PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada Comparison: Get The Best One in 2023!
Where PureVPN stands tall as a reputed “premium” provider in the industry, Windscribe follows a “freemium” model and ranks as a strong “free” service with paid plans as well.
Which service is better in Canada though? To find out, read this in-depth Windscribe Vs PureVPN comparison analysis in Canada.
Both providers PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada are tested and compared considering the major factors such as speed, security, privacy, streaming support, customer support, ease of use, and more.
So without any further ado, let’s start with a quick overview.
PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada: Quick Overview – 2023
Factors | PureVPN | Windscribe |
Trustpilot Rating | 4.7 | 4.8 |
Servers | 6,500+ servers in 78 countries | 170 servers in 63 countries |
Encryption | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit |
No-Logs Policy | Yes (Independent audit by AltiusIT) | Yes (No third-party audits yet) |
Kill Switch | Yes | Yes |
Split Tunneling | Yes | Yes |
VPN Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2/IPSec | IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, Wstunnel, Stealth |
Compatible Devices | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS |
Simultaneous Connections | 10 | Unlimited |
Pricing | $1.99/mo. (2-year plan) | $5.75/mo. (1-year plan) |
Coupons | COUPONPEEPS (10% Off on 2-Year Plan) | NERDWRITER (75% Off) |
Trial & Money-Back Guarantee | 7-Day Paid Trial & 31-Day Money-Back Guarantee | 7-Day Free Trial & 3-Day Refund |
Payment Mode | Credit/Debit Cards, PayPal, CoinGate, Payment Wall | Credit/Debit Cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, Payment Wall |
Streaming Services | Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and more | Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV, and more |
Support Services | Live Chat, FAQs, Knowledge Base, Ticketing, Setup Guides | Knowledge Base, FAQs, Setup Guides, Ticketing, Talk to Garry, Subreddit |
Winner | PureVPN |
For more information, visit our dedicated guides; PureVPN review Canada and Windscribe review Canada!
PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN – Find the Best One in Canada for 2023!
- Jurisdiction
- Prices and Discounts
- Important Features
- Netflix & Unblocking Other Streaming Capabilities
- Setup and User Interface
- Servers
- Security
- Logging and Privacy
- Configuration
- Customer Service
- P2P and Torrenting
- Device Compatibility
1. PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – Jurisdiction
PureVPN | Windscribe |
British Virgin Islands | Canada |
PureVPN is located in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands, while Windscribe is based in Canada, which is a member of the 5 Eyes Alliance Group.
It is clear that PureVPN wins in this category as the provider is headquartered in a region where data retention laws are flexible and no members of the 14 Eyes Alliance can reach it.
Winner in Jurisdiction
2. PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN Prices and Discounts in Canada
In terms of pricing, both PureVPN and Windscribe tend to be budget-friendly providers. The latter also makes available a free plan for users to leverage.
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
Subscription Period | 1 Month | Free |
1 Year | 1 Month | |
2 Years | 1 Year | |
Special offer | 73% Off on a 2-Year Plan | 54% Off on a 1-Year Plan |
Highest price per month | $10.95 | $9.00 |
Lowest price per month | $1.99 | $5.75 |
One-Year Price | $38.95 | $69 |
Money-Back Guarantee | 31-Days | 3-Days |
Get This Best Deal for PureVPN: Save 82% on their 2-year special
Get This Best Deal for Windscribe: Save 54% on their 1-year special
Mode of Payment
PureVPN: Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Payment Wall, PayPal
Windscribe: Credit/Debit Cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, Payment Wall
Money Back Guarantee
As far as the money-back guarantee is concerned, PureVPN offers a 31-day refund guarantee. Meanwhile, Windscribe only offers a 3-day refund (which cannot be availed if you use up the 10GB limit).
However, Windscribe offers a 7-day free trial. There is no PureVPN free trial but the provider offers a 7-day paid trial which costs $0.99.
Winner in Prices and Discounts
3. PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – Important Features
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
Simultaneous Connections | 10 | Unlimited |
Operating System Apps | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and Fire TV | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire TV |
Manual Install Devices | Linux, Routers, Set-Top Boxes | Routers, TVs, and more |
Split Tunneling | Yes | Yes |
Kill Switch | Yes | Yes |
Smart DNS | Yes | Yes (Costs Extra) |
Free Extras | Official Kodi addon, ad-blocker, malware-scanner, browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox | R.O.B.E.R.T., Config Generators, ScribeForce, Split Tunneling, DoubleHop |
PureVPN vs Windscribe, both offer their own unique set of features. These allow users to receive more security and protection online for all internet-related activities.
If we talk about app compatibility, both VPNs have native clients for Windows in Canada, Mac in Canada, iOS in Canada, Android in Canada, Linux in Canada, Mozilla Firefox in Canada, Google Chrome in Canada, Fire TV in Canada, Android/Apple TVs in Canada.
PureVPN adds to this list a dedicated extension for Kodi in Canada. As far as router support is concerned, you have manual setup guides for setting up both providers on Tomato or DD-WRT devices. Check out how to use PureVPN in Canada for different devices.
Where PureVPN is the best VPN with multiple connections in Canada on 5 devices only, Windscribe supports unlimited multi-logins giving it an edge over other providers in the marketplace.
As far as extra features are concerned, PureVPN offers NAT Firewall, Split Tunneling, Ad/Tracker blocking, IPv6 Leak Protection, Port Forwarding, Kill Switch, DDoS Protection, and dedicated IPs.
Windscribe, on the other hand, gives users access to R.O.B.E.R.T., config generators, ScribeForce (Team accounts), port forwarding, split tunneling, and DoubleHop.
Winner in Features Comparison
4. Windscribe VPN vs PureVPN – Netflix & Unblocking Other Streaming Capabilities in Canada
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
Netflix | Yes | Yes |
Hulu | Yes | Yes |
Sky Go | Yes | No |
Amazon Prime | Yes | Yes |
BBC iPlayer | Yes | Yes |
ABS | Yes | No |
CBS | Yes | No |
NBC | Yes | Yes |
ITV | Yes | Yes |
Channel 4 | Yes | Yes |
In terms of unblocking, both VPNs were decent in unblocking the major platforms. However, PureVPN proved to be quite the remarkable “unblocker.”
PureVPN could easily unblock services like Netflix in Canada, BBC iPlayer in Canada, Hulu in Canada, Amazon Prime in Canada, Voot in Canada, Hotstar in Canada, Disney Plus in Canada with the first server I connected.
Windscribe, on the other hand, failed to unblock platforms like ABS, CBS, and Sky Go. The streaming sites it did manage to unblock, I had to encounter problems of inconsistency, downtimes, and detection of proxy/VPN errors, which was quite frustrating.
Conversely, PureVPN managed to unblock all platforms in Canada with flying colors. In fact, all of their apps come equipped with a “popular websites” option.
The best part of all: the performance stays consistent even on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browser extensions, a feat that not even the best in the industry have achieved so far!
China & Internet Restricted Countries
China takes blocking VPNs quite seriously. As such, “The Great Firewall” employs numerous technologies and algorithms to stop expats/residents from bypassing geo-restrictions.
Sadly, Windscribe failed at offering any incentives to either audience. The Canadian-based provider has no mirror website to download their apps in the country and neither does it have Chinese servers.
PureVPN, on the other hand, offers obfuscated servers which is a specially-designed feature for using a VPN in heavily restricted regions like China.
The VPN doesn’t offer servers in China, but you can use it in the country to access foreign content with its highly-optimized servers, which is still quite an achievement, as many providers fail at providing access to a VPN in China.
However, make sure you download and install the VPN service beforehand, as China doesn’t allow VPN websites to run inside its jurisdiction.
Winner in Working for China & Internet Restricted Countries
5. PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – Setup and User Interface
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
Automatic Setup Wizard | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
Main Location Selection | List-based | List-based |
Extra Settings Pages | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Friendly | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Friendly | Yes | Yes |
PureVPN supports all popular platforms/devices. In terms of user interface, all of their apps tend to be incredibly easy to use and cater to both: rookie and tech-y VPN users.
All apps adopt a list-based location selection menu and you also have different modes available like p2p/file sharing, streaming, unblocking, etc. for connecting to relevant servers.
The mobile apps also have the same set of features but tend to be different in appearance. They boast a darker design and UI, but one that is incredibly user-friendly.
As compared to PureVPN, Windscribe’s apps feature a more compact interface and styling; one that stays consistent on all of their apps for different devices/platforms.
There is not much visible difference between the desktop/laptop and smartphone applications, as their color theme, accessibility, and navigations are pretty much identical.
Just the size of the VPN clients varies device-to-device and platform to platform. For instance, browser extensions boast an even more minimalistic appearance.
Winner in Setup and User Interface
6. PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – Servers
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
Server Countries | 78+ | 63 |
Total Number of Servers | 6,500+ | 170+ |
As compared to PureVPN, the Canadian-based Windscribe falls awfully short in “server numbers”. In fact, their network infrastructure is among the smallest.
You only have access to 170+ servers in 60 countries worldwide. This poor server count results in speed issues caused by user load on different servers.
PureVPN, on the other hand, boasts a large listing of 6500 servers in 78 countries worldwide, granting more functionality to users in different countries.
In fact, the British Virgin Islands-based VPN has the largest number of countries supported in terms of servers, which is quite a feat for a provider that is budget-friendly.
Speed Comparison
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
Speed Loss | 8.07% | 30.75% |
To get a better idea on the performance of both providers, I conducted a speed analysis. This process required the testing of different servers from both providers on a myriad of aspects.
These include streaming on sites like Netflix, browse the internet, downloading torrenting files, or playing online games. For the task, we picked up 4 random servers from PureVPN and Windscribe.
In bare speed tests on a 100 Mbps connection, PureVPN managed to deliver an average of 91.03 Mbps in downloads, indicating a speed loss of 8.07%.
Windscribe, on the other hand, delivered mediocre speed averaging 69.25 Mbps. This indicates a speed loss of over 30%, which is a big margin that helped us pick the winner between the two easily.
Winner in Servers and Speed
7. PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – Security
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
VPN Protocols | L2TP/IPSec, IPSec, IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN, WireGuard | IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, Wstunnel, Stealth |
OpenVPN Data Encryption | AES-256-CBC | AES-256-CBC |
OpenVPN Control Channel Encryption | RSA-4096 | RSA-4096 |
Cloaking Technology | None | None |
App Security | Kill Switch and DNS Leak Protection | Kill Switch and DNS Leak Protection |
DNS Status | Private DNS | Private DNS |
PureVPN supports a great variety of protocols. These include L2TP/IPSec, IPSec, IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN, and WireGuard to give users of all kinds freedom of choice.
As default though, PureVPN deploys the OpenVPN protocol on all devices, with the exception of iOS devices that use the IKEv2 protocol for faster speeds and security.
For encryption, the provider utilizes AES-256-CBC cipher with HMAC SHA1 hash authentication for the data channel, which is quite impressive and highly secure.
Meanwhile, it deploys the AES-256-CBC cipher with HMAC SHA384 hash authentication and RSA-4096 handshake encryption for the control channel.
Windscribe, on the other hand, only supports the IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, Wstunnel, and Stealth protocol on all of its devices. As a default, all of its apps use OpenVPN.
For encryption, Windscribe uses AES-256 ciphers coupled with SHA-512 authentication and the strongest 4096-bit RSA key for handshaking – in addition to supporting Perfect Forward Secrecy using Diffie Hellman (DHE).
To get a better idea on the app security, I conducted a leak test on PureVPN and Windscribe. The process involved the usage of 6 different tools to check for;
WebRTC and HTTP Request Leaks
DNS Leaks
IPv4/IPv6 and Torrent IP Leaks
Both PureVPN and Windscribe managed to clear the tests from the 6 different tools above and did not reveal our original IP, DNS, or WebRTC information.
Winner in Security
Tie
8. PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – Logging and Privacy
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
Headquarters | British Virgin Islands | Canada |
Connection Logs | None | None |
Activity Logs | None | None |
Sign Up Information | Email Address | Email Address |
Anonymous Payment Methods | Various Cryptocurrencies | Only Bitcoin |
In terms of privacy, deciding the winner does not actually take long. PureVPN has its headquarters in the safe British Virgin Islands, whereas Windscribe is based in Canada.
As you probably know, Canada is a founding member of the Five Eyes Alliance, which indulges in intelligence sharing by imposing mandatory mass surveillance and data retention laws.
Therefore, it may not be a good option exactly to sign up with Windscribe, despite them claiming to be a “zero logs” provider. They will have to comply with their country’s laws!
Windscribe has also not undergone an audit of its no-logs policy. Meanwhile, PureVPN has recently joined the ranks by getting its service audited by AltiusIT.
Winner in Logging and Privacy
9. PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – Configuration
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
Address Allocation | Shared/Static | Shared/Static |
Static IPs | 7 Countries | 13 Locations |
DDoS Protection | Yes | No |
NAT Firewall | Yes | Yes |
Both PureVPN and Windscribe support a shared/static infrastructure to meet the varied demands of their customers. Albeit, the availability of IPs varies by provider.
Windscribe has dedicated IPs in a limited 13 locations with most of them being distributed in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
PureVPN, on the other hand, has static IPs in 7 countries with a higher count. Countries supported include US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, Malta, and Singapore.
Winner in Configuration
Tie
10. PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – Customer Service
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
Video Guides | Yes | Yes |
Searchable Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
Phone Support | No | No |
Email Support | Yes | Yes |
Average Email Response Time | 39 Minutes | 45 Minutes |
Ticket Support | Yes | Yes |
Live Chat Support | Yes | No |
PureVPN and Windscribe both offer support in the form of live chat, video guides, knowledge base, FAQs, email, and tickets. All of these are good options to receive support.
The second-best option for most is email support. So, I went a little further with my testing to analyze the response times from both providers as well.
Below you can see the stats of both providers on the basis of four different questions.
PureVPN Customer Service
Question | Initial Response Time | Number of Emails | Question Answered |
Is PureVPN good for Torrenting? | 25 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
Does PureVPN work with Netflix? | 39 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
Can I Install PureVPN on LibreELEC | 50 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
How to setup PureVPN on Firestick? | 44 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
Windscribe Customer Service
Question | Initial Response Time | Number of Emails | Question Answered |
Does Windscribe hide your IP? | 42 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
Is Windscribe good for gaming? | 1 Hour | 1 | Yes |
Does Windscribe work with Netflix? | 37 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
Does Windscribe have a kill switch? | 40 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
Winner in Customer Service
11. PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – P2P and Torrenting
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
P2P servers | 35+ location servers | Unknown |
Avg. speed while torrenting | 87.23 Mbps | 54.87 Mbps |
PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada both support P2P and torrenting – however, PureVPN offers better speeds while torrenting. There is a “P2P” tab available in the PureVPN app from which you can easily connect to a P2P-optimized server.
Windscribe, on the other hand, doesn’t prohibit users from using the VPN for P2P traffic. However, they’ve mentioned that some of their locations will not allow P2P traffic to pass, which are India, Lithuania, Russia, and South Africa.
The reason why these locations won’t allow P2P is because of high restrictions on such traffic. However, you can connect to another server to carry out your P2P and torrenting activities.
Winner in P2P and Torrenting
12. PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – Device Compatibility
PureVPN | Windscribe | |
Android | Yes | Yes |
iOS | Yes | Yes |
Mac | Yes | Yes |
Windows | Yes | Yes |
Linux | Yes | Yes |
Firestick | Yes | Yes |
Kodi | Yes | Yes |
Chromecast | Yes | Yes |
Roku | Yes | Yes |
Blackberry | Yes | No |
Windows Phone | Yes | Yes |
Chrome | Yes | Yes |
Firefox | Yes | Yes |
Opera | Yes | Yes |
Xbox One | Yes | Yes |
PlayStation 4 | Yes | Yes |
Android Smart TV | Yes | Yes |
Samsung Smart TV | Yes | Yes |
LG Smart TV | Yes | No |
Routers | Yes | Yes |
Raspberry Pi | Yes | Yes |
Both providers have support for a wide range of devices. However, PureVPN wins in this category as the provider supports all 21 out of 21 devices in the above-mentioned table. On the other hand, Windscribe is compatible with 19 devices out of 21.
Winner in Device Compatibility
Other VPN Comparisons:
- CybergGhost vs PureVPN in Canada
PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – FAQs
Is PureVPN a good VPN in Canada?
Yes, PureVPN is a good VPN in Canada. It offers a built-in kill switch and split tunneling tool to make sure your anonymity is maintained.
The provider offers a massive network of 6500 servers in 78 from which you can bypass geo-restrictions on major streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more.
Is Windscribe a trustworthy VPN in Canada?
Yes. Windscribe offers military-grade encryption and a variety of secure protocols such as IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, Wstunnel, and Stealth to keep your data safe. In addition, it has a strict no-logs policy.
However, no independent audits have been performed on the privacy policy of Windscribe and the provider is based in Canada, which is a member of the 5 Eyes Alliance Group.
Which VPN is stronger than Windscribe in Canada?
ExpressVPN is the overall strongest VPN in Canada in all domains. It has an advantage over Windscribe in the streaming realm.
With ExpressVPN, you have access to a high number of locations (160) and you don’t need to switch servers to unblock Netflix or any other streaming giant, all the servers are highly optimized that unblock popular VoDs on by connecting to the first server.
Who owns Windscribe VPN?
Windscribe was founded by owners Yegor Sak and Alex Pagius in the year 2016.
Is PureVPN a Chinese company?
PureVPN was co-founded by Uzair Gadit, who was based in Pakistan. The company was founded in 2007 and has contractors in Pakistan, the US, the UK, Ukraine, the British Virgin Islands, and formerly Hong Kong.
PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada – Wrapping Up
In this PureVPN vs Windscribe VPN in Canada comparison guide, after analyzing both providers, it becomes clear that PureVPN emerges victorious and rightly so. The VPN is an all-rounder in simple words in Canada.
It is budget-friendly, has a good server count, unblocks all streaming platforms smoothly, and works in China. If that was not enough, it is even endorsed by Forbes.