Compare Express Vpn With Proton Vpn to decide which service best fits your needs with COMPARE.EDU.VN. This comprehensive comparison analyzes security, speed, usability, and features to help you make an informed choice. Optimize your online experience with a VPN tailored to your requirements.
1. Express VPN vs Proton VPN: Which is More Affordable?
Express VPN is not the cheapest VPN available, but longer subscriptions offer significant savings. The monthly plan costs $12.95, which is above the average for commercial VPNs. The six-month plan reduces the monthly cost to $9.99, totaling $59.95. The annual plan offers the best value at $8.32 per month, or $99.95 annually.
Express VPN doesn’t offer a free trial but provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, effectively serving as a risk-free trial. A 7-day trial is also available on their mobile apps.
Proton VPN offers a free plan with unlimited bandwidth, covering the US, Netherlands, and Japan. This free option is suitable for basic protection while traveling but may not suffice for streaming content from various locations.
Proton VPN’s monthly subscription costs $9.99, which is lower than many VPNs. The yearly plan cuts the price to $4.99 per month, totaling $59.88 annually. The two-year plan offers minimal additional savings at $4.59 per month, or $107.76 overall.
Similar to Express VPN, Proton VPN provides a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. The free version allows you to trial the service easily, while the money-back guarantee lets you test all paid features.
Express VPN includes all features, such as split tunneling, a system-wide kill-switch, a password manager, TrustedServer technology, and the Lightway protocol, in every subscription.
Proton VPN offers Proton Unlimited, which includes the VPN along with ProtonMail, ProtonDrive, ProtonCalendar, and ProtonPass, for $12.99 per month. This suite ensures comprehensive online privacy.
Proton VPN wins on price for basic VPN capabilities. However, Proton’s Unlimited package provides more functionality for a comparable price. Therefore, Proton offers better value.
2. Express VPN vs Proton VPN: Which is Faster?
While Express VPN was once the fastest, other providers have recently shown impressive speeds. Testing of Express VPN’s OpenVPN protocol averaged 210Mbps, sufficient for multiple connections in a household. Their Lightway protocol reached around 410Mbps, almost double the OpenVPN speeds.
Proton VPN’s speeds are even more impressive. Their OpenVPN speeds reached 400Mbps, while their WireGuard implementation maxed out the connection at 950Mbps. Proton VPN ensures seamless browsing, streaming, and gaming.
3. Express VPN vs Proton VPN: Which is More Secure?
When connecting to a VPN, you entrust your data security to the provider. A robust VPN protects against hackers, government surveillance, and advertisers, while a weak one exposes your data. Prioritize VPNs that prioritize data security.
Express VPN and Proton VPN are reputable for data security. Both use AES-256 encryption to protect your data. They also use OpenVPN, an open-source protocol known for its balance of speed, security, and flexibility, trusted by enterprises worldwide.
Express VPN uses its Lightway protocol, designed for faster connections and better performance on changing internet connections.
Proton VPN uses WireGuard, an open-source protocol offering faster speeds than OpenVPN. WireGuard is lightweight and easy to audit, reducing battery consumption on devices like laptops and phones.
Express VPN enforces a strict no-logs policy using RAM-only servers, which cannot store permanent user data between reboots. This applies to their zero-knowledge DNS servers, ensuring DNS requests are handled within the VPN tunnel, preventing ISP spying.
Express VPN commissions third-party privacy policy and code security audits to demonstrate trustworthiness. Between 2022 and 2023, Express VPN underwent 12 independent audits using KPMG and Cure53.
However, in February 2024, a DNS leak in Express VPN’s Windows client silently sent DNS requests outside the VPN connection when Split Tunneling was enabled. Although affecting only 1% of Windows users, Express VPN disabled the functionality and launched an investigation, resulting in a patched client and research on DNS leak classification.
Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, known for strong privacy laws. Proton VPN has a strict no-logs policy backed by the courts and has been independently audited by Securitum. While ProtonMail has been compelled to disclose user IPs, there is no equivalent ruling for VPN use, ensuring Proton VPN is not required to hand over user details.
Proton VPN’s reputation for privacy is robust, making it a strong choice for security-conscious users.
4. Express VPN vs Proton VPN: Which is Better for Streaming?
Streaming service unblocking is a key consideration. Many VPNs claim to unblock streaming services, but providers like Netflix block known VPN IP addresses. A reliable VPN should consistently bypass these blocks.
Express VPN is known for unblocking nearly every streaming site. All Netflix libraries in the US, UK, Japan, Australia, and Canada worked without issue. Other streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, 9Now, 10 play, ITVX, and Channel 4 also worked seamlessly.
Proton VPN is less focused on streaming, so some niche sites may not work. During testing, all Netflix libraries worked perfectly, along with most major providers. However, 10 play was inaccessible, a common issue with many VPN providers. ITVX required switching across a few UK-based servers to find one that worked.
Express VPN is the better option for consistent and comprehensive streaming unblocking.
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5. Express VPN vs Proton VPN: Which Has Better Apps?
VPN app design is subjective. Some prefer minimalist interfaces, while others want extensive customization options.
Express VPN’s desktop app is designed for simplicity. The main interface features a large power button to connect and disconnect. The smart location feature suggests the optimal server based on your location.
The server menu is well-organized, allowing you to choose from servers in 105 countries. Servers are listed alphabetically, and you can search for specific locations. Express VPN also offers a favorites system for quick access to frequently used servers.
Proton VPN’s desktop app features a stylish black and purple theme with a world map for server selection. It includes an in-depth server list, an indicator showing your current IP address, and a graph displaying data speeds and bandwidth use. This can be overwhelming for new users, but helpful tool-tips are provided.
Proton VPN’s app is more complex but visually appealing.
6. Express VPN vs Proton VPN: Which Has Better Extra Features?
The VPN industry continually adds extra functionality to offer better value.
Express VPN focuses on core VPN functionality but includes notable extras. All servers run on TrustedServer technology, operating the server OS entirely in RAM. This ensures no user data is permanently stored.
Express VPN uses private DNS on every server, handling DNS requests with the same encryption and security as the rest of your internet traffic. Threat Manager, a DNS-based blocklist, prevents ads and intrusive content from monitoring your online activities.
Express Keys, an integrated password manager, creates, stores, and autofills strong passwords on any device running Express VPN.
Proton VPN offers a free version with unlimited bandwidth and three countries. Paid versions include additional features.
The Stealth Protocol bypasses VPN blocks and censorship by disguising VPN traffic. This makes Proton VPN available in countries with heavy internet restrictions.
VPN Accelerator technology improves connection speeds by optimizing VPN traffic routing through multithreading in OpenVPN and rewriting Linux for faster packet processing.
Proton VPN’s Secure Core allows you to route traffic through an intermediary server before the endpoint server. Even if the endpoint server is compromised, it will only show a connection to another VPN server instead of your home IP address.
Perfect Forward Secrecy encrypts each session with a different key, preventing past data decryption even if the current session key is compromised.
Tor over VPN sends all internet traffic through a VPN server and then over the Tor network, providing double protection. You can also access the onion network without installing additional software.
Proton VPN offers a range of advanced security and privacy features.
7. Express VPN vs Proton VPN: Final Verdict
Both Express VPN and Proton VPN are excellent VPN providers. The better choice depends on your priorities.
For streaming, Express VPN is the superior option. It’s simple to set up, offers fast speeds for 4K content, and provides over 100 locations to unblock content.
For general use, Proton VPN offers a comprehensive ecosystem of privacy tools, making it ideal for privacy enthusiasts. Consider Proton’s Unlimited plan for migrating email subscriptions, password managers, and more.
NordVPN is another strong alternative, combining high speed, robust security tools, and unblocking capabilities at an affordable price. It has been audited multiple times and offers unique features like Meshnet for building your own filesharing VPN.
Ultimately, the best VPN depends on your specific needs and preferences.
8. What are the Key Differences Between Express VPN and Proton VPN in Terms of Speed?
Proton VPN generally offers faster speeds than Express VPN, especially when using the WireGuard protocol. Proton VPN’s WireGuard implementation can max out connections at 950Mbps, while Express VPN’s Lightway protocol reaches around 410Mbps.
9. How Do Express VPN and Proton VPN Compare in Terms of Privacy and Logging Policies?
Both VPNs have strict no-logs policies. Express VPN uses RAM-only servers to prevent data storage, while Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, which has strong privacy laws. Both have been audited to verify their policies, but Express VPN has faced DNS leak issues in the past.
10. Which VPN is Better for Streaming Geo-Restricted Content, Express VPN or Proton VPN?
Express VPN is generally better for streaming geo-restricted content. It reliably unblocks a wider range of streaming services and Netflix libraries compared to Proton VPN.
11. What Extra Security Features Do Express VPN and Proton VPN Offer?
Express VPN offers TrustedServer technology, private DNS, and Threat Manager. Proton VPN provides a Stealth Protocol, VPN Accelerator, Secure Core, Perfect Forward Secrecy, and Tor over VPN.
12. How User-Friendly are the Apps of Express VPN and Proton VPN?
Express VPN’s app is designed for simplicity, with a straightforward interface. Proton VPN’s app is more complex, featuring a world map and detailed server information, which can be overwhelming for beginners.
13. Which VPN Offers Better Value for Money, Considering Features and Pricing?
Proton VPN generally offers better value for money, especially with its free version and lower-priced plans. Proton Unlimited provides a full suite of privacy tools at a competitive price.
14. What are the Server Locations Offered by Express VPN and Proton VPN?
Express VPN offers servers in 105 countries, while Proton VPN’s server locations are more limited. Express VPN’s wider server distribution makes it easier to find a server that suits your needs.
15. How Do Express VPN and Proton VPN Handle DNS Requests and Protection Against DNS Leaks?
Express VPN uses private DNS servers and has faced DNS leak issues in the past, which they have since addressed. Proton VPN also provides DNS leak protection and is based in a jurisdiction with strong privacy laws.
16. What Kind of Customer Support Do Express VPN and Proton VPN Offer?
Express VPN is known for its excellent 24/7 customer support. Proton VPN’s support site can be difficult to navigate, but they also offer customer support options.
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