Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
PureVPN vs Windscribe
PureVPN takes it by 2 points, 69.0 against 67.0. That margin is worth reading past — Windscribe wins 2 of the seven criteria outright.
PureVPN
69.0Cheap and broadly capable, carrying a documented 2017 logging incident that the current audit arrangement is designed to answer.
- From
- $2.11/mo
- Based in
- British Virgin Islands
- Devices
- 10
- Audits
- 1
We earn a commission if you subscribe through this link. It does not change PureVPN’s score.
Windscribe
67.0Unusually honest about its own incidents, but Canadian jurisdiction and a three-day refund window are real costs.
- From
- $5.75/mo
- Based in
- Canada
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Audits
- 1
We earn nothing from Windscribe. This link is included because the ranking says it belongs here.
Criterion by criterion
PureVPN wins 3, Windscribe wins 2, 2 tied. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.
| Criterion | Weight | PureVPN | Windscribe | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 7/10 (14.0) | 6/10 (12.0) | PureVPN |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 6/10 (9.0) | 3/10 (4.5) | PureVPN |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 9/10 (13.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Tied |
| Leak protection | 15 | 7/10 (10.5) | 8/10 (12.0) | Windscribe |
| Transparency | 15 | 4/10 (6.0) | 8/10 (12.0) | Windscribe |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 9/10 (9.0) | 6/10 (6.0) | PureVPN |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 7/10 (7.0) | 7/10 (7.0) | Tied |
| Total | 100 | 69.0 | 67.0 | PureVPN |
Where each one actually wins
PureVPN is ahead on
- Independent audit. KPMG operates an always-on audit arrangement rather than a single snapshot report.
- Jurisdiction and ownership. British Virgin Islands, outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement, following a relocation from Hong Kong in 2021.
- Price and refund terms. Effective $2.11/month on a two-year term with a 31-day refund window.
Windscribe is ahead on
- Leak protection. Firewall-based kill switch enabled by default on desktop, with the R.O.B.E.R.T. DNS filter layered on top.
- Transparency. Open-source clients, signup possible without an email, and the 2021 server seizure was disclosed publicly by the company itself.
Choose PureVPN if
Readers who want a low price and are satisfied by the current audit arrangement.
Choose Windscribe if
Readers who need a free tier or want to pay only for two or three specific locations.
Reasons to pick neither
Skip PureVPN if: Past conduct matters to you. The 2017 incident is a matter of public court record, and no later audit erases it.
Skip Windscribe if: You want a long trial period before committing. Three days and 10 GB is the tightest refund policy in this dataset.
Questions
- Is PureVPN or Windscribe better?
- PureVPN scores higher overall, 69.0 against 67.0, a gap of 2 points out of 100. That is close enough that the deciding factor should be which criteria matter to you rather than the total.
- Which is cheaper, PureVPN or Windscribe?
- PureVPN, at $2.11/mo against $5.75/mo. Both rates require committing to the provider’s longest term; the monthly rates are considerably higher.
- Which one has been audited more recently?
- PureVPN, most recently in 2023 against Windscribe’s 2022.
- Does jurisdiction differ between them?
- Yes. PureVPN operates from British Virgin Islands and Windscribe from Canada. PureVPN is outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement; the other is not.
Related comparisons
Comparison generated from the same dataset as the ranking. Emphasis criterion definitions are on the rubric page. Criterion labels: Independent audit, Jurisdiction and ownership, Protocol and crypto stack, Leak protection, Transparency, Price and refund terms, Platform coverage.