Our VPNs for Windows 10 reviews are the result of over 40 hours of research on 15+ VPNs for Windows 10 companies from across the web. These reviews and our VPNs for Windows 10 guide help small businesses and startups find the best VPNs for Windows 10 for their business.
NordVPN is one of those names that ring a bell when you hear it. Most novice users are familiar with it out of the gate as it is widely advertised and touted as the best Windows experience. NordVPN supports all flavors of Windows; if you have older versions (still supported by Microsoft like Win 7 service pack 1), you are still being supported by Nord.
One of the most remarkable features that NordVPN offers is splitting tunneling and choosing the data you want to be protected by the VPN. This feature allows users to avoid hang ups with sites that may not play well with a VPN service. The quick-connect button is also unique to Nord, with a built-in AI algorithm to connect you to the most optimal server based on your location. Lastly, Nord has its own custom CyberSec feature, which actively protects your Windows device from phishing and botnets while browsing the internet.
NordVPN Pricing is comparable to what is commonly seen in the market. They do offer an incentive for subscribing to their 2-year plan, priced at 3.49 a month (which is not the cheapest for a 2-year deal either in the market). A 1-year plan comes in around 6.99 a month, and then the monthly plan is 11.95. NordVPN is more on the expensive side across the board for their services, no matter the plan.
Pros & Cons
Pros
30-day free trial
24/7 support
6 simultaneous connections
Cons
Expensive
What Customers Are Saying
Most user reviews have the same standard message that NordVPN provides precisely what it advertises. A few stated on mobile devices that the interface seemed a bit cramped, but the Windows 10 client worked flawlessly.
Surfsharkis known for providing its customers with unlimited, unmetered connections. This is a considerable benefit nowadays, where most households have numerous devices that need to be protected by a VPN. On top of this feature, Surfshark touts a strict no-logs policy as well as an intuitive safety net killswitch that works flawlessly on Windows 10.
Surfshark has further optimized its performance on Windows 10 devices by promoting its latest feature, the Bypasser. The bypasser feature allows the end-user to select specific apps to bypass the VPN without disabling the entire service. This feature works great for features like banking websites or torrenting sites that have access restrictions in place to prevent users from a VPN.
Surfshark comes in pretty expensive on a month-to-month basis (given you have unlimited connections, that price could be worth it), but they also offer a 1-year (5.99) and 2-year plan (1.99) as well to help incentivize Windows users to commit long term with them. As long as you do not have any issues committing to the 2-year plan, you will find the best deal for unlimited connections. Best of all, SurfShark offers its VPN for the first 30 days for free to allow users to test out its features before agreeing to a contract thoroughly.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Unlimited Unmetered Connections
Best Pricing on 2-year Plan
Advanced Bypasser Feature
Cons
Expensive monthly option
Customer Service lacks
What Customers Are Saying
One of the trends that were observed in the customer reviews was in regards to unlimited connections. Several reviews stated that SurfShark could monitor and even block accounts abusing unlimited connections (for Example, account sharing or malicious compromise). Most users reported that they were pleased with the overall experience with their application on their Windows devices.
ExpressVPN is one of the most well-known VPNs and rated the best overall. It is your typical run-of-the-mill VPN solution and the defacto standard for the industry. It is everything you would expect out of a VPN. Unfortunately, they drive one of the more expensive price points for a VPN as well. Let's take a closer look at some of the included features to see if ExpressVPN is worth its title.
To start, Windows support for ExpressVPN is well-versed. They cover all supported Windows OS versions (including 11). There interface is straightforward, easy to use, and consists of a push to start VPN connection button. They tout that they proudly support DDoS protecting for gamers and lower overall ping and latency times.
ExpressVPN only lacks in the pricing department; none of its plans is something to run home about. Its monthly plan is one of the most expensive coming in at 12.95, followed by a 6-month plan for 9.99 and a 15-month plan for 6.67. Another shocking relation is that they are one of the only providers that do not offer a free trial of their solution.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Easy to Use
Performance enhancement from ISP
DDoS protection
Cons
Expensive
Limited connections
What Customers Are Saying
Even though ExpressVPN is one of the more expensive VPNs on the market, most reviews show that customers are delighted with what they offer, stating it is worth the money. The overall consensus was that people would rather pay more for excellent service and expected outcomes than pay less for another solution and be let down when it underperforms.
HotSpot Shield is one of the newer solutions that has the most upside potential compared to the competition. HotSpot was recently ranked the world's fastest VPN solution by Ookla Speedtest. They have a somewhat sizable worldwide infrastructure and can ensure security best practices. Let's take a closer look at some of their Windows ten specific features.
To start, HotSpot has a patented security protocol called Hydra that is proprietary to its solution. They offer unlimited bandwidth to allow users to stream as much as they desire up to 5 devices simultaneously. Lastly, HotSpot Shield has 24/7 live tech support on call, ready to assist within seconds of your request.
HotSpot Shield only has one price plan for its premium package at 7.99 a month. But they do offer their basic package for free. On top of this, they offer a free seven-day trial of premium and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Pros & Cons
Pros
24/7 tech support
Free version
Unlimited bandwidth
Cons
Limited Pricing Plans
free version support ads
What Customers Are Saying
Many customer reviews express how HotSpot Shield simply "does the job" but doesn't blow users away. There are mixed reviews on how the overall solution needs improvements and how the free version feels spammy. Also, it does seem that their 24/7 support may be a bit doggy at times as well.
PrivateVPN takes the privacy of its user's data very seriously. They have a slew of features that help to support a privacy-first environment. PrivateVPN is a part of the Swedish parliament, which means they follow a strict zero data logging policy (and can enforce it). Let's deep dive into some of the features that stand PrivateVPN apart from the rest, and if you are still not satisfied, they offer a full 30-day money-back guarantee.
PrivateVPN supports impressive 2048-bit encryption with AES-256 (government-grade) along with IPv6 leak protection so that your data and identity will stay safe. If you are disconnected. PrivateVPN pushes out unlimited speeds and bandwidth over si>simultaneous connections. Lastly, they support significant and minor VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec.
Outside of its seven-day free trial, PrivateVPN offers its services in 3 package plans. A 13-month plan for 3.82 a month, a three-month plan for 4.88 a month, and a one-month plan for 7.67 a month. Overall all three plans are priced lower than the VPN average, including a full 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Privacy First approach
Affordable and Flexible Plans
Killswitch just for Windows
Cons
Inconsistent server speeds
What Customers Are Saying
There was a mix-up of experiences as it pertained to customer service. About half of the responses stated outstanding service, and the other half were not happy with the support team's responsiveness. But the overall reaction to the services offered on the VPN was a positive review.
As one of the best VPN solutions for beginners, IPVanish is also one of the best supported Windows 10 operating systems. The Client is easy to use on any Windows 10 device and easily supports Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer browsers. Let's take a look at some of the unique features supported by IPVanish on the Windows 10 operating system.
IPVanish is another rare VPN service that permits unmetered VPN connections and can achieve this feat because it only uses its infrastructure (not rented out). IPVanish also has built-in modules that help to prevent targeted advertisements, including ones that perform deep packet inspection. Some of the newer features also include SOCKS5 web proxy support and 256- bit encryption on communications.
The one observed downfall pertains to its pricing model. Currently, IPVanish only offers its solution at a monthly price of 10.99, which is towards the more expensive side of the house. They have been known to provide promotional deals for longer-term plans, but these are limited offerings. Lastly, IPVanish does give a 30 day trial of its solution, but for iOS only, so Windows 10 is out of luck here.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Unlimited connections and unlimited speed
Reliable Killswitch
Great Ad blocking
Cons
Free trial limited to iOS
limited pricing and expensive
What Customers Are Saying
Unlimited Speed and connections were widely discussed in a positive light. There were some overall complaints about their support team not being as attentive as one would aspire. Lastly, one of the features around unblocking streaming services was not fully built out across all streaming platforms.
CyberGhost claims that it is best for users that are on the go. The reason for this claim is it has a ton of servers worldwide. Over 7100 servers spread out over almost 100 countries is a massive feat for a VPN company. CyberGhost is based in a strict no-logs country (Romania) to ensure they take the utmost effort against privacy protections. They do not want to collaborate with the five eyes agency, which means they do not have to share your data! Let's dig into some of the other features for windows ten specifically that make CyberGhost so attractive.
CyberGhost has an automatic killswitch that cuts off your internet if your VPN tunnel should randomly drop (specifically for Windows devices). CyberGhost claims to have complete Windows end-to-end coverage as far as encryption goes for your communications. Lastly, having extensive infrastructure means no bandwidth limitations (they are currently pushing out 10G on their servers).
CyberGhost offers a competitive yearly pricing package for 2.57 a month. For Windows systems, we can get a one-day free trial of the solution, along with a 45 day month back guarantee if you are not satisfied. They also offer a 7.99, 6-month plan and a 12.99 monthly plan that are at the top of the thresholds as far as VPN prices are concerned.
Pros & Cons
Pros
45-day money-back guarantee
Free trial offered for Windows
Large infrastructure
Cons
UI is inferior
Monthly Plans are the most expensive in the market
What Customers Are Saying
Outside of having a below-average UI, CyberGhost has received some pretty good reviews overall. Many people were pleased with the speeds provided and the ability to stream on most platforms. Many of the reviews were from long-term account holders as well (3 years or more).
When we think about the Private Internet Access VPN, we think of power users or users on an operations team who need to customize network and security protocols to match day-to-day use cases. On top of having in-depth customization, PIA VPN comes with a reliable Killswitch for the Windows 10 OS. One of the best features is its ability to allow ten simultaneous connections as well.
PIA VPN has one of the largest infrastructures in the VPN space, counting up to almost 34000 servers worldwide! Speed and performance won't be an issue here. IT also comes prebuilt with a built-in antivirus solution that can scan and remove malware for any windows ten device (all while sustaining user privacy).
With such an extensive infrastructure to support, you might think that the price point would be outrageous. PIA VPNs 2 year plan only costs 2.69 a month! That is below average for other competitors of this size! Its one-year (3.33/month) plan isn't so bad either, but the best part is if you subscribe to the monthly plan and decide it isn't for you, PIZ offers a full money-back guarantee of up to 30 days anyway.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Nice 2-Year package pricing
Built-in Anti-virus solution
Extremely large infrastructure
Cons
No totally free version
Doesn’t include a double-hop feature
What Customers Are Saying
One of the notable negative reviews witnessed is that some users express that even though there are many servers to choose from, not all have the same performance levels that you would expect. On the positive side, users are pleasantly surprised with how easy the solution is to use, given the advanced features that it includes.
ProtonVPN is best known for its privacy stance as many are familiar with its Private email solution, ProtonMail. One of the main reasons it can keep up with its privacy badge is due in part to its location. Being located in Switzerland, the laws around privacy are much more strict than elsewhere in the world, thus giving products like ProtonVPN much more weight when it comes down to protecting its end-users' sensitive transactions.
Besides displaying a proud no-logs policy, ProtonVPN offers an unlimited, totally free version of their VPN on Windows 10 devices. The best part of all is that it is directly compatible with this sister tool, ProtonMail, allowing its users to create an anonymous account with their existing ProtonMail credentials quickly.
The Pricing for ProtonVPN is super flexible and offers different plans/features for various price points. They have their free version for Windows 10, but they also have a basic plan (4 dollars/month), their plus plan (8 dollars/month), and a visionary plan (24/month). ProtonVPN does offer a free seven-day trial of plus plans to entice users to upgrade. The visionary plan gives you all the features of the Plus plan and all the features for your ProtonMail account.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Totally Free Windows 10 version
Integrated with Mail solution
Killswitch
Cons
Support is limited to email only
What Customers Are Saying
Based on the customer reviews, it seems there have been complaints around its email-only support and how slow they are to respond. On top of that, the company is advertising cheaper plans; it seems that performance is throttled on the back end to entice users to upgrade to a Plus plan.
Hide.me VPN is a solution that is supported in the Microsoft store specifically for Windows. This VPN offers both paid and free versions. The paid version is advertised as a lifetime plan with no ads, trackers, or logs. Their paid version is highly touted by Microsoft, Forbes, PCmag, Techradar, and Trustpilot.
Hide.me claims to be a 99.9% uptime remark and a 100% independent ownership for ensuring a privacy-first approach. Hide.me claims to have support gigabit speeds and unlimited bandwidth as well. Lastly, They offer ten simultaneous connections to co-inside with their unlimited speeds.
Outside of their free basic plan, Hide.me offers three premium plans that include a 2-year plan for 2.45 a month, a 1-year plan for 3.66 a month, and a monthly plan for 9.95. Their model provides a sound system for gradually shifting from the free version to the paid version at a price model that works for the individual.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Totally Free Version without Ads
Independently Owned
10 simultaneous connections
Cons
More on the expensive side for Premium
Speeds tend to Suffer at times
What Customers Are Saying
Most of the customer reviews state that Hide.me provides everything that is advertised, and most were happy to pay the expensive premium version because of this. Many of the customers also started with the free version. It is indeed lifetime (some of these users stated they have been using the product for over seven years). Lastly, new users expressed how easy and quick the solution was to get up and running.
When we evaluated the best VPN solutions for Windows 10, we took several factors into account. Windows 10 support is crucial, but also tying in features like infrastructure, privacy, usability, and killswitch compatibility are some of the major factors that we tried to focus on.
Overall Infrastructure Support
All the VPN candidates needed to have a focus on infrastructure improvements and support. Windows 10 comprises most of the market, so a VPN solution must handle loads of bandwidth on its platform. Ensuring that not only do they have a decent size infrastructure back end, but they continuously update, upgrade, and test their servers to keep performance as stable as possible.
Privacy
It may seem obvious, but privacy can be overlooked in a VPN solution. Most assume that because it's a VPN, it must have good privacy. Ensuring that VPN solutions are constantly enforcing the latest best practices for data communications and standards for data handling is critical. Also, it helps if a VPN has a well-defined and supported Privacy policy that the typical fold of the world can understand clearly.
Usability and Adoption
Just because a VPN has certain features or is cheaper than the competition doesn't mean it'll satisfy the masses. VPNs need to work seamlessly with the end-users and set up for a newer solution to take hold in the industry.
Killswitch
Finally, for Windows, we wanted each VPN solution to come with an intuitive killswitch option. The whole idea of a VPN is to protect you while using the internet. If, for some reason, the VPN fails without notifying you or switching the internet off, then what good is it? Having an automated killswitch in place provides users with a sense of reassurance that they are protected and at least have the option to enable the internet with caution or at their own risk.
