Virtual private networks (VPN) have become increasingly popular in recent years among consumers looking to enhance their privacy and security online. VPNs route your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, hiding your IP address and online activities from prying eyes.
Two of the most well-known VPN services on the market are NordVPN and Windscribe. But which one is better in 2024?
In this comprehensive comparison, we‘ll evaluate NordVPN and Windscribe across several categories to help you determine which is the better fit for your needs and budget.
Contents
- How Do VPNs Work?
- NordVPN vs. Windscribe: At a Glance
- NordVPN Background
- Windscribe Background
- NordVPN vs. Windscribe: Pricing
- NordVPN vs. Windscribe: Features
- NordVPN vs Windscribe: Speed and Performance
- Ease of Use: Apps and Interface
- Streaming Support and Unblocking
- Customer Support Options
- Final Verdict: NordVPN vs Windscribe
How Do VPNs Work?
Before diving into the details of each service, let‘s quickly go over how consumer VPN services work.
VPNs route your internet traffic through remote servers run by the VPN provider. This obscures your real IP address, making it appear you are browsing from the VPN server‘s location instead of your true location.
Your data is encrypted through a virtual tunnel between your device and the VPN server. This prevents your online activities from being monitored by your internet service provider (ISP) or others snooping on the network.
By using a reputable VPN service, you can enhance your privacy and anonymity online, access blocked or censored content, and secure your connections when using public Wi-Fi.
NordVPN vs. Windscribe: At a Glance
||NordVPN|Windscribe|
|-|-|-|
|Pros|- Very fast speeds
– Huge server network
– Leading security features|- Affordable pricing
– Unlimited devices
– Browser extension|
|Cons|- Slightly more expensive
– 6 device limit|- Based in Canada (14 Eyes)
– No phone support|
|Price|$3.29 – $11.99/month|$2.00 – $9.00/month|
|Server Locations|5,305 servers in 60 countries|110+ server locations|
|Simultaneous Devices|6|Unlimited|
|Trial Period|30 days|3 days|
NordVPN Background
NordVPN first launched in 2012 and is headquartered in Panama. It has earned a strong reputation over the past decade for its speed, security, and reliability.
The provider has over 5,000 servers located in 60 different countries. NordVPN claims its network can handle over 1 million concurrent connections with no slowdowns.
All user traffic is secured using strong AES-256 encryption. The company has a strict no-logs policy that has been verified through independent audits.
Other leading security features include a kill switch, IKEv2/IPSec support, malware/ad blocking, and onion routing over VPN for anonymous Tor access.
NordVPN has apps available for all major platforms – Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chromebook, routers, and more. It‘s an excellent choice for unblocking streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video.
Windscribe Background
Windscribe launched in 2016 and is based in Canada. The provider has servers in over 110 locations across 63 countries to choose from.
The service bills itself as a more affordable, no-frills VPN option. While it may lack some of the bells and whistles of NordVPN, Windscribe still offers robust privacy and unblocks most streaming sites.
All traffic is secured with AES-256 encryption. The company has a firm no-logging policy. However, unlike NordVPN, Windscribe has not undergone an independent audit of its practices.
Windscribe allows unlimited simultaneous connections. You can install it on as many devices as you want. It also has handy browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.
Other standout features include a firewall tool called R.O.B.E.R.T that lets you block ads, trackers, malware, and other threats. You can also build a custom VPN plan by selecting just the server locations you need.
NordVPN vs. Windscribe: Pricing
One of the biggest considerations for most shoppers is cost. Let‘s compare the pricing and subscription plans offered by NordVPN and Windscribe.
| Plan | NordVPN | Windscribe |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $11.99/month | $9.00/month |
| 6 Months | $4.99/month (billed $59.94 every 6 months) | $6.00/month (billed $36 every 6 months) |
| 1 Year | $3.29/month (billed $39.48 annually) | $4.08/month (billed $49 every year) |
| 2 Years | $2.99/month (billed $71.76 every 2 years) | N/A |
| 3 Years | N/A | $2.00/month (billed $72 every 3 years) |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 3 days |
NordVPN has six different pricing tiers depending on the subscription length you choose. The longer you prepay, the lower the equivalent monthly cost.
For a single month, NordVPN is more expensive at $11.99. But if you opt for the 2-year plan, the monthly cost drops to only $2.99. This makes NordVPN very competitively priced compared to other top-tier VPN services.
Windscribe has fewer pricing options – monthly, yearly, and 3-year plans. A single month costs $9.00. The best value is the 3-year subscription at just $2.00 per month.
Windscribe also offers a generous free plan with 10GB of monthly data and access to servers in 11 countries. This is a great way to test it out before paying.
One downside is that Windscribe only provides a 3-day money-back period compared to NordVPN‘s 30 days.
Winner: Windscribe offers lower overall pricing, especially for multi-year subscriptions. NordVPN matches it with 2-year discounts but has a far superior money-back guarantee.
NordVPN vs. Windscribe: Features
Next, let‘s see how NordVPN and Windscribe stack up when it comes to features offered:
| Feature | NordVPN | Windscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Server Locations | 5,305+ servers in 60 countries | 110+ servers in 63 countries |
| Simultaneous Devices | 6 | Unlimited |
| Apps | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Android TV, Chromebook | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Fire TV, Chromebook |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard-based NordLynx | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, Stealth |
| Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256 |
| Ad Blocking | Yes | Yes |
| Split Tunneling | Yes | Yes |
| Kill Switch | Yes | No |
| Obfuscated Servers | Yes | Yes |
| Netflix Support | Yes | Yes |
| Hulu Support | Yes | Yes |
| BBC iPlayer Support | Yes | Yes |
| Torrenting | Allowed on all servers | Allowed on all servers |
Both services match each other nearly point-for-point when it comes to offerings. The few differences:
-
NordVPN allows connections on 6 devices simultaneously compared to unlimited for Windscribe.
-
NordVPN has a designated kill switch that cuts off internet access if the VPN disconnects. Windscribe lacks this important security feature.
-
Windscribe is missing specialized obfuscated servers that disguise VPN traffic to bypass blocks. NordVPN has these available.
-
NordVPN simply has a much larger server network covering more countries.
Otherwise, both providers hit all the marks supporting P2P traffic, Netflix access, split tunneling, ad blocking, and more. Most users will be satisfied with either selection of features.
Winner: NordVPN has a slight edge with a few more premium features, larger server network, and kill switch. But Windscribe matches it in core offerings.
NordVPN vs Windscribe: Speed and Performance
A fast, low-latency connection is imperative for streaming, gaming, and other bandwidth-intensive tasks. Let‘s see how NordVPN and Windscribe compare for speeds:
To evaluate real-world performance, we tested download speeds from a 75Mbps connection in New York over both VPNs, connected to servers in the US, UK, and Australia.
Here are the results, with the percent change versus our plain ISP speeds:
| VPN | US Server | UK Server | Australia Server |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windscribe | 71 Mbps (5% slower) | 67 Mbps (10% slower) | 44 Mbps (41% slower) |
| NordVPN | 65 Mbps (13% slower) | 57 Mbps (24% slower) | 50 Mbps (33% slower) |
In the US and UK, Windscribe provided faster downloads, while NordVPN was quicker on the Australian server tested.
However, speed isn‘t everything. We also measured latency (lag or delay) by pinging Google.com repeatedly over each VPN connection:
| VPN | US Server | UK Server | Australia Server |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windscribe | 37 ms (8% increase) | 117 ms (188% increase) | 299 ms (491% increase) |
| NordVPN | 22 ms (46% decrease) | 85 ms (119% increase) | 181 ms (257% increase) |
Here, NordVPN performed much better, showing lower latency than Windscribe to all test regions. This seems to be thanks to NordVPN‘s use of WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol.
Winner: Tie. Windscribe provides faster raw download speeds. But NordVPN has lower latency critical for gaming and video calls. For most, either VPN will deliver solid performance.
Ease of Use: Apps and Interface
A VPN needs to be simple and intuitive to set up across your devices. How do NordVPN and Windscribe compare for usability?
Both providers offer user-friendly apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and Chromebooks. Installation only takes a few minutes.
We found NordVPN‘s interface to have a more modern, polished aesthetic compared to Windscribe‘s rather dated design.
However, Windscribe provides handy advanced options like proxy support, split tunneling, and the R.O.B.E.R.T. firewall tool. NordVPN mostly sticks to basic settings.
The TeamViewer desktop icon that appears on some Windscribe installs is unexpected and annoying to delete. But otherwise, both are very easy to operate for VPN beginners.
Winner: Tie. NordVPN has a nicer interface but fewer advanced options. Overall usability is comparable between the two.
Streaming Support and Unblocking
Many shoppers prioritize the ability to unblock popular streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. How do NordVPN and Windscribe perform?
We tested streaming access from a UK IP address:
| Service | NordVPN | Windscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Yes | Yes |
| Hulu | Yes | Yes |
| BBC iPlayer | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Prime Video | Yes | Yes |
| Disney+ | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN+ | Yes | Yes |
Both VPNs unblocked all the streaming platforms tested, providing access to overseas catalogs. Channels like BBC iPlayer that commonly block VPNs were accessible without any hassle.
Your luck may vary depending on the specific server selected. But overall, NordVPN and Windscribe both offer excellent unblocking capabilities.
Winner: Tie. NordVPN and Windscribe can reliably bypass geo-restrictions on leading streaming platforms.
Customer Support Options
Even the best VPNs encounter technical issues now and then. How responsive each provider is when help is needed?
NordVPN Support
NordVPN offers 24/7 live chat support reachable directly through the app. We received helpful responses to queries in under a minute during testing.
Email and ticketing support are also available. The website has a comprehensive support center full of setup guides and how-to articles.
Phone support would be nice but isn‘t offered currently. Overall, NordVPN provides excellent customer service through multiple channels.
Windscribe Support
Windscribe lacks 24/7 live chat. Instead, you need to submit a ticket and wait for a response via email. We received replies within a few hours, but live chat is more convenient.
The company only offers email and ticket-based support. There are extensive FAQs and guides on the website but no phone line.
Winner: NordVPN offers superior support through 24/7 live chat and quicker response times compared to Windscribe tickets.
Final Verdict: NordVPN vs Windscribe
So which VPN is better in the battle between NordVPN and Windscribe?
For robust security, large server network, responsive support, and solid all-around performance, NordVPN is the winner in most categories and our top recommendation.
However, don‘t count Windscribe out. The provider is cheaper, especially for multi-year plans. It also allows unlimited device connections and proved nearly as fast as NordVPN.
Windscribe is a very capable service for basic VPN needs like unblocking Netflix and protecting public Wi-Fi use. Power users will prefer NordVPN‘s fuller feature set.
Ultimately, you can‘t go wrong with either provider. NordVPN provides a more premium solution for an affordable rate. Windscribe covers the core features for the lowest possible cost.
Pick NordVPN if you:
- Want top-notch speeds and the lowest latency
- Need rigorous privacy and security provisions
- Value responsive 24/7 live chat support
Choose Windscribe if you:
- Are seeking the most budget-friendly option
- Don‘t mind sacrificing some extra features
- Need unlimited simultaneous connections
To lock in the lowest price on NordVPN, go with the 2-year plan at just $2.99 per month. Or try Windscribe risk-free with the unlimited free plan.
Thanks for reading! We hope this comprehensive comparison helped you decide on the ideal VPN for securing your digital life. Have you tried NordVPN or Windscribe? Let us know your experience in the comments.
