ExpressVPN VS Private Internet Access Comparison
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The importance of online anonymity is not to be taken lightly. That is why we invest a lot of effort into helping you find the best VPN service. As you probably know, ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access are among the best in the business.
This objective ExpressVPN vs. Private Internet Access comparison was created by our team of experts, who know exactly which qualities a VPN service provider needs to possess in order to provide you with absolute security and anonymity. What follows is a detailed ExpressVPN vs. Private Internet Access comparison based on 7 main criteria for VPN protection, which can help you decide which one of these two renowned VPN providers is a better choice for you.
Highlights
Excellent geographic coverage paired with a top-notch security suite with all the best protocols is what makes ExpressVPN one of the best VPN providers on the market. Great for accessing restricted websites and anonymous browsing.
- No logging policy
- Strong encryption
- Torrenting allowed
- Over 3,000 servers
If you are looking for a reliable VPN with plenty of servers all across the globe and rock-solid connections at decent to excellent speeds, you should definitely check out Private Internet Access, a US-based VPN service provider.
- Zero user logs kept
- Offers SOCKS5 proxy
- Unlimited bandwidth
- P2P sharing allowed
Compare Prices
Company
1 Month
3 Months
6 Months
1 Year
2 Years
Compare Features
Based In
British Virgin Islands
Number Of Servers
1500+
Number Of Countries
94
Protocols
PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, OpenVPN
Encryption
256-bit AES
Simultaneous Connections
5
Logs Policy
no traffic logs
Dedicated IP
Killswitch
DNS Leak Protection
Allows Torrenting
Torrenting Servers
SmartDNS
Based In
US
Number Of Servers
3079+
Number Of Countries
28
Protocols
PPTP, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPSec
Encryption
256-bit AES
Simultaneous Connections
5
Logs Policy
no traffic logs
Dedicated IP
Killswitch
DNS Leak Protection
Allows Torrenting
Torrenting Servers
SmartDNS
Supported Devices
Windows
OS X
Linux
Android
iOS
Xbox
Router
Windows
OS X
Linux
Android
iOS
Compare Ratings
Compare User Reviews
- Submitted By Victor Vega on 12/20/2019Speed quality is constant and there are no disconnections. Once you find the right server you can count on the same speed and reliable performance. I had to buy a license for two more connections but if you don’t need it for your work as a do, the original five simultaneous connections are more than you probably need. Overall, I think its a great product that offers value for money, I’ve paid $6.67 for a year, that’s the price per month and I’ve got three extra months for free so it’s around 100$ for 15 months which I think is a good deal.
- Submitted By Al Gonzalez on 11/29/2019ExpressVPN is probably the best ones out unless you live or work in the Orwellian nation of PRC where almost every VPN is blocked and you need bridges with Tor to access the web uncensored. ExpressVPN have some of the fastest and most stable servers you can use. You can be using the same server for weeks and even a month and it doesn't die out or disconnect. Very reliable for streaming and P2P the speed is close to my vanilla connection. No IP or DNS leaks easy to use and straight forward. The only real con is the damn price almost cost $100 for their best plan but 15 months of speedy and stable servers makes it worth it if you are a heavy streamer or downloader.
- Submitted By Alain Kaninda on 10/31/2019Overall it is good when it works. There are sites that cannot be unlocked. My greatest disastisfaction with Express VPN is the speed. I have a 40mbps connection, and it runs at speeds under 10 mbps.So sometimes, the pic quality is not as good as it should be. Except when I connect to the South African server. But It won't allow me to access services elesewhere. That's the biggest negative point of your service!!!
- Submitted By Martin on 10/30/2019I'm a new user of Express and I have not been impressed since day 1. Not a good VPN for use in China currently. Very few available connections and all very slow to connect. Once connected the speeds are incredibly poor. Whilst this may not be entirely Express's fault they do not seem to be responding as well as other VPN's to the changing restrictions in China. My previous VPN (Astrill) was much more reliable in China. I only switched as Express offered connectivity options for Apple TV and Raspberry PI. No chance to connect either under the current conditions. I'm cancelling my subscription and switching to another VPN before the 30 day trial expires. --
- Submitted By JJ Sanders on 11/15/2019Private Internet Access does NOT protect your identity - it leaks your IP address. I really like the ease of use and the interface, but now have received several Copyright Infringement letters from my ISP while using PIA, even after their customer service suggested several fixes and adjustments. At first it was leaking my Ipv6 data, and we fixed that. I found that even though their suggested test site said it was OK, other sites shows the data was still leaking. Even after stopping that - PIA continues to leak my IP address causing me more problems. I used a simple Anonymizer previously for years with no problems. DON'T USE PIA IF YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR ISP ADDRESS.
- Submitted By Anonymous of course on 10/19/2018I love this VPN. I highly doubt I'll use any other VPN ever. The only thing I dislike about this provider is that Amazon streaming and Netflix streaming are blocked but that's fine. I use other streaming services. I cancelled my Netflix subscription and I'd cancel my prime membership to Amazon too if not for the free 2 day shipping. I'll sign up again when they let me be anonymous on the internet like everyone should be. Anyways this VPN has never had downtime for me and the Killswitch means I can p2p with no worries. Torrent freak has 2 articles about PIA being taken to court and PIA informing they have a no log policy and being unable to help with any logs. I'll trust these guys with my privacy for sure. Conclusion: if you can survive without streaming Netflix this VPN provides the best privacy and security and has had it's no log policy tested. 5 stars without a doubt.
- Submitted By Jose Cuervo on 10/02/2018I have been using PIA for several years now and am satisfied with the service. I originally used Viscosity as my client but the one from PIA has improved enough to make it the best option. Though I have not yet tried the Linux client, the ones on Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android work well. Since I stared using PIA, they have added a bunch more servers and the performance has never been an issue for me. The combination of features, compatability and server locations represents the best value for me....YMMV. PIA was my third and so far best VPN experience.
- Submitted By Maria Martonioni on 06/22/2017I liked this service for a while but I feel that lately they have started to slack a bit, especially when it comes to connection reliability. No matter what kind of server I connect to (I usually connect to US and UK ones, sometimes some European ones) the connection keeps dropping and I keep losing my protected connection which is definitely not cool.
Winner
ExpressVPN is one of the top VPN services located in the British Virgin Islands and sporting a solid security setup, vast server network, excellent speeds and performance, and impressive geo-spoofing capabilities.
Comparison Breakdown
Choosing between ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access is not exactly easy, with all of their numerous features to keep in mind while making the decision. This side-by-side comparison provides you with a full view of their offers and allows you to clearly see which one is better suited for your needs.
Apps
- ExpressVPN is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Blackberry, and Linux, as well as routers. You can use it on practically any device that requires VPN protection and it allows 3 simultaneous connections.
- Private Internet Access supports Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux and can be used on up to 5 devices simultaneously. It provides customized security for all devices that use the platforms and operating systems it supports.
Support Type
- ExpressVPN features an extensive knowledge base, helpful FAQ, and support through email. If you need urgent help, you can make use of its excellent live chat and get quick and helpful answers to your questions.
- Private Internet Access also features a great support section, as well as a forum which allows you to get help from other experienced users. For quick answers, you can contact its support staff via its 24/7 live chat.
IP Type
- ExpressVPN offers 336 dynamic/shared IP addresses to its users. It does not offer static/dedicated IPs.
- Just like ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access only offers dynamic/shared IP addresses.
Pricing Options
- ExpressVPN offers three subscription packages. The monthly subscription costs $12.95, the semi-annual costs $9.99 per month (billed semi-annually), and the yearly subscription costs $8.32 per month (billed yearly).
- Private Internet Access offers 3 plans to its users. The monthly package costs $6.95, the semi-annual costs $35.99 ($5.99 per month), and the annual package costs $39.95 ($3.33 per month).
Protocols
- Open VPN is the default protocol for ExpressVPN, but the provider also offers L2TP, PPTP, and SSTP protocols.
- Private Internet Access offers OpenVPN, L2TP, IPSec, and PPTP protocols.
Performance & Reliability
- ExpressVPN boasts 500 servers in 136 cities in 87 world countries. Its performance borders on perfect. It offers unlimited bandwidth, speed, and server switching. It also supports P2P and features Smart DNS.
- Private Internet Access operates over 3260 servers in 25 world countries. It offers impressive speeds and smooth performance, along with unlimited bandwidth. It supports P2P and features DNS leak protection.
Security & Protection
- ExpressVPN keeps you safe with multiple layers of protection. It uses strong encryption, features a kill switch, and brings you the highly useful NAT firewall. It provides you with the highest level of anonymity, with no traffic logs stored and BitCoin payment option.
- Private Internet Access features strong encryption and a VPN kill switch for maximum protection. Complete anonymity is guaranteed by its zero logging policy and the possibility to make payments via BitCoin.