Windscribe and Proton VPN both offer permanent Free plans with different restrictions. Proton VPN Free does not limit traffic but supports one connection. Windscribe Free works on an unlimited number of devices but provides 10 GB per month with a confirmed email or 2 GB without it.
On paid plans, Proton VPN offers broader geography, while Windscribe keeps unlimited devices and offers Build-A-Plan. When choosing between Windscribe and Proton VPN, it is more important to compare traffic, devices, geography and price.
Windscribe and Proton VPN in numbers
| Parameter | Windscribe | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Pro — $9/mo; $5.75/mo when paid annually | Free — $0; VPN Plus — $9.99/mo; from $2.99/mo on the 2-year plan |
| Free plan | 10 GB/mo with a confirmed email; 2 GB without email | No traffic limit |
| Refund | Request within 7 days if less than 10 GB used | 30 days for paid plans |
| Network | 69+ countries; exact server count not published | 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries |
| Connections | No fixed limit | Free — 1; Plus — up to 10 |
| Protocols | WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP/TCP, Stealth, WStunnel | WireGuard, Stealth, Smart Protocol and others; availability depends on the platform |
| Features | R.O.B.E.R.T., Firewall, split tunneling | Secure Core, NetShield, VPN Accelerator |
Data and prices were verified in September 2026 against the official Windscribe and Proton VPN websites and may change.
Windscribe vs Proton VPN: free access
Both services can be used for free without a bank card, but the restrictions are set up differently.
Proton VPN Free does not limit traffic, supports one connection and provides servers in 10 countries. At first the service automatically selects the best free server, while manual switching works with restrictions.
Windscribe Free supports unlimited devices and servers in 10 countries. The limit is 2 GB per month without email and 10 GB after confirming your email.
Proton VPN is more convenient for large traffic volumes, Windscribe if you need the Free plan on multiple devices.
Windscribe vs Proton VPN: prices and devices
Windscribe Pro costs $9 per month or $69 per year ($5.75/mo). Build-A-Plan starts at $3 per month and lets you pay only for the locations you select and the add-ons you need.
Proton VPN Plus costs $9.99 monthly and from $2.99 per month under the current 2-year offer, supporting up to 10 connections.
On long-term price, the advantage currently goes to Proton VPN; on the number of devices, to Windscribe, which has no fixed limit on either Free or Pro.
Windscribe vs Proton VPN: servers and countries
Proton VPN offers a significantly broader published geography: 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries.
Windscribe operates in 69+ countries but does not publish a stable total server count. For that reason, the network sizes cannot be compared directly by the number of servers.
Windscribe vs Proton VPN: protocols and features
Windscribe offers WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP/TCP, Stealth and WStunnel. Stealth and WStunnel are intended, among other things, for restricted networks. Additional features include R.O.B.E.R.T., Firewall and split tunneling.
Proton VPN supports WireGuard, Stealth and Smart Protocol, with differences between platforms. Additional features include Secure Core, NetShield and VPN Accelerator.
Windscribe stands out with its protocol selection and WStunnel, Proton VPN with Secure Core and Smart Protocol.
Windscribe and Proton VPN: privacy and no-logs
Both services claim no-logs and undergo independent technical audits, but they confirm privacy in different ways.
In 2026, Proton VPN passed its fifth consecutive annual no-logs audit by Securitum. The service's apps are open source and undergo independent audits.
The FreshScribe server stack passed a PacketLabs audit in 2024. In February 2026, Dutch authorities physically seized a Windscribe server; according to the service, it ran entirely in RAM and contained no logs or user data.
Proton VPN stands out with annual no-logs audits, Windscribe with technical audits and real-world server seizures where no user logs were found.
What to choose: Windscribe or Proton VPN?
Windscribe is worth considering if unlimited devices, Build-A-Plan, WStunnel or R.O.B.E.R.T. matter to you.
Proton VPN is a good fit if a Free plan with no traffic limit, broader geography, Secure Core or a lower long-term Plus price matter to you.
Need an alternative to Windscribe or Proton VPN?
Windscribe Free limits monthly traffic, while Proton Free limits the number of connections and server choice. If you want to test a full VPN without a bank card, you can consider VolnaLink: the service provides 8 hours of full access and locations in 100+ countries. In that time you can choose the country you need, test the VPN with your usual sites and apps and then decide whether you need a subscription.
See also: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN · NordVPN vs Proton VPN · Proton VPN vs ExpressVPN · NordVPN vs CyberGhost · NordVPN vs Surfshark · Surfshark vs ExpressVPN · Surfshark vs Proton VPN · Surfshark vs CyberGhost