ProtonVPN vs ExpressVPN
A detailed head-to-head comparison of ProtonVPN and ExpressVPN based on our 100-point scoring system.
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN Plus Service
85/100
Very Good4.5
8,934 reviews
Winner
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN Premium VPN Service
91/100
Excellent4.7
16,842 reviews
Side-by-Side Comparison
Metric
ProtonVPN
ExpressVPN
Overall Score
85/100
91/100
Price
$120.00
$100.00
Customer Rating
4.5/5
4.7/5
Review Count
8,934
16,842
Best For
Best for Privacy Purists
Best for Speed & Streaming
About Page
Yes
Yes
Contact Info
Yes
Yes
ProtonVPN — Score Breakdown
Privacy & Security24/25
Speed & Performance15/20
Server Network13/15
Price & Value11/15
Ease of Use8/10
Customer Support4/5
Streaming & Unblocking10/10
ExpressVPN — Score Breakdown
Privacy & Security23/25
Speed & Performance19/20
Server Network13/15
Price & Value11/15
Ease of Use10/10
Customer Support5/5
Streaming & Unblocking10/10
Pros & Cons
ProtonVPN
Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, and Secure Core architecture provide the strongest combined privacy foundation of any commercial VPN in our rankings.
Genuine unlimited free tier with no data caps — a uniquely credible entry point that lets users evaluate the full service quality before committing to a paid plan.
7,600+ servers in 110 countries is the largest server count among our top five VPNs, though this is partly because Proton counts virtual servers differently from some competitors.
At $9.99/month or roughly $5.99/month on an annual plan, ProtonVPN Plus is priced at or above ExpressVPN depending on the billing term, which is difficult to justify on speed or feature breadth alone.
Speed performance is behind NordVPN and ExpressVPN in independent testing — WireGuard implementation delivers good results but does not match NordLynx or Lightspeed for high-bandwidth use cases.
The interface, while functional, has a steeper learning curve than ExpressVPN or Surfshark — features like Secure Core require understanding the multi-hop routing model to use effectively.
ExpressVPN
Consistently fastest speeds in independent third-party testing — ideal for 4K streaming and gaming.
TrustedServer RAM-disk architecture provides a uniquely strong no-logs guarantee that has been independently audited.
Polished, beginner-friendly apps across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, and browser extensions.
At $8.32/month on an annual plan, ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive mainstream VPN options — competitors like Surfshark offer unlimited devices at a fraction of the cost.
The 8-device simultaneous connection limit, while adequate for individuals, is tighter than the unlimited plans offered by Surfshark and some other rivals.
No free tier makes it harder to test the service before committing financially, even with the 30-day money-back guarantee.
Our Verdict
ExpressVPN comes out ahead with a score of 91/100 compared to 85/100. ExpressVPN is best for best for speed & streaming. However, ProtonVPN may be a better fit if you prioritize best for privacy purists.
VPN services do not guarantee complete anonymity. Effectiveness depends on the provider's infrastructure and policies. Always review the provider's privacy policy and applicable laws in your jurisdiction.