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Windscribe vs Proton is a close contest between two privacy-focused providers with strong free plans. Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, has five audits by Securitum and a free plan with no data cap. Windscribe is Canadian, lets you sign up without an email, runs RAM-only servers and allows unlimited devices, but has one audit and only a seven-day refund window, capped at 10 GB of use.
This comparison covers jurisdiction, audits, free plans, features, devices and price, then says who each one suits.
Jurisdiction and Ownership
Techlore notes Proton VPN operates from Switzerland, outside the 14 Eyes intelligence-sharing group. Our audit table adds that Proton is moving infrastructure to the EU. Windscribe operates from Canada, a Five Eyes member. Proton belongs to the Proton Foundation; Windscribe to Windscribe Limited.
Our audit table also records that a Greek court dropped charges against a Windscribe co-founder in April 2025, since there was no data to give. That case is a real-world test of a no-logs claim. Our VPN ownership guide covers both owners.
Audits
Our audit table counts five audits for Proton VPN, all by Securitum. Windscribe has one by Packetlabs covering its production infrastructure. Earlier application and pre-production audits exist but fall outside our method. Our VPN audit tracker explains what each covered.
Windscribe vs Proton: Free Plans
Proton VPN’s free plan has no data cap, our refund table notes. Windscribe’s free tier offers up to 15 GB a month, with fewer locations than the paid plan, Findstack adds. For heavy free use, Proton wins; for occasional use with more location choice, Windscribe’s tier is enough.
Our free VPN guide compares both with other free options.
Privacy Features
Techlore lists RAM-only servers and anonymous sign-up without an email for Windscribe, and Monero among its payment options. Proton accepts cash and some cryptocurrency, Techlore notes, but needs an email and does not run RAM-only servers.
Both offer multi-hop routing. Proton’s version is Secure Core on Plus plans, which routes traffic through servers in privacy-friendly countries first. Our double VPN explainer explains the trade-off.
Obfuscation and Protocols
Findstack lists WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 and Windscribe’s Stealth and WStunnel protocols, which disguise VPN traffic. Proton offers its own Stealth protocol, which SpeedTestHQ rated as more consistent in Russia in 2026. Our obfuscation guide explains why it matters on restrictive networks.
Port Forwarding
Techlore lists port forwarding on Proton’s Plus plans and on Windscribe Pro or with a purchased static IP. Both suit torrent users who seed, unlike providers that skip it, as our Surfshark port forwarding guide explains.
Devices and Price
Windscribe allows unlimited devices, including on Build a Plan, our device table notes. Techlore lists 10 devices for Proton. Our renewal table puts Windscribe Pro at about $69 a year and Proton VPN Plus at about $83.88.
Windscribe also sells Build a Plan, where you pay per location; its own promotional page quotes $1 a month per location. That suits people who need only one or two countries.
| Provider | Renewal price | Per month | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $139.08/yr | ~$11.59 | Basic |
| Surfshark | ~$79/yr | ~$6.58 | Starter |
| ExpressVPN | $99.95/yr | ~$8.33 | Basic |
| CyberGhost | $56.94/yr | ~$4.75 | 2-year |
| PureVPN | $47.95/yr | ~$4.00 | Standard, 2-year (1-year renews $57.95) |
| IPVanish | $89.99/yr | ~$7.50 | Essential |
| Windscribe | ~$69/yr | ~$5.75 | Pro |
| Proton VPN | ~$83.88/yr | ~$6.99 | VPN Plus |
| Mullvad | ~$65/yr | ~$5.40 | flat, no tiers |
| Norton VPN | $79.99/yr | ~$6.67 | Standard |
| Hotspot Shield | ~$95.99/yr | ~$8.00 | Premium annual |
| Astrill | $300 every 2 yrs | ~$12.50 | 2-year, same at renewal |
Apps and Platforms
Both cover the main platforms. Findstack lists Windscribe apps for desktop, mobile and browsers. Proton VPN runs on Fire TV, Android TV and iPhone, among others, as our Proton VPN Firestick guide and Proton VPN iPhone guide explain.
If you rely on a TV, check the specific device before buying. Our Proton VPN Android TV guide covers Proton’s TV app.
Transparency
Techlore notes Proton publishes a transparency report rather than a warrant canary, and says plainly that it does not operate one. Windscribe’s strongest transparency signal is the dropped Greek case, which showed it had no data to hand over. Both approaches give outsiders something concrete to check.
Windscribe vs Proton for Streaming and Torrenting
Both allow torrenting and both sell port forwarding on paid plans, which helps seeding. For streaming, test your own services on the free plans first, since results change as services update their blocks. Proton’s free plan has fewer servers than its paid tiers, and Windscribe’s free tier has fewer locations, so paid plans give more chances to find a working server. Note which servers work for each service during your test. We put the two side by side in our Proton VPN vs hide.me comparison.
Our torrenting VPN guide and streaming VPN guide compare providers in more depth.
Paying Privately
Techlore lists Monero, other cryptocurrency and cash for Windscribe, and cash plus some cryptocurrency for Proton. Combined with sign-up without an email, Windscribe lets you buy with less personal data attached. For a head-to-head, see our Windscribe vs Mullvad comparison.
Refunds and Trials
Proton offers a 30-day full refund on paid plans, as our Proton VPN refund guide explains. Windscribe’s refund window is only seven days, and only under 10 GB of use, so use its free tier to test before paying.
Which One Fits
Choose Proton VPN for the stronger audit record, Swiss jurisdiction, a free plan without a data cap and a long refund window. Choose Windscribe for unlimited devices, anonymous sign-up, RAM-only servers and flexible per-location pricing. Our guide to Windscribe alternatives covers five picks matched to why you are leaving.
How We Research
This page draws on Techlore’s Proton VPN and Windscribe comparison, Findstack’s listing, Windscribe’s promotional comparison page and SpeedTestHQ, plus our audit, device, refund and renewal tables. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 6 October 2026. Renewal figures from our renewal table. The main source we relied on is Techlore’s comparison. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Windscribe vs Proton FAQ
Proton has more audits and Swiss jurisdiction; Windscribe offers anonymous sign-up and RAM-only servers.
Proton’s has no data cap; Windscribe’s offers up to 15 GB with fewer locations.
Windscribe allows unlimited devices; Techlore lists 10 for Proton.
Yes: Proton on Plus plans, Windscribe on Pro or with a static IP, per Techlore.
Proton, with 30 days. Windscribe offers seven days, under 10 GB of use.
The Verdict
Windscribe vs Proton comes down to priorities. Proton leads on audits, jurisdiction and refunds; Windscribe on devices, anonymity and pricing flexibility. Both free plans are worth trying first. Our Proton VPN review and Windscribe review cover each in depth.