Windscribe vs PureVPN: What's the Better Choice?
There are two major differences between Windscribe and PureVPN — the price of the service and features on offer. Windscribe includes a generous free forever plan, with access to the full set of features available to pro users. On the other hand, PureVPN offers no free tier, with its most expensive plan coming in at a staggering $20 a month (compared to $9 per month for Windscribe).
In this article, we'll look at both VPNs through several different lenses, namely Pricing, Features/Privacy Tools, User Experience, Speed, & Reviews.
Where is PureVPN located?
Before we get into the rest of the review, there is a peculiarity about PureVPN that merits a high level of scrutiny. Though they claim to operate from the British Virgin Island, this is simply a measure to obscure the owners identities, alongside some good old fashion tax avoidance.
PureVPN's team is located in Pakistan and their business operations take place in Pakistan the vast majority of the time. This should be a huge red flag for anybody willing to pay for this service. Pakistan does not have a good track record when it comes to freedom of speech/censorship of ideas and users of PureVPN should not assume full anonymity when using their product.
Windscribe vs PureVPN: Feature Comparision Table
Windscribe vs PureVPN: Price Comparision
Regarding pricing, Windscribe's customizable pricing model is hard to beat. It's one of the most flexible VPN offerings on the market, allowing users to select their specific servers for as cheap as $1 per location with the "Build a plan" feature. The full Pro plan can be purchased for $9 (paid monthly) or $69 (paid yearly).
On the other hand, PureVPN has a much more complicated pricing structure, as it tries to bundle several cybersecurity-focused products into one. If you want to use only the VPN on a monthly subscription, you'll be paying $12.95 per month. If you decide to commit to a year plan, that will set you back $47.95 (for the first year only).
PureVPN is like other Express, Nord, and Surfshark with their "bait & switch" pricing practices. For those unfamiliar, the general practice goes something like this: offer heavily discounted "entry" subscription price, then charge a higher "renewal" price each subsequent billing period. Here's what that looks like:
You've just taken the bait. When you go to create your account, you notice an interesting link at the bottom that says "renewal prices."
Features and Privacy Tools
Windscribe and PureVPN have fundamentally different approaches here. With Windscribe, you have access to the full suite of features and privacy tools regardless of your subscription tier. Free users get the same robust ad/tracker blocking, and malware protection as the pro users, making Windscribe a great privacy tool for users of any budget.
PureVPN uses a bundle approach, offering its VPN without full capabilities for one price and add-ons like Port Forwarding for an additional monthly fee. It's worth noting that no other major VPN makes this distinction regarding port forwarding; it's usually included with the full suite of features.
Read our roundup of the best PureVPN alternatives
PureVPN was involved in a pretty serious scandal in 2017. They were able to identify one of their customers using ISP traffic data in cooperation with a police investigation.
User Experience
The usability of a VPN is crucial for both new and experienced users. Windscribe's interface is known for being intuitive, straightforward, and clean. It works on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and even Apple TV. In addition to the platform apps, users can also download browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Windscribe also has an extensive server network that spans over 110 locations.
PureVPN, similarly, offers a simple and easy-to-navigate interface. The VPN is compatible with various devices, from desktops to mobile devices and smart TVs. PureVPN also includes a one-click connection feature that allows users to instantly connect to the most optimal server, based on their needs, similar to Windscribe's Autopilot feature.
Speed
Both Windscribe and PureVPN provide relatively fast speeds, but their performance can vary depending on server location, proximity, and usage load.
Windscribe has optimized its servers for a variety of use cases, including accessing geo-restricted content and censorship circumvention. It usually works well with platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer, however, users might experience occasional drops in speed if the servers are highly congested.
PureVPN boasts over 6,500 servers in 78+ countries, giving it an advantage regarding server availability and global reach. In speed tests, PureVPN tends to deliver slightly faster performance than Windscribe, especially for long-distance connections. Its servers are also optimized for streaming and downloading, though like Windscribe, server congestion may affect performance during peak times.
Reviews
Windscribe has been praised for its straightforward pricing, excellent privacy features, and ease of use. Users appreciate its free plan, which is generous compared to many other VPNs, as well as the added value of its privacy tools being available at any subscription tier.
PureVPN, has a larger user base and has been lauded for its fast speeds and wide range of server locations in the past. However, the service faced backlash a few years ago due to the logging incident mentioned in the Privacy section above.
Conclusion
If you find yourself wanting flexibility, privacy, and customizable features, Windscribe is the VPN for you. If your decision comes down to Windscribe or PureVPN, considering the factors we've discussed in the article will help you make the right choice.