Quick answer (July 2026): ProtonVPN wins overall for privacy-serious users: Swiss jurisdiction, fully audited, open-source apps, Tor over VPN. Windscribe wins if you need the most generous free VPN tier (10GB/mo) or flexible pay-per-location pricing. Full breakdown below.
TL;DR Quick Answer
ProtonVPN wins overall — scoring 8.9/10. Choose ProtonVPN for Swiss privacy, audited no-logs, and Tor over VPN. Choose Windscribe for the most generous free tier or flexible Build-a-Plan pricing. Both have solid free options.
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN
Swiss jurisdiction, open-source, audited no-logs, Tor over VPN
Score: 8.9/10
Windscribe
W
Windscribe
10GB/mo free, Build-a-Plan, R.O.B.E.R.T. ad blocker
Score: 7.6/10
Winner
Our Verdict
ProtonVPN
Best for most buyers — privacy + performance without compromise
→ Read our reasoning
ProtonVPNVPN · from $4.99/mo annual
Built by the same team behind ProtonMail, ProtonVPN is headquartered in Switzerland and falls outside 5/9/14 Eyes surveillance alliances. All apps are open-source and independently audited. Strong choice for journalists, activists, and anyone serious about digital privacy.
W
WindscribeVPN · Free 10GB/mo or from $4.08/mo annual
Canadian VPN known for its uniquely generous free plan (10GB/month) and the "Build a Plan" model where you pay ~$1/month per server location you choose. Includes R.O.B.E.R.T. (ad/tracker/malware blocking) on all plans including free. Weaker jurisdiction than ProtonVPN.
Verdict at a Glance
ProtonVPN wins the overall comparison with an 8.9/10 score. Its Swiss headquarters, fully audited open-source apps, and Tor over VPN support make it the stronger choice for anyone who takes privacy seriously. Paid plans start at $4.99/month (annual).
Windscribe scores 7.6/10 — solid, but Canada is a 14 Eyes member, which matters to privacy purists. Where Windscribe excels is the free tier: 10GB/month is by far the most generous permanent free VPN allocation available. If you want to test a VPN without committing, or need only occasional use, Windscribe's free plan is excellent.
For most buyers who are comparing before a purchase, ProtonVPN is the stronger long-term choice. Both offer free plans so you can try before committing.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | ProtonVPN | Windscribe |
|---|
| Free plan | Yes — unlimited bandwidth, 5 countries, 1 device | Yes — 10GB/month, 10 server locations |
| Paid entry (annual) | $4.99/mo (Plus) | ~$4.08/mo (Pro, ~$49/yr) |
| Paid monthly billing | $9.99/mo | $9.00/mo |
| Flexible plan | No (fixed tiers) | Yes — Build a Plan ~$1/mo per location |
| Devices (paid) | 10 devices (Plus) | Unlimited devices (Pro) |
| Money-back guarantee | 30-day refund | 3-day refund |
Both tools offer comparable annual pricing. ProtonVPN's 30-day refund window is significantly more generous than Windscribe's 3-day window — a meaningful difference when evaluating.
Windscribe's free plan is the standout: 10GB/month with 10 server locations — enough for casual browsing or evaluating the service. ProtonVPN's free plan gives unlimited bandwidth but limits you to slower free servers in 3 countries and 1 device.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ProtonVPN | Windscribe |
|---|
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland (outside 14 Eyes) | Canada (14 Eyes member) |
| Open-source apps | Yes — all platforms | Yes — desktop clients |
| Independent audit | Yes — Cure53 + SEC Consult | Partial (no full third-party audit) |
| No-logs policy | Audited, court-verified | Claimed (no full audit) |
| Tor over VPN | Yes (Onion over VPN servers) | No |
| Ad/malware blocker | NetShield (paid plans) | R.O.B.E.R.T. (free + paid) |
| Kill switch | Yes — all platforms | Yes — desktop only |
| Stealth / obfuscation | Yes (Stealth protocol) | Yes (stealth mode) |
| Split tunnelling | Yes | Yes (desktop) |
| Server count | 8,900+ in 112 countries | 110+ locations in 69 countries |
| Static IP | Yes (paid add-on) | Yes (paid add-on) |
| Overall score | 8.9/10 | 7.6/10 |
ProtonVPN's jurisdiction advantage is the single most important differentiator. Switzerland is not a member of any intelligence-sharing alliance, which means Swiss courts cannot compel ProtonVPN to log or share user data. This was proven in 2019 when Swiss authorities asked ProtonVPN for logs — and there were none to provide.
Windscribe's R.O.B.E.R.T. ad-blocking feature works on the free plan, which ProtonVPN's NetShield does not — a genuine Windscribe advantage for free-tier users who want ad blocking.
Our Final Verdict
ProtonVPN is our recommendation for most buyers. Here is the breakdown:
- Choose ProtonVPN if privacy matters to you: Swiss jurisdiction, fully audited no-logs, open-source across all platforms, Tor over VPN, and 30-day refund. At $4.99/mo annual it is priced competitively. Start with ProtonVPN →
- Choose Windscribe if: you want the best free VPN tier (10GB/month), you only need a few server locations and want flexible Build-a-Plan pricing (~$1/location/mo), or you want ad blocking included on the free plan (R.O.B.E.R.T.).
Neither is a bad choice — both have genuine free plans with no credit card required. If you are undecided, start with ProtonVPN free (unlimited bandwidth) and Windscribe free (10GB/mo) and see which client you prefer before committing to paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ProtonVPN better than Windscribe?
ProtonVPN scores 8.9/10 vs Windscribe's 7.6/10. ProtonVPN is better for privacy (Swiss jurisdiction, audited no-logs, Tor over VPN). Windscribe is better if you need a generous free tier (10GB/mo) or flexible Build-a-Plan pricing.
How much does ProtonVPN cost vs Windscribe?
ProtonVPN Plus is $4.99/mo (annual) or $9.99/mo monthly. Windscribe Pro is ~$4.08/mo (annual, ~$49/year) or $9/mo monthly. Both have permanent free plans with no credit card required.
Can I try ProtonVPN and Windscribe for free?
Yes — ProtonVPN free gives unlimited bandwidth on servers in 3 countries (1 device). Windscribe free gives 10GB/month across 10 server locations (all devices). Neither requires a credit card. ProtonVPN has better privacy; Windscribe has a more generous data allowance.
Which VPN is better for privacy — ProtonVPN or Windscribe?
ProtonVPN wins on privacy. It is based in Switzerland (outside 5/9/14 Eyes), independently audited by Cure53 and SEC Consult, fully open-source, and has court-verified no-logs. Windscribe is based in Canada (14 Eyes) — solid no-logs policy but weaker jurisdiction for privacy-critical use cases.
What is Windscribe best for?
Windscribe is best for: the most generous free VPN tier (10GB/mo), flexible Build-a-Plan pricing (~$1/mo per server location), built-in ad/tracker blocking (R.O.B.E.R.T.) on the free plan, and casual browsing needs where Swiss-level jurisdiction is not required.