Software · head to head
ExpressVPN vs ProtonVPN
ExpressVPN
Software
High-speed, secure, and anonymous VPN service
- From
- $6.67/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only ProtonVPN has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: ExpressVPN the App Store listing (seller Expressco Services, LLC) states subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the billing period, and that any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited on purchase; ProtonVPN free plan limited to one device at a time
- They diverge on capability: ExpressVPN covers Lightway protocol, ProtonVPN covers No-logs policy.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN actually diverge.
| Attribute | ExpressVPN | ProtonVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $6.67/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2009 | 2014 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 ExpressVPN
- Lightway protocol
- TrustedServer technology
- Network Lock kill switch
- No activity logs
- Private DNS
- Speed test
- MediaStreamer
- Chrome extension
Only in ProtonVPN
- No-logs policy
- Secure Core
- Kill Switch
- DNS leak protection
- Tor over VPN
- NetShield ad-blocker
- VPN Accelerator
- Tor network
Both cover
- Split tunneling
- AES-256 encryption
- Perfect forward secrecy
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
ExpressVPN
- Vpnnot ProtonVPN
- Privacynot ProtonVPN
- Streamingnot ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN
- Privacy-focused browsing without subscription costnot ExpressVPN
- Multi-device protection with Plus plan supporting 10 devicesnot ExpressVPN
- Integrated access to Proton email and cloud services via Unlimited plannot ExpressVPN
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
ExpressVPN
- The App Store listing (seller Expressco Services, LLC) states subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the billing period, and that any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited on purchase
- The same listing caps a single ExpressVPN subscription at 14 simultaneous device connections
ProtonVPN
- Free plan limited to one device at a time
- Free plan restricted to 10 countries with random selection
- Pricing amounts not clearly published; shown as variable
Pricing, plan by plan
ExpressVPN
$6.67/month- 1 Month$12.95/month
- 8 devices
- 94 countries
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 12 Months$6.67/month
- All features
- 3 months free
- Best value
- 6 Months$9.99/month
- All features
- 30-day guarantee
ProtonVPN
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the ProtonVPN review.
Which should you pick?
Choose ExpressVPN if
- You need lightway protocol.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api.
- You also want trustedserver technology.
Choose ProtonVPN if
- You need no-logs policy.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- You also want secure core.
Questions people ask
- Is ExpressVPN or ProtonVPN better?
- Neither clearly leads. ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/month and ProtonVPN at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ExpressVPN or ProtonVPN?
- ProtonVPN has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $6.67/month for ExpressVPN and Free for ProtonVPN.
- Does ExpressVPN or ProtonVPN run on more platforms?
- ExpressVPN runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api. ProtonVPN runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- Can I use ProtonVPN for free?
- Yes. ProtonVPN has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/month.
- What is ExpressVPN best used for?
- ExpressVPN is most often used for vpn, privacy, streaming. Of those, vpn and privacy are not what ProtonVPN is typically brought in for.
- What can ExpressVPN do that ProtonVPN cannot?
- ExpressVPN covers Lightway protocol, TrustedServer technology, Network Lock kill switch, No activity logs. ProtonVPN covers No-logs policy, Secure Core, Kill Switch, DNS leak protection. Both handle Split tunneling, AES-256 encryption, Perfect forward secrecy, Cloud deployment.