without a backup (hotel Wi-Fi is a fickle beast), I keep a few different services in rotation. Here is how the top contenders stack up when you’re lugging a miniature Apple Store around the world.
- ExpressVPN: Still the 'Editor's Pick' for a reason. If I’m in a rush and need a connection that just works on a hotel TV, this is it. The 8-device limit is the only thing holding it back from total world domination. It’s especially reliable if you need to unblock BBC iPlayer when others fail.
- NordVPN: The best 'all-rounder.' It has a 10-device limit now, which is a nice middle ground. I love their specialty servers—they’re labeled by use case, so you don't have to guess which one will work for Netflix. Plus, the 'Threat Protection' actually does a decent job of blocking those annoying pop-up ads on news sites.
- Surfshark: The 'Unlimited' king. If you’re a couple or a family, this is the most stress-free option. It might require an occasional server-swap to get past a stubborn geo-block, but for the price and the device freedom, it’s hard to beat.
- Private Internet Access: If you’re a bit more tech-savvy, you’ll appreciate the customization. I mostly keep it around to see if it can handle my partner's occasional gaming sessions. You can see my full notes on whether Private Internet Access is fast enough for gaming if that’s your priority.
Final Thoughts from the Road
By the time we moved from Mexico City to our current spot, we’d finally nailed the 'multi-device' rhythm. We no longer play that awkward game of 'who is logged into the VPN?' Every laptop, phone, and streaming stick is just... connected. Travel is already full of small frictions—missed trains, lost adapters, and 'creatively' described Airbnbs—so your internet security shouldn't be another thing on the list to manage. If you’re tired of the device bouncer telling you your party is too big, Surfshark is the easiest way to end the war. Now, if I could just find a VPN that helps me actually understand the physics questions on University Challenge, I’d be truly sorted.