Digital Nomads and Remote Work: Essential Tools To Work from Anywhere

Digital nomads don't pack light so much as they pack smart. Somewhere between the laptop sleeve and the spare charger, every experienced remote worker builds a personal stack of digital tools that keeps them online, secure, and productive, no matter which country they wake up in.

This guide walks through what digital nomads use to work from anywhere: VPNs, antivirus software, password managers, eSIMs, and productivity apps that support their digital wellness and keep their data safe. We'll cover specific tools in each category, what makes them different, and how to avoid paying for more subscriptions than you need.

Who are digital nomads, and how is their work different?

The term "digital nomad" refers to individuals who work remotely while living location-independent lifestyles as they move around from one city or country to another or even to another continent without having to be based in a particular office. The term applies to freelancers, remote employees, and entrepreneurs, though being a nomad differs from what workation means.

What unites these terms is the setup: a laptop, an internet connection, and a job that doesn't care which country they're logging in from.

That's also where digital nomads differ from a regular remote worker who works from home five days a week. A remote employee usually has a stable Wi-Fi connection, a known IP address, and predictable working hours. 

Photo by Yan Krukau

A nomad might follow a Canary Islands digital nomad boom and join a client call from a co-working space in Tenerife on Monday and a slow guesthouse connection in Chiang Mai two weeks later. Time zones shift, networks change, and the tools that work reliably in one country might be blocked or unstable in the next.

This is exactly why digital nomads are very much conscious of the software and tools they use for remote work. A disruption in the virtual private network or the expiration of your eSIM can actually cost you a client call or even lose access to a bank account that flags logins from unfamiliar countries.

The lifestyle also comes with logistics that a home-based remote worker never has to think about, from tracking how many days you've spent in a country to figuring out whether you need a digital nomad visa rather than a tourist one. 

Essential remote work tools for digital nomads

The best IT tools for remote work aren’t devices that you have to carry around in your suitcase. These are digital services and subscriptions, apps, security tools, and connectivity plans, built to work from any location.

The best VPN for digital nomads

A virtual private network (VPN) is one of the first things a digital nomad installs. Working at airports, hostels, and cafes implies using someone else’s network that you don’t have control over.

The use of a VPN helps protect yourself against possible attacks since a VPN encrypts all the connections. 

Moreover, sometimes certain websites, banking, or other services block users who connect to their websites from unknown locations or countries. So, installing a reliable VPN allows you to choose a certain server location and keep using websites without being blocked.

NordVPN

NordVPN offers one of the most extensive server networks, with more than 8,800 servers in 149 different countries, allowing up to ten connections at a time. When independently tested for speed, NordVPN is always on the list of the fastest VPN services, thanks to its NordLynx protocol based on WireGuard.

It also includes extras aimed at higher-risk use, such as Double VPN, which routes traffic through two VPN servers, and Dark Web Monitor, which alerts you if your email appears in a data leak.

Plans currently start at $3.49/month on a two-year plan, but that price is based on an upfront payment for the promotional term. Monthly pricing is considerably higher, starting at $14.99/month for the Basic plan.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN operates in 113 countries and has numerous servers all around the world. It is a smaller network compared to NordVPN, but the higher-level packages offered by ExpressVPN enable users to connect multiple devices at the same time: 12 with Advanced and 14 with Pro plans.

It's generally considered one of the easiest VPNs to set up for non-technical users, and its Advanced and Pro plans include ExpressKeys, the company's password manager.

Speed is more complicated. In TechRadar's latest independent testing, standard Lightway was slower than NordVPN and Surfshark, but Lightway Turbo on Windows was among the fastest protocols tested. So if raw speed matters more than simplicity, it's worth checking benchmarks for the specific device and protocol you'll use.

Current promotional pricing starts at $2.49/month for Basic or $2.99/month for Advanced on two-year plans, though these are promotional rates billed upfront.

Surfshark

Surfshark's standout feature is unlimited simultaneous device connections, the only one of the three with no device cap. That makes it a practical choice for a household or a couple traveling together on one subscription. 

Surfshark is fast, although speeds can change based on location. It covers 100+ countries through more than 4,500 servers, and is usually the cheapest of the three, with long-term plans currently starting around $2.49 a month.

It also includes privacy extras that aren't available from every competitor, including GPS spoofing on Android and Alternative ID, which lets you create a separate identity and masked email instead of sharing your real personal details. 

Antivirus and remote work security tools

Digital nomads are a more attractive target for cybercriminals than the average remote worker, simply because they connect to more unfamiliar networks and carry more of their financial and work life on one device. For nomads who rely on one device for work, banking, travel bookings, and personal accounts, real-time antivirus protection is an important second layer of defense.

Bitdefender

Bitdefender is generally regarded as relatively light on system resources while maintaining strong malware protection, and its free Windows antivirus provides real-time protection without a subscription. Paid plans add features such as a VPN, password manager, file shredder, and webcam and microphone protection. The basic VPN included with Total Security is limited to 200 MB per day, while Premium Security includes unlimited VPN traffic. 

Norton 360

Norton 360 focuses on bundling antivirus protection with privacy and security tools. Depending on the tier, you can get a password manager, VPN, cloud backup, firewall, dark web monitoring, parental controls, and identity protection. The Norton AntiVirus Plus package is available starting from $29.99 in the first year and comes with password management and 2 GB of cloud backup. 

Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes is particularly useful if you want a straightforward malware scanner, but its current product line is broader than its original “cleanup tool” reputation suggests. Malwarebytes Free provides on-demand scanning and malware removal, making it useful as a second-opinion scanner, while Premium Security adds real-time protection, ransomware protection, malicious-site blocking, and other features that make it a full antivirus product.

Malwarebytes has been shown to be capable of performing very well recently during independent tests, although the findings differ depending on the test and methods used. Malwarebytes scored 99.59% online protection during the March 2026 Malware Protection Test carried out by AV-Comparatives.

Password managers and two-factor authentication

Password reuse poses greater risks when you are accessing your accounts from a new network every couple of weeks. The best way to tackle this challenge is by using a password manager. Two-factor authentication provides additional security since the password on its own will not suffice for scammers to access your account.

Bitwarden

Bitwarden is one of the most recommended password managers if you do not wish to add another subscription fee to your monthly payments. The free version is quite practical and usable, unlike many other applications that provide only a part of the full version functionality.

Bitwarden is also open source, and paid plans add features such as encrypted file storage, while self-hosting is available if you want more control over where your data is stored. Premium currently costs about $1.65 a month when billed annually.

Google Authenticator

Google Authenticator also provides two-factor authentication codes; however, they can be synchronized with your Google account. When you change your device, it becomes easy to switch to another one since your codes can be recovered after signing in. You can also use this application without having a Google account and transfer codes manually. It's a flexible option if you prefer to keep your authenticator data off the cloud.

1Password

Although 1Password does not offer a lifetime free plan, its subscription options begin at around $2.99 per month, and it has a two-week trial. The key strength of 1Password for users on the move is its Travel Mode, which enables you to mark specific vaults as safe for traveling.

That can be useful if you're crossing a border and don't want sensitive passwords or account details sitting on your phone or laptop during an inspection. The hidden vaults come back when you turn Travel Mode off and reconnect to 1Password.

eSIM and global connectivity

An eSIM is a digital SIM card that you activate through an app or QR code instead of inserting a physical chip. You can buy a local data plan before you even land, switch countries without hunting for a phone shop, and keep your home number active on a second line at the same time.

Saily

Saily covers 200+ destinations and focuses on making international data simple to set up and manage through its app. Plans are prepaid and primarily data-only, although Saily now also offers a US phone number with calling and messaging. It also bundles security features such as a virtual location, ad blocking, and web protection, which can be useful if you don't want to install separate apps for those functions. 

Airalo

Airalo provides eSIM services in more than 200 countries, with the option to buy either locally or internationally. This service is highly beneficial for people who travel frequently because of its rewards program: you get 5-10% of your total expenses back as Airmoney. Pricing depends on the destination; however, most local packages cost approximately $4.

Holafly

Holafly works for people who want to settle their bill once, without being concerned about exhausting their mobile internet limit. 

Holafly provides its users with unlimited data plans in numerous locations along with customer service operating 24 hours a day. This can be especially handy if you’re working abroad and rely heavily on your connection for video calls, uploads, or hotspotting. Just keep in mind that hotspot limits vary by plan.

Ubigi

If you require just a little bit of data for a brief period of time, then Ubigi may be a flexible choice. They offer a plan that comes with as little as 500MB of data, and the very same Ubigi eSIM is valid in 200+ destinations, meaning that you will not have to replace your eSIM each time you cross a border.

We've had a poor experience with Lycamobile's eSIM in France, so we wouldn't rely on it as our only connection for an important work trip. If reliable connectivity matters, having a second eSIM from another provider ready to activate is cheap insurance when your internet connection is also your office.

Remote work productivity tools for digital nomads

The final suite of tools includes the regular applications used to facilitate all the actual work being done: notes, task management, time management, file management, and concentration. 

Notion

Notion works as a combined notes app, project tracker, and database, which is why it tends to become the one place nomads keep everything: trip planning, client work, and personal notes in the same workspace instead of scattered across separate apps.

Evernote

While Notion has a lot going for it, Evernote is more straightforward and less complicated, a tool created purely for taking notes. When Notion has too much structure for your needs, Evernote is the way to go.

Trello

Trello is a project management tool that helps you organize tasks visually. You create cards for tasks and move them between columns as they progress. It works well for everything from a simple to-do list to an editorial calendar, and it’s easy to use on your phone while waiting at the gate.

Asana

Asana has more advanced workflows compared to Trello, with assigned tasks, dependencies, and a schedule for the project included. Asana is useful for nomads who work together with a remote team in different time zones, where being on the same page about the deadlines and responsibilities is important.

Toggl Track

The software offers a one-click timer function to log your activities instantly and an option to manually add tasks you forgot to start on time. The application can work offline and synchronize when you go online, which can be crucial on unstable connections. Additionally, it integrates with more than a hundred other applications, such as Trello, Asana, and Notion.

Google Drive

Google Drive gives 15GB of free storage, though that's shared with Gmail and Google Photos rather than dedicated purely to files. It doesn't sync only the changed parts of a file the way Dropbox does, but it makes up for that with fast servers, strong search across your files, and roughly a hundred native integrations with other apps.

Dropbox

While the free Dropbox account offers less storage space compared to Google Drive – 2 GB expandable to 16 GB – the tool has an advantage. Its sync technology only transfers the parts of a file that changed, which makes it noticeably faster for large files. In addition, the LAN sync feature enables direct file exchange within a local area network.

How to keep your tool subscriptions under control?

Most of the tools above run on paid subscriptions, and you might lose track of what you're paying for once you've signed up for a VPN, an antivirus plan, a password manager, an eSIM, and a handful of productivity apps. A few habits go a long way toward keeping the cost down without cutting corners on security.

Paying annually instead of monthly is usually the biggest single saving on VPNs and antivirus software, since most providers price the monthly plan at a premium to push people toward the yearly one. Bundled security suites that combine a VPN and antivirus under one subscription can also work out cheaper than paying for both separately, and they cut down on the number of accounts you need to manage.

Calendar reminders a couple of days prior to every expiration date should be set as well. Free trials or discounts for the first year of service are quite typical, and you may easily overlook your free trial expiring. A quick annual check, comparing what you're paying against current plans, is usually enough to catch anything worth switching.