Windscribe Full Review: Take Control of Your Data
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Technology was meant to be accessible for all users all around the world. Later on, restrictions and limitations were imposed on what people can do online. That's one reason why many users find VPN services the most effective way to get a better and unlimited experience. Several.com picked Windscribe VPN to help you protect your online presence and prevent stalkers from reaching out to your data. You will be introduced to Windscribe's plans, features, and more to help you make the right decision.
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Cons
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Quick Stats
Windscribe offers a free VPN that is packed with all the essential features and other premium plans for more advanced options.
Get to Know Windscribe More
Windscribe is a cyber-security company based in Canada, with around 180 servers in more than 63 countries and 110 cities worldwide. The services include secure public Wi-Fi connection, ad-blocker, geo-restriction bypass, no-log policy, and more will be listed out in detail.
Windscribe Speed
This section checks how Windscribe fares against its competitors regarding speed tests, number of servers, geographic distribution, and their fastest available protocol.
1. Speed tests
Windscribe's speed is fairly decent on most of the servers. Still, you might face inconsistent speed from one server to another. So the question is: Can Windscribe compete with the top VPNs' speed? Well, the answer is no; top VPNs like NordVPN or ExpressVPN show better results in a large number of locations.
2. Number of servers and geographic distribution
Short explanation: Windscribe has 180+ servers distributed over 63 countries and 110 cities around the globe.
Long explanation: The best VPN services always offer many server locations. The high number of servers (especially when they are quality servers) can relieve internet traffic congestion. When a server has too many users, the speed will drop. Having multiple servers in certain areas helps relieve that congestion pressure.
3. Fastest available protocol
Short Explanation: IKEv2 is the fastest available protocol by Windscribe (recommended to use).
Long Explanation: In the VPN world, many protocols exist, with differences between protocols making the difference in how secure a VPN is, how fast, and whether it can bypass geo-censorship. Typically, the trade-off is between speed and security, with the PPTP protocol typically being the fastest but the least secure.
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Windscribe Security and Privacy
Windscribe offers many outstanding privacy features that will help you get rid of all restrictions and limitations while surfing the internet, fully anonymous and protected. The most important features regarding security and privacy include:
1. Encryption and protocols
Windscribe provides AES-256-bit encryption, which is the standard for the industry. It is so secure to the point that governments, militaries, and banks utilize this type of encryption to secure their data.
Are you new to VPNs? Windscribe uses IKEv2 protocol for speed, OpenVPN protocol for security, and Stealth or Wstunnel protocol to bypass geo-censorship (obfuscation).
Pro mode: The protocols available for Windscribe include IKEv2, OpenVPN (UDP/TCT). To avoid getting blocked in China, you can use Stealth or Wstunnel protocols. These two encapsulate OpenVPN to avoid the Great Firewall of China and other geo-restriction.
Pro mode: The protocols available for Windscribe include:
| Protocols | IKEv2 | OpenVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | All platforms (default for macOS and iOS) | All platforms |
| Security | IPsec encryption | AES encryption (most secure) |
| Firewall | UDP ports 500 and 4500, and ESP IP Protocol 50 | Uses 443 port (hard to block) |
| Speed | Generally fast (faster than OpenVPN) | Slower than IKEv2 (around 400,000 lines of code) |
2. Windscribe logs policy
Short explanation: Windscribe has a no-activity log policy.
Long explanation: Users' personal data is not for trades or bargains, nor is it a marketing tool in advertisers' hands. Windscribe thinks trust is essential. It doesn't keep connection logs, browsing history, session logs, or timestamps. All it saves is your last use of Windscribe and the total amount of bandwidth used in 30 days, just to control the free tier limitations.
3. Windscribe kill switch
Short explanation: Windscribe has a fully functional kill switch feature.
Long explanation: Windscribe has a kill switch that's called a Firewall. A kill switch acts to sever your connection to the internet in the event your VPN connection fails, therefore protecting your real IP address. Kill switch protection is further divided into IP leak protection and DNS leak protection. Windscribe does an outstanding job with both.
4. Windscribe RAM-based servers
Short explanation: Windscribe doesn’t have RAM-based servers.
Long explanation: A RAM-based server means that the data, instead of being saved to SSD drives, it is saved on RAMs. This is advantageous to security because RAMs are wiped clean every time the servers reboot.
5. Based country
Short explanation: Windscribe is based in Canada.
Long explanation: Windscribe is based in Canada, which is inside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. VPN companies based inside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance are considered a possible security threat as these countries are known to spy on their citizens and share information internally.
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6. Warrant Canary
Short explanation: Windscribe doesn't have a warrant canary system.
Long explanation: A warrant canary is an indirect method to warn customers of governmental attempts to subpoena where the presence of the warrant on the company's official website means the local government hasn't tried anything yet. In the event the warrant canary is removed from the company's page, it means they were asked.
7. Secure hotspot
While having Windscribe on your computer, your friends can connect to your hotspot and make use of your connection.
Secure Hotspot is a Windows-only feature.
How to use it?
1. Enable "Secure Hotspot" from Windscribe preferences.
2. Choose the network and type a password, then click okay.
3. Find the Wi-Fi network on the other device, and connect with the password you typed already.
8. R.O.B.E.R.T Customizable Server-Side Domain
With this feature in your hands, you can manage your blocklist, customize it by choosing which IPs and domains you want to access and which you want to block.
How can R.O.B.E.R.T blocklist make your online life easier?
Sometimes it feels like all you want is to watch a movie or download a song without stumbling with a bevy of ads and pop-ups. R.O.B.E.R.T is what you need here. When you choose what to block and what to access, you can reduce the number of uninvited ads and catch any sneaky malware. Also, blocking websites with ads and trackers boosts your device and runs it faster without any obstructions.
Windscribe in Practice
In terms of the applications of VPN in the real world, we dive further into how Windscribe fares against the rest in the following categories:
1. Streaming
Windscribe unblocks US Netflix only.
Windscribe unblocks US Netflix only. But it is not a good choice for streaming services, such as Amazon Prime and Hulu. If you're aiming to access geo-blocked content on all streaming sites, consider using one of our top recommendations, like NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
2. Torrent
Short explanation: Windscribe allows torrenting. Furthermore, Windscribe has 10 P2P servers for torrenting and sharing files easily and fast.
Long explanation: Torrenting goes hand in hand with VPN. Many individuals torrent illegal material, requiring the use of a VPN to cover up both the data going over to their ISP via encryption and their location by masking their IP address. However, not all VPN companies allow for torrenting, and even fewer companies have specialized torrenting servers which provide a better experience and speed when torrenting.
3. Gaming
Short explanation: Windscribe doesn't have specialized gaming servers, but it supports gaming.
Long explanation: When it comes to gaming, the reason why you would want to use a VPN for games is variable, but one thing is clear, which is no one wants to lag at all. Companies with specialized gaming servers make sure your gaming experience will be smoother than with companies that don't have specialized gaming servers.
4. Windscribe dedicated IP
Short explanation: Windscribe doesn't have a dedicated IP.
Long explanation: While mostly when using a VPN, you would want a dynamic IP (an IP that changes whenever you reconnect to a server). In certain situations, this is not the case. A dedicated server is recommended in the following situations:
- Business security.
- Secure online payment.
- Avoid getting blacklisted.
- Avoid CAPTCHAs.
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5. Geo-censorship bypass (obfuscation)
Windscribe bypasses geo-restricted content by masking your IP. To do so, it uses Stealth or Wstunnel protocols, which are less likely to be blocked by governments and countries with high censorship like China.
But let's tell you this, if you want to watch Netflix unlimitedly, Windscribe might not be the best option. Why? It unblocks US Netflix only. No worries, though; NordVPN and ExpressVPN are there to let you enjoy your favorite content with no limitations.
6. Split tunneling
Short explanation: Windscribe has the split tunneling feature.
Long explanation: The split tunneling feature means you can selectively use your VPN on a certain type/source of data outgoing from your device.
Split tunneling in certain situations is favorable. For example, you're torrenting while playing a videogame or watching a YouTube video. In such a scenario, you would want only the torrenting to be encrypted. VPN encryption will slow down the connection speed relative to not using a VPN since the encrypted data is larger than non-encrypted.
7. Port Forwarding
You can access Windscribe services on your home network or your computer remotely. This protects you against Distributed Denial of Service attacks (DDoS), keeps your connection protected, hides your external IP, and speeds up your torrenting.
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Windscribe Extensions and Compatibility
Windscribe is compatible with:
1. Windows.
2. macOS.
3. Linux.
4. Android.
5. iOS.
Windscribe is available as an extension on:
1. Google Chrome.
2. Firefox.
3. Opera
User Experience
Windscribe provides its services in many languages and via multiple platforms. Let's get to know more about them in detail:
1. Supported Languages
Windscribe supports the following languages:
1. English
2. Chinese
3. French
4. German
5. Italian
6. Russian
7. Spanish
8. Portuguese
2. Customer Support
Windscribe makes sure that all your problems will get solved by offering a bunch of assistance methods.
• Setup Guide
Windscribe setup guide is comprehensive and detailed. When you click on it, you will find all you need to know about how to setup Windscribe VPN on each operating system, browser, and device, supported with a tutorial video with step-by-step instructions.
In details, you will have a tutorial video and instructions for:
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS, and Linux |
|---|---|
| Browsers | Chrome, Firefox, and Opera |
| Mobile phones | Android, iPhone, and PCs |
| Televisions | Amazon Fire, Nvidia Shield, and Kodi |
| Routers | DD-WRT, Tomato, and Asus |
| Torrent Client | UTorrent, Deluge, BitTorrent, and V.U.Z.E. |
• F.A.Q.s (Frequently Asked Questions)
You will probably find an answer to your question within the general questions section, or scroll down to see more about desktop applications and browser extensions. If the answer is not there, head off to the knowledge base.
• Knowledge Base
It is more a comprehensive guide that assists in the form of articles. We are sure that this section will give you a hand in what you are looking for, including streaming, speed, DNS leak, bandwidth, and many other issues.
• Subreddit
When you click on it, the website redirects you to the Reddit website to find articles, questions, and more about Windscribe VPN.
• Talk to Garry
It is not a real person there who answers all your questions. However, it is a good assistance when the problem does not require a detailed answer or in-depth knowledge.
• Submit Tickets
When you can't find an answer using the previously mentioned assistance tools, then you can simply drop your problem in the "Submit a Ticket" section.
Pricing and Payments
You can choose from three plans: monthly and yearly subscriptions, or simply build your own plan with the location you want. Here are the details:
- Monthly Subscription: Billed $9.00 per month.
- Yearly Subscription: The most popular and economic plan, it is billed $49 every 12 months and for $4.08 per month.
- Build a Plan: Billed $1.00 per month for per location.
Let's get to the exciting part. There is a free version available without any requirements. All you need is an email address. It includes 10 G.B. of data per month, fewer servers, and locations limited to 10 countries only.
Available payment methods include:
- PayPal
- Major credit cards (VISA, Master Card, American Express)
- Bitcoin
- Payment-Wall
If the services did not catch your interest or didn't meet your expectations, you could get your money back due to their 3-day money-back guarantee.
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Conclusion
Several.com knows how hard it is to decide. It is all here packed for you, and all you need to do is to look and pick what fits the best. A free Windscribe VPN is available, too, so you can try, test, and make up your mind.
We can help you pick out the top VPN services on the market. All you need to do is to read our top VPN recommendations.