Windscribe vs NordVPN 2024

Ernest Sheptalo

Senior Writer

NordVPN is one of the bigger names in the VPN industry today, but is it worth the cost against the budget-friendly Windscribe? After all, popularity doesn’t always mean quality — and if you can get a similar or better quality service for cheaper with Windscribe, why wouldn’t you?

For this comparison, I tested each VPN for speed, streaming, gaming, security, and other essential features. I also reviewed their subscription plans, privacy policies, and customer support.

So, what’s the verdict? Sadly, Windscribe did not live up to the challenge — NordVPN is the faster and more reliable option. I also found that it offered more robust security and privacy protection, and that it provided more consistent access to my streaming accounts. To know more about how these two VPNs compare, keep reading.

Best alternative to NordVPN

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Our Score: 9.9

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Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

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Streaming and Netflix Access — NordVPN Offers More Reliable Access to Streaming Platforms

NordVPN and Windscribe could provide me with access to popular streaming platforms. However, using Windscribe, I had to try a couple of different servers before I could access some of my accounts.

Accessing my streaming accounts with NordVPN is a breeze. I could easily log in to various streaming services, including my Netflix US account, without having to search for a working server. I could watch my favorite shows in UHD quality without experiencing any buffering or sudden disconnects.

I had no errors or disconnects watching Netflix US

I didn’t find Windscribe very reliable at accessing streaming services, even though all servers are supposedly optimized for streaming. I got on my Netflix account, but the quality was inconsistent, and I constantly experienced buffering (especially when watching UHD videos). Besides, platforms like Amazon Prime Video frequently blocked the VPN.

I couldn’t access my Hulu and Disney+ subscriptions with this Windscribe server either

Both VPNs have SmartDNS functionality. This feature lets you stream content through the VPN on devices that generally do not support VPN apps. However, to get SmartDNS on Windscribe, you must pay for a different service (called ControlD). NordVPN’s SmartDNS solution is built into the app and doesn’t require additional fees. I easily set it up on my Smart TV and gaming consoles.

Thankfully, neither VPN enforces any data caps, so I could stream Twitch and watch YouTube videos without limits.

Winner

NordVPN offers consistently buffer-free streaming and more dependable access to popular platforms like Netflix and Hulu. Also, its SmartDNS is included without an extra fee, unlike Windscribe.

Server Network — NordVPN Has a Larger Server Network

NordVPN’s network is massive. The service has servers on most continents, including Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Africa. The number of servers is also impressive. I had no problems accessing my local content when traveling to various parts of the world.

In addition, NordVPN provides a variety of specialized servers with unique features such as double encryption, Onion Over VPN, obfuscation, and torrenting. Dedicated IP addresses are also available.

In comparison, Windscribe’s server network covers a slightly larger amount of countries. The number of servers is lower, meaning you are more likely to encounter overcrowding (although this didn’t happen during my tests). What’s interesting, both VPNs have entirely physical server networks — the only exception is Windscribe’s Fake Antarctica location.

Winner

Even though Windscribe covers more countries, NordVPN makes it up with its higher server count and useful specialized connections.

Speed — NordVPN Is Significantly Faster Than Windscribe

All VPNs slow your connection due to encryption, but Windscribe and NordVPN offer speeds suitable for most online activities. My base connection speed was 100 Mbps download and 90 Mbps upload. For reference, to stream 4K content, 25 Mbps is required.

NordVPN’s speeds on short and long-distance servers were excellent. Thanks to its proprietary NordLynx protocol, which is designed for secure high-bandwidth activities, my speeds were fast enough to watch UHD videos.

NordVPN is several times faster than what’s recommended for UHD streaming

Using Windscribe’s nearby servers, my speeds dropped by a small margin (London and Amsterdam locations). I had to wait roughly 3-5 seconds for the stream to load, but there were no delays.

Windscribe’s WireGuard protocol is significantly faster than IKEv2

However, connected to Windscribe’s Hong Kong server, my speeds dropped by a whopping 98%. This makes it suitable only for light web browsing, as such a severe drop in performance isn’t fast enough even for SD streaming.

Winner

Both VPNs support high-quality streaming without issues. However, NordVPN is significantly faster on long-distance servers due to its custom tunneling protocol, allowing 4K interruption-free streaming no matter what server you choose.

Torrenting — Both VPNs Have Good P2P Capabilities

You can use Windscribe and NordVPN with most P2P clients, including uTorrent, Deluge, and qBittorrent. Both services offer strong encryption to prevent ISPs from detecting P2P activity and throttling your torrenting speeds.

However, Windscribe supports port forwarding, which can improve your download speeds. It does this by bypassing NAT firewalls, which results in fewer delays. Just keep in mind that you need to pay extra for this feature.

NordVPN doesn’t allow torrenting on all its network but offers dedicated P2P connections. These servers are specifically designed to provide fast and secure connections for file sharing.

Winner - draw

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Both VPNs have suitable torrenting speeds and robust security features. NordVPN showed slightly better performance, but not significant enough. It’s a tie.

Gaming — NordVPN Offers Significantly Lower Latency

I had no problems playing League of Legends, CS:GO, and Fortnite on nearby servers using NordVPN and Windscribe. However, the two services didn't deliver low ping rates on long-distance connections, resulting in significant lag and frequent disconnects.

When testing the services with GeForce Now, NordVPN delivered a better cloud gaming experience thanks to its faster speeds. The response time was consistent, and image quality didn’t drop below HD resolution, even in fast-paced games.

NordVPN let me play Fortnite competitively without lag

Comparatively, Windscribe isn’t fast enough for cloud gaming. My entire gaming session was full of delays and pixelated image quality.

Winner

NordVPN has lower ping and faster speeds on nearby servers, making it more suitable for online gaming. Unlike Windscribe, it also supports stutter-free cloud gaming in HD.

Security — NordVPN Offers More Security Features

Your online data is well-guarded by both providers. However, NordVPN has a few additional security features, making it the better choice.

Both services support security-focused OpenVPN and mobile-friendly IKEv2 protocols. Windscribe gives access to a speedy WireGuard, while NordVPN has its own NordLynx protocol (which is based on WireGuard technology). They’re similar in terms of speed, but NordLynx employs a double NAT system that ensures your real IP address is never stored on the server. WireGuard unfortunately lacks this.

Each VPN has a reliable kill switch — it disconnects your device from the internet if your VPN connection fails. Plus, IP/DNS leak protection prevents your actual IP from exposure. However, in both cases, the connection was rock solid.

These providers use AES 256-bit encryption (the strongest available) to protect your information. Additionally, both have Perfect Forward Secrecy that changes your encryption keys every 15 minutes, making it even more difficult for hackers to decrypt your data.

Windscribe and NordVPN come with Double Hop/Double VPN features that route your traffic through 2 VPN servers for enhanced security. But to use it on Windscribe, you need to install a browser proxy, whereas NordVPN has it built in. Besides, NordVPN goes even further by offering Onion Over VPN, which lets you securely access .onion domains on any browser.

NordVPN’s Threat Protection and Windscribe’s R.O.B.E.R.T blocks ads and malware. Interestingly, Windscribe’s R.O.B.E.R.T service is customizable — you can switch on and off curated block lists for content such as ads, gambling, misinformation, or even create your own custom block list. On the other hand, NordVPN’s Threat Protection cannot be customized, so you cannot control exactly what it blocks.

Winner

While Windscribe’s R.O.B.E.R.T is a nice extra, NordVPN offers far more features that allow you to more easily secure your connection and data.

Privacy — NordVPN Reliably Protects Your Information

The two VPNs let you buy a subscription anonymously with cryptocurrency. However, both require an email to sign up. I had no problems registering for either VPN using a throwaway email.

Thankfully, both services employ a zero-logs policy that’s further enforced by RAM-only servers. These ensure that your personal data is inaccessible and wiped with every server reboot.

However, Windscribe is based in Canada, part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. This is an agreement between several countries to collect and share data on their citizens. In the past, the company also had its unencrypted servers seized by Ukrainian officials. However, Windscribe has since audited its desktop application and made it open-source.

In contrast, NordVPN is based in Panama, which doesn’t have strict data sharing or retention laws. Its compliance with its no-logs policy has also been independently audited by the firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). You also get a nifty Dark Web Monitor feature that automatically scans the dark web for any malicious leaks of the credentials tied to your NordVPN account.

Winner

NordVPN is based outside the reach of international surveillance networks and offers additional free privacy protection services, making it the winner of this section.

Works in China — Both Do, But with Some Downsides

At the time of writing, both VPNs work in China. Windscribe offers Stealth and WSTunnel protocols to make it possible, but they both slow down your speeds. NordVPN requires turning off location services and Threat Protection to work.

Ensure you install the VPN before visiting China, as most VPN websites are blocked in the country. I strongly recommend that you also check the local laws and regulations to avoid getting penalized by mistake.

Winner - draw

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The two VPNs should let you access Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and other websites in China. However, both require you to give up something in exchange.

Installation & Ease of Use — NordVPN Provides a Better User Experience

Both VPNs offer intuitive and straightforward user interfaces that are easy to navigate. I had no issues connecting to servers or setting up security features in either of the services.

NordVPN comes with an interactive map for server connections. You can also use the Quick Connect button to find nearby fast servers automatically. And the VPN has shortcuts for P2P-enabled servers, dedicated IPs, and more.

You can zoom in to connect to a specific city

Windscibe’s user interface is minimalistic. The VPN lets you enable Firewall (a kill switch) without the need to access the settings menu. There’s also a quick connect feature, but it’s hidden in the server options.

It’s possible to tweak more advanced settings in the debug menu

You can install the VPNs on popular operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. After downloading the installers from their websites, it took me less than 5 minutes to get both services running on multiple devices.

Winner

Both VPNs are easy-to-use, but NordVPN provides a slightly more streamlined experience. I found I could more quickly access my desired servers, while Windscribe required me to go into my settings more often.

Reliability & Support — NordVPN Has Better Customer Support

NordVPN and Windscribe offer a wide range of support options. Each service provides access to an extensive knowledge base full of FAQs and step-by-step guides. Additionally, you can contact customer support using the web form or email.

However, NordVPN has a significant advantage over Windscribe by delivering a 24/7 live chat. Using it, I never had any trouble connecting to an agent, even in the middle of the night. The staff was very friendly and answered all my queries.

Windscribe does have a chatbot called Garry, who can answer some basic queries. But it didn’t offer the tailored help a human support agent could provide. In addition, it would quickly become confused when I asked more technical questions.

Winner

Even though Windscribe provided good customer support, NordVPN won the round by letting me solve my issues during irregular hours with its 24/7 live chat.

Tips on Choosing Between NordVPN and Windscribe

NordVPN and Windscribe are both complex products, and without taking time to really break their features down, it can be hard to pick between them. The best option for you depends on what you want to achieve with a VPN.

Below are the essential features I looked for during my tests, if you’d like to test these two VPNs yourself:

• Ability to access streaming services — A VPN with reliable bypassing capabilities lets you access your favorite streaming platforms (like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+) while on vacation.
• Fast speeds — Quality VPNs make it almost impossible to notice that your speeds are slower due to encryption.
• Server networks — The more extensive your server network is, the less likely you’ll run into slowdowns or sudden disconnects.
• Robust security features — AES 256-bit encryption, multiple security protocols, and a kill switch feature should be the minimum when looking for a VPN.
• Respectable privacy practices — Choose a VPN with a zero-logs policy and RAM-based servers, so your data isn’t collected and shared with third parties.
• Easy to use — Pick a VPN with intuitive apps for most operating systems to use the service on your preferred device.
• Trustworthy money-back guarantee — It’s important that a VPN provides a refund policy that actually pays out if it doesn’t meet your standards.