ExpressVPN vs. ProtonVPN

ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN are two of only a handful of names we can trust when it comes to privacy. They are heavyweights in the VPN industry they always come up in our annual list of the top VPNs. They are also from two companies known for valuing privacy.

That, however, doesn’t mean that ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN are the same. They have some differences that really differentiate them. But which one is the best? We get into all the subtle details to help you make that decision below.

All the Deets

Our ExpressVPN review and our ProtonVPN review offer the complete details on these two software packages, but somehow just writing these two separate reviews didn’t feel like enough to us. It’s so much easier to make a decision when the two products are right there, side-by-side.

What These Two Have in Common

So, the first thing we discovered, almost immediately, is that ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN actually share a number of important similarities:

• Privacy: Both companies are located in countries that hold privacy in the very highest regard. ExpressVPN’s corporate headquarters are in the British Virgin Islands, while ProtonVPN is located in Switzerland, both countries with strict privacy laws. In addition, both companies have staunchly refused to participate with the international alliances Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes, countries that have agreed to cooperate in turning over data to federal authorities.

• Security: ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN don’t just pay lip service to privacy, though. They’ve both taken measures to make sure they couldn’t turn over our data even if someone did manage to serve them with a warrant. Their security measures include:
  • AES-256 bit encryption: Both companies encrypted our data using AES-256 bit encryption, the current industry standard.
  • No traffic logging policies: Both companies have a strict no traffic log policy. This means they didn’t collect any information we transmitted through their network, so no one could find out about our secret Barry Manilow obsession. Even our families don’t know about that one, and we intend to keep it that way. Of course, all VPN companies collect some personal information, for billing purposes for example. Here’s a list of what ProtonVPN and ExpressVPN say they keep.

• Kill switches: Both companies provide built-in kill switches. This means if our router had shut down for some reason all of our browsers would have immediately shut down as well. There was no chance our site history might accidentally be discovered.
• No leaks: Finally, when we ran these two VPNs through thorough DNS and WebRTC leak tests, both passed with flying colors. There were zero security flaws, meaning our IP address was completely hidden.

• Split tunneling: Both software packages allowed for split-tunneling. That means we could connect to multiple public and private servers at once and still be protected within the VPN.
• Netflix: Both also worked seamlessly with Netflix, so we could easily skip across the pond and see what U.K. Netflix has to offer that we don’t get here in the U.S.
• Torrenting: Both companies also offer completely anonymous torrenting, so we were able to download music, movies, and TV series without worrying about being tracked. Maybe we should have said this upfront, but we like our entertainment, and both ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN gave us secure access to plenty of it.

No Two VPNs Are Ever Completely Alike

Bottom line: both ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN have it where it counts. Both offer a unique blend of security and functionality. So then how does one decide between them? The answer, as usual, is in the fine details. So let’s zoom in to take a closer look at the subtle differences between these two and what those differences actually mean in practical terms.

• Servers: With ExpressVPN, we had access to over thousands of servers in 105 locations. The exact number of servers wasn’t specified anywhere in the apps, but we know that ExpressVPN’s 105 locations is one of the most widespread in the industry. In comparison, ProtonVPN has more than 3,000 servers in 71 countries, so it definitely is a smaller operation.

• Multi-hop: If ExpressVPN outperforms ProtonVPN in terms of servers, though, ProtonVPN has its own advantage: multi-hop technology. Basically, multi-hop meant we weren’t simply connected to one server. Rather, two or more servers were chained together, adding an extra layer of encryption and doubly protecting our location and identity.

• Speed: Adding any VPN to a device is going to make that device run just a little slower. How much slower, though, can vary considerably depending on the software. Here’s what our tests showed about speeds for both ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN:
  

  Tests	ExpressVPN	ProtonVPN
  Ping rate	14 ms	10 ms
  Ping rate using VPN	19 ms	12 ms
  Ping rate difference between VPN on vs. VPN off	35.7 percent	20 percent
  Download speed	62.88 mbps	157.52 mbps
  Download speed using VPN	39.77 mbps	91.41 mbps
  Download speed difference between VPN on vs. VPN off	36.75 percent	41.97 percent
  Upload speed	40.61 mbps	28.95 mbps
  Upload speed using VPN	30.95 mbps	27.88 mbps
  Upload speed difference between VPN on vs. VPN off	23.97 percent	3.7 percent

  Speed Summary: While ExpressVPN reduced our download speed a little less than ProtonVPN, ProtonVPN outpaced ExpressVPN in terms of latency and upload speed by a great difference. That makes ProtonVPN the faster VPN overall.

• Price: Who has the best price was a bit of a toss-up as well. For comparable plans, the two were actually pretty similar.
  

  Contract Length	ExpressVPN	ProtonVPN
  1 month	$12.95	No
  6 months	$59.94	No
  12 months	$99.84	$71.88
  24 months	No	$119.76

  Price Summary: ProtonVPN’s pricing is generally cheaper than ExpressVPN, plus ProtonVPN offers a free option. That’s not surprising, given that ExpressVPN is up there in terms of pricing, even compared to other VPNs. See our ExpressVPN pricing guide for our thoughts on whether it’s worth it.

• Number of devices: Even with a premium subscription, you can’t just connect any number of devices to either VPN. A per-month plan from ExpressVPN gives you access to the VPN on five devices, while a six-month or one-year plan will allow for up to eight devices. With ProtonVPN, regardless of your plan, you’ll always have access on 10 devices.
• Apps: Both companies offered convenient apps for both Google and Mac. Curiously, ExpressVPN received a better rating—4.6 vs. 4.2—for its iOS app, while ProtonVPN received a slightly better rating—4.2 vs. four—for its Android app.

• Browser extensions: ExpressVPN came with handy extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. ProtonVPN offered no browser support, at least not as of yet.
• Customer Support: Finally, ExpressVPN seemed to have better customer support, with 24/7 access to live chat with a customer representative. ProtonVPN, in contrast, offered only online ticket support. When we need support for VPN, we typically need it now rather than later.

>> Continue Reading: Best ExpressVPN Alternatives

Recap

When it comes right down to the nitty-gritty, which one’s “best”? It was close, but ultimately, ExpressVPN won this head-to-head challenge. With over thousands of servers in 105 countries, it’s clearly the superior choice if you’re an international traveler. Likewise, it offers slightly faster download speeds, crucial if you spend any time on streaming services. That said, there are some users who may prefer ProtonVPN. It is a couple of dollars cheaper, and it features fast upload speeds for those who spend a lot of time on Skype, Zoom, and Facetime.

Want to see even more options? You can always check out our best VPN of 2024 page for more great choices, or read about ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN to see how ExpressVPN compares to another top option.