Compare Express VPN with Proton VPN: A Comprehensive Review

Express VPN and Proton VPN are two of the most popular VPN services on the market. Express VPN has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, offering a vast network for users to choose from.

One of the key differences between the two services is their pricing. Proton VPN offers a free plan with limited features, while Express VPN requires a subscription for full access.

Express VPN is known for its fast speeds, making it a great choice for streaming and online gaming. Proton VPN, on the other hand, prioritizes security and anonymity, with a strong focus on protecting user data.

In terms of security, both services offer robust encryption and protocols to protect user data.

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ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN share a number of important similarities that make them stand out in the VPN market. One of the most significant similarities is that 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. This means that both companies are less likely to be coerced into sharing user data with authorities.

Both ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN have 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.

Here are some key security measures that both ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN have in place:

Both companies provide built-in kill switches, which means if your router shuts down, all of your browsers will immediately shut down as well, preventing any potential security breaches. They also passed thorough DNS and WebRTC leak tests with flying colors, meaning your IP address was completely hidden.

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ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN have some notable differences that set them apart from each other.

ProtonVPN comes with an ad blocker called NetShield, which can also block trackers and malicious websites. This feature is a great addition to any VPN, as it helps to protect your online activity from unwanted ads and malicious content.

ExpressVPN, on the other hand, has its own ad blocker called Advanced Protection on Windows/macOS and Threat Manager on Android/iOS. It's similar to NetShield, but also includes malware and malicious site blocking.

ExpressVPN also includes a password manager called Keys, which is a nice touch for generating and storing secure passwords. This feature is particularly useful for those who struggle with creating strong passwords.

ProtonVPN, like NordVPN, offers a Double VPN feature, which provides an extra layer of encryption. However, ProtonVPN also offers port forwarding, which is great for downloading torrents safely.

ExpressVPN, meanwhile, uses a proprietary protocol called Lightway, which is not available anywhere else. This protocol is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it a great choice for users who want fast and reliable connections.

ProtonVPN, on the other hand, uses the OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols. WireGuard is a great choice, as it's new and lightweight, making it a great option for users who want a fast and secure connection.

One notable difference between the two VPNs is that ExpressVPN offers obfuscation out of the box, without the need to enable it manually. This feature is particularly useful for users who want to access blocked content in countries like China.

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Both ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN use AES-256 or 256-bit AES encryption, which is considered bank-grade or military-grade encryption. This is the highest level of encryption you can get in a VPN service.

ExpressVPN has a feature called Private DNS, which routes your traffic and applies its no-logging practices. This stores no logs and doesn't track your activities, allowing you to browse the web anonymously.

ProtonVPN also offers a similar feature, along with RAM-based servers that both providers share. This ensures that every bit of information is wiped after each server restarts, preventing even these companies from accessing that information.

ExpressVPN has a feature called Secure Core, which doubles your encryption by routing your servers through multiple locations. This makes it impossible for hackers and similar entities to track your activities online.

Both providers support the OpenVPN protocol, which is the industry standard. However, ProtonVPN also supports WireGuard, a faster protocol that's recently gained popularity.

ExpressVPN has created its own proprietary protocol called Lightway, which boasts faster speeds than OpenVPN, especially on long-distance connections. This protocol will soon be made open-source, allowing it to be fully audited for privacy.

Here's a comparison of the security features offered by ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN:

Both providers include a kill switch that stops sending data when your connection to the VPN drops. However, this feature is only available on the desktop version of ExpressVPN, and not on ProtonVPN.

ExpressVPN used to dominate the VPN speed charts, but that's not the case anymore. Proton VPN outperformed with its OpenVPN speeds logging at 400 Mbps, nearly double that of ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN's OpenVPN protocol averaged 210 Mbps, which is adequate for multiple simultaneous connections in a small household. However, Proton VPN's superior performance makes it a better choice for bandwidth-intensive tasks.

ExpressVPN's Lightway delivered impressive speeds of around 410 Mbps, significantly faster than its OpenVPN performance. This is still slower than Proton VPN's WireGuard implementation, which maxed out our connection at a staggering 950 Mbps.

Here's a comparison of the two services' speeds in our most recent tests:

Proton VPN's faster speeds make it a better option for streaming and other bandwidth-intensive activities.

ProtonVPN has 3,000+ servers in 65+ countries, which is a decent number, but not as extensive as ExpressVPN's.

ExpressVPN has a significantly larger number of countries and locations, making it a better option if you need to access content from multiple regions.

Most of ProtonVPN's servers are located in the United States and Europe, but you can also find a good number of them in countries like the UK, Spain, Germany, Japan, and India.

ProtonVPN offers several server locations per country, which is a plus, but not all countries have multiple locations, depending on their popularity.

You can find 100+ Secure Core servers, as well as hundreds of servers optimized for Tor Over VPN, P2P, and streaming with ProtonVPN.

Users on the free plan get access to servers in three countries: the US, the Netherlands, and Japan, but with speeds limited to 1 Gbps, which is not ideal.

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ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN are both great at supporting high-quality streams, with speeds that won't leave you buffering.

Both providers can unblock popular streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hotstar, which is a big plus for anyone looking to access content from around the world.

ExpressVPN has a slight edge when it comes to unblocking streaming services, as it was able to sidestep geo-blocks on Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and ITVX with ease.

ProtonVPN, on the other hand, had some trouble unblocking 10Play, but the provider is working on a solution.

ExpressVPN is known for its unblocking capabilities, and with good reason - it's able to access a wide range of streaming services without any issues.

In fact, both providers were able to unblock all three tested Netflix catalogs, BBC iPlayer, and Hotstar, resulting in a perfect score for both services.

ExpressVPN's ability to unblock 10Play first time is a notable advantage, making it a clear winner in this area.

In China, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing is heavily restricted. The government has implemented strict laws to monitor and control online activities, making it difficult for users to access P2P networks.

The Great Firewall of China, a complex system of internet censorship, blocks P2P traffic to prevent users from accessing unauthorized content. This has led to the development of VPNs as a popular solution for accessing P2P networks securely.

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ExpressVPN allows you to download torrents simply by choosing a server. There aren’t any dedicated servers or anything similar here.

Both ProtonVPN and ExpressVPN are P2P-capable and deliver great performance for torrenting. They'll give you enough speed and performance for downloading even large torrent files.

ProtonVPN offers P2P-optimized servers in many locations, but you don't have to use them. The performance is the same whether you use optimized or "normal" servers.

ExpressVPN is a bit faster when using distant servers, but the difference is non-existent when using a server in your country or the closest available country.

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ExpressVPN is a reliable choice for bypassing China's Great Firewall, with a success rate of 10 out of 10 times in our tests.

This VPN uses obfuscation to make its traffic look like ordinary traffic, allowing it to slip through the Great Firewall's blocks. ExpressVPN also preserves its performance in China, making it suitable for streaming in 4K.

ProtonVPN, on the other hand, doesn't work in China, despite having an Alternative Routing feature that's supposed to help. Our friends in China tested it multiple times, but it just won't work in a censored country like China.

ExpressVPN is also usable in other countries with strict internet censorship, such as Iran, Turkey, Russia, and the UAE.

ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN are two popular VPN services, but which one is more budget-friendly? ProtonVPN offers a forever-free plan with unlimited bandwidth and 3 server locations, making it a great option for those on a tight budget. However, its free plan is slow and lacks streaming/torrenting capabilities.

ExpressVPN, on the other hand, has a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, giving you peace of mind when trying out their service. ProtonVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try out both services risk-free.

ProtonVPN's monthly plan costs under $10, making it a more affordable option compared to ExpressVPN. In fact, ProtonVPN's annual plan costs around $70, which is a lot cheaper than ExpressVPN's annual plan of around $100.

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Here's a comparison of the two services' pricing plans:

As you can see, ProtonVPN is the cheapest option for both the longest and shortest subscription periods. However, ExpressVPN does offer a 49% discount and three extra months when you sign up for a year, making it a more attractive option for those who want to commit to a longer subscription.

It's worth noting that ProtonVPN offers three tiers of service, including a free plan, a Proton Plus plan, and a ProtonVPN Unlimited tier. The Proton Plus plan starts at $4.99 per month for a two-year subscription, while the ProtonVPN Unlimited tier starts at $7.99 per month.

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ExpressVPN's desktop app features a large quick connection button, making it easy to get started. The app also has a server list that's separated by continent, and you can search for a specific country if you'd like.

ProtonVPN's desktop app is a bit more complex, but still easy to navigate. You can choose your server from a map or a list, and you can even configure specific profiles if you want to use a random server every time.

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ExpressVPN's mobile app is almost identical to the desktop version, with a few minor exceptions. You can choose to connect automatically any time you use an unsecured network, a feature that's not present in the desktop version.

ProtonVPN's mobile app has a slightly different layout than the desktop version, with the server list, map, and profile list put into separate tabs. This can take some getting used to, especially if you're new to VPNs.

ExpressVPN's app design is a big part of its appeal. The main screen is clean and uncluttered, with a large power button in the middle that invites you to connect with just a single click.

ProtonVPN's app, on the other hand, is a bit more cluttered. The world map takes up most of the screen space, and the actual VPN operation is relegated to a bar on the left. However, this complexity is actually a result of ProtonVPN's Secure Core feature, which allows you to pick two VPNs and visualize your total point-to-point connection.

ExpressVPN's app is great for beginners who just want to press connect and forget about it. The recommended server option and most recent server you've connected to are prominently displayed, making it easy to get started.

ExpressVPN's app is also very customizable, with clearly labeled settings options that are easy to access. This is a big departure from ProtonVPN's app, which can be a bit overwhelming at first.

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ExpressVPN offers 24/7 live chat support, which is a significant advantage over ProtonVPN's limited email support.

ExpressVPN's support team is known for being responsive and helpful, with many users praising their ability to resolve issues quickly.

ProtonVPN, on the other hand, has a knowledge base that's a bit more limited, but still offers a decent array of FAQs and tutorials to help users troubleshoot common problems.

ExpressVPN's support team is available in multiple languages, making it easier for users from different countries to get help when they need it.

ExpressVPN's live chat support is also available in multiple languages, which is a significant advantage over ProtonVPN's limited language support.

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ExpressVPN takes the win in this head-to-head challenge, with over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, making it the superior choice for international travelers.

ExpressVPN's slightly faster download speeds are crucial for streaming services, and it's super simple to set up and deploy.

ExpressVPN offers unlimited devices, browser support, short and long-term contracts, more servers in more countries, and faster download speeds.

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Here are the key features that set ExpressVPN apart from ProtonVPN:

ProtonVPN, on the other hand, has faster upload speeds, multi-hop security, and a slightly lower price, making it a great option for those who spend a lot of time on Skype, Zoom, and Facetime.