We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
Advertising Disclosure

vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

NordVPN vs Buffered VPN vs Windscribe VPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.4/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 8.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 7.9/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, Cyberghost and Expressvpn are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kate Richards
    Kate Richards

    Managing Editor

    NordVPN comes with many of the bells and whistles that are important to privacy fanatics. Not only does it support OpenVPN, it also keeps no logs and offers access to China through obfsproxy, while its Smart DNS technology enables access to geo-blocked sites, such as Netflix. NordVPN, however, does fall short in customer support, but this is offset by its above-average speeds and an option for Bitcoin payments. Windscribe has great offers to boot: you can try the VPN for free before committing. It supports OpenVPN and dedicated apps for cross-platform compatibility, however poor customer support puts a damp on this otherwise professional client. There is little to complain about Buffered, with its robust OpenVPN encryption and lighting fast speeds. It falls short with its lack of a kill switch, but makes up for it by supporting 5 simultaneous connections, offering servers in over 30 countries and providing excellent customer support through live chat.

    Our Score

    Features 9.4/10
    Pricing 7.5/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 8.1/10
    Pricing 6.3/10
    Ease of Use 8.8/10
    Reliability & Support 8.6/10
    Features 7.9/10
    Pricing 8.6/10
    Ease of Use 8.8/10
    Reliability & Support 6.0/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Angela Jovanoska
    Angela Jovanoska

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    Our Score: 9.4/10

    On the surface, NordVPN looks like a really impressive service. It claims to have a huge global server network, a speedy and reliable connection, and iron-clad security and privacy features. Plus, you can get it all for just $5.99/month. That all sounds great, but is there a catch? To find out, I did an in-depth analysis of NordVPN. I tested its speeds and how well it performs when you’re str...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    2
    210493Lu
    10.0/10
    The Best of The Best

    I simply tested all VPNs looking for cutting-edge online security, I tested the most expensive and the...  most talked about virtual anonymity, none made me as happy as NordVPN, it stands out for several reasons that the much more expensive ones it doesn't have, its double encryption, dedicated IPs, onion VPN, makes NordVPN unique, with almost 6,000 servers around the world and 12 million customers like me, you can see that NordVPN is not playing games with its customers and their online security , it always innovates to keep you more secure day after day, for a fair price in the long term and without sacrificing the speed of your connection, recently Nord is developing a new VPN protocol, Nordlynx a version still under construction derived from the Wireguard protocol, if you want to have a VPN of last security that think how it will make you more secure in the next month NordVPN is the right choice, I am completely thankful for being a customer and for finding what to me is the perfect VPN.More

    Latest negative user review
    S
    SAM
    2.0/10
    BUYER BEWARE!

    BUYER BEWARE! If you purchase NordVPN, it will throttle your interned speed/connectivity by 50%, like ... it did to mine. I pay $100/month to get speeds of nearly 600mbs. With NordVPN turned on, my speeds decrease to 250mbs. Nord’s “customer support” is useless and unprofessional, and, after nearly 3 weeks of endless “try this, try that”, they were unable to resolve the issue and blamed it on everything under the sun except their product, when it is OBVIOUS that, since I have zero speed issues with Nord turned off, and ONLY experience the issues with Nord turned on, it is NordVPN that is causing the issue. When I asked them for a refund of my one year subscription paid in advance and in good faith, they refused, and have now decided to ignore me. So, YOU’VE BEEN WARNED. Their VPN will devastate your internet speeds, their “support” is ridiculous, they are in denial, and they will not refund your money, even if their product is a failure…More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Doris Muthuri
    Doris Muthuri

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 8.1/10

    Update: Buffered VPN merged with Encrypt.me. We have thoroughly tested Encrypt.me, and you can find everything you need to know in our review. Buffered VPN has a lot to offer due to its user-friendly interface, fast connection speeds, and reliable security. One thing it can't do is unblock Netflix, you'll need a premium vendor like ExpressVPN for that. In addition to dedicated apps available for ...

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    Latest positive user review
    D
    Don Bartlem
    10.0/10
    I considered a number of VPN's before going with Buffered which I find excellent.

    No issues in any aspect, On the rare occasions that I required assistance (in the initial set up stage... ), the Help Desk was outstanding. Would highly recommend Buffered to anyone considering using a VPNMore

    Latest negative user review
    T
    Trev
    2.0/10
    They are no more

    After being a customer for more than 2 years and paying a premium price for a good service. THEY DON'T...  EXIST ANYMORE.. No warning, just logged in one day and my app doesn't work and they have changed their website name. STAY AWAY, sounds dodgy.More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Doris Muthuri
    Doris Muthuri

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 7.9/10

    After its security breach, many people aren't sure if they can trust Windscribe — one of the most popular free VPNs. If it couldn't protect its servers, can you really rely on it to keep you safe, especially without a subscription? I tested every feature Windscribe has, including performing leak tests and speed checks and testing it for torrenting, gaming, and more. I also thoroughly investiga...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    P
    Pedro
    8.0/10
    Maybe not the best but for the price I am happy with them

    Maybe it is not the best but for the price, I am very happy with them. I have been using them for year... s. Usually, I am streaming sports from national TV channels abroad. In all fairness, I can recommend their service.More

    Latest negative user review
    T
    Tom
    2.0/10
    Slimey Company and DARK past

    The companies CEO ran ADULT WEBSITES. He is in an interview saying exactly this about his past, but ... he does not seem transparent with this today. Would you say making and running adult sites is a respectable or professional career? No. I would never trust them with my data, ever. They are slow, overpriced and unprofessional company that attacks people on reddit or discord who leave truthful feedback about this. They do not honor lifetime promises. Do not support this VPNMore

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $5.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    Starting price $8.33/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices
    Starting price $5.75/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 3 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Whether you’re a novice or an advanced VPN user, you will find all three VPNs very easy to use. Buffered VPN and Windscribe offer above average features and good performance. However, NordVPN effortlessly leads with an impeccable set of features, multi-layered encryption, top-notch privacy, and access to restricted websites from anywhere - not to mention the awesome coupon codes.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Buffered VPN allows torrenting on all its servers, while NordVPN and Windscribe permit torrenting only on specific servers. However, NordVPN’s P2P servers are more secure and optimized for fast downloads.

    Best VPN for Windows

    All three VPNs have attractive and user-friendly software clients for Windows with a built-in kill switch. However, Buffered VPN and Windscribe’s apps for Windows are limited compared to NordVPN’s stellar Windows client, which is more customizable and employs separate modes for various types of internet activity.

    Best VPN for Android

    Even though Windscribe and Buffered VPN provide lightweight and reliable Android apps, NordVPN outshines both competitors with its sharp, sleek, and feature-rich client for Android users. In addition, NordVPN for Android comes with more servers, stronger security measures, and more private connections.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Both Windscribe and Buffered VPN have simple client apps for Mac with basic features. However, NordVPN provides a more intuitive, diverse and feature-packed software client for Mac users at low cost.

    Best VPN for iOS

    iPhone and iPad users will appreciate NordVPN’s innovative client for iOS. It’s very easy to set up, navigate, and can run on 6 devices at the same time. It’s more advanced, engaging, and feature-rich than those offered by Buffered VPN and Windscribe.

    Best VPN for USA

    All three VPNs are able to bypass geo-restrictions in the US and can give you access to your favorite streaming services such as Netflix. However, with 1,900+ servers in the US, stable connections, high speeds, and advanced encryption levels, NordVPN surpasses both Windscribe and Buffered VPN in the US.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    It is hardly surprising that NordVPN comes out the clear winner in this race. This client has server coverage spreading across more than 50 countries, supports anonymous Bitcoin payments, allows up to 5 connections simultaneously and enables P2P downloading. Based in Panama, you can be assured that this client takes privacy and security seriously and indeed, it promises to keep no logs at all. Even with its strong DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA encryption, NordVPN is still able to deliver above-average speeds. With its generous 30-day money-back guarantee, NordVPN gives you plenty of opportunities to try and ensure that the client meets your needs.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with NordVPN
    Go with Buffered VPN
    Go with Windscribe VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is NordVPN better than Buffered VPN and Windscribe VPN?

    Yes, NordVPN is better overall than Buffered VPN and Windscribe VPN. It has 6339 servers in 111 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $5.99 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between NordVPN, Buffered VPN and Windscribe VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then NordVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests.

    Is NordVPN faster than Buffered VPN and Windscribe VPN?

    Yes, NordVPN is faster than Buffered VPN and Windscribe VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free.. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do NordVPN, Buffered VPN or Windscribe VPN offer any deals?

    NordVPN, Buffered VPN, and Windscribe VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Kate is a Managing Editor at vpnMentor. Kate promotes the use of VPNs as a means to achieve unhindered access to the internet, as she strongly believes in online freedom for everyone.