Windscribe Review 2026
Windscribe's Build-A-Plan pricing is unlike anything else in the VPN market — pay $1/month per server location and only pay for what you need. Need just US and UK servers? That's $2/month. The 10GB/month free tier covers 11 countries with no ads and no data selling, making it one of the most generous free VPNs available. R.O.B.E.R.T. is Windscribe's customizable DNS-level blocking system that lets you toggle categories of ads, trackers, malware, and even social media networks. Windflix servers are specifically optimized for streaming. Unlimited device connections on paid plans round out one of the most flexible VPN offerings on the market.
Windscribe at a Glance
Windscribe earns our #9 ranking at 8.2/10 with a unique value proposition: flexibility. The Build-A-Plan option lets you pick individual server locations for $1/month each, meaning you can build a VPN plan that costs $2-3/month if you only need a few locations. The unlimited plan at $5.75/month gives you everything.
The free tier is one of the best available -- 10GB/month of data with access to 11 countries. Unlike most free VPNs, Windscribe doesn't inject ads, sell your data, or impose bandwidth throttling.
Based in Canada (Five Eyes member), Windscribe addresses the jurisdiction concern through a transparent no-logs policy and a unique approach: the company allows users to verify its claims through a public Transparency Report and uses a novel system that generates temporary session tokens rather than persistent identifiers.
- Users who want flexible, pay-for-what-you-need pricing
- Free VPN users who want a generous tier without compromises
- Streamers who want strong platform support
- Tech-savvy users who appreciate Windscribe's unique features
- Users who want unlimited device connections
Speed Performance
| Protocol | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | 454 Mbps | 36 Mbps | 11 ms |
| OpenVPN (UDP) | 265 Mbps | 22 Mbps | 18 ms |
| IKEv2 | 300 Mbps | 26 Mbps | 14 ms |
| Stealth | 340 Mbps | 28 Mbps | 13 ms |
Privacy & Security
Canada is a Five Eyes member. Windscribe has not been independently audited by a major firm, which is a gap compared to top competitors. However, the company has been transparent about its policies and has received law enforcement requests with nothing to provide.
Streaming & Unblocking
Features & Apps
Pricing & Plans
Pros & Cons
- Build-A-Plan flexibility ($1/location)
- Generous 10GB/month free tier
- Unlimited device connections
- R.O.B.E.R.T. customizable DNS blocking
- Strong streaming performance
- Port forwarding support
- Firewall-based kill switch
- Canadian jurisdiction (Five Eyes)
- No major independent audit
- Smaller server network (480+)
- 3-day money-back guarantee (vs 30 days for competitors)
- Long-distance speeds below average
- Less polished apps than top competitors
Final Verdict
Windscribe's Build-A-Plan pricing is unlike anything else in the VPN market — pay $1/month per server location and only pay for what you need. Need just US and UK servers? That's $2/month. The 10GB/month free tier covers 11 countries with no ads and no data selling, making it one of the most generous free VPNs available. R.O.B.E.R.T. is Windscribe's customizable DNS-level blocking system that lets you toggle categories of ads, trackers, malware, and even social media networks. Windflix servers are specifically optimized for streaming. Unlimited device connections on paid plans round out one of the most flexible VPN offerings on the market.
Windscribe's flexibility is unmatched. Whether you want a $2/month plan with two locations, a 10GB free tier, or a full unlimited subscription, Windscribe adapts to your needs. The Canadian jurisdiction and lack of a major audit keep it from ranking higher, but it's an excellent value for flexibility-focused users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Builder, tinkerer, privacy advocate. I believe privacy is a right, not a product feature.