BEST VPN SERVICES
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The best VPN for Windows 10 in 2023, as found in our independent testing, is NordVPN!
Microsoft Windows is the most widely used OS for desktop PCs worldwide.
As is the case with every new version, Windows 10 significantly improves upon its predecessor, but it also introduces and inherits several new privacy concerns.
Cortana, integrated advertising, and information syncing with Microsoft servers are all designed to let you have a more customized experience.
But, with such measures, Windows 10 has blurred the line between privacy and personalization.
So, how do you maintain privacy while using Windows 10?
By using a VPN, you can make certain that all internet traffic leaving your computer is encrypted.
Thus, intrusive trackers and targeted advertisements will no longer disrupt your experience; online privacy will strengthen, and browsing the web will become more anonymous overall.
Best VPN for Windows 10 2023
There are countless VPN solutions available for Windows.
However, not all of them live up to their claims of providing a great service.
This makes it extremely difficult for a layman to choose a VPN to use with Windows 10 devices.
To provide you with the most accurate information, we evaluated many options.
1. NordVPN
Being the most widely used operating system, Windows is the top target for all hackers.
Therefore, top-tier privacy and security tools are the most significant criteria for Windows 10 VPN service.
Successfully meeting those criteria, NordVPN has made it to the top of our list.
Panama-based NordVPN is a very popular service and has zero interest in logging any user data.
In addition to the OpenVPN encryption, NordVPN’s app for windows has many other sophisticated features.
It includes servers specialized for obfuscation that can completely conceal your VPN usage, a two-way automated kill-switch to prevent unexpected data breaches, and even the choice to utilize VPN over Tor for increased anonymity.
- NordVPN is the industry leader (by a long way)
- 30-day risk-free trial
- Superfast speeds
- 5,442+ servers in 60+ countries
- Strict no-logs policy
- Next-generation military-grade encryption
- DoubleVPN, double privacy
- 6 simultaneous device connections
- Great for: Safety, security, anonymity & peace of mind
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad & iOS, Linux, routers, Apple TV, FireFox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and more
If you want an additional layer of encryption, it has a DoubleVPN feature to facilitate that too.
If you desire a VPN with antivirus functionalities as well, NordVPN is that two-in-one service that will also protect your Windows PC from malware, viruses, and other harmful content through its famous Threat Protection.
All these features make NordVPN a necessity for anyone who wants to hide their internet activities from government surveillance, their ISP, WiFi hotspot administrators, and hackers.
NordVPN also fulfills the criteria of having a massive server network.
Spreading across 60 countries globally, the provider offers access to more than 5200 servers.
With such a large selection, you won’t have any trouble bypassing geo-blocks or getting around those bothersome bans at college or work.
The Quick Connect option on NordVPN is another useful function that lets the service’s algorithm determine the ideal server for you and connects you to it.
This is why ardent streamers love NordVPN and rank it as the best VPN for Windows 10.
Not to mention, it’s also an awesome VPN for Windows 11– in case you upgrade in future.
Whether you are traveling overseas and missing your local TV, or you want to explore the foreign Netflix libraries out of boredom, NordVPN lets you unblock all popular streaming websites and applications.
Streamers appreciate NordVPN for its fast and reliable connections too.
The service has built its unique VPN protocol, known as NordLynx, which is essentially a much faster version of the Wireguard technology.
This has proven to be a breakthrough for NordVPN to provide unmatched speeds for lag-free gaming and buffer-free streaming.
The Windows app by NordVPN is easy to navigate for beginners and veterans alike.
Moreover, you’ll be glad to know that up to six simultaneous connections are available to NordVPN users with every subscription.
2. Surfshark
A VPN is a crucial tool for Windows users, whether you’re a remote worker, a CEO traveling internationally on business, or a student working on an assignment in a nearby coffee shop.
While there are plenty of great options out there, the choice becomes a little difficult for bargain hunters.
For users with budget constraints, Surfshark is the best cheap VPN.
Not only is Surfshark one of the cheapest alternatives available, but it also offers a very tempting suite of security and privacy features to protect your devices when you connect to the internet.
From employing the strong AES-256 encryption to offering multiple security protocols, including IKEv2, OpenVPN, and Wireguard, Surfshark has underpinned everything you may need for a more private and secure online experience.
- Surfshark is the best budget VPN
- 30-day risk-free trial
- Strict no-logs policy
- 3200+ servers in 95 countries
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Great for: private browsing on a budget
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone & iOS, Linux, FireFox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and more
There are some other amazing features, too, such as an automatic kill switch, private DNS, and split tunneling.
It even offers obfuscated servers to evade VPN detectors and a Multi-hop function to add an extra layer of security by redirecting the user traffic through two VPN servers.
By paying a very small cost and upgrading to Surfshark One, you can also access more security features like antivirus, a data breach monitor, as well as a private search engine to use your Windows device more safely than ever.
Additionally, the new Nexus function is still in progress. For now, all you’ll receive is an IP rotating feature, but we’ve been assured that more is on the way.
If you are in search of the best VPN to get help with playing games and streaming HD content on your device, Surfshark will fulfill your speed requirements too.
By choosing to implement Wireguard protocol with Surfshark, you can easily enhance your connection speeds.
Another way by which this VPN provider ensures great speeds is by offering access to 3200+ servers worldwide, across 65 countries precisely.
By maintaining such an extensive network, Surfshark ensures that users all around the world can find a server nearby to connect to, regardless of their location.
The lesser their distance from the VPN server, the better the connection speed.
The vastness of its server network is also the reason Surfshark has become a streamer’s dream.
Surfshark has a reputation for allowing easy access to a wide variety of streaming services, like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, transforming your laptop into a portable entertainment hub.
Besides its functionality and affordability, another thing that is bound to impress you is Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections.
This suggests that you can use the service on as many devices as you’d like simultaneously and without paying any additional fees.
3. Atlas VPN
For those who are new to the world of VPNs and concerned that they might find VPNs difficult to use and comprehend, Atlas VPN is a great choice.
It is the best free VPN for Windows 10 that can protect your PC while keeping you in your comfort zone.
Although significantly younger than most providers listed here, Atlas VPN makes up for the lack of experience in terms of features and performance.
Already having more than 6 million clients worldwide, Atlas VPN promises to make the internet world a secure place for everyone, regardless of their financial situation or level of technological ability.
- Atlas VPN is the best free VPN
- Privacy Pro servers
- 750 servers in 40+ locations
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Great for: people seeking a freemium VPN
- Compatible with: Windows, MacOS, Android, iPhone & iOS, Android TV, Fire TV Stick
Aside from the strong military-grade encryption, Atlas VPN offers many wonderful features that render its users untraceable regardless of what their online activities are.
These features include an internet kill switch that automatically safeguards you against data leaks even if the connection suddenly drops and the Multi-hop function for an additional layer of security.
Atlas VPN is also famous for having features like SafeSwap, which is essentially an IP rotation mechanism, and a very trustworthy data breach monitor.
All of these features together make Atlas VPN highly capable of granting you complete online anonymity and spoofing the location of your Windows device.
That, however, was only about your online privacy. If you wish for the safety of your Windows devices, in addition to all this, Atlas VPN’s Tracker Blocker will do the trick.
It will not only block unwanted ads but also protect your device against all sorts of malware.
The reason we have listed Atlas VPN so highly, is the VPN’s extremely reliable free version.
While the free version is great to secure your casual web browsing sessions with all the premium security features, it is not very ideal for streaming.
This is because, unlike the paid premium, this free version is subject to limitations such as data caps and fewer server locations.
The premium version’s superiority lies in the size of its network.
Compared to only three server locations accessible with the free version, Atlas VPN Premium allows access to over 750 servers in 38 countries around the world. This largely impacts the speeds too.
Once you truly see Atlas VPN as a top free VPN, you’ll realize that even if you decide to go for the paid version, the price you pay is very small for the kind of protection you receive.
Also, once you have subscribed, the provider places no limit on the number of devices you can connect simultaneously.
4. ProtonVPN
Another privacy-minded and top tier VPN is ProtonVPN. Designed by the makers of Proton Mail, the service was certainly built with user security in mind.
It has one of the best Windows clients you can find, which is affordable and has all the functionality you could ever need.
When it comes to safeguarding your online privacy, ProtonVPN doesn’t hold back. It gives users the choice to use WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN protocols.
It also offers protection against DNS leaks, a built-in kill-switch, and Perfect Forward Secrecy.
Additionally, the service provides a Tor over VPN option, enabling users to visit Onion websites.
With servers across 63 different countries, the premium plan of ProtonVPN also enables users to bypass geo restrictions and access a long list of foreign streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and Hulu.
It is also worth mentioning that the service allows up to ten simultaneous connections to Windows and other devices.
5. VyprVPN
VyprVPN is another great candidate.
Although it Is easily compatible with all mainstream OS, its Windows client is especially known to be very easy to use.
VyprVPN’s encryption standards are such that users are inevitably impressed.
It keeps your data and personally-identifying information safe from prying eyes with the high standards of OpenVPN’s implementation.
In case users need a faster substitute, they can also test out the WireGuard protocol.
Additionally, DNS leak protection and a kill-switch are also included with VyprVPN’s Windows client—two crucial components for prospective torrent users.
The Chameleon invisibility function is particularly helpful for anyone trying to get through firewalls in places with greater restrictions.
Although VyprVPN isn’t the fastest service on our list, it can still keep up with almost any data-intensive task you plan to undertake.
It can handle everything, including video calls, gaming, and HD streaming.
It is a top VPN if you need to unblock streaming services such as Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.
If you’re a movie or TV fanatic who doesn’t want to be bothered with annoying buffering rings, there is no better alternative than the dedicated VyprVPN streaming servers.
How to Pick A VPN for Windows 10
Of course, the majority of significant VPN providers create their products for the most popular operating system in the world—Windows—first.
This indicates that VPN clients for Windows are typically quite sleek.
However, some are still simpler to use than most others, and all of our top recommendations above are extremely simple to set up and use.
Regardless of what use you have in mind for the VPN you pick, you’ll need assurances regarding the additional layer of online security that the VPN provides.
Online privacy and security are and should be the top priority.
This holds especially if you frequently connect your Windows device to public Wi-Fi or if you are traveling to a country known for government surveillance or stringent online censorship.
If you are an avid gamer or streamer, you should choose a fast service with reliable connections.
If you use your computer monitor or laptop as a television, you’ll probably also expect your VPN to assist in accessing region-locked content.
Ideally, you should look for a service provider that is popular for unblocking the streaming service of your interest.
Price is always important to consider too. Therefore, we have tried to list the alternatives with the most competitive prices.
Even if the subscription price of one service is higher than the other, you must assess it for the value it provides for the price.
FAQs
Should I Use a Free VPN for Windows 10?
Yes, there are free VPNs accessible for Windows, but they all have some limitations because VPN services are businesses and must ultimately make a profit.
However, we wholeheartedly advise paying for a subscription if you’re going to use your Windows 10 VPN for data-intensive activities and anything significant, especially if you plan to stream.
A premium VPN will take your experience with the internet to a whole new level.
Is There a Windows 10 Built in VPN?
Windows does include a built-in VPN client but not a built-in VPN service.
This implies that a VPN connection can be manually configured without installing any additional software.
However, Windows does not have its own encrypted network of servers.
Thus, you must still pay for a premium Windows VPN to access the secure network of servers.
Nevertheless, using the Windows app provided by your VPN service is a lot easier and safer.
Can A VPN for Windows 10 Be Used on Other Devices?
Yes, any of the VPNs above can be used on a variety of other OS, too, including Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, Smart TV, gaming consoles, and more.
You can effortlessly safeguard your online connections with these VPNs because they work with many different platforms.
Even if your device doesn’t inherently support VPNs, your VPN’s website will contain setup instructions for all popular devices.
In Summary, the best VPNs in 2023 are;
Rating | VPN Service | Get Offer |
---|---|---|
#1 Top Rated#1 | NordVPN - #1 VPN in the industry | FREE Trial |
#2 Top Rated#2 | Surfshark - top budget VPN | Start Now |
#3 Top Rated#3 | Atlas VPN - best free VPN | Start Now |
Conclusion
Given that it is the most popular desktop OS worldwide, you shouldn’t be surprised to see the numerous Windows 10 VPNs available.
However, it can be difficult to choose the best VPN for Windows 10 from such a large selection.
The best approach to move forward is to keep in mind your purpose of use, budget, and technical knowledge.
We have, however, attempted to make the process as easy as possible for all our prospective users of Windows VPN.
NordVPN, for instance, is listed above as the top choice because it ticks almost all the boxes and is highly affordable too