In 2015, the tenth version of the most prolific desktop operating system worldwide (Windows 10) rolled out. However, Microsoft finally announced Windows 11 on June 24th, 2021. As you would expect, the new version has quite a bit of a different feel to it. You’ll notice these changes immediately, and the Operating system does some new things. That said, you can still change the placement of things to provide you with a more familiar feel. If you plan on using Windows 11, we suggest you connect to a VPN. We’ll talk more about the changes and discuss why VPN usage is important shortly. First, though, we ask that you look at our list of the best VPNs for Windows 11.
| Rank | VPN Service | Price | Visit | Server Locations | No Logs | Kill Switch | Smart DNS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | $4.99 |  | 160 |  | | |
| 2 |  | $2.99 | | 81 | | | |
| 3 |  | $2.03 | | 145 | | | |
| 4 |  | $2.03 | | 117 | | | |
| 5 |  | $2.19 | | 75 | | |
Now, we’ll go over some of the biggest changes you can expect in Windows 11, at least so far. This is not a full list, and keep in mind that these options may be subject to change. That’s because MS has not released the operating system yet.
- Start Menu Options – By default, the start menu pops up in the center of the screen. It shows live tiles for your pinned apps as well as recommended apps and files. If you choose the “All Apps” option, you’ll get to see more icons. That said, you can adjust the positioning of the start menu to give it more of a Windows 10 feel.
- Taskbar – Much like Chrome OS and macOS, Windows puts your taskbar icons in the center of the taskbar. Just as above, you can change the positioning of the icons as well.
- Search popups – Instead of a type-in box at the bottom, you click the magnifying glass and type in what you are looking for in the search box.
- Snap Assist Menu – One of the cool features of Windows 10 was the ability to take different programs or media and put them side by side or in the corners. However, Microsoft did not make that intuitive. When you hover over the minimize/maximize button, Win 11 gives you the choice of snapping your windows to the left, right, or corners.
- Rounded Corners – While Windows has done this before, they seem to be going back to rounded corners. Windows Vista and Windows 7 both used them, so you may see them again.
Even though Microsoft was supposed to be revamping everything completely, Windows 11 does not seem to be dramatically different yet. If this is the final redesign and you discount the windows pop-up, Windows 11 has a macOS feel to it. Of course, one thing that has not changed is privacy. That is why you need to take advantage of a VPN’s encryption layer. Doing so will help mask your IP address and provide you with a secure tunnel. That way, you can avoid the possible “security features” that all new operating systems battle when they come out.
Desktops are stationary, but laptops and tablets are great if you’re on the go. While Chromebooks and Mac laptops are popular, almost everything still runs on Windows. If you need to connect to an open WiFi network at your destination, you can easily gain access to the net. That is great to buy things online or check your account balances on credit cards. That also means others can gain access to your devices unless you connect to a VPN. By doing so, you can focus on your next transaction instead of who has your data.
As we just said, laptops and tablets are useful if you travel. That said, you may run into censorship, depending on where you go. By connecting to a VPN in a different country, though, you can make the blocking software think you are someplace else. Because it gives you a different IP address, it sees the traffic as being from outside the country, so you can enjoy your favorite sites and apps instead of being stopped from going to them. You can see there are still reasons to connect to a VPN with Windows 11, but the question is, which one?
What is the Best VPN for Windows 11?
There are still some basic factors to take a look at when answering this question. In this case, they have to do with privacy and access.
- Providers that don’t keep information on you
- Ability to get around network and government restrictions while using Windows 11
- Large and stable networks to avoid dropped connections when using the operating system
- Strong military-grade encryption to help protect your privacy from prying eyes
Let’s take a more in-depth look at the best VPNs to use with Windows 11.
1. Best VPN for Windows 11: 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.
Even though there was a short time where sports were not available, many still love them. However, some do not care what the sports are anymore. If you are a sports fan, there are some excellent reasons why connecting to a VPN server with ExpressVPN would be a good idea. No matter what you want to watch or where you live, you will gain access to the various streaming services by connecting to one. Simply select the area of the sport or the specific coverage you want to see, and you can watch as you wish to.
You have likely heard of ExpressVPN as their reputation precedes the quality of the service. From a worldwide network of servers to extra features like MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN tops the competition. We use the service in our office and while traveling. From privacy protection to gaming, and streaming, their network provides excellent performance. Give the service a thorough test during the 30-day money-back guarantee. You can sign up for 12 months and get 3 months free, a 49% discount with our ExpressVPN deal.
2. Best VPN for Windows 11: NordVPN
Whether you play games that are based online or are looking for the newest version of your favorite, the developers often release them at different times in different regions. If you want to get early access, however, NordVPN has you covered. By connecting to a server in the right region, you will make the source think you are local to the area. Depending on where the game developers are, some of the most popular companies come from counties like Korea, Japan, the US, or others.
For all the sports fans out there, it can sometimes be challenging to watch your favorite event, match, or game. If you travel abroad, that can be a big problem. The solution to that, however, is to connect to a VPN server from NordVPN. To do so, all you have to do is choose the proper location. An example of that is if you have an ESPN account and are outside the US, connecting to an American VPN server would allow you to view it with no issues.
3. Best VPN for Windows 11: Private Internet Access
As more and more TV users cut the cord, many of them still want the ability to watch their favorite sports team in action. With a VPN from Private Internet Access, you don’t have to miss out. Unfortunately, licensing rights to the team will consider you to be “in-market” if you try to watch online. That means you would typically miss out unless you chose a VPN server located outside the region. Simply connect to a VPN in a different area, and you will be able to enjoy it.
If you are looking for a VPN provider that does not keep logs, Private Internet Access has you covered. Over the years, they have developed a well-known reputation throughout the community. While some companies claim they do not keep logs, but then turn them over to authorities, The team at Private Internet Access continuously takes steps to make sure that they protect their users’ interests. If privacy is important to you, you will find that this one is the right choice to make.
4. Best VPN for Windows 11: CyberGhost
While getting set up with CyberGhost is easy to do, there are several ways that they can help you if needed. Those include in-depth guides to help you with getting everything set up and an email system. They also offer 24/7 live chat support if you would like quicker service or would rather speak to a customer service representative right away. The team states that they can handle requests in English, German, French, and Romanian. As you can see, CyberGhost has you covered with whatever help you may need.
While streaming is prevalent these days, it is not hard to get bored with some of the things available. The solution to boredom is to connect to a VPN server from CyberGhost. All you need to do is choose a server in a different region. When you do, you can gain access to a whole new library of content that you may never have seen before. That way, you can enjoy many new libraries and check out others when you are ready to move on.
5. Best VPN for Windows 11: IPVanish
If you stream a lot of content, you may encounter what is known as library fatigue. That is when you have seen virtually all that you want to on a particular service. Since international services like Netflix and Amazon Prime have different libraries based on location, you will want to connect to a VPN server from IPVanish. That way, if you are bored with the current content available, you only have to change the VPN server region to be able to access others. Then, watch all you want.
If you are a gamer that likes to play online, you probably know that while popular games eventually become available in all regions, it is not always at the same time. The trick to that is to connect to a VPN server from IPVanish located in one of the early access countries. Australia is a popular choice. By doing so, you will make the software think you are there. That way, you can enjoy the game and play it earlier than others in your area.
