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Windscribe vs Passbolt

Windscribe logo

Windscribe

Software

VPN and firewall service with a generous free data tier and a customizable Build-A-Plan option

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Passbolt logo

Passbolt

Software

Open-source password manager for teams with self-hosted or cloud deployment

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Windscribe free tier's 10GB cap still requires email confirmation and social sharing to unlock, unlike some no-strings-attached competitors.; Passbolt pro Edition requires a minimum of 10 users, making it costlier for very small teams.
  • They diverge on capability: Windscribe covers Firewall / default block, Passbolt covers Password sharing and folders.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Windscribe and Passbolt actually diverge.

Attributes where Windscribe and Passbolt differ
AttributeWindscribePassbolt
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
Platformswindows, mac, linux, ios, android, webweb, windows, mac, linux, api

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Windscribe

  • Firewall / default block
  • Unlimited simultaneous devices
  • Build-A-Plan
  • R.O.B.E.R.T. content blocker
  • Static IP and port forwarding add-ons

Only in Passbolt

  • Password sharing and folders
  • Groups and role-based access
  • Browser extensions and CLI
  • Open API
  • LDAP provisioning and SSO
  • Activity audit log

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Windscribe

  • Running a free VPN across unlimited personal devicesnot Passbolt
  • Buying access to just a few specific server locations cheaplynot Passbolt
  • Blocking ads and trackers at the DNS level while browsingnot Passbolt
  • Preventing IP leaks with a default-block firewall rulenot Passbolt

Passbolt

  • Self-hosting a team password manager for data sovereigntynot Windscribe
  • Provisioning vault access from an existing LDAP/AD directorynot Windscribe
  • Sharing credentials across engineering or IT teams via folders and groupsnot Windscribe
  • Automating credential retrieval through the CLI or open APInot Windscribe

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Windscribe

  • Free tier's 10GB cap still requires email confirmation and social sharing to unlock, unlike some no-strings-attached competitors.
  • Build-A-Plan's low cost only covers selected locations, so broad global coverage still requires the full Pro plan.
  • Server speeds and streaming reliability are inconsistent compared to larger premium VPN providers.
  • Customer support is primarily ticket/community-based rather than live chat for lower tiers.

Passbolt

  • Pro Edition requires a minimum of 10 users, making it costlier for very small teams.
  • Community Edition lacks SSO and LDAP provisioning, which many organizations need for onboarding at scale.
  • Self-hosting the Community Edition requires infrastructure and maintenance effort compared to fully managed competitors.
  • Enterprise-tier support and HA consulting require custom, quote-based pricing rather than transparent rates.

Pricing, plan by plan

Windscribe

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10GB of data per month with confirmed email
    • 10 server countries
    • Unlimited devices
  • Build-A-Plan$3/month
    • Pay per selected server location ($1/location)
    • $3 minimum purchase
    • Unlimited data on selected locations
  • Pro$9/month
    • Unlimited data
    • 69+ countries
    • $69/year on annual billing

Passbolt

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Unlimited users
    • Password sharing and folders
    • Role-based access control
  • Pro Edition$4.9/month
    • Minimum 10 users, billed annually
    • LDAP/AD provisioning
    • Single sign-on
  • Enterprise Edition$undefined/month
    • High availability and disaster recovery consulting
    • White-glove migration
    • Custom feature development

Which should you pick?

Choose Windscribe if

  • You need firewall / default block.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android, web.
  • You also want unlimited simultaneous devices.
Windscribe review

Choose Passbolt if

  • You need password sharing and folders.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
  • You also want groups and role-based access.
Passbolt review

Questions people ask

Is Windscribe or Passbolt better?
Neither clearly leads. Windscribe starts at Free and Passbolt at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Windscribe or Passbolt?
Windscribe starts at Free and Passbolt at Free.
Does Windscribe or Passbolt run on more platforms?
Windscribe runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android, web. Passbolt runs on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
Can I use Windscribe for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Windscribe best used for?
Windscribe is most often used for running a free vpn across unlimited personal devices, buying access to just a few specific server locations cheaply, blocking ads and trackers at the dns level while browsing, preventing ip leaks with a default-block firewall rule. Of those, running a free vpn across unlimited personal devices and buying access to just a few specific server locations cheaply are not what Passbolt is typically brought in for.
What can Windscribe do that Passbolt cannot?
Windscribe covers Firewall / default block, Unlimited simultaneous devices, Build-A-Plan, R.O.B.E.R.T. content blocker. Passbolt covers Password sharing and folders, Groups and role-based access, Browser extensions and CLI, Open API.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Passbolt: Is Passbolt free to use?

Yes. The Community Edition is free forever with unlimited users, including password sharing, folders, groups, role-based access, browser extensions, a CLI, and an open API.

Source
Passbolt: What does the Pro Edition cost and add?

Pro Edition costs $4.90 per user per month billed annually, with a 10-user minimum, and adds LDAP/AD provisioning, single sign-on, account recovery escrow, activity audit logs, and next-business-day support.

Source
Passbolt: What license is Passbolt distributed under?

All Passbolt editions, including Pro and Enterprise, are distributed under the AGPL v3 open-source license.

Source
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