ProtonVPN vs Windscribe 2026: Speed, Price, Privacy
ProtonVPN offers stronger privacy credentials with open-source code and Swiss jurisdiction, while Windscribe provides better value with 10GB free tier and lower paid plans. ProtonVPN prioritizes security; Windscribe prioritizes affordability and data allowance.
ProtonVPN
Swiss-based VPN with open-source apps and strong privacy focus, owned by Proton AG
Privacy-conscious users, businesses, those wanting transparent security audits, families sharing one account
Windscribe
Canadian VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections and budget-friendly pricing
Budget-conscious users, those needing unlimited device connections, casual streaming and browsing
Quick Answer
AI SummaryProtonVPN offers stronger privacy credentials with open-source code and Swiss jurisdiction, while Windscribe provides better value with 10GB free tier and lower paid plans. ProtonVPN prioritizes security; Windscribe prioritizes affordability and data allowance.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose ProtonVPN if you prioritize security transparency, need 10+ simultaneous connections, and want extended audit protections backed by open-source code and Swiss privacy laws. Choose Windscribe if you want the lowest-cost premium plan, unlimited simultaneous connections, coverage across 110 countries, and acceptable-but-not-verified security for general browsing.
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Choose ProtonVPN if
Privacy-conscious users, businesses, those wanting transparent security audits, families sharing one account
Choose Windscribe if
Best pickBudget-conscious users, those needing unlimited device connections, casual streaming and browsing
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Free Tier Data Allowance:10GB/month vs 10GB/month
- Annual Subscription Price (USD):✓ Windscribe wins($59.76 ($4.98/month) vs $119.88 ($9.99/month))
- Server Network Size:✓ ProtonVPN wins(1,900+ servers in 91 countries vs 700+ servers in 110 countries)
Key Facts & Figures
36 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | ProtonVPN | Windscribe | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Server Count(servers) | 3,500+ | — | — |
| Annual Subscription Cost (Best Plan)(USD) | $99.99 (Plus) | — | — |
| Download Speed Performance Impact(% decrease from baseline) | 8-12% decrease | — | — |
| Monthly Cost (Basic Plan)(USD) | $4.99 | — | — |
| Open Source Code(percentage) | Partial (apps only) | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $9.99/month (1-year) | — | — |
| Server Count(servers) | 2,000+ | — | — |
| Countries Covered(count) | 68 countries | — | — |
| Average Download Speed(Mbps) | 40+ Mbps | — | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 connections (Pro) | — | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | — | — |
| Annual Plan Price(USD/month) | $4.99/month | — | — |
| Monthly Plan Price(USD) | $12.99/month | — | — |
| Server Count(servers) | 2,700+ servers | 1,100+ servers | |
| Speed Loss (Average)(percent) | 12-15% | — | — |
| Country Coverage(countries) | 91 countries | 110 countries | |
| Latest Security Audit Year | 2023 (Securitum) | — | — |
| Monthly Pricing (Annual Plan)(USD) | $9.99/month | $4.08/month | |
| Average Download Speed(Mbps) | 565 Mbps | 620 Mbps | |
| Total Server Locations(number) | 2000+ | — | — |
| Countries Covered(countries) | 68 countries | — | — |
| Speed Retention Rate(%) | 76% | — | — |
| Simultaneous Device Connections(devices) | 10 devices | Unlimited | — |
| Streaming Service Compatibility(platforms) | 8+ (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, DAZN) | — | — |
| Annual Subscription Cost(USD) | $119.88 ($9.99/month) | $59.76 ($4.98/month) | |
| Free Tier Monthly Data(GB) | 10GB | 10GB | |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 devices | Unlimited | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 30 days | 3 days | |
| Monthly Price (Standard Plan)(USD) | $9.99 | — | — |
| Annual Price (Lowest Tier)(USD) | $59.88 | — | — |
| Server Network Size(servers) | 1,900+ servers | 700+ servers | |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (1-Year Plan)(USD) | $2.00/month | $2.00/month | |
| Average Download Speed (US Servers)(Mbps) | 420 Mbps | 420 Mbps | |
| Total VPN Server Count(servers) | 760+ | 760+ | |
| Countries with Server Presence(countries) | 63+ countries | 63+ countries |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- 10GB/monthFree Tier Data Allowance10GB/month
- $119.88 ($9.99/month)Annual Subscription Price (USD)$59.76 ($4.98/month)(winner)
- 1,900+ servers in 91 countries(winner)Server Network Size700+ servers in 110 countries
- 10 devicesSimultaneous ConnectionsUnlimited devices(winner)
- Yes (all applications)(winner)Open-Source VerificationNo (proprietary)
- Yes, always enabled on paid plans(winner)Kill Switch FeatureYes, optional on free and paid
- 30 days(winner)Money-Back Guarantee3 days
- Free Tier Data Allowance
ProtonVPN
10GB/month
Windscribe
10GB/month
- Annual Subscription Price (USD)
ProtonVPN
$119.88 ($9.99/month)
Windscribe
$59.76 ($4.98/month)(winner)
- Server Network Size
ProtonVPN
1,900+ servers in 91 countries(winner)
Windscribe
700+ servers in 110 countries
- Simultaneous Connections
ProtonVPN
10 devices
Windscribe
Unlimited devices(winner)
- Open-Source Verification
ProtonVPN
Yes (all applications)(winner)
Windscribe
No (proprietary)
- Kill Switch Feature
ProtonVPN
Yes, always enabled on paid plans(winner)
Windscribe
Yes, optional on free and paid
- Money-Back Guarantee
ProtonVPN
30 days(winner)
Windscribe
3 days
Full Comparison
| Attribute | ProtonVPN | Windscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Global Server Count(servers) | 3,500+ | — |
| Server Count(servers) | 2,000+ | — |
| Country Coverage(countries) | 91 countries | 110 countries(winner) |
| Server Network Size(servers) | 1,900+ servers(winner) | 700+ servers |
| Annual Subscription Cost (Best Plan)(USD) | $99.99 (Plus) | — |
| Monthly Cost (Basic Plan)(USD) | $4.99 | — |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $9.99/month (1-year) | — |
| Free Version | Available with unlimited data | — |
| Annual Plan Price(USD/month) | $4.99/month | — |
Show 7 more attributesMonthly Plan Price(USD) $12.99/month — Monthly Pricing (Annual Plan)(USD) $9.99/month $4.08/month Free Tier Data Allowance(GB/month) 10 GB/month 10 GB/month Annual Subscription Cost(USD) $119.88 ($9.99/month) $59.76 ($4.98/month) Monthly Price (Standard Plan)(USD) $9.99 — Annual Price (Lowest Tier)(USD) $59.88 — Monthly Subscription Cost (1-Year Plan)(USD) $2.00/month — | ||
| Download Speed Performance Impact(% decrease from baseline) | 8-12% decrease | — |
| Average Download Speed(Mbps) | 40+ Mbps | — |
| Speed Loss (Average)(percent) | 12-15% | — |
| Streaming Services Optimized(platforms) | Most major platforms | — |
| Average Download Speed(Mbps) | 565 Mbps | 620 Mbps(winner) |
Show 3 more attributesCountries Covered(countries) 68 countries — Speed Retention Rate(%) 76% — Average Download Speed (US Servers)(Mbps) 420 Mbps — | ||
| US Streaming Platforms Supported(platforms) | 1 (Netflix only) | — |
| Free Trial or Free Plan(monthly data) | 100 MB/month free plan | — |
| Privacy Jurisdiction | Switzerland (5 Eyes only) | — |
| Encryption Standards Offered(algorithms) | AES-256 + ChaCha20 | — |
| Encryption Standard | AES-256 and ChaCha20 | — |
| Audit Frequency(years) | Annual third-party audit | — |
| Multi-Hop Encryption | Available (optimized) | — |
| Encryption Standard | AES-256 with 4096-bit RSA | AES-256 |
Show 3 more attributesKill Switch Feature Yes, all platforms — Code Openness 100% open-source (audited) Partially open-source (client) Privacy Audit Certification Deloitte no-logs audit (2022) Deloitte audit pending | ||
| Free Trial Available | Yes (free tier) | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 connections (Pro) | — |
| Simultaneous Device Connections(devices) | 10 devices | Unlimited |
| Streaming Service Compatibility(platforms) | 8+ (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, DAZN) | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 devices | Unlimited |
| Open Source Code(percentage) | Partial (apps only) | — |
| Countries Covered(count) | 68 countries | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | — |
| Server Count(servers) | 2,700+ servers(winner) | 1,100+ servers |
| Total Server Locations(number) | 2000+ | — |
| Countries with Server Presence(countries) | 63+ countries | — |
| Log Retention Policy | Strict no-logs, Swiss law compliance | — |
| Latest Security Audit Year | 2023 (Securitum) | — |
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland | — |
| Free Tier Monthly Data(GB) | 10GB | 10GB |
| Open Source Code(yes/no) | Yes (Cure53 audit 2023) | No (proprietary) |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 30 days(winner) | 3 days |
| Kill Switch Protection | Yes, always enabled | Yes, optional |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | — |
| Total VPN Server Count(servers) | 760+ | — |
ProtonVPNWindscribeShow 7 more attributes
Show 3 more attributes
Show 3 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·4 cons across both
ProtonVPN
Pros
- All applications open-source and audited by third parties (Cure53, Securitum)
- 10 simultaneous connections allow family sharing across devices
- 1,900+ servers in 91 countries with high-speed Swiss infrastructure
- Owned by Proton AG (also makes ProtonMail) with proven zero-knowledge architecture
- 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans
Cons
- $9.99/month annual rate is 100% more expensive than Windscribe's $4.98/month
- Limited free tier data (10GB/month) with basic features only
Windscribe
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections across all your devices without restriction
- $4.98/month annual subscription (50% cheaper than ProtonVPN)
- 700+ servers spanning 110 countries including regional specialty locations
- 10GB free tier data is industry-standard and no credit card required
- Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox with independent operation
Cons
- Proprietary code not open-source; security audits less transparent than ProtonVPN
- Only 3-day money-back guarantee vs ProtonVPN's 30 days
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Both VPNs work with some streaming services, but availability varies by region and changes frequently as services update their blocking measures. ProtonVPN has 1,900+ servers which increases chances of finding working IPs, while Windscribe covers 110 countries which may help with regional content. Neither guarantees streaming access, and using VPNs to circumvent geographic restrictions may violate service terms.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
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Wikipedia
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