ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN are both highly respected providers in the VPN industry, each offering strong privacy protections, robust security features, and a commitment to user anonymity. ExpressVPN is renowned for its speed and ease of use, making it a popular choice among those looking to stream content or secure their internet access quickly and efficiently. ProtonVPN, created by the team behind the secure email service ProtonMail, focuses heavily on security and privacy, offering features such as Secure Core architecture and integration with its email service for a comprehensive privacy solution. Both VPNs offer excellent capabilities to bypass geo-restrictions and maintain strong privacy, but they cater to slightly different user bases with their distinct approaches.
Security Protocols and Encryption:
ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN utilize high-level encryption standards to secure user data. ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption, the same standard adopted by the U.S. government and security experts worldwide to protect classified information. It supports multiple protocols, including OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and its proprietary Lightway protocol, which is designed to offer faster speeds and increased reliability. ProtonVPN also uses AES-256 encryption and offers access to OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec, focusing heavily on security with its Secure Core architecture that routes traffic through multiple servers before leaving its network to provide an additional layer of security against network-based attacks.
Privacy and Logging Policies:
ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, which benefits from strong privacy laws, and maintains a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not store user activity logs or share data with third parties. This policy has been independently audited and verified, offering users a high degree of trust and transparency. ExpressVPN also maintains a no-logs policy and has proven its commitment to user privacy by undergoing a third-party audit to verify its privacy protections, including how it handles user data. It is based in the British Virgin Islands, a location with favorable privacy laws, further solidifying its privacy stance.
Speed and Performance:
ExpressVPN is widely acclaimed for its exceptional speed and reliability, making it ideal for streaming, gaming, and high-speed browsing. It operates a vast network of over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, providing users with a wide range of options for fast and stable connections. ProtonVPN, while generally offering good speeds, especially on its paid plans, is noted for its focus on security over speed. However, it has been continuously expanding its network and optimizing its server performance to provide competitive speeds.
Server Network:
ExpressVPN’s extensive server network is larger than ProtonVPN’s, offering more geographic diversity and better options for bypassing geo-restrictions. ProtonVPN provides a decent network with servers in 54 countries, focusing on quality and security with all servers owned and operated by the company itself or leased and managed under its direct supervision. This setup helps maintain high security standards across its infrastructure.
Pricing and Plans:
ExpressVPN offers three pricing tiers: monthly, 6-month, and annual plans, with the longer-term plans offering significant discounts. It does not have a free version, but it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. ProtonVPN, on the other hand, provides a basic free version with limited speeds and server options, as well as several paid tiers that unlock additional features like Secure Core, Tor over VPN, and access to premium servers. The pricing of ProtonVPN’s paid plans is competitive, and they offer more features as the tiers increase.
User Experience and Compatibility:
Both VPNs offer intuitive and user-friendly interfaces on a variety of platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. ExpressVPN’s apps are particularly straightforward, making it easy for even novice users to connect to a VPN server with just a few clicks. ProtonVPN’s interfaces are clean and functional, with additional security settings that can be adjusted by more advanced users.
Special Features:
ProtonVPN includes several unique features, such as the aforementioned Secure Core architecture, which provides additional protection against network attacks. It also offers Tor over VPN for easy access to Onion sites and a NetShield ad-blocker that filters out ads, trackers, and malware. ExpressVPN’s standout feature is its proprietary Lightway protocol, designed to be lightweight and fast without compromising on security. It also includes a smart location feature that automatically picks the best server location based on speed, latency, and location.
Customer Support:
ExpressVPN provides 24/7 customer support via live chat and email, praised for its responsiveness and helpfulness. ProtonVPN’s support is also robust, offering a ticket system and a detailed knowledge base for self-help. ProtonVPN has improved its support services over time but generally does not offer live chat, which can make getting instant help less accessible compared to ExpressVPN.
Summary:
Choosing between ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN depends largely on what aspects of a VPN are most important to you. If you prioritize speed and a large server network for streaming or downloading, ExpressVPN might be the better choice. However, if your focus is on maximum security and privacy, ProtonVPN’s security features and the transparency of its privacy policy might be more appealing. Both offer strong privacy protections and have been independently verified, making them both excellent choices in the VPN market.