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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.
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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.

ExpressVPN vs Windscribe 2024

Table of Contents
    Editor's Note: Transparency and impartiality are important to us when bringing you our best selection of VPNs. Some of the industry-leading products on our list, including Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company. The VPNs we choose are derived from a thorough testing process.

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Angela Jovanoska
    Angela Jovanoska

    Former Cybersecurity Researcher

    This is always a tricky question to answer because every VPN has its own strengths. But, I have to admit, it makes my job easier when the verdict is a much clearer call, which was the case today.

    After thorough testing, I concluded that ExpressVPN is the overall better VPN. It worked seamlessly with all my licensed streaming services, and I could watch without lag or interruptions. Plus, it has one of the most intuitive VPN apps I’ve tested — it’s lightweight, minimalistic, and can connect to servers within seconds.

    Windscribe is also a good option, especially if you’re looking for a secure VPN that won’t break the bank. It offers the security essentials offered by premium VPNs at a lower price. Plus, its Stealth protocol allows it to work on restrictive networks, even in China. It performed poorly during long-distance speed tests, though, and has a relatively small server network.

    Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free

    Important! Both Windscribe and ExpressVPN have strict no-logging policies that prevent them from keeping track of (or even seeing) what you do online. This means you’re responsible for your actions while using a VPN. We don’t condone using a VPN to watch or download content that’s copyright-protected or isn’t licensed in your location.

    Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

    ExpressVPN Windscribe
    Overall Rating Our Score: 9.87/10

    https://www.expressvpn.com/

    Our Score: 7.93/10

    https://windscribe.com/

    💲 Lowest Monthly Price $6.67/month with 1-year + 3 months free plan $5.75/month with 1-year plan
    🗓️ Price on Renewal $116.95 per year
    (subject to change)
    $69 per year
    (subject to change)
    🤑 Coupons ExpressVPN 48% Off (1 year + 3 free months plan) Windscribe 43% Off (1 year plan)
    💸 Money-Back Guarantee 30 days 3 days
    📺 Streaming Works with Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more Works with most streaming platforms but might experience delays
    🌍 VPN Servers 105 countries with 3,000+ servers 69 countries with 177 servers
    Speed 6% speed drop on nearby UK servers, 20% speed drop on long-distance servers 28% speed drop on nearby UK servers, 93% speed drop on long-distance servers
    🎮 Gaming Performance Extremely fast speeds and low ping Low ping rate on servers close by, but struggles over long distances
    🧑‍🤝‍🧑 P2P Support Yes, on all servers Most servers are optimized for torrenting
    🔐 Security Protocols Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 WireGuard OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth, WStunnel
    🔌 Kill Switch Yes Yes
    IP/DNS Leak Protection Yes Yes
    🏢 Based in Country British Virgin Islands Canada
    ⚠️ Does VPN Keep Logs No No
    Works in China Yes Yes
    #️⃣ Number of Device Connections 8 Unlimited
    💻 Device Compatibility Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and more

    Plus, a native app for routers

    Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, routers, and more
    🔧 Customer Support 24/7 live chat, knowledge base, FAQs, and email Email, knowledge base, and FAQs

    Streaming — ExpressVPN Wins by a Narrow Margin

    Despite not offering any streaming-optimized servers, ExpressVPN and Windscribe are both good options for streaming. However, ExpressVPN is the overall winner because it let me stream content in HD from all my licensed streaming sites without issues.

    Streaming Platform ExpressVPN Windscribe
    Netflix ✅ Yes, including popular Netflix
    libraries like the US, UK, Canada,
    Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland
    ☑️ Yes, but not as reliable for some libraries
    Disney+ ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    ESPN ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    HBO Max ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    Hulu ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    Sky ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    Amazon Prime Video ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    BBC iPlayer ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    ABC ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    CBS ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    NBC ✅ Yes ✅ Yes

    Our international testing team confirmed that ExpressVPN works with more than 20 Netflix libraries while testing from their respective countries. My teammate in the US used its NY server to safely watch Gilmore Girls in HD on Netflix US. They could also use their Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Max accounts without hiccups.

    Watching Netflix US with ExpressVPNWe could all watch our favorite local shows in UHD with ExpressVPN

    Windscribe is also a decent streaming VPN. Our international testers reported that it works with Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. However, getting it to work with these platforms sometimes took a bit of troubleshooting.

    For instance, our US-based tester had to switch between a few servers to watch Amazon Prime Video US. They could also watch Max, but there was constant lag during streaming.

    Watching Netflix US with WindscribeOur US testers binge-watched Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix US with Windscribe

    However, most platforms loaded in a few seconds, and our team faced no major interruptions while streaming. It’s also helpful that Windscribe supports WireGuard (a speed-optimized protocol), as it can dramatically improve speeds for streaming or any other activity.

    Streaming was much smoother with ExpressVPN, though. I never experienced any lagging, even when I connected to a server on the other side of my home country, which wasn’t the case with Windscribe. This is largely thanks to Lightway, ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol, which is built for fast speeds.

    Both VPNs offer a Smart DNS service that you can use to stream on devices that don’t support VPNs, like smart TVs and gaming consoles. However, unlike Windscribe, ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS (MediaStreamer) is included with the VPN subscription, so you don’t have to pay extra to get it.

    Winner
    ExpressVPN and Windscribe are both good streaming VPNs, but ExpressVPN is the overall winner. It works with most streaming services without issues and offers faster speeds.

    Server Network — ExpressVPN Has a Lot More Servers Than Windscribe

    ExpressVPN Windscribe
    Total Countries With Servers 105 69
    Number of Servers 3,000+ 177

    ExpressVPN has a much larger server network than Windscribe, with over 3,000 servers in 105 countries worldwide. Compared to that, Windscribe falls short, currently offering only 177 servers across 69 countries. ExpressVPN also covers a lot more regions than Windscribe, including Europe, America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.

    With five times the size of Windscribe’s server network, ExpressVPN is the definitive winner in this category. The more server options you have, the less likely it is you’ll face issues like overcrowding and server overload.

    Winner
    ExpressVPN has a much larger server network than Windscribe and covers more regions. Most of Windscribe’s servers are located in the US and Europe, while ExpressVPN offers connections in every part of the world, making it the winner in this category.

    Speed — ExpressVPN Is the Fastest VPN I’ve Tested

    Windscribe offers good speeds, but ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs on the market, making it the overall winner.

    Our dedicated speed tester located in the UK measured how both VPNs perform over short and long distances. To get the best results, the tests were performed with each VPN’s fastest protocol — Lightway for ExpressVPN and WireGuard for Windscribe.

    Below, you can see how much each server lost compared to the speeds without a VPN connection. While it’s normal for a VPN to reduce speeds by 10-20% (depending on how far away the server is from your location), you should still be able to stream, torrent, or browse without significant interruptions.

    Starting with baseline speeds of 111.65Mbps, ExpressVPN’s local UK server reached up to 104.93Mbps, which is only a 6% speed drop. Our speed tester said that they barely noticed any speed difference and could browse, stream local content, and torrent as if they were using their regular connection.

    Screenshot showing ExpressVPN's download and upload speedsA minor speed loss of 6% is barely noticeable when streaming, browsing, or torrenting

    In comparison, Windscribe reached 81.45Mbps on nearby servers, which is a 28% speed drop. These are still decent speeds, but most premium VPNs rarely lose over 10% when connected to nearby servers. For comparison, ExpressVPN’s speeds only dropped this much on long-distance connections.

    Screenshot showing Windsribe's download and upload speedsYou only need 25Mbps for 4K streaming

    Overall, ExpressVPN performed much better than Windscribe, even over longer distances. We were really impressed that, even when connected to an ExpressVPN server tens of thousands of kilometers away, webpages only took an extra second or two to load.

    Speed Tests ExpressVPN Average Download Speed Windscribe Average Download Speed ExpressVPN Average Upload Speed Windscribe Average Upload Speed
    Connected to a US server 97.91Mbps (12% loss) 11.23Mbps (90% loss) 13.63Mbps (4% loss) 7.27Mbps (55% loss)
    Connected to a UK server 104.93Mbps (6% loss) 81.45Mbps (29% loss) 13.66Mbps (4% loss) 14.76Mbps (10% loss)
    Connected to a Hong Kong server 79.68Mbps (29% loss) 3.82Mbps (97% loss) 11.72Mbps (18% loss) 0.75 (95% loss)
    Winner
    Thanks to its Lightway protocol, ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs on the market. Its speeds were almost as fast as the baseline, while Windscribe lost nearly 30% on nearby servers and over 90% over long distances.

    Gaming — ExpressVPN Has Lower Ping Rates Than Windscribe

    Both ExpressVPN and Windscribe are good gaming VPNs, but ExpressVPN has lower ping rates, both over short and long distances.

    Ideally, the ping rate should stay below 100ms when gaming. Anything over that can cause major lagging and disrupt your gaming experience.

    To see how each VPN performs, I first measured my ping without a VPN connection. Then, I connected to the fastest server for my location, as well as a few other servers across the globe, including the US, the UK, and Hong Kong. I chose a fast-paced online game like Counter-Strike 2 to get the most accurate results.

    ExpressVPN (Lightway) Windscribe (WireGuard)
    Quick Connect (Croatia) 38ms 47ms
    Connected to a US server 100ms 168ms
    Connected to a UK server 52ms 85ms
    Connected to a Hong Kong server 287ms 402ms

    ExpressVPN's fastest location gave me a ping of 38ms, which is fairly similar to the ping I get when gaming without a VPN. With the nearby UK server (2,000+ km away), the ping increased to 52ms, which is more than enough for lag-free gaming.

    Playing Counter Strike 2 with ExpressVPN's fastest locationConnect to ExpressVPN’s Smart Location to get the lowest ping rates

    As expected, the ping increased the further away I got from my location, so there was some lagging when I tried the US server. It wasn’t until I tried a server in Hong Kong that the game lagged too much, making it unplayable.

    Windscribe also has low ping rates, but only on servers close by. Ping rates were noticeably increased on medium- and long-distance servers, so I struggled to play CS2 on servers in the US.

    Winner
    ExpressVPN had consistently lower ping rates, both over short and long distances, making it the winner in this category. I experienced no lag when connected to its fastest location and the nearby UK server, and the game was still enjoyable even at longer distances. Windscribe is also a good gaming VPN, as long as you use servers that are close by.

    Torrenting — ExpressVPN Allows P2P Sharing On Every Server; Windscribe Doesn’t

    ExpressVPN allows torrenting on all its servers, which is very practical since you don’t have to look for specialized servers to torrent safely. Simply connect to your closest location, and you can start torrenting instantly.

    Windscribe also supports P2P sharing on most of its servers, except for a few locations where it’s not allowed, including Lithuania, Bosnia, India, Russia, and South Africa. These servers are clearly marked in the server list with a crossed-out P2P icon, so they can be easily spotted.

    Unlike Windscribe, ExpressVPN only supports port forwarding on its router app. This feature increases torrenting speeds by connecting you to more torrenting peers. That said, it’s also considered a security vulnerability, as it can be used by hackers to uncover your real IP address.

    Despite offering port forwarding, Windscribe has slower torrenting speeds than ExpressVPN. During tests, it took less than 6 minutes to download a 1.5GB copyright-free file with ExpressVPN’s fastest server — about the same as what I get without a VPN. With port forwarding enabled, it took around 10 minutes to download the same file with Windscribe.

    Before using either VPN for torrenting, you should be aware that downloading copyrighted files is illegal. To make sure you don’t break any laws, you should only download torrents in the public domain. Also, be sure to check your country’s local laws and regulations on torrenting.

    Winner
    ExpressVPN allows torrenting on all its servers and has excellent speeds for quick downloads. Windscribe blocks P2P sharing on a few of its servers, and even though it supports port forwarding, it took longer to download a torrent file than ExpressVPN.

    Security — Both VPNs Are Very Secure

    ExpressVPN and Windscribe both offer all the standard security features of a premium VPN, including military-grade encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, and several advanced VPN protocols, so there is no definitive winner in this category.

    Security Feature ExpressVPN Windscribe
    Encryption level AES-256-GCM with 4096-bit RSA key, SHA-512 HMAC authentication AES-256-GCM with 4096-bit RSA key, SHA-512 HMAC authentication
    Kill Switch All operating systems Only on desktop
    DNS/IP Leak Protection Yes Yes
    Protocols OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, IPSec/IKEv2, and Lightway (own proprietary protocol) OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, IKEv2, Stealth, Wstunnel, WireGuard
    Split Tunneling Yes Yes
    Private DNS servers Yes Yes
    Tor Over VPN servers No No
    RAM-only servers wipe data Yes Yes
    Ad & malware blocker Yes Yes
    Double hop servers No Yes
    Dedicated IP addresses No No
    Obfuscation technology Yes Yes

    ExpressVPN’s proprietary TrustedServer technology guarantees that all your data is wiped from the server with each reboot. This is because all its servers are RAM-based (they run only on volatile memory). Similarly to ExpressVPN, Windscribe’s servers are also RAM-based, which is much safer than full disk encryption.

    Both VPNs support multiple secure VPN protocols. ExpressVPN’s most secure protocol is Lightway, which is its proprietary VPN protocol optimized for speed and safety. It’s also undergone multiple security audits and is open-source, so anyone can inspect the code for vulnerabilities.

    Screenshot of ExpressVPN's Windows app, showing its protocolsIf you click on Advanced Options for Lightway, you can choose between AES and ChaCha20 encryption cipher

    In addition to military-grade encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, and a kill switch, both VPNs secure your data with Perfect Forward Secrecy. This feature changes the encryption key every time you log in, so even if one key is compromised, all your past and future sessions remain safe.

    Unlike ExpressVPN, Windscribe offers multi-hop (double VPN) servers that add an extra layer of encryption to your data by routing your traffic through two different VPN servers. Although this provides extra security, it’s not recommended for everyday use, as it can greatly reduce speeds. Note that with Windscribe, this works by connecting to one location on the desktop app and another on the browser extension.

    Screenshot of Windscribe's Windows app showing the Firewall featureFor maximum security, choose Always On, so you’ll only have internet access when connected to the VPN

    I liked that Windscribe offers static IP addresses. A static IP remains the same every time you connect, but it’s not exclusive to you. Using a static IP address can help you avoid CAPTCHAs and 2FA checks. This feature is not part of Windscribe’s regular subscription, though, so you have to pay extra to get it.

    Winner - draw
    /
    Both VPNs are very secure, with military-grade encryption, a kill switch function, and several trusted VPN protocols. However, unlike ExpressVPN, Windscribe offers multi-hop servers and static IPs. In turn, ExpressVPN’s kill switch is available on all platforms, which isn’t the case with Windscribe. So, ultimately, this category comparison is a tie.

    Privacy — ExpressVPN is Based Outside Any Surveillance Alliances

    Both ExpressVPN and Windscribe have strict no-logs policies, but ExpressVPN’s claims have been proven true by multiple independent audits.

    ExpressVPN clearly states in its privacy policy that it doesn’t keep any activity or connection logs, such as your browsing history, DNS queries, or IP address. It only collects sign-up details, like your email address and billing info, plus general anonymized information, like the server location you used and the amount of data transferred.

    In September 2022, an external audit conducted by the independent organization KPMG proved ExpressVPN truly stands behind its no-logs claims. This is one of the many audits ExpressVPN has undergone throughout the years.

    Screenshot of ExpressVPN's privacy policyExpressVPN only stores anonymous data that can’t be tied back to you

    Windscribe's privacy policy is transparent, claiming the VPN keeps no logs of users' IP addresses, browsing history, or connection times. It doesn’t even require an email address for signup. However, it hasn’t undergone an independent audit to prove its no-logs claims.

    ExpressVPN is also based in the British Virgin Islands, a privacy-friendly country that’s not a part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. The members of these alliances are known to track their citizens’ online activity and share it with each other, so it’s a huge plus that ExpressVPN is based outside of it or any other similar organization.

    On the other hand, Windscribe is headquartered in Canada, which is a 5 Eyes country. It’s also worrying that Windscribe was recently involved in an incident where two of its Ukranian servers were seized by Ukranian authorities. The servers weren’t encrypted, so it’s possible the authorities were able to retrieve the information stored on them.

    Winner
    ExpressVPN is the overall winner. It has a strict no-logs policy that has been audited multiple times and is based outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. Windscribe also claims it keeps no logs, but this hasn’t been verified by an independent audit. Plus, it’s based in a 5 Eyes nation.

    Works in China — Both VPNs Can Be Used In China

    The Great Firewall of China (GFW) blocks VPN traffic, but both VPNs offer obfuscation, a feature that disguises your VPN traffic as normal internet traffic.

    ExpressVPN comes with built-in obfuscation when you use the Automatic protocol, so there is no need to look for specialized servers or perform any manual configurations to use the internet outside the GFW. On its official website, you can even access a list of servers that work best in China, which is regularly updated.

    Windscribe offers obfuscation through its Stealth protocol, so you’ll need to connect to it to use it reliably in China. The only slight drawback is that Stealth can greatly reduce your speeds, which isn’t the case with ExpressVPN’s obfuscation feature. Plus, the Stealth protocol is not currently available on iOS.

    Note that ExpressVPN and Windscribe don’t have physical servers in mainland China. But you can still get a Chinese IP address from their servers in Hong Kong or ExpressVPN’s additional servers in Macau.

    Winner - draw
    /
    ExpressVPN and Windscribe both work in China. ExpressVPN offers automatic obfuscation on all its servers, so there is no need to look for any specialized servers to use. Windscribe also works reliably in China as long as you use the Stealth protocol.

    Installation & Ease of Use — ExpressVPN Is More Intuitive on Desktop and Mobile

    Both VPNs offer easy-to-use apps for all major platforms and devices, including Windows, macOS, Windows, and Android. Setup is quick and easy in all cases. All I needed to do was download the apps from their official websites and install the VPNs on my Windows laptop — the whole process didn’t take me more than 5 minutes.

    ExpressVPN’s desktop app is one of the most intuitive I’ve used. Its Smart Location feature automatically connects you to the fastest available server based on your location. There is also a star icon next to each location, so it’s easy to find your favorite servers for later use.

    Screenshot of ExpressVPN's Windows appAdd a shortcut to your favorite websites so you can access them and protect your connection with one click

    You can personalize your home screen by adding shortcuts to your most frequently used apps and websites so you always have easy access to them. Once you click, you'll open your preferred service and connect to the VPN.

    ExpressVPN’s home screen doesn’t display information like VPN protocol or the VPN IP address, which gives the app a sleek and minimalist look that I really liked. Plus, you can easily find any setting you want to customize by selecting Options from the hamburger menu at the top.

    The only thing I didn’t like is that ExpressVPN doesn’t offer a full GUI for Linux, so the only way to use it on Linux is with the command line.

    Windscribe is also very user-friendly and intuitive, but less so than ExpressVPN. It has a relatively small home screen, almost half the size of ExpressVPN, but it displays a lot more information, including the VPN protocol, the server IP address, and even the option to disable the Firewall feature, which makes it look cluttered.

    Screenshot of Windscribe's Windows appYou can change the VPN protocol directly from the home screen

    Unlike ExpressVPN, Windscribe offers a full GUI for Linux, so you can use it on your Linux device just like on any other platform. However, it doesn’t offer an app for your router — but ExpressVPN does.

    With both VPNs, the app design is pretty consistent across platforms. ExpressVPN’s desktop and mobile apps are almost identical feature-wise. Perhaps the only difference is that the mobile app includes a Protection Summary at the bottom of the screen, so you can see information such as the connection length and server IP address, which isn’t the case on the desktop.

    Windscribe’s Android and iOS apps let you choose between a light and dark mode, which isn’t an option with ExpressVPN. They are also pretty similar to their desktop counterparts. A unique feature exclusive to mobile is the Network Whitelist feature, which lets you choose specific trusted networks that you don’t want to use Windscribe with.

    Winner
    ExpressVPN takes the lead due to its more intuitive apps. Its straightforward server selection and the ability to personalize the home screen give it a practical edge. While Windscribe is also easy to use, ExpressVPN's minimalistic and user-friendly design makes it a better option.

    Reliability & Support — ExpressVPN Comes Out on Top As It Offers a 24/7 Live Chat

    Customer Support Features ExpressVPN Windscribe
    24/7 Live chat Yes, responds immediately No
    Email support Yes Yes
    Phone support No No
    Step-by-step setup guides Yes Yes
    Searchable knowledge base Yes Yes
    Exhaustive FAQ section Yes Yes

    ExpressVPN offers a 24/7 live chat, so you can get help at any time. The live chat is readily available on any page of ExpressVPN’s official site. For less urgent issues, you can also contact support via email or dive into its rich knowledge base, where you can get answers to the most common questions.

    Windscribe doesn’t have a live chat feature — it only offers a live chatbot called Gary. While Gary can help answer simpler questions, it’s not of much use when you have a real problem and are in need of assistance. Plus, some of its answers can be outdated.

    The only way to get in touch with a Windscribe support agent is via email, but it took more than 24 hours to receive a response. Windscribe also has a searchable knowledge base where you can access step-by-step guides and answers to more general questions about the VPN.

    Given that most premium VPNs today offer a 24/7 live chat support option, it’s a huge drawback that Windscribe doesn’t offer one yet, so I would like to see that fixed in the future.

    Winner
    ExpressVPN has a huge advantage over Windscribe with its 24/7 live chat option. Windscribe doesn’t offer it yet, so the only way to speak to a support representative is via email, which usually takes a day to respond.

    Tips on Choosing Between ExpressVPN and Windscribe

    ExpressVPN and Windscribe excel in different areas, so it can be difficult to find which one is best for you. During my tests, I used the following criteria to determine the overall winner:

    • Smooth streaming — Make sure to choose a VPN that works well with streaming sites licensed for your country. Both ExpressVPN and Windscribe work with the most popular streaming platforms, but ExpressVPN offers better quality and reliability.
    • Fast speeds — Whether you plan to use the VPN for streaming, torrenting, or browsing safely, slow speeds can significantly hinder your experience, so you need to pick a VPN that doesn’t drop your base speeds too much. A 20-30% decrease is acceptable.
    • A large number of servers — The more servers are available to you, the easier it is to find a nearby speedy connection. Plus, a large server network makes it easier to avoid issues like overcrowding.
    • Robust security — A premium VPN service should offer all the basics, like military-grade encryption, a functioning kill switch, and strong data leak protection. Other security features like obfuscation and multi-hop servers are an added bonus that you should look for if protecting your online activity is your top priority.
    • Intuitive apps for all the major OSs — You should make sure the VPN offers an easy-to-use app for the device you plan to use it on. The more platforms are supported, the better, as you can protect all your devices.
    • Reliable customer support — Ideally, the VPN should offer 24/7 support via live chat. If that’s not available, you should at least be able to reach out to a support agent via email. A comprehensive knowledge base can also be of great help.
    • Trustworthy money-back guarantee — Most premium VPNs offer a money-back guarantee, which means you can use the VPN for a certain amount of time and get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    ExpressVPN vs Windscribe — Reddit Opinions

    I looked at Reddit threads to see how ExpressVPN and Windscribe stack up according to users. Though not many posts directly compare the two, there's a noticeable lean towards ExpressVPN. Redditors highlight its fast speed and effectiveness with streaming sites, though they do mention it's a bit on the pricey side.

    Screenshot highlighting users' experience with ExpressVPNRedditors say that ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs on the market

    Windscribe is also a decent option for streaming, particularly for people within the UK and the US, but users note that its speeds are slower compared to ExpressVPN. This aspect, coupled with fewer features, seems to give ExpressVPN the edge in Redditors' opinions.

    Our Score

    Features 9.9/10
    Pricing 9.4/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    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 James Everard
    James Everard

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 9.9/10

    ExpressVPN is one of the most popular and trusted names in the industry. It’s known for being one of the safest, fastest VPNs around, so I wanted to see if it can live up to these claims. It’s not the cheapest VPN, but it often offers discounts that make it a better value for the money. Other decent VPNs offer similar features for less in the long term. So, do you really need to pay that much...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    D
    Dijana
    10.0/10
    Amazing quality

    ExpressVPN is fantastic! It offers blazing fast speeds, strong security features, and a user-friendly ... interface. Perfect for streaming, browsing, and protecting your online privacy. Highly recommended!More

    Latest negative user review
    C
    Charli
    6.0/10
    Ok, but expensive

    Seems ok, but I wouldn't say it's worth $20AUD a month. That's steep if you live in a backwater like A... ustralia, where the currency is not valuable. Easy enough to set up - you don't need to be Einstein - but unless you're a tech nerd who can take a look under the bonnet, you'll just have to trust what they say about their product. It frequently drops out without the slightest warning, often when it's the only thing online at the time - despite fast and flawless fiber internet, rendering expression entirely useless UNLESS you have it sitting on your desktop where you can keep an eagle eye on it to actually see it when it drops out so you can kick it back into service again (it doesn't do it by itself), which seems to defeat its purpose, so I'm taking away 2 stars for that. Support is good and they do get back to you as fast as they can.More

    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
    t
    twistedname
    10.0/10
    Free version is superb

    Good speeds for my purposes, several free servers in diverse locations, and enough data for any purpos... es - and that's the free version! Ok, I'm not downloading huge streams of whatever, but for free it's (so far) unbeatable. When I want to downwload films, I'll upgrade...More

    Latest negative user review
    E
    Eclipse
    2.0/10
    Windscribe = Unprofessional

    If you are looking for a new synonym of the word unprofessional there you go you found it! Windscribe ... is not a company is just a joke that makes money from scamming people thinking they getting VPN services... Even after all these years they still do silly pranks on their supposedly customers by tricking them with a fake 1 year of free PRO service and days later telling it was just a joke as everything they do are for them... The only positive thing you can take from all of this is that if they can run a joke company and make money so can you... But will you still sleep at nights... That's up to you...More

    Pricing

    ExpressVPN Windscribe
    Starting Price $6.67/month $5.75/month
    Price (On Renewal) $116.95 per year
    (subject to change)
    $69 per year
    (subject to change)
    Money-Back Guarantee (Days) 30 days 3 days
    Number of devices per license 8 Unlimited
    Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices) Easy setup with a dedicated app and firmware Manual setup

    Windscribe is more affordable than ExpressVPN for both short-term and long-term subscriptions. However, Windscribe's money-back guarantee is shorter than the industry norm and has a 10GB usage limit for refunds.

    Although ExpressVPN is more expensive than Windscribe, its superior performance justifies the cost. The annual plan's cost does increase slightly on renewal but remains a better value compared to shorter plans.

    In addition, ExpressVPN offers a longer money-back guarantee period and a 7-day free trial on mobile apps. In contrast, Windscribe has a limited free plan with 10GB of data and fewer servers, which is useful for testing the service, considering its brief refund period on the paid plans.

    Winner
    Windscribe is cheaper than ExpressVPN, making it a better option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly VPN. Still, ExpressVPN outperforms Windscribe in most areas, so it might be worth the price if you’re looking for a high-quality premium VPN.

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    ExpressVPN performed better in most categories, including streaming, speed, privacy, and ease of use. It is much faster, has a larger server network, and is based in a more privacy-friendly country.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    ExpressVPN is the overall better torrenting VPN, as it allows P2P sharing on all its servers. Windscribe also supports torrenting, but it’s not allowed on a few of its servers. Plus, ExpressVPN offers faster speeds for quicker downloads.

    Best VPN for Windows

    ExpressVPN is the better VPN for Windows thanks to its intuitive app. You can add shortcuts to your most visited sites and apps so you always have safe and easy access. Plus, connecting and disconnecting from the VPN on Windows is faster than any other VPN I’ve tested.

    Best VPN for Android

    Windscribe is a better option for Android thanks to its GPS spoofing feature. This is an Android-only feature that matches your GPS location with the location of the server you connect to. This enhances your privacy on sites that use your device’s GPS to detect your location.

    Best VPN for Mac

    ExpressVPN’s Mac app has a useful speed testing tool that measures the server’s ping, download, and upload speeds. This makes it very easy to find the server that offers the fastest speed for your location.

    Best VPN for iOS

    ExpressVPN wins thanks to its intuitive iOS app that comes with a 7-day free trial. On the other hand, Windscribe’s iOS app doesn’t include the Stealth protocol. This means you can’t use it on restrictive networks, which isn’t the case with ExpressVPN’s iOS app.

    Best VPN for USA

    ExpressVPN has a larger USA server network and works with the most popular US streaming platforms, making it the better option. The more servers you can use, the less likely you are to experience reduced speeds due to overcrowding.

    The Bottom Line

    Even though it’s more expensive than Windscribe, ExpressVPN is the overall winner of this VPN comparison. It is one of the fastest VPNs in the industry, has a much larger server network, and works seamlessly with major streaming sites.

    Plus, unlike Windscribe, it’s based in a privacy-friendly country and has undergone multiple independent audits. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try ExpressVPN completely risk-free.

    That said, Windscribe is also a solid option, especially if you’re looking for a cheap VPN provider with handy features like multi-hop servers and unlimited device connections.

    FAQ

    Is ExpressVPN better than Windscribe?

    Yes, ExpressVPN gave me a better overall performance than Windscribe during tests. It works seamlessly with streaming services, offers faster speeds, and has a much larger server network. Unlike Windscribe, its no-logs policy has been audited several times, and it’s based in a more privacy-friendly jurisdiction.

    Is ExpressVPN faster than Windscribe?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is much faster than Windscribe and most other VPNs in the industry. During tests, it hardly reduced our baseline speeds on nearby servers and remained very fast over long distances. ExpressVPN’s fast speeds are largely thanks to its proprietary Lightway protocol.

    Windscribe’s speeds were decent on nearby servers but dropped over 90% on some long-distance connections, so it may give you significant lagging, especially if your baseline speeds aren’t too fast.

    Is ExpressVPN safer than Windscribe?

    Both ExpressVPN and Windscribe are very secure, so there is no definitive winner in the safety category. Both VPNs offer military-grade AES 256-bit encryption combined with RAM-only servers, a kill switch function, and strong data leak protection.

    However, if you’re looking for a more privacy-focused VPN service, ExpressVPN is your best option. It has a strict no-logs policy that has been proven true by multiple independent audits. Plus, it’s based in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws and is outside the 5 Eyes Alliance.

    Do ExpressVPN or Windscribe offer any deals?

    Yes, ExpressVPN and Windscribe both offer occasional deals and discounts. You can check out their current deals here. ExpressVPN offers a 48% discount plus 3 extra free months with the annual plan.

    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

    Angela is a former tech content writer for vpnMentor with a keen interest in data protection and cyber threats. She enjoys researching and writing about the latest cybersecurity trends and believes strongly in the importance of online privacy.