this post was submitted on 13 Apr 2025
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I switched to windscribe last month because the proton CEO starting spewing politcal BS, and I wanted port forwarding that wasn't locked behind a shitty GUI.

As far as I was concerned setup was super easy, the VPN speeds were great, and port forwarding worked really nicely. The whole price for a fixed server and port forward, + unlimited data was a bit much (at $95/year) but for the ease of use and speeds I was getting, I was happy to stick with them.

My setup is a always-on server with a 1gbps connection, where yes, I fucking seed my shit, all of it. I have about 30TB of linux ISOs and counting, and it's rare that my combined upload speed is less than 1MBps, ever.

Which lead me to getting banned from windscribe with no notice or warning in the middle of last week. This lead to me having to spend tracker points to avoid HnR, and i'm also unable to grab any new ISOs until I find a new VPN provider that won't ban me for actually using the service full time.

I did shoot them an email (after talking' with their AI bot first), and they were actually helpful enough. The offered to restore support, so long as I promised to not torrent with them again (which, I honestly did promise not to. I'm not sticking with a VPN service that can't handle me actually using it for what it's advertised for) and they did unban the account. Whole email chain took about three days to get resolved.

My sticking point is that they still have instructions on setting up torrents on their own website, and that they specifically allow for unlimited data (with the plan i paid for) so long as it's just one user. I did not break those rules. After clarifying that in the support email, they still said that I was using too much data (despite the unlimited data advertisement) and that torrenting was not allowed on their service.

TL:DR: Windscribe bans you if you use a lot of data, and support says torrents aren't allowed, despite their website advertising such. Proof in the attached images.

If y'all have any other suggestions for a VPN that allow port forwarding i'd really appreciate it.

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[–] [email protected] 115 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (5 children)

I'd recommend AirVPN. Here's why I'd recommend them, in their own words:

No traffic limit. No time limit.

No maximum speed limit, it depends only on the server load

Every protocol is welcome, including p2p. Forwarded ports and DDNS to optimize your software.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 3 days ago (1 children)

As a rule, the more outdated a service's website is, the better the service is.

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[–] [email protected] 47 points 3 days ago (2 children)

AirVPN seems really good, I liked Mullvad but unfortunately they dropped port forwarding which really ruined them as a VPN service for Torrenting.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 3 days ago (5 children)

“It’s not allowed… especially in the amounts you do it” LMAO. It’s against the rules but we let him murder some people, just so long as it doesn’t get out of hand 🤪

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

Perhaps murder is a bit extreme. It's more like "we've noticed you're taking woodchips from the playground. That's not allowed. We wouldn't mind if you were just taking a few chips, but you've taken 2 tons."

[edit] But putting analogies aside, the service really should make rules and restrictions like this clear in advance. That seems like the real failing here, rather than the rule itself.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

If the service is advertised as no data limit, aka "take as man woodchips as you like" they shouldn't track back on it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

Sure. I agree that's the problem; and none of these analogies really help make that any easier to understanding. Certainly they don't have a "murder as much as you like" policy! (I find that analogies are rarely useful - except for manipulating how you want people to feel.)

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (46 children)

proton CEO starting spewing politcal BS

Context, please?

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[–] [email protected] 87 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Wasn't sure if this was the right place, but I figured someone should know about this. For what it's worth, I would actually recommend windscribe if you don't plan on doing torrents all the time, or you have sub 1gbps internet. Just sucks that I hit their "unlimited" internet limits on my home connection.

They have a page on their site about chargebacks. They're confidant they'll win them, but they still ban because it costs them money. I've done one anyways; as far as my reading of their tos goes, I was in the right. Might as well make this experience cost both of us money, instead of just them.

Their guide for using torrents with their service; https://windscribe.com/knowledge-base/articles/using-windscribe-with-torrent-clients/

Their FAQ on bandwidth and chargebacks: https://windscribe.com/knowledge-base/articles/why-did-my-account-get-disabled/

[–] [email protected] 23 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

The fact that they have anti-chargeback wording on their public website speaks volumes. I bet they have anti-union posters in their breakroom too. Fuck this company!

[–] [email protected] 37 points 4 days ago

Lmao I like the tl;drs on TOS page. Some of them are a little reductive, but it's still better than making it a giant illegible block

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I thought this was your Internet service provider. This is a VPN service? Holy shit what's the point of a VPN with rules like this. Fuck em. I use proton and am looking to switch because the CEO is a right-winger but they don't pull this shit.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 days ago (4 children)

Holy shit what’s the point of a VPN with rules like this.

Maybe I just want to pay $8 per month to change my Netflix (which I also pay $20 per month for) in order to watch different shows from another country. 👉👈

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 days ago (4 children)

Does that even work? These companies know the IP ranges of many VPNs and block them.

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[–] [email protected] 55 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Windscribe encrypts your browsing activity, blocks ads, and unblocks entertainment content

so that was a lie

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[–] [email protected] 38 points 3 days ago (8 children)

Meh, switch to usenet. Download as much as you want, at max bandwidth 100% of the time, with 0 need for a vpn and no obligation to re-seed content for months on end.

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[–] [email protected] 59 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (5 children)

It sounds like they banned you for excessive usage. They allow at least 1tb a month because ive used that amount regularly with them.

It is a bit misleading for them to be calling it "unlimited" tho

[–] [email protected] 107 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It is a bit misleading

If it's limited, it isn't unlimited. That looks like a lie to me, and not "a bit misleading".

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[–] [email protected] 80 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

It's not "a bit misleading" for them to call it unlimited and then ban people for using too much data, it's extremely misleading, almost bordering on scammy. If I were OP I would've done a chargeback and switched VPNs instead of begging them for an unban. They deserve it for lying and trying to deceive customers. Vote with your wallet (and chargebacks) if you want companies to stop doing shitty shady like this.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

it's extremely misleading, almost bordering on scammy

It's neither of those things either. "Misleading" indicates their representations were technically true, but it sounds like this is just a straight up lie.

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[–] [email protected] 53 points 3 days ago (4 children)

I don't think this is misleading. Misleading is when you use technically true facts to draw someone towards an incorrect conclusion. Calling a plan unlimited then having a limit is more like fraudulent if you ask me.

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 3 days ago

Seems like something that could fit here

https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/Main_Page

[–] [email protected] 26 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

I use airvpn with an always on server setup, port forwarding, and constant seeding. If you're okay with manually using a wireguard or openvpn client instead of an airvpn specific client it works great.

Edit Plus, they have a progressive pricing thing that lets you buy a few days for like 2€ just to test stuff.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Tailscale + mullvad integration works great if you want port forwarding and at about the same price as mullvad VPN.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (3 children)

How does this work??? I thought I wouldn't be able to use Mullvad with port forwarding. Would I need to have a vps? Would the VPS not disallow me for connecting to VPN or detecting p2p traffic?

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 3 days ago

A search of the comments didn't turn up any mention of seedboxes. So I'll throw that hat in the ring as an option.

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