Surfshark vs Windscribe: Side-by-Side Overview
Surfshark
Founded 2018 · Netherlands HQ · CJ affiliate
A full-featured commercial VPN that competes primarily on price and breadth. 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, unlimited simultaneous devices, WireGuard/OpenVPN/IKEv2 protocols, CleanWeb ad blocker, MultiHop double VPN, and a Deloitte-audited no-logs policy. At $2.19/mo on the 2-year plan, it's among the most affordable premium VPNs available.
Windscribe
Founded 2016 · Canada HQ · No affiliate program
A privacy-focused VPN with a genuinely useful free tier (10GB/month, no credit card). Paid plans range from Build-a-Plan ($2/location) to the full Pro ($5.75/mo annual). Around 700+ servers in 69 countries. Supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, Stealth, and IKEv2. R.O.B.E.R.T. DNS-based ad/malware blocker included. No independent audit of no-logs policy as of 2026.
Who should choose Surfshark?
- Anyone paying for a VPN, Surfshark's 2-year price ($2.19/mo) undercuts Windscribe's annual plan ($5.75/mo).
- Households with many devices, unlimited simultaneous connections vs Windscribe's no hard device limit (but account-based).
- Streamers, Surfshark reliably unblocks Netflix US, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
- Users who want an audited no-logs policy, Deloitte confirmed Surfshark's infrastructure in 2023.
Who should choose Windscribe?
- Budget users who don't want to pay, the free tier (10GB/month) is one of the best in the industry.
- Build-a-Plan users, pay only for the server locations you actually need, starting at $2/month per location.
- Privacy advocates who want flexibility, month-to-month pricing with no long-term commitment at ~$9/mo.
- Users in restrictive countries, Windscribe's Stealth protocol is specifically designed to bypass deep packet inspection.
| Feature | Surfshark | Windscribe |
|---|
| Lowest paid price | $2.19/mo (2-year) | $5.75/mo (annual) |
| Free plan | 30-day money-back | 10GB/month free |
| Server count | 3,200+ in 100 countries | 700+ in 69 countries |
| Simultaneous devices | Unlimited | Unlimited (account) |
| No-logs audit | Deloitte (2023) | None published |
| Streaming | Netflix, Disney+, BBC | Inconsistent |
| Obfuscation | NoBorders mode | Stealth protocol |
| Jurisdiction | Netherlands | Canada (Five Eyes) |
Pricing: Surfshark vs Windscribe
Surfshark pricing (2026)
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|
| Starter 2-year | $2.19/mo | Best value for most buyers |
| Starter 1-year | $3.99/mo | Medium-term commitment |
| Starter monthly | $15.45/mo | Short-term use |
| One 2-year (+ antivirus) | $3.19/mo | VPN + security bundle |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | Risk-free trial |
Windscribe pricing (2026)
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|
| Free | $0/month | Light users, 10GB/mo cap |
| Pro (monthly) | ~$9/mo | Flexible no-commitment |
| Pro (annual) | ~$5.75/mo | Full features, best value |
| Build-a-Plan | $2/location + $1/GB | Minimal footprint users |
Bottom line on pricing: If you're paying anything, Surfshark's 2-year plan is significantly cheaper ($2.19/mo vs $5.75/mo). Windscribe wins only if you're on the free plan, which is genuinely useful for light VPN use.
Features: Surfshark vs Windscribe
Security & Privacy
Both VPNs support WireGuard and OpenVPN. Surfshark adds IKEv2 and a proprietary Nexus routing layer. Windscribe adds Stealth (obfuscated protocol for censorship resistance) and SOCKS5 proxies. Surfshark's no-logs policy was audited by Deloitte in 2023; Windscribe has not published a third-party audit as of August 2026, though its privacy policy is detailed and transparent.
Ad Blocking
Surfshark includes CleanWeb, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware-serving domains at the DNS level. Windscribe includes R.O.B.E.R.T., a highly configurable DNS-based blocker that lets you block specific categories (ads, malware, social networks, porn, etc.) with more granularity than CleanWeb. Edge: Windscribe for power users who want granular control; Surfshark for simplicity.
Server Coverage
Surfshark operates 3,200+ servers in 100 countries. Windscribe has 700+ servers in 69 countries. Surfshark's server count gives it better load distribution and more geo-options for streaming, especially US city-level servers for Netflix regional libraries.
Device Support
Both support Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and browser extensions. Surfshark supports unlimited simultaneous connections; Windscribe also has no hard device limit in practice but manages by account. Both offer router firmware support for whole-home coverage.
Streaming Performance
Surfshark consistently unblocks Netflix US, UK, and regional libraries, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. Windscribe's streaming reliability varies, it works for some services but has inconsistent results with Netflix due to its smaller server fleet. If streaming is a priority, Surfshark is the safer bet.
| Feature | Surfshark | Windscribe |
|---|
| WireGuard | Yes | Yes |
| OpenVPN | Yes | Yes |
| Obfuscation | NoBorders | Stealth protocol |
| Ad / tracker blocker | CleanWeb | R.O.B.E.R.T. (granular) |
| Double VPN | MultiHop | Yes (some servers) |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunnelling | Yes | Yes |
| Static IP | Yes (add-on) | Yes (add-on) |
| SOCKS5 proxy | No | Yes |
Final Verdict: Surfshark vs Windscribe
This comparison has a clear split by use case rather than a straightforward winner-takes-all result:
- Choose Surfshark if you're paying for a VPN. At $2.19/mo on the 2-year plan, it undercuts Windscribe's annual price significantly, has more servers, delivers reliable streaming, and carries a Deloitte-audited no-logs policy. Unlimited devices means one subscription covers your entire household. The 30-day money-back guarantee makes it risk-free to try.
- Choose Windscribe if you want a free or near-free VPN. The 10GB/month free plan is among the most generous in the industry, and the Build-a-Plan model lets serious privacy users pay only for the locations they need. If you're specifically in a country with heavy censorship (China, Iran, Russia), Windscribe's Stealth protocol may outperform Surfshark's NoBorders mode.
For privacy-first users who want an audited no-logs policy without paying $9/mo, Mullvad at $5/mo flat is worth considering alongside Surfshark, see our Surfshark vs Mullvad comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surfshark better than Windscribe?
For most paid VPN buyers, yes, Surfshark scores 9.1/10 vs Windscribe's 8.0/10. Surfshark is cheaper on the 2-year plan ($2.19/mo vs Windscribe's $5.75/mo annual), has more servers (3,200+ vs 700+), and reliably unblocks Netflix and Disney+. Windscribe beats Surfshark on the free tier, it offers 10GB/month at no cost, which Surfshark doesn't match (it has a 30-day money-back guarantee but no permanent free plan).
How much does Windscribe cost per month?
Windscribe's free plan provides 10GB per month at no cost. The Pro plan is approximately $9/month billed monthly, or $5.75/month on the annual plan. The Build-a-Plan starts at $2/month per server location with $1/GB add-ons. Compare that to Surfshark at $2.19/month on the 2-year plan, if you're paying at all, Surfshark is the better deal for most users.
Does Windscribe have a no-logs policy?
Yes, Windscribe has a published no-logs policy and doesn't log browsing activity, connection timestamps, or IP addresses after sessions end. However, as of 2026, Windscribe has not published an independent third-party audit of its infrastructure. Surfshark's no-logs policy was audited by Deloitte in 2023. If third-party verification matters to you, Surfshark has a stronger evidence base.
Which VPN is better for streaming, Surfshark or Windscribe?
Surfshark is meaningfully better for streaming. It reliably unblocks Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. Windscribe's smaller server count (700+ vs 3,200+) means less consistent unblocking, particularly for geo-restricted Netflix libraries. If streaming is your primary use case, Surfshark is the safer choice.
Is Windscribe safe to use?
Yes, Windscribe is safe for general VPN use. It's a legitimate provider based in Canada with a published privacy policy and transparent incident history. Its apps use WireGuard and OpenVPN. The main caveats: no independent no-logs audit (unlike Surfshark), Canadian jurisdiction (part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance), and the free tier's 10GB monthly cap. For higher-assurance privacy, Surfshark's Deloitte-audited policy and Netherlands jurisdiction give a stronger guarantee.