Windows 7 may not be the latest operating system from Microsoft but it’s by far the most popular. The operating system still accounts for more than 50% of desktop installs. That’s compared to 18% for Windows 8 and 13% for Windows XP. It’s no surprise that most VPN services support Windows 7 but the quality of service and custom client software helps a few stand out in the crowd. Let’s take a look at some of the best VPN services.
| Rank | VPN Service | Our Score | Server Locations | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 9.8 | 160 |  |
| 2 |  | 9.4 | 87 | |
| 3 |  | 9.2 | 95 | |
| 4 |  | 9.0 | 110 | |
| 5 |  | 8.8 | 73 | |
You can set up Windows 7 to manually connect to VPN services once you sign up. That’s how most services worked a few years ago. There are still several providers that have set up guides for manual configuration of PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN connections. Luckily there’s no need to hassle with that anymore. Several of the large, well-known VPNs offer custom VPN clients for Windows and Mac. Along with mobile apps for Android and iOS.
There are hundreds of VPN providers that support Windows but far fewer that offer custom clients with advanced features to help ensure your online privacy. Having a nice VPN client for Windows 7 is a great start but the service also needs to be fast and reliable. That’s the criteria I used when considering providers.
The list of VPN services below includes the best of the best. The providers have been around for years and each has a reputation for providing fast reliable VPN access. There are plenty of options to choose from so narrowing the list down to the top 3 was no easy task. I spent time with each provider’s Windows client. Having used them over the years helped.
I looked for providers that offer custom VPN clients for Windows. The software has to be easy to use and offers high levels of encryption. You need to be able to connect to any server location with the click of a button. Advanced features like auto-reconnect, VPN kill switch and load balancing for better performance were also a consideration.
1. Best VPN for Windows 7: ExpressVPN
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A good reason to use ExpressVPN has to do with censorship. Whether you live in a restrictive country or plan to visit one, it is not hard to run into governmental restrictions. From political speech to social media to other types of banned content, ExpressVPN does a great job of protecting your privacy while you navigate the web. Since the company offers so many different server locations, you won’t have to worry about speed losses because you are trying to connect to a server outside your current region.
ExpressVPN is the #1 rated VPN on our site. We have had the opportunity to compare hundreds of VPN services over the years and ExpressvPN is our favorite. Whether you want to protect your privacy on WiFi networks or unblock streaming services in other countries, ExpressVPN is a good choice. Best of all, you can sign up for 12 months of unlimited VPN access and get 3 months free during our current promotion. The ExpressVPN 30-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of time to test the service.
2. Best VPN for Windows 7: NordVPN
If you have watched the news and are a gamer, you may already know what kind of an effect a DDoS (Distributive Denial of Service) attack can have on you. Those types of attacks can spell trouble, no matter what game you are playing. The way to avoid them is to connect to a VPN server with NordVPN. Since they can lock you out of your game based on your current IP address, changing it will stop that from happening. Then, you should be able to play like normal.
3. Best VPN for Windows 7: PIA
If you are looking to protect your entire family with a VPN, you can’t go wrong with Private Internet Access. Unlike some of its competitors, it offers its users the ability to connect on an unlimited number of devices. That is excellent news for families that want to protect everything. If that sounds like a high number, just remember that the figure takes into account all of the mobile devices, laptops, and possibly routers no matter where they are. As you can see, Private Internet Access has you covered.
4. Best VPN for Windows 7: CyberGhost
For everyone that lives in larger cities and has cut the cord, watching your favorite team sports online can cause a problem unless you connect to a VPN server via CyberGhost. If your favorite team is in the city you live in, licensing rights may stop you from seeing it online. The trick is to connect to a VPN server in another region. By doing so, the blocking software will let you view your favorite sports online no matter what city you visit or call home.
5. Best VPN for Windows 7: IPVanish
One of the big things that streaming viewers still want to watch live is sports. If you are a sports fan, you know that some sports have an international following. Unfortunately, you may not be able to watch unless you connect to a VPN from IPvanish. Often, that is because of the licensing rights of some media companies. If you are a country that does not offer coverage, you would generally miss out. Instead, just connect to a server in the home country, log in with your credentials to the streaming service, and enjoy.
