ExpressVPN vs PIA: which VPN is a better choice?
With extensive analysis and hands-on VPN testing, our cybersecurity experts collaborated with the research team to craft 750+ articles over the years.
Using first-hand expertise, our main goal is to help our readers make the most informed purchasing decisions.
Learn more
In this article, I’ll compare ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA) to determine which VPN is better overall. Kape Technologies owns both services, meaning they likely target different types of customers. After a thorough analysis, we'll know for sure.
I compared the two services in many crucial categories for potential buyers, such as price, speed, security, features, and more. Overall, it became clear that ExpressVPN is better than PIA. Read on to learn the details.
ExpressVPN vs PIA: overview
Although the same company owns both VPNs, they still have their fair share of differences. For example, only ExpressVPN is included in our list of best VPN services despite being significantly pricier than PIA.
As for some common features, neither ExpressVPN nor PIA discloses their exact server fleet numbers. They’ve also conducted independent audits of their no-logs policies to highlight their reliability.
| ExpressVPN | Private Internet Access VPN | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #4 out of #41 | #14 out of #41 |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 3,000 + servers in 105 countries | 30,000 + servers in 91 countries |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs | No logs |
| 💵 Price: | From $4.99/month | From $2.03/month |
| 🔥 Coupons: | ExpressVPN coupon 61% OFF | PIA coupon 83% OFF |
| 🔒 VPN protocols: | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Wireguard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | Netflix, YouTube TV, Hulu, BBC iPlayer |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| 📥 Simultaneous connections: | 8 | Unlimited |
| 💁🏻 Support: | Knowledge base, FAQs, email, 24/7 live chat | Knowledge base, FAQs, tickets/email, 24/7 live chat |
Plans and pricing
Private Internet Access VPN is the clear winner over ExpressVPN regarding prices. No matter which plan you choose, you will pay less than a corresponding ExpressVPN plan. If you like what PIA VPN offers and are ready to commit, you can even get its 2-year plan for as low as $2.03/month – together with 2 months for free. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN’s lengthiest two-year plan costs $4.99/month and includes 4 extra months.
You'll also get unlimited simultaneous connections instead of the 8 that ExpressVPN offers, which is useful if you have lots of devices or a big family.
However, don’t base your decision solely on money. If, for example, you want to get a VPN to watch geo-blocked content, then you should go with ExpressVPN, as Private Internet Access isn’t as efficient at unblocking streaming websites.
| Plan | ExpressVPN | Private Internet Access |
| 1-month plan | $12.95/month | $11.99/month |
| 6-month plan | - | $7.50/month |
| 1-year plan | $6.67/month + 3 months free | - |
| 2-year plan | $4.99/month + 4 months free | $2.03/month + 2 months |
As you can see, ExpressVPN is one of the more expensive VPN services. Its 1-month plan costs $12.95/month (slightly more than the industry average), the annual plan costs $6.67/month, and the most extended two-year plan costs $4.99/month. The longer plans also include a few extra months for free, but those deals tend to change.
Even though there’s no free version of ExpressVPN, you can use its 30-day money-back guarantee and get what you paid with no questions asked. You can pay with a credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
If you’re ready to use Private Internet Access for a long time, you get a great deal, paying only $2.03/month for the two-year plan. Optionally, you can add PIA’s antivirus services and a dedicated IP alongside your VPN subscription.
You can also purchase PIA VPN for 6 months for $7.50/month. Buying a monthly subscription is the most expensive option, costing you $11.99/month.
Just like ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. According to user experience, you can claim it multiple times, which is quite generous on PIA’s part. Just note that the terms of service state that the window between these refunds should be at least three months. The service lets you pay with credit cards, PayPal, and various cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
Security and privacy
Both VPN services offer great encryption and security. However, there are some slight differences. For example, ExpressVPN chose a more privacy-friendly country to base its business. But they both run RAM-only servers that ensure the maximum level of privacy, and their privacy policies have been approved by the court, meaning there are no dark intentions against these VPNs' users. You can learn more about either provider by reading our ExpressVPN review or PIA review.
Encryption
ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption by default. It’s the current golden standard of encryption, used by most services that deal with sensitive data in transit.
The VPN is also powered by both AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20/Poly1305 when the Lightway protocol is in use. It will default to AES-256-GCM on most gadgets, while lower-end routers and entry-level mobile devices will switch to ChaCha20/Poly1305.
ExpressVPN also uses SHA-512 hash function for authentication, as well as perfect forward secrecy, which means that the encryption keys are constantly changing for enhanced security.
Now, things are a bit more interesting with Private Internet Access VPN. It Lets you choose the encryption based on the used protocol:
- WireGuard: ChaCha20 by default, no other options
- IPSec (IKEv2): AES-128-CBC, AES-256-CBC, AES-128-GCM, AES-256-GCM
- OpenVPN: AES-128-GCM, AES-256-GCM
For authentication, PIA VPN uses SHA-1 and SHA-2 hashing algorithms. ExpressVPN uses the SHA-512 hashing algorithm (a version of SHA-2), which makes these services equal in that regard.
Infrastructure
Currently, one of the biggest strengths that a VPN can be proud of is RAM-only server infrastructure. Luckily, both ExpressVPN and PIA have this on their side. This means its servers use volatile memory, which needs power to maintain the stored information. In other words, PIA and ExpressVPN servers are physically incapable of storing any of your data logs because they constantly get wiped out.
Tunneling protocols
The selection of tunneling protocols can make or break a VPN. Whether you prioritize speed or stability, a wide range of options will always make things much easier.
So, ExpressVPN supports the following tunneling protocols:
- Lightway. Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, this protocol is extremely fast and reliable
- OpenVPN (UDP/TCP). Probably the most popular tunneling protocol. Its UDP version is faster, while the TCP variation offers more stability
- IKEv2/IPSec. Available only on macOS and iOS. A reliable and speedy lightweight protocol
When it comes to Private Internet Access, you also get the staple protocols:
- WireGuard. This is an extremely fast and secure protocol comparable to ExpressVPN’s Lightway
- OpenVPN (UDP/TCP)
Even though the list of protocols might indicate a draw at first glance, PIA's WireGuard tunnel isn't as advanced as the Lightway protocol; more so, ExpressVPN is way faster. All in all, Private Internet Access doesn't fall far behind ExpressVPN's protocol choices, but the latter is simply better at the moment.
Jurisdiction
When it comes to jurisdiction, we prefer ExpressVPN. That’s because it’s based in the Virgin British Islands, a privacy-friendly territory. On the other hand, Private Internet Access VPN is based in the USA, one of the founders of the Five Eyes alliance. This country is also known for its intrusive government that may spy on digital businesses.
No-logs policy
ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy is pretty solid. Its privacy policy is easy to understand and states all the facts pretty clearly (even though it could be a bit shorter). So, ExpressVPN doesn’t collect any activity logs, connection logs, browsing history, etc. It only keeps your email address and payment method.
Additionally, ExpressVPN’s privacy policy was independently audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers in June 2019, which strongly suggests that all its privacy statements are true. Another independent audit focusing on the provider’s privacy practices was done in December 2023 by KPMG. Moreover, ExpressVPN has conducted many more third-party audits of its various technologies to prove its reliability.
Regarding PIA, its privacy policy claims to not collect any logs aside from your username, data usage, and IP. This information gets deleted when you close the app. It’s worth mentioning that PIA has actually proven that it cannot store any logs in this local hacking case. Plus, the service was independently-audited by Deloitte in 2022 and 2024 to dispel any suspicions.
Sure, the VPN’s site will keep your email address, payment info, cookie identifiers, your country of origin, and the ZIP code. However, you can avoid this by paying with cryptocurrency.
Aside from that, the privacy policy of PIA VPN is a bit convoluted. It states that the VPN “may disclose your Personal Data to any members of [its] group of companies”. This raises some eyebrows and doesn’t make PIA look as trustworthy as the other best anonymous (no-log) VPNs. On the other hand, there's no need to worry since the provider has a good track record regarding user privacy.
Kill switch
A kill switch is an essential security feature of any VPN. It disconnects your device from the internet if the VPN connection is compromised, protecting your real IP address in the process.
Fortunately, both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access VPN offer this feature for all its users, no matter what app you're using, whether it's for the iPhone, Windows PC, and others.
Speed and performance: ExpressVPN vs PIA
To find out which VPN is the fastest between the two, we tested their fastest tunneling protocols. ExpressVPN uses the in-house-built Lightway tunneling protocol, while PIA uses the market-leading WireGuard.
- Baseline: 1 ms, 300 Mbps download, 300 Mbps upload
| ExpressVPN (Lightway) | PIA (WireGuard) | |
| The US | 237 Mbps/ 222 Mbps | 111 Mbps/ 168 Mbps |
| The UK | 251 Mbps/ 225 Mbps | 140 Mbps/ 222 Mbps |
| Japan | 112 Mbps/ 52 Mbps | 57 Mbps/ 88 Mbps |
ExpressVPN has a reputation for being one of the fastest VPN service providers. In our experience, this claim is true, thanks to Lightway.
The research team and I tested various servers and usually got the result of ~250 Mbps (80% speed retention) regarding download speed. This is great: we didn’t feel any difference in our internet connection, whether we watched videos or played online games.
When using Private Internet Access VPN, you get WireGuard, one of the best tunneling protocols we have today, rivaled only by the likes of Lightway and NordVPN’s NordLynx. It’s swift and secure if a VPN has everything under control overall. However, PIA performed noticeably worse during our tests than its competitor, no matter what server location we tested. The average download speed it maintained was around as low as 103 Mbps (34% speed retention), which is more than twice slower than ExpressVPN.
Streaming performance comparison
It’s no secret that most people subscribe to a VPN service to watch geo-blocked content. However, things can turn sour quickly when your favorite streaming site blocks your VPN (and there are still 10 months left in your subscription).
To prevent this from happening, you have to choose a VPN with a long history of bypassing geo-restrictions. Just like ExpressVPN.
To my delight, it could unblock every streaming site we tested it on. It worked with Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, and more. It’s also worth noting that ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer feature will help you watch geo-blocked content on your smart TV or almost any other device that doesn’t support VPNs.
Meanwhile, PIA underperformed compared to ExpressVPN in the streaming tests. We managed to unblock Netflix libraries in the UK, the US, and India. However, other libraries weren’t as easy to unblock, even with the provider’s streaming-optimized servers across various countries.
Besides Netflix, we also were able to unblock the UK-exclusive BBC iPlayer. PIA also had no trouble unblocking geo-restricted YouTube videos, but that's not particularly impressive among VPNs.
Features overview
For most users, feature selection is not the most important thing about a VPN. For example, not everyone understands what to do with a proxy, even if they have one. So, if you just casually use a VPN to unblock content, ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access will suit you well. Both providers overlap regarding particular features like Smart DNS, but there are a few differences, too.
Split tunneling
Split tunneling is one of the most beneficial VPN features. Basically, it lets you include or exclude the applications that use VPN traffic. For example, you may want to browse safely while listening to Spotify, which you can exclude from the VPN connection list for better performance.
ExpressVPN lets you use split tunneling with Windows, macOS, Android, and routers using Device Groups, while PIA VPN allows it on Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux apps.
Port forwarding
Both Private Internet Access VPN and ExpressVPN support port forwarding, which lets you access your device from anywhere, host servers for multiplayer games, run your own website, etc.
To set up port forwarding with ExpressVPN, you have to do it from your router dashboard using the advanced settings menu, where you’ll find port forwarding. Meanwhile, PIA VPN lets you do it on its desktop or mobile apps.
Proxy
Unlike ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access VPN offers SOCKS5 and Shadowsocks proxies. A proxy might come in handy when torrenting or trying to bypass the Great Firewall of China (in this case, Shadowsocks is your savior). You can route your connection through the UK, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, the US, and the Netherlands.
Smart DNS
As ExpressVPN has no trouble unblocking a myriad of streaming sites, its Smart DNS (or MediaSteamer) feature is a real life-saver if you want to watch movies, shows, or sports on your smart TV or any other device that doesn’t support VPN services. Thankfully, Private Internet Access also offers Smart DNS if you'd like to unblock video content without the VPN app.
Stealth servers
Sometimes, schools and businesses can monitor your online activity by using deep packet inspection. In this way, they can detect that you’re using a VPN, thus blocking the VPN traffic.
Luckily, ExpressVPN has a way to bypass this. As soon as it becomes necessary, you are switched to a Stealth server, which does not allow anyone to detect that you’re using a VPN. In this way, you may even have some luck using ExpressVPN in countries that block VPN traffic (i.e., China).
On the other hand, PIA grants obfuscation using Shadowsocks. While not as convenient as what ExpressVPN offers, it can still get the job done.
Additional features
In fact, both ExpressVPN and PIA include extra security features, responsible for preventing malware and enhancing online privacy. With the latter you get an ad blocker, also known as MACE, which blocks all adware at the DNS level. Consequently, you won't have to face YouTube ads, pop-ups, banners, and other types of adware any longer.
In the meantime, ExpressVPN has its Threat Manager. Although it doesn't block ads, it can help you avoid trackers and other third parties' criminal intentions. This way, the number of targeted ads you receive will decrease as well as the chance of getting your online identity stolen.
Moreover, ExpressVPN can cover password management needs at no extra cost using the Keys feature. Besides that, Device Groups enables split tunneling capabilities on routers.
Server locations
Both providers no longer disclose the exact number of servers they operate. Regardless, it's vital to analyze the countries they cover.
| VPN provider | Servers | Countries (total) | Virtual locations | Specialty servers |
| ExpressVPN | Undisclosed | 105 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (stealth servers) |
| PIA | Undisclosed | 91 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (streaming) |
ExpressVPN offers more variety when it comes to American, European, and Asian Pacific coverage. On the other hand, Private Internet Access gives you more freedom when choosing a server in the Middle East or Africa.
Regarding the servers themselves, a small part of them are virtual – that is the case with both ExpressVPN and PIA. What does that mean? Basically, the registered IP address matches the country you have chosen to connect to, while the server itself is physically located in another country, usually nearby. Virtual servers have become necessary due to regulations in certain countries (like Russia or India).
Regarding specialty options, ExpressVPN only has Stealth servers, which are enabled automatically whenever the app detects deep packet inspection. Meanwhile, PIA offers streaming-optimized servers across the US and Europe.
Torrenting
Both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access VPN are great for downloading and uploading files through BitTorrent and other torrent clients. All servers of these two VPNs support P2P and torrenting, so you won’t have to use a server that’s already crowded.
There are some differences between the two services, though. PIA VPN also offers a SOCKS5 proxy that you can use on your torrenting client.
Obviously, speeds are also important – you don’t want to spend an hour downloading a single file. Luckily, you won’t be disappointed no matter which VPN you use. With ExpressVPN, my speed varied from 6 to 15 MB/s. However, the speed was even better when using Private Internet Access – it went from 10 to 15 MB/s. Of course, speed depends on a lot of different factors, and your situation may differ.
Platforms, interface, and ease of use
App availability can greatly impact your decision between ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access. In short, both providers work with the most popular desktop and mobile operating systems. You can also set them up on various home entertainment devices like smart TVs, gaming consoles, or on your router for complete household coverage.
| ExpressVPN | Private Internet Access | |
| Supported OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Other software and devices | Android TV, Fire devices, Apple TV, smart TVs, consoles, routers, Chromebook | Android TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, consoles, routers |
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox | Firefox, Chrome, Opera |
| Simultaneous connections | 8 | Unlimited |
For me, the key difference between the two VPNs is that PIA supports unlimited device connections, while ExpressVPN supports 8. This is a significant difference, especially since PIA is cheaper than ExpressVPN. As such, I would consider PIA the better choice regarding device compatibility since you can protect more devices. Now, let’s discuss how the two look on desktop and mobile devices.
There are many similarities between ExpressVPN's and Private Internet Access's desktop apps. Both VPNs display a small main window with a huge button to initiate a connection, in addition to having a separate window for the settings menu.
Moreover, it’s really easy to access all sorts of information about the connection, such as the protocol, encryption, and split tunneling settings.
Nevertheless, I think that Linux users might be happier with PIA’s application because it offers a nice user interface just like the Windows app, making it much easier to use than ExpressVPN. It’s also worth mentioning that the Linux app of Private Internet Access allows split tunneling.
The mobile versions of Private Internet Access (Android and iOS) don’t differ much from their desktop counterparts. Of course, this concerns only the main window - when you open the settings, the tab is made to fit the narrow smartphone screen.
Feature-wise, there are also not a lot of differences between PIA’s desktop versions. Just keep in mind that the iOS app doesn’t support split tunneling for the time being.
Now, the mobile versions of ExpressVPN are in a similar situation. Aside from the settings menu, their design is almost identical to the desktop apps.
However, there are some differences between the Android and iOS applications, the former being the superior one. That’s because the Android version of ExpressVPN offers split tunneling.
Customer support
| ExpressVPN | PIA | |
| 24/7 live chat | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | |
| Phone line | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Guides or articles | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| FAQs | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Even if you’re one of those unlucky users who stumble across technical problems quite often, the customer service options of ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access should be enough for you.
First, both services offer extensive knowledge bases. The official pages of ExpressVPN and PIA VPN offer setup guides, FAQ sections, and troubleshooting articles.
Next are email tickets and live chat options for those wanting to talk to a real human being. So, we tested the live chat of both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. While the customer agent of ExpressVPN was able to help us, the customer representative of PIA struggled to solve our problem related to the implementation of the WireGuard protocol.
Comparison methodology: PIA vs ExpressVPN
The research team and I thoroughly investigated ExpressVPN and PIA to discover their strengths and weaknesses. Below is a summary of our testing process and how much each aspect influenced the ranking process:
- Pricing (10%). We began our testing procedure by checking each provider’s subscription prices, renewal costs, free trials, and refund policies. We considered these details when deciding whether the VPNs give good value for money.
- Privacy policy (15%). It was crucial to read each provider’s privacy policy to ensure they take customer confidentiality seriously. We also checked for any independent audits and other notable incidents that would interest potential customers.
- Device installation (10%). We evaluated each VPN’s app setup process to see whether the services are approachable to the average person.
- Ease of use (10%). We used the VPN apps in various situations to evaluate their overall ease of use. This includes the software’s interface, design, customization options, and overall user experience.
- Speed tests (20%). VPN speed tests were conducted by using each VPN service’s fastest tunneling protocol across various server locations. We picked regions from different parts of the world to get an accurate picture of each VPN’s performance.
- Feature analysis (20%). We tested each VPN’s most essential features to ensure they work as intended. This includes tools like the kill switch, split tunneling, ad blockers, and other unique perks.
- Other use cases (15%). We used the two VPNs in various situations that most users will encounter to evaluate their effectiveness. This includes scenarios like bypassing geographical restrictions, online gaming, streaming high-quality video content, and using the internet on a daily basis.
Which is better: ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access?
| Category | ExpressVPN | PIA VPN |
| Speed | ✅ | ❌ |
| Features | ✅ | ❌ |
| Security | ✅ | ❌ |
| Streaming | ✅ | ❌ |
| Torrenting | ❌ | ✅ |
| Price | ❌ | ✅ |
| Server locations | ✅ | ✅ |
| Ease of use | ❌ | ✅ |
| Customer support | ✅ | ❌ |
All things considered, ExpressVPN is better than PIA. Although, I must admit that both are excellent VPN services.
To summarise, ExpressVPN is faster, has more features, and has done more to prove its trustworthiness. However, it's also more expensive than Private Internet Access. So, if you're on a tight budget, PIA might be the better option.
But the last selling point is streaming. While PIA does unblock several popular streaming sites, ExpressVPN knocks out all favorite streaming platforms with one hit and continues delivering excellent video quality.
FAQ
Is Private Internet Access better than ExpressVPN?
Private Internet Access is better than ExpressVPN in terms of support for torrenting and price. However, ExpressVPN beats it when it comes to speed, security, features, and streaming capabilities.
Is PIA a good VPN?
Yes, Private Internet Access is a good VPN service. It offers a huge server and country selection, allows unlimited simultaneous connections, and is capable of unblocking Netflix and other streaming platforms like Hulu and BBC iPlayer.
Is ExpressVPN still secure?
Yes, ExpressVPN meets the standards of a safe VPN service, including strong encryption, the selection of tunneling protocols, including the in-house built Lightway tunnel, server infrastructure, and the no-logs policy.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are markedmarked