There are both pros and cons of living on the bleeding edge of technology. While the upshot is to get things done faster and more conveniently, the downside is that your security and privacy are always under threat. And if you want your data to be private, you should take advantage of a highly secure and reliable VPN service. While there are tons of virtual private networks available in the market, very few of them deliver the desired security and convenience. To help you find a more suitable option for your needs, we’ve handpicked the 14 best VPN for Windows 10 and Windows 11 PC, which are far ahead of the curve in 2022.
Just a little tip-off, recently we lined up the top VPNs for Android and VPNs for iPhone so that you are secure even when you are surfing the web on your mobile devices. And in this article, we bring you the 14 best VPNs for Windows 10 computers. You can take a quick look at the VPNs from the link below.
Vital Things to Consider Before Deciding on a VPN
Are Free VPNs Reliable?VPNs to AvoidList of Best VPNs for Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs
ExpressVPNProtonVPNTunnelBearPrivate Internet AccessNordVPNMullvadWindscribeIPVanishCyberGhostHotspot ShieldBetternetHide.meSurfSharkStrongVPN (Previously Encrypt.me)Frequently Asked Questions
Are Free VPNs Reliable?VPNs to Avoid
ExpressVPNProtonVPNTunnelBearPrivate Internet AccessNordVPNMullvadWindscribeIPVanishCyberGhostHotspot ShieldBetternetHide.meSurfSharkStrongVPN (Previously Encrypt.me)
Note: With CERT-In’s new directive requiring VPN providers to start maintaining laws, a number of VPN companies have shut down their servers in India. We will be mentioning the same in the descriptions for the VPNs that no longer offer Indian servers. You can still use these VPNs in India, but you will not be able to connect to an Indian server using these services.
To me, there are three pivotal things that make any VPN a great option: High-end encryption, speedy network, and compatibility. For enhanced safeguards, you can also bring no-log policy and shield against spamming as well as malware attacks into the mix.
Are Free VPNs Reliable?
Well, they rightly say, “When the product is free, you’re the product.” Most of the free VPNs are trash. However, there are quite a few free VPN services that are highly reliable and have a no-log policy. They do that by restricting speed and data allowance. The network speed on free VPN services is bad and you won’t be streaming any high-quality content on them. You also get a small quota (normally between 500 MB to 5 GB) that you will use up in days. That’s why you should be extremely choosy, especially when going for a free VPN.
As a rule of thumb, you should not trust the free VPNs that offer unlimited data if you are serious about protecting your privacy on the web. Most unlimited free VPNs collect some sort of metadata and sell the information to third parties for targeted advertisements. I would strongly recommend you to give a scant reading of the privacy policy before you pick a VPN.
1. ExpressVPN
Among a plethora of VPNs available for Windows PC, I’ve found “ExpressVPN” top-notch on all fronts. Of course, it’s a bit more pricey. However, if you are willing to cross some extra miles for more trusted safeguards and pretty good speed, this one is undoubtedly the go-to option.
With more than 3000 global VPN servers, ExpressVPN boasts a solid network across 94 countries. That means you can enjoy a faster and more stable connection. On top of that, you get unlimited bandwidth to browse the web without any limitations. On the privacy front, this VPN app makes it crystal clear that it doesn’t store your activity or connection logs. Besides, it keeps your entire activity concealed from the prying eyes.
Thanks to the top-of-the-line defense in the form of 256-bit AES encryption, split tunneling, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, and super handy kill switch, it ensures your confidential info stays within a safe territory. Therefore, you can surf the net with complete peace of mind, knowing all of your sensitive footprints are protected by a reliable safeguard. Moreover, it provides a pretty good 24/7 customer service to help you out whenever you need assistance.
Availability of Indian Servers:
What about having a reasonably good VPN without spending any bucks? Give a try to ProtonVPN, which is considered to be one of the best free VPN for Windows 10. To keep your sensitive data like passwords safe, it sends your internet traffic via a highly secure encrypted VPN tunnel. So, your information has the required defense even when you are using public Wi-Fi or unreliable internet connections.
Moreover, this Swiss VPN provider has a trusted policy of not storing your data or selling it to any third-parties. Another feature that makes ProtonVPN useful is the integration with the Tor anonymity network. As a result, you will be able to route your entire traffic via the Tor network and have access to Onion sites.
Under the free tier, it only offers servers from three regions including the US, Japan, and the Netherlands. If you want more flexibility while choosing servers then others might be a better option.
3. TunnelBear
“TunnelBear” is yet another VPN app that looks quite promising. Of course, the basic version has many notable limitations but if you are willing to just satisfy your basic demand, the free version can suffice your needs to a good extent. And just in case, you find the app living up to your demand, you have the option to upgrade to the premium version.
The free version of the app offers just 500MB of data a month, which is certainly too low for most people. But you can go for the premium version to make the most of unlimited data and browse the web without any hurdles. The pro version of the app will also let you enjoy the seamless connection on up to five devices simultaneously. That apart, you will also get reliable customer service.
While TunnelBear is great, there is a connection limit of 5 devices which is bizarre. If you have more devices then find other VPNs from this list. Moreover, Tunnelbear is based out of Canada, which is a part of the Five Eyes Intelligence sharing initiative, and may be required to share data with government agencies.
4. Private Internet Access
Should you want to pick out a slightly more affordable yet highly proficient VPN for your Windows 10 PC, “Private Internet Access” can be a smart deal. Moreover, it enjoys a very good reputation for protecting private browsing data.
The app effectively blocks ads, malware, and trackers so that you are able to go through your job with the needed speed and safety. Thus, there is less chance of being distracted while surfing. Thanks to the fully encrypted Wi-Fi in the offing, your browsing session remains on the safer side. And with no traffic logs, all of your data stays private and away from the sight of hackers.
Beyond security, I like the hassle-free set-up which makes getting started so quite convenient. What’s more, you can use it on as many as 10 devices at the same time. And with the P2P support, it ensures your personal dealings have the required confidentiality.
Don’t Use If:
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For browsing the web anonymously and keeping your data fully protected, you can’t go wrong with NordVPN. For long, it’s been one of the most popular VPN services. One of my favorite features of this app is the ability to quickly connect to the best server. With the servers available in more than 60 countries, it has you mostly covered. Therefore, getting a strong connection shouldn’t be a big ask for you.
And with the high-end military-grade encryption, it provides an all-around defense to your data when using public Wi-Fi or for that matter any network. Thus, your web browsing session will be both smooth-sailing and private–away from the snooping eyes.
There is a lot to like in “NordVPN.” One of the most appreciable features of this VPN is military-grade encryption that keeps your personal information behind a secure wall. Apart from offering a high-end defense, it also excels in providing a fairly speedy and stable network. As for the price, it’s pretty competitive.
Price: $11.99/monthly, a 30-day money-back guarantee
Mullvad is kind of a niche VPN that not many people know about. It’s one of the oldest VPNs out there and it was started in 2008 with headquarter in Sweden. The reason I am recommending this VPN despite its obscurity is that it does not compromise with security at all. All the major VPNs in the market including ExpressVPN and PIA deploy OpenVPN or L2TP/IPSec security protocols and frankly, they are pretty good. However, a modern VPN protocol called Wireguard has come up that utilizes state-of-the-art cryptography and it’s supposed to be much better than OpenVPN both in terms of security and performance. You can check out a detailed comparison between OpenVPN vs Wireguard to learn more.
Mullvad is among the first VPN providers to implement Wireguard protocol in their servers and that makes it a highly secure VPN for Windows 10. I would say, go ahead and use the VPN on your PC to see the real difference in performance. And for what it’s worth, Mullvad has 409 servers in 39 countries so that is great too.
One of a kind VPN having a new security protocol and advanced cryptographic algorithms intended to always protect your privacy on the web. Apart from that, it’s quite affordable in comparison to other premium VPNs.
7. Windscribe
Windscribe is another popular VPN that you can use on Windows 11. Unlike the premium VPNs, it offers a free tier as well. You have a data cap of 10GB per month under the free tier and that seems quite good. Further, Windscribe brings support for 10 countries all over the world under the free plan so that is great. And in case, you choose to get the premium plan then you will have 500 servers from close to 58 countries around the world. That’s amazing, right?
On top of that, Windscribe maintains that it does not log traffic data in any manner for both free and premium users. Further, Windscribe prevents your tracking on the internet with DNS Leak Prevention. Not to mention, if you want to choose your own VPN protocol like OpenVPN, IKEv2, SOCKS5 then you can do so with Windscride. All in all, if you are looking for a Windows 10 VPN that offers free data allowance in a month then Windscribe is a worthy pick.
While it does offer a long list of servers under the free tier, the speed is significantly reduced. So choose the VPN based on you want — server flexibility or fast performance?
8. IPVanish
If you are hunting for a highly efficient VPN for torrenting and P2P traffic, IPVanish would be a better way to go. Powered by 256-bit AES Encryption and strict no-log policy, it doesn’t let your data get exposed.
It has around 1300 anonymous servers, which is far less than many of its top rivals. But when it comes to providing a fast connection, it’s second to none. Moreover, it offers unlimited server switching. That means you will be able to hop between servers without any restriction, which is a big plus.
The ability to offer proficient torrenting and P2P traffic makes “IPVanish” a clear favorites for professionals. Couple that with the speedy networks as well as the strict privacy policy and you have a virtual private network that can live up to the high demand admirably.
Price: $7.50/monthly, $58.49/yearly, a 7-day money-back guarantee
“CyberGhost” may not be as popular as some of its noted rivals but when you take everything that it offers into account, you will find it highly appreciable. The highlight of this VPN service is the huge network of 4800 servers spread in more than 61 countries. This robust network makes sure you are able to find a speedy server with ease. You can take advantage of the simultaneous connection on up to 7 devices to get your work done seamlessly. Due mainly to the stable connection, things like random buffering or the frustrating throttling won’t hamper your web browsing.
With the unlimited bandwidth at your disposal, you will have the maximum freedom to surf the web or use your favorite apps. Another department where CyberGhost is considered very good is offering essential privacy.
Why Should You Choose CyberGhost?
Price: $12.99/monthly (14 day money-back guarantee), $71.88/yearly (45-day money-back guarantee)
“Hotspot Shield” claims to deliver ultra-fast virtual private network. And from what I have experienced after giving it a long run, I can say that this VPN service is definitely one of the fastest in the market.
The multi-device compatibility offers you more flexibility, allowing you to get your task done from any of your devices. Using a single account, you will be able to install this app on up to 5 devices. As compared to some of its counterparts, the number is slightly on the fewer side. However, in a normal use case, it would be just good enough.
By completely shielding your web browsing session, Hotspot Shield makes your web browsing fully secure. Another feature that has called for my attention in this app is the ability to block over 3.5 million malicious sites. Thus, it will not just keep your data guarded but also protect your device from being attacked by malware.
Price: $12.99/monthly
If simplicity is what drives your search for a better free VPN that can work efficiently on your Windows PC, I would recommend you to give “Betternet” a chance. As someone who has given it an extensive run, I can vouch for its impressive functionality.
The virtual private network app has a pretty lightweight interface. And with the easy-to-use features, you won’t have any hurdles in getting through your usual tasks. As for security, “Betternet” has a very reliable policy of not misusing your data or giving it away to any third-parties.
Why Should You Choose Betternet?
Just because “Hide.me” is placed in the 12th position; you shouldn’t underestimate it. Really. As a free VPN app, Hide.me has covered most of the basics. So, you can use it to zoom through your usual task with a satisfying result. As it has the support for tons of connections, your work won’t be hampered by stuttering or sloppy connections.
Courtesy the gigabit speed, your streaming videos, downloading apps and even playing games will remain smooth. Just like most of its reputed counterparts, it also has a very good zero log policy put in place.
I would say yes if you want to have a very capable free VPN that does most of the things reasonably well. The availability of AES-256 bit encryption and the option to choose multiple VPN protocols are notable features. Besides, it also has a good track record of offering dependable security.
Price: Free, paid plans start at $9.95 monthly with a 30-days money-back guarantee.
SurfShark is another of the best VPN service providers on Windows, offering up to 1Gbps speeds at affordable rates. Rated highly by torrent downloaders for offering a safe means to download movies and music without the fear of snooping by the copyright trolls, SurfShark provides a different IP address every time you connect, which makes tracing much harder.
Another notable plus for SurfShark is that it is based in Virgin Islands, which is not a Five-Eyes country, which means it will not be forced to reveal your data to law enforcement agencies anywhere. SurfShark allows users to connect an unlimited number of devices per subscription. What’s more, it also helps you unlock region-blocked content in streaming services like Netflix, making it an extremely popular option for many around the world.
SurfShark also has more than 3,200 servers in 65 countries, including the US, Sweden, Russia and India. Last, but not the least, the service is available on a whole host of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iOS and Fire TV. Like many leading VPN clients, you can also use SurfShark through its browser extensions on Chrome and Firefox.
Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iOS, Fire TV
14. StrongVPN (Previously Encrypt.me)
Another great VPN service provider is StrongVPN. Earlier we had Encrypt.me on this spot, which offers a fast, secured and reliable VPN service on multiple platforms. However, Encrypt.me is becoming StrongVPN now. It is priced at $10.99 for unlimited data. StrongVPN also offers content filtering options and lets you create private endpoints for isolation and dedicated IP addresses.
StrongVPN also uses multiple cloud providers that allows it to run servers in dozens of locations around the world. It also uses OpenVPN on Mac and Android, combining speed and security with 256-bit encryption. Users can also configure it by choosing from a number of protocols, including L2TP, PPTP, IKEv2/IPSec, or SSTP.
Support for L2TP, PPTP, IKEv2/IPSec, SSTP and Open VPN; Affordable plans
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Q. Are VPNs Legal?
Q. Which Free VPN is Best for Windows 10?
It does not have a built-in VPN, but you can set up a third-party VPN using Windows Settings. It will help you manage the VPN through system toggles rather than using the third-party application.
