Tom Day Why would I need a VPN for Windows? Wouldn’t a good firewall be sufficient to ensure the safety of my computer and gadgets? Firewalls and antiviruses may provide a decent level of protection, but they are relatively easy to bypass, especially for a knowledgeable cyber-criminal. That’s when VPN for Windows 10 come into play.
Best VPNs for Windows 10
- 5000 servers in 62 countries
- Torrenting-optimized and obfuscated servers
- 6 simultaneous connection
- Onion over VPN and Double Encryption
- 2,000 servers in 148 locations
- Strict no-logging policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Great for torrenting and streaming
- 1,100 servers in 60 locations
- 10 simultaneous connections
- Works on Smart TVs and routers
- SOCKS5 web proxy for torrenting
- 2500 servers across 50 locations
- Up to 10 simultaneous connections
- Proprietary Smart VeePN Protocol
- Torrenting and streaming-friendly
- 700+ servers in 70 countries
- 3-day free trial
- Supports Linux, TV sets, and routers
- Chameleon protocol for heavily censored countries
NordVPN - Best For Security
- The Windows Client Is Exceptional
- 4900+ Servers At Your Disposal
- Protection For Up To 6 Devices
- The Monthly Plan Is Expensive
- Ad-blocking Is Not Always Available
Privacy And Security
This service is officially registered in Panama which, luckily for the international users, is out of the jurisdiction of any country that participates in the 14 Eyes Alliance, meaning that it will never reveal any sensitive user data, including logs, activity timestamps, and users’ real IP addresses. And if that wasn’t enough for you, the company also follows the Zero-logs policy.
NordVPN offers as much as six types of specialized services (more in our NordVPN review) that can meet the demands of all those who need a VPN for Windows:
- Standard servers;
- Servers with dedicated IP addresses have always been considered a must-have for top VPN providers as within these servers each user gets his/her own IP that can’t be compromised.
- Double VPN servers send the users’ traffic not through one but two separate servers, ensuring the additional encryption of all data.
- The obfuscation servers work wonders for those users who live in the countries where the Internet is heavily monitored and censored, for instance, China or Russia. A VPN tangles up the code, making it almost impossible for intelligence agencies to track the Internet traffic.
- Servers that are compatible with the Onion Network (it provides an additional layer of security by allowing the simultaneous use of a VPN with the Tor browser).
- And finally, the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) servers allow for a direct exchange of data between the users without any limitations to the bandwidth and download/upload speed.
Furthermore, with NordVPN, you’ll get 256-bit encryption (the most advanced encryption in 2020) and 2 Kill Switches (choose between protecting the entire system and specific apps).
Netflix And Streaming
NordVPN offers its users an opportunity to safely browse the Web by choosing one of the 4900 servers that are located, both physically and virtually, in more than 62 counties of the world. The SmartPlay technology, in turn, allows users to bypass the restrictions imposed by such services as Netflix and BBC.
Yes, with NordVPN, unblocking geo-restricted content can be done with one click/push of a button. P2P is also supported, and that’s great news for the fans of torrents.
Windows App Usability
NordVPN Windows client is equally fast, reliable, and robust. In 2020, the installation of any software is incredibly easy, fast, and straightforward. The same goes for the downloading/installation procedure of NordVPN. All you’ll have to do is choose a plan, payment method, and launch the .exe file/app. The interface is very friendly and intuitive – everything is right there in front of you.
Pricing Plans
Here are the available packages:
- Exclusive deal – $2.99 per month (save 75%) – 36 months – $107.55;
- $3.99 a month (save 66%) – 24 months – $95.75;
- $6.99 a month (save 41%) 12 months – $83.88;
- 1 month – $12.95.
NordVPN comes with a 3-day free trial and a 30-day MBG (Money-Back Guarantee). 
ExpressVPN - Most Feature-Packed VPN
The bad news is – while NordVPN offers protection for six devices, with this VPN you can only secure 3 gadgets.
Privacy And Security
As any provider on our list, ExpressVPN features the latest AES-256 encryption that ensures the integrity of the entire network. Add a private (and encrypted) DNS, IP address masking, and support of all the major protocols (including OpenVPN), and you’ll get one of the most secure and reliable VPNs on the market.
What’s also important is that this provider adheres to its strict no-logging policy, which is a crucial factor that we always take into account when elaborating the list of the top VPN services.
The company is registered on the British Virgin Islands making it unreachable for all major intelligence agencies. A quick note: the company does log timestamps and bandwidth, but for most users, that’s totally acceptable.
Netflix And Streaming
Express VPN has a vast amount of servers which are located in 94 countries around the world. If you intend to use mostly local servers for your VPN purposes, then you can enjoy a blazing download/upload speed which makes ExpressVPN one of the best choices for torrenting and streaming.
The fans of Netflix will be happy to learn that it will be available 24/7; the same goes for other popular streaming services. Everything is one click away, and you’ll never feel like you’ve run out of stable servers, which isn’t almost the case with modern-day Networks.
Windows App Usability
This VPN service provider boasts a very user-friendly interface that has plenty of useful features. Installation is fast and easy, just like in the case with NordVPN. Furthermore, the interfaces look a bit similar, even though they do have their differences.
Besides, ExpressVPN is also one of the best VPNs in terms of customer support. The support agents always reply to all inquiries in a timely fashion, staying with the customer until an issue is resolved. It is a really rare phenomenon in the VPN industry because the majority of VPN providers prefer to utilize the automated reply systems.
Pricing Plans
Here are the available packages:
- Exclusive deal – $6.67 per month (save 49%) – 15 months – $99.95;
- $9.99 a month (6 months) – $59.95;
- $12.95 a month (1 month) – $12.95.
The 30-days money-back guarantee applies to all service packages. 
IPVanish VPN - The Fastest VPN
Again: if you put speed and performance first, this might be the best choice for you. Plus, with it, you can protect as much as ten devices simultaneously.
Privacy And Security
Moreover, IPVanish VPN is also known for its exceptional level of security that is based on the variety of protocols that range from the industry-standard OpenVPN protocol to the Point-to-Point (P2P) tunneling protocol. In that regard, it’s on par with both Nord and Express. IPVanish also has one more useful feature that makes it stand out.
This feature is called LAN blocking. Here is how it works: when you are using the unprotected local network, the LAN blocking prohibits any other device from connecting and communicating directly with your gadget.
To put it simply, this VPN won’t give even the slightest chance to cyber perpetrators to steal any sensitive data, like your personal or financial information, when you use a public Wi-Fi network that is usually unprotected. AES 256-bit encryption is also included.
Bad news: the IPVanish HQ is located in the United States, and that automatically means that you’ll have to take the “barbaric” US online privacy laws into consideration. On the other hand, this company does follow the no-logs policy, which means while they’re obliged to share any info they have on their users with the government, they won’t have much sensitive stuff to give to them.
A quick note: in 2016, IPVanish was accused of collecting the real IP address, email address, and subscription details of a user that was suspected of spreading child pornography: they gave all that data to the government. They denied it, of course, but now the potential customers are wondering whether the same will happen to them as well or not.
Netflix And Streaming
With 1100+ servers located in 60 countries, 40000 shared IPs, anonymous torrenting, instant access to geo-restricted content around the globe and unlimited server switching (more in our professional review), IPVanish is a perfect choice for watching streaming services (just check our like Netflix and Hulu and downloading big chunks of data through your favorite torrent client.
All you’ll have to do is select a server (be it in the US, the UK, or any other country), give the VPN a second to connect you to it, and start enjoying your favorite shows!
Windows App Usability
In many regards, the Windows App of this VPN looks acts and works almost exactly like the ones we reviewed earlier. You won’t need a science degree to be able to use it: just bring it up, choose a server you want, go through the settings, change whatever you like, and that’s it!
Those “good old times” when you had to wait for hours before the downloading/installation procedure was over are in the past now. The IPVanish apps/clients will take 2 minutes to install. The team made sure that there’s nothing extra on the screen – only menus and options that the users really need.
Pricing Plans
Here are the available packages:
- Exclusive deal – $4.12 a month (save 66%) – 24 months – $99.00;
- $6.49 a month (save 46%) – 12 months – $77.99;
- $10.00 a month (save 17%) – 1 month.
Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN
- 3000+ Servers At Your Disposal
- The Yearly Plans Are Very Cheap
- Industry-Leading Protection
- The MBG only lasts for seven days
- The HQ is located in America
It’s not as fast as IPVanish, though – if you put speed and performance first, you should look for that elsewhere. The good news: a no-logs policy, top-notch encryption protocols, and ad-blocking are the part of a deal.
Privacy And Security
PrivateInternetAccess VPN comes with the AES 256-bit encryption and OpenVPN protocol built-in. A quick note: the company officials recommend switching to 128-bit for more stable performance.
PIA sticks to the Zero-logs policy, and, in contrast to IPVanish, it was never caught violating its policy. With it, you’ll be able to block ads/malware/trackers, protect up to 5 devices at the same time, enjoy P2P support, take advantage of unlimited bandwidth, and more.
As the Cons section clearly states, the HQ is located in the US, and that’s one thing that this VPN has in common with IPVanish. However, as we just said, these guys put the trust and respect of their customers above everything else, and the no-logs policy will make sure your private data is always safe.
Netflix And Streaming
For streaming and torrenting, a VPN can never be too fast and stable. Yes, we did mention that PIA VPN can’t compete in those terms with the leaders of the industry. At the same time, it does have an impressive number of servers, and you won’t be disappointed by their performance.
P2P file sharing and BitTorrent are also supported. Therefore, you’ll be able to download torrents without any “sticks in the wheels” from the provider.
Windows App Usability
The Windows client is fantastic. You can quickly scroll through the available features, settings, and servers. For some users, the somewhat “Spartan” interface will be a big turn-off.
For others, it might be yet another reason for picking PIA as their VPN (why in our review). Check out some videos on YouTube to see exactly what we’re talking about. Again, it looks stylish and fancy, and with the latest improvements, everything is even more user-friendly and straightforward.
Pricing Plans
Here are the available packages:
- Exclusive deal – $2.91 a month (save 58%) – 24-months – $69.95;
- $3.33 a month (save 52%) 12-months – $39.95;
- $6.95 a month 1-month – $6.95.
There is no free trial, and the MBG only lasts for seven days. 
VyprVPN
Furthermore, their exclusive Chameleon protocol will make sure you never have any problems with unblocking restricted content. Finally, there aren’t any download caps with this VPN, and customer support is very helpful. If you’re still not sure this is the best choice for you, the 3-day free trial will help you make a decision after taking it for a spin.
Privacy And Security
As we just said, this company is all about pleasing the users, and in terms of privacy and security, they can compete with the best of the best. Multiple tests have proven that there are absolutely no IP/DNS leaks with this VPN.
And what about their privacy policy, you might ask – do they keep any logs? Yes, they do, and those include connection start/stop time, the IP address the Network assigned to you, and the amount of data used. While for most users that’s not a deal breaker, some people would reconsider choosing VyprVPN as their primary service.
On the bright side, their HQ is located in Switzerland, and that country is known for its loyalty to online privacy.
Important note: over the last couple of years, the government of Switzerland has changed from being very “user-friendly” to implementing some new policies and retention laws that aren’t working in favor of the users.
Nevertheless, privacy isn’t nearly as big of an issue with VyprVPN as with IPVanish.
Netflix And Streaming
With 700 servers in 70 locations (and the number is growing), 200K IP addresses, and the ability to switch between them with one single click, VyprVPN is a solid choice for torrenting and streaming.
True, this isn’t the fastest VPN on the planet – ExpressVPN and IPVanish are far better choices for that. Still, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO, and other streaming services are all easily accessible with this VPN. They might not be available on every single server, but it won’t take long to switch between the available ones and find what you’re looking for. The Chameleon protocol is also a nice touch (read our VyprVPN review).
Windows App Usability
Windows client has been the company’s primary focus, so naturally, it looks great. User experience is easy and enjoyable: all the icons are nice and big, nothing’s out of the picture.
Installation is fast, straightforward, and hassle-free, and that’s true for every single Virtual Private Network on our list today. The interface allows you to see for how long you’ve been connected to a server, choose between various protocols, turn the VPN on and off with one single push, and enjoy a swift and steady performance.
Pricing Plans
VyprVPN offers two plans to choose from:
Basic – protection for up to 3 devices:
- $5 a month – 12 months – $60;
- $9.95 a month – 1 month – $9.95.
Premium – protection for up to 5 devices:
- $6.67 a month – 12 months – $80;
- $12.95 a month 1 month – $12.95.
Why are Windows 10 Users should use VPN?
The modern world is getting increasingly technological which means that we take more and more activities into the online realm. We carry out nearly all of our correspondence, financial transaction, and data sharing by virtue of our desktop computers or laptops. Since Microsoft is almost a monopolistic provider of software that is used virtually everywhere, from military bases to households, it is important to protect this piece of software. However, the Internet activity which is carried out by means of Windows is often associated with many dangers, such as:
- The theft of identity, personal information, and financial data;
- Stalking, harassing, blackmailing and dispersion of explicit materials;
- Espionage, data gathering, and wiretapping by different intelligence agencies.
The worst thing about these virtual intrusions is that the victims are often unaware of what has hit them – they just have to deal with the consequences. Certainly, it is possible to try and withstand these threats by developing an impenetrable system of firewalls and antiviruses, though this endeavor is really resource-consuming, in both financial and technological terms. Instead, why don’t you hide in plain sight by using the digital camouflage that has the name of VPN?
How a VPN can help?
A VPN client is a special software product that masks or completely hides your IP address and makes your online activity virtually untraceable for Internet service providers, hackers, and even intelligence agencies. The VPN software for Windows 10 is really easy to install, and the average price of its service plans doesn’t exceed the price of a dinner at a restaurant. Here is what a VPN can do for you:
- Change your real IP address and encrypt your online traffic;
- Provide an unprecedented level of security by virtue of the military-grade encryption protocols;
- Unblock access to certain services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, which is restricted for users who don’t reside on the territory of the United States.
- Detect and eliminate specific malware and spying software;
- Ensure the secure environment for streaming and torrenting;
- Hide your online activity from the prying eyes of cyber criminals and governmental agencies.
Hopefully, we have managed to convince you of the necessity of having a VPN on your computer, so let’s move on to reviewing the best VPNs for Windows for the current year.
How to choose best VPN for Windows 10
Since there are dozens, if not hundreds, of VPNs for Windows on the market today, we had to apply specific criteria in order to pick the best ones that will suit the needs even of the strictest user. Here is the list of our criteria for choosing a VPN for Windows.
- The download and upload speed. This feature is especially important for comfortable torrenting and streaming, as well as the overall pleasant experience from using a VPN.
- The jurisdiction in which the company that owns the VPN server is registered. Being registered in the jurisdiction that is out of reach of the so-called 14 Eyes Alliance is a major benefit for a company that offers VPN servers because it doesn’t have to comply with various data retention laws.
- The level of customer support which is essential not only for the best VPNs but for any respectable online service.
- Last but not the least, the pricing policy. When it comes to VPN setup on Windows 10, the most expensive doesn’t always mean the best whilst the cheapest doesn’t always signify the worst level of services. There should always be a balance, and we have selected the best VPN services for Windows that have strike this balance and meet all of the criteria mentioned above.
Best Windows VPNs Video Guide & Review
Bottom Line
If you’re new to this, choosing the right VPN that will meet your requirements won’t be an easy task. Hopefully, with our help, you’ve learned the 101 of picking a decent Virtual Private Network and will include some of the VPNs from today into your own, personal list.
For something cheap, yet reliable, go with PIA (Private Internet Access). NordVPN is the golden middle and doesn’t have any weak sides. The owners of multiple devices (up to 10) will appreciate what IPVanish has to offer. ExpressVPN is the most versatile and feature-heavy choice. And finally, VyprVPN is an excellent alternative to all four.
Best VPNs for other devices
Check our guides and reviews:
- Best VPN for Mac – read review;
- Best VPN for Android – full guide;
- Best VPN for iOS (Iphone) – check this list;
- Best VPN for gaming;
- Best VPN for Netflix.
I have tried to compare free VPN with those that are paid
and seriously the free ones are at a greater disadvantage 🙁 I guess we all knew that before right
Couldn’t agree with you more!
The top windows VPN I ca suggest is the express VPN. Its speed is superb, it is very simple to use and guess what? It makes Netflix accessible too…what a time to be alive!!
windscribe and Express VPN are my top rated and best Windows VPNs which are ofcourse free
Who has tried to compare free VPN before
because there are so much VPNs and it is hard knowing the best to pick from
can someone suggest the free VPNs I can make use of for my windows 10? By the way if they are free are they safe as well?
Try NordVPN or if you do not need much traffic regularly – there’s a limited version of TunnelBear and Proton VPN (limited traffic)