Reviewed picks for Americans abroad.
Expat health insurance, expat bank accounts, VPNs, online notary, US tax help and country relocation guides. Scored against a public rubric and re-verified quarterly. 180 or more providers reviewed, last verified July 2026.
Expat health insurance
Scored on coverage breadth, exclusions, claim turnaround and whether the plan pays your clinic directly.
Health insurance · Score 9.4
Global Nomad Health
Worldwide-excluding-US cover with direct billing in 92 countries, no maternity waiting period after 12 months, and claims paid in USD. Strongest all-round pick for under-45s.
$78 a month
Health insurance · Score 9.1
Meridian Family Cover
Built for households. Dependents added at a flat rate, pediatric and maternity included from day one, and an English-speaking clinic network in every country we tested.
$212 a month, family
Health insurance · Score 8.6
Driftline Nomad Plan
Month-to-month travel medical for people still deciding where to land. Cheap and flexible, but reimbursement-only and thin on chronic conditions, so read the exclusions.
$46 a month
Banking, cards and transfers
Every option here has confirmed, documented onboarding for US persons under FATCA.
Banking · Score 9.6
Meridian Multi-Currency
Hold 40 or more currencies, mid-market FX with a published 0.42 percent fee, and confirmed FATCA onboarding for US persons. Opens before you have local residency.
$0 a month
Credit card · Score 9.0
Atlas Travel Rewards Card
No foreign transaction fee, 3x on travel and dining abroad, and a US issuer that will not lock the card when it sees a foreign IP. Requires a US address on file.
$95 a year
Transfers · Score 9.3
Crossbank Transfers
Moving a lump sum for a deposit or visa proof of funds? Rate-locked transfers up to $250k with a named dealer, and paperwork formatted the way consulates expect.
0.35% per transfer
VPN and digital access
Tested from inside each country, and re-tested quarterly because bank and streaming blocks change.
VPN · Score 9.5
Harbor VPN
The only provider in our tests that kept three major US bank logins working from six countries, including two restrictive ones. The dedicated US IP add-on is worth it.
$4.99 a month
VPN · Score 8.9
Streamline VPN
Best for US media access, holding four major streaming services across every country we tested. Weaker for banking, where flagged IP ranges caused fraud locks.
$3.29 a month
Online notary, tax and mail
The paperwork layer. Remote notarization foreign authorities will accept, expat-only tax preparers, and a real US address.
Online notary · Score 9.2
SealPoint Online Notary
Remote online notarization commissioned in 34 states, with apostille routing handled in house. Sessions available around the clock, which matters when you are nine hours ahead.
$25 a document
US expat tax · Score 9.4
Foreign Ledger Tax
Enrolled agents who only do American expat returns: FEIE, foreign tax credit, FBAR and streamlined amnesty filings. Flat fee, quoted before they start.
$420 a return
Mail service · Score 8.8
Anchor Address Mailbox
A real US street address, not a PO box, that banks, the IRS and most DMVs accept. Scans mail within a day and forwards packages internationally.
$19 a month
Country relocation guides
Visa routes with realistic timelines, cost of living for a family, healthcare access as a foreigner, and the local tax treaty position. Free, and updated as rules change.
Country guide
Portugal relocation guide
D7 and digital nomad visa routes with realistic timelines, NIF and bank account sequencing, public versus private healthcare access, and the tax treaty position after the NHR changes.
Free 42 pages
Country guide
Mexico relocation guide
Temporary versus permanent residency thresholds, consular appointment strategy, private health cover that actually pays locally, and how state residency affects your US filing.
Free 38 pages
Country guide
Thailand relocation guide
Long-term resident and DTV visa options, 90-day reporting, hospital tiers and what private insurance is expected to cover, plus the banking workaround for US citizens.
Free 35 pages
Country guide
Netherlands relocation guide
The DAFT treaty self-employment route, the 30 percent ruling as it stands now, mandatory Dutch health insurance rules, and international school waitlists by city.
Free 40 pages
Country guide
Spain relocation guide
Non-lucrative and digital nomad visas, the Beckham Law question, regional healthcare differences, and why your consulate appointment date decides your whole timeline.
Free 44 pages
Country guide
Costa Rica relocation guide
Rentista and pensionado routes, CAJA enrolment and what it really covers, private clinic costs in the Central Valley, and importing a vehicle without regret.
Free 33 pages
Get the checklist so you buy in the right order
Buying insurance before you know your visa route, or opening a bank account before you have an address, is how people pay twice. The checklist fixes the sequence.