Best VPN for Windows – CNET

Updated Dec. 2, 2023 2:05 p. m.

PT We intensively test each VPN, making sure it meets our standards for privacy, speed and usability. How we test VPNs Privacy protection and fast speed Despite battling major upheavals through the end of 2021, ExpressVPN clinched our Editor’s Choice Award for best VPN in 2022. One of the two largest providers globally, the VPN titan has been in business since 2009 and once again aggressively raised the industry bar for service transparency this year.

In the past year, ExpressVPN increased its independent third-party audit count, published details about its TrustedServer deployment process, joined the i2Coalition to call for improved VPN industry ethics, and released an open-source Lightway encryption protocol. All of our top-rated VPN’s have wide compatibility across platforms and operating systems, but ExpressVPN’s collection of setup guides, detailed FAQs and troubleshooting articles give it a clear advantage for users. So does its 24/7 customer support, and its no-questions-asked, 30-day money-back guarantee.

While you can get a better month-to-dollar bargain with ExpressVPN’s two-year subscription, we don’t recommend anyone purchase any two-year VPN subscriptions at this time due to overall market volatility. ExpressVPN’s best plan offers five simultaneous connections for $100 a year (which includes three extra months, for a limited-time deal totaling 15 months of service). You can also opt for a $13 per-month plan, or pay $60 for six months.

Extensive features at a great price Surfshark boasts an impressive suite of privacy and security features, unlimited simultaneous connections, easy-to-use interface and expansive global network. And it’s still significantly cheaper than most of its competitors. That’s what helped Surfshark earn CNET’s Editors’ Choice for Best Value VPN in 2022.

Along with standard VPN features such as a kill switch and DNS leak protection , some of the more notable Surfshark features include camouflage mode (which hides the fact you’re using a VPN), split-tunneling, NoBorders mode (which lets you use Surfshark in regions where VPNs are restricted) and multihop VPN connections. You’ll also get access to Surfshark’s CleanWeb technology, which blocks ads and malware and helps you avoid phishing attacks. One innovation we’re excited to see Surfshark roll out over the next year is its Nexus network, which connects the VPN’s entire network of servers together and allows you to choose multiple servers to route your connection through.

The functionality is somewhat similar to Tor , but Surfshark says it’s faster. With its Dynamic MultiHop, IP Randomizer and IP Rotator functions, the Nexus network can give you a few extra layers of protection while you use the VPN — which can be particularly beneficial to users with critical privacy needs . Surfshark says it doesn’t log any user activity.

And although no-logging claims are virtually impossible to prove with 100% certainty, German cybersecurity firm Cure53 declared Surfshark’s security to be “solid” in its 2021 security audit of the VPN. Surfshark says a new audit is forthcoming by the end of this year. Since February 2022, both Surfshark and NordVPN have the same corporate parent (Tesonet) , but Surfshark said it is legally bound not to share any information between the entities that would go against its privacy policy or terms of service .

We didn’t find any language in either document that would indicate Surfshark has any obligation to share user data with its parent company or any sibling companies, which include NordVPN. Surfshark rates consistently as one of the fastest VPNs available, but we’ve been disappointed with its inconsistent speeds recently. The 40% speed loss we measured in February and March of 2023 was more than double the 19% speed loss we measured in 2022.

Though speeds through WireGuard were impressive, registering only an 8% speed loss, the 76% speed loss we registered through OpenVPN dragged Surfshark’s overall speed rating down considerably. The company tells us that it is working on resolving the OpenVPN speed issues. In our tests, Surfshark had no problems unblocking Netflix and Amazon Prime Video content, but we did run into a fair bit of trouble accessing Disney Plus.

After testing various servers in the US and other countries where Disney Plus is available, we were finally able to access the content when we connected to a server in Boston. You may need to test a few servers yourself before gaining access to Disney Plus content with Surfshark. Surfshark offers cheaper introductory prices that jump after the first billing cycle.

Even so, Surfshark manages to keep its prices lower than most other VPNs — helping it earn CNET’s Editors’ Choice for Best Value. The yearly plan starts out at $48 for the first year, then jumps to $60 for any additional years of service. If you opt for the two-year plan, you’ll pay $60 up front for the initial two years combined, then $60 per year for any additional years.

Surfshark’s monthly plan stays constant at $13 a month. If you’re not satisfied with the service for any reason, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Reliable VPN with multi-device use 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, and the ability to VPN into Tor. More than half of Nord’s 5,000-plus server fleet is optimized for peer-to-peer sharing, though Nord has blocked torrenting in 14 countries.

In our latest test rounds, we noticed a few hiccups in Nord’s killswitch when using its iOS app, which could be a concern for torrenters. However, Nord has a sideloaded iOS available on its website that it recommends to users. In our most recent speed tests , NordVPN’s performance recovered from middling speed scores of 2021 and zoomed back into the ranks of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, causing us to lose just 13% of base internet speeds.

NordVPN doesn’t accept PayPal payments, but you can purchase a subscription with any major credit or debit card, AmazonPay, Google Pay or ACH transfer. If you’d rather pay anonymously, you can pay with a variety of cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, ethereum, tether and dogecoin. NordVPN has also partnered with a handful of retail stores like Staples, Best Buy and Walmart — where you can even purchase your VPN with cash .

Read more : NordVPN Review 2022: Feature-Rich and Speedy, but Privacy and Transparency Issues Need Attention About VPNs for Windows As a Windows user, you’re probably interested in the best VPN to keep your computer safe. Thankfully, there is a large selection of virtual private network options on the market to choose from. For as long as we can remember, Microsoft Windows has been the most popular desktop operating system.

Because of its widespread use, almost all the major VPN providers feature a Windows-compatible app. When it comes to choosing a solid VPN, the process is quite user-friendly — specifically if you decide on one of the services highlighted in our recommended roundup of top providers. Different from MacOS users, who often deal with a bunch of Apple-specific requirements before being able to install privacy tools to a mobile device or computer, picking the best VPN for Windows is pretty simple.

The array of options available, which delivers a top-notch slate of safety features for your device or computer, are more plentiful than what is available for MacOS. We know it sounds like a lot. But don’t stress.

We’ve done the research for you. Our CNET experts put an extensive roster of VPNs to the test in order to deduce the best, quickest and most secure services a Windows 10 and Windows 11. We focused on a number of core details in our testing, including streaming and browsing speeds; reliability; security strength; ease of remote access; and overall value for the money .

All of the recommendations on our principal list of the best VPN providers work perfectly with all currently maintained Windows versions , and CNET put them to the test for use with the latest available operating system. (So yes, that means they’re compatible with Windows 11 , which is available for download on your desktop or laptop. ) Each of these selections offer a stand-alone VPN client fit to operate seamlessly on your desktop.

Here you’ll find our top recommendations for the best VPN for Windows, ranked for performance across all categories, so that you choose the right VPN service for you. And if you’re working with a slightly older device, be sure to read our guide on how to set up a VPN on Windows 10 . Windows VPN FAQs 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. 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 . 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. 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. 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. .