With all the cybercrime going on the Internet, online security is crucial, and choosing the right virtual private network (VPN) becomes crucial.
In our article, two leading competitors in this space, ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN, compete for user attention with their unique features and security measures.
We will talk about the most important features of Expressvpn Vs ProtonVPN and the functions of each network, including security, privacy, and the features provided by each network, and of course the price of the plans provided by each network.
Our article that talks about the difference between Expressvpn Vs ProtonVPN can be considered as a battle between two famous VPN servers, as each of them has pros and cons that differentiate between each server, but there is always one product that is better than another, and this is the goal of our article.
A quick overview of the two services
| ExpressVPN | Proton VPN | |
| Website Domain | ExpressVPN.com | ProtonVPN.com |
| Location Servers | British Virgin Islands | Switzerland |
| Number Of Servers | 3,000+ | 3142+ |
| Number Of Countries supported | 105 | 71 |
| Logs Save | No logs (audited) | No logs (audited) |
| Torrenting Support | All servers | Restricted |
| Password Manager | Yes: ExpressVPN Keys | Yes: (Separate service) |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat, Email support, In-depth support library | Live chat, Email support, In-depth support library |
| Supported devices | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android TV, Fire TV, Chromebook, Kindle Fire, Routers | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android TV, Fire TV, Chromebook |
| Price | $8.32 | $5.99 |
Expressvpn Vs ProtonVPN: Protection
As we all know, security and privacy are paramount when it comes to VPNs, after all that's what all companies that sell security-related products like VPN software or antivirus software are selling.
Expressvpn and ProtonVPN claim that they value their customers' privacy and security above all else, but how does this reflect on their protocols?
ExpressVPN
We're sure most of you know what '14 Eyes' is, but for those who haven't heard of them, '14 Eyes' refers to a group of countries whose intelligence agencies are said to cooperate with each other in terms of exchanging military and intelligence information
Fortunately, ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, a group of self-governing islands, and therefore is not required to hand over any user data.
ExpressVPN offers more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries around the world, so even if you think the server you are using has been hacked or is very slow, don't worry, you still have more than 2,000 other servers you can use.
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN also operates outside the '14 Eyes' and is based in Switzerland, and it offers more than 3,142 separate servers in 71 countries, so there's no problem finding the right server while you're using the internet with ProtonVPN.
It would be impossible to choose between Expressvpn and ProtonVPN if it weren't for the 'logging' scandal carried out by Proton with its ProtonMail service.
Encrypted email service ProtonMail found itself embroiled in a scandal when it complied with a legal request to reveal a user's IP address to the Swiss police.
In addition, it provided details about the devices used to access the user's mailbox, which led to the arrest of this user.
Police executed a warrant obtained by French authorities in cooperation with their Swiss counterparts through Interpol, ProtonMail CEO Andy Yen revealed in recognition of social media rumors reported by The Register.
After the Proton Mail data was handed over to the Swiss and then French authorities, a left-wing political activist blogger in France wrote in French that a group called “Youth for Climate” had then been targeted.
Although Proton has not been exposed to any other similar scandals at the time of writing this article, we believe it is fair for ExpressVPN to win this round in terms of security and protection.
Expressvpn and ProtonVPN: Privacy
We must say that privacy is the main component of any good VPN network, and with the development of the Internet, many types of hacking, data theft, and tracking programs have appeared, so protecting customer privacy is considered a basic condition for the service.
ProtonVPN claims to follow a very strict policy of not keeping user logs.
This means that the company guarantees that your data is anonymous and will not be accessed by any party, not even the company.
Unfortunately, this policy has not been audited by any third party, so we will raise the orange flag and say that we cannot say with certainty that the company will adhere to what it claims in terms of maintaining users’ privacy.
On the other hand, ExpressVPN is regularly audited by third parties, their logging policy is extensive and transparent, and the only data they collect is closely related to their app in order to improve its performance.
Although this may raise some concerns for some people, when comparing ExpressVPN vs ProtonVPN and which one to choose, it is wise to choose ExpressVPN because it is more transparent when it comes to privacy.
In terms of encryption, both companies use the AES-256 encryption protocol, which is the same encryption protocol that countries use to protect their confidential data.
It cannot be said that there is 100% secure encryption, but for AES-256 encryption, if someone tries to hack its encryption, it would take about a few billion years for a computer to be able to hack it and decrypt it.
Expressvpn Or ProtonVPN: Features
In addition to privacy and security, there are other features that should not be overlooked in VPN services.
When choosing the VPN network you want to use, it is important to look at the additional features that are included within the service.
Because some necessary features are usually added that increase the layers of protection when using the service or using the Internet in general.
Take split tunnelling for example, Both Expressvpn and ProtonVPN offer split tunnelling, allowing you to route some of your data through a protected encrypted tunnel, while other parts of your data go online directly.
This allows you to take advantage of the features of a VPN without sacrificing your access to local network devices.
In addition, both networks also feature Kill Switch, a security feature that protects your IP address in the event of a server failure, by blocking the flow of network traffic to and from your device until the connection is restored.
The Kill Switch feature works only when the connection to the server is interrupted without your intervention. However, if you intentionally disconnect from the server, the kill switch will not be activated.
- Third party tracker and malicious website blocker.
- Jamming.
- Onion Router (Tor) support.
- Complete forward secrecy.
- Complete leakage protection.
- Password manager.
Well, in terms of features, Expressvpn and ProtonVPN are close in this regard, but aren't there other features that put a gap between the two services?
There is a discrepancy when it comes to the number of devices covered by each network's premium plans, and here ProtonVPN stands out from ExpressVPN, as its premium plan covers up to 10 devices at the same time, unlike ExpressVPN which only supports 5 devices.
More Features
| Feature | ExpressVPN | Proton VPN |
| Advanced protocol support | Lightway | WireGuard |
| Split tunnelling | Yes | Yes |
| RAM-only servers | Yes | No |
| Kill Switch | Yes | Yes |
| Private DNS | Yes | Yes |
| Logs | No logs (audited) | No logs (audited) |
| Multiple VPN protocols | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extensions | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in ad blocking | Yes | Yes |
| Double VPN servers | No | Yes |
| Obfuscated (stealth) servers | Yes | Yes |
| P2P servers | Yes | No |
| Dedicated IP servers | No | Yes |
| Free version | No | Yes |
Expressvpn and ProtonVPN: Price
Nothing may seem important if you will face a wall that you cannot overcome, which is the prices and plans that are provided for each service.
So, we will compare prices between Expressvpn vs ProtonVPN and find out which one offers the cheapest VPN service.
ExpressVPN offers three distinct plans: a one-month subscription, a six-month subscription, and a one-year subscription that comes with an additional three months.
While the one-year plan offers the biggest discounts, it is still a bit pricey.
For Proton VPN, they offer plans of 1 month, 1 year, or 2 years.
The best plan is Proton VPN's 2-year plan, which starts at $5.99 per month and offers you savings of up to $48.
It is worth noting that Proton VPN supports cash payments, providing an additional layer of privacy for users who prefer not to pay in cryptocurrencies.
Both ExpressVPN and Proton VPN accept credit/debit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrency payments.
Both services offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, however, it is worth noting that ExpressVPN's refund policy has an added bonus.
| Starting Price | Free Plan | Simultaneous Connections | Payment Options | Money-Back Guarantee | |
| ExpressVPN | $8.32 / 12 months | No | 8 | credit/debit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrencies | 30 days |
| Proton VPN | $5.99 / 12 months | Yes | 10 | credit/debit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrencies, cash | 30 days (prorated) |
Conclusion
If we take everything we mentioned previously, ExpressVPN wins the confrontation against Proton VPN in terms of security and privacy because it is considered the most important feature that every VPN service should have.
However, if you care about the budget you have, then I think that Proton VPN is your best friend, but this does not mean that you should do without the necessary features such as security and protection.
Both ExpressVPN and Proton VPN are powerful programs in the VPN industry.
َ And both services certainly have their own fans, so our opinion may be a little biased, but since we are talking about the difference between ExpressVPN vs Proton VPN, ExpressVPN is our best choice.
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