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Comparison

BoltVeil vs Windscribe

Two VPNs with a real free option, built in very different ways

Windscribe is a favourite among people who want a genuinely useful free VPN, with open-source apps and prices that do not jump at renewal. BoltVeil also has a free way in, built on earning premium days. Here is how they compare, fact by fact.

Windscribe

Monthly price
Pro $9.00
Best long-term price
Pro yearly: $69 ($5.75/month), same price at renewal; no 2-year plan
BoltVeil
Monthly price
Plus $4.99 (Pro $7.99, Max $12.99)
Best long-term price
Yearly: 12 months for the price of 8 (Plus $39.92, about $3.33/month), renewing at the same listed price

Competitor details as of September 2026, from their public pages. Plans and prices change, so check their site for current terms.

The short version

Windscribe gives you a free plan with up to 10 GB a month, open-source apps and unlimited devices. BoltVeil gives free users full premium days earned with Bolts, costs less on paid plans and adds residential proxies to the same account.

What Windscribe does well

  • A useful free plan: 10 GB a month with a confirmed email, 10 countries and unlimited devices.
  • Open-source apps for every platform, and paid prices that stay the same at renewal.
  • Strong tools for networks that block VPNs: Stealth, WStunnel and AmneziaWG.
  • RAM-only physical servers, post-quantum WireGuard and the R.O.B.E.R.T. blocker for ads and malware.

Worth knowing about Windscribe

  • Paid plans cost more: Pro is $9 a month or $69 a year.
  • The free plan has a monthly data cap: 10 GB with a confirmed email, 2 GB without.
  • Refunds are limited to 7 business days and under 10 GB used, and are given for technical problems support cannot fix.
  • No pay-as-you-go residential proxy traffic; residential static IPs cost $96 a year in three cities.

Side by side

Monthly price

WindscribePro $9.00

BoltVeilPlus $4.99 (Pro $7.99, Max $12.99)

Free option

WindscribeFree plan: 10 GB a month with a confirmed email (2 GB without), 10 countries

BoltVeilFree account; earn full premium days with Bolts (1,000 Bolts = 1 day)

Best long-term price

WindscribePro yearly: $69 ($5.75/month), same price at renewal; no 2-year plan

BoltVeilYearly: 12 months for the price of 8 (Plus $39.92, about $3.33/month), renewing at the same listed price

Devices at the same time

WindscribeUnlimited

BoltVeil5 on Plus, 8 on Pro, 10 on Max

Protocols

WindscribeWireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), Stealth, WStunnel and AmneziaWG

BoltVeilWireGuard and OpenVPN (UDP and TCP)

Strict firewalls

WindscribeStealth, WStunnel and AmneziaWG, built for censored networks

BoltVeilFirewall mode: OpenVPN over TCP port 8080. Gets past simple port filters; it is not a stealth protocol

Residential proxies

WindscribeNo; residential static IPs from $96 a year in 3 cities

BoltVeilYes: 1 GB a month on Pro, 5 GB on Max, packs from $3.99

Pay with crypto

WindscribeYes, through CoinPayments (BTC, ETH, XMR, USDC and more)

BoltVeilYes: USDT and other coins, prepaid for 1, 3 or 12 months

Money-back guarantee

Windscribe7 business days, under 10 GB used, for technical issues support cannot fix

BoltVeil7 days on your first purchase, if under 1 GB of proxy traffic was used

Server network

Windscribe69+ countries, RAM-only physical servers

BoltVeilOperated by an infrastructure partner under contract; every location is listed on the Servers page

Independent no-logs audit

WindscribeNo independent no-logs audit; open-source apps and security audits

BoltVeilNot yet; our No-logs Policy lists exactly what we store

Apps

WindscribeWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browser extensions and TVs

BoltVeilThe free VPNClient app on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux and TV, plus config files and QR codes for the official WireGuard and OpenVPN apps

Pick Windscribe if / Pick BoltVeil if

Pick Windscribe if

  • You want a free VPN you can use without earning anything, and 10 GB a month is enough.
  • Open-source apps and strong anti-censorship tools matter most to you.
  • You need unlimited devices, or a static IP address.

Pick BoltVeil if

  • You want full premium days for free, earned with Bolts, rather than a monthly data allowance.
  • You want a cheaper paid plan: Plus is $4.99 a month or $39.92 a year.
  • You need residential proxy traffic by the gigabyte, or want to pay with USDT.
Get BoltVeil

Why people switch

  • Full days instead of a data allowance

    Redeem 1,000 Bolts for a full premium day on the same network paying customers use.

  • Lower paid prices

    Plus is $4.99 a month or $39.92 a year, against $9 and $69 for Windscribe Pro.

  • Residential proxies by the gigabyte

    Pro includes 1 GB a month and Max 5 GB, with packs from $3.99 when you need more.

Frequently asked questions

Which free option is better, Windscribe or BoltVeil?

They work differently. Windscribe Free gives you up to 10 GB a month in 10 countries without doing anything. BoltVeil gives you full premium days that you earn with Bolts from check-ins, missions, invites and offers. If you want zero effort, Windscribe Free is simpler; if you want full access and do not mind earning it, see how BoltVeil's free option works.

Is BoltVeil cheaper than Windscribe Pro?

Yes. BoltVeil Plus costs $4.99 a month or $39.92 a year; Windscribe Pro costs $9 a month or $69 a year. Windscribe's Build A Plan, at $1 per location per month with a $3 minimum, can cost less if you only need a few locations and little data.

Has either one been audited?

Neither has had an independent audit of its no-logs policy. Windscribe publishes its app source code and has had security audits of its apps and servers. BoltVeil publishes exactly what it stores in its no-logs policy, and its VPN network is operated by an infrastructure partner under contract.

Do both accept crypto?

Yes. Windscribe accepts more than 20 coins through CoinPayments, and cash by mail for yearly plans. BoltVeil accepts USDT and other coins for prepaid 1, 3 or 12 month plans.

Which one is better for streaming?

We do not promise that any streaming service works through BoltVeil. Streaming services actively block VPN addresses, so results change over time with any provider. If streaming is your main reason for a VPN, test it during the money-back period, whichever provider you choose.

Sources (checked September 2026)

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