Who is Windscribe?
Here is a brief overview of Windscribe and its VPN services:
| Owned and Operated by | Windscribe Limited |
| Year Launched | 2019 |
| Base of Operations | Canada |
| Operates in a Privacy-friendly Country? | No |
| Logging Policy | Zero logs |
| Encryption Used | AES 256-bit |
| Servers Located in | 50+ countries |
Plans and Pricing
Windscribe is available for use at absolutely no cost. This VPN service comes with a free version that has virtually all the same features as the Pro version, with a few limitations. These would include limited access to Windscribe servers, as free users can only connect to 11 out of 50+ server locations; and a monthly data allowance of 10 GB. It’s a pretty sweet deal, a good way to test out the VPN service before committing to a paid plan.
Should you opt for the Pro version, you can choose between 3 payment schemes. It’s a good idea to choose the longer-duration plans for best value. A lifetime plan is also available at bargain prices, but this offer isn’t directly offered by Windscribe. You’ll have to search for a third-party retailer to find these deals, so take that into consideration.
Here are Windscribe Pro plans:
| One Month | $9.00/mo |
| One Year | $4.08/mo ($49.00 billed) |
| Two Years | $3.70/mo ($89.00 billed) |
Windscribe accepts payment through the following channels: Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express), PayPal, Paymentwall, and bitcoin.
Also, be sure to check out Windscribe’s Refer a Friend program for some very generous deals. Free users can get an additional 1 GB of data for every friend that goes for the free version. Even better, referred friends who sign up for a monthly or yearly Pro plan reward you with a matching subscription. Lastly, an interesting feature that makes Windscribe unique is their Mining program – wherein users can use their computer to perform calculations and get rewarded with free Pro accounts or additional bandwidth.
8th Place7.9 out of 10Servers and Locations
Windscribe VPN networks are spread across 50+ countries. That’s a decent amount of geo-diversity to let you experience content from almost any region. But with a total server count of just over 500, Windscribe is far from being the largest VPN provider. It does promise, however, that all its servers are physically in the countries they are advertised to be in.
Selecting a Windscribe VPN tunnel is very straightforward. You can choose a country and the service automatically selects the most optimal server available. For more accuracy, clicking on the arrow next to the country’s name opens up a drop down menu where you can select specific cities.
Usability and Performance
Windscribe has average scores in terms of speed – putting it at the about the middle range of other VPN services. It’s nowhere near the fastest, but users should still expect to be able to stream and download large files within reasonable time.
And for people looking for a VPN that lets them unblock Netflix, you’ll be happy to know that Windscribe hosts dedicated US and UK servers specifically for this purpose. P2P is also no problem on any of their servers – so feel free to torrent as you’d like.
Lastly in terms of the usability, Windscribe adheres to a minimalist approach when it comes to their VPN software. Applications are free of clutter and a breeze to navigate. All the controls are readily accessible and provide a decent amount of customization. Even beginners should find it easy to set up their Windscribe VPN.
Security and Privacy
Feel secure on Windscribe VPNs with strong, industry-standard encryption. Desktop applications use AES-256 cipher with SHA512 authorization and a 4096-bit RSA key. That’s about as secure as it gets and you can be assured that your data remains private.
Supported protocols include: UDP, TCP, Stealth, IKEv2, and OpenVPN. Users can also set up a SOCKS5 proxy server on their machine, enabling secure connections to other devices within their LAN.
As for privacy, Windscribe delivers as well. With a zero logs policy, the company only stores relevant account information and other details to keep its service running. They don’t keep connection logs, IP timestamps, or monitor your internet activity. Users’ session data is discarded within 3 minutes of disconnecting.
Supported Devices
Windscribe imposes no limits on the number of devices you can simultaneously connect to their VPN servers. It’s one of the service’s unique features – making it ideal for power users or large households.
Windscribe VPN applications can be installed on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. Lightweight versions are also available as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Opera. Also, other devices such as routers and smart TVs can also be configured to connect to Windscribe. Helpful guides are available on their website should you need them.
Other Features
Windscribe has a host of other helpful features to complement your VPN package. These include, but aren’t limited to the following:
- Windscribe Firewall: Built into Windscribe Windows and Mac versions, this feature blocks all connectivity that is outside the VPN tunnel to ensure against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks.
- Secure Hotspot: Available on Windows, this feature lets users configure their desktop to act like a secure hotspot to provide the advantages of Windscribe VPN to other devices.
- Cruise Control: Let Windscribe browser extensions automatically connect you to the optimal server. When accessing geo-restricted content, this feature switches servers in the background to instantly unblock the site.
- Ad Blocking: Blocks ads and trackers while browsing the internet. This feature even blocks interaction buttons on social networking sites to provide additional anonymity.
- Timezone Spoofing: This handy feature fakes your timezone to match that of your chosen server – making your connection appear more like it’s coming from where you intend it to.
Customer Support
Windscribe has a great Self Help section on their website. Complete with a dedicated FAQ page, a knowledge base, and plenty of setup guides, Windscribe ensures that even beginners will have no trouble using their VPN.
For other concerns, the Windscribe subreddit is a great resource where you can get help from moderators and other users. The official website has an automated robot called Garry who delivers scripted responses to more common questions. It’s not a real live chat feature, but basic questions are quickly addressed. If you want to speak to a Windscribe representative directly, your only option is to submit a ticket and wait for a response.
What's the Verdict on Windscribe?
Windscribe Review 2020 – Conclusion
With a capable free version available, Windscribe is an excellent choice for occasional users looking for an easy VPN service for their torrent or Netflix needs. Windscribe applications are well-designed and have plenty of added features for protecting your privacy online. If you can overlook the mid-range performance and the lack of a live chat option, then Windscribe might be an excellent option to consider.
No Comments... Yet!