Our verdict: Windscribe has one of the more generous free VPN plans: 10 GB a month on unlimited devices with the same app and encryption as Pro. The cap is fine for travel and public Wi-Fi, not for streaming every day. Unlimited data and the other 59+ countries need a paid plan.
About Windscribe
Windscribe is a commercial VPN service from Canada. The free plan gives 2 GB a month with just a username, or 10 GB a month once you add and confirm an email address. Free users can connect to servers in 10 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, on unlimited devices. Posting about Windscribe on X adds 5 GB a month, and referrals add more.
The free plan uses the same app as Pro, with the firewall that blocks leaks, all six connection protocols, split tunneling and the R.O.B.E.R.T. blocker for ads, trackers and malware domains. Pro costs $9 a month or $69 a year and removes the cap and unlocks all locations; Build-A-Plan sells single locations from $1 a month. The desktop app's source code is published on GitHub under the GPL v2.
What it does well
- Free 10 GB a month. 2 GB without an email, 10 GB after confirming one; it resets every month.
- 10 free countries. Free servers in the US, Canada, UK, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway and Romania.
- Firewall. Blocks all traffic outside the tunnel to prevent leaks if the VPN drops.
- Split tunneling. Choose which apps or addresses go through the VPN.
- R.O.B.E.R.T.. DNS-level blocking of ads, trackers and malware domains, also on the free plan.
Who it is for
Good fit
People who need a VPN for public Wi-Fi, travel or occasional geo-blocked sites without paying.
Look elsewhere
Heavy streamers and downloaders who would run through 10 GB in a few days.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 10 GB a month free on unlimited devices
- Same encryption and features as Pro
- Ad and tracker blocking included
- Open-source desktop app
Cons
- Free plan capped at 10 GB a month (2 GB without email)
- Only 10 countries and shared servers on the free plan
- Requires a Windscribe account
How to install Windscribe
Run the installer and create an account in the app; no email or card is needed. Add and confirm an email in your account to raise the free allowance from 2 GB to 10 GB a month. Leave the firewall on Automatic so traffic is blocked if the connection drops.
Questions about Windscribe
Is Windscribe free?
Yes, with limits. The free plan gives 10 GB a month with a confirmed email, or 2 GB without, and servers in 10 countries. Pro removes the cap for $9 a month or $69 a year.
Does Windscribe slow down free users?
Windscribe says it does not throttle free users, but free accounts use a shared pool of free servers.
Can I use Windscribe without an email?
Yes. You can sign up with a username and password only, but the free allowance is then 2 GB a month.
