NordVPN vs Windscribe: Which Provider to Pick in 2024?

NordVPN and Windscribe are among the most prominent VPNs in 2024. Both are known for exquisite security, apps for all platforms, and impeccable ease of use. Moreover, both companies have a fairly large user base, which makes them even more appealing.

However, in this Windscribe vs NordVPN duel, only one can win. Do you think NordVPN is better than Windscribe – or vice versa? We can say we used both services for years now. Our team still uses one because it’s better overall – but which one?

We waited for that question. Today, we’re putting these two through nine rigorous tests. They’ll tell us who is the winner and a better VPN for you. We recommend reading this NordVPN vs Windscribe comparison carefully, as it’ll be pretty interesting.

You don’t want to overlook some of their best and worst features, which will be explored in this article. Now, take your time and stay with us – you’ll thank us later.

Windscribe vs NordVPN: Apps & Ease of Use

This profound comparison between NordVPN and Windscribe starts with apps and ease of use.

In this regard, Windscribe and NordVPN have no problems being present on all platforms. What do we mean by that? In simple terms, both have apps for:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux
• Android
• iOS

NordVPN and Windscribe have native clients for all of them, which is another plus in our book. We’d like to promptly mention NordVPN’s app for tvOS – Apple TV if you will. It’s a native client downloadable from the Apple Store directly to Apple TV. Sweet.

Windscribe supports a plethora of router models but so does NordVPN. In terms of simultaneous connections, the VPN from Canada has an advantage. Namely, Windscribe puts no restrictions, while NordVPN limits you to six.

Bear in mind we’re reviewing the PAID version of Windscribe. The free version limits you to one connection per account. That already sounds disappointingly painful (slight exaggeration).

Windscribe

We’re not exaggerating when we say Windscribe’s app isn’t the best. It’s very small and on Windows/macOS, looks a bit crammed. There’s the connection button and the Firewall, which is a kill switch. From the home screen, you can also select the protocol.

However, when you open the server list, the app extends downwards, taking up more screen space. To open Settings, you’ll click on the three horizontal lines and find them. This time, Windscribe will open another window that does not correlate with the app.

It looks plain and again, a bit complicated. You’d say that’s because it has plenty of features. Well, NordVPN does as well, and even more, but looks much better. The app is at least responsive and connects quickly, with no crashes and slowdowns.

We must say that the VPN did a better job on mobile devices. Its Android app looks stunning and since it’s Android OS, Windscribe puts all of its settings in one window. That’s a huge relief and makes the VPN feel more intuitive and streamlined.

NordVPN

NordVPN’s state-of-the-art apps don’t need special presentation. Its opulent-looking app on Windows has a large world map with the server list on the left. You can connect through this map or use a server list, tap once on the location, and you’re set.

NordVPN adapts to your system theme, so it can be dark or bright – cool. The Settings menu is under the Gear icon below and here, you’ll find its options laid out perfectly. Dedicated servers (Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, …) are on the server list, so they’re easy to find.

The protocol selection menu is separated, while features like Meshnet, Split Tunneling, and Threat Protection are easy to reach. NordVPN is fast, snappy, and glitch-free, providing a more than stellar user experience. Best of all, the app’s window is flexible.

You can resize it, move it around, and so on. NordVPN on mobile devices is a dream. Its mobile apps resemble the same look and feel, mitigating the learning curve between the desktop and iOS/Android devices. No wonder it’s so popular and revered.

Who Wins?

In the first Windscribe vs NordVPN round of the duel, both are phenomenal. NordVPN excels in device compatibility and user experience, while its rival has unlimited simultaneous connections. So, who wins? We will say NordVPN WINS over Windscribe.

We appreciate its stunning apps and the tvOS app that Windscribe lacks. That said, this is a very small NordVPN win, so let us not jump to conclusions that fast.

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Security & Privacy: Which One Is Safer to Use?

Privacy and security are crucial, which is why we analyze these factors at the start. We reviewed Windscribe not long ago and the VPN surprised us with its security.

Can NordVPN strike back evenly or beat Windscribe? Let’s see…

Security Features

Security-wise, NordVPN and Windscribe share some features. Both offer AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, split tunneling, and superb IP/DNS leak protection. We also love that both offer Double VPN servers, which double your encryption and make you untraceable.

The protocol selection is different but both offer OpenVPN, as expected. We like that Windscribe offers the Stealth VPN protocol, which is aimed at bypassing censorship. NordVPN’s Obfuscated servers do the same, using OpenVPN TCP.

A year or so ago, Windscribe started hosting its servers on RAM (Random Access Memory). NordVPN has done so for a few years now, so its rival caught up. We think it’s a big thing now, knowing that RAM servers prevent additional logging and provide better performance.

They’re harder (if not impossible) to compromise and easier to maintain. Plus, with every server restart, they’re losing all data, which is how RAM works. These are the most notable similarities but choosing between Windscribe or NordVPN comes down to their differences.

What Are the Differences?

When discussing their differences, NordVPN has an advantage. However, let’s start with Windscribe. This VPN offers the WireGuard protocol, along with Stealth VPN, IKEv2, and Wstunnel. Stealth VPN and Wstunnel are aimed at bypassing censorship.

They are surprisingly effective but more about that later in this NordVPN vs Windscribe duel. Moving on, we like its port forwarding, which can be handy for torrenting, plus, there’s Split Personality, which rotates your user agent to prevent identification of your OS and browser.

In doing so, Windscribe prevents fingerprinting, which is very handy. This provider also offers a few advanced features like static IPs and R.O.B.E.R.T. that can block IPs and domains on your devices. NordVPN has Threat Protection – what is it?

It’s a package with antivirus, malware protection, and an ad blocker titled CyberSec. Another thing is NordLynx – an in-house protocol that exceeds WireGuard in privacy, security, and speed. NordVPN comes with Onion Over VPN servers as well, helping you get on the darknet in impeccable privacy.

Compared to Windscribe, the provider includes even Meshnet. This is a unique feature for remote control/access, hosting LAN parties, and even bypassing geo-blocks. Like Surfshark, it has the Dark Web Monitor, which informs you if your accounts are endangered.

This provider has Private DNS servers too. This means your DNS requests are routed through its servers that adhere to a no-logs policy rather than your ISPs or other free DNS servers. As a result, NordVPN prevents your private data from getting into the wrong hands.

Is There a No-Logs Policy?

Choosing between NordVPN or Windscribe doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your privacy. Both have a no-logging policy and don’t store information about your online whereabouts. Under this information, we can put:

• IP address
• DNS queries
• Geo-location
• Browsing history
• Timestamps, and so forth…

However, there’s a big difference. Windscribe is in Canada, a country from the 5 Eyes Alliance. It’s known for government surveillance and data collection, similar to the UK, the US, Australia, and New Zealand. NordVPN sleeps peacefully in Panama.

This off-shore location guarantees privacy, ushering in a sense of safety while using it. Besides, NordVPN has a couple of third-party audits on its no-logging policy. They come from renowned firms like PwC and Deloitte.

Windscribe has an audited desktop app but that’s all. The company sees its transparency through the open-source app. In a way, they’re right. But it’s not enough only to have an open-source app. We expect at least one audit from the 5 big auditing firms.

So, privacy-wise, they’re excellent on paper but we give a slight edge to NordVPN due to its privacy-friendly jurisdiction and a few audits that speak volumes about the company.

Who Wins?

In this NordVPN vs Windscribe comparison, NordVPN WINS. Both providers come with a set of impressive security features. Windscribe has something NordVPN doesn’t and vice versa. In the end, NordVPN takes the lead by being more private than Windscribe and offering more unique security features like Threat Protection, Meshnet, Private DNS, and a few others.

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NordVPN vs Windscribe Streaming Test

Windscribe is a provider capable of streaming in both versions. When we tested Windscribe, we found that it works with Netflix. It has special Netflix-optimized servers that will work with a couple of catalogs like the US, French, Canadian, and sometimes Japanese.

Our team tested BBC iPlayer, a couple of foreign TV channels, and Hotstar, only to be successful. Less popular Netflix catalogs won’t work, so don’t expect to be able to unblock more than, let’s say, 5-8 libraries in total.

This VPN includes Smart DNS but is a part of its Control D sister company. In the VPN, you won’t find it, so it’ll be harder to stream on a gaming console, for example. NordVPN’s all-encompassing apps work for streaming universally. They, in addition, do it better!

Our tests showed NordVPN unblocking 20+ Netflix catalogs easily. Without batting an eye! NordVPN’s streaming performance is sublime, and thanks to the NordLynx protocol, it’s insanely fast for watching 4K on Netflix. Before you ask, it can unblock everything.

Sports channels, streaming services, and everything else. SmartDNS is included as well, albeit, its DNS addresses are mostly for US streaming platforms like Paramount Plus, HBO, and a couple of others. Let’s not forget its Apple TV app.

We tested it and discovered that it’s pitch-perfect for watching geo-restricted content. Admittedly, this provider improved a lot compared to its past versions. It’s way more capable now, and streaming-wise, it beats CyberGhost, which we like a tad more.

Who Wins?

While Windscribe is not a bad choice for streaming, in the end, NordVPN WINS the round. It’s simply more capable of accessing different Netflix libraries and works more fluidly in general. Plus, there’s SmartDNS, which its rival lacks.

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Windscribe vs NordVPN Speed Comparison

Earlier in our NordVPN vs Windscribe duel for 2024, we pointed out that NordLynx is better than WireGuard performance-wise.

Does it translate to faster speeds for the Panamanian VPN? We’ll see that in this round. First, we’ll need to show you our native internet speed.

At the time of writing, we’re in Southeastern Europe and the results you see above are without using a VPN. We tested both for 3 days in a row, 3 times a day, on 4 server locations that include the UK, the US, Turkey, and Hong Kong.

The protocol selection was set to Automatic in both, to see how both will behave on their own. We wanted to see how capable these VPNs are at optimizing their speed. After performing all our tests, the results were the following.

Windscribe

UK:

US:

Turkey:

Hong Kong:

NordVPN

UK:

US:

Turkey:

Hong Kong:

Who Wins?

For some reason, Windscribe performed poorly on Turkish and Hong Kong VPN servers. Its performance on UK and US servers was decent but not as great as NordVPN. This provider mopped the floor with its rival by offering faster speeds and lower latency.

As a result, saying that NordVPN WINS this round against Windscribe is an understatement. For your info, we tested many other servers and only in our country, we’ve seen an equal result. As soon as we connected overseas, NordVPN gained an edge, being a better performer.

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Torrenting: Are NordVPN and Windscribe P2P-Friendly?

If you’re into torrenting, you should know a VPN is mandatory. Torrenting is frowned upon in many regions, plus, you’re likely to expose your IP to other users who download the same file. Henceforth, gaining additional privacy isn’t a bad thing.

In this section of our Windscribe vs NordVPN comparison, we won’t spend too much time. Both providers are P2P-friendly, whereas, NordVPN has dedicated P2P servers.

Do they make any difference? To be honest, not exactly. You can connect to any server and download stuff.

We tested them regarding performance and they’re the same as “ordinary” servers. Just be sure to pick the closest server to maximize your download speed. Either way, NordVPN is fast, so even if you go overseas, the performance will be preserved.

As you can see above, Windscribe works perfectly. Connect to any server and download torrents. You can enable port forwarding but we deem it unnecessary because it marginally (if at all) boosts the performance, while giving you nothing for privacy.

Who Wins?

Our NordVPN vs Windscribe round of torrenting ends up in a DRAW. Both perform well, allowing for P2P across the entire server network.

Are Windscribe and NordVPN Working in China?

This part is more interesting. You see, both options offer obfuscation technology. NordVPN has obfuscated servers, while Windscribe has Stealth VPN and Wstunnel. We tested both in Windscribe and can say the provider works in China – what a surprise!

Hold on to your laurels, though. We haven’t said it works always. According to many Reddit users, Windscribe’s performance in China is so-so. It’ll either work like a charm or refuse to connect. In 2024, the situation persists but we can’t blame Windscribe entirely.

The Great Firewall of China is evolving, preventing more VPN connections simultaneously. Thankfully, NordVPN is still capable of overcoming it, alas, on a few occasions, it also won’t work. Out of 10 times, NordVPN usually works 9, with minor issues only.

The good news is that those issues are resolved by using another obfuscated server. In China, this provider performs better. Our testers used it for streaming and light gaming. Windscribe’s Stealth protocol can tank your speeds due to heavy encryption.

Wstunnel is the same. Many say that Astrill VPN works better in this country, and in our tests, it turned out to be true. But would you spend $15-$30 a month on a VPN? Likely not.

Who Wins?

With everything said, NordVPN WINS this round against Windscribe. Its rival works in China but has seldom – and sometimes frequent issues. NordVPN is more composed, we’d say. It works better, with superior performance, which is exceptionally important in a censored country.

Impressively, Windscribe’s free version works in China too. You’ll just have 10 GB of monthly bandwidth to play around with. A crippling limitation if you ask us.

Bypass censorship with NordVPN

NordVPN vs Windscribe Server Fleets

Speaking of limitations, one of these VPNs offers a smaller server fleet that isn’t the most imposing. In this part of our Windscribe vs NordVPN comparison, we’ll analyze both and see which provider emerges victorious regarding servers and server locations.

NordVPN (6,300+ servers in 111 countries)

NordVPN offers a staggering 6,300+ servers in 111 countries, making it one of the largest VPNs around. With over 6,300 servers, it’s larger than ExpressVPN and Surfshark.

Moreover, the provider includes a variety of dedicated servers for P2P, dark web, and bypassing censorship. The server variety is stellar and it even has servers in the UAE, which ExpressVPN lacks despite having 105 countries on its list.

NordVPN uses 10 Gbps servers to provide exquisite performance. Additionally, you’ll find 2,000 or so US servers, with many of them in Europe, Asia, and Africa. We never had a feeling of a small server network when using this VPN.

On the contrary, it feels bombastic and ever-present. Whenever we needed a location, we could find it. The only thing lacking is the location in India, which NordVPN removed a few years ago because of the new legislation that negatively influenced VPNs in the country.

Windscribe (500+ servers in 69+ countries)

Windscribe has 500 servers in roughly 70 countries. This is 12 times less than NordVPN (in terms of servers), which isn’t a small difference. The server distribution is great, though, and you’ll find plenty of worldwide locations.

Our gripe is the small server fleet, which can be detrimental to performance. Overcrowding this network will be simple and if the server is under heavy load, it tends to perform poorly. No wonder we received relatively poor results in our speed test.

On the brighter side, you’ll find that Windscribe has streaming-optimized servers called Windflix – for Netflix, obviously. Like NordVPN, it bases its servers on RAM and they’re 10 Gbps, so Windscribe uses modern technology. Another point – physical servers.

Yes, Windscribe has no virtual locations, which, for many, is a plus. African, Asian, American, and European locations are ubiquitous, and the provider offers even Indian servers. This is interesting because Indian laws require VPN providers to hand out user data to the government. So, if Windscribe has no virtual locations, how do these servers function?

If the provider has physical servers in India, does this mean it adheres to these laws? Or is it a virtual location, after all? We have no answers to these questions.

Who Wins?

Regardless, we can only say NordVPN WINS after this comparison with Windscribe. The provider offers more servers and covers more countries with them. So it’s a clear winner.

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Customer Support: NordVPN or Windscribe?

NordVPN’s state-of-the-art customer support is hard to beat. We’re looking at 24/7 customer support that responds almost immediately. Furthermore, its email support is impeccable and won’t leave you waiting for hours and days.

This provider includes numerous guides and FAQs on the site, along with a comprehensive YouTube channel where you can also get help. Overall, you’ll never feel alone on its site, and no matter the scope of your problem, the vigilant support team will cover your needs.

That can’t be said about Windscribe which still uses its Garry chatbot – ugh. We don’t like it because it’s a BOT and not a human. Garry can’t replace the lack of 24/7 human support of NordVPN. If Garry can’t help – and he probably can’t – you can request help via email.

In this case, you’ll send a ticket to Windscribe and wait for a response for a few hours. We like Windscribe’s Reddit, however, where developers are responding to user questions and requests. But then, not everyone uses Reddit, which is a bummer.

This VPN comes with FAQs and guides, plus, there’s a Discord server where you can chat with other users and get help from its staunch community. A YouTube channel is there too, so you can learn something new once or twice a month when the VPN uploads new stuff.

Who Wins?

NordVPN WINS again and it’s easy to see why. The lack of 24/7 support is a punch in the belly for Windscribe. NordVPN’s support is hard to beat at this point, keeping in mind the company’s size and professionalism that its rival can’t cope with.

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NordVPN vs Windscribe Pricing Comparison

The last comparison for today will have us examine the prices of both VPNs. NordVPN will win and only the blind can’t see that. However, for some people, pricing is the #1 criterion, so it’s important to inspect which VPN is more economical.

NordVPN

NordVPN has several plans varying in length and features. However, each plan offers ALL the features we discussed in this article, while some include NordPass and/or NordLocker. Let’s start with its 2-year plans whose pricing is below.

You can get a 2-year plan at under $3.4 a month with 3 free months at the time of writing. This is a great price, and if you want NordPass, the Plus plan at under $4.3 is exquisite. The Ultimate (sometimes called Complete) plan isn’t very expensive either.

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Remember that this plan includes NordPass and NordLocker, with 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage. Quite handy for storing sensitive data. Then, we have annual plans with no free months. The Standard plan is a tad under $5 and this, again, is inexpensive.

ExpressVPN’s annual plan is under $6.8, so NordVPN is more affordable. Interestingly, the Complete plan isn’t that expensive either, especially compared to the 2-year version from above. Finally, we’ll promptly go over its monthly plans – more expensive deals.

They include the same features but now, you save 0% and the starting price is under $12.99 a month. All plans are covered by a 30-day refund policy and NordVPN offers a free trial through iOS/Android devices for new users.

Windscribe

The price of Windscribe hasn’t changed in a long time. This VPN has a monthly plan at $9, while the annual plan is $5.75 a month. Of course, the latter is paid upfront, so you’ll be charged $69 every 12 months, not just for the first year.

There’s an interesting plan on the right. Windscribe lets you build a custom plan at $1 per location per month. It’s not great if you need more than a few locations because you’re close to the standard yearly plan with 69+ countries.

However, if you use a VPN only for the US IP, for instance, you can build this plan and enjoy it for a cheaper price. Where Windscribe beats NordVPN is a free plan. This provider has it and while it’s capped at 10 GB of monthly traffic, it’s secure and works for streaming/P2P.

Its monthly plan is cheaper than NordVPN’s equivalent but its annual plan isn’t when compared to NordVPN’s Standard plan, which would be the equivalent. In fact, for $0.2 or so more, you can get the Plus annual plan and enjoy NordPass.

The trick is that NordVPN’s pricing applies to the FIRST year or two. After that, you’re charged more. Not much more but still more. On the other hand, Windscribe has a tiny 3-day refund policy but only if you use less than 10 GB of data – watch out for that!

Who Wins?

The last NordVPN vs Windscribe comparison round turned out incredibly tense. We’d say it’s a DRAW as strange as it sounds. Yes, NordVPN has cheaper annual and biennial plans but then, Windscribe has a free plan and lets you build a bespoke plan.

NordVPN’s 30-day refund policy is impeccable, while Windscribe’s 3-day is lackluster. Both have advantages and disadvantages, which resulted in a draw.

Conclusion: NordVPN Wins Against Windscribe!

At the end of our Windscribe vs NordVPN duel, we have only 2 points for the first and 9 points for the latter VPN. NordVPN wins this duel with flying colors, emerging victorious in pretty much all important aspects. Is Windscribe bad? Hardly.

The provider had some great moments, such as unlimited connections, support for routers, torrenting ability, streaming, and a custom plan at a cheaper price. However, NordVPN seems to have it all (except for unlimited connections), plus, it does everything better.

It’s faster, more secure, offers more servers, and so on. If you’re looking to buy one, we’d say NordVPN is the way to go. You’ll save money with the discount through our site and get more. Should I consider Windscribe if I find NordVPN lacking?

Probably not. Our team recommends going for CyberGhost as a more affordable option in that case.

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