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OpenAI says 2026 will be the year AI "accelerate[s] discovery in several ways" and reduces the friction involve with research.

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Windscribe is a solid all-rounder in the VPN market. It's got plenty of privacy-boosting tools, can keep up with HD streaming, and has a fresh, non-corporate approach to its UI and branding. Ultimately, Windscribe doesn't feature in our top VPN rankings, but it's still worth checking out if you're looking for a lightweight and reliable VPN.

We put Windscribe to the test ourselves during our latest round of reviews, and were impressed with its core tools and unblocking power, but felt that today's best VPNs offer more for a similar price. Keep reading, and we'll dig in.

Servers

Windscribe has servers in 116 locations. It sounds like a lot, and it's certainly a good spread, but other VPNs have more servers in more places. ExpressVPN, for instance, has 188 server locations.

The global distribution of these servers is more impressive. Windscribe's servers cover 70 countries in total, which puts it ahead of other VPNs that don't feature in our overall top 5. PureVPN only covers 66 countries, VyprVPN features in 64, and PrivareVPN in just 62.

The lion's share of these servers is in North America and Europe, which is par for the course. However, we noticed that Windscribe's coverage in Asia is particularly weak, with only 16 locations covered. This means that if you live in Asia, travel there, or otherwise want to spoof your location to somewhere in the continent, you may have to settle for a server outside of the country or city you're targeting.

Features

Windscribe apps are widely available for all popular platforms, too, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. We're glad to see that feature and UI parity are consistent across all of these apps. Plus, if you want a lightweight option and not a full-blown app, Windscribe's browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

Users have a choice of VPN protocols, too, with WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 all on the table. WireGuard employs industry-standard AES-256 encryption, which ensures that your web traffic is kept safe from third-party snoopers and cybercriminals. To further enhance your online security, Windscribe has built-in stealth technology designed to conceal your VPN usage entirely, so you can avoid VPN bans enforced by schools, workplaces, and oppressive governments.

ROBERT is Windscribe's DNS-backed tool to help users block ads, malware, trackers and more (Image credit: Windscribe)

The powerful apps look great and are easy to use for beginners.

In September 2025, Windscribe rolled out a major app revamp, focused on improving the overall usability and adding more customization options. The refresh introduced a new home screen, redesigned settings menu, and the ability to rename server locations. These updates aren't particularly groundbreaking, but they are valuable quality-of-life improvements that highlight the provider's dedication to its userbase.

It's important to note that these apps also include many advanced features including split tunneling (on the desktop as well as mobile devices), MAC address spoofing (a clever way to reduce the chance of being tracked), versatile auto-connect rules, full IPv6 support, and even a command line interface to automate the VPN from scripts.

ROBERT is Windscribe's DNS-based tool for blocking ads, malware, trackers, and various internet content types like gambling, porn, fake news, clickbait, and so on. How effective is it? We'll take a look later.

There's no 24/7 support but Windscribe does have a decent web knowledge base and a helpful support chatbot. You can raise a ticket if you need more advice, and in our experience, replies are detailed and helpful.

New features include Encrypted Client Hello (ECH) that can bypass SNI filtering so others can't try to view or maybe block the domains you're trying to access.

While many VPNs offer no control over DNS at all, Windscribe allows you to define which DNS to use when the VPN is connected or disconnected. The latest addition includes support for DNS-over-HTTPS, and as Windscribe also runs Control D (a very configurable DNS service, with a free plan) we expect to see more related features appear over time.

The Android app has a new ‘Decoy Mode’ which is an interesting privacy feature (Image credit: Windscribe)

In addition to paid plans, Windscribe also offers a very generous free plan (Image credit: Windscribe)Windscribe pricing

Windscribe's free plan offers a generous 10GB of data transfer a month if you register with your email address, and 2GB if you don't. You're limited to 11 countries – North America, across Europe, and Hong Kong – but that's still far better than some (Hotspot Shield and a few others don't give you any choice of locations at all).

Upgrading to a commercial plan gets you unlimited data and access to all 110 locations.

One of our favorite things about Windscribe is the fact that it gives users unlimited simultaneous connections to play with. So, if you have a lot of devices you need to protect, or want to share your account with friends and family, you only need to pick up a single subscription. It's great value for money that you don't see everywhere.

Prices are fair. Monthly billing is only $9 – many VPNs charge $10-$13. Pay for a year upfront and the price falls to an equivalent $5.75. That's not cheap but it's within the range we expect for a premium VPN, and it's still far lower than some. ExpressVPN and Hide.me both ask $8.32 a month on the annual plan, NordVPN charges $8.29 from the second year.

If low prices are top of your priority list, though, there's money to be saved elsewhere. As we write this, Private Internet Access has a three-year plan that's only $2.03 a month for the first term, while Ivacy's five-year offering is only $1 a month. Sure, we don't like long-term contracts either, but look at the totals. Hand over $69 to Windscribe and you get one year of protection. Give Ivacy $60 and you're covered for five.

Windscribe does offer a 'Build a Plan' scheme that cuts costs by allowing you to buy only the locations you need for $1 each. Each location adds 10GB to your free bandwidth allowance, and your plan must have a minimum of two locations.

For example, providing your email address gets you 10GB of data a month. Add the US and UK locations, and you'll get 30GB of data for $2 a month. You can upgrade to unlimited data for another $1, or a total of just $3 a month, and that's billed monthly. No need to sign up for years.

If you only use a VPN for occasional short trips, say, that looks like a great deal. Surfshark's monthly-billed plan is more than four times as expensive at $13, for instance – okay, that's the full service with all the locations, but if you don't need them, who cares?

Another option, ScribeForce, enables signing up a group of users (a business, a family) with the same account. There's a five-user minimum, but you'll pay just $3 each, billed monthly, for access to the full and unrestricted service.

Unusual add-ons include static IP addresses. Adding a US or Canadian residential IP costs $8 a month (data center IPs are $2) and could greatly improve your chances of accessing any blocked sites, and enable connecting to IP-restricted business and other networks. Once you have a static IP, you can also enable port forwarding in the Windscribe web console.

Whatever your preference, Windscribe supports payments via card, PayPal, Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies via CoinPayments.net, along with gift cards and assorted other options via Paymentwall.

Windscribe doesn't have the lowest headline prices, then, but it's fairly priced for the features on offer, and there are huge savings to be made if you're covering multiple users.

There is a small catch in Windscribe's money-back guarantee, which only covers you for three days and if you've used less than 10GB of traffic. So, if you think that might be an issue, download and try the free version before you buy to make sure it delivers what you need.

Windscribe protects your privacy with AES-256 encryption and doesn't keep logs (Image credit: Windscribe)Privacy and logging

Windscribe's privacy features include strong AES-256 encryption, SHA512 authentication, a 4096-bit RSA key, and support for perfect forward secrecy (keys aren't re-used, so even if a snooper gets hold of a private key, it will only allow them to view data within one session).

The apps use multiple techniques to reduce the chance of data leaks, including redirecting DNS requests through the tunnel to be handled by the VPN server, and optionally using a firewall to block all internet access if the connection drops.

We checked Windscribe's performance on a Windows 10 system using the websites IPLeak, DNSLeakTest, and DoILeak and found no DNS or other leaks.

Windscribe claims its ROBERT DNS filter can protect your privacy by blocking trackers, but how well does it work? We connected to our nearest server, then tried accessing 156 common trackers, and ROBERT blocked 147. That's one of the best results we've seen. ROBERT did even better at keeping us away from malicious sites, and the ad blocker scored an excellent 93% (most VPN ad blockers managed 40-90%.)

We enabled the Windows app's firewall (similar to a kill switch) and began using various tricks to forcibly close the VPN connection and see what happened.

We found the app didn't display a notification to warn that we'd been disconnected. If it wasn't able to reconnect immediately, that might leave the user with no internet, and no idea why.

This situation probably won't last long, though, as the app tries to reconnect as soon as it spots the problem, and we were typically online again within a few seconds. This may be a small usability issue, but in privacy terms, the client worked perfectly, handling every oddball situation we threw at it and always protecting our traffic.

Windscribe's stance on logging is covered in a clearly written and refreshingly short privacy policy which explains what the company does and doesn't collect.

There's a tiny amount of very minimal long-term logging, but it's limited to the total bandwidth you've used in a month (essential to manage usage on the free plan), and a timestamp of your last activity on the service to allow identifying inactive accounts.

The system collects some connection details – username, VPN server connected to, time of connection, bandwidth used during the session, number of devices connected – but these are held in the VPN server's RAM only, and are lost when the session closes.

Other than that, there is no logging of connections, IPs, timestamps or browsing history. Or as the privacy policy puts it, 'we do not store any logs on who used what IP address, so we cannot tie user activity to any single user.'

Here is some of the data from Windscribe's transparency report (Image credit: Windscribe)

As there is no data on your activities, Windscribe points out that there's nothing to share. This is backed up by a transparency report which covers the numbers of DMCA and Law Enforcement data requests over the year, and in both cases states that: 'Exactly zero requests were complied with due to lack of relevant data.'

This is all good, but we would like to see Windscribe go further. Many VPNs have had their systems publicly audited to check for logging or other privacy issues, and that gives far more reassurance to potential customers than comforting words on a website. We hope that Windscribe (and all other VPN providers for that matter) will soon do the same.

In June 2023, Windscribe's Co-Founder and CEO, Yegor Sak, was hit with a lawsuit in connection with alleged offences committed by an unknown user. Fast forward to April 2025, and the case was dismissed in court due to a lack of evidence, becoming a landmark victory for no-log VPNs as law enforcement bodies increasingly pressure VPNs to keep lawfully accessible records of user records.

In the meantime, it's worth remembering that Windscribe gives you 2GB of data per month, for free, without requiring an email address or any other personal data. If you're just looking to protect email and basic browsing, and can live with the data limit, this automatically gets you more guaranteed anonymity than you'll have with almost everyone else.

Speed testing is an important part of any VPN review (Image credit: Speedtest.net)Performance

We put Windscribe's performance to the test using a 10 GB line and a local UK-based server. We then measured download speeds using benchmarking services including SpeedTest (both the website and command line app), Cloudflare, Measurement Lab, and more. We ran each test using at least two protocols and in both morning and evening sessions.

Windscribe's WireGuard speeds are, in a word, awesome. The VPN clocked in at 840 Mbps - making it one of the fastest providers in our most recent round of testing, beating the likes of PIA and ExpressVPN (using the Lightway protocol).

OpenVPN speeds tend to be a little slower than their WireGuard counterparts, primarily because the protocol isn't as streamlined and efficient. It's made up of more lines of code, too.

So, it wasn't a huge surprise when we saw Windscribe clock in at 368 Mbps using OpenVPN. It's not a chart-topping performance, as ExpressVPN and Surfshark were both faster, but you'll still have no trouble checking out HD streams or enjoying stable torrenting.

We can only measure the speeds for our test locations, of course, and you may see different results. If performance is a top priority for you, using the free version gives you the chance to check local speeds (from the 11 free locations) without as much as handing over your email address.

Alternatively, Windscribe's 'Build A Plan' option could give you a month of unlimited traffic to a couple of locations for only $3, a low-priced way to run all the intensive speed testing you need.

Windscribe was able to unblock Netflix for all but one of the regions we tried (Image credit: Netflix)Netflix and streaming

Plenty of today's biggest and best streaming platforms geo-restrict their content - meaning the shows you love won't be available if you head overseas on vacation or for work. Luckily, VPNs like Windscribe can help you regain access by geo-spoofing your location. All you need to do is connect to a server back home.

However, some platforms are cracking down on VPN usage, blocking IP addresses known to belong to VPN services. It's why only the best VPNs, and the ones that frequently refresh their IP address pool, actually work as streaming VPNs.

To put Windscribe's unblocking powers to the test, we first threw it at a selection of Netflix libraries, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan libraries. We're happy to report that it worked like a charm every time.

The good news continued. We had no trouble tuning into Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Channel 5, and Australian services 9Now and 10 Play.

The only hiccup we encountered happened when we attempted to check out Prime Video. The site sniffed out our VPN usage and refused to display any streaming content until we relented and switched Windscribe off. This isn't a deal-breaker in our books, but it is something to keep in mind if a lot of the content you love is exclusive to the platform.

Failing only one of our test sites is a very impressive result. If only a 100% track record will do, though, ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Private Internet Access, ProtonVPN, PureVPN, and Surfshark all unblocked every one of our test services in their last review.

• Save yourself a packet with our exclusive Windscribe offer here

Windscribe fully supports P2P and torrenting (Image credit: BitTorrent)Torrents

VPN providers generally don't boast about their torrent support, and it can be a challenge to figure out what you're allowed to do. TunnelBear was so quiet about its P2P policy that we had to email tech support to ask.

Windscribe is much more open and transparent. Just point your browser at the company's Status page and you'll see its full list of locations, which of them support P2P (most) and which of them don't (India, Lithuania, Russia, and South Africa, at the time of writing).

Your options are just as clear in the Windscribe apps. Locations where torrents aren't allowed are marked with the same crossed-out 'P2P', but select anything else and you can download whatever and whenever you like.

We don't like to take a provider's website promises for granted, even when they're from a VPN we trust, so we tried downloading torrents from three P2P-approved servers. Everything ran smoothly, and our downloads completed with no connection or performance issues at all.

Factor in Windscribe's free plan and various anonymous payment options (cryptocurrencies, gift cards), along with its decent performance levels, and the company makes a great torrenting choice.

Windscribe offers clients for most major platforms (Image credit: Windscribe)Client setup

Tapping the 'Get Started' button on the Windscribe site took us to the Download page. The website detected and highlighted the best choice for our laptop – the Windows client and Chrome extension – but there were also links to downloads for Mac, Android, and iOS, extensions for Firefox and Edge. Plus guides to cover setup on routers, Linux, Kodi, Amazon Fire TV, and other devices.

Still not enough? No problem. Paying customers get tools to build custom configuration files for OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2. These can be used to manually set up connections with third-party apps, routers, and more.

Installing the Windows app is easy. You're able to create an account just by entering a username and password, which gets you 2GB of data a month. Hand over your email, too, and you get 10GB. Tweet about Windscribe, just once, and you get an excellent 15GB a month forever (not just a one-off.)

To put all that in perspective, TunnelBear's generosity stops with a 2GB monthly data allowance, and Avira Phantom VPN's free package gives you a tiny 500MB.

• Check out our exclusive Windscribe offer

Windscribe's Windows app features a smartly designed interface (Image credit: Windscribe)Windows app

Windscribe's Windows app has real visual panache, with rounded corners and classy flag backgrounds (check the screenshot above) to highlight your current location.

It's more cluttered than most, with plenty of text, icons, and buttons crammed into a very small space, but there's also been real thought put into the design and overall it works well. Hover your mouse over an icon, for instance, and a tooltip explains what it's about.

Windscribe's full location list shows you countries to begin with, which can be expanded to view available servers (Image credit: Windscribe)

The app displays your current protocol and port, always helpful, but it's not just a static label. Click it and you can change the protocol and settings to whatever you need. The app even offers to set the protocol as a default for that network. So, if you have to use one protocol to get online at the library and another at the coffee shop, you don't have to change them manually. Once you've connected, allow the app to save your settings for that network, and it'll automatically connect next time.

Tapping Locations displays the full location list. This opens with a list of countries and you can expand any of these to view its available servers. Each server has a latency indicator to help you find the fastest option. You can also mark countries as Favorites, displaying them at the top of the list for zero-scroll reconnections later.

The Windows client has lots of useful expert-level settings (Image credit: Windscribe)

The interface is very configurable. You can order locations by alphabet, latency, or location. You can even display latency as bars or figures, have the interface docked or a free-floating window, display notifications for events or hide them, and the list goes on.

There are many interesting connectivity features, and these are often as tweakable as the UI.

Windscribe gives you plenty of choices when it comes to VPN protocols (Image credit: Windscribe)

Supported protocols include WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth, and WStunnel, connection times were speedy at 1-2 seconds, and the app uses helpful notifications to tell you when you're connected, and when you're not.

OpenVPN is securely configured with AES-256-GCM encryption and SHA512 authentication. We couldn't find any issues with Windscribe's WireGuard setup, and it's good to see IKEv2 connections that don't store your credentials and are configured to use maximum-strength encryption so that they're not vulnerable to theft.

Split tunneling allows you to decide which traffic is routed through the VPN, and which bypasses it. Unlike most VPNs, this isn't just for apps, you can set up rules for specific IP addresses and host names, too.

Unusual extras include the ability to set up your device as a Wi-Fi hotspot (if your OS and network adapter supports it), or as a proxy gateway for use by TVs, gaming consoles, or anything else that can work with a proxy server.

One surprising feature is that Windscribe's desktop clients can import custom OpenVPN and WireGuard configuration files from other providers, and then display those servers alongside their own. If you use another VPN but its app is underpowered, you might be able to use Windscribe's instead. You don't need a subscription.

There's a lot to like here, especially for advanced users who like to tweak every aspect of their VPN. If you can find the settings you need, that is. We got lost several times scrolling up and down, clicking various icons, opening drop-down lists, and generally trying to figure out what's what.

If you're happy with the basics, the good news is you won't even see most of the complexities unless you go looking. As long as you can choose a country from a list and click a Connect button, Windscribe's apps will work just fine.

Windscribe's Mac app is an impressive piece of work (Image credit: Windscribe)Mac app

If you're a Mac user then you'll doubtless be very familiar with VPN providers largely ignoring all your needs, saving their best features for Windows and leaving you with the bare minimum. But here's some good news: Windscribe hates that approach just as much as you do, and its Mac app is as close a match to the Windows edition as anyone could expect.

Take the interface, for instance. There are no pointless variations, no 'do it this way on Windows, but that way on Mac' rules to remember. It's the same stylish look, the same icons, the same main menus, and almost the same options, all in the same order.

Mac VPN apps generally don't have as many advanced features as Windows, mostly because Apple's security model doesn't give them as much control over your device. Seems like no-one told Windscribe this, though, because its Mac app has all the key features we saw on Windows: WireGuard support, the firewall (kill switch), custom DNS settings, MAC spoofing, split tunneling, port and protocol options, network allow-listing, proxy support and more.

If your VPN needs are simple, or you're just not interested in the low-level tech, all this power might sound intimidating. No need to worry, though: unless you click the Menu icon and go exploring, you'll never even know these options are there.

Whether you fine-tune every setting or ignore them entirely, the Mac app is generally very easy to use. Tap the On/Off button and you're speedily connected to your nearest server, then tap again to disconnect, and there's a list of other locations if you need them.

The app still looks a little more complex than some of the competition, just because it has more icons, buttons and status information. But, generally, it's a well-designed mix of functionality and ease of use, and a must-see for any Mac user looking for a little extra power.

The mobile apps are good, too (Image credit: Windscribe)Mobile apps

Windscribe's Android app follows a similar design to the Windows version, with the same gorgeous background flags, the big On/Off button, and details on your new IP and preferred protocol.

A list of countries (expandable to city level) makes it easy to find the server you want. You can switch to list Favorites and specialist Streaming locations. There's also a Custom Config list that might enable using other VPN servers with Windscribe's interface and features.

A comprehensive Preferences screen comes absolutely stuffed with features. The Connection panel alone enables choosing between WireGuard, OpenVPN UDP, TCP, IKEv2 or Stealth, and selecting your preferred port, as well as choosing which apps use the VPN, and which don't (split tunneling). It also provides integration with Android's Always-On feature to let you set up a system-wide kill switch, or enable GPS spoofing, define a packet size, allow or block local network traffic, and more.

A Network Whitelisting tool enables automatically connecting to Windscribe whenever untrusted networks are accessed while ignoring others. So, for instance, you can configure the service to automatically connect when you access Wi-Fi on the train, but stay offline when you're at home or work.

Windscribe's iOS app earned bonus points immediately for an unusual privacy plus. The app detects your external IP and network but can blur them, ensuring you won't give away clues to your identity if you share a screenshot.

Although the app can't match the Windows edition for power, it still has wide protocol support, kill switch, and ad, malware, and content blocking. That's already outperforming most iOS apps, but it's Windscribe's more unusual options that really help it stand out from the crowd. Most VPN apps can't access servers from another provider, for instance, or allow you to set a preferred protocol depending on the network you connect to.

• Grab our exclusive Windscribe deal here

Windscribe even offers browser extensions for most popular web browsers (Image credit: Windscribe)Browser extensions

Windscribe's Chrome, Edge, and Firefox extensions provide a quick and easy way to connect to the VPN from your browser. This has its limitations – they're simple proxies and only protect your browser traffic – but if you only need the VPN for basic browsing tasks, they're your most convenient and straightforward option.

The extensions make an immediate positive impression, courtesy of a stylish interface along the lines of the desktop and mobile apps. The basic operations work much as you'd expect. Autopilot mode enables connecting to the best location with a click, you're able to choose countries or individual cities from a list, and set your most commonly used cities as Favorites.

There are some nifty privacy features with the extensions (Image credit: Windscribe)

Need more? The extension can block WebRTC leaks, fake your GPS location, time zone, and language to match your chosen Windscribe server, keep switching your browser user agent to make you more difficult to track, stop websites begging you to let them show notifications, and even delete first or third-party cookies when you close the tab.

The browser extensions support Windscribe's ad and malware-blocking tool ROBERT, even for free users. Known malicious and phishing sites, bandwidth-sapping ads, trackers, social media widgets, and other nasties can all be exterminated in a click or two.

The sheer volume of options can make the extensions look complicated but Windscribe does a lot to help. A small start-up tutorial explains which buttons do what, and a useful additional introduction is that the many settings each have a sentence or two describing what they're all about.

Put it all together and this is a very capable extension that delivers far more than you'll get with other VPN providers, and even many standalone Chrome privacy extensions. Don't just take our word for it – the excellent 4.7 rating on the Chrome store suggests most users agree.

Windscribe has a knowledgebase but it's rather lacking (Image credit: Windscribe)Support

If you have any technical troubles, Windscribe's support site is a good place to begin looking for answers. Resources start with collections of articles on common topics, including 'getting started' guides, technical troubleshooting, billing questions, and some general FAQs.

These tutorials don't always have the range and depth we'd like, but they more than cover the basics. The Android setup guide doesn't just say ‘go install the app at Google Play', for instance, as we often see with lesser providers. It quickly explains what a VPN is for, gives a link to the Play Store, an alternative direct APK download if you need it, and covers the setup and usage basics, complete with helpful screenshots.

If your problem isn't covered by the website, you can always contact support directly via a ticket system (there's no live chat). In our experience, replies can sometimes take around a day to arrive. When they do, they're friendly, accurate, and complete. We think they're generally well worth the wait.

Windscribe review: Final verdict

Windscribe is a likable VPN, with good-looking and powerful apps, expert-level features, and one of the most generous free VPN plans around. The array of advanced options and settings means this probably isn't the best choice for newcomers or anyone only looking for the VPN basics. If you're unsure about Winscribe, there's an easy and risk-free way to find out for sure. Just install the free version and see how it works for you.

• We've also highlighted the best VPN

In the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from WHO, California is the first state to participate in the agency's disease monitoring network. Are others following?

(Image credit: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg)

Been eying up the Antigravity A1? Now this powerful and unique model is 15% cheaper and offers a new Flight Simulator mode for new pilots.

The Carbon 2 Combo follows hot on the heels of the Centauri Carbon launched last year, and is aimed as a family friendly multicolour filament machine. While we expected the multicolour filament system for the Carbon, this is still in development and is expected later in the year.

The Centauri Carbon 2 Combo is not only a worthy addition to the original Centauri but also offers a slightly different take on the multifilament design, although it doesn’t stray too far away, offering four-filament printing at an extremely budget-friendly price.

When the Centauri Carbon launched, it stood alone as a machine that was exceptionally cheap for what was on offer, and while the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo is still an engineering machine that comes in at a relatively low price, it now has competition from most of the other main manufacturers, so it doesn’t stand out to the same degree.

That said, the Carbon 2 Combo is a solid machine with its sturdy build, and unusually for a multifilament machine at this price, an almost completely enclosed design, although the filaments are still left exposed on the outside of the machine before being passed through the Elegoo CANVAS system into the single nozzle head inside.

Having tested the original Carbon and been impressed, this new iteration is certainly exciting, even more so when the quality of the machine is revealed as it’s removed from the box.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo: Price and availability

The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo is available now and can be purchased directly through the Elegoo US website for $449, and via the Elegoo UK website for £399.

• Value: 5 / 5

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Once again, the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo is a solid and slightly weighty machine considering its small size, coming in at 19.69 x 18.90 x 29.25 inches and weighing 42.66 lb.

While the machine itself does look and feel quite small, once you've put the Perspex top in place to make it completely enclosed and popped the four reels onto the side of the machine, it does start to add to the size and bulk of the unit. But it’s still far smaller than many of the larger fully enclosed systems that I’ve reviewed in the last year.

Again, the styling is nicely product-designed with the main framework of the machine being made out of metal, which gives it that sturdiness and weight, essential for COREXY. Likewise, the four filament reel holders on the side slot on brackets are secured through bolting onto the body, and again, they hold firm and tight and have an exceptionally high-quality feel.

The one oddity is the box that sits on top of the machine. It's very much like the protective covers that you use on resin printers and simply slots over the top of the feeder tubes from the CANVAS unit that's bolted to the top right of the machine.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Compared with the advanced multifilament boxes with filament drying, this all seems just a little bit more basic, but then again, this is a cheaper multifilament machine than some others, and when you compare it against the likes of the newly released Anycubic Kobra X, it does feel like a level up.

That, and the fact that alongside the use of metal for the main frame, it features a glass door and otherwise very clean industrial styling with very Elegoo futuristic graphics, that do give it an enthusiast rather than professional look.

One of the major features that stands out is the new integrated CANVAS system, which needs to be installed when the machine arrives. Essentially, there’s a single bracket that screws into the top of the machine, and the CANVAS is then mounted onto the bracket. Once it’s attached and that Perspex top is put in place, it all feels nice and secure, if not as product-designed as the rest of the machine.

When it comes to control, Elegoo has really worked at slicing software, and it's pretty much in line with the rest of the industry when it comes to functionality and ease of use. But what really stands out is the front-mounted touchscreen, which again is nice and large, clear and easy to navigate. And with RFID filament reels, it’s extremely easy to use, recognising the filaments that you’ve installed, so you don’t need to go in and manually program them.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Design: 4 / 5

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2: FeaturesSpecs

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Print Technology: Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM)
Build Area: 256 × 256 × 256 mm
Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm (included)
Maximum Nozzle Temperature: 350 °C
Maximum Heated Bed Temperature: 110 °C
Print Speed: Up to 500 mm/s
Dimensions: 398× 404× 490mm
Filament: PLA,PETG,PLA-CF,ABA, ASA,PC,PA,PET
Weight: 17.65 kg
Minimum Layer Resolution: 0.08mm
Maximum Layer Resolution: 0.48mm
Bed: Heated bed
Print Surface: Flexible build plate (removable and bendable)
Software: ElegooSlicer (recommended)
Input File Formats: STL, OBJ, 3MF, STEP
Output File Format: G-code
Connectivity: USB Drive, Wi-Fi
Input Power: AC 100–240V, 50/60Hz
Rated Power: 1100W @ 220V / 350W @ 110V
Ambient Operating Temperature: 5°C to 40°C

One of the big new features of the Centauri Carbon 2 is, of course, the fact that you can now do multicolour 3D printing. It does this by means of the CANVAS system, which is bolted to the side of the machine with four filaments mounted on the side feeding through into a single nozzle printhead. It looks a little bit different from most other multicoloured systems on the market, but functions much the same.

Like the original Centauri Carbon, this machine is once again aimed at beginners, hobbyists and anyone who's looking for a relatively small, multifilament-ready machine that can handle engineering materials but is slightly limited for space, and, of course, budget.

What surprised us about the original Centauri was that its price did not reflect its quality. It was an absolutely superb machine for not a great deal of money, and once again, the quality of the Centauri Carbon 2 is of exceptionally high quality. Even against other relatively budget multifilament machines, it is in a class of quality of its own.

The biggest innovation of this new machine is the new CANVAS system. This is essentially a box that sits on top of the machine and feeds the filaments mounted on the side of the machine into the Tool head inside. In order to make the machine fully enclosed, or at least the print area, that Perspex box sits on top, essentially making it almost airtight, giving a far more controlled printing environment than that of the open-style printers that are much more common at this end of the market.

One of the aspects that I like about this machine is the design of the CANVAS system. From the outset it’s just easy to use and as soon as you place the filament into the feeder tube, it’s grabbed and pulled through the system. It doesn’t involve you having to manually feed filament through. Once it’s in, you know it's inserted properly, and the machine essentially handles the rest of the process for you.

Another feature now becoming more common across all 3D printers is the RFID-based filament detection. If you're using the Elegoo RFID filament reels, you can essentially just tap these onto the machine over the RFID reader, and the filament will be recognised before it's used in the system. This means you can't accidentally use ABS to print with a PLA profile.

As with many other manufacturers, Elegoo has its 3D print community platform, which enables the easy sharing of 3D print models and the Elegoo community. This also means that you can instantly download files from the NexaPrint platform directly to the printer without needing to do your own modelling or download from other systems, which just helps to streamline the process for those just getting into 3D printing.

Once again, the machine uses the CoreXY mechanism, which makes it incredibly fast compared with the old Cartesian-style machines. And whilst it still makes a noise when printing, it is relatively low, which makes it a good option if you are using this in the home or in a small office.

As we saw in the Centauri Carbon and in most 3D printers these days, there is a 5-inch touchscreen with an intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate both the prints and the printer settings.

When it comes to nozzle temperature, the machine is capable of going up to 350°C. This is enough for most engineering materials and elevates this above most other entry-level machines. The enclosed print environment also helps with more complex materials such as ABS and nylon, which require a more stable printing environment to avoid warping and other print defects.

As we’ve now seen across the board from other 3D print manufacturers, there are all of the new features that come with these CoreXY machines that we’ve come to expect, including fast printing, smart auto-levelling, temperature control and, most importantly, consistency across the prints regardless of the material used.

• Features: 4.5 / 5

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

I started off with the Centauri Carbon 2 by just running through a series of pre-installed models and was impressed instantly with the quality of model it was capable of producing. Checking out the layer quality of the single filament prints showed just how high-quality a printer this is, which is even more impressive considering the price.

Having run through the single filament prints in a relatively short time, I moved on to the multifilament print. Here, they’ve only included a couple to get started with, one of which is the Elegoo logo on a small badge. Again, this printed in a relatively quick time and, like when used for just a single filament print, the machine started its purging process out of the back, with a small pile of filament building up as each colour was swapped through the CANVAS system to create the print.

While the conditions at the moment are exceptionally cold, around 0°C outside and around 19°C in the workshop, that temperature unfortunately does drop, and the humidity is slightly higher due to the time of year, with the constant rain in the UK. This has meant that, through the test, initially I had the reels mounted on the outside of the machine in the workshop, and some very fine filament hair was appearing on the multicoloured print.

I then moved the machine into the office and replaced the filament, at which point the filament hair disappeared, and the print was clean. This is worth considering, as unlike some of the more expensive multifilament printers that keep the filament in a dry box so it stays in top condition, here, while the machine itself is fully enclosed, the filaments are left exposed on the outside. So, if you are in a workshop or studio where temperatures and humidity can drop and build, this is something to be aware of.

Another point to note is that the filament holders on the side hold card reels well and securely, although with some plastic reels, I had a couple of occasions where the Elegoo PLA reel slipped off the holder. I ended up putting a small rubber sticker onto one of the sides of the holder, which just helped to grip the reel's inner a little more robustly.

As the prints came off the print bed, the printer didn’t fail to impress. The multifilament printing quality is exceptionally good, with clean lines, and when I did a print with white and purple, there was very little contamination between those two filaments, which is an issue that I’m increasingly seeing with some of the cheaper multifilament 3D printers.

When it came to some of the more standard 3D printing traits, the quality of the print was exceptionally good, with the dimensional accuracy being well handled, no doubt helped by that enclosed print environment. While there are some small issues, especially with dimensional accuracy, the overall quality is more than enough for most home and small business users, even if you want to make functional parts.

While standard single and multiple printing is all very well and good, this is the Centauri Carbon 2, so it’s designed to work with engineering materials, not just standard PLA. Taking a look at some common filaments, I was pleased to see the Centauri Carbon 2 was once again able to print with these materials as easily as standard ones, and they seemed to feed through the CANVAS system far more reliably than I’ve found with some of the other multifilament options available. Print quality once again was exceptionally good, and dimensional accuracy really stood out, which is impressive considering the price of this machine.

If you are a small business looking to make functional parts on a budget, then the Centauri Carbon 2 really does live up to expectations.

The one issue here is that, while you can print with these advanced materials, compared with the likes of the H2D and some of the other larger machines, your print area is rather limited, but will still give you good flexibility over what it is that you're printing.

For some more advanced users, this is quite a locked-down system, with very little flexibility, especially through the Elegoo slicer, to really dive deep into the machine settings. It’s good to see that there is live printing and remote monitoring through the software, meaning that for small businesses, this is a really good and affordable option.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

While standard single and multiple printing is all very well and good, this is the Centauri Carbon 2, so it’s designed to work with engineering materials, not just standard PLA. Taking a look at some common filaments, I was pleased to see the Centauri Carbon 2 was once again able to print with these materials as easily as standard ones, and they seemed to feed through the CANVAS system far more reliably than I’ve found with some of the other multifilament options available. Print quality once again was exceptionally good, and dimensional accuracy really stood out, which is impressive considering the price of this machine.

If you are a small business looking to make functional parts on a budget, then the Centauri Carbon 2 really does live up to expectations.

The one issue here is that, while you can print with these advanced materials, compared with the likes of the H2D and some of the other larger machines, your print area is rather limited, but will still give you good flexibility over what it is that you're printing.

For some more advanced users, this is quite a locked-down system, with very little flexibility, especially through the Elegoo slicer, to really dive deep into the machine settings. It’s good to see that there is live printing and remote monitoring through the software, meaning that for small businesses, this is a really good and affordable option.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2: Print quality

3D print Test 1

Dimensional accuracy - score of 5

Target 25 = X: 24.93mm / 0.07mm Error | Y: 24.85mm / 0.15mm Error
Target 20 = X: 19.97mm / 0.03mm Error | Y: 20.01mm / 0.01mm Error
Target 15 = X: 14.94mm / 0.06mm Error | Y: 14.95mm / 0.05mm Error
Target 10 = X: 9.96mm / 0.04mm Error | Y: 9.88mm / 0.12mm Error
Target 5 = X: 4.99mm / 0.01mm Error | Y: 5.01mm / 0.01mm Error

X Error Average = 0.042
Y Error Average = 0.068
X&Y Error Average = 0.055

Fine Flow Control - score of 5
Fine Negative Features - score of 5
Overhangs - score of 4
Bridging - score of 5
XY resonance - score of 2.5
Z-axis alignment - score of 2.5

Adding up the totals gives a final score of 29 out of 30.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Elegoo needed to produce a near-perfect machine with the Centauri Carbon 2, as the original had really surprised the market when it arrived due to its quality and price. While there was some upset when it was announced that there would be no multifilament upgrade for the Centauri Carbon, Elegoo have gone some way to address this with a decent upgrade offer for Centauri owners to the Centauri Carbon 2.

While that still hurts a bit, because you are having to buy an all-new machine, the cost of this new model is only a little more than some other manufacturers charge for the multifilament dry boxes and there is a loyalty program from Elegoo which if you are a Centuri Carbon owner is well worth checking out.

When it comes to print quality, the detail and accuracy of the prints really do stand out, and while there are some imperfections, once again considering the level of this printer, especially when you compare it with printers of the same price from other manufacturers, this is exceptional value. Not only does it stand alongside some of the market leaders, but because it's able to handle engineering materials and has that fully enclosed environment, it is still one of the best-value 3D printers on the market.

Now Elegoo have two phenomenal 3D printers: the Centauri, which really takes the market for single filament engineering printing on a budget, and now the Centauri Carbon 2 offering multifilament printing at the same quality with a similarly sized machine. You have two affordable options for home and business that really don’t fail to impress in almost every way.

Should I buy the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2?Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Value:

Once again, Elegoo has created an exceptional value machine—this time in multifilament printing.

5

Design:

Solid, robust and nicely designed, although the Perspex top does look a little peculiar

4

Features:

For a machine of this price, it’s packed with features and offers far more than the competition.

4.5

Performance:

Decent performance all round—just make sure you keep the filament in excellent condition.

4

Total:

An exceptionally low-cost printer to enable you to print usable multicoloured parts on a budget.

4.5

Buy it if…

You have the Centauri Carbon
If you bought the original and you're not thrilled that the filament upgrade was not available, then the Centauri Carbon 2 is an equally impressive printer with multifilament added.

You're printing engineering materials
It was only a couple of years ago that you'd have to pay well over £1000 for any machine that could print engineering materials. Now, with the Centauri Carbon 2, you have a very affordable option.

Don’t buy it if…

You only print single filaments
While multifilament printing is the direction most are heading, many people still stick to single filament most of the time. If that’s the case, then the Centauri is still a superb option.

You want a modular printer
This is very much an out-of-the-box and use machine. So if you want something more modular, this might not be the best option for you—it’s best used as is.

For more top-performing models, see my guide to the best 3D printers I've tested and reviewed

The Centauri Carbon 2 Combo is the much-anticipated follow-up to the original Centauri Carbon, and once again offers a CoreXY design, but now thankfully with an integrated CANVAS multicolour module. The result is a remarkably compact printer in line with the competition, just cheaper and far more robust.

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