{
  "slug": "windscribe",
  "category": "vpns",
  "name": "Windscribe",
  "description": "VPN service from Canada with a limited free plan, open-source apps and browser extensions, and WireGuard, IKEv2 and OpenVPN support.",
  "website": "https://windscribe.com",
  "source": "https://github.com/Windscribe/Desktop-App",
  "license": "GPL-2.0",
  "platforms": [],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "CA",
    "name": "Canada",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": null
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "B",
  "score": 81,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Windscribe scores 81 out of 100 (grade B) on the VPN providers criteria. It meets 8 of 12 criteria: no ads or data sales, independent audit, transparency report, TLS configuration, audited no-logs policy, anonymous payment, open-source apps and modern protocols. It partly meets open source, no trackers or telemetry and security headers. It does not meet tells users about requests. It is based in Canada: Five Eyes member. Automated tests: SSL Labs grade A+ and Mozilla HTTP Observatory grade B+.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/vpns/windscribe/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/vpns/windscribe/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/Windscribe/Desktop-App/blob/master/LICENSE",
      "note": "Apps are open source. The server side is not."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://windscribe.com/privacy",
      "note": "The website uses self-hosted Piwik analytics and no third-party trackers. The Android app has no known trackers on Exodus."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://windscribe.com/ethics",
      "note": "Funded by paid plans. The ethics page rules out targeted advertising and selling user data."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EgNETLVm2oZdGJXZJmFSCDc7Ib72LIOw/view",
      "note": "Full Packetlabs report on the server infrastructure and no-logs configuration."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://windscribe.com/transparency",
      "note": "Live counts of DMCA and law enforcement data requests and how many were complied with."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No published policy on notifying users about data requests."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/analyze.html?d=windscribe.com&hideResults=on",
      "note": "Grade A+"
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/observatory/analyze?host=windscribe.com",
      "note": "Grade B+ (80/100+)"
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "pending",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Not tested yet."
    },
    "no_logs_audited": {
      "title": "Audited no-logs policy",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EgNETLVm2oZdGJXZJmFSCDc7Ib72LIOw/view",
      "note": "Packetlabs reviewed the no-logs policy on the VPN servers and confirmed the logging issues it found were fixed."
    },
    "anonymous_payment": {
      "title": "Anonymous payment",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://windscribe.com/knowledge-base/articles/which-cryptocurrencies-do-you-support",
      "note": "Sign-up needs only a username and password. Monero and cash are accepted."
    },
    "open_source_clients": {
      "title": "Open-source apps",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/Windscribe",
      "note": "Desktop, Android, iOS and browser extension source code is published."
    },
    "modern_protocols": {
      "title": "Modern protocols",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://windscribe.com/features/flexible-connectivity",
      "note": "WireGuard is supported alongside IKEv2, OpenVPN and Stealth."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": "A+",
    "observatory": "B+",
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:01:23.413Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}