NordVPN vs Windscribe:Which is more popular?

Name: NordVPN vs Windscribe: Which is searched more?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In September 2026, NordVPN had more branded searches than Windscribe among VPN services worldwide. NordVPN had about 1.8 million branded searches, while Windscribe had 450,000. NordVPN made up 46.3% of all VPN service searches we track, and Windscribe accounted for 11.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about VPN services, NordVPN appeared in all five answers and Windscribe in two. NordVPN was mentioned before Windscribe in four out of five answers.

Among VPN services worldwide in September 2026

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Top VPN services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, NordVPN appeared in all five answers. Windscribe was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. NordVPN was listed before Windscribe in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
NordVPN	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Mullvad	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Surfshark	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
ExpressVPN	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	2 of 5
Windscribe	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	2 of 5
CyberGhost	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	0 of 5

NordVPN5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Mullvad5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Surfshark4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
ExpressVPN2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Windscribe2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
CyberGhost0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about VPN services

5 answers

Asked ChatGPT
“Which VPN service should I use?”
1. 1NordVPN
2. 2Mullvad
3. 3Surfshark
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best VPN services?”
1. 1NordVPN
2. 2Surfshark
3. 3ExpressVPN
4. 4Mullvad
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best VPN service for online privacy?”
1. 1Mullvad
2. 2NordVPN
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best vpn”
1. 1NordVPN
2. 2Surfshark
3. 3Windscribe
4. 4Mullvad
Searched Google, AI Overview
“vpn service”
1. 1Windscribe
2. 2NordVPN
3. 3Surfshark
4. 4ExpressVPN
5. 5Mullvad

Not named in any answer:

CyberGhost

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is NordVPN or Windscribe more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for NordVPN and Windscribe by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six VPN services we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

NordVPN and Windscribe among VPN services worldwide, by month

Month	NordVPN	Surfshark	ExpressVPN	Windscribe	Mullvad	CyberGhost
Oct 2025	48%	17.6%	17.6%	7.9%	5.3%	3.5%
Nov 2025	49.6%	18.2%	14.9%	8.2%	5.4%	3.7%
Dec 2025	47.5%	17.4%	17.4%	7.8%	6.4%	3.5%
Jan 2026	47.2%	17.3%	17.3%	9.5%	5.2%	3.5%
Feb 2026	51.7%	15.5%	15.5%	8.5%	5.7%	3.1%
Mar 2026	47.8%	17.5%	17.5%	7.8%	6.4%	2.9%
Apr 2026	46.9%	17.3%	17.3%	9.4%	6.3%	2.8%
May 2026	48.5%	17.8%	14.6%	9.7%	6.5%	2.9%
Jun 2026	46.6%	17.1%	17.1%	9.4%	6.3%	3.4%
Jul 2026	50.1%	15.1%	15.1%	10.1%	6.7%	3%
Aug 2026	50.4%	15.1%	15.1%	10.1%	6.8%	2.5%
Sep 2026	46.3%	17%	13.9%	11.4%	6.2%	5.1%

How has the NordVPN and Windscribe comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

NordVPN was ahead of Windscribe in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NordVPN’s share of searches among VPN services worldwide moved from 48% to 46.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.2M to 1.8M.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Windscribe’s share of searches among VPN services worldwide moved from 7.9% to 11.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 450K.

How did search popularity change for VPN services worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

In September 2026, Windscribe gained share of searches among VPN services worldwide, from 10.1% to 11.4%.
In September 2026, NordVPN lost share of searches among VPN services worldwide, from 50.4% to 46.3%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using NordVPN’s and Windscribe’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.