Windscribe offers a free and affordable subscription VPN service with a built-in malware blocker and advanced connection customization features. This review explores Windscribe’s strengths and weaknesses to determine if it’s the right VPN for your needs.
Pricing and Plans: Flexible Options to Fit Your Budget
Windscribe offers a range of plans, from free to premium, catering to diverse needs. The free plan provides access to servers in several popular locations, including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Hong Kong, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, and Romania. This surpasses many free VPNs, like Proton VPN, which limits free server locations to just three. Windscribe’s free plan offers 2GB of monthly data, expandable to 10GB by providing your email and an additional 5GB for sharing on X (formerly Twitter), totaling 15GB.
A standout feature is the “Build a Plan” option, starting at $3 per month. For $1 per location per month, you can customize your server access, with an additional $1 to activate the malware blocker. Each location adds 10GB of monthly data to your free tier allowance. For more than four locations, Windscribe Pro is a better value.
Windscribe Pro offers unlimited data and access to all server locations for $9 per month or $69 annually ($5.75/month). While the monthly price is competitive, the annual plan is pricier than some top-rated VPNs like NordVPN and Proton VPN.
User-Friendly Design: Compact and Efficient
The Windows app is compact yet functional. Installation is straightforward, and a browser extension offering a proxy with IP address masking and malware blocking is readily available. The app displays essential information like connection status, protocol, port, firewall status, and current IP address. Server selection is easy through a slide-out panel, displaying server load and 10 Gbps throughput indicators. A comprehensive menu provides access to appearance settings, account details, connection options, blocking features, advanced options, and help resources. While the compact design might not suit everyone, it’s efficient and visually appealing.
Performance and Features: Mixed Results
Windscribe offers helpful features like conflict detection. During testing, the app alerted me to a conflict with Meta’s OVRServer, impacting CPU usage. Closing the conflicting app resulted in significant CPU usage reduction.
Speed test results were inconsistent. While a New York server delivered impressive speeds of 451 Mbps down and 27 Mbps up, other locations, like the U.K. and Germany, showed significant fluctuations. France performed well, while Australia delivered surprisingly good speeds considering the distance. The inconsistency makes it challenging to predict performance despite server load indicators.
Windscribe’s R.O.B.E.R.T. (Remote Omnidirectional Badware Eliminating Robotic Tool) malware blocker effectively blocked multiple threats during testing, complementing browser-based protection.
Support: AI Chatbot and Email Assistance
Windscribe utilizes an AI chatbot named Garry for real-time support. Garry provided helpful answers and suggestions during testing. Human support is available via email ticketing, with responses arriving within a few hours.
Privacy and Security: End-to-End Encryption and Transparency
Windscribe utilizes AES-256 encryption, protecting user data. While based in Canada, a Five Eyes alliance member, Windscribe emphasizes its no-logs policy, supported by its transparency report showing no compliance with data requests.
Conclusion: Is Windscribe the Right VPN for You?
Windscribe offers unique features like the “Build a Plan” option and a user-friendly interface. The free plan is generous, and unlimited simultaneous connections are a plus. However, inconsistent speeds and higher annual pricing compared to competitors are drawbacks. Consider Windscribe if you need flexible server selection and appreciate the unique features, but be aware of potential speed variations. If consistent performance is paramount, explore other top-rated VPN providers.
