If you’re an avid internet user, this Windscribe VPN review might be the answer to your VPN prayers. Using a good VPN service is becoming more commonplace, and Windscribe is one of the most comprehensive privacy solutions on the market. It’s simple, it’s free, and it provides a wide range of features.
In case you’re on the lookout for a good VPN application to help you maintain privacy and browse the internet safely, this review will take you through the pros and cons of the Windscribe service and why it’s such a good deal.
What Makes Windscribe Stand Out
Windscribe is among the best VPN services out there. It’s an innovative 2-in-1 privacy solution that keeps its users safe by protecting them from advertisers, government surveillance, hackers, and internet service providers. With Windscribe, you’ll be free to use the internet as intended, with access to any information you want, without revealing your own.
Pros
- Free version
- Strong encryption
- Allows torrenting
- Available for multiple devices and OSs
Cons
- Canadian based
- Slows down the internet connection
About Windscribe
Founded in 2015, Windscribe quickly became a renowned name in the industry. It was established in Toronto by Yegor Sak. Today, the Windscribe rating shows that the company successfully provides its users with powerful tools to circumvent internet censorship, gain access to any information from anywhere in the world, and minimize exposure to surveillance, hackers, or marketers.
The application protects everyone equally, regardless of whether they use the free or paid version. It offers various services, including:
- Strong encryption
- Simple clients
- Static IP
- Firewall
- Ad blocking
Another great thing about Windscribe is that it’s available for Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, and Android, and it covers various browsers as well.
Windscribe Pricing Plans
You can start using Windscribe VPN free of charge at any moment. As with any other free trial, the free Windscribe application has some limitations, such as certain server locations being unavailable. You also won’t have the option to use the Config Generator and the R.O.B.E.R.T. feature.
We find that using free Windscribe is enough to keep novice users satisfied. It comes with 10 GB per month, but users looking for more will have to upgrade. Still, it all depends on how much you use the internet. If you need more than 10 GB, you’ll have to purchase Windscribe Premium with one of the following plans:
- Monthly plan – $9
- Yearly plan – $49
- Build a plan – $1 charged per location used every month
Building a plan is a new option. Once you create an account to begin, you’ll be prompted to select the desired Pro location. Depending on the number of servers you choose, your price will adjust, and you’ll see how much you’ll pay each month. Each place is $1, and it adds 10 GB on top of the allowed monthly bandwidth. The minimum payment is $2, and it will give you access to your personal and customized Windscribe VPN Pro.
If you’ve gathered any coupon codes for Windscribe, make sure you use them to save some money. Windscribe accepts the following payment methods:
- Bitcoin
- PayPal
- Visa
- MasterCard
- American Express
- Paymentwall
What we love is the simplicity of offers and various payment methods. Plus, you won’t have to roam around the official website to find the pricing plans. Everything is clear from the get-go. The Build a plan offer is affordable, and you can edit it at any time. With this option, Windscribe shows it cares about all customers equally, regardless of how much they’re willing to pay.
Windscribe Review of Features
Windscribe has many features, divided into general, desktop client, and application sections.
Large Network
When it comes to VPNs, the more locations you have available, the better. Fortunately, Windscribe allows you to choose from a diverse network of servers located in over 60 different countries.
The company claims to differentiate from other services by actually having servers in the appointed countries, rather than masked and hosted in just one. As such, there is an extensive list of potential servers available, but not all are granted with the free Windscribe VPN download.
By selecting the server that is geographically closest to you, you can ensure a fast internet connection that is completely private.
R.O.B.E.R.T.
The R.O.B.E.R.T. feature is an IP blocking tool and a customizable server. In its essence, it helps you block harmful content such as malware, trackers, or cryptominers. You can also use it to block the content you don’t want to visit, like social media.
Your internet speed might improve while using R.O.B.E.R.T. as it lowers the amount of content loading on a visited page. “Is Windscribe safe” is the first question that comes to users’ minds, and this feature is part of the answer. You’ll see fewer ads, use less data, and reduce the risk of infection. The blocklist includes:
- Malware
- Ads and trackers
- Social networks
- Porn
- Gambling
- Other VPNs
- Cryptominers
As an added perk, this service is partially available with the Windscribe free version.
No Identifying Logs
Windscribe is so committed to your privacy and doesn’t require an email for signup. You can read more about it in the Privacy Policy, but the company doesn’t keep your IP timestamps, session logs, or track your activity.
Strongest Encryption
One of the essential features we listed in our Windscribe VPN review is Windscribe encryption. There’s nothing better than a protected VPN. Even though these numbers don’t mean a lot to a novice user, Windscribe utilizes AES-256 cipher with SHA512 auth and 4096-bit RSA key.
Windscribe also supports perfect forward secrecy. This type of encryption changes the keys used to encrypt/decrypt information frequently and automatically. That way, if the most recently changed key gets hacked, the newest key still protects the rest of the data.
ScribeForce
ScribeForce is not a different feature by itself; it’s just another name for a managed Windscribe Team account aimed at business users. If you want to know how to use Windscribe for your organization, you should know that ScribeForce is the same as the Windscribe Pro account.
With this service, you can make and manage VPN accounts for an entire organization. It provides the freedom to use all features on all devices and has central billing, easy team management, and is an affordable solution for teams.
Simple Clients
Windscribe is an excellent choice for those users who need a simple tool to manage their VPN connections. The desktop client opens as a small window with all the features visible and minimized to fit the application interface. Simplicity is just one of the many reasons why those wondering, “is Windscribe a good VPN?” feel satisfied with its format and usability.
Use for Free
You can download Windscribe for free and use it to access over ten countries. If you confirm an email address, you’ll also get 10 GB of data each month, which is enough to enjoy browsing the internet.
Static IPs
A dynamic IP address changes from time to time and is cost-effective for internet service providers, while a static IP is fixed. Dynamic IPs are suitable for the average user, but for business purposes, static is better for hosting websites or allowing remote workers to log in via VPN.
For questions like “is Windscribe VPN safe to use?” The static IP is a great option. It can reduce the chance of blacklisting, protect access to a secure resource, and reduce CAPTCHA and 2FA checks.
Split Tunneling
If you want to separate some apps from connecting to a Windscribe VPN and leave others to connect to your usual network, you can do that as well. Unfortunately, this feature is only available on the Android app, but the company is working to make it accessible for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Firewall
The Windscribe Firewall is a good solution to keep you protected at all times while online. It monitors and filters incoming and outgoing traffic and is built into Windows and Mac applications.
Secure Hotspot
This feature is Windows-only, and it lets you create a secure WiFi hotspot on your computer.
Proxy Gateway
You can use Proxy Gateway to create a secure HTTP or SOCKS5 proxy server on your Windows or Mac computer. Other devices can then connect to that one and use the Windscribe secure connection. Take advantage of this feature and configure TVs, consoles, and other devices that support proxy servers.
Flexible Connectivity
Based on Windscribe reviews we read, Windscribe doesn’t restrict you to a single protocol or port. This is essential since these processes define how a computer exchanges data and the channels in which it does it. By not being restricted, you can use any port and maintain a solid connection.
Auto Pilot
The Autopilot extension feature will automatically pick the best location to connect to, ensuring optimal speed and access. For example, if you land on a geo-blocked service, it will automatically change the connection location to unblock the website.
Double Hop
Does Windscribe work for its intended purpose? Absolutely, and the Double Hop feature is a perfect example. Using it allows you to connect to two locations through the Windscribe client and a browser extension. Select the first desired location from the desktop application and then the second one in the browser. The final output will be the IP from your browser extension, providing enhanced privacy and anonymity.
Ad Blocking
The Windscribe browser extension comes with three components that make surfing the web safe and enjoyable. They are as follows:
- Ad blocking
- Tracker blocking
- Social network blocking
Ad blocking is another way for Windscribe to increase the speed of your internet and provide you with anonymity, as well as the ability to keep your browsing history to yourself.
Time Warp
Another cool Windscribe feature is Time Warp. It serves to fake the timezone of your computer to match with the connected location, reducing the likelihood of a website detecting the usage of a VPN.
Cooking Monster
If you’re on and off the VPN connection but still visit the same sites, chances are the collected cookies will store your data anyway and connect them to your activity. We’ve included this feature in our review of Windscribe since it can delete all third or first-party cookies as soon as you close the tab, keeping you completely hidden.
iPhone and Android Apps
Windscribe is also available for iPhones and Androids. With it, you can save data, hide your history from ISPs, and enjoy faster browsing. These apps won’t prevent hacking and keep you completely anonymous, however, due to the nature of mobile devices.
Windscribe for Windows, Mac, Linux
By downloading and using this application on these operating systems, you’ll reduce your online footprint. According to the Windscribe free and paid VPN review we read, using it will also keep your browsing history from your internet service providers and speed up your internet connection. Users claim it’s worth the money, and we agree. The application is affordable, especially considering all it can do.
Keep in mind, though, that Windscribe for Linux is still in the beta stage, so there may be some bugs to work out.
VPN for Firefox, Opera, Chrome
Windscribe is available for many famous browsers. You can use it on Firefox to reduce your online footprint, speed up the connection, protect yourself from public IPs, and unblock geo-restrictions. Windscribe Chrome Extension does the same thing, but keep in mind that browser extensions won’t protect you from hackers, make you completely anonymous, or protect torrent traffic.
VPN for Torrenting
Despite the legalities of it, one of the best things the internet has provided is the ability to download movies and music for free. Torrenting is extremely popular among users of all ages, and remaining anonymous is equally important to users. There are several reasons to use a VPN for torrenting.
As always, a VPN gives access to torrent websites outside of one’s location. Windscribe is perfect for torrenting since it can hide torrenting activity, and you won’t compromise your online identity, regardless of what you want to download.
Downloading copyrighted content is illegal in most countries, and many charge a hefty fine for it. To make sure you’re safe to use a torrenting site with Windscribe, you should enable the firewall, connect to a VPN location, and open the website only once you’re connected. After the download, remove the torrent from the client, completely close the client, and then disconnect from Windscribe VPN.
Windscribe Servers
On the official Windscribe website, you can check the status of all servers in each location. You’ll also see the number of connected users and network utilization. Windscribe has servers in 60 countries and over 110 cities.
No Email Required
A true indicator of Winscribe’s commitment to anonymous browsing is that it doesn’t require any information from you to use it, including an email. While it might be a bit annoying if you forget your password, it definitely makes sure there is no link to you being recorded by the company.
Windscribe Support
One of the things we love about the official Windscribe website is that the Support section is visible and listed right in the page’s header. There’s also a chatbot called Gerry available, where you can ask about your account, sales, and technical issues.
Clicking the Support category, you’ll get redirected to the SelfHelp page. There, you are free to browse FAQs, guides, and knowledge bases. In case you’re having any difficulties you can’t solve there, you can proceed to talk to Gerry, go to the Windscribe subreddit, or submit a ticket.
According to a Windscribe review of customer support, users are happy. Submitting a ticket is a straightforward process. Still, we believe that there should be a faster way to connect to customer support immediately if you have any problems. Some users complained that, for these types of products, a phone support option is a must.
We also couldn’t find a support team responding on Reddit directly. If this is your preferred way to communicate, be prepared that other users will try to help you out.
Summary
Decidedly, Windscribe VPN does what it’s intended to do. There are rarely any complaints online, even for customer support, according to our Windscribe VPN review. What we loved the most was that users can create their own monthly plans and just pay for what they use.
Feature-wise, Windscribe has everything you need, and most of the options work with a free version as well. The company even offers a feature for organizations and teams, which works as a regular app. The software is super user-friendly.
There are a couple of downsides, however, such as slow customer support and the fact that it’s based in Canada—one of the Five Eyes countries. The company claims it doesn’t keep track of any of your data, but still.
People Also Ask
When these kinds of applications or software are for free, you must wonder if they’re good and safe enough to use. Windscribe is an excellent tool to keep your privacy hidden and remain safe online. With this in mind, it seems perfectly safe, despite it being for free.
The company is using your data only for account creation. It never stores your IP, history, or the records of VPN sessions. Windscribe uses 256-bit AES encryption and a firewall that protects from any leaks.
Your internet speed depends on many things, and it may not be Windscribe that slows it down. Sometimes your antivirus software can collide with Windscribe and cause issues. If you’re having any difficulties, try connecting to the closest physical location. Make sure to test things out and disable your antivirus or firewall.
Kaspersky, Avira, and other programs can slow down the Windscribe connection to the servers or even cause a disconnect. Once you find out what’s slowing down your internet, you can find a solution. If you believe it’s Windscribe, you can always reach out to customer support and see if the team can help you.
Windscribe VPN is used most often for this purpose. Using a virtual private network hides your IP and prevents others from tracking you. That keeps you protected from ads, hackers, and other dangers of the internet.
Windscribe disguises your physical location and blocks website trackers. With Windscribe VPN, you’ll have access to any website while keeping your browsing data secure. Even if you’re using the public internet, Windscribe can keep you safe by hiding your personal information from exposure. The application provides you with a shared IP address that helps you get lost.
It’s safe to say that Windscribe is among the best in the industry. An array of excellent features and the belief that you should take your browsing history to the grave is what pushed this company to the top. Windscribe does its best to keep your personal information secure while you’re using its applications.
Another great thing about Windscribe is that it’s available for multiple devices, operating systems, and browsers. The price is affordable, and you can even build your payment plan, one of the best things we found out in this Windscribe VPN review.
