Softwr

Government · head to head

DataSF vs ExpressVPN

DataSF logo

DataSF

Government

San Francisco Open Data Portal

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit DataSFFull review
ExpressVPN logo

ExpressVPN

Cybersecurity

Consumer VPN registered in the British Virgin Islands, owned by Kape Technologies since 2021, with repeated third-party audits.

From
$6.67/month
Free plan
No
Visit ExpressVPNFull review

The short version

  • DataSF is free; ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/mo.
  • Only DataSF lists open Datasets; only ExpressVPN lists lightway protocol.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DataSF and ExpressVPN actually diverge.

Attributes where DataSF and ExpressVPN differ
AttributeDataSFExpressVPN
Starting priceFree$6.67/month
Pricing modelFreeSubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, API
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity

Identical on both: founded (2009).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in DataSF

  • Open Datasets
  • Data API
  • Visualizations
  • Data Catalog
  • Automated Updates
  • Socrata
  • ArcGIS
  • Analysis Tools

Only in ExpressVPN

  • TrustedServer
  • Lightway protocol
  • Repeated external audits
  • Network Lock
  • Split tunnelling
  • Aircove router
  • Threat Manager
  • Private DNS

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

DataSF

  • Citizen Servicesnot ExpressVPN
  • Records Managementnot ExpressVPN
  • Public Safetynot ExpressVPN
  • Civic Engagementnot ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

  • A buyer who wants the largest available body of published third-party audit evidence behind a no-logging claimnot DataSF
  • Households wanting whole-network coverage through a router without configuring firmware by handnot DataSF
  • Frequent travellers who need connections that survive switching between mobile data and hotel Wi-Fi without droppingnot DataSF
  • Non-technical users who want the kill switch and DNS handled correctly by default rather than configurednot DataSF

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

DataSF

Nothing recorded yet. See the DataSF review.

ExpressVPN

  • Ownership passed in 2021 to Kape Technologies, formerly Crossrider, whose earlier browser extension platform was widely used to distribute adware, and Kape also owns VPN review publications, so nominally independent rankings a buyer consults may originate inside the same corporate group
  • In 2021 the company's then chief information officer was named in a United States Department of Justice deferred prosecution agreement over work for a foreign government's offensive cyber programme and remained in post, which is a governance fact that sits uncomfortably alongside a product sold entirely on trust
  • Audits are point-in-time engagements against an agreed scope, so they establish that specified servers and code matched the stated policy when examined, not that the infrastructure behaves the same way today or under different ownership
  • Several country locations are virtual, meaning the hardware physically sits elsewhere, and after India's 2022 directive requiring VPN providers to retain subscriber data ExpressVPN withdrew its Indian servers, so an Indian connection is routed through hardware in another country, which matters if you need genuine in-country routing
  • There is no port forwarding and no dedicated IP option, so seeding torrents, hosting a service behind the tunnel and any inbound connection do not work, and users who need those capabilities have to use a different provider

Pricing, plan by plan

DataSF

Free
  • Public AccessFree
    • Dataset Access
    • API Access
    • Visualizations

ExpressVPN

$6.67/month
  • 1 Month$12.95/mo
    • 8 devices
    • 94 countries
    • Unlimited bandwidth
  • 12 Months$6.67/mo
    • All features
    • 3 months free
    • Best value
  • 6 Months$9.99/mo
    • All features
    • 30-day guarantee

Which should you pick?

Choose DataSF if

  • You need open datasets.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want data api.
DataSF review

Choose ExpressVPN if

  • You need trustedserver.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, API.
  • You also want lightway protocol.
ExpressVPN review

Questions people ask

Is DataSF or ExpressVPN better?
Neither clearly leads. DataSF starts at Free and ExpressVPN at $6.67/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DataSF or ExpressVPN?
DataSF has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DataSF and $6.67/month for ExpressVPN.
Does DataSF or ExpressVPN run on more platforms?
DataSF runs on Web. ExpressVPN runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, API.
Can I use DataSF for free?
Yes. DataSF has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/month.
What is DataSF best used for?
DataSF is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what ExpressVPN is typically brought in for.
What can DataSF do that ExpressVPN cannot?
DataSF covers Open Datasets, Data API, Visualizations, Data Catalog. ExpressVPN covers TrustedServer, Lightway protocol, Repeated external audits, Network Lock.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ExpressVPN: Who owns ExpressVPN?

Kape Technologies, which acquired it in 2021. Kape was previously named Crossrider and also owns CyberGhost, Private Internet Access and Zenmate, along with the review sites vpnMentor and Wizcase.

ExpressVPN: Is the British Virgin Islands jurisdiction actually useful?

It has no mandatory data retention law and is outside the Five, Nine and Fourteen Eyes arrangements, which is the reason it was chosen. It also means limited practical legal recourse for a subscriber, so the jurisdiction protects the company's ability to hold no data rather than protecting you against the company.

ExpressVPN: Has the no-logs claim been audited?

Yes, repeatedly. PwC and KPMG have examined the no-logging claims and the TrustedServer architecture, and Cure53 has reviewed the applications, extension and protocol. The reports are published.

ExpressVPN: Can I torrent with it?

Yes, peer-to-peer traffic is permitted on the network, but there is no port forwarding, so you can download but you cannot accept inbound connections and seeding performance suffers as a result.

ExpressVPN: Does it work in China or similar networks?

Sometimes, using obfuscated connection modes, but no provider can guarantee this and availability changes without warning. Treat it as best effort and have a fallback.

Share

Related pages

More on DataSF

More on ExpressVPN

Keep looking

Other head to heads