Best Windows VPN 2021
VPN stands for virtual private network and is an important tool in anyone’s online security toolkit. VPNs allow you to connect to servers all over the world, making it seem like your machine is in that location. This is useful if you are trying to access restricted or blocked content. On the other hand, VPNs encrypt your data and ensure that you are protected against third parties penetrating your device and accessing your sensitive information.
We’ve all brought our computers with us to the local coffee shop, sat down with our latte and connected to the wifi. Have you thought about the access you’re giving to anyone on that network to your information? By simply having a VPN running, you are much less vulnerable in a situation like this. In this review, we look at price, user experience, features and security to help you figure out what Windows VPN is the best one for you.
What’s on This Page
What is a VPN for Windows?
While VPNs don’t keep you entirely anonymous, they contribute to a healthy online life, and that’s why we say they are an important tool for your internet security. All Windows users have heard a Mac user tell them about the built-in security they enjoy on their devices, while Macs can also benefit from added protections, Windows devices need that extra layer of security to help protect them from bad actors.
VPNs help protect your sensitive information, this includes browsing history, location and user activity. They also help unblock geo-restricted sites and content, allowing you to binge watch your favourite foreign shows or grant more access to content that might be blocked by institutions, companies or governments.
How to choose the best VPN for Windows?
Most VPNs available were made with Windows users in mind, so you can worry less about compatibility with your device and operating system and more about what you want out of a VPN. Besides looking for a product that meets your needs, you’re going to want to look for a VPN that is easy to use given your skill set, with fast speeds, customer service or peer-to-peer support and a privacy policy that you can understand.
The privacy policy is important, because you might find yourself in hot water if the VPN you’re using stores your data and is based in a location where, if subpoenaed, they would have to give your information, including your browsing history, to authorities.
Our Top 5 Windows VPNs
ExpressVPN
Best all-around VPN
Great Performance
ExpressVPN is one of the more expensive platforms out there, but when it comes to all-around performance, it outperforms its competitors.
Consistent Speed
A common concern with VPNs is that they’ll slow down your entire system. From browsing to streaming and everything in between, ExpressVPN runs in the background and maintains a decent connection the entire time.
Solid Features
Its Windows client is easy to use, and even has dedicated features. The Windows 10 client includes kill switch technology, smart server recommendations and a split tunneling feature that restricts the VPN connection to one browser, this is a good feature if you’ll be torrenting.
When it comes to streaming, this VPN passed the test with major services: Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.
Good Privacy and Customer Support
So what’s the deal with privacy? The privacy policy says that the company does not gather, log, or traffic data or online activities. It provides strong encryption for users while logged on to the VPN and if you ever have any questions 24/7 customer support is provided via email or live chat.
Price:
- 12 month subscription – $6.67/month
- 6 month subscription – $9.99/month
- 1 month subscription – $12.95/month
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money back guarantee and is the top pick for a VPN for PCs.
Overall Ratings:
StackCompare.com
4.75 (Aggregate Score)
Capterra.com
4.45 (190 user reviews)
G2.com
4.5 (47 user reviews)
NordVPN
Best for Security
Established
There’s a reason why NordVPN is a recognizable name in cybersecurity, it’s because they provide a good service. Their server network has more than 5,000 servers in over 80 locations and their privacy policy is audited every year by PricewaterhouseCoopers, so you can rest assured they practice what they preach.
Excellent Privacy Features
PC users who are concerned about privacy and security will love this feature: NordVPN offers double encryption, meaning your data goes through two separate VPN servers, making double sure that your information is safe.
Great Speed
NordVPN might be even faster than ExpressVPN now that they have the NordLynx protocol, making their service one of the fastest you can download for Windows.
The Windows client is easy to navigate and easy to use, albeit not as easy as ExpressVPN.
Price:
- 2 year subscription: $3.30/month
- 1 year subscription: $4.92/month
- 1 month subscription: $11.95/month
NordVPN offers a 30-day money back guarantee.
Overall Ratings:
StackCompare.com
4.5 (Aggregate Score)
Capterra.com
4.5 (748 user reviews)
G2.com
4.5 (197 user reviews)
IPVanish
Best for customer support
24/7 Customer Support
IPVanish is one of the only VPN services that offers 24/7 support on email, phone and live chat – while most VPN services offer live chat and/or email support. This is enough to make IPVanish stand out, especially for people who are new to VPNs.
Along with outstanding customer support, their FAQ section and knowledge base is helpful and has a plethora of information on their product.
Wide Reaching Remote Servers
Their remote servers also set them apart from some of their competitors. This company has a reach that is far and wide. Even in areas where they don’t have their own servers, they rent server space to better serve their customers who might want to surf the internet in a remote location. If you want to experience what Netflix is like in a far-off country though, you might be out of luck because this VPN does not work with the streaming service.
Great Features
When it comes to Windows VPNs this one is great for its features which includes the ability to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously, fast download speeds, kill switch and split tunneling.
Privacy Could be Better
If you’re concerned about your privacy, you may want to give this platform a skip. The company is based in the US and has a history of sharing customer logs with the authorities.
Price:
- 1 year subscription – $2.40/month
- Monthly plan – $3.19/ month
Yearly plan is fully refundable for 30 days.
Overall Ratings:
StackCompare.com
4.25 (Aggregate Score)
Capterra.com
4.5 (44 user reviews)
G2.com
4.6 (33 user reviews)
Windscribe
Best Free Windows VPN
Great Speed and Security
Windscribe is one of the best free VPNs for Windows. It’s speeds on Windows consistently outperform test speeds on Mac computers. It’s not only fast, it’s also extra secure – like NordVPN, it also offers double encryption, making sure that your information is extra protected.
Regulated Privacy
When it comes to privacy, it’s always important to look at where a company is located, because they need to abide by the laws of that country.
This company is headquartered in Canada which belongs to internet security alliances Five Eyes, Nine Eyes and 14 Eyes – these alliances compel companies to hand over customer data to the government for legal reasons.
Because of this regulation, it would be best for the users if Windscribe did not keep any customer data on file, reports say they have a loose logging policy – while they say “we store the bare minimum for a customer to actually use our service, any request for user data would yield nothing of value.”
While the privacy policy is loose, the app has high ratings from users across the board.
Price:
- Free
- Monthly upgraded plan – $9/month
- Yearly subscription – $4.08/month
Overall Ratings:
StackCompare.com
4.25 (Aggregate Score)
Capterra.com
4.5 (128 user reviews)
G2.com
4.4 (61 user reviews)
Surfshark
Best for Affordability
For Beginners
If you’re just getting started out with VPNs, this is a perfect option for you and your PC. It’s simple to use and affordable. You won’t be getting the speeds we saw with ExpressVPN and NordVPN, but you’ll get a lot of the same protections for a better price.
Great Features and User Experience
The app is simple and intuitive and offers may of the same security protections we saw in the VPNs previously discussed. The Windows client boasts a kill switch just in case your connection drops, and you can choose your security protocol.
Streaming
If you’re into streaming content from all over the world, you’ll love this VPN because you will easily gain access to Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Disney+, making sure your favourite shows are with you everywhere you go.
Price
- 24 month subscription – $2.49/month
- 6 month subscription – $6.49/month
- 1 month subscription – $12.95/month
Overall Ratings:
StackCompare.com
4.25 (Aggregate Score)
Capterra.com
4.5 (17 user reviews)
G2.com
4.5 (7 user reviews)
Our Rating Process
We looked at VPNs and evaluated them based on price, user experience, privacy, and features. We scored them each out of 5 points to help you make the best decision when figuring out what VPN is best for you and your PC.
Price
User Experience
Privacy
Features
Price
Price is important because you want to get the most bang for your buck! Once you have determined what your VPN needs are, you’ll be able to evaluate the price against the features and figure out if it’s worth it for you to spend your hard-earned cash on a particular VPN. You might find that the most expensive product fits your needs and you’re willing to pay extra, but you might also find that a more affordable option can offer the same experience.
User Experience
When it comes to running a VPN, whether you’re an advanced user or a beginner, you want the process to be fun and seamless. No one wants to spend hours talking to customer support or researching how to use a software that is literally supposed to run in the background.
Privacy
While running a VPN is legal, people often use them to access restricted content and websites. Some people even use them to access and download copyright material. If the VPN service is in a location where authorities have the right to subpoena user information, you’re going to want to understand exactly what information the company has collected. Any time your data is stored by a company, you’re at risk of that data leaking through a data breach.
Features
Features are important because these directly address your needs. Once you figure out what you need from a Windows VPN, you’ll be able to quickly find features that offer solutions to your problems.
Product Features
ExpressVPN
$6.67
/ month
- Good Speed
- Easy to Use
- Lots of Features
NordVPN
$4.92
/ month
- Fast Speed
- Double Encryption
- Many Features
IPVanish
$2.40
/ month
- Excellent Customer Service
- Fast Speed
- 10 users at once
Windscribe
$4.08
/ month
- Great Free Option
- Fast on Windows
- Double Encryption
Alternative Options
Similar Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best free VPN for Windows?
Many customers and testers say the best free VPN for Windows is the free version of Windscribe. It’s fast, secure and has a great user experience. Before committing to Windscribe, look at their privacy policy – they’ve received some backlash for having a loose policy when it comes to logging data.
Windows 10 VPN client sounds good, but it requires you to get a third-party VPN client to use it. The Windows VPN client’s name is misleading because it helps you connect to the third-party VPN client and doesn’t actually function as a VPN client. The moral of this story is if you want the benefits of a VPN, you’ll have to do your research and get a VPN client that serves your needs. ExpressVPN and NordVPN have great reviews for Windows users.
What’s the best VPN for working from home?
To determine what the best VPN is for working from home you’ll need to determine what your work from home needs are. Once you know what your requirements are, you’ll be able to find a VPN that meets those requirements. If you work for a company and need a VPN to access a work server, your IT department should be able to help you. If you’re a freelancer or run your own business both ExpressVPN and NordVPN have rave reviews from remote workers and employers.