Windscribe vs Private Internet Access: free plan and cash, or audited no-logs and 30-day refunds
Windscribe scores 4.09 and Private Internet Access 5.13 out of 10. Private Internet Access leads overall; the table shows where each one is stronger.
Windscribe vs Private Internet Access
| What we compare | Windscribe | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.09 | 5.13 (better) |
| Privacy and jurisdiction | 4.0 | 6.3 (better) |
| Security and protocols | 5.4 | 5.7 (better) |
| Price and fair terms | 4.8 | 5.6 (better) |
| Censorship bypass | 0.5 (better) | 0.0 |
| Network and streaming | 3.1 | 4.0 (better) |
| Platforms and support | 7.1 | 8.6 (better) |
| Cheapest price, € a month | €2.58 | €1.63 (better) |
| Renewal vs first term | 1.0× (better) | 1.1× |
| Refund window, days | 7 | 30 (better) |
| Free plan | Yes (better) | — |
| Independent no-logs audit | — | Yes (better) |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| WireGuard | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto payments | Yes | Yes |
| Jurisdiction | Canada (5 Eyes) | USA (5 Eyes) |
| Platforms supported | 9 | 10 (better) |
Private Internet Access takes five of the six comparison areas, so if you want a checked logging promise, a refund month you can use and the lowest long-term bill, pay for PIA. Windscribe wins on entry: a free plan, sign-up without an email and cash payments. Neither caps how many devices you run, so that criterion drops out.
How PIA ends up ahead in five areas of six
Privacy causes the widest gap, and it rests on one fact: Deloitte has audited PIA's no-logs policy, while Windscribe publishes no outside audit. Windscribe also keeps a few operational records that PIA's policy says it does not keep, which widens the distance. PIA's other wins rest on single concrete items: around-the-clock chat, a refund window covering renewals, and a 39-month term that undercuts anything Windscribe sells per year.
Windscribe's single lead, and why it will not get you past a block
Half a point for bypass comes from Windscribe's Telegram channel, an alternative route to the service. Neither provider lists a stealth or obfuscation mode, so both are a gamble where VPN traffic gets filtered. PIA's terms bar use in US-embargoed countries and, under separate export-control rules, name China, Russia and Vietnam among the restricted ones.
Logging rules and the Deloitte audit
PIA's policy rules out storing connection IPs, session times and bandwidth data, and the audit backs that claim; the provider also says the policy has held up in court, without naming a case. Windscribe promises no historical logs yet keeps a last-activity timestamp, a RAM-only session clock, a 30-day bandwidth counter and payment transaction IDs for 30 days. Windscribe needs no email at sign-up, while PIA always asks for one, even if you pay in crypto. On its website Windscribe runs self-hosted analytics with no outside trackers; PIA loads Google's tools. Canada and the USA are both Five Eyes members, so jurisdiction-wise the two match. PIA belongs to Kape Technologies, which also owns ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.
What a month, a year and three years cost
| Plan | First payment | Covers | Per month | Renews at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windscribe Pro monthly | $9 | 1 month | $9 | $9 |
| Windscribe Pro yearly | $69 | 12 months | $5.75 | $69 |
| Windscribe Build-A-Plan | from $3 | 1 month | $1 per location | same |
| PIA monthly | $11.95 | 1 month | $11.95 | $11.95 |
| PIA yearly | $47.88 | 12 months | $3.99 | $47.88 |
| PIA 3 years + 3 months | $73.71 | 39 months | $1.89 | $73.71 for 36 months |
Monthly payers save with Windscribe; a year or more ahead, PIA spends less. Build-A-Plan's $3 minimum looks cheap, but each location carries a 10 GB cap, so it suits light use only; the free plan is capped too, though the amount is not published.
Refund windows, payment and sign-up
| Term | Windscribe | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Money back | 7 business days, under 10 GB used | 30 days |
| Renewals refundable | no | yes |
| Cash | yes | no |
| Crypto | yes | via BitPay |
| Email to register | optional | required |
| Free plan | yes | no |
Windscribe's refund is a short first test: pass 10 GB and it is gone. PIA grants a month and covers renewals, but verifies requests and refuses a second refund on a fresh account opened within three months of the first. Auto-renewal is on by default at both; at PIA you switch it off under Account > Subscriptions. Compare other refund policies if this term weighs heavily for you.
Apps, devices and who answers support
Neither service limits simultaneous connections, and both add split tunnelling plus an ad blocker (R.O.B.E.R.T. for Windscribe, MACE for PIA). Windscribe adds Fire TV and Apple TV apps; PIA reaches Chromebooks, smart TVs and consoles through a router. The support split matters more: PIA answers by live chat day and night, Windscribe by tickets and community channels.
Windscribe vs PIA questions
Which is faster or better for streaming?
VPNRadarLab runs no speed or streaming tests, and no streaming service is named by either provider, so the data cannot settle this.
Is Windscribe's free plan enough?
Yes for light use on a handful of locations; heavy users will exhaust the data cap. Other free VPN options are compared on a separate page.
Which suits torrenting better?
Neither provider publishes a torrenting stance. Windscribe sells port forwarding and a static IP as add-ons; PIA offers a dedicated IP and 10 Gbps servers.
What do users say?
Windscribe scores 4.7 on Trustpilot and in Google Play, PIA 4.2 and 4.4; on the US App Store PIA edges ahead at 4.7 vs 4.64. Reviews sit outside our score.
Which one fits which buyer
- A checked logging policy, a real refund month and the cheapest multi-year bill: PIA.
- Month-to-month flexibility, cash payment or an email-free account: Windscribe.
- Trying a VPN at no cost: the free Windscribe tier.
On privacy, long-term cost and support PIA comes out in front; Windscribe keeps the free option, anonymous sign-up and the smaller monthly bill. Jurisdiction rules for both are explained on the VPN jurisdictions page.