VPN & Privacy

The best VPN for PC: Windows 11 and 10 picks, ARM laptops included

Every VPN here encrypts your PC's connection and swaps your IP address. What separates them on Windows 11 and 10 is in the settings: what the kill switch does when the connection drops, whether you can keep apps out of the tunnel, whether there's a native app for a Snapdragon or other ARM laptop, and what else the plan includes.

PrivacyTechReview Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief: Kirill Prosandeev Reviewed Oct 30, 2026 11 min read

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We rank the six VPNs we had reviewed by October 30, 2026, for a Windows PC or laptop, weighing what each vendor says its Windows app does, the evidence behind its no-logs promise (named, dated audits) and how many devices a plan covers. Facts come from the vendors' and Microsoft's own pages, checked October 29–30, 2026. We haven't tested these VPNs and don't publish prices, scores or speeds.

Windows also has a VPN client of its own, and Edge a small free VPN; both are covered below. For free plans, see our best free VPN guide.

What separates VPN apps on Windows

How the six Windows apps differ, per their vendors:

Kill switch. NordVPN has two: an Internet Kill Switch that cuts your connection if the VPN drops, and an App Kill Switch, off by default, that closes programs you choose. Proton has a standard kill switch and an advanced one that blocks all traffic unless you're connected, even after a restart. The other four describe one switch.
Split tunneling. NordVPN keeps chosen apps outside the VPN, and VeePN can bypass apps or force them through it. Surfshark can keep apps, websites or IP addresses off the VPN, or route only chosen apps through it. Proton excludes or includes apps and IP addresses on paid plans, and says that on Windows, unlike most platforms, its kill switch works alongside split tunneling. PureVPN describes sending selected apps through the VPN. VirtualShield's version only opens access to printers and other home devices.
ARM laptops. Microsoft says apps not built for Arm run through emulation, which doesn't support drivers. NordVPN, Surfshark and Proton offer native ARM64 apps; VeePN requires an x64 processor; PureVPN and VirtualShield don't mention ARM.
Versions and installers. All six point to installers on their own sites; Surfshark and VeePN also have Microsoft Store apps. Proton needs Windows 10 build 19045 or later. NordVPN's and VeePN's current apps need 64-bit Windows 10 or 11; both keep older builds for other systems. VirtualShield runs on Windows 7 and later.

Extras differ too. A VPN doesn't scan your PC for malware, but NordVPN's Complete and higher plans add a next-gen antivirus that scans downloads, Surfshark One adds Surfshark Antivirus, and VeePN Pro and Max add VeePN Antivirus; NordVPN's and Surfshark's don't run on ARM PCs. To open ports, Proton includes port forwarding on paid plans, PureVPN sells it as an add-on, and NordVPN needs its Dedicated Server add-on.

How to choose a VPN for your PC

1
Check your PC

Settings > System > About shows your processor type and Windows version. On an ARM laptop, choose Proton, NordVPN or Surfshark.
2
Name the job

Any of the six encrypts your traffic on public Wi-Fi. To open ports, look at Proton, PureVPN or NordVPN's Dedicated Server add-on; to cover a household, Surfshark has no device limit.
3
Check the evidence

Look for a named auditor and a date: Proton, NordVPN and Surfshark cite them, PureVPN links no report, and VeePN and VirtualShield cite no audit.
4
Install, then set the kill switch

Download from the vendor's site or, for Surfshark or VeePN, the Microsoft Store, and turn on the kill switch; NordVPN's App Kill Switch is off by default.

The six VPNs we review, ranked for Windows

6 compared

Editors' choice

Proton VPN

Best overall for a Windows PC

Our take: Proton's open-source Windows app comes in x64 and ARM64 builds for Windows 11 and Windows 10 version 22H2 (build 19045). Its advanced kill switch blocks all traffic unless you're connected, and on Windows it works alongside split tunneling, which excludes or includes apps and IP addresses on paid plans; those also add port forwarding. Securitum has audited Proton's no-logs policy yearly since 2022, latest in May 2026, and Proton publishes the reports. The free plan covers one device with no data cap.

Strengths

Yearly no-logs audits, reports public
Advanced kill switch that works with split tunneling
Open source, with a native ARM64 build

Worth knowing

Split tunneling and port forwarding are paid
No antivirus

Platforms: WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSTV apps

Bottom line: Pick Proton if audit evidence you can read matters most, or to try a VPN on your PC for free first.

Read full Proton VPN review

Check Proton VPN price

Opens Proton VPN's official site

NordVPN

Best for an App Kill Switch and download scanning

Our take: NordVPN's Windows app has an Internet Kill Switch and an App Kill Switch that closes programs you choose, plus split tunneling for apps and the NordLynx, NordWhisper and OpenVPN protocols. It runs natively on ARM64 and supports 64-bit Windows 10 and 11. Complete and higher plans add a next-gen antivirus that scans downloads, not yet on ARM. PwC and Deloitte have reviewed its no-logs policy since 2018, but only signed-in customers can read the latest report, and Cure53 assessed its Windows app in 2025.

Strengths

Internet and App Kill Switch
Native ARM64 app
No-logs reviews since 2018

Worth knowing

Antivirus needs Complete or higher; not on ARM yet
Latest no-logs report shown only to customers

Platforms: WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSTV apps

Bottom line: Pick NordVPN for an App Kill Switch, plus download scanning on an Intel or AMD PC.

Read full NordVPN review

Check NordVPN price

Opens NordVPN's official site

Surfshark

Best for unlimited devices

Our take: Surfshark covers unlimited devices at once on every plan and offers a Microsoft Store app as well as its own x64 and ARM64 installers. You get a kill switch, WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2, and Bypasser, which keeps chosen apps, websites or IP addresses off the VPN or routes only chosen apps through it. Surfshark One adds an antivirus for Windows 10 and later, not on ARM. Deloitte checked its no-logs policy in 2023 and 2025.

Strengths

Unlimited devices
Microsoft Store or ARM64 installer
Two-way split tunneling

Worth knowing

Antivirus needs One; not on ARM
Deloitte reports only in your account

Platforms: WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSTV apps

Bottom line: Pick Surfshark to put every PC and phone in the house on one plan.

Read full Surfshark review

Check Surfshark price

Opens Surfshark's official site

PureVPN

Best for port forwarding and a fixed IP

Our take: PureVPN's app for Windows 10 and 11, from its website, lists IKEv2, WireGuard and OpenVPN, a kill switch, split tunneling for selected apps and obfuscation. Port forwarding and a dedicated IP are paid add-ons that PureVPN lists for Windows. Its no-log page describes a 2023 assessment, but no report is linked, and PureVPN doesn't say whether the app runs on ARM.

Strengths

Port forwarding and dedicated IP add-ons
Kill switch and app split tunneling
10 devices at once

Worth knowing

No audit report linked
ARM support not stated

Platforms: WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSTV apps

Bottom line: Pick PureVPN to open ports or keep one IP address on your PC, if a no-logs claim without a published report is enough for you.

Read full PureVPN review

Check PureVPN price

Opens PureVPN's official site

VeePN

Best for antivirus and VPN in one Windows app

Our take: VeePN's app for 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 on x64 processors offers WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 and Shadowsocks, and enforces its kill switch and app split tunneling through Windows Filtering Platform. Pro and Max add VeePN Antivirus, and VeePN says its app doesn't interfere with Windows Defender. But VeePN cites no independent audit of its no-logs policy, and its pricing page gives 5, 10 or 20 devices by plan while its terms say 10.

Strengths

Windows antivirus in Pro and Max
Shadowsocks for restricted networks
App split tunneling

Worth knowing

x64 processors only
No no-logs audit; device limit unclear

Platforms: WindowsmacOSAndroidiOSTV apps

Bottom line: Pick VeePN for antivirus and a VPN from one company on an Intel or AMD PC.

Read full VeePN review

Check VeePN price

Opens VeePN's official site

VirtualShield VPN

For older Windows PCs

Our take: One VirtualShield app covers Windows 7 through 11, from its website or your account. It has a kill switch toggle and IPv6 leak protection, but VirtualShield doesn't name its protocol, its "split tunneling" only reaches home-network devices, ARM isn't mentioned and no audit is cited. Unlimited devices depend on two-factor authentication it calls coming soon; otherwise each user gets five.

Strengths

Windows 7 and later
Kill switch and IPv6 leak protection
Antivirus in bigger plans

Worth knowing

No audit; protocol not named
No per-app split tunneling

Platforms: WindowsmacOSAndroidiOS

Bottom line: Pick VirtualShield VPN only for an older Windows PC or if you already pay for VirtualShield.

Read full VirtualShield VPN review

Check VirtualShield VPN price

Opens VirtualShield VPN's official site

Built in

Microsoft Edge Secure Network

Built into Edge, with 5 GB a month

Edge Secure Network, run with Cloudflare, sends Edge's traffic through an encrypted tunnel, with 5 GB of free data a month when you sign in with a personal Microsoft account. Its Optimized mode covers only unsecure traffic, and Microsoft says it gives you a similar regional address. It isn't available on managed devices or in certain regions.

Worth turning on if you browse in Edge; it doesn't cover the rest of your PC.

+Free and built into Edge

−Edge only; 5 GB a month

Microsoft Edge