Best VPN for Windows

NordVPN falls a little short of the premium experience offered by ExpressVPN but is still a solid all-round provider. It’s very secure and one of the only services to still reliably work with both Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Performance is excellent across the global server network, with downloads on local connections peaking at 365Mbps, one of the fastest peak speeds we’ve seen.

The apps are simple and user-friendly but limited to popular platforms, however we really like the generous six device connection limit. Nord operates a strict zero-logs policy and there are loads of advanced privacy features on offer too, including a VPN killswitch and DNS leak protection. No city-level servers will be a downside for some.

The quality of customer support is fantastic but responses can be slow at times. It isn’t quite up to the standard of ExpressVPN yet but it does work out a lot cheaper at just $2.75 per month on a three-year subscription, so if you’re looking to cut costs and only care about core performance, NordVPN could be perfect for you.

IPVanish is the best VPN on the current market for P2P users and Kodi fans. Blazing-fast speeds on local connections are some of the best we’ve seen, especially uploads, however if you’re going to be connecting internationally there are quicker options out there. It currently works with Netflix but lacks dedicated streaming servers so access is pretty touch-and-go.

The software isn’t the best-looking in the world but it does a good job at getting you optimally connected and packs in loads of configurable options, including a VPN killswitch and DNS/IPv6 leak protection. IPVanish is strictly zero-logs, not even collecting basic connection metadata, which we really like.

Customer support is improving now there’s live chat. It’s pretty reasonably priced at $4.87 per month if you opt for the yearly subscription. If you have a basic level of tech savviness and value raw speed and privacy over accessibility, then definitely consider IPVanish.

CyberGhost is the best budget VPN we’ve reviewed. It doesn’t quite match up to its rivals in terms of overall performance but speeds of 124Mbps on most local connections are more than good enough to do pretty much anything you want online without breaking a sweat. Dedicated streaming servers provide reliable access to Netflix and iPlayer.

The innovative apps allow you to customize your experience based on your online activity, which is a great concept, although they can be a little clunky at times. CyberGhost is also one of our top choices for privacy due to its strict zero-logs policy, along with features such as a VPN killswitch, DNS leak protection and even a malicious website blocker.

Customer support has recently been given a makeover with the introduction of 24/7 live chat, and the knowledge base on the website is pretty good too. At the ridiculously low price of $2.75 per month on the 12-month plan however, it’s very easy to overlook CyberGhost’s shortfalls.

HideMyAss! is the VPN with the largest server network on the current market. Few providers can match the fantastic speeds on offer on both local and international connections, with many servers consistently performing at over 152Mbps, peaking at over 228Mbps in Toronto. This means that you’ll have no buffering issues when using the Liberty Island server to stream your favorite shows on Netflix.

HMA!’s apps are well-designed with a ‘mobile app’ feel. They’re great if you just want to click and forget, however you do miss out on the advanced features you get with providers such as IPVanish. It offers a decent level of privacy and is good enough for those who just want to hide their browsing history, however the logging policy is pretty intrusive, storing detailed connection logs for up to three months.

Customer support is comprehensive with snappy responses via live chat and email. It’s fairly pricey but you can get the monthly price down to $5.99 by choosing the 12-month plan, which is well worth it if you need access to a diverse server network and raw speed.