ExpressVPN vs Windscribe VPN Review 2024: Which VPN is Better?

ExpressVPN and Windscribe are big names in the VPN industry, but I could only pick one for my needs. Deciding which one to subscribe to isn’t easy, so I tested them to find the better contender. If you’re unsure, my assessment will help you make an informed decision.

I compared ExpressVPN and Windscribe across 13 categories. After extensive testing, ExpressVPN emerged as the superior VPN in nearly all aspects. However, Windscribe isn’t a bad choice either. It ticks all the boxes, but its performance is slightly behind ExpressVPN.

With ExpressVPN, you get lightning-fast speeds, global server coverage, and top-tier security and privacy features. It’s one of the few VPNs that work in restrictive countries like China. You can try it confidently as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Try ExpressVPN confidently

No Time? Here’s a 1-Minute Summary

Pricing	Doesn’t offer a free plan and is slightly more expensive, though the long-term plans are competitively priced	Offers a free plan and lets you build a custom plan at more affordable rates
Streaming	Works with 20+ Netflix libraries and nearly all other popular streaming sites like Hulu, Disney+, Max, and more	Works with 10+ Netflix libraries and most other streaming platforms, but you might have to try different servers
Servers	3,000+ servers in 105 countries, with regularly updated IP addresses and built-in obfuscation	Has servers in 65+ countries with limited IP addresses per country
Speed	Nearby servers maintained near-baseline speeds while distant servers saw dips of just 11%	Nearby servers reduced speeds by 13%, with drops of up to 25% on distant servers
Security	Includes post-quantum protection, a kill switch, RAM-only servers, leak protection, and more	Has unique features like Time Warp and Decoy Mode, besides leak protection, double encryption, and a malware/ad blocker
Torrenting	Supports torrenting on all servers and ensures fast P2P downloads even on distant servers	Supports torrenting on specific servers, and P2P downloads can be slow on distant connections
China	Uses powerful obfuscation that consistently and reliably works in China	Has Stealth and Wstunnel modes that work in China, but it’s not guaranteed
Gaming	Averages ping of 45ms on distant servers, ensuring near-baseline levels	Averages ping of 140ms or more on distant servers, which is unsuitable for lag-free gaming
Device Compatibility	8 simultaneous connections and smart DNS to set up the VPN on incompatible devices	Has unlimited device connections but doesn’t include smart DNS
Company Jurisdiction	Based in the British Virgin Islands, which doesn’t have data retention laws and is outside intelligence-sharing alliances	Based in Canada, which is part of the 5 Eyes group of intelligence-sharing countries
Privacy Policy	Has a strict no-logs policy audited by Deloitte and uses RAM-only servers to prevent data logging	Has a no-logs policy, which hasn’t been independently audited
Payments and Refunds	Provides faster refunds and lets you pay anonymously via cryptocurrency	Provides fast refunds but requesting it is slightly more cumbersome
Customer Support	Offers support via live chat, email, and a detailed knowledge base with quick response times	Offers support via an AI-powered live chatbot, email, and FAQ guides but email responses can be slow

13 Categories of Comparison for ExpressVPN vs Windscribe

My test results showed that ExpressVPN is better in nearly every aspect. However, Windscribe’s performance is pretty decent, just not as good as ExpressVPN. Here’s how I compared the contenders:

1. Pricing — checked all the subscription options and compared pricing to find the better option in terms of value for money.
2. Streaming — ran tests to see the platforms each VPN works with. My global team of testers used each VPN for streaming and reported their results.
3. Servers — compared the number of servers and coverage spread of each VPN. I tested 40 servers and checked the level of congestion and stability.
4. Speed — tested the upload and download speeds on nearby, mid-range, and distant servers to understand if the VPNs are fit for data-intensive tasks.
5. Security — looked at each VPN’s security features and investigated if they ensure perfect anonymity and safety on the web.
6. Torrenting — focused on each VPN’s P2P performance on nearby and distant servers and compared the time it took to download copyright-free files of multiple sizes.
7. China — analyzed if the VPNs can work in China, and how reliable they are.
8. Gaming — determined how well the VPNs performed while playing fast-paced and heavy games like CS:GO and COD: Warzone.
9. Device Compatibility — reviewed the ease of setup and user-friendliness. I also tested the performance after maxing out each VPN’s simultaneous connection limit.
10. Company Jurisdiction — investigated where the VPNs are located and if they’re bound by any data retention laws.
11. Privacy Policy — investigated where the VPNs are located and if they’re bound by any data retention laws.
12. Payments and Refunds — explored the payment methods, focusing on whether the VPNs allow for anonymous crypto payments and the ease of getting a refund.
13. Customer Support — used all the support channels and compared the level of helpfulness and response times.

1. Pricing — Windscribe Offers Free and Custom Plans

From a pure pricing perspective, Windscribe is more affordable. It offers a free plan with an extendable data cap. Its monthly and yearly plans are also slightly cheaper, but the gap isn’t huge on long-term subscriptions. In contrast, ExpressVPN is a bit more expensive and doesn’t offer a free plan or trial.

Windscribe’s free account has a 2GB monthly data limit with an extra 10GB if you verify your email address. You can gain an additional 5GB by tweeting about Windscribe. The free plan has servers in 11 countries, unlimited simultaneous connections, and bandwidth. It’s on the list of good free VPNs worth a look.

With its custom plan, you can use ‘Pro’ servers for $1 per location (though you must select at least 2). Unlimited data is also available as a $1 add-on, or you’ll be stuck with the free plan’s data limits. The custom plan’s minimum cost is fixed at $3 per month, but having just 2 server locations is limited, so it’s better to go for the paid plan.

ExpressVPN doesn’t offer a custom plan but has a mid-tier 6-month plan for more flexibility. All its plans are more expensive than Windscribe’s, but its yearly plan costs just a dollar more monthly. If you don’t mind that, ExpressVPN offers better value for money in terms of overall performance and features.

You only get 3 days to get a refund from Windscribe. That’s reasonable because you can try its free plan and upgrade when convinced. Technically, Windscribe wins this round because it’s cheaper overall and offers a free plan.

2. Streaming — ExpressVPN Offers Better Streaming on a Wider Range of Platforms

ExpressVPN is much better for streaming than Windscribe. Due to its large server spread, it works with more global streaming platforms. ExpressVPN regularly refreshes IP addresses to avoid issues like Netflix proxy and streaming errors. My international team of testers confirmed that ExpressVPN works with:

I streamed MKBHD’s tech reviews and Waveform podcasts in perfect UHD on ExpressVPN’s distant servers in the US, Canada, and Australia. There was no hint of buffering throughout my tests, even when I played 3 videos at once.

The same streams lagged on Windscribe’s distant servers, and the videos took a few seconds longer to load. The buffering got much more noticeable when I started watching UHD videos on YouTube — it wasn’t worth streaming at this point.

As confirmed by my international colleagues, Windscribe works with nearly all popular platforms like Hulu, Max, and Netflix. This was a pleasant surprise for me despite its relatively small network. However, you might have to try different servers.

In totality, ExpressVPN outperformed Windscribe in streaming. Plus, its MediaStreamer feature lets you stream even on VPN-incompatible devices like non-Android smart TVs and gaming consoles.

3. Servers — ExpressVPN Has a Much Better Server Network

ExpressVPN easily wins this round due to its server breadth. It offers global server coverage with its 3,000+ servers in 105 countries. This makes ExpressVPN extremely travel-friendly, as you can find a server nearly anywhere you travel.

Windscribe doesn’t mention its total server count. Its live chatbot told me its exact server count is unknown, as servers are constantly added and removed. Still, Windscribe is restricted to 69 countries, which is enough for most users, but I’d choose ExpressVPN for greater flexibility.

Both competitors lack specialized servers, like the streaming-optimized servers offered by CyberGhost. However, I didn’t feel any lacking with ExpressVPN because each server uses obfuscation, provides blazing-fast speeds, and ticks all the boxes of the specialty connections of other VPNs.

4. Speed — ExpressVPN Was Faster in My Tests

In all my years of testing, I haven’t seen a VPN faster than ExpressVPN. I was doubtful if Windscribe could beat it and was right — ExpressVPN is the faster contender. I recorded my baseline speeds of 100Mbps and dips on each VPN’s distant servers.

I used the fastest protocols of each VPN for fairness — Lightway for ExpressVPN and WireGuard for Windscribe. I got exponential dips switching from Windscribe’s nearby servers to distant ones. In contrast, ExpressVPN’s speeds didn’t fall below 10%, even in faraway locations.

ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol uses a lean codebase for fast data transfers. However, switching to OpenVPN and IKEv2 didn’t affect my speeds much either. This speaks to the fact that ExpressVPN optimizes its servers regularly, ensuring no bandwidth constraints.

That said, both VPNs ensured lag-free streams on YouTube and uninterrupted video conferences on Zoom and FaceTime. However, this was also partly because I have fast internet. Your experience could differ if your baseline speeds are slow. In that case, you should pick ExpressVPN without a doubt.

5. Security — ExpressVPN Includes Post-Quantum Protection

ExpressVPN’s post-quantum protection outweighs Windscribe’s security extras. Post-quantum protection can withstand quantum attacks, which could break traditional encryption, at least in theory. ExpressVPN is a pioneer in including this technology. Although Windscribe doesn’t, it ticks all the boxes for excellent security. Here’s what you get with each VPN.

Both VPNs have encrypted DNS on every server so that your traffic routes through private DNS servers instead of third parties’ — this protects your online activities from snoopers. Instead of a kill switch, Windscribe uses a built-in firewall that only allows traffic through the VPN tunnel, preventing accidental exposure. Plus, it includes:

• Ad and malware blocker — blocks ads, trackers, and harmful websites through R.O.B.E.R.T, a customizable DNS-based tool.
• Stealth Mode — obfuscates your traffic to make it appear like you’re not using a VPN to get past anti-VPN filters and network-level firewalls.
• Double Hop — routes your data through 2 servers to encrypt it twice, making it virtually impossible to decrypt it on the off-chance it’s intercepted.
• Decoy Mode — generates fake traffic between your Android device and the VPN server, so snoopers can’t identify your online activities.
• Time Warp — matches your time zone to the server location so that sites can’t identify your browser’s pre-configured time zone.

While it lacks fancy security features, ExpressVPN’s built-in password manager is useful. It can create and store unlimited passwords and auto-fill them on sites and forms. It also identifies vulnerable passwords that have been exposed in data breaches.

Overall, Windscribe’s variety of security features make it an attractive choice. However, ExpressVPN’s post-quantum protection tilts the balance in its favor. This single feature is more important than all of Windscribe’s combined because it protects you from quantum technology.

6. Torrenting — ExpressVPN Provides Faster P2P Downloads

Unlike Windscribe, ExpressVPN supports torrenting on all its servers. On Windscribe, non-P2P servers are marked with a cross on the P2P icon. Servers in Russia, India, Lithuania, and South Africa don’t support torrenting, so I had to look for P2P servers consciously. Next, I ran some P2P tests and recorded the data in the chart below.

Next, I torrented a 1941 public domain classic, King of the Zombies, on uTorrent using both VPN’s distant servers in the US. ExpressVPN completed the download about 20 seconds earlier than Windscribe. However, the difference increased to 15 minutes when downloading large copyright-free files of 10GB and more.

Both VPNs work with popular clients like uTorrent, qBittorrent, and Vuze, but Windscribe offers port forwarding on up to 10 ports. This lets you directly connect to peers and get faster speeds. However, this exposes you to risks like malware attacks and reveals your IP address to others in the torrent swarm.

Overall, I give this round to ExpressVPN due to its faster speeds. While it doesn’t offer port forwarding, it still provides better torrenting speeds than Windscribe.

7. China — ExpressVPN Reliably Works in China

ExpressVPN is the better VPN for China because it consistently works there due to its robust, built-in obfuscation. In contrast, Windscribe won’t always work in China, as the country constantly improves its VPN-detection methods.

Despite China’s strict censorship, ExpressVPN’s obfuscation masks your traffic to resemble standard, non-VPN data. This makes it difficult for deep packet inspection (DPI) systems to identify and block it. It regularly changes the IP addresses associated with its servers, making it difficult for authorities to keep up and block all of them.

With Windscribe, you’ll have to enable Stealth VPN and Wstunnel modes in China. Stealth VPN makes your internet traffic look like regular website visits to hide VPN use. Wstunnel sends your VPN traffic through a special web connection used for live website updates, making it harder to detect in stringent censorship situations.

That said, Windscribe might not always work in China. You might have to try different servers to see which ones work. On the other hand, ExpressVPN works consistently in the most restrictive regions and ranks top in the list of best VPNs for China.

8. Gaming — ExpressVPN Has Low Latency and Ensures Lag-Free Gaming

ExpressVPN takes the lead again in this department with its super low ping. Ping is the time it takes for your data to travel between your device and the server — the higher the ping, the more laggy your gaming experience will be. Unfortunately, playing fast-paced games on Windscribe’s distant servers was near impossible, with the following ping test results.

My baseline ping of 38ms only jumped to 45ms on ExpressVPN’s distant servers. Its nearby servers resulted in no spikes at all. In comparison, Windscribe’s US connections increased latency by almost 300%. While playing Killstreak, I had to switch to a nearby location to remove in-game lag.

With ExpressVPN, I kept up with my teammates in Left 4 Dead and CS:GO effortlessly. I can confidently say that ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for fast-paced games like Call of Duty: Warzone where every second counts. Its ping scores are suitable even for pro gamers, though I suggest using nearby servers to save precious milliseconds.

9. Device Compatibility — ExpressVPN Works With a Wider Range of Devices

ExpressVPN works with more platforms than Windscribe. Besides having apps for nearly all popular operating systems, its smart DNS lets you set it up on devices that don’t natively support VPNs. For example, you can use MediaStreamer to set up a VPN connection on smart TVs and gaming consoles like PS5. Here’s a detailed compatibility chart for each VPN:

Setting up ExpressVPN on 5 of my devices took less than 7 minutes. Its apps have a similar interface, so switching between devices is easy. The differences are subtle — the iOS and Android apps lack OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, respectively. Similarly, split tunneling isn’t available on iOS and Linux.

ExpressVPN also has dedicated apps for ASUS, Linksys, and Netgear routers. You can configure other routers manually by taking help from its online knowledge base. Alternatively, you can get Aircove, a dedicated router preloaded with ExpressVPN, and not get bogged down by its 8-device limit.

Windscribe has unlimited simultaneous connections but lacks smart DNS. You can only use it on platforms where its apps are available. The Pro account includes a config generator for OpenVPN and IKEv2 to set up the VPN on unsupported devices. Its iOS app lacks the firewall, Stealth mode, Wstunnel, Secure hotspot, and proxy gateway.

Overall, ExpressVPN’s compatibility with a broader range of devices makes it the better contender in this category. Additionally, ExpressVPN’s interface is more navigable and intuitive.

10. Company Jurisdiction — ExpressVPN Has a Better Location for Privacy

Unlike Windscribe, ExpressVPN is headquartered outside any surveillance alliances in the British Virgin Islands. It’s not subject to data retention laws or required to oblige with foreign requests to hand over data. In contrast, Windscribe is based in Canada, part of the 5 Eyes group of intelligence-sharing countries.

Neither VPN has a warrant canary system, which alerts you if a VPN has received government warrants, gag orders, and requests to share data. Windscribe publishes its transparency reports with the number of DCMA and law enforcement data requests without revealing the details.

In summary, ExpressVPN is better for privacy due to its location. It doesn’t need a warrant canary system because it won’t receive official data-sharing requests. Given its proven commitment to privacy, I’m confident it would have included a warrant canary if it were located within the 5 or 14 Eyes territory.

11. Privacy Policy — ExpressVPN Has an Independently Audited No-Logs Policy

Although both VPNs ensure zero logs, ExpressVPN can prove its privacy policy with an independent audit from Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and Cure53. With Windscribe, you have to take their word for it.

Windscribe stores some non-identifiable information like bandwidth used, the last time you used the VPN, the number of connected devices, and connection duration. Sensitive data like your IP address and visited websites aren’t collected.

In 2021, 2 Windscribe servers in Ukraine were seized by law enforcement for investigation. While it assured users that their data wasn’t compromised, Windscribe admitted to a flaw in its security system and immediately corrected it. Windscribe also switched to RAM-only servers to prevent data logging.

Similarly, Turkish authorities sought data from ExpressVPN in 2017, but it had nothing to hand over. The authorities couldn’t retrieve any data even after seizing a local server. This is testimony that ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology guarantees privacy.

Overall, ExpressVPN is a safer option because its privacy policy is thoroughly audited (12 times in 2022 alone), and it’s located in a more privacy-friendly country.

12. Payments and Refunds — ExpressVPN Offers a More Generous and Faster Refund

I give this round to ExpressVPN because of its 30-day money-back guarantee, compared to Windscribe’s just 3 days. A few days aren’t enough to fully test its capabilities, but to be fair, you still have an indefinite free plan to do that. Besides the data cap and limited servers, Windscribe includes all the premium features in its free version.

Getting a refund was easier and faster with ExpressVPN. The live chat support agent didn’t ask questions or convince me to stay. They approved my refund request, and I got a confirmation email right away. The money was credited to my account in just 3 working days.

With Windscribe, I had to submit an open ticket through its live chatbot. Then, it transferred the chat to a human. The support agent asked me why I was leaving and tried to offer me a free trial, which I refused. After confirming the details, they canceled my subscription, and Windscribe refunded me within a week.

I preferred ExpressVPN’s refund process, which was more straightforward and required fewer steps. It also reimbursed me 4 days earlier than Windscribe did. While you could argue that it lacks a free plan, it offers a 7-day free trial for iPhone and Android users.

13. Customer Support — ExpressVPN’s Live Chat Support Offers Personalized Answers

I give more points to ExpressVPN because it offers human live chat, whereas Windscribe uses an AI-powered chatbot called Garry. Garry pleasantly surprised me — it’s not a basic chatbot that only refers you to the FAQ guide. Instead, it’s like talking to ChatGPT.

Garry answered every query about Windscribe’s features better and faster than a human could. While ExpressVPN lacks this, I’d prefer talking to a human for more personalized answers to complex queries.

You can get in touch with a human by opening a ticket through Garry. I had to wait for 2 to 3 hours for the support team to get back to me. With ExpressVPN, my wait time was never longer than an hour. At times, I got email responses within 15 minutes.

And the Winner Is… ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN outperformed Windscribe in nearly every category, but the competition was tight. ExpressVPN offers better privacy due to its location and features like TrustedServer technology. Its speeds are also more suitable for data-intensive tasks. While it’s a bit more expensive, its long-term plans make it a great deal given the overall quality of the service.

• Pricing: Windscribe
• Streaming: ExpressVPN
• Servers: ExpressVPN
• Speed: ExpressVPN
• Security: ExpressVPN
• Torrenting: ExpressVPN
• China: ExpressVPN
• Gaming: ExpressVPN
• Device Compatibility: ExpressVPN
• Company Jurisdiction: ExpressVPN
• Privacy Policy: ExpressVPN
• Payment and Refunds: ExpressVPN
• Customer Support: ExpressVPN

Windscribe isn’t a subpar VPN by any standard. It includes a built-in firewall, obfuscation, and unique features like Time Warp and Decoy Mode. Its performance was solid in my tests, but distant servers tended to be slow. Privacy is a question mark, as Windscribe is based in the 5 Eyes territory, and its no-logs policy hasn’t been independently audited.

In summary, ExpressVPN is better in terms of server coverage, speed, security, and privacy. It’s also one of the few VPNs that reliably work in China and, right now, its 1-year + 3 months plan comes with a 49% discount.What’s best, you can try ExpressVPN confidently as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. I got my refund in 3 days by submitting a request via live chat.

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