ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access are consistently among the best VPN providers we’ve tested. Both shine with comprehensive security features, including a kill switch, secure protocols, and obfuscation.
But what should you consider when trying to pick between the two? We conducted an in-depth comparison and provide an overview of our findins below:
- Streaming: ExpressVPN
- Security: A tie
- Speed: ExpressVPN
- Privacy: ExpressVPN
- Price: PIA
- Ease of use: A tie
- Customer Service: ExpressVPN
Overall, the two VPNs are quite similar but we’ve found that ExpressVPN emerges as the winner due to its better unblocking capabilities, strong privacy and superior customer support.
ExpressVPN
Check out our full article below for the detailed comparisons across the different categories.
ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access are both popular premium VPNs. While ExpressVPN rules when it comes to features and speed, PIA is among the most affordable VPNs you can get. Not sure which one to pick? In this article, we compare key aspects like security, customer support, and more.
Read on for a detailed comparison of Private Internet Access vs ExpressVPN.
PIA vs ExpressVPN: Functionality, Features, and More
The table below displays features like the number of servers, pricing, system compatibility, and more.
| Feature | PIA | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Servers | thousands of servers in 91 countries | Thousands of servers in 105 countries |
| Torrents/P2P support | ✔ | ✔ |
| Netflix | ✔ | ✔ |
| Simultaneous connections | No limit | 5 |
| Operating systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPSec | OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, Lightway |
| Price/month | $ 2.03 | $ 6.67 |
| Log policy | No logs | No logs |
| Money-back-guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
| DNS leak test | ✔ | ✔ |
| Obfuscated servers | ✔ | ✔ |
| Double VPN | ✔ | ✖ |
| Dedicated IP | ✔ | ✔ |
| Kill switch | ✔ | ✔ |
| Split tunneling | ✔ | ✔ |
| Diskless servers | ✔ | ✔ |
| Malicious website blocker | ✔ | ✔ |
| Link to website |
ExpressVPN vs PIA: Which is Better for Streaming?
One of the benefits of using a VPN is that you can unblock streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, etc. With their wide server networks, both PIA and ExpressVPN work well to access streaming services from different regions.
| Platform | Can PIA unblock it? | Can ExpressVPN unblock it? |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | ✔ | ✔ |
| Disney Plus | ✔ | ✔ |
| Hulu | ✔ | ✔ |
| BBC iPlayer | ✔ | ✔ |
| HBO Max | ✖ | ✔ |
| Amazon Prime Video | ✖ | ✔ |
With both VPN services, we did not face any speed issues and could stream smoothly in HD without any lags. That said, ExpressVPN emerges as the clear winner, as it can easily unblock more streaming services than PIA. Moreover, it has more servers that work well for streaming.
With PIA, we could not access Amazon Prime Video or HBO Max. For the ones that we could unblock, such as Netflix, we had to try multiple servers before connecting to one that worked. On the plus side, since PIA supports unlimited simultaneous connections, you can unblock Netflix on as many screens as you like.
Lastly, given its superior speeds, ExpressVPN outperforms PIA and is one of the best VPNs for streaming.
Best streaming VPN: ExpressVPN
PIA vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN is More Secure?
A good VPN ensures your safety online. This means it anonymizes your online presence. It also prevents third parties from getting a hold of your personal information, like your location, IP address, and online activities. What’s more, VPNs ward off spy agencies, hackers, malware, and other shady elements.
Both Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN boast a plethora of security features that you can rely on to stay safe online. These are summarized in the table below.
| Security feature | PIA | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Adblocker | ✔ | ✔ |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec | OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, Lightway |
| Double VPN (Multi-Hop) | ✔ | ✖ |
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi |
| DNS leak protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Split tunneling | ✔ | ✔ |
| Obfuscated servers | ✔ | ✔ |
Connection protocols
VPN protocols determine the speed, security, and flexibility of a VPN service.
Private Internet Access supports the following VPN protocols:
- OpenVPN (TCP/UDP): Offers solid security and speeds, which make it a great choice for most users
- WireGuard: Super secure and faster than OpenVPN but doesn’t support TCP connectivity
- L2TP/IPsec (iOS-only): Fast, but can be easily blocked by firewalls, which limits unblocking capabilities
ExpressVPN also supports OpenVPN, along with the following:
- Lightway: Instead of offering WireGuard like other providers, ExpressVPN created this proprietary protocol that’s super secure and much faster than other VPN protocols
- IKEv2: Fast and secure but may not work on all networks
Overall, OpenVPN is the best protocol for everyday use because it’s fast, secure, and helps to bypass online censorship to access content that’s locked in your country.
When speed is of utmost priority, such as when gaming and torrenting, we recommend using WireGuard on Private Internet Access or Lightway on ExpressVPN, both of which are among the fastest VPN protocols.
Encryption and extra features
VPNs use encryption to keep your data secure. Both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access offer ultra-secure “military-grade” AES 256-bit encryption.
However, we noticed that, by default, Private Internet Access uses the lower AES 128-bit encryption with the OpenVPN protocol. Although this offers a slightly faster connection, it’s less secure. Fortunately, you can change it to AES 256-bit in the settings menu for the highest security.
Kill switch
A kill switch is an essential VPN security feature that automatically “kills” or disconnects your internet whenever your VPN connection drops. This is to ensure that your personal data doesn’t leak in the event that the VPN temporarily stops working.
Both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access VPN have a kill switch enabled by default within their apps. ExpressVPN calls this feature “Network Lock,” which can be seen under the “General” settings in the app.
Our tests revealed that ExpressVPN’s Network Lock worked efficiently. Our data did not get leaked even when the VPN connection dropped (such as when we switched between ExpressVPN servers).
By comparison, Private Internet Access has both a “standard” kill switch and an “advanced” kill switch. The standard kill switch is enabled by default in the app. It performed effectively in our tests.
Meanwhile, the advanced kill switch goes a step further and prevents you from using the internet without first connecting to the VPN. This is great for ensuring that your connection is always protected. The advanced kill switch can be turned on in the “Privacy” settings of the app and can be handy if you often forget to use your VPN.
Obfuscation
Premium VPNs offer obfuscation to disguise your VPN traffic so that it looks like regular browsing. This is useful in countries with high levels of censorship where the government doesn’t condone the use of VPNs. For instance, you can circumvent censorship in Iran using VPNs like ExpressVPN.
Private Internet Access offers obfuscation through its Multi-Hop feature. This routes your VPN traffic through a proxy, adding an additional layer of encryption. However, this is not really effective in circumventing restrictions in countries like China. It also slows down the VPN connection.
By comparison, ExpressVPN does a better job with its “stealth” mode, which automatically activates when it detects deep packet inspection. In other words, obfuscation technology is built into ExpressVPN servers. You don’t need to manually enable any specific protocols or servers to circumvent online restrictions.
Multi-Hop
Multi-hop or “double VPN” is a feature that routes your traffic through two VPN servers instead of one. The purpose is to add extra encryption to amp up the security.
Despite being a premium VPN, ExpressVPN does not currently offer this feature.
On the other hand, Private Internet Access VPN allows Multi-Hop through an encrypted proxy server. This feature can be enabled in the “Settings” menu. PIA allows you to choose from specific proxy locations.
Threat protection
Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN both have built-in options to block malicious content for a safer browsing experience.
Private Internet Access has MACE, a feature that blocks domains used for ads, trackers, and malware. It can be enabled in the “Privacy” settings.
Although ExpressVPN does not have an ad-blocker like PIA VPN, it includes a Threat Manager feature that blocks trackers and malicious sites. It can be enabled in the “Preferences” section of the ExpressVPN app.
We found that these additional features worked well on both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, bolstering the protection they provide.
Leak protection
If a VPN is not functioning correctly, it can leak information like your IP address, location, and browsing activity without you even knowing. It’s always recommended to test a VPN for such leaks.
Of course, we also conduct leak tests regularly for our VPN reviews. Fortunately, both PIA and ExpressVPN passed all our leak tests, so you can rest assured that your data is secure and won’t be exposed to third parties.
The screenshots below show that there were no IP leaks when we were connected to PIA’s US servers and ExpressVPN’s UK servers, respectively.
Split tunneling
Split tunneling allows you to choose which specific apps and websites get routed through the VPN. For instance, you could choose to only have your torrenting app use the VPN.
PIA’s split tunneling feature can be set up in the “Settings” section of the app as shown below.
Similarly, ExpressVPN offers split tunneling, as shown in the screenshot below.
Unfortunately, ExpressVPN’s split tunneling feature is unavailable on macOS Big Sur and later systems.
Which VPN should you choose for safety?
Both Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN are highly secure VPNs that you can trust. Our tests revealed that the security features offered by both perform efficiently to anonymize your online activities and keep your data private.
Although ExpressVPN lacks a Multi-Hop feature, we consider it as good as PIA because it offers better obfuscation, making it more effective in censorship-heavy regions like Iran and China.
Most secure VPN: Tie
ExpressVPN vs PIA: Which VPN is Faster?
Using a VPN can slow down your internet speed, but an excellent provider shouldn’t impact your speed too much. We tested ExpressVPN and PIA to see which one provided a better browsing, streaming, and gaming experience.
We used the trusted website speedtest.net to conduct the speed tests from our office in the Netherlands. The results are summarized in the table below.
Note:
Several factors can affect speed, such as your location or the time of day. So these numbers are just a sampling of our experience and may be different for you.
| Speed metric | No VPN | PIA | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download speed – Netherlands (Mbps) | 203.82 | 192.59 | 191.16 |
| Upload speed – Netherlands (in Mbps) | 244.72 | 232.46 | 232.93 |
| Ping – Netherlands | 3 ms | 5 ms | 7 ms |
| Download speed – Fastest server (in Mbps) | – | 193.76 | 191.76 |
| Upload speed – Fastest server (in Mbps) | – | 236.32 | 232.39 |
| Ping – Fastest server | – | 6 ms | 7 ms |
| Download speed – United States server (in Mbps) | – | 123.47 | 170.78 |
| Upload speed – United States server (in Mbps) | – | 171.14 | 174.51 |
| Ping – United States server | – | 101 ms | 93 |
Both ExpressVPN and PIA offer great speeds that are more than sufficient for everyday activities like browsing, streaming, and gaming.
However, there was a difference when we tested servers far away from our testing center. ExpressVPN gave much better speeds with distant servers, particularly when streaming and gaming.
You can see the detailed speed test results in our ExpressVPN review. Or experience the difference yourself by signing up for ExpressVPN by clicking the button below.
Fastest VPN: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN vs PIA: Which VPN Handles Your Data Better?
Security and privacy go hand in hand. So, we had a close look at the privacy policies of ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access to see how they handle user data.
Below are our findings about the privacy practices of both providers.
| VPN | Location | Anonymous Sign Up? | Passed Security Audit? | Data Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIA | US | ✔ | ✔ | Email address, billing info, approximate location, anonymized statistics (global number of users, server uptime, bandwidth capacity) |
| ExpressVPN | British Virgin Islands | ✔ | ✔ | Email address, billing info, approximate location, anonymized statistics (global number of users, server uptime, bandwidth capacity) |
PIA’s privacy details
- PIA is based in the United States, which is part of the 5-Eyes intelligence alliance. This means the company may be ordered to provide user information to assist with lawsuits. However, since PIA has a strict no-logs policy, it has no user information to hand over to authorities.
- You can create a PIA account simply by providing a viable email address.
- Crypto payments are supported, which is an almost-anonymous way of purchasing your subscription.
- PIA was audited by Deloitte in 2020, and the results confirmed that PIA takes its zero-logs policy quite seriously.
- PIA uses diskless RAM-only servers, which are more resistant to breaches or tampering by hackers.
ExpressVPN’s privacy details
- ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, which is a privacy-friendly region. The company will never have to hand over customer data to the government.
- All you need to register with ExpressVPN is an email address.
- You can pay with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin for complete anonymity.
- The provider has been independently audited multiple times to establish itself as one of the most transparent providers in the industry.
- It uses diskless RAM-only servers, which it calls TrustedServer technology. It’s among the most advanced VPN server technology today that ensures foolproof privacy.
If you don’t want to take chances with your privacy, ExpressVPN is the best pick based on the fact that it’s headquartered in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands.
Most privacy-focused VPN: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN vs PIA: Which Provider is Cheaper?
There’s quite a big difference in price between ExpressVPN and PIA. PIA is among the cheapest VPNs you can get, while ExpressVPN comes at a premium cost, as shown in the comparison below.
- Private Internet Access (PIA) 2 Years (Plus 4 free months) 2.03mth Deal View offer
- Private Internet Access (PIA) 6 Months $7.50mth View offer
- Private Internet Access (PIA) Monthly $11.99mth View offer
- ExpressVPN 12 Months $6.67mth Deal View offer
- ExpressVPN 6 Months $9.99mth View offer
- ExpressVPN Monthly $12.95mth View offer
So, if low price is a priority, PIA is a great option. However, ExpressVPN is worth the higher cost thanks to its advanced unblocking capabilities and excellent customer support.
Note:
With long-term subscriptions, you usually pay once for the entire subscription period. Therefore, you would be billed per subscription period and not per month. Also, even though we try to keep this table up-to-date, prices may fluctuate. Always visit VPN providers’ websites to see their current prices.
The cheapest VPN: PIA
ExpressVPN vs PIA: Which App is Easier to Work With?
A pleasant user experience is important when it comes to apps you use every day. We compared ExpressVPN and PIA on user-friendliness, and the results are explained below.
Installation process
The installation processes for most VPN apps are pretty standard, and the same is true for both ExpressVPN and PIA.
- You begin by creating an account and subscribing to the VPN provider’s website.
- After this, download the app to your device and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
- Then, simply log into the app with the email address and password you used when setting up your account.
On mobile devices, you can download the VPN app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in with the same credentials.
PIA vs ExpressVPN user interface
We tinkered around with the desktop apps of ExpressVPN and PIA to see which gives a better user experience. Both worked well and are simple to navigate.
On macOS, PIA appears in the top menu bar for quick access. The “Settings” menu can be viewed by tapping the three-dot icon at the right of the window. This opens the full app.
By contrast, ExpressVPN always opens as the full app. It shows up on the menu bar as just a shortcut that gives quick access to recommended servers.
So, overall, we found both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access equally intuitive and easy to use. Both are straightforward and easy to customize when it comes to settings.
Therefore, if price is a deciding factor, you can opt for the more affordable Private Internet Access that’s user-friendly yet feature-packed.
Most user-friendly VPN: Tie
ExpressVPN vs PIA: Which Has Better Customer Service?
It’s important for a VPN to have good customer support in case something goes wrong with your app or if you have questions about the service. Here are our findings about ExpressVPN and PIA customer support options:
| Customer Service Options | PIA | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✔ | ✔ |
| ✖ | ✔ | |
| Phone | ✖ | ✖ |
| FAQs | ✔ | ✔ |
Both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access offer live chat support. However, we think PIA’s is not as good as ExpressVPN’s because you have to wait quite a while to connect to an agent. Sometimes, the chat ends if no agents are available online.
In contrast, with ExpressVPN, we always got prompt and helpful responses on the live chat as seen in the screenshots below.
Furthermore, PIA does not offer email support, whereas ExpressVPN can be reached via email at support@expressvpn.zendesk.com.
Both PIA and ExpressVPN have extensive help resources on their websites with troubleshooting guides and FAQs to help you fix common issues.
On the whole, ExpressVPN offers far superior customer support with its quick and efficient live chat and email support. So, it’s the best bet when you want to ensure you get timely technical assistance whenever you need it.
VPN with the best customer service: ExpressVPN
Final Verdict: Is ExpressVPN or PIA Better?
To wrap up, ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access VPN both offer great security, speed, and privacy. However, we do have a clear winner between the two.
You can view the overall results of our PIA vs ExpressVPN comparison in the table below.
| Category | Winner | Why this VPN is the best choice |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Performance | ExpressVPN | ExpressVPN unblocks more geo-restricted streaming services than PIA. |
| Security | Tie | Both VPNs have similar security features that will keep you safe online. |
| Speed | ExpressVPN | ExpressVPN offers better speeds, especially when connected to distant servers. |
| Privacy | ExpressVPN | ExpressVPN is based in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands while PIA is based in the US. |
| Price | PIA | PIA is one of the cheapest VPNs that offers great value for money. |
| Ease of use | Tie | Both VPN services are user-friendly. |
| Customer Support | ExpressVPN | ExpressVPN has more customer support options and offers faster responses. |
Both PIA and ExpressVPN are excellent VPN providers that consistently do well on our tests for speed, security, and privacy. PIA is a good choice if you need an affordable VPN with up to thousands of servers to choose from. It has decent customer service and good security and privacy options, but it’s not our top pick for streaming.
While ExpressVPN is more expensive, it’s worth the price if you want a super reliable VPN that works like a charm at bypassing censorship and unblocking almost any streaming service. It also has superior speeds and excellent customer support. And because it’s based in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands, you know your data is safe and won’t be handed over to the government.
The great thing is you can take advantage of ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee to try it out free. It’s super easy to cancel your subscription within the 30-day money-back period by contacting customer support through live chat or email, as described above.
Check out other VPN comparisons:
- Surfshark vs NordVPN: Which VPN Takes the Lead?
- ExpressVPN vs Surfshark: The Ultimate Showdown
- CyberGhost vs Surfshark: A Battle of VPN Titans
- PIA vs NordVPN: Which Top VPN is Better?
Got questions about which VPN is better, ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access? We’ve got some quick answers in our FAQ section below. Click or tap a question to view the answer.
PIA is among the best VPNs you can get. It offers great speeds, security, and privacy at an affordable price. However, it falls short on some factors like unblocking capabilities. For instance, PIA cannot unblock HBO Max. For this, you can get a better VPN like ExpressVPN, which can unblock virtually any streaming service.
While PIA is a great VPN, our tests revealed that ExpressVPN is far better when it comes to strong customer support and unblocking geographically restricted content. Find out more in our full ExpressVPN review.
After testing dozens of VPNs, we have found ExpressVPN to be the best and most reliable VPN provider. It boasts great speed, foolproof security, and strong privacy at an unbeatable price point. You can find out more in our detailed ExpressVPN review.
We conducted in-depth tests on vital aspects like speed and security to find that ExpressVPN is better than PIA. It offers better speeds on distant servers and can unblock almost any streaming service. It also offers stronger customer support than PIA with a very responsive 24/7 live chat, so you can get help whenever you need it.
