Private Internet Access vs ExpressVPN 2024: Which Takes the Win?

Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN both offer a solid virtual private network (VPN) to enhance your privacy and security while using the internet. Private Internet Access offers a more cost-effective solution plus unlimited simultaneous connections, whereas ExpressVPN allows for faster speeds and comes with additional features to justify its higher price point. 

Let’s look at what Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN have to offer so you can decide which one is best for you.

Private Internet Access vs. ExpressVPN at a glance

ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access are both great VPN solutions that offer a variety of features. You’ll notice small differences between the two, including the number of connected devices, cost, features, and more.

Private Internet Access is significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN if you’re willing to commit to a two-year contract. It also allows you to have unlimited devices connected at a time, which increases your subscription value, whereas ExpressVPN allows up to 8.

On the other hand, though, ExpressVPN was speedier during our tests — likely thanks to its Lightway protocol. It also has features like a built-in password manager, ad and tracker blockers, and more.

• Private Internet Access: Best for affordability
• ExpressVPN: Best for additional features

How do Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN compare?

Price	From $2.03/mo (billed every two years)	From $6.25/mo (billed annually)
Max # of connected devices	Unlimited	8
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and more	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and more
# of servers	Unlisted in 91 countries and 50 U.S. states	Unlisted in 105 countries
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPsec	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?
Learn more	Get Private Internet Access Read Private Internet Access Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

Private Internet Access pros and cons

ExpressVPN pros and cons

Which VPN is the better value?

Private Internet Access is significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN, plus it offers unlimited simultaneous connections.

	Our Pick
Price range	$2.03–$11.99/mo	$4.99–$12.95/mo
Best value plan	2-year plan for $2.03/mo (billed every two years)	12-month plan for $6.25/mo (billed annually)
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 30 days
Learn more	Get Private Internet Access Read Private Internet Access Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

If you’re looking to select a VPN based on cost, you’re going to want to commit to a longer-term subscription to get the best rate. Private Internet Access has the most affordable option, at $2.03/mo (billed every two years) for a two-year plan. Otherwise, you can pay for a six-month plan for $7.50/mo (billed every six months) or a monthly plan for $11.99/mo.

We also like that Private Internet Access lets you connect an unlimited number of devices, so you can protect your entire household with one subscription. 

ExpressVPN's longest subscription term is annual, but it's significantly more than PIA. You’ll pay $6.25/mo (billed annually) for 12 months. There's also a six-month plan for $9.99/mo (billed every six months) and a monthly plan for $12.95/mo.

Now if you would like to test out one of these VPNs before committing to it, both services offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Just remember to submit your refund request within 30 days — set a reminder on your phone, just in case.

Payment options

Paying for your VPN access can happen in several different ways, depending on the VPN you choose. 

PIA separates its payment options based on whether the user chooses a non-recurring subscription or a recurring subscription. Recurring subscription users are encouraged to pay with credit cards, PayPal, and other options. Non-recurring subscription users are encouraged to pay with cryptocurrency, Paygarden, and iDeal.

ExpressVPN also allows a variety of payments, including bitcoin if users want their payments anonymous. 

Private Internet Access payment options

• Credit card
• PayPal
• Amazon Pay
• Cryptocurrencies
• Paygarden
• Third-party gift cards
• iDeal

ExpressVPN payment options

• Credit card
• PayPal
• BitPay
• Paymentwall

Which VPN is faster?

ExpressVPN increased our speeds with every server we tried, while Private Internet Access still slowed our speeds. 

Server location		Our Pick
US	6% slower	4% faster
CA	9% slower	7% faster
UK	51% slower	10% faster
AU	50% slower	3% faster
Learn more	Get Private Internet Access Read Private Internet Access Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

A key component in finding the right VPN is ensuring your internet speed is not drastically affected once you’re connected. That's why we test all the VPNs we review.  

First, we recorded our internet speed with no VPN connection, also known as baseline speed. Then, we connected to servers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia to measure how much these VPNs would impact our baseline speed.

Overall, ExpressVPN performed higher when it came to overall speed. Although we didn't notice a difference while browsing, we actually had faster speeds with every server we tested. 

Private Internet Access put some small dents in our speeds with the U.S. and Canadian servers. However, it halved our speeds with the U.K. and Australian servers, which is a significant drop. 

Which VPN is more secure?

ExpressVPN is more secure with its privacy-friendly headquarters and enhanced VPN features. 

Feature		Our Pick
Server count	Unlisted in 91 countries and 50 U.S. states	Unlisted in 105 countries
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
VPN headquarters	United States	British Virgin Islands
Encryption	AES-128-GCM or AES-256-GCM	AES-256
VPN protocol	WireGuard, IPsec, OpenVPN	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2
Kill switch
Split tunneling
DNS leak protection
Ad blocker
Learn more	Get Private Internet Access Read Private Internet Access Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN have fairly similar features. However, these services differ when it comes to their logs policies, headquarters, and protocol.

Depending on your use case, the VPN’s headquarters and logs policy may not matter to you. Both ExpressVPN and PIA tout no-logs policies for their VPN services. To ensure these VPNs keep no logs, they often have an independent party examine their protections.

ExpressVPN’s last audit was completed in December 2023 by KPMG. KPMG found no issues with ExpressVPN’s no-log policy. PIA's last audit was completed in April 2024 by Deloitte. This audit also showed that PIA’s no-logs policy is sufficient and does not pinpoint user data.

However, PIA is headquartered in the U.S. This location may be a point of concern because the U.S. is part of the Five Eyes alliance. Being part of this intelligence-sharing alliance, PIA may be required to turn over user data to other Eyes countries.

ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, which is outside of data-sharing alliances. 

ExpressVPN also goes above and beyond for features. For one, it created the Lightway protocol for faster, more secure, and more reliable connections. 

ExpressVPN also has some additional features to make its subscription worthwhile. You'll get Keys, ExpressVPN's built-in password manager and Threat Manager, which blocks trackers on apps and websites. 

PIA does have a similar feature, known as PIA MACE. It can  tackle ads, tracker, and malware.

Which VPN has the better compatibility and customer service?

ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access are evenly matched with compatibility and customer service, but we'll give the win to ExpressVPN for its easy-to-use support tools. 

		Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Router
Smart devices
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Opera	Chrome, Firefox, Edge
24/7 live chat
Customer support options	Live chat, email, online guides	Live chat, email, online guides
Learn more	Get Private Internet Access Read Private Internet Access Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

Overall, both Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN have user-friendly interfaces that make it easy to connect to a server in any country available. However, ExpressVPN’s preferences seemed to be less robust than PIA.

Each had settings for VPN protocols, but PIA had additional settings to customize the service for your needs, including the icon color, where the VPN dashboard is displayed, as well as automation and multi-hop settings. We found it was easier to update PIA’s settings and adjust the VPN to our liking.

Customer support and resources are also an important part of choosing a VPN. Although PIA and ExpressVPN should be easy-to-use solutions, there can always be issues where you need to reach out for assistance or troubleshooting. Both have robust content libraries that help users find answers to frequently asked questions.

When testing ExpressVPN, we were having trouble with our internet connection stopping after connecting. We used the ExpressVPN support center to find the answer to our issue, which ended up being a problem with our router, not the VPN.

ExpressVPN and PIA also offer 24-hour chat support, so you can ask any questions if necessary. We didn’t have any issues to discuss with them, but it was easy to engage the chat and get access to a live agent. The only issue we found was finding the chat icon when using PIA. If you’re inside the PIA support portal, the chatbot doesn’t pop up as it would on the regular site.

Both VPNs encourage the user to use the live chat feature as the first contact point. When selecting Contact Us in ExpressVPN’s footer, it automatically brings up the chat window. PIA has a live chat pop-up on the site and a submission form to contact its support teams.

FAQs

Is Private Internet Access or ExpressVPN better?

Now that we’ve looked at both VPNs to see the variety of features, along with the pros and cons, which one should you choose? Overall, these VPNs are pretty evenly stacked. However, we think ExpressVPN inches forward as the winner overall.

We like that ExpressVPN has faster speeds than PIA VPN. We also have concerns about PIA being headquartered in the U.S., which means ExpressVPN offers a higher level of privacy at the end of the day.

We also liked some additional features of ExpressVPN, including a speed test that tests every server location to find the fastest speeds and smallest latency across its network.

Private Internet Access vs. ExpressVPN alternatives

Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN are two of our favorite services, but there are plenty of options to consider. Here are some other options we recommend if you're still researching: