Windscribe VPN Review

Is Windscribe VPN Good?

When you decide to use a VPN, you want to ensure that you’re going to get good service in return. We’ve talked about some of the basic security and privacy features of Windscribe, but let’s take an in-depth look at other frequently asked questions about the provider.

Is Windscribe Really Free?

While there is a paid version of Windscribe, the provider also offers a free plan, one of the best we’ve seen in the VPN industry. Windscribe advertisers its free plan for ‘light internet users,’ which makes sense since there is a data limit.

Users get 10GB of free data per month, which is good for users who only want VPN encryption for a few tasks such as sending emails or online banking. However, if you tweet about the company, Windscribe will permanently add 5GB of data to your plan.

The free plan offers unlimited connections and access to servers in 10 countries when it comes to servers. Considering that there are servers in over 110 cities, free users get limited access. Fortunately, the free version operates in some of the best countries for VPN usage, including the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and France.

Despite a couple of limitations, the free version of the VPN still offers advanced encryption. It operates as a malware and ad blocker, blocking ads and trackers on every application or website you visit. Due to the data limit, the free version doesn’t offer much access to streaming content, especially since its Windflix servers are not available on the free plan.

With the free plan, users will likely experience slower speeds, which could affect connections. However, compared to other free VPNs, Windscribe’s plan offers great features and first-rate security to users.

How Much Does Windscribe Cost?

If you want to subvert the restrictions on the free plan and enjoy unlimited data while surfing the web, then you’ll have to upgrade to the Windscribe Pro plan. The yearly plan costs $49 per year, which works out to $4.08 per month. Alternatively, you can pay for a monthly plan, which is just $9 per month.

There is also an innovative ‘build a plan’ option. This allows users to customize their VPN plan and create something that suits their needs. The price of this plan depends on how many locations you choose to have access to. For example, if you choose 3 servers, you’ll pay $3 per month and get 30GB per month while still having access to all the other features available on the plan.

Windscribe VPN also offers frequent discounts throughout the year, including a great discount for students. It’s worth checking out the website at common sale times, including Christmas and the New Year, as you’re more likely to get a good deal on the VPN.

What Payment Options Does Windscribe Accept?

Winscribe accepts many different payment options, including regular methods such as credit cards and PayPal. It also is one of the few VPNs that accept Bitcoin. If you want to use a VPN, you are probably worried about privacy on the web. Therefore it is good common sense to pay with Bitcoin when purchasing a VPN.

By paying with Bitcoin, you can anonymize your payment more. You can even sign up without an email address, which is one of the reasons why we like Windscribe VPN so much. The provider really prioritizes user privacy. The fact that it doesn’t request your email address is an excellent indication of its dedication to ensuring everyone on its services has as much anonymity as possible.

Does Windscribe Have a Money-Back Guarantee?

Money-back guarantees, otherwise known as refund policies, are commonplace in the VPN world. A good refund policy is something that everyone appreciates, as it gives you time to try out the VPN and ensure that it is the best service for you.

Windscribe does operate a refund policy, but it is only for 3 days, which could be limiting depending on how much time you have to test out the services. It’s far shorter than the industry-standard, which is a 30-day money-back guarantee.

There is also a catch to Windscribe’s refund policy. You’ll only get a refund if you’ve used less than 10GB of data during the three days.

While the policy may seem unfair (and we’d like to see an improvement in this area), it’s worth remembering that Windscribe offers its services to everyone for nothing on the free VPN. Therefore, if you want to try out the VPN, download it for free before deciding whether to sign up for the paid version.

Does Windscribe Unblock Geo-Restricted Streaming Content?

Your location decides what content you can see on the web, and one of the major reasons people use a VPN is that they need help getting past geo-blocks. Since Windscribe operates in 110 cities in 62+ countries, it makes it a great VPN for accessing restricted content.

As mentioned, Windscribe operates Windflix servers designed to help you access foreign streaming service libraries. We tested these and tried to access Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video, and enjoyed success with all three. However, there were a couple of times when our attempts to access Netflix were blocked.

Fortunately, Windscribe has a few ways to get past the firewalls that streaming sites put in place. The geolocation API spoofing and timezone spoofing available in the browsers for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera help fool websites into thinking you’re using a regular internet connection. Moreover, your real IP will be hidden from the web servers you connect to online.

You can also use Windscribe on Android TV boxes, which is great if you want to watch more Netflix catalogs on your Smart TV. While we don’t think Windscribe is as powerful as NordVPN, it does a pretty good job when it comes to unblocking streaming services.

Is Windscribe Fast?

There are so many reasons why using a VPN is a good idea. However, one of the main reasons why people may shy away from VPNs is because they have a reputation for slowing down internet connections. While this isn’t false, the majority of good providers provide decent download speeds, and Windscribe is one of them.

During our tests, we found that our download speeds did dip, but by how much depended on the location. For example, speeds in the US were good, and we enjoyed buffer-free video on YouTube and Netflix and noticed no lag. However, when we connected to Germany, we found that our speeds dropped more, and it took a little longer to load certain pages.

However, if you want to improve speeds in terms of page loading, then you can customize certain settings in R.O.B.E.R.T. For example, enabling the tracker and ad blocking improves page load time since ads can really slow this down. You’ll notice a massive improvement if you activate this feature.

Does Windscribe Allow Torrenting?

As we’ve mentioned, Windscribe is one provider that does permit torrenting on its network. It has optimized P2P servers and permits port forwarding. When you choose a server to connect to, you’ll find in the location list that the servers that don’t permit P2P traffic are labeled as such.

Fortunately, the majority of its servers allow torrenting. Combined with decent speeds and advanced privacy features, this makes Windscribe, a good choice for torrenting users.

Does Windscribe Have Good Customer Support?

There are many reasons why good customer support is important when it comes to a VPN. You may have an issue with the apps, or perhaps the Windows 10 machine client is not functioning properly. Whatever the reason, there will be a time when you need help from your provider.

Luckily Windscribe offers good customer support. Firstly, there is a support page on the website, with setup guides and FAQs to help you get answers for basic queries. The guides are good and provide help for all platforms.

There is also a chatbot on the website, where users can talk to ‘Team Garry’. Although this feature doesn’t connect you to a real customer service representative, you get fast and helpful, automated replies. The only language the bot speaks is English, so we’d like to see other languages available.

Finally, if you have a pressing concern that requires more assistance, you can use the ticketed emailing system. You may have to wait for a response, but you’ll get help from a real person. We would like to see a live chat option with real representatives added to the website, but overall the user support is decent.

Does Windscribe Really Protect from Tracking?

Windscribe encrypts your data, protecting you from hackers on public wifi networks and the prying eyes of your ISP. It can also protect you from data brokers, individuals, or organizations who buy user data since it is worth a lot to them. They can profit immensely from your data by selling it to interested third parties.

A way in which third parties collect user data is through tracking services such as advertisers. If you want to prevent tracking services and other third parties from watching your activity, Windscribe is a great choice. Not only is its encryption advanced, but it blocks trackers that could put your privacy at risk.

Cookies can also put a user’s privacy at risk, and usually, VPNs do not block these. Since cookies are collected on your device, it is important to evade these, and Windscribe has a feature called the Cooking Monster, which deletes them from your browser or browser tabs upon closing them. This is really an impressive feature and shows the dedication Windscribe has to prevent its users’ movements from being traced online.

Of course, there is no way that any VPN will protect you 100% from being tracked online. For example, you could download email attachments that contain trackers, but in this case, it’s important to apply common sense, as the provider itself states. However, using a VPN will definitely limit the likelihood of you getting tracked.

Where is Windscribe Based?

Windscribe is based in Toronto, Canada, which may raise a few eyebrows for people concerned with privacy. Canada is a member of the Five Eyes, an international security alliance that shares user data to counteract terrorism and ensure global safety. This means that any data that Windscribe is forced to hand over to law enforcement agencies in Canada may be shared internationally.

Of course, Windscribe’s no-logs policy is in place to avoid this eventuality from occurring. Since the provider doesn’t store browsing data or any information that could link an individual user, you should be safe even if your data ends up in the hands of governments.

Does Windscribe Have a Business VPN?

Many VPN providers have begun to expand their services, offering business VPNs alongside their consumer products. Windscribe is one such provider that offers team accounts known as ScribeForce. If you have a small business and want your team to enjoy privacy and safety on the web, this is a good option.

You can manage all accounts from one control panel, adding and removing permissions as you see fit. It also works out to be much cheaper than giving each member an individual Windscribe account, with centralized billing making it easier to pay for the service.

With ScribeForce, you get access to all of the Pro plan features, including unlimited bandwidth, split tunneling, and the use of R.O.B.E.R.T. There is also the option to purchase and share static IPs between the team. Since Windscribe has apps for all of the major platforms, this plan ensures that your teammates will have protection across all of their devices.