Windscribe is a VPN service that encrypts your internet connection and masks your public IP address to help you browse more privately. It offers a free plan with 2GB of monthly data, or 10GB after you add and confirm an email address, along with paid plans with unlimited data.
The service includes apps for major desktop and mobile platforms, browser extensions, and features such as a firewall, split tunneling, and multiple VPN protocols. This review examines Windscribe’s privacy practices, performance, pricing, and limitations to help you decide whether it meets your needs.
WindscribeVPN plans and prices
Windscribe offers a free plan, two Pro subscriptions, and a flexible Build-a-Plan option. Here are the current prices:
- Free: $0. You get servers in 11 countries and 10GB of data per month once you confirm an email address. Without a confirmed email, the cap drops to 2GB. You can connect as many devices as you like.
- Pro Monthly: $9/month. This plan gives unlimited data, unlimited simultaneous devices, and access to all locations (69+ countries). It also includes the R.O.B.E.R.T. ad and tracker blocker, port forwarding, and config generators for OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard.
- Pro Yearly: $5.75/month. It has the same features as the monthly plan and saves about 36%.
- Build-a-Plan: $3/month minimum. You can pick individual locations at $1 per month, up to 7. Each location adds 10GB to your monthly data, and unlimited data is an optional add-on.
Free plan locations: the US, Canada, the UK, Hong Kong, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, Romania, and Turkey. If you only need a few of these, the free plan may be enough, with the 10GB monthly cap as the main limit.
Payment: you can pay by credit card, PayPal, cryptocurrency, or local payment options. Windscribe also offers a cash payment method for people who prefer not to use a card.
Refund policy: you can request a refund within 7 days of your first purchase, as long as you’ve used less than 10GB on the paid plan. Renewals aren’t covered, and Windscribe asks you to try troubleshooting with support first.
Windscribe server network
Windscribe’s server network covers 69 countries and 112 cities. Windscribe doesn’t publish a total server count. Servers are reportedly in the countries they claim to be in, not at virtual locations.
Coverage varies by country. The US has the most, with 52 Pro data centers on Windscribe’s pricing page. Canada has 10, and the UK has 6. Many smaller countries, such as Croatia, Estonia, and Greece, have just one.
WindscribeVPN features
A good VPN should cover three things: security, privacy, and anonymity. Windscribe covers these through a set of built-in features, though no VPN can make you completely untraceable.
Access content from other regions
When you connect to a server in another country, websites see that server’s IP address instead of yours. This can open up content that’s location-restricted. Results vary by service, though. For example, Netflix works with Windscribe’s paid plan in many regions, but access on the free plan is limited and can change when Netflix blocks server IP addresses.
Hide your IP address
Connecting through Windscribe keeps your real IP address from the sites you visit, and your ISP sees only encrypted traffic to the VPN server. Windscribe says it keeps no identifying logs, meaning it can’t link your IP address and timestamps to you. You can read its privacy policy on its site. A VPN doesn’t stop tracking through cookies or logged-in accounts.
Protection against leaks
Windscribe’s Firewall blocks all internet traffic outside the VPN tunnel, so your real IP isn’t exposed if the connection drops. It runs in three modes: Automatic, Always On and Manual. This protects your traffic while you’re online. It doesn’t secure data stored in your accounts.
Choose your VPN protocol
Windscribe offers six protocols so you can match the connection to your network and needs:
- WireGuard: fast, and a good default on newer devices. Windscribe also recommends it for torrenting.
- OpenVPN (UDP or TCP): stable, and a good fit for networks that block newer protocols.
- IKEv2/IPSec: reconnects quickly when you switch networks, so it suits mobile devices.
- Stealth and WStunnel: disguise VPN traffic to get through restrictive firewalls and censorship.
Block ads and trackers
R.O.B.E.R.T., Windscribe’s built-in blocker, filters ad, tracker and malware domains. You choose which categories to block, which can mean fewer ads and faster-loading pages. It works across devices, with full customization on paid plans.
Beat censorship
For people on restricted networks, Windscribe offers Stealth and WStunnel, plus options to change ports and connection settings. These help the VPN connect where standard protocols are blocked.
Security and Privacy
Windscribe encrypts your traffic with AES-256-GCM, SHA-512 authentication, and a 4096-bit RSA key on OpenVPN connections. WireGuard and IKEv2 use their own strong ciphers. All activity is protected, including browsing and VoIP calls. The Firewall blocks all traffic outside the VPN tunnel, so nothing leaks if the connection drops. R.O.B.E.R.T. blocks ads, trackers, and malware domains.
Windscribe’s customer support service
Windscribe offers several support options:
- Setup guides: many step-by-step guides cover desktop, mobile, browser, router, and TV setups, some with video versions.
- Knowledge base and FAQ: answers to common problems, billing, and account questions.
- Garry, the support chatbot: an AI chat assistant available 24/7 via the website widget.
- Support tickets: a form on the website for issues that the other options can’t solve. Windscribe aims to reply within 24 hours, but paid users are prioritized, so free users may wait longer.
Windscribe doesn’t offer phone support, and its live chat is handled by a bot rather than a person.
WindscribeVPN’s Privacy Policy
Privacy-conscious users should read the full policy before signing up. Here are the key points:
- Website visits. Windscribe uses no third-party tracking or analytics. It runs its own Piwik analytics, which record your browser user agent, language, screen resolution, referring site, and the first three octets of your IP address.
- Signing up. You only need a username and a password. An email address is optional and used for password recovery and service updates. If you buy a premium plan, the payment transaction ID is kept for 30 days to prevent fraud.
- Using the VPN. Windscribe stores your total data transfer over 30 days and the time of your last activity. It uses these to enforce free-plan limits, prevent abuse, and remove inactive accounts. It doesn’t store VPN session history, your source IP address, or the sites you visit.
- Leaving. You can delete your account anytime under “My Account.” Otherwise, only your username, password, and email (if given) remain, and inactive accounts are pruned.
- Policy changes. Windscribe says it will try to avoid changes. If it needs to make big ones, it will notify users with a valid email on file.
How to create a Windscribe VPN account
To create a Windscribe account, choose a username and password on its website or in the app. An email address is optional: free accounts receive 2GB of data per month without one, increasing to 10GB when you add and verify your email. No payment details are required for the free plan.
You can upgrade to the Pro or Build-a-Plan option through your account. Windscribe accepts credit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrency, and local payment options through Paymentwall. Apple Pay, Google Play, and Amazon payments are also available on supported devices.
Windscribe VPN supported platforms
Windscribe offers apps for major desktop, mobile, and TV platforms, as well as browser extensions and manual router configuration options. Supported platforms include:
- Computers: Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Phones and tablets: Android, iPhone, and iPad.
- Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.
- TV devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV devices such as Nvidia Shield, and Apple TV.
- Routers: Compatible models with an OpenVPN, WireGuard, or IKEv2 VPN client, including supported DD-WRT and Tomato configurations.
The Android and Linux apps are available to free users, not just paid subscribers. However, downloading configuration files for manual router setup requires a Pro or Build a Plan subscription.
Summary
Windscribe is worth considering if you want a flexible VPN with a useful free plan. Free users receive 2GB of monthly data, which increases to 10GB with a verified email address, while Pro users receive unlimited data and access to the full server network. Unlimited personal device connections are available on both plans.
Its apps offer modern protocols and privacy tools, but no VPN guarantees complete anonymity or access to every restricted website. The free plan is a practical way to assess Windscribe before paying, especially since refunds have strict eligibility criteria rather than an unconditional money-back guarantee.
Windscribe VPN pros and cons
Windscribe stands out for its free plan, unlimited personal device connections, and customizable privacy tools. Its main drawbacks are free-plan restrictions, conditional refunds, and limited access to human support.
Windscribe pros
- Free plan with 2GB of monthly data, increasing to 10GB with a verified email address.
- Unlimited simultaneous connections for personal devices, including on the free plan.
- Modern protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth, and WStunnel.
- Firewall protection that helps prevent traffic from leaving your device outside the VPN tunnel.
- Customizable ad, tracker, and malicious-domain blocking through R.O.B.E.R.T., with options depending on your plan.
- Unlimited data and full server access with Pro.
- Apps for major desktop, mobile, and TV platforms, plus browser extensions.
Windscribe cons
- Free accounts have monthly data limits and fewer server locations.
- Refunds must be requested within 7 days of the initial purchase if less than 10GB has been used on the paid plan.
- Support starts with the Garry chatbot; reaching a human agent can be less straightforward.
- Some advanced settings and terminology may confuse beginners.
