The shortlist
Ten connections may be enough for you; a busy household should count its devices first.
Read the review
Advanced settings are useful only if you understand which traffic you are routing outside the VPN.
Read the review
Unlimited connections describe the account allowance, not unlimited speed or permission to resell access.
Read the reviewChoose for your Windows workflow
The right VPN for a PC depends on what you need to route through it. Browsing on public Wi-Fi, keeping a game connected, reaching a local printer, and sharing large legal files create different requirements. A long feature list is useful only when those controls solve your problem.
Our research shortlist is NordVPN for a general mixed-device account, Private Internet Access for readers who want configurable connection controls, and Surfshark for many personal devices. We have not run Windows performance or leak tests for this comparison.
The controls worth comparing
Scroll the table to see every column.
| Control | Why it matters | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Connection protection | Can prevent traffic from continuing outside a failed tunnel | What happens on startup, reconnect, and an intentional disconnect |
| Split tunneling | Lets selected apps use a different route | Whether the rule includes or excludes the chosen app |
| Local-network access | Keeps printers, storage, and casting available | The exact LAN-access setting and network trust |
| Protocol selection | Gives you another connection method when one fails | Support in your installed Windows version |
| Automatic startup | Reduces forgotten manual connections | Whether the tunnel is active before you start sensitive work |
PIA documents split tunneling, WireGuard, P2P support, and unlimited simultaneous connections. Those are reasons to investigate it if you want more control, not proof that it will be faster on your ISP. Read the PIA review before changing advanced settings.
NordVPN’s ten-device allowance is a concrete budget for a PC plus phones and TVs. Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections may suit a household with several computers. Compare their provider reviews for the caveats behind those headline facts.
A VPN is different from remote access
A consumer VPN subscription does not automatically give you access to an office network, your home NAS from another city, or a private game server. Those tasks may need a company-managed VPN, a separately configured private network, or a specific remote-access product.
Describe the job before buying: “protect the traffic from this PC on café Wi-Fi” is different from “reach a file server at work.” Ask your employer’s IT team about the second task.
Test the apps you depend on
Before choosing a multi-year term, connect on the PC where you will use it. Open your browser, messaging client, cloud sync, video calls, and any software that handles licensing online. Test a sleep-and-resume cycle and a network interruption.
If an application fails, keep a record of the error and check the provider’s current support advice. Changing split-tunneling rules can restore compatibility while also sending that application’s traffic outside the tunnel. Make that an intentional decision.
Check total cost and renewal
Divide the actual initial payment by the months included. Then compare the renewal payment separately. A headline “per month” price often describes a prepaid term rather than a monthly cancellation arrangement. Keep a copy of the checkout terms and the cancellation method.
For a lower-commitment comparison, read cheap VPNs. If you only need occasional browsing, a free plan may answer your needs without a purchase.
Sources you can check
- NordVPN device and app features
- Surfshark feature documentation
- ExpressVPN connection limits
- PIA feature documentation
Sources reviewed for this page on . A provider’s documentation describes its published offering; it is not our original performance test.