Windscribe VPN review: A flexible and free VPN

Allison Murray/ZDNET

ZDNET's key takeaways

Windscribe has a free version, but the premium app starts at $3 per month and offers advanced features and better performance.The free and paid versions work with streaming platforms, and you can safely use the service for online activities, including web surfing and torrenting.Windscribe's no-logs policy hasn't been audited, and having the headquarters in Canada isn't good for privacy.

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Windscribe is much more flexible than other VPNs. It's both free and paid and is the second best free VPN that we recommend. The "Build-a-Plan" scheme allows you to tailor the amount you wish to pay for a subscription, starting from $3 per month. Windscribe is reliable for accessing geo-restricted sites online and is optimized to work on networks that block VPNs.

Also: The best VPN services: Expert tested and reviewed

Plus, Windscribe requires minimal information to use Windscribe (you can subscribe without an email). While the speeds aren't as impressive as our best VPNs, I still used it smoothly for heavy browsing activities. The free servers can support streaming, but I made even more interesting findings.

What can you do with Windscribe free?

The free version of Windscribe has several useful features. You can use it even without signing up for an account, you will be limited to only 2GB per month. The other benefits that come with the free app are:

10GB monthly bandwidth (if you sign up and verify your email).Servers in 10 countries, namely the US, UK, Canada, France, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Romania and Hong Kong Unlimited device connectionsStrong encryption, kill switch, ad/malware/domain blocker and no-logging

The advantages of Windscribe over Proton VPN free, which is our best free VPN selection, are that you get relatively more server locations and can connect several devices. However, Proton VPN offers unlimited bandwidth and has better privacy measures.

Windscribe's advanced features: Is it safe?

Protection

Browsing the Windscribe app, I was taken aback by the new security features introduced since the last time I tested it. Notably, the built-in ad, malware, and tracker blocker tool Robert now includes more options, like blocking social media, gambling and adult sites. It can be a useful parental control feature on your home computer that your kids use to access the internet. You can even block-list specific websites simply by entering the domain or IP address.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

Windscribe provides good protection online and on any Wi-Fi networks you may be randomly connecting to while accessing the internet. The AES 256-bit GCM cipher encrypts every data moving to and from your protected devices, turning it into gibberish characters. This deters websites, Wi-Fi admins and potential hackers from intercepting or reading your sensitive information. The information is secured with safe keys, and only authorized recipients can decrypt it with the right keys.

There are six secure tunneling protocols provided; WireGuard, OpenVPN TCP/ UDP, IKEv2, Stealth and WSTunnel. That means more options to try out, especially when having connection problems with one of your preferred choices. When it comes to protocols, WireGuard and OpenVPN often get the most attention across the board due to their efficiency and security, while IKEv2 is most popular for mobile use. The extra protocols, Stealth and WSTunnel, are recommended for sites and strict networks that block VPNs (including internet censorship in places like China and Russia).

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

I didn't find any evidence that Windscribe leaks IP or DNS information, despite doing multiple tests. This should boost confidence, knowing that your IP address and locations remain well masked, even when using the free app. Windscribe's cutting-edge features include IPv6, DNS and WebRTC leak protection. You should always enable the Firewall (kill switch) to prevent exposure of your IP address in case that the VPN connection fails.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

Windscribe is the only VPN I've come across that has a MAC spoofing tool. It hides your device's MAC address -- a unique number that networks use to identify devices connected. By concealing your MAC address, websites and networks can't log your activities by using these identifiers. You can refresh or set MAC auto-rotation so that the address periodically changes, ensuring you remain untraceable.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

WIndscribe also includes port forwarding, allowing you to set up a secure remote and secure connection point for all devices in your local area network. Its split tunneling also gives you the option to select websites and apps that you want to route on the VPN.

Despite all these measures in place, Windscribe's privacy is questionable. The Ukrainian government raided two of its local servers, and, unfortunately, they weren't encrypted, allowing the authorities to monitor users' activities. The company claims that only these two were not unencrypted, but that already reveals a lot. Following this incident, the provider has since switched to RAM-only servers, which offer better privacy. These servers automatically reboot and wipe clean any information that's retained.

Also, Windscribe's no-logs policy hasn't been audited. That means its claims that it doesn't collect or store user information are yet to be verified as true. The jurisdiction in Canada isn't privacy-friendly as the country has invasive retention laws and is part of the 5/14 Eyes Alliances (nations that share intelligence and their citizens' data). All that being said, we're yet to see how Windscribe fairs in a real-life scenario when courts or authorities ask them to hand over a user's information.

Windscribe servers, connection speeds and streaming experience

With servers in 69 countries and 134 cities, Windscribe isn't as expansive as the best VPN services, which typically have servers in 100 countries or more. What Windscribe does differently, however, is that all its servers are physically present in the locations where they offer IPs (except Antarctica). Most VPNs use virtual servers in locations where they can't or don't want to set up physical data centers, and this counts toward the overall server tally.

Notably, the servers are mostly in North and South America and Asian-Pacific countries. The US is sorted into East, Central and West regions to help you find specific locations more easily. Some of the servers are optimized for speeds of up to 10Gbps, meaning you can use them with lightning-fast internet and get speeds close to your baseline internet connections.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

While scrolling through the server list, you can see latency in each location, which is helpful when picking fast servers anywhere. You can sort the servers alphabetically, geographically or based on latency in the "Location Order" section under the general settings. I also like the names given to the fun names given to servers in certain locations, for example, Sydney (Squidney), Vancouver (Vansterdam), New York (Insomnia) and so forth.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

Speeds

My internet speeds dipped slightly, although this shouldn't discourage you because it happens with most VPNs. Windscribe is generally fast, but how fast will mostly depend on a number of factors, like whether you're using the free servers or if it's during peak times. The servers are relatively few, probably less than a thousand, so occasionally, there might be congestion due to high traffic. 

I followed our VPN guidelines and testing methodology, recording average download speeds and the retention rate on server locations that I chose randomly. I used the default WireGuard protocol that the app recommended for me. It's one of the best-performing protocols, offering an optimal balance between speed and security. Below is a summary of how Windscribe retained speeds, starting from 125Mbps baseline download speeds (without VPN).

Server location tested	Average download speed (with Windscribe)	Speed retention (higher is better)
South Africa (local)	117Mbps	93.6%
United States	102Mbps	81.6%
Canada	109Mbps	87.2%
United Kingdom	98Mbps	78.4%
Greece	85Mbps	68%
Malaysia	82Mbps	65.6%
Singapore	90Mbps	72%
Brazil	104Mbps	83.2%
Argentina	90Mbps	72%

These results should give you only a rough picture of how fast Windscribe servers are, meaning your tests may yield slightly different outcomes. What's evident, however, is that servers in my location (South Africa) gave better connections. The thumb rule with VPNs is that you should connect to a local server (or the nearest location) to get the fastest speeds.

Streaming

I accessed streaming platforms with both Windscribe free and paid versions. It worked with Netflix US and UK libraries without problems. Streaming-optimized servers called Windflix are available to pro subscribers, making it more convenient to stream your favorite content online.

After having my success with Netflix, I ventured into other sites. Again, I was impressed because the VPN accessed Hulu, Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video and Australian platforms like 9Now. So why pay if the free app works? As I mentioned earlier, the 10GB monthly data bandwidth doesn't support intensive streaming, so you can watch only a few movies. Also, the speed limitations with the free service imply you might encounter serious buffering issues.

Torrenting 

You can torrent with Windscribe, but some server locations (including some US states, India, South Africa and Russia) are blocked from torrenting. Aside from the VPN being secure, features like port forwarding support easy integration with torrent clients. The website has information on good practices to observe while using Windscribe for safe peer-to-peer torrenting. However, the slow download speeds can be disappointing, in which case I'd advise checking our top VPN selections for torrenting.

Windscribe apps (some minor issues with using the VPN)

Windscribe is compatible with major devices. It recently announced an Apple TV app, opting not to be left behind (many services are only starting to offer this app). However, Windscribe doesn't have a router app -- an area where ExpressVPN does a better job than most. You can still use Windscribe's Config Generator feature, which allows you to set up the VPN manually on routers with WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2 client support. Proxy Gateway also makes it possible to spoof your location on devices that don't support native VPN installation, like consoles.

Windscribe provides native apps for these devices;

Mac, Windows, LinuxAndroid, iOSAndroid TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TVChrome, Firefox, Microsoft  Edge

The Windows app I installed looked minimalistic (I realized the interface looks the same even on Mac). It occupied only a small section of the screen, making it a bit hard to access the servers or settings. To open the server list, click the down arrow next to "Locations," while settings can be accessed from the hamburger icon at the top left (three horizontal lines).

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

I think first-time VPN users might wonder what to do with the many features cluttering the app. My advice is that you shouldn't tinker with any settings you don't understand. Leave the app as it is and it should just work fine with the default.

The installing procedure for Windscribe is very straightforward. If you experience any problems with the service, you can ask Garry (the standby robot assistant) or submit a ticket to support and the in-house team will respond within 24 hours. Even free users can use the support feature.

Windscribe Pro: How much does it cost?

Windscribe Pro unlocks more features (including access to all the server locations) at fairly affordable rates. It's also possible to pay only for specific server locations, thanks to the Build-a-Plan option. Here is a quick look at the plan:

Plan	Price
Free	Free
One month	$9/month
One year	$69 ($5.75/month)
Build-a-Plan	From $1/month

While the Build-a-Plan model seems attractive, I wouldn't recommend it because you will still have to purchase other features separately as add-ons. The plan is not only limiting, but you might also end up paying more than with a normal subscription. You're also required to spend a minimum of $3 per month. However, you can change the server locations you've selected under the plan at any time without paying extra. The supported payment methods include credit/debit cards, PayPal, mobile wallets (Google and Apple Pay), cryptocurrencies and some local payments.

Windscribe also has a money-back guarantee policy. You can get a refund within seven days of purchasing the service, or if you've not used more than 10GB of data bandwidth after starting your subscription. Be sure to cancel your subscription on the website or store before asking for a refund (also to avoid auto-renewals in the future).

Windscribe is not connecting -- what should I do?

Several factors can result in Windscribe connection failure. First, ensure it's not your internet connection causing problems. The servers you're using might also be experiencing traffic issues (especially on free servers), so try different locations to see if you're able to connect. You can also change protocol and port settings in case the network you're using is restrictive or doesn't support certain features.

Restarting or updating/reinstalling the app can remove bugs preventing proper functioning. It's also possible that some security programs, like an antivirus or firewall might have blocked Windscribe, so check if this is the case and allow permissions. If Windscribe issues persist, you can send an email to support or ask the chatbot Garry for assistance.

Can I be tracked if I use Windscribe?

The question of getting tracked will mostly depend on how proactive you are at protecting yourself. Windscribe offers extra built-in secure tools to hide your identity, like Firewall (kill switch), IPv6 protection, Robert and Mac spoofing. Windscribe also doesn't collect or store sensitive information, which eliminates the chances of being tracked. If you want to remain anonymous, ensure all the safety settings are always turned on and only access the internet while connected to the VPN.

How can I get more Windscribe data for free?

Windscribe offers new users 2GB monthly, but you can increase this to 10GB by signing up and confirming your email. Additionally, posting about the service on X/Twitter gives you an extra 5GB free, and Windscribe has a referral program with more rewards (including free access to pro features). If you want to remove the data restrictions permanently, you can upgrade to the premium version. 

Does Windscribe unblock Netflix in all regions?

Windscribe works with Netflix but may not access content in all locations. Netflix's firewalls are becoming more advanced at filtering VPN traffic, so you may be blocked while trying to stream content in certain regions. Still, Windscribe does a great job at bypassing geo-restrictions, including with the free servers. Extra features like Stealth and WStunnel protocols help to hide your VPN usage and avoid getting blocked on strict sites like Netflix.

ZDNET's buying advice

Windscribe delivers splendid service, whether you want to use the free or paid tier. It's surprisingly effective with content geo-restrictions while also providing robust protection online. Also, the cost isn't prohibitive for those who want access to elite features and better performance, but speeds still aren't on par with the fastest VPNs, like NordVPN. Ideally, you can use this service if you're in between using a VPN for free and getting a subscription. That way, you can easily switch plans without losing access to your essential online services.