If you are looking for a VPN service that will not drain your pocket, perhaps Windscribe’s free VPN is what you need. But don’t jump on the bandwagon just yet. Keep in mind that a free plan is always considered inferior to its paid version. It doesn’t mean, however, that it’s completely useless. There are many cybersecurity concerns that a free VPN can help address to some extent. In this Windscribe Free VPN review article, we will inspect how it fairs compared to other VPNs in the market.
Why Try Windscribe VPN
On the surface, providing free online protection is a very noble goal, almost heroic. But business is business, there can be more to VPN Windscribe than what appears on paper. Let’s take a closer look at some of the characteristics that make Windscribe’s Free VPN a viable option.
Compatible with major operating systems
Windscribe VPN is compatible with major operating systems such as Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Its browser extension works perfectly for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. A beta version software for Linux is also available. Upgrading to its paid version will let you connect to routers, Windows Phones, and Linux gadgets.
A browser extension with built-in ad and tracking blocker
The browser extension has a built-in ad and tracking blocker that works on all Windscribe client software. Keep in mind that browser extensions only protect when you are using that specific browser. If you use another browser without a VPN extension, you will be connected to unsecured traffic.
Provides 2GB per month of VPN-secured data
If you need 10GB, simply sign-up with your email address.
If you want to try Windscribe’s Pro service, it offers unlimited VPN data and costs $9 per month or $49 per year. If you’re a frequent traveler, their “build a plan” pricing scheme can come in handy. Here, you can have 2-10GB of data, depends on if you sign up using your email address. It costs $1 per country per month, with 10GB data allowance per added location. The minimum requirement is $2 or two countries.
User-friendly interface
Both premium and free, Windscribe’s VPN has a small interface with a prominent connection button. It shows the current IP address, the server location, and the remaining data allowance. To change the connection location, click on either the interface’s drop-down menu or the Task Tray icon.
Windscribe offers both a desktop and browser VPN. To get maximum protection, it’s recommended to turn on both tools while online. They are free to use anyway.
Although Windscribe has 610 servers in more than 60 countries, the free service only works in 10 countries: Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Norway, Romania, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S.
Is Windscribe a Good Free VPN?
We don’t usually recommend free VPNs because most of them can sell your browsing history, slow the connection, or have many annoying ads. If you’re not paying for their service, there is no reason for them to protect your private data.
So, is Windscribe a good free VPN? To give you an honest answer, we weigh in its pros and cons.
Pros
Free service
Downloading, installing, and using VPN Windscribe in desktop and browser versions is absolutely free. The offer is not click-bait; it’s absolutely free for life. Unlike a promotion, you don’t need to sign up or key in your credit card details, and you won’t be charged after the promo period is over. If you want a cheap VPN service, you’ve hit the jackpot with this one.
Good protection
VPN Windscribe provides basic online security services. It uses the OpenVPN protocol, along with AES 256-bit encryption. It allows torrenting and file sharing. It also has a built-in firewall and pop-up blocker for additional protection and convenience.
Generous data allowance
The data cap starts with 2GB if you didn’t give your email address during the installation process. If you did, you will receive allocated VPN data of 10GB per month. If you refer a friend, you can earn 5GB extra.
Easy to install and use
There are only a few steps involved in installing the browser extension and the desktop VPN versions. Even a non-tech person can set up the software without a hassle.
Cons
Limited servers
The free VPN feature only works in 10 countries. Most of its servers are located in Canada, a member of the Five Eyes network, together with the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. These nations are allowed to share intelligence data within the group. They are mandated to store private data for a while, allowing both the government authorities and hackers to pry into your online activity. The data exchange and retention policy can compromise your privacy and anonymity.
No Netflix
“Windflix,” the company’s server for accessing the U.S. and the U.K. Netflix, does not work under the free plan. You can try accessing Netflix while connected to the regular servers, but there is no guarantee that it will work. Even its paid version also has trouble bypassing the Netflix firewall.
Slow speed
Aside from geographical limitations, Windscribe’s free VPN is pretty slow. If you do torrent or stream movies a lot, this is not for you. To test the speed on a 100Mbps fiber optic connection in London, we noted the download speed at 102Mbps before using the VPN. While connected to the VPN, the download speed plummeted to 32Mbps. That’s 71% in download speed loss!
Poor customer support
They have an automated chat representative (named Garry) who answers basic inquiries. To test, we asked him a technical question, and here’s his reply:
There is no live customer support. If you have any problem that Garry cannot resolve, you need to create a ticket and wait for days to get a response. That’s just not right.
How to Install Windscribe’s Free VPN
Windscribe VPN for Windows
Installing the VPN from Windscribe on your desktop is very easy. Here are the steps:
1. Go to https://windscribe.com/download website to Download Windscribe VPN.
2. Click on the option that will work for you. For the sake of this tutorial, we chose “Windows.”
3. Click on the “windscribe.exe” option on the left corner at the bottom of the page.
4. An installation window will appear. Follow the instructions until the end.
5. Once the download is complete, click “Finish.”
6. On the Windscribe interface, click “No” to create an account, or “Yes” to log in.
7. The Windscribe desktop platform appears. Here, you can choose your location, check how much VPN data is left, and toggle the VPN on and off.
Windscribe VPN on Android
Downloading the mobile app has almost the same steps as above:
1. Go to https://windscribe.com/download website to download Winscribe.
2. Choose an Operating System. For the sake of this tutorial, we chose “Android.”
3. It will take you to the Google Play Website. Click “Install.”
4. The file will download.
5. Once the app is downloaded, the Windscribe icon will appear on your home screen. Click on this icon.
6. Log in your credentials.
7. The Windscribe Android mobile app appears. Here, you can choose your location, check how much VPN data you have left, and toggle the VPN on and off. The key icon appears on top of the screen when it’s on.
Summary
Windscribe free VPN is one of the best free VPNs out there. It has most of the basic security features you need to stay protected while online. By default, the protocol is set to IKEv2, but you can choose OpenVPN for better performance. It also has a built-in firewall, pop-up blocker, and malware detection which makes it an indispensable online protection tool. On top of this, you can use both the desktop app and the browser extension for a safer browsing experience.
Windscribe VPN works on any gadget. It’s easy to install and has a user-friendly interface. Data caps start at 2GB per month, but they give you ways to earn more data allowance by signing-up with your email (+8GB), and referrals (+5GB). You can share the data on unlimited connections running simultaneously.
Speed-wise, we really can’t expect much from a free service. Its download speed and latency make torrenting, watching movies (including Netflix) or playing online games virtually impossible. Plus, the free service only works in 10 locations, which is a significant letdown for frequent travelers. On the bright side, it is actually better than the other free services we tried in terms of speed and coverage. Windscribe’s Free VPN has more pros than cons, which makes it worth a try. If you insist on better service, a paid VPN version is what you need.
