If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the galore VPNs for PCs that are present available, you’re not alone. At times, it tin beryllium hard to abstracted the selling hype from reality. For example, galore VPNs assertion to supply the fastest speeds, but it’s not just oregon wholly realistic for you to effort each azygous 1 of them retired to find out. This is wherever our galore hours of hands-on investigating comes successful useful.
To assistance you constrictive each these options down, I’ve tested a multitude of Windows VPNs, looking astatine everything from their server speeds and unblocking quality to their leak extortion and no-logs policies. The champion VPNs for Windows PC excel successful each of these areas and adjacent connection immoderate intriguing extras that Windows users mightiness find useful, including divided tunneling and adjacent antivirus protection.TL;DR – These Are the Best VPNs for PC:
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Before I instrumentality you done the champion VPNs for PC, here’s a speedy mentation of what a VPN is, what it does, and however it works. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your net postulation and masks your IP address. Your online activities are hidden arsenic a effect – adjacent from your ISP (Internet Service Provider). As such, you’ll beryllium capable to browse privately and adjacent navigate geographic restrictions connected content.
1. ExpressVPN
Best VPN for Windows PC
ExpressVPN
Pricing
Starting from $4.99 per month
Simultaneous connections
8
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV
Fast, accordant connections
Includes a password manager
ExpressVPN combines the precocious level of show and information required to beryllium the champion VPN for Windows PC. It’s 1 of the faster VPNs I’ve tested, and this coupled with 3,000 servers successful 105 countries is what makes ExpressVPN the champion VPN for streaming, too. It unblocked each streaming work I threw astatine it including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. It doesn’t wounded that ExpressVPN has immoderate of the astir user-friendly VPN apps connected the marketplace either.
Aside from 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a desktop termination switch, ExpressVPN has an advertisement blocker (which performed precise good successful testing), and a password manager. Another utile diagnostic that’s disposable connected aggregate platforms including Windows is divided tunneling. This allows you to prime which apps tin bypass the VPN connection. ExpressVPN has Windows 10 and 11 apps and an ARM-compatible app truthful you tin adjacent usage it connected Copilot+ PCs.
2. Proton VPN
Best VPN With a Free Tier
Proton VPN
Pricing
Starting from $4.49 per month
Simultaneous connections
10
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, Apple TV
Anonymous outgo possible
Live chat isn’t disposable 24/7
Proton VPN is fashionable with privateness enthusiasts. A VPN Accelerator feature, which optimizes information routing, coupled with 10 Gbps connections connected galore servers makes this 1 of the fastest VPNs. The effect is lag-free streaming and gaming. Proton VPN has plentifulness of servers too. Aside from the Windows app, there’s a peculiar ARM mentation for usage with Microsoft Surface and different ARM Windows devices.
Many VPNs assertion to person no-logs policies yet support transportation logs, but that’s not the lawsuit with Proton VPN. It has unfastened root apps and operates retired of Switzerland, a state with beardown privateness laws. On apical of high-end encryption and a termination switch, you tin further unafraid your PC with its advertisement blocker and Secure Core (Double VPN) servers. More recently, Proton VPN has implemented a Stealth protocol for Windows, allowing PC users to bypass strict censorship.
3. NordVPN
Best VPN for Gaming
NordVPN
Pricing
Starting from $3.09 per month
Simultaneous connections
10
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV
Meshnet diagnostic for LAN gaming
Bursting with information extras
Map takes up a batch of the app view
NordVPN has 1 of the larger VPN server networks (7,000+ servers successful 118 countries). We recovered its connections to beryllium highly consistent, which makes it highly suitable for streaming erstwhile traveling. It’s besides wherefore it’s the champion VPN for gaming; NordVPN’s Meshnet diagnostic lets you make a virtual web for LAN gaming with friends. Not lone is NordVPN disposable for Windows 11 and 10, it supports some Surface Pro and ARM devices.
The net postulation connected your PC is secured from hackers and snoopers acknowledgment to 256-bit AES encryption and termination power feature. I didn’t observe DNS oregon IP leaks successful investigating and was impressed with its advertisement blocker that stopped the immense bulk of ads successful their tracks. As portion of your NordVPN subscription, you person entree to a password manager, malware protection, and encrypted unreality storage, providing broad information to your Windows PC.
4. Surfshark
Best VPN for Extra Features
Surfshark
Pricing
Starting from $1.99 per month
Simultaneous connections
Unlimited
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV
Works with astir Netflix regions
Provides antivirus protection
Expensive 1 period subscription
Surfshark lets you unafraid not conscionable your PC, but each of your devices with an unlimited simultaneous transportation allowance. One of the astir accordant unblockers of content, Surfshark is perfect for streaming. It makes airy enactment of tricky-to-access streaming platforms portion speeds are much than accelerated capable for bandwidth-heavy activities. Surfshark supports Windows 7 onwards, but lone Windows 10 and 11 are afloat supported with the latest updates.
If you opt for Surfshark’s highest subscription tier, you’ll person entree to a full big of other information features. This includes an advertisement blocker, antivirus protection, and idiosyncratic information removal. Of course, there’s besides military-grade encryption, leak protection, and a termination switch, safely putting Surfshark’s information offering among the much broad of the champion PC VPNs. If you don’t caput committing for 2 years, Surfshark represents astir unrivalled worth for money.
5. Private Internet Access
Best VPN for Power Users
Private Internet Access
Pricing
Starting from $2.03 per month
Simultaneous connections
Unlimited
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV
Comes with a Windows antivirus
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Struggles with immoderate streaming platforms
Private Internet Access supports unlimited simultaneous connections. Though it doesn’t specify its server count, you tin take from 91 countries, which is acold much than astir VPN services. One peculiar vantage PIA has implicit galore VPNs is that it lets you bid servers by latency. It’s truthful that overmuch easier to find a accelerated transportation for multiplayer gaming oregon streaming connected your Windows PC. PIA is disposable for Windows 10 and 11, arsenic good arsenic Copilot+.
There’s nary shortage of information features with PIA, providing a precocious level of information for your PC. It includes a Windows-only antivirus, a built-in advertisement blocker, and MultiHop servers for 2 layers of encryption. This is connected apical of essentials including AES encryption, extortion from DNS leaks, and a termination switch. PIA doesn’t support immoderate logs and has 24/7 unrecorded chat support. This is simply a VPN that’s perfect for experienced users acknowledgment to the precocious level of customization allowed by its apps.
6. CyberGhost
Best Free Trial VPN
CyberGhost
Pricing
Starting from $2.03 per month
Simultaneous connections
7
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV
Lengthy money-back guarantee
Questionable genitor company
CyberGhost has 1 of the largest server networks of immoderate VPN. Though it nary longer discloses conscionable however galore servers it has, this stood astatine implicit 11,000. We besides cognize that its web covers 100 countries truthful you tin ever find a accelerated server nearby. CyberGhost uses the WireGuard protocol and offers unlimited bandwidth truthful speeds are arsenic accordant arsenic they are fast. Thanks to its gaming-optimized servers, CyberGhost is perfect if you’re seeking debased latency connections.
Another crushed wherefore CyberGhost is simply a large VPN for PC is its information suite for Windows. This adds antivirus and anti-malware extortion connected apical of the high-end encryption already provided. CyberGhost gives you the enactment to unafraid 7 devices simultaneously. Connected devices further payment from an automatic termination power and DNS leak protection. Uniquely, CyberGhost has a 24-hour escaped proceedings for Windows with afloat entree to each features and nary recognition paper required.
7. IPVanish
Best VPN For Unlimited Devices
IPVanish
Pricing
Starting from $2.19 per month
Simultaneous connections
Unlimited
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV
Plenty of North America servers
New features see unreality backup
IPVanish stands retired for its generous North American server count, which makes up 60% of its network. So if you’re successful the U.S. oregon Canada and privation a accelerated section server, oregon privation to ticker your accustomed location streaming services connected your Windows PC from abroad, it’s apt a large fit. Better still, speeds are much than accelerated capable for streaming, adjacent successful 4K. With IPVanish, you tin find an app that supports Windows 10 and 11, arsenic good arsenic an ARM64 beta for CoPilot+ PCs.
This VPN supports the WireGuard protocol which, speech from being fast, is unfastened root and secure. When you link to an IPVanish server, your net postulation is routed done a 256-bit AES encrypted tunnel. Furthermore, IPVanish passed our leak tests with flying colors. IPVanish has introduced respective caller features of late, including a unafraid browser, unreality protection, and Threat Protection which safeguards your PC from ads, trackers, and malicious websites.
Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, IGN's genitor company.
What to Look for successful a VPN for Windows PC
It’s hard to find a VPN that doesn’t connection an app for Windows. With this successful mind, choosing the champion VPN for PC requires taking different factors into account:
- Speed: I transportation retired velocity tests connected each VPN’s servers to marque definite they’re accelerated capable for streaming and playing online multiplayer games.
- Security: At a minimum, I’m looking for VPNs that connection a unafraid VPN protocol, 256-bit AES encryption, and extortion from DNS leaks.
- Unblocking: Some VPNs conflict to unblock fashionable streaming services. I trial each VPN against a assortment of websites and services earlier recommending it.
- Servers: Free VPNs lone person a fistful of servers successful 1 oregon 2 locations. The champion VPNs for PC person thousands of servers successful dozens of countries.
- Privacy: Encryption is small bully if your VPN is logging identifying data. By speechmaking the good people of privateness policies, I tin find however privacy-friendly a VPN truly is.
- Support: Although I’ve selected VPNs that supply user-friendly apps, it ever helps to person entree to unrecorded chat and email support, preferably 24/7.
- Extra features: To further abstracted the galore VPNs available, I sought those that supply extras, beryllium it an antivirus, advertisement blocker, oregon password manager.
Where things get a small spot trickier is uncovering VPNs that enactment older versions of Windows. To person the latest features and information patches, you’ll ideally privation to beryllium connected Windows 10 oregon 11. Some of the VPNs covered successful this database adjacent enactment Windows ARM devices specified arsenic Microsoft Surface Pro.
Best VPN for PC FAQ
Why should I usage a VPN connected my PC?
A VPN encrypts your net traffic, rendering it unreadable to 3rd parties and preventing cyber threats specified arsenic man-in-the-middle attacks. The information that it hides your IP code means adjacent your ISP can’t spot what you’re doing online. Aside from the information and privacy-related benefits, a VPN allows you to spoof your determination and bypass geo-blocking. If your ISP is throttling your connection, a VPN whitethorn adjacent amended your speeds.
Will a VPN dilatory my connection?
Unless your ISP is throttling your bandwidth, a VPN is apt to dilatory your transportation to a degree. There are respective influencing factors including the protocol you use, the determination of the server to which you link (and its proximity to your existent location), and the existent server load. The encryption process takes its toll but, arsenic our velocity tests indicate, immoderate VPNs compensate for this amended than others. With the fastest VPNs, you whitethorn not announcement a difference.
Can I usage a escaped VPN for PC?
There are plentifulness of escaped VPNs for PC but they person excessively galore limitations. You’ll apt lone person entree to a mates of server locations and determination volition apt beryllium bandwidth and information caps. Some escaped VPNs don’t decently encrypt your information and marque wealth by logging and selling it. Overall, escaped VPNs thin to connection inferior information and performance, making them peculiarly unsuitable for streaming and PC gaming. If you bash opt for a escaped VPN for PC, I urge Proton VPN, which offers unlimited information and takes a beardown stance connected privacy.
Mark Gill is simply a freelance VPN writer for IGN, bringing implicit 5 years of dedicated acquisition from Comparitech, wherever helium delves heavy into the intricacies of VPNs. A journalism postgraduate with a passionateness for safeguarding integer freedoms, Mark has strengthened his expertise with a Google Cybersecurity Certificate and is present studying for the CompTIA Security+ certification. When he’s not investigating VPNs, Mark is an avid gamer with a brushed spot for the Sega Mega Drive, reliving the classics for a dose of nostalgia. He besides enjoys upland biking and watching shot (go Lions!), and moving connected his acheronian drama screenplays. You won’t find Mark connected societal media due to the fact that helium already wastes acold excessively overmuch clip managing his phantasy shot teams with the anticipation of this twelvemonth being “the year.” Hint: it ne'er is.
Originally posted:
Sep 5, 2025 4:44 pm