ExpressVPN vs Proton VPN
Proton VPN scores 9.2 out of 10, ExpressVPN scores 8.0. Compared on price, jurisdiction, measured speed loss and logging policy: the same independent tests we run on every provider.
The quick answer
Pick ExpressVPN if you want the simplest, most polished app experience. Pick Proton VPN if jurisdiction and minimal data collection matter more to you than raw speed.
| ExpressVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.0 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Verdict | Worth It | Recommended |
| Price / mo | $2.79 | $4.99 |
| Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | Switzerland |
| Speed loss | 11% | 8% |
| Logs policy | No-logs, audited (KPMG) | No-logs, audited (Securitum) |
| Best for | streaming,ease of use | privacy,streaming |
| ExpressVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | Yes, called Network Lock, on by default on Windows, Mac, and Linux | Yes, standard and advanced modes, all platforms |
| Split tunneling | Yes, Windows and Android; not available on macOS 11 or iOS | Yes, Windows only alongside the kill switch |
| Tor support | Yes, Tor over VPN supported through specific servers | Yes, built in Tor servers |
| Protocols | Lightway (UDP/TCP), Lightway Turbo, OpenVPN, IKEv2 on Mac | WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), IKEv2, Stealth |
| Encryption | AES-256 with a 4096-bit RSA key and SHA-512 HMAC authentication | AES-256 / ChaCha20, RSA-4096 key exchange |
| Ad and malware blocker | Threat Manager blocks tracking and malicious connections, plus a built in ad blocker | NetShield, over 90% of ads blocked in testing |
| Leak protection | Private DNS on every server; no IP, DNS, IPv6, or WebRTC leaks found | No DNS, IPv6, or WebRTC leaks across 60 countries tested |
| Full disk encryption | RAM only TrustedServer infrastructure, rebuilt on a one to two week cycle | Yes, on all Proton owned servers |
| Bug bounty program | Yes, public bug bounty via Bugcrowd, up to $100,000 for critical vulnerabilities | Yes, public bug bounty program via Bugcrowd, up to $10,000 per report |
| Gaming latency impact | Minimal on nearby servers; European routes measured under 85ms ping | Roughly 120% ping increase, the weakest area |
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat, typically under 1 minute response; email support available | Live chat under 30s response, 9am to midnight CET; email under 24h |
| Money back guarantee | 30 days on paid plans, first time customers | 30 days on paid plans |
| Server network | 214 server locations across 113 countries | 16,000+ servers advertised across 145 countries, physical presence varies by location |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 devices on Basic, 12 on Advanced, 14 on Pro | 10 devices on paid plans, 1 on the free plan |
| Router support | Browser based router app for Asus, Linksys, Netgear, and Microsoft routers; also sells the Aircove router pre-configured | No native router app; manual WireGuard or OpenVPN config on AsusWRT, DD-WRT, OpenWRT, or pfSense |
| Browser extensions | Chrome and Firefox extensions; also works with Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi via the Chrome Web Store | Chrome, Firefox, and Edge extensions, alongside native apps for every major platform |
| Works in restrictive countries | Possible but not guaranteed; requires specific servers and a mirror URL to download the app | Not officially supported; connectivity in restrictive countries is inconsistent |
| Payment methods | Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Bitcoin, Apple Pay, and Google Pay | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, and Proton credits |
| Business plan | No dedicated business plan; consumer tiers scale up to 14 simultaneous devices instead | Yes, Proton VPN for Business is sold separately from consumer plans |
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
Proton VPN
Swiss jurisdiction, open source audited apps, and the rare free tier that is not a bait and switch.
- Swiss privacy law jurisdiction, outside 5/9/14-Eyes alliances
- Genuinely usable free tier with no data cap
- Secure Core routing through hardened Swiss and Icelandic servers
- Fully open-source, independently audited apps