Best 10 VPNs for Remote Teams and Small Businesses

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Remote and hybrid small teams need a VPN that protects company data without requiring a dedicated IT staff to manage it. We compared 10 VPN providers built with small business teams in mind, looking at pricing, ease of deployment, device limits, and support.

Quick Comparison

1. NordVPN Teams

NordVPN Teams brings the same reliability as the well-known consumer product into a business-focused package, with centralized billing and a simple admin panel for adding or removing employees.

• Centralized team billing and admin dashboard
• Dedicated IP add-on for consistent access
• Wide server network for remote employees abroad

Limitation: Fewer granular network access controls than a dedicated Zero Trust product.

2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is consistently rated among the fastest VPNs available, which matters for remote teams doing video calls or transferring large files daily.

• Consistently fast connection speeds
• Simple one-click apps across platforms
• Strong reputation for reliability

Limitation: Pricing runs higher than budget competitors like Surfshark.

3. Surfshark

Surfshark stands out by allowing unlimited devices per subscription, which can meaningfully lower costs for a small team where employees use multiple devices.

• Unlimited simultaneous device connections
• Lowest starting price on this list
• Built-in ad and tracker blocking

Limitation: Fewer dedicated business admin features than NordVPN Teams or Perimeter 81.

4. Perimeter 81

Perimeter 81 is built around Zero Trust network access rather than a traditional VPN tunnel, giving small businesses more granular control over what each employee can reach.

• Zero Trust network access model
• Granular per-employee resource permissions
• Detailed activity logging for audits

Limitation: Steeper learning curve to configure than a plug-and-play consumer VPN.

5. Cisco AnyConnect

Cisco AnyConnect is a long-standing enterprise option, often chosen by small businesses that already work with Cisco networking hardware or need strict compliance documentation.

• Deep integration with Cisco networking equipment
• Strong compliance and audit documentation
• Mature, widely deployed enterprise product

Limitation: Custom pricing and setup complexity make it overkill for very small teams.

How to Choose

For teams under 10 people wanting the simplest setup, NordVPN Teams or Surfshark are the easiest starting points. If your team needs granular control over what each employee can access, Perimeter 81s Zero Trust model is worth the extra setup time. Businesses with existing Cisco infrastructure or strict compliance needs should look at Cisco AnyConnect despite the higher cost and complexity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do small businesses really need a VPN for remote work?

Yes, especially when employees connect from home networks or public WiFi. A VPN encrypts that connection so company data and logins are not exposed on less secure networks.

Whats the difference between a consumer VPN and a business VPN?

Business VPN plans typically add centralized billing, admin dashboards for managing employee access, and sometimes more granular network permissions than a personal VPN subscription.

How much should a small business budget for a VPN?

Most business VPN plans in this list range from about $2 to $8 per user per month, so a 5-person team should budget roughly $10-40 per month depending on the provider chosen.

Final Recommendation

For most small teams without complex network requirements, NordVPN Teams offers the best balance of ease of use and price, with Perimeter 81 as the top upgrade pick once you need finer-grained access control.