- 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 warn that a single speed test is not conclusive
The battle for the title of best VPN is notoriously fierce, with top providers constantly fighting for an edge over their competitors. In a bold and entertaining new chapter in this rivalry, Windscribe has publicly claimed that its free VPN service can beat one of the industry’s biggest names, NordVPN, in a race.
In a post on X, the company shared a screenshot of a speed test that appears to show that Windscribe Free VPN’s server achieves 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 to Windscribe’s co-located free VPN servers. We won. And the best part is that the speed test was performed by Surfshark (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, according to TechRadar’s reviewers, is one of the best free VPNs on the market.
A pinch of salt is required
While the social media post is entertaining, users should be cautious in 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 affect a speed test include the specific server selected (both its physical location and current user load), the time of day the test is performed, the user’s underlying internet connection speed, and the VPN protocol used.
For example, a connection using the modern WireGuard protocol will almost always be faster than a connection using the older OpenVPN protocol.
Without knowing the exact parameters of the test shown on the screenshot, it is 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 also enters 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 truly 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 out there.
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 jab at its competitors, potential 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 ease of use.
