The best Windows VPN for PC in 2025

Ease of Use

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First things first, getting started with NordVPN is nice and simple. All you need to do is choose your subscription, download the Windows app via the NordVPN site, and run through the installation process (clicking a few “Next” and “Agree” buttons).

Once the app is up and running, you’re ready to explore NordVPN’s suite of tools. However, the sheer number of tools and information can be overwhelming to new users at first glance (especially if you’ve included extra add-ons when selecting your subscription). Fortunately, NordVPN organizes the app into tabs, and each tool and feature has one, including the main VPN. This is where most users will spend the bulk of their time.

There’s a big “Quick connect” button in the top-left corner of the Windows app. Click it and NordVPN will automatically pair you up with the best available VPN server (depending on your location). You’ll see the red padlock icon turn green once successfully connected. Easy!

Alternatively, if you’d rather pick your server, hit the globe button on the left-hand menu to browse NordVPN’s interactive map. This map is a neat little novelty but, if your Windows device has a small screen, you'll have an easier time scrolling through the more traditional server list.

Streaming

NordVPN is the best streaming VPN on the market. We’ve never had an issue using it with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, or smaller region-specific services.

We’ll touch on NordVPN’s speed in more detail later, but in terms of streaming, NordVPN has no trouble keeping up with 4K HDR video – which is great news for anyone planning a movie marathon.

It is worth noting that NordVPN isn’t an ideal pick for torrenting. Unfortunately, there are only a few P2P-optimized servers, so I’d recommend checking out ExpressVPN if you want a more robust file-sharing option.

Privacy & Security

NordVPN doesn’t pull punches preserving your digital privacy. Your data is secured by AES-256 encryption, which ensures no third-party snoopers can peek at what you get up to online. It’s also nice to see NordVPN invest in the future of online security with quantum-safe encryption.

Any VPN worth its salt needs a rock-solid no-logs policy to underscore that it has no interest in collecting or keeping your user logs, and NordVPN delivers.

The VPN recently underwent its fifth independent audit, inviting Deloitte to take a thorough look at how it handles user data – and whether it’s sticking to the terms outlined in its privacy policy. We're pleased to say that NordVPN passed the audit with flying colors.

In addition, NordVPN’s Windows offering comes packed with the security tools that make any good VPN great. This includes a kill switch, which will prevent any data leaks in the event of an unexpected VPN dropout, and a fantastic all-in-one service that rolls malware detection, antivirus, and phishing site detection into a single product: Threat Protection Pro.

Speed & Performance

Whether you use your Windows device for HD streaming, online gaming, or more social media scrolling than you’d care to admit, speed is always an important factor in the overall experience. Luckily, NordVPN is a super-speedy service – one of the quickest providers we’ve tested.

NordVPN regularly clocks in at over 950 Mbps when using its proprietary NordLynx protocol (which is based on WireGuard). To put this number into context, Netflix recommends speeds of 15 Mbps (or higher – up to about 25 Mbps) to stream ultra-HD 4K content.

Ease of Use

Like NordVPN, Surfshark’s installation process is incredibly simple. All you need to do is hop over to the Surfshark site, choose your plan, download the Windows app, and click through the installation wizard. The Windows app will pop up to greet you once you’re done.

Surfshark’s UI is clean, spacious, and intuitive – though there’s little flair to write home about. If you’re a minimalist, though, you’re going to love it.

All of Surfshark’s important menus are listed on the left of the app – and we like how digestible the icons are. Newbies won’t have any issues navigating around the app to adjust their settings or check out Surfshark’s features.

Toggle over to the server list and scroll through at your leisure, investigate recommendations (based on your location), or hit “Quick connect” and let Surfshark decide for you. As per usual, the red icon indicates that you’re not connected to a server, and it’ll turn green when you are.

Streaming

Surfshark has an expansive network of servers across 100 countries – making it a pretty awesome Netflix VPN. What's more, all of its servers are streaming-optimized. Surfshark worked like a charm alongside other popular platforms, too, including Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and Hulu. Fans of British content will be glad to hear that Surfshark is also compatible with BBC iPlayer.

Wondering whether Surfshark holds up as a decent VPN for torrenting? It does – but there are a few caveats. All Surfshark’s servers are P2P-enabled, but there’s no support for port forwarding, which might sour the deal for seasoned torrenters looking for the full package.

Privacy & Security

Surfshark doesn’t take any chances with your digital privacy, employing robust AES-256 encryption to ensure your data is protected as it leaves your Windows device and heads out to the wider internet.

The provider’s airtight no-logs policy has been audited by Deloitte, too, ensuring that your identifiable logs are never stored or used to potentially link you to your internet activity.

Like NordVPN, Surfshark has a roster of additional tools, including a handy CleanWeb browser add-on that’ll make short work of invasive ads that might otherwise spoil your browsing sessions.

The real star of Surfshark’s show is its Alternative ID feature. In a nutshell, it creates an entirely new online persona for you – a new name, email address, and phone number. You can use these details to autofill forms when you’d rather not part with your actual information (and potentially put it in the hands of digital ne’er-do-wells).

Speed & Performance

Let’s cut to the chase – Surfshark is a downright speed demon, currently reigning supreme as the fastest VPN we’ve tested. If you want fast, Surfshark is your best bet.

We recorded speeds of 950 Mbps when using the WireGuard protocol. So, regardless of what you use your trusty Windows device for, you won’t have to worry about your VPN grinding you to a halt. It’s why Surfshark is such a reliable gaming VPN, too.

Ease of Use

ExpressVPN’s initial setup process is pretty straightforward. Pick your plan, head to the main ExpressVPN site, sign in, and download the Windows app via the dashboard. Don’t close the dashboard yet, though, because you’ll also be given an activation code you’ll need to punch in later.

Run through the installation wizard as usual and hand over the activation code when prompted. Then, hit “Continue”, and your shiny new ExpressVPN Windows app is ready to roll.

The app is a delight to use – it’s one of our favorite interfaces. It initially opens up as a square tile and it’s pretty minimal. There’s a big “Connect” button (that’s either red or green, depending on whether you’re currently connected to a server). Hit the server location option to open another tab and take your pick of ExpressVPN’s expansive server network.

We like how compact the ExpressVPN Windows experience is. Something to keep in mind, though, is that different tools, menus, and settings open up in their own tabs/windows, so you’ll need to keep on top of which ones you’re currently using or risk cluttering up your screen.

Streaming

ExpressVPN is a streamer’s dream, able to unblock all of today’s most in-demand streaming platforms. Think Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. Platforms from overseas, and smaller sites, work seamlessly, too – though we did run into hiccups trying to browse Australia’s 10Play.

Generally speaking, we prefer NordVPN when it comes to streaming, as it dropped out fewer times when we did our best to tune into Netflix libraries from the UK while abroad.

In happier news, ExpressVPN is a solid torrenting VPN as all its servers are P2P-enabled. We’d like to see the service invest in port forwarding, however – it’d be the cherry on top of an already tempting cake.

Privacy & Security

ExpressVPN’s security basics are awesome. A solid foundation of AES-256 encryption stops unwanted snooping and data interception, and ExpressVPN has future-proofed its protection to prepare for the onset of quantum computing.

Add TrustedServer technology to the mix (which erases data after every reboot) and you have a service you can trust with your day-to-day browsing and your banking, shopping, and private communications (yes, including your DMs).

Unlike NordVPN, ExpressVPN isn’t stuffed to the brim with extra security tools – which could be a deal breaker for some. Instead, it focuses on its core VPN offering and has undergone a whopping 18 independent audits of its apps, architecture, and privacy policy. It’s an awesome level of transparency that I’d like to see other services emulate.

ExpressVPN isn’t totally bereft of nifty features, however. The Shuffle IP system ensures no identifiable connection between your online persona and your activity. ExpressVPN even has its own password manager, ExpressVPN Keys, that’ll remember all those complex passwords you’re definitely using to secure your online profiles (don’t worry, ExpressVPN Keys can generate them, too).

Speed & Performance

ExpressVPN lives up to its name with stable and impressive speeds. The Lightway protocol, ExpressVPN’s bespoke VPN protocol, clocked in at 898 Mbps during our testing.

That puts the service at the higher end of the performance spectrum, but NordVPN and Surfshark still have it beat. Still, for the average Windows user, this will be more than enough to ensure a smooth online experience when streaming, gaming, and browsing.

Ease of Use

Proton VPN’s installation process is straightforward. Pick your plan, download the Windows app from the main Proton VPN site, and let the installation wizard do its thing.

Once the Windows app is ready, open it up, and you’ll see a crisp black and purple UI. We love it – it captures some of the hacker aesthetic without straying too far into gaudy territory.

The server list is nice and easy to navigate – simply hunt down the location of your choice and hit “Connect”. Alternatively, the “Quick connect” button pairs you up with a speedy server automatically.

Next, let’s address the elephant in the room – the big ol’ map of server locations. It’s a fun novelty and can shave a few seconds off the server selection process (provided your geography is pretty strong), but it could clutter up the screen of more compact Windows devices, too.

Streaming

Proton VPN has servers dotted all over the globe and boasts coverage in more countries than any other VPN. We didn’t experience any issues when streaming with Proton VPN, either, and accessed Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus with a minimum of fuss. Smaller regional services (like ITVX and 9Play) were just as easy to use.

Proton VPN is one of the better choices for torrenting, too, thanks to a selection of P2P-optimized servers. Torrenting enthusiasts will also be glad to learn that Proton VPN does come with port forwarding.

Privacy & Security

Proton VPN was founded by a team of CERN-scientists so, as you might expect, you can rest assured that protecting your digital privacy is priority number one. The provider relies on rock-solid AES-256 encryption to secure data as it travels to and from the Proton VPN servers.

If you want to add an extra layer of protection to things, check out Secure Core – which allows you to route your traffic through an additional server located in a privacy haven. Think Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden. In practice, this is similar to NordVPN’s Double VPN feature and reduces the risk of your IP address being exposed.

In July 2024, Proton VPN invited Securitum to comb through its no-logs policy –- and the results were excellent. We’d like to see Proton VPN continue its trend of consecutive annual audits. There's no better guarantee that your identifiable logs are in safe hands, after all.

Speed & Performance

Proton VPN clocked in at an impressive 950+ Mbps during our most recent round of testing – which is always great to see. We used the WireGuard protocol to achieve these results, and we recommend sticking to it to ensure the smoothest, speediest performance when using your Windows device.

The VPN Accelerator is a handy little feature you can enable when you need a boost – especially if you’ll be connecting to a server on the other side of the globe. It automatically finds the routes with the best speeds and is generally less effective for short-distance connections.

Ease of Use

PIA’s install process follows the same steps as the VPNs listed earlier in this guide – check out the main PIA site to pick your plan and download the Windows app, let the install wizard run wild, and then log in when prompted. It is, in all truth, a piece of cake.

The main PIA Windows app reminds me of ExpressVPN in some ways. Firstly, it opens as a small tile, and different tools, menus, and settings open up in their own tabs. You can customize how the PIA app looks, though, and expand it if you want to see more details at a glance.

The majority of Windows users will spend the most time with the big On/Off button – the Simplified mode – and a smaller tab containing the PIA server list. Just give the button a click to be automatically paired up with a server, or sift through the options to find a specific location.

Streaming

When it comes to streaming with PIA, we had a decent experience – we were able to use all of the big names, for one thing. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus worked well enough, and we even checked out smaller regional providers (like Channel 4 and ITV).

If you plan to do some torrenting with your Windows device, PIA is worth checking out, as it comes with a handy port forwarding tool and support for P2P activity. PIA’s speeds aren’t absolutely blazing fast (more on this later), but we think it’s a decent trade-off when you factor in PIA’s stellar security measures.

Privacy & Security

In addition to AES-256 encryption, PIA comes loaded with nifty extras that’ll shore up your online security. The basics are covered, with a kill switch and DNS leak protection, and split-tunneling allows you to pick which sites, services, and apps use PIA’s encryption and which don’t – which is handy if you do any online banking with your Windows PC.

PIA’s no-logs policy has been audited twice by Deloitte, which is great to hear, and actually proven in court on two different occasions. That means that PIA proved that it had no user logs to hand over even when pressured by authorities – the proof is in the pudding, as they say.

Speed & Performance

PIA lags behind the other providers in terms of speed – clocking in at 436 Mbps when using the WireGuard protocol. That doesn’t mean you should write the provider off entirely, however, as this kind of performance will ensure smooth streaming and scrolling when going about your day-to-day business online.

It is worth noting that PIA’s speeds are consistent across the day, too, and boasts noticeably less jitter than other VPNs. So, if you’re hunting for a gaming VPN that balances reliability with security, PIA is up there with the best.