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ExpressVPN vs Proton VPN 2023

Table of Contents
    Rated: 9.9/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Rated: 9.2/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Managing Editor

    Proton VPN offers formidable protection against government surveillance thanks to its privacy-friendly location in Switzerland. While this VPN only recently made its entrance into the market, it has managed to impress with some of its features including a strict no-log policy, cross-platform compatibility and support for OpenVPN, the strongest protocol in the market. Its most impressive feature is the Secure Core, which passes traffic through multiple servers to hide users’ IP or location. Although Proton accepts Bitcoin and has a money-back guarantee, it certainly falls to its knees with frustratingly slow customer support. ExpressVPN gives Proton a run for its money with excellent customer service and a no quibbles 30-day money-back guarantee. Express supports most protocols including OpenVPN while its stealth servers are built to bypass firewalls in China. In addition to its DNS leak protection, it also comes with a kill switch feature, Bitcoin support, and will unblock US Netflix.

    Rating

    Features 9.9/10
    Pricing 9.4/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 9.2/10
    Pricing 9.3/10
    Ease of Use 9.1/10
    Reliability & Support 9.0/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Senior Writer

    10.0/10

    ExpressVPN is one of the most popular and trusted names in the industry. It’s known for being one of the safest, fastest VPNs around, so I wanted to see if it can live up to these claims. It’s not the cheapest VPN, but it often offers discounts that make it a better value for the money. Other decent VPNs offer similar security features for much cheaper. So, do you really need to pay that much...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    H
    H
    10.0/10
    Perfect vpn

    Very fast, stable, and secure VPN. No drawbacks that I know of. I especially like the number of ways t... o increase the remaining days on your subscription, referring only 2 people can get you 2 months extra.More

    Latest negative user review
    C
    Charli
    6.0/10
    Ok, but expensive

    Seems ok, but I wouldn't say it's worth $20AUD a month. That's steep if you live in a backwater like A... ustralia, where the currency is not valuable. Easy enough to set up - you don't need to be Einstein - but unless you're a tech nerd who can take a look under the bonnet, you'll just have to trust what they say about their product. It frequently drops out without the slightest warning, often when it's the only thing online at the time - despite fast and flawless fiber internet, rendering expression entirely useless UNLESS you have it sitting on your desktop where you can keep an eagle eye on it to actually see it when it drops out so you can kick it back into service again (it doesn't do it by itself), which seems to defeat its purpose, so I'm taking away 2 stars for that. Support is good and they do get back to you as fast as they can.More

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    More Info
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    9.2/10

    As a long-time customer of ProtonMail, I was curious to see whether its world-renowned privacy and security standards would carry over into its sister product, Proton VPN. The CERN scientists behind the world-class encrypted email technology have a lot of competition amongst premium VPNs. I wondered if these privacy pros could offer any new, innovative features that aren’t already available wit...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    T
    TMAX
    10.0/10
    I Never face any problem with Proton.

    It's really a great vpn that I wanted. I tried others but I go for Proton Plus. For almost a year I'm ... using it and never face any issues. Speed is incredibly good with the accelerator. A no-log policy that is very secure.More

    Latest negative user review
    A
    Anonymously
    6.0/10
    My Proton VPN Review

    I can say that ProtonVPN is better than other VPNs, it is fast, connect up to 10 devices, a no-log pol... icy that is very secure, and unblock Netflix and Hulu. I don't need Support very much, because I can do everything by myself and on Google. 123More

    Read the full review
    More Info

    Pricing

    Starting price $6.67/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices
    See Plans
    Starting price $4.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    See Plans

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Even though Proton VPN is considered relatively new to the VPN market, its security, privacy, and freedom capabilities place it in a very competitive position. However, even with all its newfound power, it still has a long way to go to be able to compete with the highly experienced ExpressVPN, whose security capabilities and high connection speed make it one of the highest ranked VPNs around. Not only that, but ExpressVPN is offering some amazing coupon deals these days.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Proton VPN support torrenting on specific servers, while all ExpressVPN's servers are torrent-friendly. ExpressVPN provides high connection speeds on its torrent-friendly servers to assist in fast downloads and sharing of content, while Proton VPN didn’t record the connection speed we expected.

    Best VPN for Windows

    While both Proton VPN and ExpressVPN offer user-friendly Windows apps, ExpressVPN’s built-in Windows features and security standards within the app exceed those of Proton VPN. In addition, both providers offer detailed tutorials on their websites on how to configure a VPN connection manually on Windows.

    Best VPN for Android

    Like ExpressVPN, Proton VPN has an Android app that combines all the great features included in the desktop or Windows app. However, when it comes down to the core capabilities, such as security, or speed, ExpressVPN takes the lead.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Proton VPN’s MacOS app is not that different from its Windows app, as far as ease of use or efficiency and capabilities are concerned. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, has been providing online security, privacy, and freedom for all its MacOS users, through its smooth sailing app, with continuous improvements over the years.

    Best VPN for iOS

    Proton VPN recently launched its iOS application, which has been operating seamlessly and includes several key in-built features. However, in terms of stability, speed, security, and user-friendliness, ExpressVPN's iOS application remains the frontrunner.

    Best VPN for USA

    Considering Proton VPN is a relatively new provider, it does operate a large network of servers, including 80+ servers in the US - meaning it is able to access online services geo-restricted to the US. However, this cannot be compared to ExpressVPN’s much larger network of servers, which includes 25+ server locations dispersed all over the US, all of which support high-speed streaming of all your favorite services, such as Netflix.

    The Bottom Line

    It's undeniable that ExpressVPN prioritizes users' online privacy and security. Compatibility with Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS across various devices is sure to please users of these platforms. ExpressVPN's hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee pairs well with its competitive pricing. The blend of a stringent no-log policy, impeccable encryption, and swift connections establishes ExpressVPN as an undisputed leader.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with ExpressVPN
    Go with Proton VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is ExpressVPN better than Proton VPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is better overall than Proton VPN. It has 3000 servers in 94 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $6.67 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between ExpressVPN and Proton VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then ExpressVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is ExpressVPN faster than Proton VPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is faster than Proton VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do ExpressVPN or Proton VPN offer any deals?

    Both ExpressVPN and Proton VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    About the Author

    Kristina Perunicic is a former editor for vpnMentor. She’s a cybersecurity expert with an interest in VPNs and their importance in the digital privacy landscape.