Compare Top VPN Software For Laptops - December 2024

Why you should install a VPN on your laptop

While most users treat a laptop much the same way as they would their desktop computer, a laptop is obviously much more flexible and you can take it anywhere you want, basically. That in itself opens up a can-of-worms of potential risks your laptop may or may not be exposed to. But if you’re taking your laptop on location to connect to the internet, you better make sure you have a VPN installed and ready to secure your connection. A VPN will protect your laptop against all kinds of security risks, such as your ISP monitoring your internet behavior, or hackers getting access to your IP address or any type of personal information.

Besides offering protection and security, a VPN also helps you to unlock the internet and access online content, often streaming video content, that is normally limited to certain geographic regions. By connecting to a server in the country the streaming service caters to, you bypass any geo-blocking and can watch whatever you want.

What is VPN protection?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a security tool that provides a wide range of benefits. Surf the web without having to worry about the security of your personal information. Safe and private access to content from anywhere in the world: TV shows, social networks, sports and news channels, video/ audio streaming, dating sites, gaming sites, et cetera. A VPN encrypts your connection to the internet to prevent hackers from accessing your data.

You need to use a VPN connection to…

• … secure your Wi-Fi connection, especially on public networks.
• … browse the web anonymously, without compromising your privacy.
• … unblock all internet content. No more limitations or barriers.
• … hide your IP address from prying eyes.
• … change your virtual location to access any content from anywhere in the world.
• … browse freely without worrying about any censorship issues.

How to compare VPN services?

While researching VPN services, we identified five key criteria you should take into consideration when choosing a VPN service.

• Security: to meet current security standards, a VPN service should offer a basic set of security features, including 256-bit encryption, DNS server anonymity, and a complete absence of connection logs.
• Speed: a major concern regarding the use of VPN software is the negative impact it has on your device’s performance and speed. Generally speaking, using a VPN service will increase a device’s latency, while it decreases upload and download speed. Checking which VPN will have the least impact on your browsing experience is recommended.
• Connection stability: using a VPN provider is great until it suddenly disconnects, which is not an uncommon thing to happen. It is important to choose a VPN service that offers a stable connection with as little as possible connection problems or downtime.
• Price: buying a VPN system subscription is not expensive. For a nominal fee, you’ll receive a range of protection features to ensure your online safety. It’s essential to check which VPN service offers the best value for money.
• Platform/ device accessibility: make sure the VPN service you choose is scalable and, once installed, can be used on all or at least most of your devices and is compatible with major operating systems.