Best VPN for Small Business

Choosing the best VPN for small business use is different from choosing a consumer VPN for streaming or travel. A small business needs secure remote access, consistent policies for employees, simple administration, and a provider that will not create extra IT work. The right choice depends on how your team works: fully remote, hybrid, traveling sales staff, contractors, or a small office that needs safer access to internal tools.

This guide is written as an editorial starting point for BusinessSoftwarePicks.com and should be reviewed by a human editor before publication. We have not conducted first-hand performance testing for this draft, so the recommendations below are based on publicly available product positioning, common small-business VPN needs, and fit by use case. Always confirm current features, availability, pricing, and contract terms directly with each provider before buying.

Best VPNs for Small Business: Quick Picks

Here are practical options to shortlist depending on your company size, IT resources, and security priorities.

• NordLayer — Best overall small-business VPN option for teams that want centralized management, business-focused security controls, and a familiar vendor ecosystem. Visit: NordLayer.
• NordVPN — Best simple VPN option for solo operators, freelancers, and very small teams that primarily need encrypted browsing on individual devices. Visit: NordVPN.
• Perimeter 81 — Best for companies exploring a broader secure access service edge approach beyond a traditional VPN. Visit: Perimeter 81.
• Proton VPN for Business — Best for privacy-conscious teams that want a provider known for privacy-focused services. Visit: Proton VPN for Business.
• OpenVPN Access Server — Best for teams with technical resources that want more control over VPN deployment and configuration. Visit: OpenVPN Access Server.

For many small businesses, the most important distinction is whether you need a business VPN with team administration or a consumer VPN installed by each person. If you have employees, contractors, role-based access needs, or compliance considerations, start with a business-oriented product rather than a personal VPN plan.

What Makes a VPN Good for a Small Business?

A small-business VPN should protect company traffic without becoming difficult to manage. A consumer VPN can be useful for one person working on public Wi-Fi, but businesses usually need more than a personal app. Look for features that help you manage users, enforce consistent security settings, and reduce the risk of former employees retaining access.

Important evaluation criteria include:

• Centralized user management: The ability to add, remove, and manage users from an admin dashboard is essential once more than one person needs access.
• Access control: Small businesses often need different access levels for employees, contractors, finance staff, developers, or leadership.
• Multi-factor authentication: MFA helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access if a password is compromised.
• Device support: Confirm support for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and any other systems your team actually uses.
• Reliable performance: A VPN that slows work down too much can lead employees to avoid using it. Check provider documentation, independent reviews, and trial options where available.
• Dedicated IP or gateway options: Some businesses need a consistent IP address for allowlisting cloud apps, admin portals, or internal resources.
• Logging and visibility: Business admins may need enough visibility to manage access and troubleshoot issues, while still respecting employee privacy and legal requirements.
• Support and documentation: Small teams may not have a dedicated IT department, so clear documentation and responsive support matter.

It is also worth noting that a VPN is not a complete security program. It should be part of a broader approach that includes strong passwords, MFA, endpoint protection, software updates, backups, phishing awareness, and clear offboarding procedures.

1. NordLayer: Best Overall Business VPN Shortlist Pick

NordLayer is the business-focused network access product from the Nord Security ecosystem. For small businesses, it is likely to be a better fit than a consumer VPN when the goal is to manage multiple users and protect access to company resources. It is designed for organizations rather than individual personal use, which makes it a strong first shortlist option for remote and hybrid teams.

NordLayer may be a good fit if your company wants centralized controls, secure remote access, and a simpler way to manage team connectivity. Businesses commonly use this type of solution to help employees connect more safely from home networks, coworking spaces, hotels, airports, and client sites. Depending on the plan and configuration, business VPN and secure access products may also support features such as dedicated servers, fixed IP options, network segmentation, and policy-based access. Confirm current feature availability directly with NordLayer before making a purchase decision.

Why small businesses may like it:

• Business-oriented administration instead of separate unmanaged personal VPN accounts.
• Useful for remote and hybrid teams that need consistent access policies.
• Part of a known security vendor ecosystem, which may simplify vendor evaluation for some teams.
• Potentially suitable for companies that want to move beyond a basic VPN toward more controlled secure access.

Consider before buying: Review current pricing, plan limits, admin features, dedicated IP options, supported identity integrations, and support levels. If your business has regulated data or strict compliance obligations, involve your IT, legal, or compliance advisor before relying on any VPN as a control.

2. NordVPN: Best for Solo Operators and Very Small Teams

NordVPN is widely known as a consumer VPN service, and it can be a practical option for freelancers, founders, consultants, and very small teams that mainly need encrypted internet traffic on individual devices. For example, a solo business owner who works from coffee shops and airports may prefer a simple VPN app over a more complex business network access setup.

However, there is an important limitation: a consumer VPN is not usually the best long-term fit for managing employees. If each employee creates or shares personal VPN access, the business may lack centralized offboarding, role-based access, and consistent policy enforcement. That can become a problem as the company grows.

Why it may fit:

• Simple setup for individual users who need a straightforward VPN app.
• Useful for founders, freelancers, and microbusinesses that do not need internal network access controls.
• Can help protect traffic on untrusted networks, such as public Wi-Fi, when properly configured.

Consider before buying: If you need employee management, admin controls, dedicated gateways, or access policies, compare NordVPN with NordLayer and other business VPN products. Do not assume a personal VPN subscription will satisfy business compliance, insurance, or client security requirements.

3. Perimeter 81: Best for Broader Secure Access Needs

Perimeter 81 is commonly positioned for businesses that want secure network access capabilities beyond a basic VPN. It may be relevant for small businesses that are growing quickly, supporting distributed teams, or replacing legacy remote access tools. For teams looking into zero trust network access, secure web gateway capabilities, or cloud-based network security, it can be worth including in the shortlist.

This type of platform may be more than a very small business needs, but it can make sense when the company has multiple applications, cloud environments, or user groups that require different access rules. A business with a small internal IT function may appreciate a cloud-managed approach, while a company with no IT support should evaluate whether setup and ongoing administration are realistic.

Why it may fit:

• Designed for business access management rather than personal browsing alone.
• May support more advanced secure access use cases than a simple VPN.
• Potentially useful for scaling remote-first companies.

Consider before buying: Confirm current product packaging, integrations, support, and contract details. If you only need a simple VPN for one or two people, a broader platform may be more complex than necessary.

4. Proton VPN for Business: Best for Privacy-Conscious Teams

Proton VPN for Business is another option for small teams that care strongly about privacy and want a business-focused VPN plan. Proton is known for privacy-oriented services, and its VPN offering may appeal to organizations that value clear privacy positioning and secure remote browsing.

For small businesses, Proton VPN for Business may be a fit when the main requirement is protecting employee internet connections rather than building a complex private network. It may also be attractive to teams already using other Proton services, although businesses should still evaluate each product on its own merits.

Why it may fit:

• Privacy-focused brand positioning.
• Business plan availability for teams rather than only individual users.
• Good shortlist option for companies comparing VPN providers with strong privacy messaging.

Consider before buying: Check whether the current business features match your administrative, identity, and access control needs. Also compare device support and support channels with your internal requirements.

5. OpenVPN Access Server: Best for Technical Teams Wanting Control

OpenVPN Access Server can be a strong option for businesses that have technical staff or an IT partner and want more control over their VPN environment. OpenVPN is a well-known name in VPN technology, and Access Server is aimed at organizations that want to deploy and manage access in a more configurable way.

This route is not always ideal for nontechnical teams. More control can also mean more responsibility for configuration, maintenance, monitoring, updates, and troubleshooting. But for a small software company, managed service provider, or technical consultancy, the flexibility may be valuable.

Why it may fit:

• Good for teams that want configurable deployment options.
• Suitable for businesses with internal IT knowledge or a trusted IT provider.
• May be appropriate when the company wants more direct control over VPN infrastructure.

Consider before buying: Make sure your team can manage the operational side. A misconfigured VPN can create security and reliability issues, so technical ownership is important.

How to Choose the Best VPN for Your Small Business

Before comparing brands, define the business problem you are trying to solve. A VPN for safer browsing is different from a VPN for private access to internal systems. Use the following questions to narrow the list:

• How many users need access today, and how many will need it in 12 months? A solution that works for three people may not work for 30.
• Do you need to access internal resources? If employees need access to servers, admin tools, databases, or private apps, prioritize business VPN or zero trust access features.
• Do you need a dedicated IP address? Some cloud tools allow access only from approved IP addresses.
• Who will manage the VPN? If there is no IT team, choose a product with simple administration and strong support documentation.
• What happens when someone leaves? Offboarding should be fast, centralized, and documented.
• Do clients or regulators require specific controls? Do not rely on marketing pages alone for compliance-sensitive decisions.

For most small businesses with employees, a business VPN or secure access platform is the safer starting point than a personal VPN. For solo business owners and freelancers, a reputable personal VPN may be enough if the goal is simply to reduce exposure on untrusted networks.

VPN vs. Zero Trust Access: Which Does a Small Business Need?

Traditional VPNs create an encrypted connection between a user and a network or VPN provider. This can be useful, but it may provide broader network access than necessary if not configured carefully. Zero trust network access, often abbreviated as ZTNA, takes a more granular approach: users get access to specific applications or resources based on identity, device posture, and policy.

Small businesses do not always need a full zero trust architecture on day one. Still, it is useful to understand the direction of modern remote access. If your team only needs safer browsing, a VPN may be sufficient. If your team needs access to sensitive internal systems, customer data, development environments, or financial tools, a more controlled access model may be worth evaluating.

The practical answer is often phased. Start with strong identity controls, MFA, endpoint hygiene, and a business VPN or secure access tool. As the company grows, revisit whether application-level access policies, device checks, and more advanced logging are needed.

Common Small-Business VPN Mistakes to Avoid

Many VPN problems come from process gaps rather than the VPN product itself. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Sharing one VPN account across multiple employees: This makes accountability and offboarding difficult.
• Skipping MFA: A VPN login should not rely on a password alone when MFA is available.
• Forgetting contractors: Temporary users still need clear access limits and removal dates.
• Assuming a VPN equals compliance: A VPN may support a security program, but it does not automatically make a company compliant.
• Ignoring employee experience: If the VPN is slow or confusing, people may avoid using it.
• Not documenting setup: Keep a simple internal guide covering installation, login, MFA, support contacts, and offboarding steps.

Final Recommendation

For most small businesses with employees, NordLayer is the strongest starting point on this shortlist because it is built for business use cases such as team management and secure remote access. For solo operators and very small businesses that only need a simple VPN for individual devices, NordVPN may be sufficient. Growing teams with more advanced access needs should also compare Perimeter 81, Proton VPN for Business, and OpenVPN Access Server.

The best VPN for your small business is the one your team can actually manage, enforce, and use consistently. Confirm current pricing and features, involve the right stakeholders, and choose a product that fits your security needs without adding unnecessary complexity.