Alternatives to Windscribe
Canadian VPN with built-in ad blocking and a usable free tier. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Windscribe
Canadian VPN with built-in ad blocking and a usable free tier.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Windscribe.
Proton VPN
A VPN from the Proton Mail company with a free tier that has no data cap, and open source clients.
Proton VPN also has a free tier, with no data cap rather than a monthly allowance, open-source audited clients and a Swiss base, but requires an account.
NordVPN
Large commercial VPN with the WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol.
NordVPN has no free tier and closed-source apps, but includes threat protection, a very large server network and the NordLynx protocol.
Mullvad VPN
A flat-rate VPN service with anonymous account numbers instead of usernames, and open source apps.
Mullvad VPN has no free tier and costs a flat €5 a month, but needs no email and keeps open-source apps.
Surfshark
VPN with unlimited simultaneous devices on one subscription.
Surfshark is paid only with closed-source apps, but allows unlimited simultaneous devices and adds RAM-only servers and multi-hop routing.
ExpressVPN
Commercial VPN with RAM-only servers and its own Lightway protocol.
ExpressVPN is paid only and among the most expensive, with closed-source apps, RAM-only servers and the Lightway protocol.
Private Internet Access
Long-running VPN with fully open-source apps and port forwarding.
Private Internet Access keeps port forwarding, open-source apps and a browser extension, but has no free tier and is based in the United States.
IVPN
Gibraltar-based VPN with multi-hop routing and anonymous signup.
IVPN has no free tier and is Gibraltar-based, with signup needing no email, cash or Monero payment, and multi-hop routing.
Cloudflare WARP
A free WireGuard-based tunnel to Cloudflare that encrypts your traffic without pretending to be a privacy VPN.
Cloudflare WARP is free with no data cap, but it does not change your apparent country and its client is closed source.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Windscribe as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
AdGuard VPN
A VPN service from the makers of AdGuard with a free monthly allowance and paid plans.
Windscribe also offers a free tier with a monthly allowance, adds open source apps, built-in ad blocking and port forwarding, and is based in Canada.
AirVPN
Activist-run VPN with OpenVPN, WireGuard and detailed server statistics.
Windscribe adds a free tier with a monthly allowance, built-in ad and tracker blocking and port forwarding, but is based in Canada, which is part of the Five Eyes arrangement.
Astrill VPN
A commercial VPN service with a proprietary StealthVPN protocol for restrictive networks.
Windscribe adds a usable free tier, ad blocking and split tunnelling, and keeps port forwarding, but it is based in Canada, a Five Eyes member.
Avira Phantom VPN
Avira's VPN app with a free data allowance and a paid unlimited plan.
Windscribe offers a free tier with a monthly allowance, open source apps on all major platforms and built-in ad and tracker blocking, from a Canadian company.
Betternet
A VPN app with a free tier needing no registration, plus a paid Premium plan.
Windscribe has a free tier with a real monthly allowance, open source apps, a Linux client and built-in ad and tracker blocking.
Browsec
A VPN and proxy service with browser extensions and apps, free to start without an account.
Windscribe offers browser extensions and open source apps with a free monthly allowance, plus built-in ad and tracker blocking and port forwarding.
hide.me VPN
An independent commercial VPN service with a free plan, WireGuard support and native IPv6.
Windscribe has a free tier with a monthly allowance plus ad blocking, open-source apps and a Linux client, but is based in Five Eyes member Canada.
IPVanish
A commercial VPN service with apps for common devices and a verified no-traffic-logs policy.
Windscribe adds a usable free tier, ad blocking, port forwarding and open-source apps, but is based in Canada, part of the Five Eyes arrangement.
Mozilla VPN
A paid WireGuard-based VPN service from Mozilla that runs on Mullvad's server network.
Windscribe adds a free tier with a monthly allowance plus built-in ad and tracker blocking and open-source apps, but is based in Five Eyes member Canada.
PrivadoVPN
A commercial VPN service with a free tier, bundled with ad blocking and antivirus.
Windscribe keeps a usable free tier, ad and tracker blocking and browser extensions, adds open source apps and Linux, and is based in Canada.
TunnelBear
A simple consumer VPN service with a limited free plan and apps for major platforms.
Windscribe offers a free tier with a monthly allowance plus built-in ad blocking and a Linux app, with open-source clients, under Canadian jurisdiction.
VeePN
A commercial VPN service with desktop apps and browser extensions for hiding your IP address.
Windscribe adds a free tier with a monthly allowance, open source apps, built-in ad blocking and apps for every major platform, under Canadian jurisdiction.
VPN Gate
A free academic VPN network of volunteer-run public relay servers from the University of Tsukuba.
Windscribe's free tier gives a monthly bandwidth allowance with built-in ad blocking and open-source apps, run by a single commercial provider in Canada.
X-VPN
A commercial VPN service with a free tier and apps for desktop, mobile, TV and browsers.
Windscribe keeps a free tier with a monthly allowance and browser extensions, and adds open source apps, built-in ad blocking and port forwarding.
ZoogVPN
A commercial VPN service with a limited free plan and apps for desktop, mobile and browsers.
Windscribe offers a free tier with a real monthly allowance and browser extensions, plus open source apps, built-in ad blocking and port forwarding.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
WireGuard
A small, fast VPN protocol and set of official clients that connect two machines by exchanging public keys.
DNS Leak Test
A web test that shows which DNS servers your connection is actually using.
Aloha Browser
A privacy-focused web browser for mobile and desktop with a built-in free VPN and ad blocker.
OpenVPN Community
The VPN protocol and client that has been the default for two decades, and still runs on everything.
