ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access
We give ExpressVPN a 2.4 GPA and Private Internet Access a 2.2, out of 4.0. ExpressVPN grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
ExpressVPN
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers
Private Internet Access
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAExpressVPNFair | 2.2GPAPrivate Internet AccessFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | COver two years Basic costs $174.80: $74.85 for the first 15 months, then $99.95 for the next year. That's about $7.30 a month, between the middle and the dearer end of VPN prices. Advanced renews at $119.95 and Express Pro at $199.95. | C$47.88 a year, the same at renewal, so two years cost $95.76, about $3.99 a month, just above the cheaper quarter of VPNs at $3.33. The 3-year plan is $2.03 a month for the first 39 months, then $79 every 3 years, but that's three years up front. Monthly is $11.95. |
| Free plan and trial | DOnly a 3-day free trial, and only when you subscribe in the iPhone or Android app. The 30-day money-back guarantee is for first-time customers and isn't a trial. | FNothing free: no free plan and no trial. There's a 30-day money-back guarantee for new subscribers, but that isn't a trial. |
| Features | BLightway with post-quantum protection, a kill switch, split tunneling, servers in 113 countries, ad and threat blocking, an email alias relay, and from Advanced a password manager and ID theft cover. It covers the whole job. | BUnlimited devices, servers in 104 countries including all 50 US states, RAM-only servers, WireGuard and OpenVPN, ad and malware blocking, split tunneling, multi-hop and port forwarding. It covers the whole job. |
| Ease of use | B4.68 from about 420,000 App Store ratings, a whisker under the 4.7 an A needs. Pick a location and connect. | BNo App Store rating on record, but it's an app you install, sign in to and connect, with nothing to configure first. |
| Platforms and integrations | BMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and browser extensions, with apps for routers and TVs too. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. | BMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and browser extensions, with open-source apps. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. |
| Best for | a VPN with apps for routers and TVs too | unlimited devices without renewal surprises |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. How we grade
Price against what you get
ExpressVPN starts at $8.33 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Private Internet Access starts at $3.99 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0.
They score the same, and Private Internet Access starts $4.34 a month lower. Of the other VPNs on the chart, 1 scores higher than ExpressVPN for less, and none scores higher than Private Internet Access for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85. Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal).
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| ExpressVPN | Private Internet Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Paid |
| Starts at | $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85 | $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 3-day free trial when you subscribe in the iOS or Android app | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | ExpressVPN | PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. |
| Price read from | expressvpn.com | privateinternetaccess.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
ExpressVPN
- People who want a VPN with apps for routers and TVs as well as computers
- Buyers who want a password manager and ID monitoring on one bill
- Small teams of five or more, through ExpressVPN for Teams
Private Internet Access
- Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- People who want a server in a specific US state
- Torrent users who need port forwarding
Worth knowing
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 offers only 12-month plans, and 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.
Private Internet Access
- The 3-year plan's $2.03 a month is a first-term rate; it renews at $79 every 3 years, and the page gives no total for the first 39 months.
- There is no free trial; the 30-day money-back guarantee is for new subscribers, and app store purchases follow Apple's or Google's refund terms.
- Antivirus and a dedicated IP cost extra and are added at checkout; their prices are not shown on the plans page.
Key features
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.
Private Internet Access
- Unlimited devices
- One subscription can be used on as many devices at the same time as you like.
- Servers in 104 countries
- The network reaches 104 countries, including servers in all 50 US states, and the servers run from RAM only.
- Open-source apps and protocols
- PIA's apps are open source, and it connects over WireGuard or OpenVPN.
- MACE
- Blocks ads, trackers and malware at the DNS level.
- Split tunneling, multi-hop and port forwarding
- Choose which apps skip the VPN, route traffic through more than one server, and open a forwarded port on selected servers for torrenting.
- Email breach monitor
- A built-in alert tells you if your email address shows up in a data breach.
Plans
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).
Private Internet Access
1 Month$11.95
per month
Billed monthly and renews at the same $11.95.
1 Year$47.88
per year
$3.99 a month. The first year and each renewal are both billed at $47.88.
3 Years + 3 Months$79
every 3 years at renewal, after a first term of 39 months
Shown at $2.03 a month for the first 39 months, labelled 83% off; the page does not state the first bill. Renews at $79 every 3 years.
Ways to pay less
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.
Private Internet Access
- Other savings
3 years plus 3 extra months at $2.03 a month
The 3-year plan comes with 3 extra months at $2.03 a month for the first term, which the page calls 83% off the monthly price. It then renews at $79 every 3 years.
- Annual discount
About 67% off with yearly billing
The 1-year plan costs $47.88, against $143.40 for twelve months at the $11.95 monthly price.
