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In my experience, ExpressVPN is the best pick for Windows. Its intuitive app slots neatly into the Microsoft ecosystem and delivers fast speeds with Lightway. Proton VPN is a great free alternative, but expect limitations.
➡️ Jump to my side-by-side comparison.
As the most popular computer operating system in the world, Windows is subject to more cyber attacks than any other platform.
This leaves not only your device at risk but everything included within the Microsoft ecosystem, like your emails and OneDrive files — effectively your digital identity.
Aside from external threats, Windows itself is notorious for collecting and sharing your user data, an issue that has only skyrocketed with the AI-backed data processing of Copilot.
Using a VPN can help with both, but not all are reliable or trustworthy. It’s even worse for free VPNs: most put your privacy at risk, and 88% leaked data in my tests (including your IP address and DNS requests).
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Using a VPN on Windows opens up possibilities for streaming overseas content, regional shopping discounts, easier gaming lobbies, and more.
With all this in mind, I’ve carefully vetted five VPNs for Windows that are completely safe to use, including two free options. While my free recommendations are secure, they come with various limitations like monthly data caps and fewer features.
In addition to testing VPNs on Windows 10 and 11, I also assessed any Microsoft Edge browser extension provided by the VPN.
🔄 Recent Updates
Added new user experience insights for all recommended VPNs and updated the comparison table.
We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.
| VPNs Tested | 59 |
| Test Devices | Lenovo T480 & Lenovo T480s |
| Combined Years of Experience | 50+ |
You can use the table below to quickly compare our top-rated VPNs for Windows:
Read my VPN testing methodology to see each VPN’s performance test ratings.
| Pricing Plans |
|
|---|---|
| Windows Compatibility | Native ARM64 & x64 support |
| Local Download Speed | 98Mbps (2% loss) |
| Countries with Servers | 113 |
| Servers | 13,360 |
| Logging Policy | No Identifiable Data |
| Simultaneous Connections | 10 |
| Support | 24/7 Live Chat |
| Compatible with |
|
For me, ExpressVPN epitomizes what a Windows VPN should be. Its intuitive desktop app provides a ‘set-and-forget’ experience, working quietly in the background to protect your device and hide your real location.
Everything about the VPN feels bespoke to Windows, from its instantaneous connection times to its custom-built Microsoft Edge extension and ARM-compatible app.
Whether you’re occasionally streaming geo-restricted content or minimizing your digital fingerprint, there’s very little ExpressVPN can’t do on your PC.
It’s straightforward to start using ExpressVPN on Windows. You simply need to launch the app and click the power button to connect to a nearby server.
I found this process near-instantaneous and the app changed from red to green to confirm the VPN connection. If you’re unsure about your connection status, ExpressVPN also updates you through your Windows notifications.
ExpressVPN uses a slick red, green, and white color palette which stood out on my PC’s display and made the text within the app easy to read.
In particular, I liked how the app’s card-based interface only displays the most essential information.
For an even more streamlined experience, I recommend setting the app to ‘compact’ mode by clicking the boxed chevron in the top-left of the UI.
This is much more accessible than competing services, like Surfshark, which tend to clutter their app interface with extra features.
Similarly, the ExpressVPN Windows app now includes an interactive world map for quick connections and contextualizing your online location. This is nice and compact, unlike the overly intrusive maps found in Proton VPN’s and IPVanish’s apps.
ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for unrestricted streaming on Windows. It works to access US Netflix from overseas, as well as 17 other regional Netflix libraries.
It also unblocks popular content platforms like HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and more.
In each instance, ExpressVPN almost always assigned me a working server for the streaming service, at the first time of asking. Its fast Lightway protocol also ensured that I streamed in maximum video quality with no buffering whatsoever.
Exclusive to Windows, you can also manually enable ‘Lightway Turbo’ in-app for even faster speeds. This innovative feature spreads your internet traffic over multiple tunnels, increasing your bandwidth and maximizing your video quality.
You can activate Lightway Turbo in the Windows app settings.
Likewise, ExpressVPN was one of the best performing torrenting VPNs, slowing my file-sharing speeds by just 2%. In my personal experience, ExpressVPN worked well with qBittorrent’s Windows client and I never had any issues with stalled or blocked downloads.
ExpressVPN remains one of the fastest VPNs available, due to its proprietary Lightway protocol.
As part of my team’s regular testing, we recorded an average download speed loss of just 2% while connected to a local ExpressVPN server. Regardless of your location, you can expect similar speeds when connecting to a nearby server.
For added context, you can use the chart below to see how ExpressVPN’s local speed performance compares to other leading Windows VPNs:
As shown above, ExpressVPN is faster than most of its rivals over short-distance connections. However, ExpressVPN registered an average speed loss of 15% on international connections which is still excellent but falls short of rivals like IPVanish and PIA.
| Pricing Plans |
|
|---|---|
| Windows Compatibility | Native ARM64 & x64 support |
| Local Download Speed | 96Mbps (4% loss) |
| Countries with Servers | 137 |
| Servers | 9,000 |
| Logging Policy | No Identifiable Data |
| Simultaneous Connections | 10 |
| Support | 24/7 Live Chat |
| Compatible with |
|
Though not quite as user-friendly as ExpressVPN, NordVPN provides more advanced features within its PC app and matches its rival’s streaming performance.
You can install the VPN on all Windows versions, including ARM-based devices, and it provides a full VPN extension for Microsoft Edge.
It’s also very fast, highly secure, and works for virtually any use case on your Windows PC.
I used NordVPN on my Lenovo to stream Paramount+.
NordVPN’s Windows app is a double-edged sword: it includes more advanced features than almost every other VPN, but comes at the cost of an enjoyable user experience.
Starting with the positives, I loved the range of features, toggles, and specialty servers that were available to me. You can encrypt your internet traffic twice with multi-hop, connect to a dedicated IP address, block ads with Threat Protection, and more.
The option to include Meshnet as one of your options for file-sharing in the Windows context menu was another nice feature that makes NordVPN feel tailored to Windows.
However, the trade-off is a user interface that feels overwhelming, even for VPN experts.
I don’t love how much NordVPN pushes its paid features.
Threat Protection and Dark Web Monitor each have their own menu accessible from the sidebar, while the VPN’s main settings are hidden in the top-right of the app.
I also noticed that the latest version of the Windows app takes a very long time to connect to a server. In the end the app prompted me to switch from NordLynx to automatic protocol selection, which allowed me to finally connect.
I used NordVPN to unblock 17 Netflix libraries (including the US one), along with HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more.
NordVPN automatically assigned me a server that always worked with the streaming platform, resulting in the perfect user experience.
This is much better than my experience with paid VPNs, like PrivateVPN, which sometimes required me to switch servers before the stream would load.
With a speed loss of just 4% on a local server, the stream loaded in HD or 4K quality without fail.
NordVPN offers IP addresses from 137 countries, more than any VPN I’ve reviewed except Proton VPN’s paid tier.
For example, it has servers in 25 more countries than IPVanish and 68 more than Windscribe Pro.
This ensures you’ll always have a server close by to connect to, even during periods of peak usage.
I also tested our connection to NordVPN’s servers by running our Windows traffic through a packet analyzer. My results indicated that NordVPN successfully encrypted my traffic with AES-256 encryption, backed by first-party DNS servers:
NordVPN successfully encrypted my network traffic on Windows 11.
| Pricing Plans |
|
|---|---|
| Windows Compatibility | Native ARM64 & x64 support |
| Local Download Speed | 96Mbps (4% loss) |
| Countries with Servers | 91 |
| Servers | 18,651 |
| Logging Policy | No Logs |
| Simultaneous Connections | Unlimited |
| Support | 24/7 Live Chat |
| Compatible with |
|
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a great choice if you’re more tech savvy or need a VPN on a budget.
Its PC app provides you with granular control over all aspects of your VPN, including the exact encryption cipher you use. All of this can be a mixed blessing, since its complex settings can intimidate new users.
Despite this, it’s still worth getting at just $2.19 a month, making it one of the most affordable VPNs available.
PIA lets you customize your VPN connection in its Windows app.
PIA has one of the most technical Windows apps I’ve used and I struggled at times to navigate its menus. The app would benefit from copying PrivateVPN’s approach of including a ‘Simple’ and ‘Advanced’ view to simplify its UI, especially for beginners.
That said, I liked that I could customize my VPN encryption beyond just selecting a protocol, with the option of different ciphers. I also loved how easy it was to set up VPN port forwarding: you just need to tick a checkbox within the app’s Network settings.
You can easily enable port forwarding in PIA’s Windows app.
This is far less time-consuming than Windscribe’s setup which makes you activate port forwarding on its provider’s website.
PIA’s proven no-logs policy, robust security, and fast download bitrate make it the best VPN for torrenting.
From a baseline of 10.0MiB/s, I recorded an average download bitrate of 9.6MiB/s with PIA. This is exceptional and allows you to download HD movies, e-books, and software in minutes.
You can use PIA to torrent risk-free on Windows.
For added privacy, PIA also comes with an effective kill switch which has never failed in my testing. As such, your torrents and real IP address will remain anonymous even if your VPN unexpectedly cuts out.
Unlike most VPNs, PIA is a genuinely no-logs VPN service. This means that PIA doesn’t collect any information about you when you use its Windows app.
PIA’s transparency report verifies that it’s never provided logs for a court order, subpoena, or a warrant.
This has been proven by real-world court cases as well as PIA’s quarterly transparency report.
PIA also uses diskless VPN servers which automatically delete your data on a regular basis. This makes it virtually impossible for anyone to view your browsing activity or connection logs.
As with all the VPNs on this list, PIA uses industry-standard WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols. These protocols are open-sourced and can be trusted to keep your traffic secure.
| Data Cap | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Windows Compatibility | Native ARM64 & x64 support |
| Local Download Speed | 99Mbps (1% loss) |
| Countries with Servers | 10 |
| Servers | 2,000 |
| Logging Policy | No Logs |
| Simultaneous Connections | 1 |
| Support | Email & Online Resources Only |
| Compatible with |
|
Developed by a reputable software company, Proton VPN is the only free Windows VPN that doesn’t steal your user data, bombard you with ads, or impose a data cap.
You can use the VPN for free (no credit card details required) for an unlimited amount of time.
As you might expect, its free tier comes with several downsides: you can’t choose your own server location, P2P traffic is blocked, and it doesn’t unblock streaming sites.
The 45-second wait time between server changes left me frustrated.
You can use Proton VPN for free on your PC with no payment details needed. It also doesn’t sell your data to third parties or use in-app ads to monetize your usage, like SkyVPN and VPN Proxy Master do.
Another way Proton VPN stands out from most free VPNs is its unlimited data. This is unlike Windscribe which caps you at 10GB monthly, TunnelBear at 2GB, or Betternet at 500MB.
Starting with the positives, Proton VPN’s Windows app looks great. Unlike most VPNs that use a map interface, its map element feels bespoke and can also be easily hidden by resizing the app.
The Windows app has broken with the usual Proton purple branding by adding a red background gradient that changes to green when connected. I like this bold choice in color palette and appreciate another connection status indicator.
Moving from design to user experience, I didn’t love that the free version of the VPN’s PC app doesn’t let you pick a server location. Instead, you are randomly assigned a server from one of 10 locations.
Even worse, you have to wait 45 seconds before switching servers so you can’t keep quickly cycling through until you get a location that suits you.
Further attempts to change servers cause the timer to extend to ten minutes.
While this wasn’t terrible for anonymous browsing, it made it impossible to unblock geo-restricted content.
| Data Cap | 10GB per month |
|---|---|
| Windows Compatibility | Native ARM64 & x64 support |
| Local Download Speed | 91Mbps (9% loss) |
| Countries with Servers | 10 |
| Servers | 10 |
| Logging Policy | No Identifiable Data |
| Simultaneous Connections | Unlimited |
| Support | Email & Online Resources Only |
| Compatible with |
|
Windscribe is another sensible, cost-free alternative for Windows. Unlike most free VPNs, you can use it to unblock major streaming services like UK Netflix, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer.
However, you are limited to 10GB monthly data and only 10 server locations to choose from.
I used Windscribe to stream BBC iPlayer from outside the UK.
Windscribe’s desktop app uses a simple and condensed design, making it accessible to all users.
You just need to click the power button to start your VPN connection, and you can activate the kill switch via its widget. There’s no need to go into the settings.
I also liked that you can toggle between a windowed or system tray app, though I definitely preferred the latter.
You can tailor the Windscribe desktop app to your needs.
However, I found it difficult to read some of the in-app text and UI elements, especially the tool tips. I’d like to be able to resize the Windows app to mitigate this issue.
Windscribe also accommodates the default Windows browser, Microsoft Edge, with custom VPN extensions. Like the VPN app, it’s free to use and offers up to 11 different locations to connect to.
Unlike most free VPNs, Windscribe unblocks multiple Netflix libraries, HBO Max, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
I used Windscribe’s free UK server to unblock its Netflix library in 4K quality. The stream loaded almost immediately and I rarely had to change VPN servers to get the service to work.
I did notice buffering on occasion, especially when streaming live content. I found this quite annoying, particularly after multiple hours of testing.
It’s also worth taking Windscribe’s monthly 10GB data cap into consideration. While this may be enough for everyday browsing, it limits you to around 90 minutes of 4K Netflix streaming on desktop.
Given the platform’s dominant market share, VPN services tend to prioritize their Windows app over all other operating systems. Consequently, it’s very simple to use a VPN on PC and, unless you’re privacy-conscious, there’s little configuration required.
Below are step-by-step instructions for configuring your Windows’ privacy settings and installing a VPN (start from Step 3, if maximizing privacy isn’t a priority).
Instructions: How to Set Up a VPN on Windows
To compile my recommendations for Windows, I tested 59 VPNs and learned that many of them simply weren’t good enough.
For complete transparency, I’ve listed the three VPNs that came closest to making my list and my reasons for excluding them:
Surfshark is one of my favorite VPNs to use, so excluding it from this list wasn’t an easy decision.
Ultimately, I didn’t like using its Windows app as much as I do with other VPNs. The in-app sidebar is cluttered with paid add-ons, encouraging you to click on them and upgrade.
Many of these features are non-VPN related, so I resent the aggressive self-promotion.
In my day-to-day experience, I also noticed that the change in connection status on Windows is quite subtle. While this seems like a minor point, it puts you at risk of accidentally browsing while unprotected.
Though a perfectly good VPN, CyberGhost’s Windows app is beginning to look and feel quite dated. It needs a cosmetic update, preferably a change in color palette, and the addition of some new features would give it a much-needed lift.
I also found its download speeds to be much slower than its rivals, especially compared to the speeds ExpressVPN, PIA, and NordVPN can maintain.
Speaking personally, IPVanish’s Windows app isn’t as appealing as its rivals’. In particular, I don’t like the inclusion of a waveform chart and its interactive map isn’t as well-designed as those from NordVPN or Proton VPN.
A more compact UI and a slimmer display would make me more likely to recommend the VPN for use on Windows.
Aside from its PC app, I was also disappointed by the lack of an Edge browser extension, limiting its integration with the Microsoft ecosystem.
Aside from a few exceptions, most free VPNs are unsafe and should not be used.
To compensate for the lack of subscriptions, free VPNs may sell your user data to third-parties, allow ads within the app, or infect your PC with malware.
Free VPNs also often lack the security features and infrastructure of paid services due to their lack of investment.
Below are four popular free Windows VPNs that are too dangerous to use:
Turbo VPN is an all-round terrible VPN to use, especially on Windows.
Its PC app won’t launch when downloaded from the VPN’s website, and only works if installed from the Microsoft Store. There is no explanation or warning as to why this is the case.
Once installed, the Windows app is quite clearly a mobile app that has been poorly ported to desktop, since the user interface looks blurry and oddly-sized.
Most of the features are locked behind a paywall, you’re limited to just three server locations on Windows, and the app is riddled with ads.
Most worryingly, I discovered its apps contain malware and leak your DNS requests.
Despite being developed by Avira, a famous cybersecurity firm, Avira Phantom VPN doesn’t use a kill switch and logs your IP address — this is unacceptable.
The Windows app is riddled with bugs, which often prevented me from establishing a VPN connection. You’re also limited to a meager 500MB of data a month and just the one server location.
All in all, I suggest you avoid Avira Phantom VPN at all costs.
I hated using Touch VPN on Windows. Right from installation, I encountered issues: its Microsoft installer is outdated and takes multiple attempts to work.
Once installed, the VPN often failed to connect and would almost always leak my DNS requests.
For seemingly no reason at all, you can also install a separate app from the Microsoft Store which is inexplicably superior in every way.
Regardless of which Windows PC app you install, Touch VPN uses an insecure VPN protocol (PPTP) on both and logs an excessive amount of your activity data.
Despite its name, Hola VPN is actually an unsafe peer-to-peer network masquerading as a VPN service.
It logs your real address, which completely nullifies the privacy benefits of using a VPN, and sells your idle bandwidth to other users.
Even if you choose to ignore this, its Windows app is installed as both an app and a browser extension, which is extremely clunky to use.
At Top10VPN, we always encourage doing your own independent research before purchasing any VPN service.
Having said that, expect to be bombarded with a range of technical jargon, marketing buzzwords, and niche VPN features.
I’ve created a checklist of non-negotiable essentials that every trustworthy VPN should have:
✅ Privacy: Proven no-logs policy, diskless (RAM-only) servers, and a controversy-free track record.
✅ Security: AES-256/ChaCha20 encryption, kill switch & open-source protocols (e.g. WireGuard).
✅ Speed: Fast download speeds when connecting to servers worldwide.
✅ Servers: A server network covering at least 50 countries, with options in all 6 continents.
✅ Streaming: Consistent access to streaming services that are usually only available in specific countries.
✅ User Experience: Easy-to-use apps that work straight out the box, with no ads or data collection.
✅ Device Compatibility: Apps for all popular devices; browser extensions for Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox; and a Smart DNS proxy.
✅ Torrenting: Full support for peer-to-peer (P2P) connections, especially for file-sharing.
✅ Advanced Features: Useful extras like split tunneling, multi-hop (double VPN), and dedicated IP.
✅ Customer Support: Well-informed, 24/7 live chat or a comprehensive online support hub.
Any VPN that meets most, or all, of the above criteria is guaranteed to be an excellent choice.
While price is important, I know affordability is subjective. As such, I’ve intentionally chosen a mix of premium, cheap, and free VPNs to accommodate all budgets.
Together with my team, I carried out testing on both Windows 10 and 11 to properly assess how each VPN performs across different iterations of the OS.
You can use the table below to see how each VPN performed in my Windows test categories:
VPNs with a data cap receive a reduction to their overall rating.
In the section that follows, I outline why we test each category, how the testing works, and how much of the overall rating they account for:
Freemium VPNs almost always impose a data cap on their free users. As with most restrictions on free VPNs, this is intended to encourage customers to upgrade to a paid subscription.
A generous data allowance is vital for accommodating data-intensive activities, such as 4K streaming, torrenting, and online gaming.
If you use up your data cap, your online activity will be left unencrypted and visible to third-parties, including your ISP.
I apply a penalty to the VPN’s final overall rating for Windows based on its data cap:
Windows 10 and 11 have built-in support for manual VPN configuration, using PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP, or IKEv2 connections.
This method doesn’t require the installation of any third-party software, but you’ll still need a VPN subscription and account.
I cover this process with step-by-step instructions in our
