ExpressVPN vs Windscribe: a 0.68-point gap, a tie on apps and cheaper renewals
ExpressVPN scores 4.77 and Windscribe 4.09 out of 10. ExpressVPN leads overall; the table shows where each one is stronger.
ExpressVPN vs Windscribe
| What we compare | ExpressVPN | Windscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.77 (better) | 4.09 |
| Privacy and jurisdiction | 5.7 (better) | 4.0 |
| Security and protocols | 5.7 (better) | 5.4 |
| Price and fair terms | 3.1 | 4.8 (better) |
| Censorship bypass | 1.9 (better) | 0.5 |
| Network and streaming | 4.6 (better) | 3.1 |
| Platforms and support | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Cheapest price, € a month | €2.57 (better) | €2.58 |
| Renewal vs first term | 2.8× | 1.0× (better) |
| Refund window, days | 30 (better) | 7 |
| Free plan | — | Yes (better) |
| Independent no-logs audit | Yes (better) | — |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| WireGuard | Yes | Yes |
| Obfuscation | Yes (better) | — |
| Crypto payments | Yes | Yes |
| Jurisdiction | BVI (outside 14 Eyes) | Canada (5 Eyes) |
| Platforms supported | 12 (better) | 9 |
Both services
ExpressVPN wins this comparison on the site's scale, 4.77 against Windscribe's 4.09: it leads four of six areas (privacy, security, censorship bypass, network), Windscribe takes price and fair terms, and platforms and support finish level at 7.1 each. ExpressVPN is the safer pick if audits and bypassing blocks matter most; Windscribe renews at the same price you first paid and lets you start for nothing.
Where ExpressVPN's 0.68-point lead comes from
Privacy is the widest gap at 1.7 points. ExpressVPN has an independent no-logs audit by KPMG and sits in the British Virgin Islands, outside every surveillance alliance (how the alliances work). Windscribe publishes no independent no-logs audit, and Canada places it inside Five Eyes. It claws points back with a published transparency report and sign-up without an email; ExpressVPN requires an email and publishes neither a transparency report nor a warrant canary.
Security is the narrowest lead, 0.3 points. Both run RAM-only servers (ExpressVPN's version is TrustedServer), a kill switch (Network Lock vs Firewall), DNS leak protection and WireGuard. ExpressVPN's KPMG and Cure53 audits outweigh Windscribe's open-source apps on GitHub by that margin. On censorship bypass ExpressVPN documents Lightway obfuscation, while Windscribe lists no stealth or obfuscation mode; its only counted bypass item is a Telegram mirror channel. On network, ExpressVPN's 113 countries and 10 Gbps servers (its own claim) outrun Windscribe's 69+ countries and its port forwarding add-on.
Why 12 platforms against 9 still ends in a tie
The three platforms ExpressVPN lists and Windscribe does not are Android TV, Smart TV and game consoles. The sub-score does not reward those extras, because both already have every item it looks at: all five desktop and mobile systems, routers, a TV app, an extension, split tunnelling and an ad-and-malware blocker (Threat Manager vs R.O.B.E.R.T.). Support balances out too: live chat on one side, Telegram, Discord and Reddit on the other. Device limits favour Windscribe, whose unlimited personal devices beat ExpressVPN's caps of 10, 12 or 14 depending on plan.
Paying for 28 months or paying by the year
| Service and plan | First payment | Months covered | Per month | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN Basic | $83.72 | 28 | $2.99 | $99.95 yearly |
| ExpressVPN Advanced | $125.72 | 28 | $4.49 | $119.95 yearly |
| ExpressVPN Pro | $209.72 | 28 | $7.49 | $199.95 yearly |
| Windscribe Pro Yearly | $69 | 12 | $5.75 | $69 yearly |
| Windscribe Pro Monthly | $9 | 1 | $9 | $9 monthly |
| Windscribe Build-A-Plan | from $3 | 1 | $1 per location | unchanged |
Cheapest entry is a coin toss in euros: €2.57 for ExpressVPN against €2.58 for Windscribe. The divergence arrives when the first term ends. ExpressVPN renews at 2.79 times its introductory rate, which costs it the most points here; Windscribe's renewal ratio is 1.0, so Pro Yearly renews at the same $69. Build-A-Plan is the oddity: up to 7 locations at $1 per location a month, each with its own 10 GB, minimum $3. The free plan differs from Pro only in bandwidth (amount not published) and locations.
Refund windows and payment options
ExpressVPN refunds new subscribers within 30 days; renewals and redemption codes are excluded, and app-store purchases go back through the stores. Windscribe is stricter: 7 business days, first payment only, and over 10 GB of usage can void it, so test on the free tier first. Neither offers a free trial. ExpressVPN takes cards, PayPal, Bitcoin (paying with it leaves auto-renewal off), gift cards and app-store billing; Windscribe accepts card, PayPal, crypto, cash and local methods.
A BVI company outside the alliances, a Canadian one inside Five Eyes
Express Technologies Ltd. sits under Kape Technologies PLC in the UK but says it answers to BVI law. Windscribe Limited in Toronto is independent, with no parent above it.
| What the policy keeps | ExpressVPN | Windscribe |
|---|---|---|
| required | optional | |
| Connection IP | no | no |
| Session data | connection dates only | last activity, session time in RAM |
| Bandwidth | per-user total | 30-day counter |
| Website tracking | cookies, pixels, tag manager | self-hosted Piwik, no third-party trackers |
| Sharing with processors | PayPal, Stripe, Zendesk and others | payment processors only |
ExpressVPN and Windscribe FAQ
Which one is faster or better for gaming?
This site scores what providers publish, not ping or speed. ExpressVPN advertises 10 Gbps ports and console plus router support; Windscribe offers a port forwarding add-on for hosting a game server.
Does either one unblock Netflix?
Neither names Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ or Prime Video in its published claims. ExpressVPN bundles MediaStreamer Smart DNS on all plans.
Will they get through networks that block VPNs?
ExpressVPN publishes a documented Lightway obfuscation mode. Windscribe publishes nothing comparable.
Which one do users rate higher?
Windscribe edges it: 4.7 on Trustpilot against 4.4, and 4.7 on Google Play against 4.6. Reviews never change the site's score.
Which kind of user each one suits
- Audits, a jurisdiction outside the alliances and a documented bypass mode: ExpressVPN.
- A tester or light user who wants to start without an email: Windscribe Free.
- A household with unlimited devices and a stable multi-year budget: Windscribe Pro Yearly, which renews at the same price as the first payment.