5 Best VPN Software for Windows in 2023
To help you out, I’ve vigorously tested the best services to deliver you the review of the top 5 best VPN for Windows.
I have also delivered you a detailed overview of the best VPN services for Mac in case you or your friends use another operating system.
What Is the Best VPN Software for Windows?
We summarized 5 best VPN software for Windows that you can use besides the Windows 10 built-in VPN. Check our list below:
- NordVPN – the best VPN client for Windows. The company offers decent speeds and decent levels of privacy to make your web surfing experience fast and secure.
- ExpressVPN – an all-rounded VPN option for laptops and desktops. Their premium version, besides the Express VPN free Windows VPN trial offers solid support and great speed.
- CyberGhost – easy-to-use VPN for computers. It’s a great choice for beginners as it has clearly marked servers and navigation around the app.
- SurfShark – a cheap VPN provider with loads of server choices for unblocking. It also shows great speeds.
- TunnelBear – one of the most secure Windows 10 VPN providers. It keeps zero logs and is chocked full of privacy features for your computer.
NordVPN: Best VPN Client for Windows
Pricing plans: 1-month – $12.95, 6-months – $59.95, 1-year – $99.95 [+3 free months]
Compatibility: Windows 10, Android, iOS, macOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, routers
Number of servers: 5,600+
Server locations: 60+
IP Addresses: N/A
Maximum devices supported: 6
Pros & Cons:
+ External audit of privacy claims
+Kill Switch
+ Convenient live chat support
+ Unblocks Netflix
– Somewhat more expensive than the competition
– Lack of some browser extensions
NordVPN is often found on the list of the best VPN service providers. This free VPN software for Windows 10 with premium plans has a spotless history of providing VPN services. As a company under Panama’s jurisdiction, it assures clients that their data will always remain beyond the reach of any government.
NordVPN can easily be the fastest VPN for PC as it delivers ultra-fast internet speeds in both download and upload categories. The company has a strict no-logging policy and doesn’t track records or store user browsing history. NordVPN upholds very tight security.
DoubleVPN feature routes user data through 2 VPN servers, ensuring complete security. The security protocols include IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP.
NordVPN is P2P friendly, meaning its users can effortlessly enjoy torrenting without risking their private data will get out there. During the IP and DNS leak test, I didn’t identify any leaks. Its trial can be considered the best free unlimited VPN for Windows 10.
Unblocking Netflix geo-restrictions with VPN is straightforward. Windows 10 client is optimized and designed with ease of use in mind.
ExpressVPN: Best VPN for Laptop
Pricing & plans: 1-month – $12.95, 6-months – $59.95, 1-year – $99.95 [+3 free months]
Compatibility: Windows 10, Android, iOS, macOS, browser extensions, routers
Number of servers: 3,000+
Server locations: 160
IP Addresses: 30,000+
Maximum devices supported: 5
Pros Cons:
+ Great customer support
+ Good compatibility
+ A large network of VPN servers
+ Consistent performance across the network
– Somewhat expensive
– Can’t use browser extensions without the ExpressVPN app
ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands and offers top-notch VPN services for laptops. The extensive geo coverage ensures good connectivity. No wonder it made it to our list of best free VPNs. Its VPN free download for Windows 7 trial can be a great way to assess it.
Fast authentication and outstanding performance across the ExpressVPN network result from years-long development plans and investments, thus somewhat more expensive subscription plans.
ExpressVPN has a zero-logging policy and features several security protocols: OpenVPN/ UDP, OpenVPN TCP, L2TP – IPSec, PPTP, and IKEv2. The 256-bit AES encryption makes communication between clients and servers virtually unhackable.
ExpressVPN is P2P-friendly, but the company likes to keep things quiet. There is no data cap nor connection-throttling. Users can enjoy torrenting across the entire Express VPN network.
I’ve been able to bypass Netflix geo-restrictions on every single server I connected to, which is quite a rare thing to see in a VPN service provider.
CyberGhost: VPN Software for Windows
Pricing plans: 1-month – $12.99, 1-year – $71.88, 3-years – $99 [+2 months free]
Compatibility: Windows 10, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Firestick, Android TV, Routers
Number of servers: 3,700+
Server locations: 60+
IP Addresses: N/A
Maximum devices supported: 7
Pros Cons:
+ Free trial
+ Easy-to-use client
+ Good geo coverage
+ Great value in a 3-year plan
– Inconsistent speed across the network
– Setting up OpenVPN takes skill
CyberGhost is a Romania and Germany-based VPN service provider for Windows, offering access to an extensive server network strategically placed all over the globe. It is particularly easy to use but still boasts advanced features tech-savvy audiences will more than welcome.
The speed test results of its free trial VPN download for Windows were satisfying over the short-distance connections. On long-distance connections, speed is inconsistent. Still, it is well above the industry average. CyberGhost has a zero-log policy to ensure its customer’s safety and security. No DNS or IP leaks were detected during testing.
When it comes to security protocols and encryption, I’ve found all the usual suspects, including 256-bit AES encryption, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec protocols.
CyberGhost supports torrenting, but I’ve discovered that it is not allowed on all servers. When it comes to unblocking Netflix, CyberGhost offers an easy way to do it. The CyberGhost Windows client highlights the servers that are recommended for unblocking Netflix in your geo region.
Surfshark: Windows 10 VPN Provider
Pricing plans: 1-month – $11.95, 12-months – $71.88, 27-months – $47.76
Compatibility: Windows 10, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux
Number of servers: 800+
Server locations: 50+
IP Addresses: N/A
Maximum devices supported: No limit
Pros & Cons:
+ No limit on simultaneous connections
+ Unblocks Netflix
+ Great value with a 27-month plan
+ Excellent customer support
– The free trial is reserved for Mac and mobile users
– Vague privacy policy
Surfshark Windows 10 VPN provider is based in the British Virgin Islands, allowing it to deliver its zero-logging promise legally. While Surfshark runs a large operation and has servers in over 50 countries, it delivered speeds above the industry average.
With its private DNS server, 256-bit AES encryption and OpenVPN UDP and TCP, and IKEv2 security protocols, Surfshark delivers top-notch security to its users. Also, I didn’t detect IP or DNS leaks during testing.
Surfshark is P2P friendly and delivers ultra-fast torrenting speeds. With access to kill switch, users can enjoy safe and secure torrenting.
Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for Windows if you love streaming Netflix shows and movies. It bypasses Netflix geo-restrictions and unlocks 16 large Netflix libraries without breaking a sweat.
TunnelBear: VPN for Computers
Pricing plans: 1-month – $4.99 Unlimited, 1-month – $5.75 Teams 2+ users
Compatibility: macOS, Windows 10, iOS, Android
Number of servers: N/A
Server locations: 22
IP Addresses: N/A
Maximum devices supported: 5
Pros Cons:
+ Zero-logging policy
+ 500 Mb free plan
+ Easy-to-use Windows client
+ Security audited by 3d party
– Limited network coverage
– Can’t unblock Netflix
TunnelBear is owned by McAfee and based in Canada (VPN Canada). The company is trying to appeal to people interested in protecting their anonymity and enhancing their security online.
It can not be said the same for tech-savvy people. I couldn’t uncover any technical information about TunnelBear VPN for computers whatsoever.
They have tight security and encryption protocols, as confirmed by an independent company that runs annual security audits for TunnelBear. I tested TunnelBear for IP and DNS leaks, and no leaks were detected.
TunnelBear is not as fast as some other VPN service providers. It delivers average speeds, but what I found satisfying is the speed consistency across the entire network. TunnelBear is torrent-friendly and seems to have optimized its servers, which means that this VPN supports fast torrent download and upload speeds.
I wasn’t able to unblock Netflix with it, though. No matter how hard I tried and changed servers, Netflix geo-restrictions would not budge.
How We Ranked These VPNs for Computers
Before selecting each VPN, we’ve examined more than 20 indicators, including speeds, server locations, logging policies, price, compatibility, customer support, and more. Even though there are new providers on the market, like VPN.ac, that were about to make it into our list, we still decided to proceed with the top ones for now, and here are the key indicators we looked for:
Security Privacy
All of our VPNs on the list use strict no-logs policies and military-grade encryption to secure classified information.
Our best VPN clients for Windows also include an automatic Kill Switch that stops unprotected data from leaving if your connection fails. Plus, they protect you against DNS leaks.
Despite that, our VPNs for Windows laptops and desktop computers use OpenVPN protocol as standard.
Speed
All of the VPN free downloads for Windows 10 trials met the speed requirements to download and stream in high definition.
It is barely noticeable that it might take some time to encrypt or decrypt your information when using a VPN, even while traveling abroad.
Streaming Services
VPNs hide your IP address so that you can easily overcome geo-blocks and stream content from Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu anywhere.
We are confident that all the services on our list unblock at least one popular streaming service.
How to install and set up a VPN for Windows?
The job of configuring a paid or free VPN server software for windows is easy. Just stay attentive and pick the best VPN for Windows. Pay for the subscription, install it on the targeted device, activate the VPN account, set the privacy settings, and that’s it. Make sure you are picking the free VPN software for Windows as per your Windows configuration. For instance, if you have Windows 8, get the best VPN for Windows 8.
Side Note: You can use your Windows VPN on all of your Windows devices: phones, laptops, PCs, etc.
How to choose the best Windows 10 VPN for PC?
It is a tough job and demands you to be attentive. Ensure you are availing of the best free VPN software for the Windows trial facility before the subscription. Try to inquire as much as possible about its security features. DNS Leak, no-log policy, and auto-kill switch are must-have features. User-friendliness and device compatibility are imperative. IPVanish, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost are the best in this regard.
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FAQs
Windows 10 features a built-in VPN client, which serves as another security layer for Windows 10 users. Thanks to this feature, Windows 10 has become a more secure platform to work on. A built-in VPN client allows Windows users to access public servers through a private route.
