ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access
ExpressVPN scores 8.0 out of 10, Private Internet Access scores 7.8. Compared on price, jurisdiction, measured speed loss and logging policy — the same independent tests we run on every provider.
| ExpressVPN | Private Internet Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.0 / 10 | 7.8 / 10 |
| Verdict | Worth It | Worth It |
| Price / mo | $2.79 | $2.03 |
| Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | United States |
| Speed loss | 11% | 35% |
| Logs policy | No-logs, audited (KPMG) | No-logs, audited & court-tested |
| Best for | streaming,ease of use | budget,torrenting,power users |
| ExpressVPN | Private Internet Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | Yes, called Network Lock, on by default on Windows, Mac, and Linux | |
| Split tunneling | Yes, Windows and Android; not available on macOS 11 or iOS | |
| Tor support | Yes, Tor over VPN supported through specific servers | |
| Protocols | Lightway (UDP/TCP), Lightway Turbo, OpenVPN, IKEv2 on Mac | |
| Encryption | AES-256 with a 4096-bit RSA key and SHA-512 HMAC authentication | |
| Ad and malware blocker | Threat Manager blocks tracking and malicious connections, plus a built in ad blocker | |
| Leak protection | Private DNS on every server; no IP, DNS, IPv6, or WebRTC leaks found | |
| Full disk encryption | RAM only TrustedServer infrastructure, rebuilt on a one to two week cycle | |
| Bug bounty program | Yes, public bug bounty via Bugcrowd, up to $100,000 for critical vulnerabilities | |
| Gaming latency impact | Minimal on nearby servers; European routes measured under 85ms ping | |
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat, typically under 1 minute response; email support available | |
| Money back guarantee | 30 days on paid plans, first time customers | |
| Server network | 214 server locations across 113 countries | |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 devices on Basic, 12 on Advanced, 14 on Pro | |
| Router support | Browser based router app for Asus, Linksys, Netgear, and Microsoft routers; also sells the Aircove router pre-configured | |
| Browser extensions | Chrome and Firefox extensions; also works with Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi via the Chrome Web Store | |
| Works in restrictive countries | Possible but not guaranteed; requires specific servers and a mirror URL to download the app | |
| Payment methods | Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Bitcoin, Apple Pay, and Google Pay | |
| Business plan | No dedicated business plan; consumer tiers scale up to 14 simultaneous devices instead |
ExpressVPN
The most polished apps and RAM-only infrastructure we tested, offset by a genuine ethical concern in its executive history.
- RAM-only TrustedServer infrastructure, build process audited by PwC
- Lightway protocol is open-sourced and independently audited by Cure53
- Consistently rated the easiest, most polished apps in this comparison
- 214 server locations across 113 countries
Private Internet Access
The only provider on this list whose no-logs claim has actually been tested in real subpoenas and federal court — though US jurisdiction and Kape ownership are worth weighing.
- No-logs claim has held up in real subpoenas and a federal hacking trial
- Fully open-source apps since 2018
- Deepest configurability of any provider tested (cipher, handshake, ports)
- Unlimited simultaneous devices with port forwarding support