It’s hard not to fall into marketers’ traps when choosing a VPN. All of them claim to offer ultimate online security, speed, and unblocking ability, but this isn’t always the case. Hence, the main goal of this comparison between Windscribe and NordVPN is to find out which of these two services does more to deserve your money.
It is true that NordVPN is widely considered to be a better service, but Windscribe is certainly no slouch either. To find out the real winner, I’ll be judging each contestant’s security, privacy, speed, P2P, streaming, and price, among other factors.
In short, NordVPN sits at the top in every category, except pricing. However, the difference between these two is not always that significant. So let’s be thorough and go over each category.
Highlights
📈 Our rating | 9.6 ⭐ | 7.8 ⭐ |
---|---|---|
🏷️ Current offer | Get NordVPN 57% OFF! | Get Windscribe 55% OFF! |
💵 Price starts from | $3.49/month | $1.00/month |
🗓️ Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 3 days |
🗒️ No-logs policy | Independently-audited | More than minimal logging |
🖧 Servers | 5400+ servers in 60+ countries | 480+ servers in 60+ countries |
✔️ VPN protocols | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
🍿 Streaming | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more | Netflix |
Speed and servers
While having a large server fleet is usually an advantage, that doesn’t automatically translate to blazing-fast speeds. In fact, some VPNs with a few hundreds of servers are successfully competing with the “big boys” that manage a list ten times the size. To put it short, quality always wins over quantity.
The same can be said about tunneling protocols. Some providers offer a bunch of options, some of which are even no longer considered safe. In the meantime, having the next-gen WireGuard protocol usually decides the winner of the speed race.
NordVPN vs Windscribe VPN: 14-Day Speed Average
NordVPN | Windscribe VPN | |
---|---|---|
USA server | ||
Download Speed | 944 Mbps | – Data currently unavailable |
Upload Speed | 843 Mbps | – Data currently unavailable |
UK server | ||
Download Speed | 1,270 Mbps | – Data currently unavailable |
Upload Speed | 1,223 Mbps | – Data currently unavailable |
Germany server | ||
Download Speed | 683 Mbps | – Data currently unavailable |
Upload Speed | 1,120 Mbps | – Data currently unavailable |
As our speed test has shown, both services offer great performance, thanks to WireGuard. However, NordVPN still manages to leave Windscribe and everyone else behind, sometimes by a considerable margin. My guess here would be that the latter has managed to squeeze more out of WireGuard by creating its in-house version, named NordLynx.
Servers
NordVPN | Windscribe | |
---|---|---|
Servers | 5400+ | 480+ |
Countries | 60+ | 60+ |
Physical servers | All | All |
Owns all servers | Some | No |
RAM-only servers | All | No |
P2P servers | Not all | Not all |
NordVPN has one of the biggest networks around the world. Meanwhile, Windscribe has a relatively-modest fleet, but as we’ve seen from the speed test results, that doesn’t stop it from offering top-notch performance.
We liked that NordVPN already owns some of its servers, and all hardware is RAM-only. As for Windscribe, at least they don’t use virtual servers and allow P2P on them all.

Pricing comparison
NordVPN | Windscribe | |
---|---|---|
Free version | No | Yes |
Free trial | No | Yes |
One month | $11.99/month | $9.00/month |
One year | $4.99/month | $4.08/month |
Two years | $3.49/month | N/A |
Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Windscribe is cheaper overall. It’s one of the few VPNs that have a flexible ‘Build a plan’ option. With it, you can add additional locations to your free version for $1/month per location. It’s great for people who don’t need access to all the servers.
NordVPN scores some points with its 2-year option, which results in a significant 57% discount. However, you could snag even better bargains by utilizing a NordVPN discount code. But overall, NordVPN pricing doesn’t have much to throw at its competitor in this section.
Furthermore, Windscribe has a great free version that gives 10+ locations, allows P2P, and unblocks Netflix. In the meantime, NordVPN is hesitant about a free trial, giving 7-days to Android users only. At least it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Security
NordVPN | Windscribe | |
---|---|---|
Encryption | Military-grade | Military-grade |
Protocols | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
Kill switch | App-level and connection-level | Yes |
IP and DNS leaks | No | No |
Security features | Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, CyberSec, SOCKS5 proxy, Obfuscated servers, Split tunneling, | Ad & malware blocker, split tunneling, Stealth VPN, SOCKS5 proxy, Shadowsocks, HNS, port forwarding, Double Hop |
NordVPN and Windscribe have excellent security. Both boast military-grade encryption, no leaks, and the latest tunneling protocols. However, the former has a more sophisticated kill switch, which can work either on the app or connection level.
Each contestant has quite a few security tricks up their sleeve. NordVPN comes with Tor over VPN, and Windscribe shows off its Shadowsocks and port forwarding. Both also have their malware blockers, split tunneling, SOCKS5 proxy, obfuscated servers, and multi-hop.
Privacy features
NordVPN | Windscribe | |
---|---|---|
Jurisdiction | Panama | Canada |
Logging | Independently-audited no-logs policy | No identifying logs |
Anonymous payment | Cryptocurrencies | Cryptocurrencies, gift cards |
NordVPN is based in Panama, a small country with no data retention laws. Windscribe operates from Canada, a Five Eyes surveillance alliance member.
But what about logs? This is where it gets tricky. NordVPN guarantees a “strict no-logs policy” for its users. They even went as far as to order an independent audit by the notorious accounting firm PwC to demonstrate the veracity of their statements.
Windscribe, on the other hand, does not claim to have a “no logs policy.” This, of course, does not necessarily mean Windscribe can’t be trusted. Consider, for instance, that in 2018, they received approximately 400,000 DMCA and 34 law enforcement data requests but chose to comply with zero of them.
Apps and ease of use
NordVPN | Windscribe | |
---|---|---|
Major apps | Windows, Android, macOS, iOS | Windows, Android, macOS, iOS |
Other apps | Fire TV & Fire Stick, Android TV, Kodi | Amazon Fire TV, Kodi |
Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox | Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge |
Manual setup | Routers, firewalls, NAS | Routers, NAS |
Simultaneous devices | 6 | Unlimited |
Both providers have dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, which should take care of the basics for most users. Additionally, both Windscribe and NordVPN can be installed on Kodi. Furthermore, either VPN can easily be installed on Amazon Fire TV, which includes Fire Stick as well. Sadly, Windscribe lacks Android TV support.
Moving on to browser extensions, we find that Windscribe has add-ons for Opera and Edge, a rare feat among VPNs. Finally, its biggest advantage is unlimited simultaneous connections. The only way for NordVPN users to beat this is to connect as many devices as possible behind a router. It has tutorials for manual configuration for a bunch of brands, including the likes MikroTik or Sabai.
Both providers have easy to use apps. While some might like NordVPN’s full-windowed map with server locations, others might prefer Windscribe’s A-Z list.
Netflix and other streaming platforms
NordVPN | Windscribe | |
---|---|---|
Netflix US | Yes | Yes |
Other Netflix libraries | Yes | Yes |
Other platforms | Yes | Yes/No |
Smart DNS | Yes | No |
NordVPN and Windscribe are both great for streaming. They unblock Netflix US but do so in different ways. NordVPN lets you use any server for streaming and additionally offers the SmartPlay DNS service.
Windscribe, on the other hand, only lets you pick one of their dedicated streaming servers like WindFlix US or WindFlix UK. They do not encrypt your traffic to allow better speeds and essentially work as Smart DNS.
With NordVPN, I’ve encountered no issues when watching Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, or streaming with Kodi. It also has access to more Netflix libraries, which might be vital to you if you’re chasing a specific TV series or film, which is not available on the US Netflix library. In the meantime, Windscribe cannot consistently unblock other platforms than Netflix.
Both services have apps for Amazon Fire TV & Fire Stick, while NordVPN also has a client for Android TV. In turn, Windscribe offers a dedicated Kodi app.
Torrenting and P2P
NordVPN | Windscribe | |
---|---|---|
Allowed on | Select servers | All servers |
Free SOCKS5 proxy | Yes | Yes |
Split tunneling | Yes (Windows, Android) | Yes (Android) |
Port forwarding | No | Yes |
P2P traffic is allowed with both services, and download speeds should be either fast or very fast.
NordVPN and Windscribe offer a free SOCKS5 proxy. This is slightly less secure than a VPN because it doesn’t encrypt your data. However, it provides a certain layer of protection with a smaller drop to your download speeds.
When it comes to split tunneling, NordVPN has it on Windows and Android. Unfortunately, Windscribe doesn’t offer this feature for desktop users, which is a drawback, given that not many people download torrents on their phones.
While it may seem that Windscribe wins the battle of port forwarding, the truth is that it costs extra. You get this feature only after buying a static IP.
China and other restricted countries
NordVPN | Windscribe | |
---|---|---|
Works in China | Yes | Yes |
Stealth VPN | Yes | Yes |
Tor over VPN | Yes | No |
This round is going to be easy for NordVPN, which is the best VPN for China. However, both VPNs can be used to circumvent The Great Firewall.
NordVPN uses Obfuscated Servers to scramble your data so the government won’t be able to block you using Deep Packet Inspection. Windscribe has StealthVPN, instead. It makes the traffic look indistinguishable from other user browsing patterns that don’t trigger VPN blocks.
With NordVPN, it’s also possible to turn the privacy knob to 11 with the Onion over VPN feature. This will mix the Tor node network with VPN servers to create the most secure connection possible.
Customer support
NordVPN | Windscribe | |
---|---|---|
24/7 | Yes | Yes |
Live chat | Yes | No |
Email | Yes | Yes |
When it comes to customer support, NordVPN’s opponent quickly loses its edge. Windscribe doesn’t have a live chat, so you’re left with tickets, emails, and chatbot Garry.

NordVPN, on the other hand, has both a chatbot and live chat, so you’ll be able to contact a real person for your queries and without long queues.
Each contestant has extensive knowledgebase with FAQs, setup guides, and more. However, NordVPN has it better structured and easier to navigate.
Winners by category
NordVPN🥇 | Windscribe🥈 | |
---|---|---|
Speed and servers | Wins✔️ | Loses❌ |
Prices | Loses❌ | Wins✔️ |
Security | Tie | Tie |
Privacy | Wins✔️ | Loses❌ |
Apps and ease of use | Wins✔️ | Loses❌ |
Streaming | Wins✔️ | Loses❌ |
Torrenting | Wins✔️ | Loses❌ |
China | Wins✔️ | Loses❌ |
Customer support | Wins✔️ | Loses❌ |
Total wins | 7 out of 9 | 1 out of 9 |
Windscribe vs NordVPN video review
Bottom line: NordVPN or Windscribe?
NordVPN easily wins against Windscribe, yet that doesn’t mean the latter is bad. Windscribe is certainly a capable and versatile VPN with some unique features, but NordVPN is simply the market leader.
Both providers will give you excellent performance and security. However, NordVPN is better for privacy because of its jurisdiction and independently-audited no-logs policy. It’s also a better choice for China, thanks to its Onion over VPN feature.
Each is a great option for torrenting, but NordVPN excels at streaming. If Windscribe manages to reliably unblock not only Netflix but other streaming platforms as well, this might well be a tie next time we make this comparison.
The only battle that Windscribe wins is that of pricing. It has a great free version and allows you to create custom plans, starting from $1/month. NordVPN’s two-year option is the only thing that keeps them from capitulation.
You may also like to read:
Windscribe vs PIA
Windscribe vs Tunnelbear
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN
NordVPN vs CyberGhost
FAQ
Is Windscribe a good VPN?
Yes, Windscribe is a good VPN. It has a good variety of security features and tunneling protocols, plenty of servers to choose from, and works great at getting around geographical restrictions. Additionally, it comes with a
Is NordVPN really the best?
According to our research, NordVPN is definitely the best VPN. It is secure and private, audited by a third party, has plenty of servers, works well against geo-blocks, and is compatible with a wide variety of devices. And all of that at an affordable price.
Does Windscribe have a free option?
Yes, Windscribe has a free option. The main limitation of it is the 2GB/month data cap. Additionally, it lacks the WireGuard tunneling protocol and a good chunk of server locations.
Is NordVPN Safe?
Yes, NordVPN is safe. Its jurisdiction is in Panama, which makes it a great choice for privacy. Furthermore, it has a great selection of security features and was audited by a third party.
Can you be tracked while using NordVPN?
No, you can’t be tracked while using NordVPN. It uses military-grade AES-256 encryption, which makes your internet traffic unreadable to anyone, including the NordVPN team. Plus, your real location is hidden since your traffic is routed through a remote server.
Tried both– Nord doesn’t block ads– and unfortunately, Windscribe has elected to go the woke route, blocking conservative sites –so neither are worth a dog fart to me
Okay, I may be a little skeptical but I don’t use something that I have not heard off before and Windscribe is one of them. Although it sounds good, I’d stick to ExpressVPN for now. But I’ll keep an eye on this
Okay, so, I really, really like Windscribe a lot, mostly because it’s accessible. They have a really great free service that gives you 10 gigs of data. However, the fact that they’re connected to Canada really skeeves me out. I’m probably going to ditch WIndscribe for NordVPN or ExpressVPN eventually, just because I’m getting to where 10 gigs is not enough, but Windscribe served me really well when I first started using VPNs.
NordVPN is the absolute best to me ! I’ve tried many VPNs for the past two years and there’s no better VPN on the market ! It runs perfectly and your data are safe !