In the realm of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Windscribe and Betternet are two names that often surface in discussions. Both VPNs offer unique features and benefits, and choosing between them can be a hard choice if you get stuck choosing between these two. Because both providers offer a free option, chances are you might be looking to decide which one offers the best free service option, and it’s important to note that free plans tend to differ lots from their premium paid ones. This article provides an overview of each one and compares the two in order to help users make a choice between the two, or at least learn more about both of these VPN products.
Windscribe: An Overview
Windscribe is a popular VPN service known for its comprehensive free version and robust security features. It offers a range of servers in over 60 countries and unlimited device connections as long as it is for your own personal use, making it a great choice for users with more than a couple of devices. Windscribe uses strong AES-256 encryption and supports OpenVPN, IKEv2, and SOCKS5 protocols. It also provides a feature called R.O.B.E.R.T., a customizable domain and IP blocking tool that enhances your online security with parental controls, tracker protection, adblocking, and malware protection. It even includes some advanced options like fake news and clickbait filtering that attempts to block shady websites.
One of the significant advantages of Windscribe is its commitment to user privacy. The company operates under a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not track or store your online activities. Furthermore, Windscribe offers a transparent privacy policy and undergoes regular independent security audits, ensuring that it maintains high security and privacy standards.
A last notable mention for Windscribe, is that they like to provide a good free VPN service, in fact, it may be one of the best free VPN service available right now. Albeit being free, it is not unlimited but provides 10GB of data per month which is way more than one would expect to get from a free plan.
Just like any provider, speeds will depend on your location and what servers you wish to use. Overall, they have a great offering of performance and features compared to most other VPN services available today. Also, the free plan does not provide access to all the servers, providing coverage in 10 countries, the free servers tend to be slower, but that’s to be expected.
Betternet: An Overview
Betternet is a popular VPN service that offers basic VPN encryption with features we often find from your top tier VPN services. These features include standard kill switch protection, Tor over VPN, and dedicated streaming or gaming servers on the premium service. It provides servers in 80 countries and allows for ten simultaneous connections.
Betternet is not very clear on protocols or encryption used. They claim to have upgraded from 128-bit AES encryption with OpenVPN to industry standard 256-bit encryption for Windows and Android, and IPsec with iOS. This is a red flag for an VPN company, as encryption and security should be a selling point, and clearly advertised. Instead, we find out that they actually sell your data when reading their privacy policy agreement.
Betternet’s free version offers servers in 5 locations, is supported by ads and comes with no usage limits. The deal breaker is it shares information with third parties to deliver targeted ads. This could be a concern for users who prioritize privacy. Although its premium version offers a no-logs policy and better privacy features, it becomes extremely hard to trust them and their software being different for free and paid users. Collected information includes your IP address, location, device information, time zone, and the apps and websites you visited that presented the ads. This is just too much of a deal breaker to consider the paid version in the first place.
On the plus side, Betternet is known for its user-friendly interface and easy setup. It also offers decent speeds, particularly on its premium servers.
Windscribe vs Betternet: A Head-to-Head Comparison
When comparing Windscribe and Betternet, several factors come into play. These include privacy and security, speed and performance, server coverage, compatibility with devices, customer support, and pricing.
Privacy and Security
In terms of privacy and security, Windscribe completely has the upper hand. Its robust encryption, no-logs policy, and additional security features like R.O.B.E.R.T. make it a reliable choice for users who prioritize privacy. On the other hand, while Betternet does offer privacy features for its paid subscribers, its free version lacks robust privacy features and supports ads and third-party advertisers over their user’s privacy.
Speed and Performance
Both Windscribe and Betternet offer decent speeds, but Windscribe generally offers better performance, particularly on its paid servers. Betternet’s speeds are decent, but its free servers can be slow during peak times and an overall speed test comparison of both showed Windscribe having a much better overall performance average.
Server Coverage
Windscribe offers a good range of server locations with over 80 countries, providing a decent selection for paid users, and 10 for free users. Betternet, on the other hand, offers servers in 10 countries for paid users and 5 for free users.
Compatibility with Devices
Both Windscribe and Betternet offer apps for major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. They also offer browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. However, Windscribe offers unlimited device connections, while Betternet allows for five simultaneous connections.
Customer Support
Customer support is an important aspect to consider when choosing a VPN. Windscribe offers live chat support and has an extensive knowledge base on its website. Betternet, on the other hand, provides email support and has a FAQ section on its site. However, it lacks live chat support, which could be a downside for users who prefer immediate assistance.
Pricing
Windscribe offers a comprehensive free version with limited data. Its paid plans are reasonably priced, with the Pro plan starting at $4.08 per month. Betternet also offers a free version, but with limitations on privacy and server selection. Its Premium plan starts at $2.99 per month.
The Verdict: Windscribe vs Betternet
Generally speaking, the better VPN is the one that fits your needs best, and usually has a generally higher review score and reception. Because server speeds are subjective to location, one VPN service can be much better for someone in Australia, whereas it would not perform nearly as well for someone in Europe. Make sure to pick one that does fit your needs, and only by testing the service will you be able to fully determine the end result performance based on your own location in the world.
In the battle between Windscribe and Betternet, the choice should be clear. Regaredless of speed and performance, if privacy and security are part of your top concerns, Windscribe is a solid choice. Like most people you might be looking to compare the free plans. The risk of using free VPNs becomes clear when comparing these two service providers. I highly suggest to stay away from Betternet’s free VPN service, even if it provides unlimited usage. Windscribe’s 10GB per month free VPN option remains the better choice between the two simply based on the fact that Betternet’s apps actually track and collect user information and they do not disclose much about their encryption.
