- Windscribe claims its free VPN service is faster than paid rival NordVPN
- The company used a speed test server owned by another top VPN, Surfshark
- Experts caution that a single speed test isn't conclusive
The battle for the title of the best VPN is notoriously fierce, with top providers constantly vying for an edge over their competition. In a bold and amusing new chapter in this rivalry, Windscribe has publicly claimed that its free VPN service can outperform one of the industry's biggest names, NordVPN, in a speed race.
In a post on X, the company shared a screenshot of a speed test that appears to show Windscribe Free VPN's server achieving faster download speeds than a NordVPN server.
The ultimate punchline? The speed test's server used to generate the results was from another major competitor: Surfshark.
This clever, multi-layered jab at two of its biggest rivals has certainly turned heads.
"On today's episode of Speedtest Smackdowns, we compared NordVPN against Windscribe's Free VPN servers in the same location. We won. And the best part is the speed test was done by Surfshark (which is owned by NordVPN)," the tweet read.
By using Surfshark's server, Windscribe not only questions NordVPN's performance but also drags another industry giant into the fray, all while promoting its own highly-regarded service, which is, however, one of the best free VPNs on the market according to TechRadar's reviewers.
A pinch of salt is required
While the social media post is entertaining, users should be careful about drawing definitive conclusions from it.
VPN speed is a notoriously complex metric to measure, and a single screenshot is far from a comprehensive benchmark. The performance of any VPN can be affected by a wide range of variables.
Factors that can dramatically influence a speed test include the specific server chosen (both its physical location and current user load), the time of day the test is conducted, the user's underlying internet connection speed, and the VPN protocol being used.
For example, a connection using the modern WireGuard protocol will almost always be faster than one using the older OpenVPN protocol.
Without knowing the precise parameters of the test shown in the screenshot, it's impossible to verify the claim in a scientifically meaningful way.
It’s more of a clever marketing stunt than a definitive performance benchmark, designed to generate conversation.
The free vs paid VPN battle
This public call-out also taps into the long-running debate about the quality of free versus paid VPN services.
While free VPNs have a reputation for being slow, insecure, or having strict data limits, Windscribe has worked hard to position its free tier as a genuinely usable and secure option. It offers a generous 10GB of monthly data and access to servers in over 10 countries, making it one of the most robust free plans available.
NordVPN, on the other hand, represents the premium end of the market. It offers a massive global server network, advanced security features like Threat Protection Pro, and consistently ranks as one of the fastest VPN providers in TechRadar's independent tests.
Ultimately, while Windscribe's tweet is a fun poke at its competitors, prospective users should base their decisions on more than just a single social media post.
Reading in-depth reviews and taking advantage of money-back guarantees to test a service for yourself remains the most reliable way to find a VPN that truly meets your needs for speed, security, and usability.
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