3 Best VPNs for Laptops — Tested and Working In 2024

Many people these days use their laptops or mobile devices with public internet hotspots and assume that the connection is as safe as their internet at home.

When you’re sitting in a coffee shop or hotel room and casually logging in to the free wi-fi, how can you be sure that the wi-fi provider has ensured the connection is secure though?

The truth is, you can’t. Even if they say it’s secure, there’s still a huge chance you’re exposing yourself to hackers, who can not only potentially see what you’re doing online but can also steal your data and gain access to your most important accounts and details.

Thankfully, there is a way you can safely use your laptop on public wi-fi anywhere. All you need is a good VPN.

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

Why You Need a VPN for Your Laptop

By using your personal or business laptop on public or unsecured wi-fi, you’re leaving yourself open to snooping or data theft. So many people don’t even realize they are in danger of this, which makes it even more alluring to the criminals doing it.

If you’re not protecting your laptop with a VPN, you are an easy target for cybercriminals, and you run the risk of falling victim to cyber-attacks.

Laptops are particularly vulnerable because they are still often used in public, and people also tend to store very personal data on them, such as financial details, scanned documents, and similar.

Even with secure wi-fi connections, you can still find yourself a target of hackers. There have been incidents where wi-fi signals have been replicated by criminals hoping you’ll connect to their fake signal, rather than the one you’re expecting to connect to.

So, next time you see a sign such as ‘free hotel wi-fi’ you might want to check with whoever’s providing the signal before connecting to it.

Using a VPN with your laptop is definitely the easiest way of preventing this and other potential security breaches.

That’s Not All a VPN Can Do

A VPN works by making your activity on the internet invisible to anyone who attempts to see it.

While you’re using a VPN, your connection is routed to a server located in a different location and all the data you transfer is encrypted.

The added benefit of this system is that you’ll be able to circumvent censorship rules, access streaming services not available in your location (such as Netflix, for instance), and share files and other data without the risk of it being hijacked by cybercriminals.

Many of the top VPN providers offer adware and malware blocking software as part of their services too, so as long as you’ve got an antivirus program installed on your laptop, you’re making the security of your connection almost impenetrable.

Best VPNs for Laptop

To determine which VPN is the absolute best choice for use with either Windows, Linux, or Mac laptops, we rated them based on the criteria below:

• Easy-to-use system
• Compatibility with all or most laptop operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome)
• Robust security features
• Fast server connection
• DNS leakage prevention
• P2P torrent sharing ability
• Ability to access content from any country
• No-logs policy
• Kill switch (cuts all connections if VPN stops working)
• Great customer service

1. ExpressVPN

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Tested November 2024

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome Router Smart TV More

Try ExpressVPN >

www.expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPN providers available. This, combined with its reliable servers, strong security features, and excellent 24/7 technical assistance has made it popular with users.

While ExpressVPN’s higher price point means it’s not our overall favorite, we can’t deny that it is a premium service and worth the money.

ExpressVPN boasts 3,000 servers in over 160 locations.

Its TrustedServer technology, military-grade AES-256 bit encryption, DNS leak protection, and OpenVPN support will keep your data safe while you’re online, while a no-logs policy will protect it when you’re not.

ExpressVPN can be used on up to 8 devices simultaneously and can be installed on all the primary laptop operating systems.

2. CyberGhost

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome Router Smart TV More

Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost has gained a fan following due to the overall quality of its features and a great price to match.

With 11,690 servers, in 100 countries, good speeds, and robust security features, CyberGhost is a good choice.

CyberGhost has 256-bit AES encryption, OpenVPN, DNS and IP leak protection, an auto kill switch, and malware and ad-blocking software included. It also has a no-logs policy.

You’re able to connect up to 7 devices at once with CyberGhost, and it can be installed on all the primary laptop operating systems.

3. PrivateVPN

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Router Smart TV More

Try PrivateVPN >

www.privatevpn.com

PrivateVPN is a small VPN provider but its determination to provide excellent service has gained it a top spot and boosted its popularity.

Despite only having 200 servers in 63 locations, its servers are self-owned and super-fast, which is perfect for use with laptops.

PrivateVPN offers military-grade AES-256 encryption, IPv6, DNS leak protection, support for multiple protocols, and a Stealth mode. It also has a no-logs policy and a kill switch.

You can connect up to 10 devices at once with PrivateVPN and it can be installed on all the primary laptop operating systems, except for Chrome.

Summary

If you frequently utilize your laptop in public spaces or connect to free Wi-Fi networks, it is unquestionably a risk to your data security. Even if you believe you are connecting to a secure network, there is a possibility of unknowingly connecting to a fraudulent Wi-Fi signal established by malicious individuals.

The most effective method of protecting yourself when using public internet hotspots is by using a VPN, which will stop your data from being visible to anybody trying to see it. We highly recommend ExpressVPN as the best VPN for your laptop.

Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

Further Reading

If you want to browse more VPN choices, then have a look at our top ten!

If you have multiple devices you’d like to connect, read Best VPNs for Multiple Devices & Connections.