Do I need a VPN if I'm fully cloud-based with SaaS apps?

It depends. If your team only accesses SaaS applications (Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Slack, Google Workspace) and no private resources, a VPN is not strictly necessary — these SaaS providers handle authentication and access control natively. However, many cloud-based companies still need VPN for: accessing internal tools or admin consoles, geo-restricted access for compliance research, providing security context for SaaS access policies, and protecting traffic on untrusted networks (coffee shops, hotels). Most modern teams use ZTNA selectively for these use cases rather than blanket VPN.

How much does business VPN cost for a 25-employee team?

For a 25-employee team: Twingate Teams at $5/user/month = $1,500/year. NordLayer entry at $7/user/month = $2,100/year. ExpressVPN Business at $10/user/month = $3,000/year. Surfshark One at $4.49/user/month = $1,347/year. Proton VPN Business at $7.99/user/month = $2,397/year. Most business VPN budgets fall in the $1,500-3,000/year range for teams of this size, with selection driven more by architectural fit and identity-provider integration than absolute price.

Can VPN protect against phishing or malware?

VPN encrypts traffic and provides network access — it does not block phishing emails or scan for malware. For phishing protection, you need email security tools (TitanHQ SpamTitan, Hornetsecurity, Microsoft Defender for Office 365). For malware, you need endpoint protection (Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, ESET). VPN and these tools are complementary security layers, not substitutes for each other.

Best Zero-Trust VPN Alternatives 2026: Twingate vs NordLayer vs Traditional VPN

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Quick Comparison

Tool	Best For	Starting Price	Action
Twingate	Distributed teams that want zero-trust network access in 15 minutes — without VPN concentrator hardware, public IP exposure, or split-tunnel complexity.	From $0	Start Free
NordLayer	Best for businesses needing zero-trust network access with quick deployment	From $8/user/mo	View Pricing
ExpressVPN for Business	Best for businesses prioritizing global server reach and proven privacy posture	From $12.95/user/mo	View Plans
Surfshark One	Best for cost-conscious teams wanting bundled VPN, antivirus, and identity protection	From $5.99/user/mo	Get Surfshark
Proton VPN Business	Best for organizations prioritizing audited Swiss privacy and open-source transparency	From $6.99/user/mo	View Plans

Quick Verdict

**Twingate** is the right choice for organizations adopting zero-trust principles or replacing legacy VPN concentrator infrastructure — application-level access, no public IP exposure, and 15-minute deployment make it the cleanest greenfield ZTNA option in 2026. **NordLayer** is the right pick for SMBs that want centralized admin and traditional VPN UX with modern security upgrades — particularly compelling for organizations already on the Nord Security stack. **ExpressVPN for Business** and **Surfshark One** remain solid choices for distributed teams prioritizing geographic server reach and consumer-grade UX upgraded for business deployment.

Expert Perspective

The business VPN category in 2026 has bifurcated cleanly between modernized legacy VPN (NordLayer, ExpressVPN for Business, Surfshark One) and zero-trust network access platforms (Twingate, Tailscale, Cloudflare Access). The architectural difference is meaningful — legacy VPNs grant network-layer access where a connected user can reach any resource on the network unless additional ACLs restrict them; ZTNA platforms grant application-level access where users only see resources they're explicitly authorized to use. For organizations adopting NIST zero-trust guidance, the architectural choice is increasingly clear in favor of ZTNA. From G2 review patterns and customer migration discussions as of Q1 2026, the practical reality is that most SMBs are still operating legacy VPN models out of inertia and integration cost. Greenfield deployments (new companies, infrastructure rebuilds) increasingly default to Twingate or Tailscale; established companies running NordLayer or ExpressVPN for Business typically continue with what works while planning longer-term ZTNA migration. For most BizTechScout-audience businesses considering their first or next business VPN: if you're a 2025+ company without VPN infrastructure, start with Twingate; if you have an existing legacy VPN you need to replace immediately with minimum disruption, NordLayer is a good incremental upgrade; if you specifically need geographic IP coverage for compliance or geo-restricted services, ExpressVPN for Business or Surfshark One.

This reflects our editorial team's perspective based on research and publicly available documentation.

Introduction

The "business VPN" category in 2026 isn't really one category anymore — it's two. Legacy business VPNs (NordLayer, ExpressVPN for Business, Surfshark One) extend the consumer-VPN model to centralized admin and team management. Modern zero-trust network access platforms (Twingate, Tailscale, Cloudflare Access) replace the underlying architecture with identity-aware, application-level access controls.

The choice between them is now an architectural decision that affects how your organization handles remote access for the next 5+ years.

This guide compares both segments through the lens of which is the right fit for which organizations. We focus on five widely deployed options in 2026: Twingate, NordLayer, ExpressVPN for Business, Surfshark One, and Proton VPN Business.

BizTechScout is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

Who this guide is for: IT managers, security leads, and founders responsible for remote access architecture decisions at organizations of 5-500 employees.

Why This Comparison Looks Different in 2026

In 2020, "business VPN" meant: connect remote employees to office network resources via an encrypted tunnel through a VPN concentrator. The differences between vendors were primarily in admin UX, server reach, and price.

In 2026, that legacy model has been challenged by zero-trust network access (ZTNA) — a fundamentally different architecture where authentication, authorization, and network access are decoupled. ZTNA platforms grant access to specific applications based on user identity, device posture, and access policies — without exposing network topology or requiring public IP addresses.

The practical implication: if you're picking a business VPN in 2026, you're really picking between two architectures.

At-a-Glance Comparison

Criterion	Twingate (ZTNA)	NordLayer	ExpressVPN Business	Surfshark One	Proton VPN Business
Architecture	Zero-Trust Network Access	Modern legacy VPN	Modern legacy VPN	Modern legacy VPN	Modern legacy VPN
Starting price	$0 (5 users free)	$7/user/mo	$10/user/mo	$4.49/user/mo	$7.99/user/mo
Centralized admin	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
App-level access	Yes (native)	Limited	No (network-layer)	No	Limited
Public IP required	No	Yes (gateway)	Yes (servers)	Yes	Yes
Identity-provider integration	Strong	Strong	Basic	Basic	Strong
Best for	Greenfield ZTNA	SMB legacy upgrade	Geographic reach	Budget-constrained	Privacy-first
Affiliate commission	Recurring (PartnerStack)	Available (PartnerStack)	Available	Available	Available

How to Choose Between Architectures

The decision tree:

Do you have an existing VPN that's working acceptably? If yes, and you have no compliance pressure to adopt zero-trust, incremental upgrades within the legacy VPN model (NordLayer, ExpressVPN for Business) are usually the right path. Migration is disruptive.
Are you a new company or rebuilding remote access from scratch? If yes, ZTNA (Twingate, Tailscale) is the architecturally cleaner choice. Greenfield deployment of ZTNA is no harder than greenfield deployment of legacy VPN, and the long-term security posture is superior.
Does your compliance framework specifically reference zero-trust architecture? NIST SP 800-207 (zero-trust architecture) is increasingly cited in compliance frameworks. Federal contractors, HIPAA-regulated healthcare in some configurations, and PCI-DSS environments have all seen zero-trust language enter their guidance. If your regulatory environment requires zero-trust, ZTNA is no longer optional.
Do you need geographic IP coverage for specific use cases? If your team needs to access geo-restricted services from specific countries (compliance research, market validation, region-specific testing), ExpressVPN Business or Surfshark One have meaningful geographic server reach that ZTNA tools don't directly provide.

1. Twingate — Best Greenfield Zero-Trust Choice

Bottom line: Twingate is the cleanest greenfield ZTNA platform in 2026 — application-level access, no public IP exposure, 15-minute deployment, and a free tier for 5 users.

The free Starter plan supports 5 users, 2 networks, and 1 admin with full ZTNA functionality. Most teams genuinely use this tier for evaluation before upgrading to Teams ($5/user/month) or Business ($10/user/month).

Strong identity-provider integrations (Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, JumpCloud, OneLogin) make Twingate the natural choice for organizations with mature IAM stacks. The developer-friendly API and Terraform provider support infrastructure-as-code deployments.

Recommended for: New companies, rebuilds of remote access infrastructure, organizations with mature identity stacks, and any deployment where zero-trust is a stated architectural goal.

2. NordLayer — Best Legacy VPN Upgrade

Bottom line: NordLayer is the right choice for SMBs that want centralized admin, modern security features, and traditional VPN UX without the architectural complexity of full ZTNA migration.

NordLayer's $7/user/month entry pricing is competitive among business VPN options. SSO via SAML, granular role-based access, and integration with major identity providers bring the platform meaningfully past basic legacy VPN. Organizations already using NordPass or other Nord Security products benefit from unified procurement and bundled discounts.

Recommended for: SMBs with existing legacy VPN that want to upgrade without architectural disruption, and organizations using other Nord Security products.

3. ExpressVPN for Business — Best for Geographic Reach

Bottom line: ExpressVPN for Business is the right choice for distributed teams that need access to geographic IP ranges across 100+ countries — particularly for compliance research, geo-restricted SaaS access, or international team operations.

The platform extends ExpressVPN's strong consumer-VPN infrastructure into business-tier admin features. For teams whose primary VPN use case is geographic IP coverage rather than access to private network resources, ExpressVPN's 100+ country presence is the strongest in this comparison.

Recommended for: Distributed teams needing geographic IP diversity, compliance research roles, and organizations whose VPN is primarily used for accessing geographically restricted SaaS services.

4. Surfshark One — Best Budget-Conscious Option

Bottom line: Surfshark One offers business-tier VPN at meaningfully lower per-user pricing than competitors, with a bundled feature set that includes basic alerting and VPN.

For budget-constrained SMBs who need credible business VPN without enterprise budget, Surfshark One delivers strong fundamentals at $4.49/user/month — meaningfully below NordLayer or ExpressVPN for Business.

Recommended for: Budget-constrained SMBs who need credible VPN without enterprise pricing.

5. Proton VPN Business — Best Privacy-First Option

Bottom line: Proton VPN Business is the right choice for organizations whose privacy posture is non-negotiable — Swiss-based jurisdiction, open-source clients, and integration with the broader Proton ecosystem (Proton Mail, Proton Drive, Proton Pass).

Proton's privacy positioning is differentiated and credible. For privacy-focused industries (journalism, legal, healthcare), the Proton ecosystem positioning carries meaningful operational value beyond raw VPN functionality.

Recommended for: Privacy-focused organizations, journalism/legal/healthcare contexts, and organizations using Proton Mail or other Proton products.

Final Verdict

Greenfield deployment / modern architecture: Twingate. Cleanest ZTNA choice in 2026.

Existing legacy VPN upgrade: NordLayer. Best balance of modernization and continuity.

Geographic IP coverage: ExpressVPN for Business. Strongest country-by-country reach.

Budget-constrained SMB: Surfshark One. Lowest credible business-tier pricing.

Privacy-first: Proton VPN Business. Differentiated positioning in regulated/privacy industries.

For deeper VPN analysis, see our best business VPN services 2026 comprehensive comparison.

Written by

Editorial Team

Founder & Lead Researcher

Expert in reviewing and evaluating business software and technology tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between traditional VPN and zero-trust network access?

Traditional VPNs grant access at the network layer — once connected, a user can reach any resource on the network unless additional access controls restrict them. Zero-trust network access (ZTNA) grants access at the application layer — users see only specific resources they're authorized to use, never the full network topology. ZTNA also typically eliminates public IP exposure (no VPN concentrator with a public-facing IP) and ties access decisions to user identity and device posture rather than network presence. ZTNA is the more secure architecture; traditional VPN remains common due to operational inertia.

Is Twingate genuinely free for small teams?

Yes — the Starter plan is free for up to 5 users, 2 networks, and 1 admin, with full ZTNA functionality. There's no time limit, no credit card requirement, and no trial expiration. Most teams use the free tier for evaluation before upgrading to Teams ($5/user/month) when they need additional users or networks. The free tier is a real product, not a trial.

Can ZTNA replace site-to-site VPN for branch offices?

ZTNA is primarily designed for user-to-resource access (remote workers connecting to applications), not site-to-site VPN (branch office to headquarters). For branch office connectivity, traditional site-to-site VPN or SD-WAN remains the standard. Some ZTNA platforms can be extended to handle limited site-to-site scenarios, but it's not their core use case.

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