PIA vs ExpressVPN (2024): Which VPN Is Better?

Personal Web Entry VPN and ExpressVPN are two of the fastest-performing VPNs I’ve examined thus far. With each choices offering top-tier VPN speeds, it might be laborious to decide on which resolution you and your online business ought to go for.

Happily, each VPN companies have their very own distinctive promoting factors that differentiate them from each other. On one hand, PIA VPN presents actually good worth with its reasonably priced paid subscriptions and a number of machine connections. Alternatively, ExpressVPN prioritizes providing a easy and dependable consumer expertise — albeit for a better price ticket.

On this article, we check out which VPN is finest for you and your group.

• Personal Web Entry: Finest for startups and budget-conscious customers that need quick VPN speeds and limitless machine connections at an reasonably priced worth.
• ExpressVPN: Finest for small-to-medium sized companies on the lookout for a well-designed and user-friendly VPN utility whereas providing quick and dependable speeds.

Personal Web Entry VPN vs ExpressVPN: Comparability

Personal Web Entry VPN vs ExpressVPN: Pricing

Each PIA VPN and ExpressVPN provide three subscription tiers that modify relying on the contract size. Personally, I like this strategy because it simplifies the shopping for course of in comparison with different VPNs that categorize their plans relying on the variety of options included in a specific tier.

Personal Web Entry VPN pricing

PIA VPN comes with three plans: a one-month, an annual and a three-year subscription. All three subscription plans present the identical performance, with the one distinction being the ultimate contract size.

• 1 month: $11.95 per 30 days.
• 1 12 months: $3.33 per 30 days.
• 3 years: $2.03 per 30 days.

Sadly, PIA VPN doesn’t have a free model. Nonetheless, it does provide a free trial through its cell utility. Fortunately, you need to use PIA VPN on desktop after accessing the free trial both by means of Android or iOS. I’m additionally comfortable to report that this trial doesn’t require any fee or bank card info to entry.

If you wish to study extra, learn our full Personal Web Entry VPN overview.

ExpressVPN pricing

ExpressVPN has three plans: a month-to-month, a six-month and an annual subscription. Like PIA VPN, all three plan choices present the identical characteristic set.

• 1 month: $12.95 per 30 days.
• 6 months: $9.99 per 30 days.
• 1 12 months: $8.32 per 30 days.

ExpressVPN at present doesn’t provide a devoted free model. What it does provide is the same seven-day free trial that’s accessible by means of its Android or iOS cell utility. One key distinction in comparison with PIA’s trial, nonetheless, is that ExpressVPN’s free trial requires fee info to entry.

SEE: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN Is Finest? (TechRepublic)

To be clear, the trial is free and ExpressVPN received’t cost you till after the seven-day interval. However if you would like a free trial that doesn’t require handing over any fee info, PIA VPN is the higher possibility.

If you wish to study extra, learn our full ExpressVPN overview.

Personal Web Entry VPN vs ExpressVPN: Characteristic comparability

Safety protocols and encryption

Winner: Tie

By way of safety protocols and encryption, PIA VPN and ExpressVPN each rating a degree. Each PIA VPN and ExpressVPN carry safety protocols constructed each for safety and pace.

PIA VPN lets customers select between OpenVPN and WireGuard, whereas ExpressVPN comes with OpenVPN and its proprietary Lightway protocol. In accordance with ExpressVPN, Lightway is designed to supply a speedy and safe VPN expertise.

I personally assume having OpenVPN for safety and both WireGuard or Lightway for pace is a good stability in a modern-day VPN. I’m glad PIA and ExpressVPN didn’t skimp on this side.

SEE: Tips on how to Begin a Profession in Cybersecurity (TechRepublic Premium)

We get the identical story within the encryption division, with each PIA VPN and ExpressVPN using the military-grade AES-256 encryption algorithm.

In 2024, I virtually take into account having AES encryption a requirement because it’s well known as one of the vital uncrackable encryption algorithms right now. A lot in order that it’s utilized by the likes of america authorities and banking establishments to maintain their information protected.

VPN server community and areas

Winner: ExpressVPN

Wanting into each VPN’s respective server networks, I’ve to offer the win to ExpressVPN for its extra numerous location unfold in comparison with PIA VPN. As of July 2024, ExpressVPN’s server community consists of servers from 105 nations. It additionally has a reported 3,000+ servers in its fleet.

On the flipside, PIA VPN’s server suite has VPN servers from a decent 91 nations. Whereas PIA doesn’t explicitly disclose its server depend, reviews have it at round 10,000 to 35,000 servers.

Whereas having numerous servers might look like the higher alternative, I discover extra worth in ExpressVPN’s bigger location unfold.

With VPN servers from 105 nations, people and companies can have a wider and extra numerous vary of areas to select from in comparison with PIA VPN’s 91-country suite. That is going to be significantly helpful for companies whose most important purpose with a VPN is to unblock geo-blocked content material.

Third-party audits and observe data

Winner: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN’s spectacular and constant impartial third-party audits give it the win when it comes to third-party testing and observe document. As of Might 2024, the VPN has undergone a commendable 18 impartial audits, with the most recent one particularly testing its Privateness Coverage claims.

Its portfolio of safety audits is at present unmatched within the VPN house, having audits courting again to 2018. Its third-party exams embrace wanting into important features of its service like its no-logs coverage, VPN protocols, server tech and browser extension.

This isn’t to low cost PIA VPN’s efforts on the audit facet, because it has additionally undergone necessary third-party audits for its service. Its most up-to-date audit was printed in April 2024, the place Deloitte reviewed PIA VPN’s server community and administration programs. In addition they often publish Transparency Stories that include particulars on courtroom orders or information requests despatched to its authorized division.

Which means regardless for those who select PIA VPN or ExpressVPN, you’re going to be utilizing a safe and examined VPN. That being stated, if we’re strictly speaking about which supplier has extra audits, for an extended time frame, ExpressVPN is the higher alternative on this spherical.

Efficiency and pace

Winner: ExpressVPN

In the case of pace and general efficiency, ExpressVPN will get the slight edge over PIA VPN. Per my testing, ExpressVPN gave me extra constant speeds and a comparatively smoother app expertise.

To check each VPNs, I did my ordinary workflow as a author of getting a number of tabs open for analysis, utilizing Google Workspace apps like Docs and Drive, attending on-line video conferences and streaming the occasional 4k YouTube video.

With ExpressVPN specifically, I obtained nice speeds and reliability. There have been zero noticeable drops in connection pace, and all of the websites I visited loaded shortly. ExpressVPN additionally carried out effectively in my pace testing. For downloads, it recorded a 25.57% lower in comparison with my web service supplier, whereas for add speeds, it garnered a 27.96% drop.

For me, a 30-40% drop in pace is the place I’d anticipate most VPNs to fall below, so ExpressVPN’s pace outcomes are wonderful.

Alternatively, PIA VPN additionally carried out effectively when it comes to pace. I had related ends in day-to-day use and customarily loved constant speeds all through utilizing PIA VPN. For its pace exams, PIA VPN truly recorded a smaller lower in obtain speeds at only a 17.1% drop. For uploads, it had a good 32.8% lower in speeds as effectively.

The place PIA VPN lags behind is in-app efficiency. Throughout my time with PIA, I skilled a bizarre bug the place I had hassle connecting to a server after switching to its WireGuard protocol. This was bizarre contemplating I didn’t encounter the identical situation whereas utilizing OpenVPN. Fortunately, the bug resolved itself after restarting the appliance twice.

In distinction, I had no such expertise with ExpressVPN and located the app to run easily all all through my time with it. Whereas this might very effectively be a one-off bug, my testing confirmed that ExpressVPN will present higher general efficiency than PIA VPN.

I additionally must shout out ExpressVPN for its add outcomes. Most VPNs provide good pace check outcomes for obtain speeds solely. So, I discover it spectacular that ExpressVPN’s obtain and add speeds carried out equally throughout my pace exams.

Standout safety features

Winner: Personal Web Entry VPN

Whereas each VPNs have related options on high of the principle VPN, PIA appears to have a greater set of extra safety features. It consists of superior VPN-centric safety features like community automation, which routinely connects you to the VPN after sure situations are met; multi-hop performance, which routes consumer site visitors into two completely different servers; and obfuscated servers, which masks that you just’re utilizing a VPN.

Whereas not a characteristic per se, PIA VPN’s purposes are additionally open supply. Which means its supply code is publicly out there for overview — a plus for companies that worth transparency and privateness within the software program they use.

You even have the choice to buy PIA VPN’s antivirus and devoted IP companies as add-ons to your VPN subscription. Whereas I’d’ve appreciated both to be bundled in, it’s nice that we have now that possibility for customers seeking to have extra safety capabilities with the prevailing VPN plan.

On the flipside, a spotlight of ExpressVPN’s safety features is its TrustedServer RAM-only server expertise, which ensures consumer information is wiped at each reboot and isn’t written on firm laborious drives. It additionally bundles in ExpressVPN Keys — its personal devoted password supervisor that’s included with any ExpressVPN subscription. It is a cool addition, particularly if your online business doesn’t have a password administration resolution but.

Each VPNs come along with your customary VPN options, like cut up tunneling, kill swap and built-in advert/tracker/malware blockers. Whereas having a devoted password supervisor is attractive, I really feel PIA VPN’s open-source software program and VPN-focused options give it the benefit on this spherical.

Ease of use and design

Winner: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN takes the cake with regards to ease of use and design. Subjectively talking, I really feel ExpressVPN has one of the best stability of design and intuitiveness in a VPN utility right now.

It has a giant energy button as your On/Off swap, a easy record the place you’ll find your servers and a settings menu that’s neatly organized for straightforward entry to options. The design additionally feels and appears fashionable with out sacrificing general performance.

A private spotlight for me is how ExpressVPN’s browser extension acts as a distant management for the desktop app. This provides to the excessive degree of polish and user-friendliness that ExpressVPN brings.

PIA VPN’s interface has its personal deserves as effectively. PIA VPN’s desktop and browser purposes are customizable, enabling customers to bookmark their most used VPN options on the high.

As a tinkerer, I recognize PIA VPN giving customers the sort of management over their VPN expertise. The app itself can be comparatively straightforward to make use of and doesn’t have any obvious negatives from a design standpoint.

Nonetheless, if we take each VPN apps facet by facet, it’s clear that ExpressVPN has a extra polished and refined consumer interface than PIA VPN.

Simultaneous machine connections

Winner: Personal Web Entry VPN

One large benefit PIA VPN has over ExpressVPN is with simultaneous machine connections, permitting for an infinite variety of gadgets in comparison with ExpressVPN’s most of eight gadgets linked on the identical time.

That is necessary given that the majority companies don’t wish to spend an extra subscription to guard a number of gadgets. It definitely will increase PIA VPN’s worth proposition, contemplating it has a extra reasonably priced annual plan in comparison with ExpressVPN’s equal subscription.

I additionally discover that limitless simultaneous connections function a handy set-and-forget characteristic since PIA customers received’t have to fret about exceeding the utmost machine restrict when utilizing the VPN.

Supported platforms

Winner: ExpressVPN

By way of official platform help, ExpressVPN has a slight benefit over PIA VPN. ExpressVPN helps the principle platforms resembling Home windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.

If we have a look at browser help, ExpressVPN has official browser extensions for Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Vivaldi, Chromium and Courageous browsers. Sadly, there’s at present no Safari help for ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN additionally helps extra area of interest platforms like Chromebooks, the Amazon Hearth pill, Amazon Hearth Stick and Hearth TV, Apple TV, Google TV and Android TV. You may as well manually configure ExpressVPN for routers and media and gaming consoles like older technology Apple TVs, the Nintendo Swap, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Ps 3, PS4 and PS5.

In the meantime, PIA VPN helps a variety of platforms in its personal proper, having official apps for Home windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. It additionally helps routers, Amazon Hearth TV and Hearth Stick, Android TVs, PS4, PS5, Xbox and the Nintendo Swap.

Official browser help is the place PIA VPN loses out, because it solely has apps for Chrome, Firefox and Opera in the meanwhile. Whereas help is extra of a case-to-case side of VPNs, ExpressVPN has the slight benefit when it comes to general platform compatibility.

Worth for cash

Winner: Personal Web Entry VPN

PIA VPN takes the value-for-money spherical, given its extra reasonably priced pricing throughout all its subscriptions. If we have a look at each VPN’s base annual plans, ExpressVPN’s $8.32 per 30 days is greater than twice the value of PIA VPN’s $3.33 per 30 days subscription. After one 12 months, that’s roughly $100 for ExpressVPN and simply $40 for PIA VPN.

The pricing for each suppliers’ month-to-month plans is nearer, at $11.95 per 30 days for PIA and $12.95 per 30 days for ExpressVPN.

I do discover it bizarre that ExperssVPN’s longest-term subscription is for a one-year contract. Usually, VPN’s provide a two-year or three-year plan with decrease month-to-month charges to entice customers to choose in for longer, at a extra reasonably priced worth. On this case, solely PIA has that kind of plan with its three-year subscription at $2.03 per 30 days, or simply above $24 per 12 months.

Whereas ExpressVPN appears to justify this increased price ticket with its extra refined utility and bigger server community, PIA VPN’s considerably extra reasonably priced pricing is a significant benefit.

Lastly, the kicker is the worth you get with PIA VPN’s limitless simultaneous machine connections. At $3.33 per 30 days, you get to attach all laptops, smartphones and different gadgets to a PIA VPN server with out worrying about exceeding a most machine restrict.

Personal Web Entry VPN execs and cons

Professionals

• Limitless simultaneous machine connections.
• Customizable VPN utility.
• 7-day free trial through cell; no fee data required.

Cons

• WireGuard protocol may be buggy at occasions.
• No free model.

ExpressVPN execs and cons

Professionals

• Refined and polished consumer expertise.
• Server community throughout 105 nations.
• Constant and dependable VPN speeds.

Cons

• Costly annual plan.
• Solely permits as much as 8 simultaneous machine connections.
• Lacks extra reasonably priced, long run subscription.

Ought to your group use Personal Web Entry VPN or ExpressVPN?

After an intense match-up, ExpressVPN comes out as our winner on this comparability. With its broad 105-country server community, dependable and quick VPN speeds and polished desktop expertise, I’m assured most companies or customers that select ExpressVPN will likely be comfortable clients.

Add to that its sturdy portfolio of impartial audits and in depth help for a number of working programs, and also you get a high-quality VPN resolution that’s definitely worth the worth.

ExpressVPN is finest for small-to-medium sized companies that need a no-nonsense VPN expertise with an easy-to-use interface and dependable efficiency.

This isn’t to say that PIA VPN isn’t an excellent possibility — fairly the opposite. I consider PIA VPN supplies actually good worth with its stable 91-country server fleet, customizable utility and open-source software program.

PIA VPN is finest for startups, small groups and budget-conscious customers that need a bang-for-buck VPN that may cowl a number of gadgets whereas nonetheless providing quick VPN speeds.

Methodology

My comparability of Personal Web Entry VPN and ExpressVPN concerned an in-depth evaluation of each VPNs’ included options, general worth and real-world efficiency.

To evaluate every VPN, each PIA VPN and ExpressVPN have been scored on the whole lot from their server networks to pricing. Particularly, I checked out 5 most important pillars for analysis, every having corresponding weights:

• Pricing (20%).
• Core VPN options (30%).
• Ease of use (15%).
• Buyer help (30%).
• Knowledgeable evaluation (5%).

If you’d like extra particulars, you possibly can take a look at our full VPN Evaluate Methodology.

As well as, I additionally analyzed actual consumer suggestions to spherical out my last suggestions for each Personal Web Entry VPN and ExpressVPN.

For pace and efficiency, I examined each VPNs on my private Home windows laptop computer and ran them by means of Ookla’s public Speedtest. Lastly, I additionally thought of which sorts of companies or customers would finest profit from both Personal Web Entry VPN or ExpressVPN.