ProtonVPN Wins
Winner
VS
Score Comparison
Criteria
ProtonVPN
Windscribe
Overall Score
8.7
8.2
Security
9.5
8.5
Speed
8.2
8.0
Features
8.5
8.5
Pricing/Value
8.5
8.5
Ease of Use
8.5
8.0
Pricing & Features
Specification
ProtonVPN
Windscribe
Starting Price
Free / $4.99/mo
Free / $5.75/mo
Free Tier
Pricing Model
Freemium
Freemium
Making Your Decision
When to Choose ProtonVPN
Privacy advocates who trust the Proton brand and want a free option
ProtonVPN offers the best free VPN tier available with no catches, backed by Swiss privacy laws and the trusted Proton name, making it ideal for privacy-focused users on any budget.
Strengths
- Genuinely free tier with no data limits or ads
- Swiss-based with strong privacy laws
- All apps are open-source and independently audited
- Secure Core servers route through privacy-friendly countries
Limitations
- Free tier limited to 3 server locations
- Speeds can be slower than premium competitors
- Streaming features only on higher-tier plans
When to Choose Windscribe
Users who want a feature-rich free tier or flexible build-a-plan pricing
Windscribe offers one of the most generous free VPN tiers with its unique build-a-plan option, making it perfect for users who want flexibility without committing to a full subscription.
Strengths
- Generous free tier with 10GB/month and 10+ server locations
- Build-a-plan option for custom pricing
- R.O.B.E.R.T. feature blocks ads, malware, and trackers
- Unlimited simultaneous connections on paid plans
Limitations
- Speeds can be slow during peak times
- Smaller company with limited resources
- Customer support is email-only (no live chat)
