Windscribe VPN Review 2024: Before You Buy, Is It Worth It?

Delivers Fast Speeds With Nearby Servers

When using Windscribe, I found that it offers speedy and reliable internet connectivity, especially when connected to servers in close proximity. Throughout my experience, I was able to effortlessly browse the internet, stream high-definition movies, download large files, and enjoy online gaming without experiencing any noticeable lag. Although, I did encounter occasional temporary server disconnections.

Speed Test Results

Prior to utilizing Windscribe, my internet connection was exceptionally fast at 22.56 Mbps. Unfortunately, after implementing Windscribe, I experienced a substantial decline in speed, resulting in an average speed of 7 Mbps, representing a decrease of 69%.

As I experimented with different Windscribe servers, I noticed that my speeds were inconsistent. The London server provided a satisfactory speed of 15 Mbps, while the Dallas server offered a slower speed of 8 Mbps. However, when connecting to servers located further from my location, I encountered a sharp decline in speed. My connection with the Istanbul server was limited to only 3 Mbps, and with the South Korean server, it plummeted to a mere 1 Mbps.

Is Windscribe VPN Fast Enough for Gaming? Yes, but the Latency Was High!

Windscribe provided fast gaming, but the high latency caused occasional lag during play. Latency, or the amount of time it takes for data to travel between two points, is a critical factor in determining a smooth gaming experience.

A low latency of under 100ms is ideal, but my experience with Windscribe showed a latency above 150ms, which is not optimal for gaming. During my time playing Killstreak, the game detected the high latency and prompted me to change locations to improve my performance.

On the other hand, top-tier VPNs like ExpressVPN have lower latency and better speeds, even when connecting to distant servers. I never experienced more than a 25% drop in speed when connected to any ExpressVPN server, no matter the distance from my location.

Server Network — 100+ Server Locations

Windscribe VPN is a service that provides over 100 servers in 60+ countries. While the number of servers may not be as extensive as some other VPNs, it still provides a good range of geographical coverage. Free users can access servers in 11 countries only, while Pro users have access to the entire network, including popular countries like the US, UK, France, Spain, Argentina, and Israel.

The server coverage of Windscribe is strongest in North American and European countries, but there is also a good selection of servers in other parts of the world. However, the number of servers in Africa and South America could be improved.

Windscribe asserts that it solely operates physical servers, which could restrict its accessibility in some countries due to legal constraints. However, the presence of the “Fake Antarctica – Troll Station” server raises questions about this claim, indicating that Windscribe does not possess any servers in Antarctica.

Windscribe boasts a unique aspect in its server naming scheme, which is both entertaining and functional. The servers are assigned whimsical names such as “biscuits” for those located in London, and “red light” for those in Amsterdam. This approach not only adds a touch of humor but also enables users to easily recall their preferred server.

To enhance the speed of your Windscribe experience, it is important to consider the distance between your location and the server you are using. One useful feature is the live feed, which provides real-time information on network utilization, the number of registered and connected users, as well as usage statistics for each country. This information will help you to choose the optimal server, avoiding slow speeds due to excessive usage.

Security — Packed Full of Advanced Functionalities

I found that Windscribe does an excellent job of ensuring a secure and safe connection. It offers robust security measures through its implementation of cryptographic protocols and a comprehensive suite of safety features. These security features, along with regular software updates and technical support, make Windscribe VPN a reliable and secure choice for online privacy and security.

The security features offered by Windscribe VPN include:

• AES-256 encryption – the desktop versions of Windscribe utilize the AES-256 cipher with SHA512 authentication to ensure the privacy and security of your internet activity. This encryption method is one of the strongest commercially available, offering military-level VPN security through its use of a 4096-bit RSA key. Additionally, Windscribe implements Perfect Forward Secrecy to increase protection by constantly generating new encryption keys.
• Multiple security protocols – Windscribe provides 5 options for securing your online activity: OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), IKEv2/IPSec, Wireguard, Stealth, and Wstunnel. The program automatically selects the most appropriate protocol for your connection, but you have the ability to manually choose from the settings menu.
• Kill switch – this function aims to safeguard your digital confidentiality by disabling all internet connectivity whenever the VPN link is disconnected. This action stops your IP from being disclosed and diverts your online activity from being sent to your ISP instead of the VPN server.
• Firewall – a firewall is like a guard for your network that checks all the data coming and going. Windscribe VPN has its own special guard called a firewall that only lets connections in if they’re part of a VPN connection that’s already set up.
• Secure Hotspot – this feature enables you to establish a secure Wi-Fi access point utilizing your device, thereby encrypting both incoming and outgoing data transmissions for superior security protocols.
• Auto-Connect – this capability enables the initiation of a VPN connection upon device initiation, thereby ensuring constant security for you and eliminating the risk of security lapses due to forgetfulness.
• Double Hop – the Double Hop component of Windscribe provides heightened cyber security through the simultaneous utilization of two separate geographical nodes to transmit your digital data. However, during my examination, I observed a substantial dip of 80% in the software’s performance when this function was employed. Despite the added security that the double hop affords, it is crucial to assess the trade-off between the decrease in connection speed and the gain in security measures.
• Stealth Mode – this option enables you to bypass internet censorship and firewalls by making the VPN connection appear as a normal HTTPS connection. This helps to maintain your privacy and security even in countries where internet access is restricted.
• Port forwarding – with Windscribe’s port forwarding feature, you can access services on your home network or computer on up to 10 ports. There are many benefits to it. One is that it offers a dual-protected connection, masked external IP address, and high upload speed when streaming and torrenting. However, this feature is only available to Windscribe Premium subscribers.
• Split tunneling – this feature allows you to choose which applications and websites will use the VPN connection and which will use the direct internet connection. This can help to improve internet speed for certain applications and websites that do not require a VPN connection.
• R.O.B.E.R.T. – Windscribe’s R.O.B.E.R.T. feature is a unique technology that effectively blocks unwanted ads, trackers, and harmful websites. This feature has been designed to maximize efficiency, speed, and flexibility, granting you complete control over your online privacy and security.
• Cruise Control – another unique feature we found was Cruise Control and so we thought it wise to include it in this review. The feature enables the app to automatically select the best server according to your server location and network speed. With this feature, users around the globe can access the best servers, since the VPN automatically redirects your server location to the ones with the best traffic. This isn’t to say users have no control over the server to use. You can still manually select the server of your choice.
• Decoy mode – the Android app’s decoy mode is a state-of-the-art tool that prioritizes privacy. It works by generating false internet activity, effectively masking your real online activity. This makes it challenging for malicious actors to trace your actual internet behavior and safeguards against traffic correlation attacks.
• Time Warp – the Time Warp functionality is accessible via browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. It enables you to modify your device’s time zone to align with the server to which you are connected. This facilitates the concealment of your VPN usage from websites, thereby preserving your privacy.
• DNS Leak Protection – DNS leaks occur when a user’s ISP is used to resolve domain names, instead of the VPN’s DNS server. Windscribe VPN’s DNS leak protection ensures that all DNS requests are sent through the VPN, keeping the user’s online activities private.
• IPV6 Leak Protection – IPv6 is a newer version of the internet protocol that is designed to replace IPv4. Windscribe VPN’s IPV6 leak protection blocks IPv6 traffic to prevent leaks that might reveal the user’s real IP address.

To gauge Windscribe’s commitment to maintaining confidentiality, I conducted several tests utilizing ipleak.net on various servers. The objective of these evaluations was to assess the effectiveness of Windscribe’s measures against IP and DNS leaks.

Windscribe demonstrated exceptional proficiency in safeguarding against data breaches. The results were conclusive, with full protection of both the IP address and DNS, which highlights Windscribe’s formidable capabilities in preserving privacy.

Privacy — Proven Non-compliance With Government Agencies

Windscribe is a VPN service that appears to be trustworthy, though it is important to be aware of some limitations. In terms of data retention, Windscribe only keeps track of crucial information such as the amount of bandwidth used in the past thirty days, the last time the VPN was active, the number of connected devices, and the connection duration. Sensitive information, such as source IPs, visited websites, and VPN sessions, is not stored, ensuring complete privacy for the users.

Unfortunately, Windscribe is located in Canada, which is part of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance, a group of countries that exchange intelligence information. This means that the Canadian government could request access to user data from the VPN service, which could put user privacy and security at risk. Additionally, Canada has stringent data retention laws, meaning the VPN service may have to store and share user data with the government if requested.

To maintain secure connections and preserve user privacy, Windscribe does not require personal information during the registration process. Users can create an account anonymously and even pay using cryptocurrency, offering an extra layer of protection.

In June 2021, Windscribe faced a significant challenge when two of its servers in Ukraine were seized for investigation by law enforcement agencies. Despite the incident, Windscribe assured its users that their data was not compromised and remained safe. However, the seizure revealed a weakness in Windscribe’s security, and the company took swift action to improve its security measures.

To avoid similar incidents, Windscribe is transitioning to in-memory servers, which will be wiped clean every time the power is turned off, providing the highest level of security for its users. This proactive move demonstrates Windscribe’s commitment to providing secure and dependable VPN services to its customers.

Windscribe’s dedication to privacy is further highlighted through its transparency report page. Since its launch in 2018, the VPN has received over two million DMCA requests and over 200 law enforcement requests, but it has been unable to comply as it does not have any relevant information to share. Overall, Windscribe’s minimal logging policy and commitment to transparency reflect its commitment to protecting user privacy.

Torrenting — Supports P2P, but Some Server Locations Aren’t Allowed

Windscribe is a versatile VPN service that offers P2P (peer-to-peer) support on most of its servers worldwide, making it a suitable choice for those who enjoy torrenting. However, it’s important to note that not all Windscribe servers are optimized for P2P activities. Those that don’t support torrenting are indicated with a cross on the P2P icon, including countries such as India, Lithuania, Russia, and South Africa.

I found that Windscribe’s P2P-optimized servers provided a secure and anonymous torrenting experience. The VPN doesn’t block, throttle, or monitor torrent downloads, and implements top-notch security measures to ensure quick and safe P2P activities. Windscribe also offers guides on how to set up a SOCKS5 proxy with popular torrent clients, such as Deluge, qBittorrent, VUZE, and uTorrent. I put these features to the test and was able to successfully download a movie from the public domain using BitTorrent while connected to Windscribe.

It’s worth mentioning that while torrenting may not be illegal in all countries, downloading illegal titles is a violation of copyright laws in many nations. As responsible users, my team and I strongly advise checking the laws in your country before engaging in any torrenting activities.

Does Windscribe Work in China? Yes!

For maximum security in countries like China, the UAE, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, Windscribe boasts two advanced features: Stealth VPN mode and Wstunnel mode. These modes enable users to disguise their OpenVPN connection as a secure TLS connection or a WebSocket connection, respectively, making it easy to access the internet while traveling.

To verify that Windscribe works in China, I reached out to its customer support and received confirmation from the chatbot, Garry. The chatbot confirmed that Windscribe is a global solution that operates seamlessly, regardless of your location.

If you plan to travel to China and need to have smooth and safe internet access, it is recommended to download a VPN on your device before entering the country. This is because downloading the VPN while inside China may be challenging due to the country’s strict censorship laws. However, keep in mind that the iOS version of the VPN does not have the stealth option, which may put you at risk of not having full protection while in China.

While using a VPN can provide privacy and security, it does not grant immunity to illegal activities. Therefore, you must be cautious when using a VPN in China and always abide by the laws and regulations.

Windscribe offers various modes of support to its customers. You can start by utilizing the live chat support feature, which is facilitated by a chatbot named Garry. If you are not fully satisfied with the support provided by Garry, you can escalate your issue to a human support team. It is important to note that live support is not available; instead, you will be asked to submit a ticket and the support team will get back to you through email.

Both my chat and email communication with Windscribe’s support channels have been met with prompt and helpful responses, further demonstrating their commitment to customer satisfaction.

In addition to the live chat support, Windscribe also provides a wealth of information through its online library, including frequently asked questions, a knowledge base, guides, and a subreddit and discord channel.