VPN
Native Windows apps compared on simultaneous devices, privacy policy and what each one costs.
Hands-on tested No pay-to-play scores Updated September 29, 2026
NordA security powerhouse with a huge server network and extra tools.
Surfshark
Unlimited devices on one plan, outstanding value.
TotalA straightforward VPN from the makers of TotalAV, with AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection and servers in 50+ countries.
Proton VPN
Swiss-based, open-source privacy from the team behind Proton Mail.
Private Internet Access
Cyber
Express| # | Product | Score | Best for | Devices | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nord |
9.8/10 | Best Overall | 10 | A$4.89 | Get 66% Off |
| 2 | Surfshark | 9.7/10 | Best Value | Unlimited | A$3.49 | Get 84% Off |
| 3 | Total |
9.5/10 | Simplest to Use | Yes | A$1.59 | Get 80% Off |
| 4 | Proton VPN | 9.4/10 | Best for Privacy | 10 | A$5.59 | Get 64% Off |
| 5 | Private Internet Access | 9.2/10 | Most Devices | Unlimited | A$2.49 | Get 85% Off |
| 6 | Cyber |
9.1/10 | Easiest for Beginners | 7 | A$2.99 | Get 83% Off |
| 7 | Express |
8.9/10 | Best Apps | 8 | $2.99 | Get 77% Off |
Every VPN here ships a native Windows app, so the choice comes down to how many devices one plan covers, what the logging policy says, and what you pay when the introductory term runs out.
Scores are not pay to play. We install the Windows client, run it as a daily driver, and compare the results. Affiliate relationships never change a ranking.
Start with the device count. Surfshark and Private Internet Access allow unlimited simultaneous connections, NordVPN and Proton VPN ten, ExpressVPN eight, CyberGhost seven. On Windows this matters more than it sounds, because the same subscription usually has to cover a phone and often a second machine.
If the tunnel drops, a kill switch blocks traffic until it comes back rather than quietly falling back to your normal connection. Every provider on this list offers one on Windows, but it is worth turning on deliberately: on several it is off by default.
All of these support WireGuard or a comparable modern protocol, which is what makes leaving the VPN on all day practical. If speed disappoints, the usual cause is server distance rather than the client, so try a closer country before concluding the provider is slow.
The headline figure is nearly always a multi-year plan. Renewal is higher, sometimes much higher. Read the renewal rate before committing, and use the refund window to test on your own connection at the times you actually use it.
Windows can connect to a VPN server, but it does not provide one. You still need a provider with servers, and the built-in client is far less convenient than the apps here.
It blocks internet traffic if the VPN drops, so nothing leaks to your normal connection. Every provider here has one on Windows, and on several it is off until you turn it on.
A little. With a modern protocol the overhead is small; distance to the chosen server usually matters far more than the provider.
Surfshark and Private Internet Access allow unlimited connections, NordVPN and Proton VPN ten, ExpressVPN eight, CyberGhost seven.
We installed each Windows client, used it daily, and compared kill switch behaviour, device limits, logging policy and price. Prices were read from each vendor's own pricing page on the day of writing.
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