Looking for a VPN you can use on Windows? Whether you like to use a built-in connection, through a VPN setup on Windows, or download a dedicated application from your chosen VPN provider, both are on our list. We’re also aware that some of you are on a tight budget or have no budget at all. Although it’s definitely worth buying a VPN, sometimes you need to get a free VPN to bridge the gap until you can afford it. The last two entries are dedicated to those people. Before you go ahead and start picking favorites, quickly refresh your memory with our guide on how to use a VPN. With that done, here’s our pick of the best VPN for Windows.
1. NordVPN
If you’re new here, we always recommend NordVPN for people who need to bypass Netflix VPN block or watch blocked content on Amazon Prime Video. To ensure the best streaming quality, they use a SmartPlay DNS feature. It chooses the best server with a top-notch VPN speed, allowing for stutter-free 4K videos, provided your native Internet connection is sufficient. While we’re on the topic of servers, you can change a VPN server and choose over 5400 servers in 59 countries. Furthermore, you can have up to 6 simultaneous connections, and your data is encrypted with a 256-AES cipher.
2. ExpressVPN
In our ExpressVPN review, we praised ExpressVPN’s ability to unblock streaming services such as Disney Plus. But that’s far from their maximum potential. It is also our #1 choice for using a VPN in Canada, has 3000+ servers in 160 locations, and supports all major operating systems – even routers!
Just like NordVPN and every other premium VPN provider, they pride themselves on having a zero-log policy and using 256-bit encryption between you and their servers. Did we mention split tunneling? It allows you to keep your VPN always ON by choosing which apps to route through a VPN tunnel, and which to use with your real IP address.
3. Surfshark
Surfshark offers something almost no other provider does – they allow for an unlimited number of VPN connections at the same time. That means you and your extended family and group of friends can hide IP with a VPN. That means you won’t have to worry about having your browsing activity spied on. Surfshark promises not to keep any logs of your activity. With that out of the way, Surfshark offers 1700+ servers in 63 countries. It also has a built-in ad and malware blocker, IP/DNS leak protection, and is very affordable.
4. CyberGhost
CyberGhost rivals Surfshark in terms of affordability – it’s one of the cheapest premium VPN subscriptions on the market. Where it overtakes Surfshark is the server number – 6500+ across the globe! They also offer automatic kill switch/network lock, preventing your real location from leaking if your VPN connection drops suddenly. Furthermore, CyberGhost gives you a chance to connect up to 7 devices at the same time, supports all major security protocols and has apps for every popular operating system, and even gives you 45 days to get your money back.
5. IPVanish
IPVanish has much fewer servers, only 1500+ in 75 locations across the world. It is also based in the United States, which isn’t a privacy-friendly country. But, they do offer something unique. You see, they own every piece of the chain – they don’t rent their servers, and there are no third parties involved that can leak your data or compromise the servers out of spite. They also offer a Scramble feature that can bypass a VPN block by disguising your traffic to appear as a regular IP address. Finally, IPVanish allows you to use its apps on up to 10 devices simultaneously.
6. StrongVPN
StrongVPN is almost two decades old. They first started by selling PCs, and in 2005, they shifted towards offering VPN solutions. Hence, they are a tried and tested provider that will be a good fit for your Windows device. And while they are headquartered in Florida, USA, the provider offers a strong zero-logs policy on top of state-of-the-art encryption. So you don’t have to worry about privacy or security. The VPN also does well, feature-wise, as there is WireGuard protocol, 24/7 customer support, SmartDNS, a kill switch, and leak protection. Lastly, the service costs $3.97 for the annual plan.
7. AtlasVPN
AtlasVPN is a relatively new VPN that is only 3 years old. But it is a decent freemium service that hails from Delaware, USA. But don’t let this fact put you off, as the service provider offers a clean app for Windows, amongst other platforms. It supports 4K streaming, WireGuard, Adblocker, email protection, multi-IP, split tunneling, and so on. The logging policy is a delight for privacy-centric users, and the VPN employs AES encryption to safeguard data. As for pricing, the cheapest 3-year plan only costs $1.83 per month, which is a steal.
8. PrivateVPN
You might be confused that a VPN provider with only 100 servers in 60 countries earned such a high spot. And rightly so. But let us assure you, it’s the quality rather than quantity that matters. Based in Sweden, this provider can unblock geo-locked websites and streaming services with ease, which others struggle with.
Plus, they offer a kill switch feature, 24/7 customer support, AES-256 encryption with up to a 2048-bit cipher, and every server is configured for maximum speed and lowest latency. If you find you don’t like it (which you won’t), they also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
9. VyprVPN
When reviewed VyprVPN, we mentioned it is one of the top picks for Kodi VPN services. They offer a 3-day free trial, after which you can decide on two tiers, VyprVPN and VyprVPN Premium. The latter promises support for 5 simultaneous connections, and Cloud services via VyprVPN Cloud. Additionally, they have over 200,000 IP addresses in 70+ locations at your disposal, and that’s not all. Unlike others, that use OpenVPN (TCP/IP), IPSec/L2TP, or SSTP, this provider has a proprietary security protocol named Chameleon.
VyprVPN is a great service provider hailing from Switzerland that was launched in 2009. Hence, it can be a good fit for your Windows PC. Since it comes from Switzerland, you don’t have to worry about privacy, as the country has some of the strongest privacy laws in the world.
Furthermore, VyprVPN also employs a strict zero-logging policy. Talking about features, the VPN offers one of the best obfuscation techs in the VPN market, the proprietary Chameleon protocol, as well as other benefits such as split tunneling, DNS leak protection, VyprDNS, WireGuard, and 24/7 customer support. It has also been independently audited. Finally, the VPN costs $5 per month for the annual plan.
10. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access has by far the biggest number of servers – 14686+ in 74 countries. Of course, not all of them offer minimal speed loss or the best latency, but they’re useful nonetheless. Besides a strict no-log policy, support for major security protocols, and obfuscated servers to unblock websites in China, they also offer SOCKS5 VPN proxy, encryption, kill switch, and the ability to forward ports and bypass VPN blockers.
And, besides the ability to pay with PayPal, credit cards, and Bitcoin, you can also pay for a subscription with gift cards such as Walmart, Starbucks, Best Buy, which are anonymous.
11. Hotspot Shield
As promised, the last two entries are among our top 5 free VPN services for our underage, cheapskate, or tight-budget-imposed readers. Hotspot Shield operates 3200+ servers in 85+ countries and 35+ cities. They also allow up to 5 devices to be connected simultaneously. And, just like VyprVPN, they came up with a proprietary VPN security protocol, called Hydra. It maximizes your speed, improves your security, and aids in activities such as gaming, downloading P2P transfer (torrenting), and streaming content from your favorite services.
12. Windscribe
Windscribe is another great VPN with free plans. While you get 2 GB of bandwidth right off the bat, you can do additional activities and get up to 10 GB of free bandwidth. They have servers in 110+ locations and 63+ cities. Plus, Windscribe encrypts your Internet traffic with AES-256 cipher, 4096-bit RSA key, and SHA512 auth. Best of all, they store no logs of your activity. If you decide to purchase their premium service, you can also choose a static IP for your VPN.
