The best VPN for Windows
Take control of your cybersecurity.
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
Overview
It’s important to stay secure when browsing online, and while you can take measures to be aware of where you’re browsing and what you’re doing, using a VPN is the best way to guarantee your cybersecurity.
What is a VPN?Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide protection for your data and identity when you’re online by creating a private network that hides your real IP address. This means that all of your activity is untraceable and secure. Try thinking about VPNs as encrypted tunnels through which all of your online traffic passes through. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware.
Do you need a VPN?A good quality VPN will block any nefarious traffic coming your way, while also keeping your browsing history private from your ISP and anyone else trying to snoop on your activities. Using a VPN also means you can conduct activities such as checking your online banking while connected to public WiFi, without worrying that you’re leaking valuable information.Â
If you’re looking for a VPN for Windows, you’ll need a fast service that remains secure. A “no logs” policy and a kill switch are also vital. These ensure that your VPN doesn’t track what you do, and that your connection drops if the VPN connection fails, respectively. For Windows 10, it’s also useful to have an app that’s simple to use.
What is the best VPN for Windows?We have tracked down all the best VPNs for Windows 10, and stuck to VPN services that have apps that are easy to get to grips with, while still offering advanced features for those who want to dip under the surface to make tweaks. You can pick from leading services like CyberGhost VPN, Private Internet Access, and ExpressVPN.
These are the best VPNs for Windows in 2024.
ExpressVPN is a well established VPN service that should suit pretty much everyone.Â
Based in the British Virgin Islands, you won’t have to worry about your data being targeted by nefarious government entities. ExpressVPN also follows a strict no logging policy and never tracks data, DNS queries, or anything else that could make you easily traced by the authorities.Â
ExpressVPN further backs that up with AES-256 encryption, which is pretty much the best level of encryption you could hope to see. In addition, there are neat features such as split tunneling, that allows you to route some devices traffic through a VPN while the rest of your data accesses the internet directly. There’s a kill switch too, so if your connection ever drops unexpectedly, all internet traffic is blocked until protection is restored.
Other features include the option to pick from one of 160 server locations across 105 countries, as well as streaming other countries’ versions of Netflix and other streaming services. On the whole, it’s also often one of the fastest VPN services out there.Â
ExpressVPN is great for pretty much any device going but its Windows app is a particular joy to use. It’s straightforward enough that you don’t have to feel knowledgeable about VPNs to still use it effectively.Â
The Good
The Bad
Details
NordVPN is a VPN service provider you’ve probably seen advertised extensively across the internet. It’s not quite as fast as some of the competition but it’s cheap, providing you commit to a long-term plan.Â
NordVPN offers military-grade level AES-256 encryption and promises that no logs are kept, so your browsing is entirely anonymous. It also uses something called CyberSec, which blocks ads and malicious websites for you, saving you the risk of inadvertently browsing a suspicious website.Â
Elsewhere, there’s also the Double VPN feature that enables you to encrypt your data twice, effectively hiding yourself twice as much as with a regular VPN service. It’s a feature that might seem like overkill for many users, but every once in a while it could be useful.
For more regular use, there are helpful features like an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection (which covers an extra level of potential risk associated with sending unencrypted queries), and that all-important no logging policy.Â
For those keen to use torrenting facilities or stream Netflix from other countries, NordVPN caters for such interests. While speeds aren’t quite as impressive as ExpressVPN, they’re still more than good enough. Don’t expect the user interface of the app to look great though: NordVPN is full of great features hidden behind a fairly ugly and dated looking server map.
Though we’re not huge fans of NordVPN’s Windows app, it’s still a solid bet for Windows users thanks to it having a fairly minimal footprint on your hard drive. It’s also great value.
The Good
The Bad
Details
CyberGhost VPN offers a free trial, but this only lasts 24 hours. That should be plenty of time for you to try out the app and its other features, though.Â
This service has standard military grade encryption as well as the option to connect via OpenVPN, which is great for people who want to set their routers up with a VPN. There’s a strict no logging policy in place and since CyberGhost is based in Romania, it’s out of the reach of most jurisdictions.Â
The service offers more than 5,700 servers across 61 different countries, so it’s helpful that its app tailors servers for your needs. There are specific options for downloading and streaming, as well as services for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and YouTube. Unfortunately, at times, CyberGhost VPN can be detected by Netflix, but it’s a great idea in theory and there have been reports of success.
You can use CyberGhost to block ads and malware while browsing, making it a good option for the safety conscious VPN user.
The Good
The Bad
Details
TunnelBear has all the professional features you could want, but it also offers animations of cute bears tunnelling around the world to provide you with a more secure connection. For that reason alone, it’s one of the friendliest, and most easy-to-use VPN services out there, especially for people who are new to the whole VPN game. Just pick a country and TunnelBear does the rest for you.
TunnelBear is smarter than your average bear, too. Its AES-256 encryption keeps your data secure from both hackers and ISPs, and you’re able to access global content without much hassle. We’ve found mixed results when it comes to connecting to Netflix, but it’s speedy enough when downloading torrents and other files.
TunnelBear is also the only VPN (that we know of) to publish regular, independent security audits of its apps, which is immensely reassuring for the security conscious.
The Good
The Bad
Details
Private Internet Access works like a lot of other VPNs, in that it has extensive military grade encryption, an easy-to-use app, and works well with Netflix and other streaming services.Â
You get access to over 3,000 different servers across 32 different countries, and it takes seconds to switch around. Impressively, each server is pretty speedy, and with Private Internet Access welcoming P2P users, it’s appealing to fans of torrenting.
Where Private Internet Access falters is its default use of AES-128 encryption, making it slightly less secure than other services. It’s also based in the US, which could make some users a little uneasy.
One substantial advantage is that you can subscribe to Private Internet Access through some pretty inventive ways. Don’t want to pay with a credit card? Use a Starbucks or Walmart gift card to pay instead. A vast number of different options are available and it’s ideal if you’re a little unsure about having your card details held by a VPN service.Â
The Good
The Bad
Details
Joseph joined Mashable as the UK Shopping Editor in 2018. He worked for a number of print publications before making the switch to the glittery world of digital media, and now writes about everything from coffee machines to VPNs.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
