Windscribe
windscribe.com
What it is
Windscribe is a VPN service available on the web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. It supports WireGuard and includes a kill switch, with a verified no-logs audit. The service lists servers in 69 countries and supports streaming and torrents. Its free plan gives 2 GB per month without a confirmed email, or 10 GB per month across 10 countries. Build-A-Plan costs $1 per location per month, with a $3 minimum monthly purchase, up to seven locations, and 10 GB per location. Pro Monthly is $9 a month; Pro Yearly is $69 a year. Both Pro plans list unlimited data and access to 69+ countries and 135+ cities. The maker was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Windscribe combines VPN desktop software and browser extensions to protect privacy, bypass blocked content, and block ads and trackers.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Free plan
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · windscribe.com
- Paid from
- 3Read 22 Sep 2026 · windscribe.com
- Headquarters
- Toronto, Ontario, CanadaRead 28 Sep 2026 · windscribe.com
- Founded
- 2016Read 28 Sep 2026 · windscribe.com
- Maker
- The legal service owner is Windscribe Limited, identified in the terms and app listings.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Audits
- PacketLabs audited the FreshScribe server infrastructure in June 2024, while Leviathan audited desktop apps in 2021 and mobile apps in 2022.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Browser privacy tools
- The browser extensions can rotate user agent, spoof timezone, language, and GPS location, and block WebRTC leaks, ads, and trackers.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Changelog
- The changelog lists desktop GUI release 2.24.12 on September 2, 2026, with newer 2.25.2 guinea-pig builds and separate mobile and extension versions.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Documentation and support
- The help center contains setup guides, router instructions, protocol explanations, troubleshooting, billing articles, and a support contact path.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Founded and headquarters
- Independent coverage identifies Windscribe as founded in 2016 in Toronto, Canada.Read 14 Oct 2026 · tomsguide.com
- Kill switch
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · windscribe.com
- Limit: free restrictions
- Reviewers note monthly data caps, fewer free locations, and no router configuration files or P2P access on the free tier.Read 14 Oct 2026 · tomsguide.com
- Limit: interface complexity
- Tom’s Guide says the apps are cramped and complex, while TechRadar says the feature-rich interfaces may intimidate newcomers.Read 14 Oct 2026 · tomsguide.com
- Limit: pricing
- Independent reviews describe the annual Pro price as above average or expensive compared with long-term competitor offers.Read 14 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
- Limit: support
- TechRadar reports that Windscribe lacks 24/7 or live-chat support, relying on its knowledge base, chatbot, and tickets.Read 14 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
- Network
- The service advertises physical servers in more than 69 countries and 135 cities.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Notable news: server seizure
- Windscribe says Dutch authorities seized a server in February 2026 and found no user data because the infrastructure is RAM-only.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Open-source repositories
- Windscribe publishes desktop, browser-extension, Android, and iOS repositories on GitHub; the desktop and Android repositories are GPL-2.0 and the iOS repository is GPL-3.0.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Ownership
- Windscribe says it has no outside investors and is owned by founders Yegor Sak, Alex Paguis, Mark Ulicki, and employees.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Port forwarding
- Pro includes seven-day ephemeral port forwarding, while permanent forwarding requires a separately purchased static IP.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Praise: performance and features
- TechRadar highlights fast WireGuard performance, extensive controls, effective ad and tracker blocking, open-source apps, streaming access, and unlimited simultaneous connections.Read 14 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
- Praise: value and free tier
- GetApp reviewers repeatedly praise the 10 GB free allowance, affordable Pro pricing, flexible custom plans, intuitive interface, and broad device compatibility.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Protocols and configs
- Paid users can generate OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard configuration files for manual or router connections.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Public API
- GetApp states that Windscribe does not provide an API.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- R.O.B.E.R.T.
- R.O.B.E.R.T. is a DNS-based, server-side blocker for ads, trackers, malware, phishing, adult content, and custom domain or IP rules.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Rating on Apple App Store
- 4.6 out of 5 from 35K ratings.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Rating on Capterra
- 4.6 out of 5 from 181 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
- Rating on Chrome Web Store
- 4.6 out of 5 from 21K ratings.Read 14 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
- Rating on G2
- 4.5 out of 5 from 64 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Rating on GetApp
- 4.6 out of 5 from 181 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Rating on Google Play
- 4.4 out of 5 from 322K reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Rating on Trustpilot
- 4.7 out of 5 from 13,340 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Rating on TrustRadius
- 8 out of 10 from 1 review.Read 14 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
- Server countries
- 69Read 22 Sep 2026 · windscribe.com
- Split tunneling
- Split tunneling supports inclusive or exclusive routing by application, hostname, or IP address on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Static IPs
- Static IPs are offered as shared datacenter addresses in 10 locations or shared residential addresses in three US and Canadian locations.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Streaming support
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · windscribe.com
- Supported systems
- The download page lists Windows 10+, macOS 10.14+, Ubuntu/Debian/Fedora/CentOS, iOS 10+, Android 5.0+, Chrome 39+, Firefox 57+, and Edge 79+.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Torrent support
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · windscribe.com
- Transparency report
- Windscribe reports zero complied-with DMCA requests and zero complied-with law-enforcement requests because it says relevant data was unavailable.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Unlimited devices
- One account can be used on unlimited simultaneous devices across desktop, mobile, browser, TV, and router setups.Read 14 Oct 2026 · windscribe.com
- Verified no-logs audit
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · windscribe.com
- WireGuard support
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · windscribe.com
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Available on web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
- Verified no-logs audit
- WireGuard support and a kill switch
- Supports streaming and torrents
Limits
- Free plan covers 10 countries
- Free plan is 2 GB without a confirmed email
- Pro Monthly costs $9 a month
Who it suits
Windscribe suits people who want a VPN across desktop, mobile, and web platforms, with options for different data allowances and locations. Its free plan offers a limited country selection, while the Pro plans list unlimited data.
Windscribe in depth
Read the full write-up
Windscribe is a VPN with a free tier, a pay-by-location option and unlimited-data Pro plans. It suits people who want to start free or buy access to a smaller set of locations; the central trade-off is whether its data limits or Pro’s broader coverage fit your use.
Overview
Windscribe combines VPN connections with streaming and torrent support, WireGuard and a kill switch. A verified no-logs audit is a meaningful privacy credential, while the free tier and Build-A-Plan give cost-conscious users alternatives to a full Pro subscription. Those lower-cost options are constrained by data caps, so frequent or heavy use points toward Pro.
Key features
Privacy and connection: The verified no-logs audit will matter to privacy-conscious users, and the kill switch provides a safeguard if a VPN connection drops. WireGuard support adds a protocol option.
Location choice: Free covers 10 countries; Pro includes 69+ countries and 135+ cities. The free selection may be enough for occasional use, but Pro is the stronger fit when location choice matters.
Streaming and torrenting: Both are supported, making Windscribe relevant for more than general browsing. The free and Build-A-Plan quotas may constrain sustained use; Pro removes the data limit.
Pricing
The Free plan costs nothing and is billed Free forever. It provides 2 GB per month without a confirmed email, or 10 GB/month across 10 countries. That is a useful no-cost entry point, but the smaller allowance without email confirmation and the monthly cap make it unsuitable for regular high-volume use.
Build-A-Plan is $1 a month per location, with a $3 minimum monthly purchase and up to 7 locations. Each location comes with 10 GB. This is the economical choice if you need only a few locations and can stay within their quotas; it is less compelling for broad coverage or heavy traffic, where the per-location caps matter.
Pro Monthly costs $9 a month, billed monthly, and includes unlimited data across 69+ countries and 135+ cities. It suits users who want flexibility without an annual term. Pro Yearly costs $69 a year, billed yearly, with the same unlimited data and location coverage. It is the lower-cost Pro term for someone prepared to pay for a year rather than keep a monthly subscription.
Platforms
Windscribe supports web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. That range covers desktop and mobile users across the major operating systems, as well as access through the web.
Who it's for
Windscribe is a good fit for someone who wants a free VPN with a defined allowance, or who can meet their needs by purchasing a few locations through Build-A-Plan. Choose Pro if you need unlimited data or broader country and city selection. It is a weaker fit for anyone who expects the free tier or per-location plan to support unrestricted, sustained use.
Pros and cons
Pros: A permanent free option offers a way to begin without paying; Build-A-Plan lets users pay for selected locations rather than a full Pro plan; Pro combines unlimited data with 69+ countries and 135+ cities; streaming, torrent support, WireGuard, a kill switch and a verified no-logs audit cover several practical VPN concerns.
Cons: Free is capped at 10 GB/month with a confirmed email and 2 GB without one; Build-A-Plan limits each location to 10 GB; Pro Monthly is $9 a month, so users who need unlimited data but not the broad Pro coverage may find the cheaper formats restrictive.
Alternatives
For a free option with a different allowance and device limit, Proton VPN offers 10 countries, unlimited data and one device at a time on its Free plan. PrivadoVPN is another free-tier option, with 10 GB data and one device; it supports web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, but not Linux. If you want to compare other free VPN choices, see Free VPN Services.
Hotspot Shield may suit someone comfortable with a particularly constrained free tier: Basic is limited to one device, 500 MB daily data, one U.S. virtual location and 2 Mbps. TunnelBear offers 2 GB of secure browsing free, while its Unlimited plan is $3.33 a month. ZoogVPN Free provides 10 GB monthly traffic on one device. These alternatives trade different free allowances and limits against Windscribe's 10 GB/month across 10 countries with a confirmed email.
Bitdefender Total Security is a paid security suite with a free plan and free trial; its Total Security Individual plan costs $59.99 a year for five devices and one account. hide.me has free and Premium options, including a 30-day money-back guarantee on its one-month Premium plan. Speedify offers individual plans for up to five devices. For broader comparisons, browse VPN services or Business VPN Software.
Verdict
Choose Windscribe if you want a free starting point, a way to buy selected locations, or Pro coverage with unlimited data and a wide choice of countries and cities. Its verified no-logs audit and mix of VPN features strengthen the case. Look elsewhere if you need the free tier or Build-A-Plan to handle unrestricted use: their data caps are the main reason to move to Pro or another service.
Verdict
Windscribe lists a broad set of platforms and VPN features, with free, per-location, and Pro plan options. Compare the free allowance and location limits with the Pro plans' unlimited data and country and city counts.
Where Specifiction places it
- VPN services#1 of 889.4
- Business VPN Software#9 of 949.2
- Free VPN Services#9 of 438.6
- Virtual Private Network Software#17 of 548.6