Windows is mired in a lot of privacy issues since its release in 2015. For instance, even with Cortana disabled, Windows 10 still spies on you and sends your information to Microsoft’s servers.
VPNs offer several important benefits for Windows users that want to improve their online privacy and attain better online freedom with the ability to bypass geo-restrictions.
Therefore, it is essential to use the best Windows VPN and take better control of your internet privacy. A VPN will also enable you to unblock streaming websites like Netflix, HBO, BBC Player, and anonymity while downloading torrents.
7 Best VPNs for Windows in 2020 | Tested on PC and Laptop
Not all VPN services are the same in their relative strengths and weaknesses. So, we decided to create a list of recommended VPNs for windows and for that run a series of evaluation for all Windows versions including 10, 8, and 7 to determine which VPN is fit your privacy and internet accessibility needs:
1. NordVPN – The Best Client for Windows
NordVPN is a Panama-based VPN that is hugely popular for its best privacy-focused features. It consists of a huge network of 5,000+ servers in 59+ countries.
It’s Windows client is compatible to unblock restricted libraries of channels and that includes Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others without creating any hurdles.
There is a wide range of privacy features under NordVPN’s belt. It offers CyberSec, Onion over VPN, DoubleVPN, and Kill Switch. These features can elevate your online privacy and keeps you protected.
The privacy-focused logging policy is another element in NordVPN’s favor. It keeps no records of your IP address or traffic, making it safe to use for any privacy-seeking users.
It is also optimized for P2P with many servers compatible with torrenting. The fact that it doesn’t leak your IP address renders an excellent choice for anonymous torrenting.
You can get NordVPN for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and several other platforms. Moreover, there are also Firefox and Chrome extensions available.
The VPN is available for $3.49/mo and supports 6 simultaneous connections. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee with a NordVPN subscription.
2. ExpressVPN – The Fastest Windows VPN
ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands and it’s the fastest VPN for windows. It consists of a network of 3,000+ servers in over 94 countries of the world.
The provider consistently delivers fast server speeds with superior unblocking strength. It’s easy to use for accessing geo-restricted Netflix content from anywhere in the world.
In terms of security features, ExpressVPN doesn’t offer a whole lot of innovative mechanisms. It uses a run-of-the-mill Kill Switch and IP leak protection, but these are super-reliable for Windows.
The logging policy is one of the best aspects of this VPN, as the provider keeps no personally identifiable information that could be tied to you on the web.
Torrenting with Anonymity is also the achievement of ExpressVPN because all its servers allow P2P filesharing and the built-in protections of the VPN to take care of your IP address and online identity from leaking.
The VPN offers apps compatible with a wide range of devices and operating systems including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and more.
The provider is slightly more expensive than its counterparts, priced at $8.32/mo. All ExpressVPN plans allow 5 simultaneous connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. PureVPN – Affordable & Secure for Windows
PureVPN is based in Hong Kong and is known for its budget-friendly service. It has an extensive network of 2,000+ servers in over 140 countries of the world.
The Windows client of PureVPN gives reasonable fast speeds which makes it good for streaming purposes. In fact, it gives access to restricted libraries to streaming channels like Netflix, HBO, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer all over the world.
The provider applies AES-256 encryption and has no problem with IP leaks. It uses a kill switch to protect users from accidental exposure on the web and is also equipped with extra features such as split-tunneling.
The logging policy of the provider is among the best in the industry as it keeps no records of your personally identifiable information.
PureVPN is a good service to have for torrenting purposes since it has many P2P-compatible servers (labeled with a p2p sign next to them) and protection from IP leaks allows anonymous torrenting.
You can get its dedicated VPN for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, FireTV, and more. It also offers browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
It is fairly affordable with the price tag of $2.91/mo. In addition, a single subscription will you get 5 simultaneous connections and a 31-day money-back guarantee.
4. Surfshark – Unlimited Device Connections
Surfsark is a British Virgin Islands-based VPN with a great set of privacy-related features. It has 1,040+ servers in over 61 countries.
The performance of Surfshark is a highly impressive, boating streamlined and appealing Windows client that offers fast server speeds across the network. It works well with various Netflix regions including the US, CA, and AU.
You get a wide range of features including AES-256 encryption, kill switch, Multi-hop, and WhiteLister (split-tunneling). It creates a rich environment for maintaining your online privacy.
Surfshark has a clear and unambiguous logging policy that refrains from keeping any identifiable information of the user. If you download torrents, you can count on Surfshark to get P2P files anonymously since the provider has strong security and is free of any IP leaks.
Surfshark apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, FireTV, Linux, and more. You can also get extensions for Firefox and Chrome.
At the price of $1.99/mo, you’ll get unlimited simultaneous connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. CyberGhost – User-Friendly Windows Client
CyberGhost is a Romania-based VPN service that works quite user-friendly for Windows. It boasts a powerful network of 5,600+ servers in over 86+ countries.
In terms of speed, CyberGhost isn’t very fast, but still fast enough for streaming activities. Its Netflix unblocking strength is reliable, as I was able to get access to Netflix with CyberGhost.
There aren’t many security features built within this VPN though it does offer good basic protections from IP leaks and a kill switch that is always enabled by default.
The service has a good logging policy in place which is reassuring for users looking to keep their privacy intact on the web.
You can download torrents through CyberGhost’s P2P-optimized servers. You can expect sufficient anonymity with this VPN as it has no problem with IP leaks.
The VPN has apps for a variety of devices and platforms including Windows, iOS, Android, and Mac. There are also browser add-ons for Firefox and Chrome.
Above all, CyberGhost is priced at $2.75/mo which is quite affordable. It offers a 45-day money-back guarantee and 7 simultaneous connections.
6 VyprVPN – Popular Choice for Windows
VyprVPN is a Switzerland based VPN provider with a good reputation in the market. It has over 700 servers located in 70+ countries, a rather modest network of servers.
Nonetheless, VyprVPN lives up to its name with rapid-fire speeds on its servers. Moreover, it is reliable for Netflix as many users sharing their positive options about the unblocking of streaming channels.
In terms of features, VyprVPN also offers some standard protective tools like a kill switch and IP leak protection. Moreover, it has Chamaleon technology for obfuscating VPN traffic to bypass censorship effectively.
It is one of the few VPNs that have an independently audited logging policy, so that certainly adds points in VyprVPN’s favor.
The provider allows p2p traffic and has no IP leaking problem of any sort. This makes it a good option for users that want to download torrents in a safe environment.
VyprVPN has dedicated apps for all common operating systems including Windows, Android, iOS, and MacOS. It also has a Chrome extension.
You can purchase VyprVPN for $2.50/mo, which is relatively expensive. Nonetheless, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and supports up to 5 simultaneous connections.
7. Ivacy – Useful VPN Option for Windows
Ivacy is headquartered in Singapore and operates a normal-sized network of 1,000+ servers in 100+ countries of the world. Its overall capabilities are fairly top for Windows 10 users.
With’s Ivacy, you get decent speeds that will serve the purpose of streaming. The Windows app of Ivacy is quite efficient in unblocking Netflix as I found it working with the popular streaming service.
Ivacy doesn’t have a lot of extra features but it does take care of your IP address, preventing it from leaking. In addition, it offers a kill switch which works as an insurance policy in case your VPN connection drops.
The provider follows a zero-logging policy and keeps no sensitive information that could be used to identify your activities online.
Users who download torrents regularly can use Ivacy’s p2p-optimized servers for this purpose as these are fast and offer strong security from IP leaks and other vulnerabilities.
Ivacy is compatible with Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. It also offers browser add-ons for Chrome and Firefox.
You can acquire Ivacy for $2.25/mo. With every subscription plan, you get 5 simultaneous connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Why do I Need a VPN for Windows?
When Windows 10 was launched, some statements in the privacy policy caused quite a stir because they openly stated Microsoft’s intention to store personal information of users. Some privacy tweaks in the Windows itself and the use of a VPN can cloak your online activities to a greater extent than the default configuration allows in Windows.
Unlocking channels/sites: Many streaming channels are available in certain regions only despite having fans all over the world. Netflix content, for instance, varies from country to country. To access geo-restricted content of Netflix, you will need a capable VPN for Windows to bypass these limitations and changes your virtual location on Windows.
Anonymity: Many popular torrent websites are now blocked in quite a lot of regions in the world. Even if you know how to access a torrent website, you still need to be very careful and perform downloads anonymously.In this case, VPNs enhance your anonymity so you can download files safely.
Factors That You Should Look in a best Windows VPN
We took into the following indicators to determine the best VPN service. Since there are a lot of providers out there, it is essential to be rigorous in our criteria testing before we can label any VPN as the right choice for Windows OS:
- Servers – The number of VPN servers presents in a VPN provider’s network to deliver fast speed.
- Unblocking strength – The ability of a VPN to stream channels like Netflix efficiently on Windows.
- Torrenting – Availability of P2P-optimized servers that supports torrenting with IP leak protection.
- Speed – The speed of the VPN as measured on speedtest.net while streaming and Torrenting.
- logging policy – The data pertaining to the user that is being logged by the VPN service.
- Security – The encryption standards and VPN protocols to keep your data secure.
- Value for money – The pricing, length of the money-back guarantee, and overall features of VPN.
A Video Explanation of the Best VPN for Windows
Reddit Opinion about the Best Windows VPN
Reddit threads often discuss VPN services for different operating systems. In relation to Windows, you will find several archived threads discussing free VPN providers for Windows, and if they are any good.
I am happy to see that most users discourage the use of free VPNs because many of these free providers have been involved in logging scandals, violating user privacy when they have sworn to protect it.
Thus, the verdict of Reddit is heavily inclined against free VPN services. Moreover, as a reviewer, I would not suggest free Windows VPNs with the exception of a few legitimate ones.
Conclusion
Despite the resounding success of Windows 10, 8, and 7, these operating systems leave much to be desired when it comes to the way user privacy is treated.
What’s more, the problem of censorship and geo-restricted affects all internet users alike, no matter which version of Windows you are using.
The most effective method to deal with these issues is to use the best VPN for Windows, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and PureVPN, which covers all the bases to enable online freedom and superior digital privacy in an age where staying safe online is becoming increasingly difficult.
