Astrill VPN vs ExpressVPN (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Astrill VPN if

• Fits if you need a VPN with a stealth protocol for restrictive networks
• Works for people who want port forwarding and a kill switch

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you buy monthly: $30 against $12.50 a month on two years
• Not for you if you want to try it first: no free plan or trial, and all sales are final
• Watch out: the pricing page says unlimited devices in a household while the homepage says up to 5 at once
• Watch out: the terms bar use from a list of restricted jurisdictions
• Not for you if you want everything in the price: some features are paid add-ons

Pick ExpressVPN if

• Fits if you want the VPN on your router so every device at home is covered
• Works for teams of five or more through ExpressVPN for Teams

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you stay after the first 15 months, as Basic renews at $99.95 a year, Advanced at $119.95 and Express Pro at $199.95
• Skip it if you want to try it on a computer first, as the free trial is phone-only and lasts 3 days
• Tight if your household has more than 10 devices on the Basic plan
• Watch out: the US pricing page offers only 12-month plans, with no monthly option
• Watch out: the 30-day money-back is for first-time customers, and app store purchases are refunded at Apple's or Google's discretion

Astrill VPN

• The refund policy says all sales are final; the shortest plan is suggested as the way to try the service.
• The pricing page says unlimited devices in a household, while the homepage says up to 5 devices at once.
• The monthly plan is $30, and the yearly and two-year plans work out to $15 and $12.50 a month.
• Astrill's terms bar use from a list of restricted jurisdictions, and a separate Business VPN plan is sold per account.

ExpressVPN

• The advertised $4.99 a month covers only the first 15 months of Basic; it then renews yearly at $99.95, or $119.95 and $199.95 on the higher tiers.
• The US pricing page shows a 12-month or a 2-year first term depending on the visit; both renew yearly. Devices are capped at 10, 12 or 14 depending on the tier.
• The 30-day money-back guarantee is for first-time customers; App Store and Google Play purchases are refunded at Apple's or Google's discretion.
• ExpressVPN for Teams has a minimum of five licenses.

Astrill VPN

StealthVPN and OpenWeb

Astrill's own protocols, built for networks that try to identify VPN traffic, alongside OpenVPN and WireGuard.

Smart mode

Routes chosen sites with a regional IP address and the rest through the VPN, which Astrill says keeps speeds up.

App filter and kill switch

Choose to tunnel all apps, only selected apps, or all except some; the desktop app also has a kill switch and App Guard.

Network

The homepage lists 142 cities in 56 countries, unlimited bandwidth and no logs, and says Bitcoin is accepted.

Port forwarding and VPN sharing

Port forwarding on selected servers, and sharing the VPN from a PC to other devices on a network.

Paid add-ons

A private IP on a chosen server is $5 a month each; a VIP add-on with prioritized traffic and multi-hop starts at $10 a month for 100 GB.

ExpressVPN

Lightway protocol

ExpressVPN's own VPN protocol, with post-quantum protection, plus an internet kill switch and split tunneling in the apps.

Servers in 113 countries

Every plan reaches the same network of servers in 113 countries, with speeds of up to 40Gbps quoted on the pricing page.

Ad and threat blocking

Basic blocks ads, malicious sites and adult sites; Advanced and Express Pro also block trackers.

ExpressMailGuard

A private email relay that hides your address behind aliases. The monthly relay allowance and number of aliases and custom domains grow with the plan.

ExpressKeys and Identity Defender

From Advanced, a password manager with a 2FA authenticator, plus ID alerts, automated data removal and up to $3 million ($5 million on Pro) of identity theft insurance.

Dedicated IP

A fixed IP address of your own: included with Express Pro and an add-on for Basic and Advanced.

Astrill VPN

• 2 Years$300

  for 2 years, billed every 2 years

  Shown as $12.50 a month with 58% off a crossed-out $720; the page gives no end date for the reduction.

• 1 Year$180

  per year, billed every year

  Shown as $15 a month with 50% off a crossed-out $360; the page gives no end date for the reduction.

• 1 Month$30

  per month, billed monthly

  Billed $30 every month with no saving.

ExpressVPN

• Basic, 12 months$99.95

  per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months

  10 devices and blocking of ads, malicious and adult sites. The first 15 months cost $74.85 ($4.99 a month), shown against $224.85.

• Advanced, 12 months$119.95

  per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months

  12 devices, tracker blocking, ExpressKeys and Identity Defender. The first 15 months cost $89.85 ($5.99 a month).

• Express Pro, 12 months$199.95

  per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months

  14 devices, a dedicated IP and ExpressAI, with more ID alerts and insurance. The first 15 months cost $134.85 ($8.99 a month).

Astrill VPN

• Annual discount

  Save 50% on the 1 Year plan, 58% on 2 Years

  The pricing page shows the 1 Year plan at $180 against a crossed-out $360, and the 2 Years plan at $300 against $720.

ExpressVPN

• Other savings

  First 15 months of a 12-month plan from $74.85

  A 12-month plan comes with 3 extra months for a first payment of $74.85 (Basic), $89.85 (Advanced) or $134.85 (Express Pro), then renews yearly at the full price.

• Other savings

  First 28 months of a 2-year plan from $83.72

  On some visits the pricing page sells 2 years plus 4 extra months for a first payment of $83.72 (Basic, $2.99 a month), $125.72 (Advanced) or $209.72 (Express Pro), then renews yearly at the full price.