Windscribe is a solid VPN that delivers on many fronts. However, after its security breach, you might wonder if it’s still trustworthy. Can you depend on it to protect your data, especially without a subscription?
In this Windscribe VPN review in Australia, I explored all its features, from leak protection to speed performance, and tested it for torrenting, gaming, and more. I also closely examined its no-logs policy to understand the changes made since the breach.
After per my VPN reviews in Australia, I can say that Windscribe is safe and reliable overall. It offers strong security and values your privacy. Its free version stands out, though the paid option could use some improvements in certain areas.
VPNRanks’ Verdict – Windscribe VPN Review in Australia
Per my Windscribe VPN review in Australia, the VPN is an appealing choice, offering fast speeds, robust security features, and a server network capable of unblocking many streaming services. It’s notably distinguished by its generous free tier, which includes a significant data allowance and access to multiple server locations at no cost.
However, Windscribe’s ticketing support takes some time to reply, which might be a drawback if you need an answer urgently.
| Windscribe Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Features | Details |
| Servers | An undisclosed amount of servers in 69 countries |
| Simultaneous Connections | Unlimited |
| Bandwidth Limit on Free Version | 10 GB data per month |
| Split Tunneling | Available on Mac, Android, and Windows |
| Torrenting Support | Yes |
| Headquarters | Canada |
| Supported Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), Stealth/WStunnel |
| Customer Support Options | Windscribe Bot, email tickets |
Pros
- Offers high-speed connections with WireGuard and OpenVPN
- Includes a 10 GB free plan
- Unblock US Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer successfully.
- Offers unlimited simultaneous connections
- Features the useful R.O.B.E.R.T. tool for blocking IPs
- ScribeForce accounts are available for organizational use
Cons
- Ticketing system needs to be quick
How Much Does Windscribe Cost in Australia?
If you’re looking into Windscribe’s pricing, here’s what you need to know. The Pro Plan costs $9 USD per month or $69 USD per year. You can also choose the Build A Plan option, where you only pay for what you need.
For example, it’s $1 per location and an additional $1 for Unlimited Data + ROBERT (with a minimum purchase of $3 per month). This way, you have full control over your subscription.
You can check out these Windscribe price plans and choose the one that suits your budget.
Additionally, I tested Windscribe’s ScribeForce for groups, which significantly cut costs for our team in Australia. Each member paid only $3 per month, simplifying VPN management and making it highly cost-effective for groups of five or more.
You can start the monthly plan at $3 per person, which is very affordable.
Payment & Refund Options
Windscribe offers a variety of payment methods that are both flexible and convenient. You can easily use credit or debit cards like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express for quick and familiar transactions.
For added security, PayPal is a great choice because it keeps your card details private, which helps protect your online privacy. If you care about anonymity and data security, Windscribe also accepts cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Free Trial
While no Windscribe free trial in Australia is available, its Pro version comes with a 3-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your purchase, this VPN allows you to request a refund within the first 3 days.
Windscribe Security And Privacy Features in Australia
When I explored Windscribe’s security and privacy features, I found them to be outstanding, offering complete protection for users.
Windscribe uses AES-256 encryption, SHA512 authentication, and a 4096-bit RSA key, along with support for perfect forward secrecy. This means that each session has its own unique and secure keys. So, even if one key were compromised, only that session’s data would be affected, keeping everything else safe.
The kill switch, which Windscribe calls Firewall,” worked flawlessly during my tests. I was particularly impressed with the Always On” feature. This setting ensured that my internet connection was active only when it was protected by Windscribe.
This feature works similarly to a kill switch in other VPNs.
Using tools like IPLeak, I detected no DNS or other leaks while using Windscribe on my Windows 10 system. My team tested the Atlanta server, and I was amazed to see that our IP address remained hidden!
Windscribe passed my IP leak tests successfully.
Windscribe passed my DNS leak test with flying colors.
This VPN follows a strict no-logs policy, meaning it doesn’t keep track of your connection times, IP addresses, or the websites you visit. The only information it collects is minimal, such as how much data you use, mainly for managing accounts on the free plan.
Per my Windscribe free VPN review in Australia, the VPN doesn’t collect any logs or timestamps of its users.
⭐ Windscribe has announced that it is currently undergoing a full audit of its server stack, which is expected to be completed and published in 2024.
Security Protocols
While exploring Windscribe’s VPN protocols, I found that it offers a choice between some of the industry’s top options like WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN, and its own WStunnel. From my tests, WireGuard provided swift connectivity is great for daily use, where speed is a priority.
However, for those prioritizing security, OpenVPN might be the better choice in Australia. It’s open-source, meaning a community of developers regularly scrutinizes it for potential vulnerabilities, ensuring it remains robust against threats.
Speed and Performance – How Fast is Windscribe in Australia?
While conducting my Windscribe speed test in Australia, I focused primarily on its performance for streaming and torrenting, activities that demand speed and stability.
Windscribe offers two major protocols: WireGuard and OpenVPN. WireGuard is renowned for its speed, and it didn’t disappoint, ensuring a smooth streaming experience on platforms like Netflix. This was crucial for maintaining high-quality video without buffering interruptions.
Here’s a brief table with all the speed test results while streaming compiled for your convenience:
| Server Location | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Pings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 78.67 Mbps | 66.47 Mbps | 228 ms |
| France | 75.34 Mbps | 62.07 Mbps | 147 ms |
| Israel | 66.74 Mbps | 61.67 Mbps | 220 ms |
| Netherlands | 76.43 Mbps | 70.54 Mbps | 159 ms |
| Singapore | 66.69 Mbps | 61.94 Mbps | 375 ms |
| South Africa | 74.94 Mbps | 67.25 Mbps | 222 ms |
| Switzerland | 85.29 Mbps | 80 Mbps | 157 ms |
| United Kingdom | 78.75 Mbps | 87.15 Mbps | 151 ms |
| United States | 84.86 Mbps | 88.27 Mbps | 123 ms |
As for torrenting, the robustness of these protocols was equally impressive. I used Windscribe’s service to download large files, keen to see if it could handle the demands without significant speed loss. The results were positive, with speeds remaining consistent even when connected to geographically distant servers.
I connected to its US-Atlanta server and received a download speed of 75.21 Mbps and an upload speed of 54.78 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection.
These speeds showcased a minimal drop on my 100 Mbps connection.
Is Windscribe Good for Streaming in Australia?
Windscribe is a decent VPN that provides a stable connection, reliable security, and some unique features. However, when it comes to streaming, it falls a bit short. It doesn’t unlock as many streaming platforms as other top VPNs.
However, I could easily watch Netflix with Windscribe in Australia, allowing me to access US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan libraries without any interruptions or buffering issues.
To test this combo, I connected to its US-Atlanta server, and without any hassle, I could stream Netflix shows for at least 4 hours. Because of its consistency and excellent compatibility, I have listed Windscribe among the best free VPNs for Netflix.
How Many Servers Does Windscribe Offer?
⭐Windscribe provides 177 servers in 69 countries, which might not be the largest network, but it covers a wide range of locations. All servers are city-level, and in the US alone, you can choose from 45+ different locations. This selection is even more extensive than what many other popular VPNs offer.
These servers are present in 134 cities and 69 countries.
Even on the free plan, Windscribe remains accessible, giving you access to servers in 10 locations. These include a variety of Windscribe free countries to choose from.
- United States (East and West)
- Canada (East and West)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
- France
Is Windscribe Safe for Torrenting in Australia?
Yes, Windscribe is safe for torrenting! It’s one of the best free VPN for torrenting you can use. The VPN clearly shows which server locations allow peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing. This feature is available on all plans, including the free version, and works on any platform.
Windscribe is known for being open and honest. If you want to check server availability, just visit the company’s Status page online.
The Windscribe app is easy to use. Servers that don’t allow torrenting are marked with a crossed-out ‘P2P’ icon. On the rest, you can download files freely since most servers support torrenting.
When I tested Windscribe, downloading a 1.8 GB file took about 30 minutes. That’s impressive, especially considering the VPN doesn’t have many servers worldwide.
Windscribe Device Compatibility in Australia
You can use Windscribe on all your personal devices with ease. However, it’s important to remember that Windscribe is meant only for personal use. Make sure you’re using it on your own devices and not in a datacenter or for commercial purposes.
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- iPhone
- Android
- Amazon FireTV
- Router
- Browser extensions (Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge)
All of Windscribe’s applications are open source and have undergone code audits, with the audit reports available in their public GitHub repositories.
A standout feature of this VPN is the Windscribe Proxy Gateway, which is especially useful for devices like TVs, smart devices, and consoles that support network proxy settings. To activate this feature in the Windscribe desktop app, navigate to Preferences, then Connection, and select Proxy Gateway.
Additionally, I love that Windscribe is compatible with routers, allowing you to connect all devices to your network seamlessly in Australia. This level of compatibility and functionality makes Windscribe a standout choice for comprehensive VPN coverage.
Windscribe Ease of Use in Australia
Most of Windscribe VPN’s apps are pretty easy to set up and use. Let’s check them out in detail below and see how they perform in my Windscribe VPN review in Australia.
Windscribe’s Windows App
I was impressed with Windscribe’s Windows version compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 10 and supports multiple tunneling protocols, like WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), IKEv2, Stealth, and WSTunnel.
I also really like that it offers per-app and network-level split tunneling, a kill switch called Firewall, and MAC address spoofing. MAC address spoofing, for example, can make you appear as a brand-new user every time you connect to the VPN. Impressive, right?
Moreover, there’s custom Config support available that allows you to import any OpenVPN or WireGuard VPN configuration into Windscribe and use it as though it were a server location.
Windscribe macOS App
The macOS app is equally impressive while being sleek and easy to use, just like the Windows app. Despite the limitations imposed by the Apple security model, the macOS app offers all the essential security features, like WireGuard support, custom DNS settings, network allow-listing, and more.
Overall, I appreciate the consistency and ease of use across Windows and macOS devices in Australia. Transitioning from Windows to macOS, I didn’t notice any discernible difference.
Windscibe Linux App
Setting up a VPN on Linux is a bit of a hassle, but Windscribe makes it easier with its user-friendly GUI. Unlike other VPNs, Windscribe offers a free version for Linux, which is a big plus.
The app can be downloaded on major Linux distributions with these packages:
- Ubuntu/Debian (.deb x64)
- Ubuntu/Debian (.deb ARM64)
- Fedora/CentOS (.rpm x64)
- Arch (.zst x64)
While the CLI applications are available for Debian and Red Hat users, installing them can be tricky if you’re uncomfortable with the command line.
Overall, I like the GUI version of Linux, too. It’s simple and gets the job done effectively.
Windscribe’s Android App
I was super-impressed by Windscribe’s Android app. It has a sleek design similar to the Windows version, with 10+ million downloads on the Play Store.
The app supports various tunneling protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN UDP and TCP, IKEv2, WSTunnel, and Stealth, ensuring a wide range of connection options.
I could access all the features easily using the Android app.
Windscribe iOS App
I like that Windscribe’s app for iPhone and iPad closely resembles the Android version, offering similar features and a user-friendly interface. I was also impressed by its various security features, such as:
- Specialized streaming locations
- Multiple VPN protocols (WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN, Stealth, WStunnel)
- Favorite servers
- Custom configurations
I created a list of all the servers I loved while using Windscribe. Here’s where I could find them:
I could connect to all my favorite servers easily by accessing a customized list.
Windscribe Customer Support And Reliability in Australia
Windscribe has a refined customer support system, offering various self-help and direct assistance options. An extensive ticket system, FAQs, a comprehensive knowledge base, and insightful blog posts provide a solid foundation for user support.
Real-time help is accessible through live chat, where the chatbot Gary handles routine inquiries and a dedicated live chat team tackles more intricate issues. The best thing about this chatbot is that it promptly answers my queries.
For testing, I asked the chatbot to recommend an optimized server for accessing Netflix US, and here’s the response I got within a few seconds:
After the recommendation, I tried using the Windflix US server, which worked great!
⭐If you spend time interacting with Garry, Windscribe’s support bot, you’ll find it surprisingly effective and capable of resolving 90% of technical issues users encounter, excluding billing and account access concerns.
However, there may be times when you might be directed to submit your queries through an email inquiry form. Receiving a response may take a day or two, depending on whether you’re using a paid or free plan.
Rest assured that all support questions are handled in-house. This ensures that your answers are well-informed and thoroughly adequate once they arrive.
FAQs – Windscribe VPN Review in Australia
Is Windscribe a good VPN?
Windscribe is a solid VPN choice, providing stable connection speeds, robust security measures, and several unique features. However, it’s just above average regarding streaming capabilities, as it doesn’t unblock as many streaming platforms as some other top-rated VPNs.
Is the Windscribe free VPN safe in Australia?
Yes, Windscribe’s free plan is safe to use in Australia. The VPN uses AES 256-bit encryption, recognized for its strong defense against breaches. Additionally, it successfully underwent numerous leak tests, covering both its free and premium versions.
Is Windscribe VPN really free?
Yes, Windscribe is available for free and as long as you wish. When your email address is verified, you receive 10GB of data per month with access to more than 10 different countries.
Can Windscribe VPN be tracked in Australia?
Windscribe is strictly a no-log VPN provider in Australia. They don’t track your activities or maintain connection logs, IP timestamps, or session records. You can also check out its human-friendly Privacy Policy for reassurance.
Does the Windscribe VPN hide your IP address?
Yes, Windscribe VPN effectively hides your IP address. When you connect to one of its servers, your real IP address is masked with one from the server’s location. This helps protect your online privacy and can make your internet activity appear as if it is coming from a different geographic location.
Which country owns Windscribe VPN?
Windscribe is based in Canada. But it keeps no logs and prevents DNS and IP from leaking. It is a commercial cross-platform VPN provider.
Is the Windscribe VPN safe to download in Australia?
Windscribe is a safe VPN service to download that uses AES-256 encryption, the standard in the industry, along with trusted VPN protocols such as WireGuard. Additionally, its open-source desktop applications enable anyone to inspect and confirm their security features.
Which is better, Windscribe or NordVPN?
NordVPN is slightly better in terms of usage than Windscribe. The primary difference between NordVPN and Windscribe lies in NordVPN’s superior speed and more consistent ability to unblock streaming services. However, you can’t create a Windscribe vs NordVPN comparison by just looking at speeds.
Conclusion
After thoroughly analyzing Windscribe, I’ve come away with a strong impression of its capabilities. It’s a likable VPN with impressive features catering to novice and advanced users. Moreover, its generous free plan stands out, allowing individuals to explore the VPN’s offerings without commitment in Australia.
As I conclude this Windscribe VPN review in Australia, I recommend that readers consider Windscribe for its comprehensive free version and ability to unblock streaming content effectively. It has earned its place as a reliable VPN choice with advanced features that should not be overlooked.
