Today we’re going to be pitting two quality VPN (Virtual Private Network) services against each other to see which one comes out on top.
The services I’ll be comparing are Canadian-based WindScribe and Panamanian provider NordVPN. I think that both services have a lot to offer, though to very different market segments.
I’ll be as objective as possible, though I must forewarn you that there is no such thing as a perfect VPN provider. Some of them have obvious flaws, while some of them only appeal to specific types of users.
To that end, I think that WindScribe has one of my favorite free VPN services that I’ve ever used. Conversely, I think that NordVPN’s real strength is strong security features that aren’t typically found with other VPN providers.
So, let’s get cracking by taking a look at each provider’s pricing model.
The Main Differences Between WindScribe vs NordVPN
The Main Differences Between WindScribe vs NordVPN are:
- WindScribe is the more affordable option of the two offering great discounts for long term plans, whereas NordVPN is the pricier one
- WindScribe offers users unlimited free usage, but with a limit of 10GB, whereas NordVPN only has a 3-day free trial to test their services
- WindScribe is based in Canada, whereas NordVPN is based in Panama which I prefer over Canada.
Pricing
Overall, I think that WindScribe has the superior pricing model for two reasons. First of all, WindScribe offers better savings discounts, and the monthly and annual subscription rates are cheaper than NordVPN’s rates.
Furthermore, even though both providers offer a free option, WindScribe’s is a lot better. So, let’s take a closer look at each pricing model.
WindScribe VPN uses the following pricing structure:
- Free service with 10GB monthly data limit
- Monthly plan – $9.00 per month (check this listing for the latest live prices)
- Annual plan – $4.91 per month (check this listing for the latest live prices)
On the other hand, NordVPN uses the following pricing structure:
- 1 month: $11.95 per month (check this listing for the latest live prices)
- 6 months: $7.00 per month (check this listing for the latest live prices)
- 1 year: $5.75 per month (check this listing for the latest live prices)
Also, be aware that NordVPN has a three-day free trial. In all honesty, I think that NordVPN’s free trial can’t stand up to WindScribe’s free VPN service. WindScribe’s free VPN service can be used as long as you want, and the only real limit on it is the 10GB data limit.
Network Size and Company HQ
First off, you should know that NordVPN is based in Panama, while WindScribe is based in Canada.
I’m not crazy about the fact that WindScribe VPN is based in Ontario because Canada is a member of the FiveEyes nations (along with the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the US).
However, I would much rather use a service based in Canada than the United States.
It seems that the US performs more domestic wiretapping than Canada and has been caught red-handed tapping domestic services like Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Apple, and many others.
Still, I have to undoubtedly tip my hat to NordVPN since I would much rather use a provider based in Panama than Canada. Neither company logs user activities, but I have better peace of mind with a company headquartered in Panama.
Plus, I really like the fact that WindScribe operates servers in 50+ countries around the world.
The average number of countries in which a proxy or VPN service operates servers seems to be about 25-35, so WindScribe has more options than the average provider.
Funnily enough, NordVPN also operates servers in 60+ countries around the world, so by the sheer size of the networks, they are evenly matched.
Do note that they don’t operate VPN servers in all the same countries, though they do both strategically place servers in all the most popular areas.
If you’re looking for access to an IP address in a smaller country or region of the world, I recommend you first check out their server lists before making a final decision.
WindScribe’s Features
WindScribe has a lot of features that positively blew me away. However, it’s a little tricky to explain all of them since there are different packages.
The free version has limitations and restrictions placed on it that premium users don’t have to bother with, so let’s start with the free version.
First of all, free users can use the free service as long as they wish, but there are data limits imposed on a monthly basis. However, the monthly data cap is larger than any other free service I’ve ever seen.
Free users get a whopping 10GB of monthly data, whereas other free services may only offer 0.5GB or 1GB per month. So kudos to you WindScribe, and thanks for the free data allotment!
Oh, and guess what? Free users can even use P2P and BitTorrent applications. I’ve seen some services reserve that feature for premium subscribers to offer an incentive to upgrade, but WindScribe gives P2P access away for free.
It almost sounds too good to be true. However, note that even though WindScribe runs VPN servers in over 50 locations around the world, free users are limited to only 11. This limitation helps protect premium WindScribe servers from being overwhelmed by free users.
The following features are available with a free WindScribe account:
- Can be run on an unlimited number of devices
- Only 11 servers for free users
- P2P allowed
- 10GB monthly data
- No OpenVPN configuration files available
- Access to the US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, and Romania
Naturally, the premium version is going to contain a lot more features. First and foremost, paid users will have full access to the network of servers. In fact, paid users will have access to 39 server locations that are not available to the free users.
And there are tons of extra security features too. For example, paid users also get access to browser extensions, double-hop proxy connections to further obfuscate the source of your data, secure link generation, and cookie deletion whenever you close a tab in your browser.
Paid users also gain enhanced security VPN protocol, and can access AES-256 encryption via OpenVPN. There’s even a feature that simplifies the process of turning your PC into a WiFi hotspot. In summary, these are the features of a paid WindScribe subscription:
- AES-256 encryption, SHA-512 authentication, and a 4096-bit RSA key
- Prevents tunnel leaks with an in-app firewall that acts like a kill-switch
- Secure hotspot feature to turn your PC into a wireless router for other devices
- Browser extensions include double hop feature, cookie deletion, and secure link generation features
- Use on unlimited devices
NordVPN’s Features
NordVPN also has a ton of admirable features, the first of which is the fact that’s it’s based in Panama. Like any other VPN service, it will also help throw invasive targeted ads off your track to help protect your privacy, but it really does have some great security features.
First off, note that AES-256 encryption is part of the package, and the software client even comes with a kill-switch. The kill-switch will help protect your torrent downloads since P2P traffic is permitted. Additionally, the software comes with DNS-leak protections.
But one feature that I think really stands out is the double data encryption feature. As its name suggests, this feature will actually run your data through the encryption process twice for an extra layer of security. Do note that AES-256 encryption still can’t be cracked.
But the double data encryption feature gives the peace of mind that it’s virtually impossible for someone else to decode my data.
Furthermore, there is a browser extension for Chrome, and a user can connect up to six devices at a single time. The last real noteworthy feature is the size of its network, though we had already discussed that in a previous section.
In summary, the following outlines NordVPN’s features:
- Based in Panama
- Blocks ads
- Double data encryption
- Kill-switch
- Chrome browser extension
- DNS-leak protection
- Servers in 60+ countries
- P2P traffic permitted
- Six simultaneous connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windscribe good for gaming?
Yes. Windscribe is a common pick amongst gamers because it provides high speed and a lot of servers. You can also use Windscribe on consoles because it also supports VPN routers.
Does WindsCribe collect data?
The free WindScribe keeps logs from users, like when they disconnect/ connect and a few other things to a certain level. That’s mainly because they want to prevent users from abusing their system.
Do Free VPNs sell your data?
Many VPNs use may track and sell your data as stated in their privacy policies, either for personal benefit or to other companies.
Final Thoughts
I’ve really split down the middle with this decision because I think both VPN providers have a lot to offer. In the end, however, I have to award NordVPN the victory for its paid service.
However, if you’re in the market for a free VPN, the WindScribe is the first place to look. Ultimately, NordVPN had an extremely cheap price and high value, especially since users can connect up to six devices at a single time.
And the security features really pushed me over the edge on this decision. I love the double data encryption feature and think that all-around NordVPN offers better security.
I also had to consider that I’d rather use a service that’s based in Panama than one in Canada for the obvious surveillance reasons.
Still, don’t get me wrong: I think that WindScribe is a fantastic service and I still can’t believe it gives all of that away for free. Still, I must conclude by stating that I think NordVPN is the superior service, even though it costs money and doesn’t have a free trial!