Two of the most often used VPNs are ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA). The former is known for having exceptional streaming capabilities, while the latter is popular for having the most extensive server network on the market.
Despite being owned by the same business, Kape Technologies Ltd., we wanted to see if there was a substantial difference between the two VPNs.
Based on our extensive testing process, we compare how ExpressVPN and PIA performed in several testing categories in this VPN comparison.
ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access: Head to Head Comparison
Before we go into the details, let’s take a look at the fundamentals of each service to see where they lie:
| ExpressVPN | PIA | |
| Trustpilot Rating: | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Servers: | 3000+ servers in 94 countries | 35000+ servers in 80+ countries |
| Logs policy: | No logs | No logs |
| Pricing: | Starts from $8.32/month | Starts from $2.19/month |
| VPN protocols: | Lightway, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, IKEv2 | OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2 |
| Streaming Compatibility: | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, and more | Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, and more |
| Platforms: | Windows, iOS, Firefox, Chrome, Edge, macOS, Linux, and Android | iOS, Windows, Mac, and Android |
| Simultaneous connections: | 5 devices | 10 devices |
| Support: | 24/7 live chat, knowledge base, FAQs, email support | 24/7 live chat, FAQs, knowledge base, email support |
ExpressVPN vs PIA speed test: Which one is faster?
ExpressVPN is known for being one of the fastest VPN services available. Lightway, their groundbreaking in-house tunnelling protocol, has proven to be effective in our experience.
We tested a variety of servers and found that the average download speed was over 80 Mbps on our 100 Mbps connection. This is truly fantastic: our internet connection was unaffected whether we were watching videos or playing online games.
It’s a shame we weren’t able to evaluate WireGuard’s speed results when utilizing Private Internet Access VPN. WireGuard is, after all, one of the best tunneling protocols available today, surpassed only by Lightway and NordVPN’s NordLynx. It’s lightning fast, secure, but was incompatible with our Windows operating system using PIA.
Because we couldn’t test PIA VPN’s WireGuard protocol, we decided to examine the second best alternative, OpenVPN.
| VPN Protocol | ExpressVPN Download Speeds | PIA Download Speeds |
| OpenVPN UDP | 82.65 Mbps | 64.19 |
| OpenVPN TCP | 75 Mbps | 40.24 |
With Private Internet Access, using OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) can be hit or miss. This is because the speeds may vary significantly depending on the country where the server is located.
Our download speed was around 40 Mbps while connected to the server in India, for example. When we connected to a Swiss server later, though, it jumped to 64 Mbps. This is understandable considering Switzerland is significantly closer to our location.
ExpressVPN had faster speeds on average when utilizing the OpenVPN protocol, as you can see. Furthermore, the speed fluctuations were not as severe as with PIA VPN.
Final Result: ExpressVPN is the Winner!
PIA VPN vs ExpressVPN: Which one has the best features?
ExpressVPN and PIA keep their features simple, which ensures their ease of use. They do, however, have distinguishing characteristics that provide them a competitive advantage over one another. Let’s find out which is better: ExpressVPN vs PIA after reviewing their features:
Split tunneling
One of the most helpful VPN features is split tunnelling. It basically allows you to include or remove VPN traffic on applications.
Split tunneling is available in ExpressVPN’s Windows, macOS, and Android apps, and in PIA VPN’s macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux.
Kill Switch
Users can utilize a kill switch with both ExpressVPN and PIA. The kill switch on ExpressVPN is easier than PIA’s, and it can be turned on or off. If the VPN disconnects, it automatically disables all internet traffic.
On the other hand, PIA’s kill switch includes three options. It can be turned off, auto, or always. It blocks outside only traffic while the VPN is running in “auto” mode, and it blocks all traffic if the VPN is turned off in “always” mode. Only the “always” setting ensures that your traffic is blocked if the VPN disconnects abruptly.
Truth be told, ExpressVPN’s kill switch has a tiny advantage in terms of usability and security.
Ad-blocker
Private Internet Access offers PIA Mace, which is basically an ad blocker that also stops malware and trackers to help you increase your online privacy. However, please note that ExpressVPN users are deprived of this feature no matter how great the service may be.
Exclusive features
Port forwarding is supported by both Private Internet Access VPN and ExpressVPN, allowing you to access your device from everywhere, operate servers for multiplayer games, and run your own website, among other things. You must use ExpressVPN’s proprietary router application to set up port forwarding, but PIA VPN allows you to do it using one of its mobile or desktop apps.
Private Internet Access VPN, unlike ExpressVPN, includes a SOCKS5 proxy as well as Shadowsocks. When trying to download torrents or trying to get around China’s Great Firewall, using a proxy might be useful. In contrast, ExpressVPN has a way around China’s Firewall. You can use its Stealth server, which means no one will be able to tell you’re using a VPN.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
ExpressVPN vs PIA VPN: which VPN is more secure?
When looking for a reputable VPN service, security is a major factor to consider. Both ExpressVPN and PIA offer most security features that we expect from any VPN, such as a kill switch and an automated connection option.
However, we still looked into ExpressVPN vs PIA security attributes in detail to check out which is better:
Jurisdiction
We prefer ExpressVPN whenever it comes to jurisdiction. This is due to the fact that it is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is a privacy-friendly jurisdiction.
Private Internet Access VPN, on the other hand, is based in the United States, one of the founding members of the Five Eyes alliance. This country is also notorious for its intrusive government, which has been accused of spying on online businesses.
Logging
As for ExpressVPN vs PIA logging policies, the former is a better option. Its privacy policy is simple to comprehend and lays out all of the information. As a result, ExpressVPN does not keep any connection logs, activity logs, browsing history, or other information. Your email address and payment method are the only things it saves.
Furthermore, ExpressVPN has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, implying that all of its privacy claims are accurate.
Private Internet Access says in its privacy policy that it does not collect any logs other than your username, data use, and IP address. When you close the app, this information is erased.
Your email address, payment information, cookie identifiers, country of origin, and ZIP code will be saved on the VPN’s site. However, if you pay with cryptocurrency, you can prevent this.
Aside from that, PIA VPN’s privacy policy is a little confusing. The VPN “may disclose your Personal Data to any members of [its] group of companies,” according to the policy, which is a little scary.
Encryption Protocols
A VPN’s tunneling protocol selection can make or break the service. A large choice of alternatives will always make things much easier, whether you prefer speed or stability.
As a result, ExpressVPN is compliant with the following tunneling protocols:
- Lightway – It is a fast and reliable protocol that is available on macOS, Linux, Windows, and Android.
- OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) – The most widely used tunneling protocol. Its UDP variant is faster, while the TCP variant is more stable.
- IKEv2/IPsec – It is a suitable option for mobile devices.
- L2TP/IPsec – ExpressVPN supports the oldest protocol. Only use it if you can’t connect with any other protocol.
You also get the standard protocols with Private Internet Access:
WireGuard – This protocol is similar to ExpressVPN’s Lightway when it comes to security and speed.
OpenVPN (UDP/TCP)
IKEv2/IPsec
In short, Private Internet Access’ protocol selections isn’t far behind ExpressVPN’s.
Final Result: ExpressVPN is the Winner!
ExpressVPN vs PIA streaming capabilities
Each streaming site we tried ExpressVPN on got unblocked instantly, be it BBC iPlayer, Youtube TV, Netflix US, or even DAZN. It’s also important to note that ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer feature allows you to watch geo-restricted content on a smart TV or virtually on some other device that doesn’t support VPNs.
Now it’s time to talk about Private Internet Access. The reality is a little more disheartening: it didn’t perform as well as ExpressVPN. Netflix’s libraries in the United States and the United Kingdom were inaccessible to us. Surprisingly, we was able to access Indian Netflix’s geo-blocked content.
In addition, neither DAZN nor BBC iPlayer worked for us. We could, however, access geo-blocked stuff on Youtube without issue.
Final Result: ExpressVPN is the Winner!
Torrenting and P2P
P2P activity is unrestricted across the whole ExpressVPN and PIA server network. You can torrent from every server with no restrictions on bandwidth or location.
Both VPN services were evaluated using popular torrent clients such as uTorrent, qBitTorrent, and Deluge. We were able to torrent files successfully on every server, and neither VPN caused any IP or DNS leaks.
ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access are equally reliable for anonymous P2P file-sharing when combined with AES-256 encryption, powerful kill switch capabilities, and secure privacy standards.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Plans and pricing; Which one is more affordable?
| Prices and Plans | ExpressVPN | PIA |
| Periods | 1 month | 1 month |
| 6 months | 6 months | |
| 1 year | 2 years | |
| Special offers and discounts | 35% off on 1 year plan | 3 Years + 3 Free Months |
| Lowest price per month | $8.32/month | $2.03/month |
| Highest price per month | $12.95/mo | $9.95/mo |
When it comes to cost, Private Internet Access VPN comes out on top. However, don’t make your decision only on the basis of financial concerns. If you want to watch geo-blocked content, for example, you should use ExpressVPN because Private Internet Access can’t unblock many streaming websites.
Final Result: PIA is the Winner!
Server locations
ExpressVPN offers a large server network, with over 3000 servers in 94 countries. But neither does PIA, which boasts a world-record-breaking 30000+ servers in 84 countries.
However, ExpressVPN has an edge that PIA doesn’t: RAM-only server technology. It assures that no information is stored on hard drives, and that all data on the servers is wiped clean when they are rebooted.
Final Result: PIA is the Winner!
ExpressVPN vs PIA device compatibility, interface, and ease of use
| App Interface and Usability | ExpressVPN | PIA |
| Location selection | List form | List form |
| Multi-logins | Five | Ten |
| Mobile-friendly apps | Yes | Yes |
| Other devices and operating systems | iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and Mac | iOS, Windows, Android, and macOS |
Compatible apps have a big impact on your VPN selection. We reviewed the desktop and mobile apps, along with browser extensions of both VPNs for our Private Internet Access vs ExpressVPN comparison, and the results are as follows:
Desktop apps
The ExpressVPN and PIA desktop apps have a lot of similarities in our opinion. In addition to a separate tab for the settings menu, both VPNs include a small main window with a large button to establish connection.
PIA’s Windows and Mac apps, on the other hand, are more convenient. That’s because all kinds of information about the connection, such as the encryption, protocol, and the port in use, is readily available.
Furthermore, we believe that Linux users will prefer PIA’s app because it has a similar user experience to the Windows app, making it far easier to use than ExpressVPN. It’s also worth noting that Private Internet Access’ Linux app supports split tunnelling.
Mobile apps
Private Internet Access’ mobile apps (Android and iOS) are very similar to their desktop versions. Of course, this just applies to the main window; when you access the settings, the tab is sized to accommodate the smartphone’s limited screen.
In comparison to PIA’s desktop versions, there aren’t many differences. Keep in mind that for the time being, the iOS app does not support split tunneling.
ExpressVPN’s mobile apps are currently in a similar scenario. With the exception of the settings menu, they have a design that is nearly identical to the desktop apps.
There are, however, some distinctions between the Android and iOS versions, with the former being superior. That’s because ExpressVPN’s Android app includes split tunneling and a kill switch.
Browser extensions
PIA and ExpressVPN both have Chrome and Firefox extensions. These extensions are quite handy because they only protect your privacy when you browse websites but not the rest of your computer.
Please be aware that Private Internet Access, unlike ExpressVPN, also includes an Opera browser extension.
Final Result: PIA is the Winner!
Support Comparison
Both services have large knowledgebases of information. On the official site of ExpressVPN and PIA VPN, there are plenty of FAQ sections, setup manuals, and troubleshooting guides.
For individuals who want to communicate with a live person, there are email tickets and live chat options. As a result, we put both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access’ live chat to the test.
While ExpressVPN’s customer service representative was able to assist us, PIA’s customer service representative struggled to resolve our issue.
Final Result: ExpressVPN is the Winner!
ExpressVPN vs PIA: which one wins?
In this ExpressVPN vs. PIA comparison, ExpressVPN comes out on top.
Despite the higher price, we believe it provides superior value. ExpressVPN outperforms PIA in terms of performance, functionality, security, support, and full streaming access, as well as having passed third-party audits.
PIA, on the other hand, is an excellent solution for individuals who require affordable protection against a variety of online threats as well as when torrenting.
Please remember that ExpressVPN has a superior track record and the necessary technical infrastructure to protect your privacy.
FAQs
Is PIA a zero log VPN?
Yes, PIA has a strict no-logs policy, which means that they don’t collect or keep any information about our users’ VPN usage. They also don’t keep track of your surfing activities, connection, bandwidth use, or anything else like that.
Is PIA good for gaming?
Yes! Thanks to its NextGen server architecture, Private Internet Access is a good choice for gaming. Also, with 84 countries on their network, the VPN can provide you with access to a wide range of geo-restricted content, including blocked games.