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5 Best VPNs for Your Laptop

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NordVPN takes the lead as the best VPN for your laptop.

It has 5400+ global servers, a kill switch to protect your IP/DNS addresses, obfuscation servers for extra security, and uses AES 256-bit encryption.

But if you prefer to try alternatives, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and PrivateVPN are worthy.

With these options, you won’t have to worry about data leakage or geo-restrictions anymore.

Top 3 VPNs for Your Laptop

UNLIMITED CONNECTIONS
Surfshark
Surfshark Devices

Surfshark is an affordable VPN with solid security features and a high-speed connection. This allows you to safely surf the net without worrying about buffering or data leakage. Thanks to its unlimited device connections, you can share your account with friends, family, and teammates.

4.6/5
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BEST OVERALL
NordVPN
NordVPN devices

NordVPN has 5400+ global servers in 60 locations to bypass geo-restrictions and protect your online privacy. It has robust security features like Double VPN, Threat Protection, and a data breach monitor, and it uses a no-logs policy to guarantee leak protection.

4.8/5
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FASTEST GAMING VPN
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN different devices

Fast VPN server connections, a large server network, and multiple device connections are features you’ll enjoy with ExpressVPN. It’s also excellent for gamers who want to prevent DDoS attacks while enjoying low ping and latency.

4.6/5
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As an avid laptop user, I know the importance of having a good VPN to unblock geo-restricted content on your favorite streaming platforms and protect your online data.

Thus, I tested several VPN services to select the best ones for PC, focusing on encryption, device compatibility, connection speed, and unblocking abilities.

Here Are the Top 5 VPNs for Streaming and Online Privacy on Your Laptop

Below is a summary of the best VPNs for unblocking, gaming, and privacy for your laptop:

  1. NordVPN – 5400+ Servers Offering Reliable Online Security & Privacy
  2. Surfshark – Bypass Geo-Restrictions on Unlimited Devices
  3. ExpressVPN – Easy-To-Use VPN With Fast & Automatic Obfuscation
  4. CyberGhost – Largest Server Network With Optimized Servers
  5. PrivateVPN – Most Affordable With Solid Privacy Features

A summary may be sufficient to introduce you to the best VPNs for your laptop, but you can find more details below.

An Extensive Review of the Best VPNs for Your Laptop

I’ll review each of the VPN providers on my list in detail, testing and comparing their unique features in this section. Afterward, you can choose which VPN best suits your PC.

BEST OVERALL

NordVPN - 5400+ Servers Offering Reliable Online Security & Privacy

unblock netflix with nordvpn

NordVPN’s vast server network, top-rate security features, and excellent unblocking capabilities make it the best VPN for laptops.

Boasting 5400+ global servers in 60 countries and 2100+ US servers, NordVPN has the second-highest server network on this list. 

This makes it suitable to bypass geo-restrictions on your favorite streaming services.

For example, I unblocked Japanese Netflix effortlessly, despite not being in Japan (or even in Asia), over NordVPN’s Japanese servers.

I also tested several NordVPN servers using a 10Mbps base speed

The best result was 7Mbps over the Portugal server, second only to Surfshark VPN on overall speeds.

So, if you want to enjoy HD streaming of your favorite shows or lag-free online gaming, NordVPN is up to the task. I recommend that you connect via the NordLynx protocol for faster speeds.

That said, NordVPN doesn’t slack on security and privacy.

For starters, it offers NordLynx (a WireGuard alternative), IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN protocols, combined with the AES 256-bit encryption, to ensure your online data is always safe.

You also get a kill switch feature that protects your macOS, Linux, Windows, or Chromebook laptop IP/DNS address leaks if your VPN connection randomly drops.

Beyond that, NordVPN’s customer support service is reliable, featuring a help center, live chat, and email option to resolve your VPN issues promptly.

nordvpn internet speed

Ready to explore NordVPN for your laptop? Check out these awesome deals and enjoy a 30-day refund policy.

Pros

Cons

UNLIMITED CONNECTIONS

Surfshark - Bypass Geo-Restrictions on Unlimited Devices

stream nba live with surfshark

Surfshark has 3200+ servers in 100 countries, allowing you to bypass geo-restrictions from anywhere. This isn’t as many servers as NordVPN or CyberGhost, but you can still access restricted platforms without hassle. 

For instance, I connected to its US – Los Angeles server to unblock NBA TV despite not being in the USA.

This VPN provider isn’t lacking in security and privacy, offering solid security features to protect your laptop from hackers or DDoS attacks while gaming.

It combines that with AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and Camouflage Mode – its obfuscation tactic over OpenVPN to hide your VPN traffic.

Furthermore, Surfshark managed the fastest connection speed, slightly ahead of NordVPN at 7.47Mbps on its US – Los Angeles server.

That’s a minor speed drop, ensuring it’s fast enough to stream your favorite movies or shows and play online games with no lag.

This fast Virtual Private Network (VPN) also supports Windows, Linux, Chromebook, and macOS devices, meaning you can use it on any laptop OS. On top of that is its unlimited simultaneous device connections, and it’s the only VPN on this list to offer such.

Surfshark also has an active customer service, which includes live chat and email. So, you can reach out via either option 24/7 to resolve connection issues on your laptop.

surfshark internet speed

Finally, Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs on this list, especially when you can take advantage of ongoing HUGE DISCOUNTS.

Pros

Cons

FASTEST GAMING VPN

ExpressVPN - Easy-To-Use VPN With Fast & Automatic Obfuscation

unblock amazon prime video with expressvpn

ExpressVPN is the most expensive VPN listed here. However, it still comes in third place for its fast connection speeds on obfuscated servers

This is useful for secure streaming and gaming across an extensive server network.

It offers 3000+ global servers in 94 countries, allowing you to unblock content and get local IPs from more regions than NordVPN. 

I tested this by connecting to its Canadian server to bypass Amazon Prime video geo-restrictions and watch Canada-only content like Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, Zeroes and Ones, and A Hero.

I also tested ExpressVPN for speed, averaging 6Mbps to buttress its lag-free promise when streaming your favorite shows or kicking ass in online games.

Furthermore, ExpressVPN uses the industry-standard AES-256-bit encryption, a “Network Lock kill switch feature, private DNS servers, and a Threat Manager to protect your online traffic data from prying eyes.

This VPN service provider also offers multiple device compatibility with native apps/setups for Windows, macOS, Chromebook, and Linux laptops.

However, it only allows five simultaneous connections, significantly less than Surfshark’s unlimited connections. Still, it’s enough to enjoy the VPN service with a few friends at the same time.

Also, its live chat platform is available 24/7 to help resolve your VPN issues at any time of the day.

expressvpn internet speed

Since ExpressVPN is the most expensive VPN on this list, you should explore cheaper deals here.

Pros

Cons

CyberGhost - Largest Server Network With Optimized Servers

cyberghost for gaming servers

CyberGhost offers 9000+ global servers to bypass content blocks in 90+ countries, the highest number of VPN servers on this list.

It’s also the only VPN on my list to offer servers optimized for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. NordVPN comes close with P2P servers, which can also be used for these tasks, but it doesn’t get as detailed as CyberGhost.

On speed, CyberGhost comes close to ExpressVPN with an average speed of 6Mbps. However, note that CyberGhost doesn’t offer obfuscation. 

Whereas, ExpressVPN has automatic obfuscation enabled and still manages those speeds.

CyberGhost has answers to online security concerns with its dependable AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, and automatic Wi-Fi protection.

It also has a dedicated IP feature, like NordVPN and PrivateVPN, and NoSpy Servers. The NoSpy servers ensure added security by making your online activity and device untraceable.

This VPN client is also compatible with multiple devices, including your Linux, Windows, and macOS laptops. On top of that, you get seven simultaneous connections to enjoy its offering on multiple laptops at once.

However, getting a hold of its live chat agents is usually a hassle.

Instead, you can reach CyberGhost’s customer support via email.

cyberghost internet speed

Above all, CyberGhost is the second most affordable VPN on this list. 

Grab these fantastic discounts today and enjoy a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Pros

Cons

PrivateVPN - Most Affordable With Solid Privacy Features

access content on infosys over privatevpn

PrivateVPN comes in fifth place with only 200+ global servers in 63 countries. However, that doesn’t make it inadequate for your laptop, as I didn’t encounter any server overcrowding issues during my tests.

I quickly found a fast server to unblock Australian content without hassle, averaging 6Mbps on my 10Mbps connection. While it isn’t as fast as NordVPN, a sub-40% speed drop is sufficient to enjoy the internet without lag.

What’s more, PrivateVPN also has reliable security features consisting of its IKEv2 and IPSec protocols, AES 256-bit encryption, zero data logging, and a Stealth VPN mode to hide your VPN traffic. Thus, ensuring you’re less likely to fall prey to cyberattacks.

Fortunately, PrivateVPN supports Windows, Linux, and macOS devices. 

It also allows ten simultaneous connections, more than ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and NordVPN but less than Surfshark’s unlimited connections.

And if you ever run into any issues with this provider, you can contact PrivateVPN through its live chat or via email, depending on your preference.

privatevpn internet speed

Ultimately, PrivateVPN is the most affordable VPN on this list, with a 30-day refund policy to test it risk-free.

Pros

Cons

How to Set up a VPN for Your Laptop?

Now that you have a rundown of the best VPNs for your laptop, here’s how to set one up. I’ll use the top recommendation (NordVPN) for this guide:

  1. Subscribe to NordVPN and install its app on your laptop.
nordvpn app home
  1. Launch the app and log in with your NordVPN account credentials.
  2. Go to Settings and toggle on “Internet Kill Switch.”
nordvpn kill switch enabled
  1. Go to Settings > Connection > VPN Protocol and choose your preferred NordVPN protocol. I recommend NordLynx.
nordvpn protocols
  1. Return to the VPN homepage and click “Quick Connect” to connect to the fastest VPN server. You can also search for any server location of your choice.
nordvpn servers
  1. Enjoy network protection, content unblocking, secure downloads, and lag-free gaming on your laptop.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes, a VPN slows your laptop because of the encryption protocols it uses to reroute your internet traffic. However, you won’t notice this speed drop with good VPNs like NordVPN since they’re optimized for better speed.

The best free VPN for your laptop is Proton VPN, offering multiple free servers in the UK, Netherlands, and Japan.

However, the VPN service is limited as there’s no torrenting, streaming, or unblocking support. You’ll also be limited to a single device connection and fewer servers than the premium version.

Final Thoughts

You can now decide which VPNs to protect your laptop.

NordVPN remains my top choice, thanks to its vast server network, first-rate security features, and ultra-fast connection speed.

It’s already reasonably priced, but you can still grab these discounts and enjoy lower prices.

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