{
    "products": [
        {
            "slug": "ivpn",
            "name": "IVPN",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://www.ivpn.net/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/ivpn",
            "tagline": "Open-source VPN that needs no email to sign up",
            "summary": "IVPN is a paid VPN service operated by IVPN Limited, which is registered in Gibraltar. It offers WireGuard and OpenVPN connections, lets people sign up without an email address, publishes its apps as open source and accepts cash and cryptocurrency.",
            "developer": "IVPN Limited",
            "platforms": [
                "windows",
                "macos",
                "linux",
                "android",
                "ios",
                "cli"
            ],
            "pricing": "subscription",
            "price_note": "Paid plans only, from 2 dollars for one week (USD)",
            "free_to_use": false,
            "open_source": true,
            "license": "GPL-3.0",
            "source": "https://github.com/ivpn/desktop-app",
            "strengths": [
                "Open-source apps published under GPL-3.0",
                "No email address needed to sign up",
                "Gateways on dedicated servers in 41 countries"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "No free plan and no port forwarding",
                "Streaming compatibility is not guaranteed"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "IVPN offers WireGuard, OpenVPN and IPSec connections, a kill switch on macOS, Windows, Linux and Android, and an AntiTracker that blocks ads and trackers. Its apps and website are open source, and the company runs its own gateways in 41 countries on dedicated bare-metal servers rather than virtual locations.\n\nIVPN sells Standard, Plus and Pro Suite plans, priced weekly, monthly and yearly in USD, with no free plan. The company says it commissions annual third-party security audits and publishes transparency reports. Its site states that it does not offer port forwarding and gives no streaming guarantees, and it lists the owner and team behind the service."
        },
        {
            "slug": "windscribe",
            "name": "Windscribe",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://windscribe.com/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/windscribe",
            "tagline": "VPN with a free plan, open-source desktop app and browser extensions",
            "summary": "Windscribe is a VPN service from Windscribe that offers free and paid plans. Its apps run on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, its browser extensions support Chrome, Firefox and Edge, and the company says its desktop code is open source.",
            "platforms": [
                "windows",
                "macos",
                "linux",
                "android",
                "ios",
                "browser-extension"
            ],
            "pricing": "freemium",
            "price_note": "Free plans available; paid plans keep the price you sign up at",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": true,
            "license": "GPL-2.0",
            "source": "https://github.com/Windscribe/Desktop-App",
            "strengths": [
                "Free plan with no payment or email needed to start",
                "Apps and browser extensions on most platforms",
                "Desktop client published under GPL-2.0"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Plan limits are not stated on the homepage"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "Windscribe combines a VPN with a browser extension that blocks ads and unwanted content, and it offers a free DNS service. Apps are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, and browser extensions cover Chrome, Firefox and Edge. The homepage says the service has servers in more than 130 locations.\n\nThe free plan needs no payment or email to start, and paid plans keep the price you signed up for. Windscribe describes itself as self-funded and says its infrastructure stores no identifying data. Its desktop client is published on GitHub under GPL-2.0, and the company publishes transparency reports. Plan limits are not on the homepage, so check the plans page before you choose."
        }
    ],
    "differences": [
        "Windscribe has a free plan or free version; IVPN does not.",
        "IVPN: subscription. Windscribe: free plan, paid upgrades."
    ],
    "shared_rankings": [
        {
            "list": "vpn-services",
            "name": "VPN services",
            "page": "https://listme.name/best/vpn-services",
            "of": 11,
            "results": [
                {
                    "product": "ivpn",
                    "rank": 3,
                    "score": 89.5,
                    "verdict": "Open-source apps, no email needed to sign up and gateways on dedicated servers in 41 countries. It has no free plan, no port forwarding and no streaming guarantee.",
                    "best_for": "Open-source VPN for users who avoid email signup",
                    "spec": {
                        "platforms": "Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS",
                        "free_plan": false,
                        "open_source": true,
                        "jurisdiction": "Gibraltar"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "product": "windscribe",
                    "rank": 5,
                    "score": 84,
                    "verdict": "A free plan that needs no payment or email to start, an open-source desktop client under GPL-2.0 and apps for most platforms. Plan limits are not on the homepage, so check before choosing.",
                    "best_for": "Free VPN plan with browser and desktop apps",
                    "spec": {
                        "platforms": "Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, browsers",
                        "free_plan": true,
                        "open_source": true,
                        "jurisdiction": "Not stated on site"
                    }
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "ranks_higher_in_closest_shared_list": "ivpn",
    "page": "https://listme.name/compare/ivpn-vs-windscribe",
    "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/compare/ivpn-vs-windscribe.json",
    "notes": [
        "Scores are editorial and only comparable inside one list. Products with connected_to_publisher true receive a disclosed ranking lift: https://listme.name/methodology"
    ],
    "source": "https://listme.name",
    "license": "Free to read and cite with attribution to listme.name.",
    "docs": "https://listme.name/developers"
}