Updated on: February 13, 2026
Fact-checked by Eric Goldstein
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🥇 ExpressVPN
. While it’s not free, this is my all-around favorite VPN for Windows in 2026, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users, so you can try it risk-free for a month. It has world-class security, super-fast connection speeds, unlimited data, servers in 105 countries, and it works reliably with top streaming sites.
I don’t really like using free VPNs for Windows, even from trusted brands, because they still have drawbacks — for example, most only allow 1 device connection at a time, limit the number of server locations you can access, lack torrenting or streaming support, and usually block some features behind paywalls, such as an ad blocker. Most free VPNs are unsafe, have slow connection speeds, or simply don’t work.
This is why I always prefer a premium VPN for Windows, like ExpressVPN, which is ultra-secure, maintains lightning-fast speeds for all online activities, and provides a superior experience overall.
That said, there are some good free VPNs for Windows out there. I tested dozens of VPNs to see if I could find fast, reliable, and secure VPNs that won’t cost you a dime, and narrowed them down to this list of my top 5 free Windows VPNs in 2026. Editor’s Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best Free VPNs for Windows in 2026
Editor’s Note: Every VPN I recommend in this article follows a no-logs policy, meaning it doesn’t monitor or keep logs of your online activities. The responsibility to use a VPN in accordance with applicable laws and regulations falls to you. At SafetyDetectives, we don’t condone copyright infringement.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Windows VPN in 2026
Expert & Reader Favorite
Data limit
Servers in countries
Streaming support
P2P support
Number of devices
Money-back guarantee
Starting Price
Basic 12-Months plan: £2.93 / month
1-month plan: £9.54 / month
ExpressVPN is by far my favorite Windows VPN in 2026 — it has high-end security features, maintains the fastest speeds out there, and is the best VPN for streaming, torrenting, and gaming — this is why it’s ranked as the #1 VPN in 2026. While it’s not technically free, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is plenty of time to try it out and make sure it’s right for you.
- Best speeds on Windows
- Works with 100+ streaming sites
- Supports P2P on all servers
- Large server network
- Not 100% free
I consistently had blazing-fast connection speeds while connected to ExpressVPN. In my speed tests, gaming and torrenting speeds were close to my non-VPN speeds, and I didn’t notice any slowdown while streaming. Proton VPN has pretty fast speeds with its free plan, but it can’t match these results. 
ExpressVPN also makes it easy to stream, download files, browse, and game on any of its servers in 105 countries. It can access 100+ streaming services, including multiple Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ international libraries, as well as Hulu, Max, and BBC iPlayer — Proton VPN’s free plan only works with popular streaming sites about 50% of the time, and hide.me works with a couple of streaming services even less than half the time.
The VPN’s Windows app is so easy to use. To help you find the best server, it conveniently sorts them by Recommended, Region, or Favorites, which lets you set up 1-click connections — there are also auto-connect and launch settings. The Shortcuts feature provides a quick link to your most-used sites and apps, so you can get to them with a single click after connecting to a server. It also has an effective ad blocker, an intuitive split-tunneling tool, and a free password manager (via the browser extension).
I particularly like that ExpressVPN focuses so much on security and privacy. It has an audited no-logs policy (Hotspot Shield has a no-logs policy, but it logs your IP address on the free plan), and full leak protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Windows in 2026 — it has consistently fast connection speeds, an extensive server network, and excellent streaming, torrenting, and gaming capabilities. You also get airtight security with useful extras like an ad blocker, split-tunneling, and a password manager with the Windows app.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Proton VPN — Great Free Windows VPN With Unlimited Data
Data limit
Servers in countries
Streaming support
P2P support
Number of devices
Money-back guarantee
Starting Price
12-month plan: £2.93 / month
1-month plan: £7.34 / month
Proton VPN provides unlimited data and the fastest speeds for a free plan — most other VPNs limit your speeds on their free plans. I didn’t experience any buffering while streaming HD content on YouTube when connected to Proton VPN’s free servers, and I had fast browsing speeds. However, games were laggier and downloads were slower than with ExpressVPN.
- Allows unlimited data
- Works with routers
- Open-source Windows app
- Good gaming speeds
- No P2P support
- Proton VPN picks your server
Proton VPN’s free Windows app has a Quick Connect feature that automatically chooses the best free server for you — it will automatically cycle through them if one doesn’t connect. While the free plan only supports 1 connection, it supports setups on routers, so you can connect all of the Windows computers in your home.
The free plan doesn’t support streaming or torrenting, but it can sometimes access some Netflix and Amazon Prime libraries and Hulu, though it can’t access Disney+. For streaming, I recommend ExpressVPN instead.
Proton VPN has very strong privacy and security features. All of its apps are open-source, which means anyone can inspect their source code, and I really like that each app passed an external audit.
However, Proton’s free plan only gives you access to servers in 5 countries (the US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland) and automatically connects you to the fastest one — you can’t manually choose your server location.
Proton VPN’s paid version gives you access to all servers, streaming and P2P support, an ad blocker, and more.
Bottom Line:
Proton VPN’s free plan comes with good speeds for browsing, unlimited data, and great security and privacy features. It also has router support, so you can bypass the 1 device connection. However, the free plan doesn’t support streaming (although some apps work) or torrenting, and it has limited server access. That said, the paid plans come with tons of extra features, including streaming and torrenting support.
Read the full Proton VPN review
🥉3. hide.me — Great Free Windows VPN With Plenty of Server Locations
Data limit
Servers in countries
Streaming support
P2P support
Number of devices
Money-back guarantee
Starting Price
12-month plan: £3.36 / month
1-month plan: £7.31 / month
hide.me is a good Windows VPN that includes 8 free server locations (including Germany, Canada, Netherlands, US East, and US West) and unlimited ad-free data, but it only allows you to connect 1 device at a time.
- Allows unlimited data
- Customizable kill switch
- Lock App feature
- Split-tunneling is included
- Limits speeds
- No streaming support
In my speed tests, hide.me provided me with really good speeds (although still slower than with ExpressVPN) — hide.me states on its website that it doesn’t restrict the speeds for premium users (this leads me to believe the VPN curtails the speeds for free users). That being said, browsing speeds were pretty good, and I only noticed minor lag when streaming HD content on YouTube using Chrome (I didn’t experience this with Proton VPN).
hide.me’s free plan doesn’t include streaming support (hide.me has 15+ streaming servers), but it accesses Netflix and Amazon Prime very sporadically. Still, it doesn’t work with Disney+, Hulu, Max, and many others. It doesn’t allow torrenting or router setup either (unlike ExpressVPN and Proton VPN).
hide.me includes several great Windows features on the free plan, including StealthGuard (a customizable kill switch), split-tunneling, and auto-connect options. There’s also a cool “Lock App” feature on Windows that lets you set a pin code that’s required to access the app so that unauthorized users can’t access it.
hide.me’s paid plans allow 10 simultaneous device connections and include access to its full network of servers across 58 countries.
Bottom Line:
hide.me’s free plan has 8 server locations and unlimited data without any ads. However, it allows just 1 connection, it may work with a few streaming services, and there’s no P2P support or router support. The premium plans unlock access to 58 countries, full streaming support, and 10 connections.
4. Hotspot Shield — Good Free VPN for Browsing the Web
Data limit
Servers in countries
Streaming support
P2P support
Number of devices
Money-back guarantee
Starting Price
1-month plan: £7.34 / month
Hotspot Shield’s free plan is a great pick for secure web browsing. It has automatic launch settings and a public Wi-Fi Auto-protect feature, so you never go online unprotected. It also allows unlimited data, so you’ll never run out of protected browsing time.
- Unlimited data
- Wi-Fi Auto-protect feature
- Proprietary (fast) Hydra protocol
- Servers in 3 countries
- No streaming & torrenting
In terms of speeds, Hotspot Shield performs really well for a free VPN — in my tests, it only took 2–3 seconds for websites to load and I didn’t experience any buffering when watching videos in standard definition, which is great. That said, I had much better speeds when I used ExpressVPN and Proton VPN, since Hotspot Shield limits your speeds to 2 Mbps.
Unfortunately, the free version lacks streaming support, and it only allows you to connect 1 device and use servers in the US, the UK, and Singapore. It also doesn’t have P2P support on its free servers.
That said, I really enjoyed using Hotspot Shield’s mobile and desktop apps. They’re user-friendly with an interface that’s simple to navigate — downloading them onto my devices took only 2 minutes, and it’s easy to identify the free servers you have access to. It also comes with split-tunneling.
Hotspot Shield’s premium plans provide you with unrestricted speeds and access to servers in 80 countries.
Bottom Line:
Hotspot Shield is a decent free VPN for browsing the internet securely with plenty of automatic security features. It provides unlimited data and fast speeds, too. However, it limits you to servers in 3 countries, doesn’t offer streaming or torrenting support, and you can only connect 1 device at a time. Upgrading to a paid plan gets you streaming support and access to more servers.
Read the full Hotspot Shield review
5. Windscribe — Large Free Server Network & Flexible Ad Blocker
Data limit
Servers in countries
Streaming support
P2P support
Number of devices
Money-back guarantee
Starting Price
1-month plan: £6.61 / month
Build A Plan: £2.20 / month
Windscribe has a good free server network with more than 10 countries available to choose from, which is more than most free VPNs. This lets you get faster speeds by connecting a server closer to your location.
- 10 server locations (including US)
- Customizable ad blocker
- Streaming & P2P support
- Limited data (up to 10 GB)
- No router support
It also has a customizable ad blocker on the free plan called R.O.B.E.R.T., which has lots of toggles for selecting what type of sites and dangers it blocks — malware, ads and trackers, social sites, adult sites, gambling sites, cryptocurrency sites, clickbait, and more. This is great, as most free VPN plans limit your access to features like ad blockers.
The free plan also supports streaming and torrenting, which is rare. However, you only get 2–10 GB of data per month (depending on whether you verify your email or not), so you’ll quickly use up your data allowance. That’s why I prefer Proton VPN’s unlimited data.
The free plan also supports split-tunneling (apps and sites), has a kill switch, allows unlimited connections, and provides access to several advanced protocols, including Stealth (an obfuscated protocol) and Wireguard.
Windscribe’s paid plans provide access to all servers in 69 countries.
Bottom Line:
Windscribe has a feature-rich free plan for Windows users. It comes with a customizable ad blocker, servers in 10+ countries, streaming and torrenting support, extras like split-tunneling, and fast and secure protocols.
Read the full Windscribe review
Bonus. Avira Phantom VPN — Minimalistic Free VPN for Securely Going Online
Avira Phantom VPN is a basic free option for Windows users who need online privacy and security. It offers built-in DNS leak protection and a strict no-logs policy, ensuring all of your online activities remain private. Plus, it has a malicious site and content blocker that’s available in the free plan for extra security.
- Good streaming support
- Malicious site & ad blocker
- Built-in DNS leak protection
- Limited data (up to 1 GB)
- 1 server location only
Avira provides 500 MB of free data per month, which can be doubled to 1 GB by registering an account. This is decent if you need to protect your online activities on Windows when occasionally visiting certain websites. But if you need more secure time online, Proton VPN offers unlimited data.
The free version only allows connection to 1 server location, which the VPN automatically selects for optimal speed. In my speed tests on my Windows 11, I never experienced any slowdowns on the free plan or lag when streaming HD content. If you prefer picking a specific server location, check out hide.me.
The VPN can access several Netflix libraries and streaming sites like Crunchyroll, and it has the speeds to allow for a good streaming experience on Windows — though, it’s no match for ExpressVPN’s superb streaming support. It also allows torrenting on all servers, so you can share P2P traffic on your Windows device.
Avira Phantom VPN’s paid plan add access to all servers in 37 countries and more importantly, the kill switch feature on Windows.
Bottom Line:
Avira Phantom VPN is a good free option for Windows users seeking basic privacy and security, with built-in DNS leak protection and a malicious site blocker. The free plan offers 500 MB of data monthly (1 GB with registration) and automatic server selection. It supports Netflix, Crunchyroll, and torrenting, but it lacks a kill switch.
Read the full Avira Phantom VPN review
Quick Comparison Table
Editor’s Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
To find the best free VPNs for Windows, I followed our standard testing methodology. I tested them against real-world scenarios to check ease of use, speeds, security, and overall value, among others. Here are the criteria I focused on:
- I looked for VPNs with top-notch security on the free plan. I’d suggest a free VPN that uses 256-bit AES encryption, includes a kill switch, and has a no-logs policy — at the very least.
- I tested for fast speeds. All VPNs slow down your connection speeds due to the encryption process, but good VPNs minimize the speed loss. Free VPNs are also usually slower than premium VPNs due to having fewer servers, which causes overcrowding, or due to the VPN throttling your speeds. That said, all of the free VPNs on this list maintain fast speeds, but ExpressVPN had the fastest speeds in my tests on distant and nearby servers (Proton VPN had the fastest speeds out of the free VPNs).
- I considered extra features. Some free VPNs have bonus features like split-tunneling, built-in speed tests, or ad and malware blockers. All of the free VPNs I recommend offer at least some of these extra features.
- I checked that each VPN is easy to use. Some free Windows apps are a pain to install or have poor user interface design. The best VPNs, including all of those on this list, will get you up and running quickly and make it easy to connect to a server.
- I chose VPNs with affordable paid plans. I only recommend VPN providers that offer a good value with their paid plans in case you want to upgrade to a paid version.
Risks of Using a Free VPN on Your Windows PC
- Poor security. Free VPNs are often unsafe as they lack important security features, such as 256-bit encryption and a kill switch. And if they don’t have a clear no-logs policy, they might even track your data and sell it to third parties.
- Servers on blacklists. Many free VPNs tend to reuse IP addresses, making it incredibly simple for numerous websites to identify, block, or blacklist them. As a result, while browsing, you’re likely to encounter numerous security alerts and CAPTCHA prompts, which can be annoying.
- Selling your data. Because free VPNs have to make money somehow, they may track your activity (like shopping and browsing habits) and sell your data to third parties. Premium VPNs like ExpressVPN are very strict in their policies to never track or sell user data.
Free vs. Paid VPNs for Windows
The free VPNs on this list come with important security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy. Some even go the extra mile by offering advanced security features like leak protection, RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full-disk encryption.
However, these free VPNs generally offer limited features compared to their premium counterparts. Common limitations include fewer servers to choose from, restrictions on data usage, and a limited number of simultaneous connections (generally just 1). Moreover, these free VPNs often have speed limitations and don’t typically support activities like streaming and P2P file sharing.
For instance, hide.me’s free version offers unlimited bandwidth and servers in 5+ countries, but it restricts your connection speed, there’s no streaming or P2P support, and it only allows 1 connection at a time. Proton VPN’s free plan gives you unlimited data and strong security features along with good speeds, but it doesn’t support streaming or P2P activities, and it limits you to servers in only 5 countries and 1 simultaneous connection. Hotspot Shield’s free plan has unlimited data but doesn’t have streaming or torrenting support and also limits you to 1 connection.
On the other hand, opting for a premium VPN service provides access to tons of features and better overall performance. You’ll benefit from unlimited data, access to a broad server network, the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously, and much faster speeds. Other features like split-tunneling and ad-blocking are also common perks. Furthermore, most paid VPNs come with competitive pricing options and usually include a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the service without any financial commitment or risk.
Free VPNs for Windows to Avoid
- Hola VPN. Hola VPN is dangerous because it’s a P2P VPN. This means it assigns your IP address to another user, and you get someone else’s IP. If someone uses it for illegal activities, you could face trouble. It also has a really poor history with privacy and security.
- Phone Guardian. Phone Guardian is relatively safe, but it isn’t all that useful. While it encrypts your data, it doesn’t change your IP address and lacks a kill switch, which potentially puts your privacy and data at risk.
- TouchVPN. TouchVPN has an extremely large server network for a free service (5,500+ servers in 80+ countries), but it logs your activity (like what sites you visit) and collects your IP address, which is really shady.
- FinchVPN. FinchVPN doesn’t share any information on its website about the VPN and doesn’t even have a privacy policy.
- AceVPN. This VPN has some redeeming qualities (like DNS leak protection) but doesn’t have a kill switch, only has 20 server locations, and doesn’t offer any native apps for devices (you have to manually configure the VPN).
- Hoxx VPN. Hoxx VPN logs a ton of your data, including your device type, location, and online activities, and may even keep it after you cancel your account, which is concerning.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Privado VPN. Privado VPN has a pretty good free plan with 13 free server locations, streaming support, and unlimited device connections, but though there’s no data cap, it limits you to 10 GB of data with uncapped speeds (anything over that, and they limit your speeds). So, you can’t browse and stream on Windows with top speeds for very long.
- Bitdefender VPN. Bitdefender VPN is pretty solid in terms of security, speeds, and features for Windows, but it limits you to 200 MB per day, which isn’t enough for more than very limited basic browsing.
- TunnelBear. TunnelBear is a cute and user-friendly VPN. Its free plan allows unlimited device connections, and it lets free users access all of its 47 server locations. That said, its free plan has a pretty restrictive data limit of 2 GB per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best free VPN for Windows?
The best VPN for Windows is ExpressVPN — but it’s not 100% free. All free VPNs come with limitations and drawbacks, such as daily or monthly data limits, slower speeds, limited server networks, and more, so premium Windows VPNs are the only way to get the very best VPN features and user experience.
The best 100% free VPN for Windows is Proton VPN. It comes with unlimited data, decent speeds, free servers in 5 countries, and excellent security and privacy features.
Is there a Windows VPN that is completely free?
There are many VPNs for Windows that are completely free, like the ones on this list. However, all free VPNs come at a cost of some kind, whether that’s limited data, fewer servers, no streaming or torrenting support, throttled speeds, weaker security, or ads.
How do I set up a free VPN on Windows 10?
Installing and setting up a free VPN in Windows 10 is easy, just follow these 3 quick steps:
- Step 1. Download a VPN. Pick a premium VPN like ExpressVPN, which is easy to install on Windows without any extra setup or configuration on your part.
- Step 2. Connect to a server. The servers closest to your real location generally provide better speeds.
- Step 3. Browse, stream, and game. Now you can safely enjoy your normal activities online.
Does Windows have a built-in VPN?
You can manually configure a VPN in your Windows settings, but I don’t recommend it. Not only does it require advanced technical knowledge, but unless you operate your own private VPN servers with strong security, you’ll also get a slow and unsafe connection.
But there are many quality VPNs for Windows that are easy to set up and use and are a very good value. Using a proven, premium VPN like ExpressVPN will automatically configure Windows’ network settings for you, giving you the fastest connections and best security while connected to its servers.
Does Microsoft offer a VPN?
Yes, both Microsoft 10 and 11 come with a built-in VPN, but I’m not a fan of it — it requires specific versions of Windows and technical know-how to set up properly.
Instead, I recommend checking out the VPNs on my list, all of which have native apps for the latest versions of Windows. They also can be installed quickly and easily, and using them is really simple.
