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Best for Performance and Privacy
- Ultra-secure, high-speed VPN complete with malware protection and automatic blocking of intrusive ads and third-party trackers
- Other benefits include a premium password manager, dark web monitoring, and access to IP-restricted content
- 3 plans to choose from for custom protection on up to 10 devices
Best for Your Budget
- Unlimited device connections
- Has a customizable plan if you only need access to servers in specific countries
If you compare NordVPN and Windscribe, price is the biggest difference between the two. NordVPN is more expensive, but it includes bonus features like an ad blocker and 24/7 support. Windscribe is cheaper, offering a free plan and a Build-a-Plan option, but its regular pricing is more than Nord.
Overall, Windscribe is the better choice for more budget-conscious users who don’t mind a couple of flaws (but not dealbreakers). On the other hand, NordVPN is outstanding for those who don’t mind paying a bit more for a more complete product.
Prices
Which VPN is faster?
Which VPN is more secure?
Compatibility and customer support
FAQs
Is NordVPN or Windscribe better?
NordVPN vs. Windscribe at a glance
NordVPN is a premium VPN provider that makes your subscription worthwhile. It includes plenty of features to make this price worth it, like specialty servers, an ad blocker, and dark web monitoring.
Windscribe offers a lot of bang for the buck — solid performance and compatibility, plenty of streaming options, and a no-logs policy. However, it’s not without compromises, including a headquarters in Canada – a Five Eyes alliance country — and a lack of 24/7 human customer service.
- NordVPN: Best for performance and privacy
- Windscribe: Best for your budget
How do NordVPN and Windscribe compare?
Price | $3.09–$15.99/mo | $1.00–$9.00/mo |
Max # of connected devices | 10 | Unlimited |
24/7 customer support | ||
Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more |
# of servers | 6,300+ servers in 111 countries | Unlisted in 69+ countries |
VPN protocol | OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard), IKEv2/IPsec | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, Stealth, Websocket Stealth |
No-logs policy | No logs | No logs |
Unblocks Netflix? | ||
Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get Windscribe |
NordVPN pros and cons
NordVPN is one of the top providers for a number of reasons. It has an extensive server network with 6,300+ servers in 111 countries. These include specialty servers for obfuscation, Onion over VPN, and more.
Nord is also one of the fastest VPNs on the market. During our testing, it increased our download speeds with every server location we tested. We were easily able to browse the web and stream Netflix with no buffering or lag.
Nord has an audited no-logs policy, which was most recently reviewed by Deloitte at the end of 2023. Plus it's headquartered in Panama, which is a significant boost for privacy because it is not part of the Eyes alliances.
- Thousands of servers in over 100 countries
- Increased our download speeds across server locations
- Privacy-friendly headquarters and audited no-logs policy
- More expensive than Windscribe
- No free version
Windscribe pros and cons
Windscribe packs a lot of value into its plans. All of its plan options allow for unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can cover all the devices in your home.
Windscribe offers a free version with 10 GB of free data, servers in 10 countries, and all the same features as the paid plans. It also lets you build your own plan, where you pay $1.00/mo per server location.
Despite its budget-friendly options, Windscribe provides the standard features you need from a VPN, like a kill switch and split tunneling. It also comes with proxy settings and content blocking filters for more tech-savvy users.
- Offers free version and customizable Build-a-Plan option
- Allows for unlimited simultaneous connections
- Includes unique features like content blockers and proxy settings
- Headquartered in Canada, a Five Eyes alliance country
- Lacks 24/7 customer support
NordVPN vs. Windscribe: prices
Our Pick
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Price range | $3.09–$15.99/mo | $1.00–$9.00/mo |
Best value plan | 2-year Basic plan for $3.09/mo (billed every two years) | Build-a-Plan for $1.00/mo per location |
Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days | Yes — 3 days |
Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get Windscribe |
Of the two providers, Windscribe is certainly the more affordable — it even offers a free version (with a 10 GB monthly data limit). That said, NordVPN isn’t too expensive, and it can get close to Windscribe’s prices if you’re willing to sign up for a two-year plan instead of a monthly plan.
Something interesting about Windscribe is that you can build your own subscription. The Build-A-Plan option lets you select the server locations you want at a price of $1.00/mo per location. Each location also provides 10 GB of data, but you can then add unlimited data for an extra $1.00/mo.
The plan has a minimum cost of $3.00/mo, which will get you either three locations and 30 GB of data or two locations and unlimited data. This can be a great way to save some money on your VPN.
Nord does win out for the best money-back guarantee. You can try the service for a full 30 days risk-free, while Windscribe only offers seven days. That’s better than nothing, but 30 days is the standard.
NordVPN vs. Windscribe: payment options
Since VPNs are all about privacy, the payment method you use is important. For that reason, both providers offer a variety of payment options, ranging from credit cards and prepaid debit to cryptocurrency and even cash (for NordVPN). Generally, cash is going to provide the most privacy since it can’t really be traced back to you.
NordVPN payment options
- Credit card
- PayPal
- Google Pay
- Cryptocurrencies (bitcoin, ethereum, and more)
Windscribe payment options
- Credit card
- PayPal
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Amazon Pay
- Cryptocurrency (bitcoin)
- Paymentwall
Which VPN is faster?
When using a VPN, there is typically a hit to internet performance. These services work by routing your traffic through potentially distant servers en route to their destination.
However, some VPNs do a better job than others at preserving speed. To test, we took an internet speed test with our plain internet connection (based in the U.S.) and then again by using the VPN through servers in various locations. The results below indicate how much NordVPN and Windscribe were impacted by each server location.
Our Pick
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US | 45% faster | 4% slower |
Canada | 41% faster | 5% slower |
UK | 31% faster | 20% slower |
AU | 12% faster | 65% slower |
Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get Windscribe |
Although we expect VPNs to decrease our speeds, that's not always the case. NordVPN impressed us because it sped up our internet connection with nearly every server location. The U.S. and Canadian servers almost doubled our speeds.
Windscribe slowed our speeds, but it wasn't noticeable until we connected to servers across the pond. While the U.S. and Canadian servers only negligibly slowed our connection, the Australian server decreased our connection significantly by 65%.
Be sure to consider your physical location when selecting a server. Since Australia is on the other side of the world from our physical location, it naturally led to slower speeds.
Which VPN is more secure?
Feature | Our Pick
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Number of servers | 6,300+ servers in 111 countries | Unlisted in 69+ countries |
No-logs policy | No logs | No logs |
VPN headquarters | Panama | Canada |
Encryption | AES-256-GCM | AES-256-GCM |
VPN protocol | OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard), IKEv2/IPsec | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, Stealth, Websocket Stealth |
Kill switch | ||
Split tunneling | ||
DNS leak protection | ||
Ad blocker | ||
Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get Windscribe |
Running through the basic features of each VPN, you can see that the two have a lot in common. Windstream and NordVPN both support AES-256-GCM encryption and the WireGuard protocol, which help provide strong data privacy without losing too much speed.
However, Windscribe is missing a couple of notable things. First, although it does have a no-logs policy, the provider hasn’t had an independent audit done. Having a no-logs policy audited by an unbiased third party helps verify those claims. Nord’s no-logs policy was last audited by Deloitte in late 2023.
Second, Windscribe is headquartered in Canada, which is a Five Eyes alliance member. In theory, this means your data could be less private since the Eyes alliances are intelligence-sharing agreements. In practice, if the no-logs policy is legit, there would be nothing to show the government, but again, since there’s no independent audit, we can’t be 100% positive.
There are other differences, too. Windscribe has servers in more countries than NordVPN. However, NordVPN boasts over 6,400 servers, whereas Windscribe doesn’t disclose the exact number of servers it has.
Finally, each provider offers its own array of special features. Windscribe has a number of advanced settings in its apps, including proxy settings and the R.O.B.E.R.T. tool for blocking domains and IP addresses on the network. This tool is actually pretty impressive — particularly the prebuilt category lists that let you block ads, trackers, gambling sites, and more across your entire network.
NordVPN offers its own slew of features. Threat Protection helps keep you safe from malware, ads, and trackers in real time. Meshnet lets you connect your devices together in a sort of local network so you can access all of them from a single device. For example, you can transfer files among different computers or remotely access a device at home from your office.
NordVPN vs. Windscribe: compatibility and ease of use
Our Pick
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Windows | ||
macOS | ||
Android | ||
iOS | ||
Linux | ||
Router | ||
Smart devices | ||
24/7 customer support | ||
Customer support options | Live chat, email, online guides | Email, online guides |
Browser extensions | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge |
Get NordVPN | Get Windscribe |
NordVPN and Windscribe both offer excellent compatibility with desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux, mobile apps for Android and iOS, and even browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Neither really has an advantage over the other here.
The two also have comparable user interfaces — neither is really difficult to use, in our opinion. We did find that NordVPN has a bit more of a modern look, while Windscribe feels a little dated. However, for the amount of time that you spend in the interface (not much), this isn’t a dealbreaker.
The only real difficulty we ran into was with Windscribe using an excessive amount of CPU resources. This problem cropped up during our Windscribe review. We were able to solve it by disabling a feature and restarting the computer, but the fact that it’s a problem at all could be an issue for less tech-savvy users.
Both Windscribe and NordVPN offer useful support websites, email support, and a 24/7 chatbot that can do a decent job of answering basic questions. However, NordVPN offers 24/7 live chat with a real person — and Windscribe lacks this option. As cool as chatbots are, they aren't a substitute for actual people, so it’s a little disappointing not having this avenue available.
On a similar note, neither provider offers any sort of telephone support. We get that it’s 2024 and phones are old-fashioned, but some people prefer this avenue, so we’d really like to see it offered.
FAQs
Is NordVPN the fastest VPN?
NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs available. Our speed tests showed that it increased our speeds with each server location rather than decreased them.
Is Windscribe VPN trustworthy?
Yes, Windscribe seems trustworthy. We don’t really see any particular reason to suspect there's anything fishy going on.
Windscribe uses strong encryption and VPN protocols. It also has a firm no-logs policy. However, we would appreciate seeing a third-party independent audit of Windscribe’s privacy practices.
Is NordVPN safe from police?
Although NordVPN does keep your data very private and secure, the company does comply with law enforcement requests. That means that while what you’re doing online may be obscured, it’s still available to law enforcement.
Is there a Windscribe free trial?
Yes. Windscribe offers both a completely free plan (although with limited data) as well as a seven-day money-back guarantee trial on a paid plan. A week isn’t much time, but it’s certainly better than nothing.
Is NordVPN or Windscribe better?
NordVPN and Windscribe each have a lot to offer. Nord is only marginally more expensive and is the more complete service, covering most of Windscribe’s shortcomings and also offering dramatically reduced latency, which can have a big impact on performance.
Windscribe is the overall more affordable option, has faster speeds, and covers the basics extremely well. However, it does have several small pieces missing, such as 24/7 support and an independent audit of privacy practices.
Ultimately, we think NordVPN is the better overall product, but if you want to save a few bucks, Windscribe will serve you well.
NordVPN vs. Windscribe alternatives
NordVPN and Windscribe are two very different services, but there are plenty of options in between with strengths in speed, streaming, security, and more. Here are some recommendations if you're not sold on NordVPN or Windscribe:
Price | $2.19–$17.95/mo | $2.03–$12.99/mo | $6.67–$12.95/mo |
Free version | |||
Max # of connected devices | Unlimited | 7 | 8 |
# of servers | 3,200 in 100 countries | Servers in 100 countries | Servers in 105 countries |
VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
Encryption | AES-256-GCM | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit |
No-logs policy | No logs | No logs | No logs |
Headquarters | The Netherlands | Romania | British Virgin Islands |
Netflix access | |||
Learn more | Get Surfshark | Get CyberGhost | Get ExpressVPN |