About Windscribe VPN
Windscribe was originally based in Toronto, Canada, but quickly moved away from that location. Interestingly, unlike many VPN service providers that opted for places like Panama or the British Virgin Islands, Windscribe moved its home base to Antarctica.
While it isn’t likely, they operate there, that’s the jurisdiction under which they currently fall. Before you get too excited, though, moving to the Troll research station means Norwegian technical jurisdiction – still within Fourteen Eyes purview.
Quick Facts
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarter | Antarctica |
| Price | Free / From $4.08/mo / Custom plans available |
| Number of Servers | Unknown |
| Locations | 63 Countries / 110 Cities |
| Device Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Various browsers, and more. |
| Website | https://windscribe.com/ |
Features Highlights
Privacy and Security
Many refer to Windscribe as a “free VPN,” but clarity is necessary for this. It offers a free tier that’s slightly limited in certain areas – but other than that is a commercial VPN service. This fact means it comes with all the security boosters you’d expect of a paid service.
Those include 256-bit encryption, a no-logging policy, double-hop VPN servers, ad blockers, and more. Windscribe pays much more attention to fine detail in many areas, even when compared to top-tier VPN services.
Windscribe Media Streaming
Like many other VPNs, Windscribe struggles with some streaming services from time to time. However, it generally works fine with most services, and streaming is possible even for users of their free tier. Yet, limited bandwidth on free plans makes them generally unsuitable for such purposes.
Many of Windscribe’s characteristics give it an edge in streaming. For example, it has a “Split Personality” feature that rotates user agents that may help fool some services.
Getting Helps and Support for Windscribe
Again here we see the clear difference between Windscribe and most “free” VPN services. It has a supremely professional help section that provides everything from general FAQ to setup guides and addressing certain topic areas.
To get in touch, you can rely on live chat, a ticketing system, and they even have a Subreddit threat if that’s your preference.
How Much Does Windscribe Cost?
Windscribe users can start on their free plan and then opt for subscriptions that cost as little as $4.08/mo. Paid plans offer access to a far greater number of servers (free plan users can only choose from 10 locations) and have unlimited bandwidth.
Interestingly, they have an option to “Build a Plan” that lets you pay based on specific server location choices. Each location added is $1/mo on your bill. If you typically use the same locations, it’s a good way of trimming prices significantly.
Pros & Cons Of Windscribe VPN
Pros of Windscribe VPN
- Custom plans provide more choice
- Wireguard supported
- Many server locations
- Excellent support system
- Available for almost all platforms
Cons of Windscribe VPN
- Still under Fourteen Eyes jurisdiction
- Some glitchiness in media streaming
Conclusion: Paid is Better
Windscribe is an excellent free VPN service – one of the best by far. Yet this quality of service leads me to the broader server network afforded by their paid plans. Their custom plans encourage that even more. Give Windscribe a trial run; you won’t regret it. Oh, and they also support Wireguard.
