We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
Advertising Disclosure

vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access 2024

Table of Contents

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    ExpressVPN and PIA are two of the biggest VPN names around. Both VPNs offer a wide range of advanced features to ensure your full online privacy. Neither keeps any logs. However, being based in the US, PIA falls under the country’s notorious data retention laws, whereas ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, an online privacy supporter. PIA offers low prices and a 7-day money-back guarantee, while ExpressVPN is more expensive, but offers a 30-day refund policy.

    PIA shows relatively good connection speeds, but ExpressVPN remains the fastest premium VPN available today. And even though its network of servers is larger than that of ExpressVPN, PIA is unable to access geoblocked sites such as Netflix and doesn’t work in China. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN is virtually unstoppable by any online barrier. Both VPNs offer excellent encryption and security features including a kill switch, WiFi security, and support for multiple protocols (OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec). However, ExpressVPN rises above PIA with its split-tunneling feature. ExpressVPN also provides superb customer support via live chat, while PIA is limited to a sluggish ticketing system. On the other hand, while you can connect up to three devices simultaneously with ExpressVPN, PIA allows you to connect up to five devices.

    Scroll down for a point-by-point comparison of these two popular VPNs.

    Our Score

    Features 9.9/10
    Pricing 9.4/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 9.5/10
    Pricing 9.5/10
    Ease of Use 9.6/10
    Reliability & Support 9.8/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 9.9/10

    ExpressVPN is one of the most popular and trusted names in the industry. It’s known for being one of the safest, fastest VPNs around, so I wanted to see if it can live up to these claims. It’s not the cheapest VPN, but it often offers discounts that make it a better value for the money. Other decent VPNs offer similar security features for much cheaper. So, do you really need to pay that muc...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    K
    Kriss
    10.0/10
    Great

    I've been an ExpressVPN customer since 2017 and it's been great: quickly connects to a nearby server i... n the Wash DC region, embedded shortcuts to apps I want to use while using VPN, disconnects quickly, has the kill switch feature which is necessary these days, and has a fine mobile app which works well on my Android phones and tablets. However, I was just notified that the annual price is jumping from $99 to $117 upon the next renewal, so it's time to see how the others compare within VPN Mentor.More

    Latest negative user review
    C
    Charli
    6.0/10
    Ok, but expensive

    Seems ok, but I wouldn't say it's worth $20AUD a month. That's steep if you live in a backwater like A... ustralia, where the currency is not valuable. Easy enough to set up - you don't need to be Einstein - but unless you're a tech nerd who can take a look under the bonnet, you'll just have to trust what they say about their product. It frequently drops out without the slightest warning, often when it's the only thing online at the time - despite fast and flawless fiber internet, rendering expression entirely useless UNLESS you have it sitting on your desktop where you can keep an eagle eye on it to actually see it when it drops out so you can kick it back into service again (it doesn't do it by itself), which seems to defeat its purpose, so I'm taking away 2 stars for that. Support is good and they do get back to you as fast as they can.More

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Angela Jovanoska
    Angela Jovanoska

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    Our Score: 9.5/10

    Private Internet Access has one of the cheapest VPN subscriptions available — you can sign up for as little as $2.03/month. With such a low price, I wondered whether PIA could really stand out against its higher-priced competitors. It’s been around for 10+ years, so it could be one of the best-value VPNs out there. I decided to find out just how good it is by looking into the company’s lo...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    E
    Ez
    10.0/10
    Best VPN Out on The Market

    I like PIA VPN the best for the following reasons: ● It's a reliable and trustworthy policy; they don... 't record anything harmful to you; strict no logs. ● I've been using it for one month and there are specific times when it speeds up my internet speed (varies by internet) ● It's a distinctive feature of DIP (dedicated IP) - I think not many popular VPNs have this feature, I also purchased this feature to avoid getting the captcha verification and it never showed up ever since. It's only been a month using this VPN but as I gain more experience with this client, I'm pretty sure I will find more good features and utilize them. Thanks for having read my review:)More

    Latest negative user review
    M
    Mike Johnson
    2.0/10
    PIA no longer works on Amazon Fire devices.

    I have used PIA for several years with no issues. Currently, amazon fire devices can no longer sign i... n to the account. Used on 3 TVs with 3 different fire devices with the same result. There is no way to resolve the issue.More

    Pricing

    Starting price $6.67/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 8 devices
    Starting price $2.03/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    ExpressVPN strongly outcompetes PIA overall by offering a wide range of options and lightning-fast speeds. PIA, though very limited by comparison, is more budget-friendly - but you can get a great coupon deal on ExpressVPN right now.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Both ExpressVPN and PIA support torrenting on specific servers, but ExpressVPN’s unbeatable connection speeds and strong encryption give it the advantage when it comes to P2P sharing or torrenting.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Both VPNs offer user-friendly apps for Windows. However, ExpressVPN dazzles with a sleeker interface that’s packed with more features and works at ultra-fast speeds. In comparison, PIA’s Windows app is simpler and slower, with limited features.

    Best VPN for Android

    PIA offers a simple and easy-to-use Android app with a built-in kill switch. However, ExpressVPN’s Android app is more attractive, highly intuitive, easier to install, and doesn’t slow down your connection speed, making it hard for PIA to keep up (literally).

    Best VPN for Mac

    Similarly to its Windows client, ExpressVPN delights Mac users with a smooth, feature-rich interface that’s excellent for streaming. PIA, on the other hand, has a less attractive app design for Mac and runs at much slower speeds.

    Best VPN for iOS

    PIA offers the advantage of granting five simultaneous connections for your iOS devices at an affordable price. In contrast, ExpressVPN's iOS app is restricted to three connections. Nevertheless, ExpressVPN delivers a faster iOS app that encompasses a broader range of options.

    Best VPN for USA

    Being based in the US, PIA struggles to gain access to heavily restricted sites within the country, like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Go. Conversely, ExpressVPN can deftly bypass the US geoblocks, thereby providing access to these and many other services at fast speeds.

    The Bottom Line

    ExpressVPN stands out as the definitive winner, and the contest wasn't exactly neck and neck! While PIA puts up an admirable fight against one of the top global VPN services, it ultimately doesn't quite measure up. PIA's most attractive qualities are its cost-effectiveness, reliable features, and the offering of dedicated IPs. However, for individuals looking for a genuinely fast and dependable service for streaming, torrenting, and gaming, as well as the ability to unblock almost any website worldwide, ExpressVPN is exactly what they need.

    If you’re still worried about ExpressVPN’s price, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise. It is interesting to see what happens when we compare ExpressVPN with another leading provider like NordVPN that is more budget-friendly.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    FAQ

    Is ExpressVPN better than Private Internet Access?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is better overall than Private Internet Access. It has 3000 servers in 105 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $6.67 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then ExpressVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is ExpressVPN faster than Private Internet Access?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is faster than Private Internet Access. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access offer any deals?

    Both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Technical writer with a passion for online privacy.