Windows is probably the most popular desktop platform for all purposes. With its feature-rich environment, with Windows you can enjoy streaming media, games, seed downloads and web browsing smoothly.
However, the main problem with this system is its security – or lack thereof. This means that no matter what you do online, you face the constant risk of government surveillance, geographic restrictions, and hacking attacks that could put your personal data in question.
That’s why people are looking for the best free VPN for Windows in 2022. to protect their connections, enjoy secure seed downloads, and effectively bypass geo-restrictions. But is a free Windows VPN as good as a paid one?
Well, of course not, although there are some good free VPNs on the market. today, our task is to talk about them, show them to you, and provide you with some free VPNs for Windows.
If you have your heart set on getting a secure and reliable VPN for Windows, I suggest you stay – there are a lot of good options here!
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is quite possibly the best free VPN you can find. ProtonVPN’s free VPN plan offers unlimited bandwidth and a simple Windows application. No other free VPN service we’ve tested can operate without data limitations while still offering such a high level of security.
Best of all, Proton even offers a free security and privacy package that comes with its own anonymous email service, calendar and cloud storage, and VPN. want a free all-in-one solution? Then you’ll want Proton!
In terms of security, ProtonVPN offers a number of effective and reliable features. The free VPN includes AES 256-bit encryption, IKEv2/IPSec and OpenVPN protocols, an ad blocker, no logging policy and Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS).
So, if ProtonVPN is the best free VPN for Windows, then why should you bother with the rest of the list? Well, like all free services, there are still drawbacks. One of them is that the free version of ProtonVPN offers only three server locations (US, Japan and Netherlands). Another drawback is getting customer support. Without a live chat option, users will have to rely on the ticketing system for any queries.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost’s Windows application has an impressive network of 9,273 servers in 91 countries/regions. You will have access to this large network through its money-back guarantee. It has no restrictions except for the time you have to use it. I have tested its servers in Los Angeles, Miami and New York and have been accessing my US Netflix and Hulu accounts. I can effortlessly find reliable servers to browse, stream or download seeds as it will flag each server based on what you want to do.
His streaming (and regular) servers unlock a lot of content, and thanks to their fast speeds and unlimited data, you won’t experience any delays while watching shows. When I watched Peaky Blinders on Netflix, my average download speed was 44.5 Mbps (a 35% drop from my normal connection). While these speeds are not as fast as ExpressVPN, they are still more than adequate for HD streaming on a Windows PC (you only need 5 Mbps).
VPNs are very secure, using AES 256-bit encryption, termination switches, and IP/DNS leak protection. It’s virtually impossible for anyone to intercept or track your online activity. In addition, CyberGhost offers several security protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. I recommend WireGuard because it is reliable and the fastest when tested on my Windows PC.
With CyberGhost, you can use your Windows device without worrying about your privacy. It adheres to a strict no-logging policy and is based in Romania (outside the 14-eye league). In addition, its own NoSpy server is located at CyberGhost’s headquarters and can only be accessed by CyberGhost employees. This adds another layer of security, as it eliminates any possible man-in-the-middle interference.
It has its own Windows ad/tracker/malware blocker to further protect your privacy. The blocker will prevent advertisers from collecting your data and targeting you with specific ads. Its split tunneling feature also allows you to choose which apps you want to use for VPN connections as well as the apps that bypass it.
I found CyberGhost’s application to be one of the easiest VPNs to install and run on Windows. It doesn’t require any configuration and I can download and set it up in less than 4 minutes. The CyberGhost app is available for Windows 7 and higher.
Like ExpressVPN, this VPN is not 100% free, but you can try CyberGhost risk-free with its generous 45-day money-back guarantee. This gives you unlimited access to all of CyberGhost’s advanced features. I tested its refund policy to make sure it’s trustworthy. After 43 days of using CyberGhost, I contacted its 24/7 live chat and asked for a refund. The chat agent approved my request after a quick chat and refunded my money within 4 days.
Windscribe
If you want more extras and fewer restrictions than other free services, then Windscribe is a valuable option, with one big exception. That is, you only get 10GB of data per month. That’s not enough for many video streams, but it’s great for everything else.
As a trade-off, there’s no device limit and you get 10 location options, which is more than most free services. The Windscribe app is also very simple
Windscribe requires you to sign up with an email address.
HotSpot Shield
HotSpot VPN is widely used for Android, iOS and Windows app users. It allows users to freely access blocked content to get a broader view of the Internet. It provides complete security and privacy.
It essentially creates a wall around the user to protect data and identity. It primarily enhances security and hides IP addresses from malicious threats. It is feature-rich and provides a one-stop shop for users.
TunnelBear
TunnelBear’s free Windows VPN includes a lot of advanced features, but you only get 500MB of free data per month. The strict data cap means you can only browse and check email as much as you want. However, you do get access to TunnelBear’s full range of servers, military-grade encryption, leak protection, termination switches and an obfuscation feature called GhostBear (which makes VPN connections appear to be standard Internet traffic).
I ran several speed tests and TunnelBear was fast. I only saw an average reduction of 21% (from my base speed of 115Mbps to 90Mbps), which is great for a free VPN service. TunnelBear doesn’t limit speed, so I found I could browse online without any delays. If you have a slow Internet connection, TunnelBear has a TCP Override feature on its Windows application. This forces the application to use the OpenVPN TCP protocol, which improves the stability of your connection.
You can even use TunnelBear to watch Netflix and BBC iPlayer (although it’s hard to connect to Disney+ and Hulu). Unfortunately, 500MB of data per month is only enough for 30 minutes of SD streaming. If you want to increase your data traffic, you can tweet about TunnelBear and get an additional 1GB, but this is a one-time offer, after which you’ll get your 500MB allotment back.
To download TunnelBear for free on Windows, all you need to do is create an account with your email address. While it’s not available for streaming, seed downloads or games, it’s ideal if you need a secure way to check email and bank online.