Are you on the hunt for a VPN that will work flawlessly with your Windows device? If so, I have good news: Thanks to Windows’ longtime dominance as the world’s most popular desktop operating system, all the major VPN service providers ensure their services will work seamlessly for anyone running the OS. While MacOS users need to factor in several Apple-specific things, finding a reliable Windows VPN is a lot easier. So if Windows is your operating system of choice, you’re sure to find the right VPN to meet your needs on this list. All our top picks on our main best VPN list are compatible with all currently maintained Windows versions, and CNET has tested them for use in the latest available operating system. (That means they’ll work without a hitch on Windows 11, which is available now for eligible devices.) All of them also offer a stand-alone VPN client that will work well on your desktop. I’ve specifically tackled some core factors in testing, including speed, security strength and cost for value. Below, you’ll find our top recommendations for the best VPN for Windows, ranked for their performance across all categories. Once you choose the right VPN service for you, make sure you read our guide on how to set up a VPN on Windows 10. Editors’ note, Feb. 9, 2022: The VPN industry has undergone significant change in the past few months, with all three of our top VPN choices announcing major changes in corporate ownership. In December, ExpressVPN announced that it had officially joined Kape Technologies, a company that already owns several other VPNs and has raised privacy concerns in the past. In February, NordVPN and Surfshark announced the two companies were merging, though they’ll continue to operate autonomously. We’re in the process of re-evaluating all of our top picks in light of these changes. We will update our reviews and, if necessary, our rankings to account for this new competitive landscape.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has one of the world’s largest RAM-disk server networks, running on TrustedServer technology, which the company built to reduce any likelihood of user activity logging. In the privacy world, ExpressVPN has a strong track record, having experienced a server seizure by authorities which proved its zero-log policy true at the time, has routinely published transparency tools, and participates in organizations like the i2Coalition, which aim to boost industry service standards. While its speeds consistently compete with heavy-hitting competitors, CNET’s 2020 speed tests saw ExpressVPN produce a 52% overall loss of normal internet speeds, representing a significant slowdown compared with its 2019 score of 2% speed loss. More recent testing has begun showing signs of significant speed boosts, however, particularly while using its open-source protocol, Lightway.Like the rest of the top five VPN services, ExpressVPN offers a useful kill-switch security feature that prevents network data from leaking outside of its secure VPN tunnel in the event the VPN connection fails. ExpressVPN also offers excellent DNS leak protection. The provider gained points for being an early adopter in accepting bitcoin as a payment method. Not all VPNs take bitcoin, but it adds an additional layer of privacy during checkout.In business since 2009, ExpressVPN’s substantial network is spread across 94 countries. This is the best VPN for protecting your online privacy, has best-in-class encryption, and provides unlimited bandwidth. Its best plan is priced at $100 a year for the annual package, which includes three months free. You can also get a bi-annual plan for $60 every six months or a monthly plan for $13 a month. ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not happy with the service for any reason.
Read our ExpressVPN review.
Surfshark
- Number of servers: 3,200-plus
- Number of VPN server locations: 65
- Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands
- $4 a month (69% discount) for the yearly plan
While Surfshark’s network is smaller than some, the VPN service makes it up on features and connection speed. Surfshark and NordVPN announced a merger in February, but each VPN runs its own separate network. Let’s start off with the biggest win Surfshark offers: unlimited device support. If you want to run your entire home or office on Surfshark’s VPN, you don’t have to worry about how many devices you have on or connected. It also offers antimalware, ad-blocking and tracker-blocking as part of its software.And it’s fast. With more than 3,200 servers in 65 countries, we lost less than 17% of average internet speed during our most recent speed tests. That’s faster than the 27% speed loss we saw in previous tests, and pushes it ahead of ExpressVPN to be the current front-runner in the speed comparisons.Surfshark received generally high marks when its Chrome and Firefox extensions were audited for privacy by German security firm Cure 53 (PDF link of full report) — though that audit was commissioned by Surfshark.The company has a solid range of app support, running on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Fire TV and routers. Additional devices such as game consoles can be configured for Surfshark via DNS settings. We particularly like the feature that allows you to whitelist certain apps and websites to automatically bypass the VPN. For some business uses, this can be critically important. Surfshark also offers three special modes designed for those who want to get around restrictions and more carefully hide their online footsteps. Camouflage Mode masks your VPN activity so your ISP doesn’t know you’re using a VPN. Multihop jumps your internet connection through multiple countries to hide your trail. Finally, NoBorders Mode “allows [you] to successfully use Surfshark in restrictive regions.” Just be careful. Doing any of these three things could be illegal in your country and could result in severe penalties. During testing, we didn’t see a single IP address or DNS leak, and had no trouble accessing Netflix. Like an increasing number of other VPNs, Surfshark offers several different introductory pricing packages that are cheaper the longer your contract, but that get more expensive after the first term of your subscription plan. One of your options is to lock in 26 months of service for about $60 — which Surfshark frames as “24 months +2 Free” for $2.30 a month. It’s a decent intro deal, but the plan then recurs at $60 annually. For the standard yearly subscription plan, you’ll pay about $48 initially for the first year of service, then $60 per year for any additional years of service. Surfshark’s regular monthly plan offers no discounts and is available for $13 a month. If you’re not satisfied with the service, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our Surfshark VPN review.
NordVPN
- Number of servers: 5,400-plus
- Number of VPN server locations: 83
- Country/jurisdiction: Panama
- 60 countries
- $5 a month for the yearly plan
NordVPN is one of the most recognized brands in the VPN field. It offers a generous simultaneous connection count, with six simultaneous connections through its network, where nearly all other providers offer five or fewer. NordVPN also offers a dedicated IP option, for those looking for a different level of VPN connection. NordVPN offers a kill-switch feature, and the ability to VPN into Tor. We detected no privacy leaks during our tests.In our most recent speed tests, NordVPN’s performance was on par with many of its competitors, reducing speeds by 53% on average (which is slower than the 32% loss measured in previous speed tests). We found NordVPN’s speeds were reliably fast. There were never any sudden dips or service interruptions, and where we expected the VPN to underperform, it proved itself up to the task.NordVPN’s pricing structure is similar to that of its sister company Surfshark, but more expensive. A two-year plan carries an introductory price of about $96, but that price increases to a little under $100 annually for each subsequent year of service. If you opt for the yearly plan, you’ll pay $60 for the first year of service, then just shy of $100 per year for any additional years. NordVPN’s monthly plan is a dollar cheaper than Surfshark’s, though, at $12 a month. And like most other VPN services, NordVPN offers a full 30-day money-back guarantee in case you’re not satisfied with the service. While NordVPN has lived on this list for a long time, CNET moved it to the penalty box in October 2019 to re-evaluate our recommendation after a report emerged that one of its rented servers was accessed without authorization in 2018. Nord’s actions following the discovery included — eventually — multiple security audits, a bug bounty program and heavier investments in server security. While we would have preferred it if Nord had self-disclosed the issue much earlier, the fact that the breach was limited in nature and involved no user-identifying information served to further verify that NordVPN keeps no logs of user activity. As a result, Nord remains on this list as a recommended vendor.
Read our NordVPN review.
Windows VPN FAQs
What’s the best VPN for Windows?
ExpressVPN is CNET’s current top pick for the best Windows VPN. The industry veteran has an impressive network of servers worldwide and provides a solid balance of speed, security and unblocking power.
Can you get a free VPN for Windows?
We don’t recommend free VPNs for a couple of reasons. First, free VPNs need to make money somehow — which most of the time involves selling your data to third parties. Some have even been found to be infected with malware. Besides being risky to use, free VPNs also generally lack the features and performance you’d want from your VPN service. You’ll typically have to contend with slow speeds, data caps, weak security, limited server locations and erratic unblocking capabilities with free VPNs. The best way to try a VPN for free is to take advantage of free trials and money-back guarantees offered by premium VPN providers. If you’re on a budget, you can also check out CNET’s list of the best cheap VPN services.
What’s the most secure VPN for Windows?
ExpressVPN, Surfshark and NordVPN all offer excellent security for Windows users. Each one offers the same AES 256-bit encryption, operates a RAM-only server infrastructure and has been independently audited. Along with crucial security features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection, each of the three VPNs offers additional features that can help enhance your online security and privacy. Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature will help you automatically block malware and phishing attempts. NordVPN offers Tor over VPN, double VPN and dark web monitoring features. In addition to ensuring data is never stored on its servers, ExpressVPN says its TrustedServer technology helps improve security and minimizes vulnerabilities and misconfiguration by loading the most up-to-date software every time a server starts up.
Can you get in trouble for using a VPN?
You typically won’t have to worry about getting into any sort of legal trouble for using a VPN in most parts of the world. However, you could potentially get in legal trouble for using a VPN if you’re in a country like China, Iran or any other country where VPNs are banned or outlawed. If you’re traveling, check the local laws regarding VPN use in the country you’re traveling to. Even if the country you’re in or traveling to does have restrictions on VPNs, you can hide your VPN use by connecting to an obfuscated server. Doing so disguises your VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic.
What does my ISP see when I’m connected to my VPN?
When you connect to a VPN, your ISP will be able to see that you’re connected to a VPN, but it won’t be able to see what websites you visit or your browsing history. Your ISP will see timestamps of when you connected to the VPN, the IP address of the VPN server you’re connected to and the amount of data you’re transmitting. But since the actual traffic is encrypted, your ISP will only be able to see that traffic as a random string of gibberish. If you don’t want your ISP to know you’re using a VPN, you’ll need to connect to an obfuscated server, if offered by your VPN provider.
For more, check out our picks for the best cheap VPN and the fastest VPN. And here’s why we recommend avoiding a free VPN and using a paid VPN whenever possible.
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