ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access 2024

James Everard

Senior Writer

Here, we have 2 long-established, heavyweight VPNs with solid reputations. Both are owned by Kape Technologies, yet they’re managed by separate teams, so they contrast vastly in terms of user interface and functionality. So, differentiating them is easy, but picking a winner is a lot harder.

The key difference is that Private Internet Access (PIA) requires more technical know-how and has a wide array of adjustable features. Conversely, ExpressVPN is a solid all-around service that can tackle multiple online activities with minimal configuration.

So, while I had plenty of fun tinkering with PIA’s settings, ExpressVPN is the clear winner. It’s just as technically impressive as PIA, yet its workings are hidden beneath the surface. With a strong commitment to security and privacy that doesn’t interrupt your daily activities, ExpressVPN is a great choice. You can try it without risk as every plan is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Streaming — An Easy Win for ExpressVPN

When streaming Netflix or Prime Video in licensed regions, ExpressVPN typically provides faster and more reliable connections than PIA. Both services support these platforms, but ExpressVPN provides extremely fast loading speeds for seamless binge-watching.

PIA offers streaming-optimized servers in 11 countries, which is great for local streaming connections if you’re in one of these countries. During my tests from the UK, I tried its UK streaming server. Unfortunately, I found it didn’t work with iPlayer this time, although it did in the past. Channel 4 was slow to load, but it worked in the end. I had no issues with ITVX, though, and I was able to stream this with no buffering.

PIA's streaming servers include the US, Canada, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, and Australia

Meanwhile, all of ExpressVPN’s 3,000 servers support streaming. I found it worked with BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Sky Sports, and more in the UK, and my colleague in Ireland confirmed that it also worked with RTE. My US colleagues confirmed it worked well with Max, Hulu, and other US platforms, and my friend in Germany used it to watch RTL+ lag-free.

You can "favorite" your favorite platforms and sites for one-click streaming on the ExpressVPN app

For devices that don’t support VPN applications directly, such as game consoles and some smart TVs, ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer (Smart DNS feature) is easy to set up and is reliable, but it only works with select UK and US streaming platforms. PIA also offers a Smart DNS option, but while the performance isn’t as reliable, it works for streaming in the US, UK, Japan, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Winner

ExpressVPN is the superior choice for streaming as it’s more reliable with a range of worldwide platforms.

Server Network — ExpressVPN Wins With Quality Over Quantity

ExpressVPN has far fewer servers, but they’re spread across a few more countries. PIA’s coverage is excellent in the US, where it has servers in every state, and you’ll never struggle to find a nearby location from wherever you are in the country.

Saying that, I found that ExpressVPN’s servers are faster and far more versatile. Despite the smaller network, I never came across any server congestion either.

Winner

PIA heavily outnumbers ExpressVPN with nearly 10 times as many servers. Yet the latter proves that it’s not just the size of the network but what you do with it that counts.

Speed — ExpressVPN Is Miles Ahead

Our UK-based tester had starting speeds of around 230 Mbps and used the fastest protocol for each service. For ExpressVPN, that was Lightway, its exclusive lightweight, built-for-speed protocol. For PIA, that was WireGuard, the industry-standard, open-source option for speedy connections.

ExpressVPN's ping of 104 ms from New York was very impressive

Nearby speeds were comparable — we found a 1% drop with ExpressVPN and a 5% drop with PIA, which is really impressive on both counts. However, the difference was more stark when connecting across the Atlantic.

PIA's ping from New York and Southampton (UK) weren't far behind ExpressVPN's

ExpressVPN’s New York server offered a 7% speed drop, compared to 34% with the same location using PIA. This was really surprising, considering that PIA has a higher server coverage in the US. We found similar results when testing servers in Australia, Germany, and Canada. Only PIA’s Japan speeds were a shade faster than ExpressVPN.

Winner

ExpressVPN was notably faster in both download and upload speeds in almost all of our tests. While PIA was still fast, it was noticeably slower on long-distance connections.

Gaming — ExpressVPN’s Has Lower Latency

Ping is the critical stat when it comes to gaming. It measures the time between your commands and the server response — the lower your ping, the less laggy your gaming will be. Our UK-based speed tester gathered the data for this section, and they have a base ping of 32 ms.

Once again, ExpressVPN wins due to its proprietary Lightway protocol. It was built to remove all the unnecessary code that you don’t need in a commercial VPN protocol, so it doesn’t slow your data requests down as much as WireGuard with PIA. That said, PIA only just lags behind.

Under 100 ms is considered optimum for smooth gameplay, which both VPNs comfortably provide. However, if you want to play in your own region when you’re traveling abroad, ExpressVPN is the one to go for, as it has lower ping on long-distance connections. It’s also worth pointing out that both VPNs support Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch gaming consoles via router installation.

I was in retro heaven when gaming with ExpressVPN's low ping

Winner

With a lower ping on most connections, it’s another win for ExpressVPN. Neither was suitable for extremely long-distance gaming connections, but I rarely find VPNs that are.

Torrenting — Draw

I recommend ExpressVPN if you just want an out-of-the-box service that supports P2P on every server. It has automatic obfuscation, so you can even torrent over restrictive networks at work, college, or over public WiFi. If it detects VPN or media blocks, it disguises your data as regular traffic to evade detection.

PIA has a host of adjustable settings to optimize your connections for torrenting. You can activate the Advanced Kill Switch, which blocks your internet entirely until the VPN is connected, so you never accidentally start file sharing over an unsecured network.

You can also use PIA’s Multi-Hop for extra security. This lets you route your VPN connection through a SOCKS5 or Shadowsocks proxy, which has the added bonus of obfuscating your connection, too. When I tried this, it slowed my connection slightly more than with ExpressVPN.

Both support port forwarding. Plus, both VPNs have reliable malicious content blockers to guard against dangerous links and files that can lurk on torrent sites. So, I’m calling this round a draw, as both offer speedy torrenting with robust security to keep you safe.

Winner - draw

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These VPNs offer a very different torrenting experience, so it depends on your level of technical preference.

Security — PIA Wins With a Vast Array of Customizable Features

ExpressVPN’s Lightway security protocol gives it an edge, enhancing both speed and security. This makes it a suitable choice if flexibility is important to you. Private Internet Access sticks with OpenVPN and WireGuard, which are reliable but don't offer the proprietary benefits of Lightway.

ExpressVPN's blockers are in Settings > Advanced Protection

If ad blocking is a priority, PIA’s MACE will appeal. In my tests, it blocked an incredible 97% of ads, trackers, and malware. While ExpressVPN blocked a relatively modest 58%, it is at least customizable. MACE is a simple one-click solution, which is unusual for PIA.

PIA MACE is far more effective than many standalone ad and malicious content blockers

PIA’s greatest strength is its breadth of customizable security features. You can balance your speed and security by switching encryption levels with OpenVPN. With both protocols, you can configure which ports your connections use, as well as your maximum transmission unit (MTU). Plus, you can set the VPN to connect automatically if it detects you’re using a public WiFi network, which is great for keeping you secure while you’re on the go.

In terms of transparency and trust, both VPNs have proven reliability. ExpressVPN and PIA have both endorsed strict no-logs policies supported by independent audits. This should give you confidence that neither VPN collects or stores your data. But, PIA’s abundance of security features gives it the win.

Winner

Both these services offer excellent security protection, but PIA’s plethora of adjustable settings gives it the edge.

Privacy — ExpressVPN Goes the Extra Mile for Its Users

ExpressVPN and PIA assert a strict no-logs policy, which is great for your browsing privacy. However, ExpressVPN’s HQ is in the British Virgin Islands, a locale without data retention requirements, while PIA’s base is in the US, subject to stricter surveillance under the 5 Eyes Alliance.

The open-source approach of PIA allows anyone to inspect its code for potential vulnerabilities, an advantage if transparency is a priority. While ExpressVPN’s apps aren’t open-source, the Lightway protocol is, so there’s at least some visibility of what’s going on under the hood.

Meanwhile, ExpressVPN found a significant security flaw with its Windows app back in February 2024, which it fixed by April. It then commissioned a third-party audit to ensure it was completely fixed and published a white paper detailing the matter. This demonstrates how seriously ExpressVPN considers its users’ privacy and that it continuously invests in providing the best service it can.

Winner

ExpressVPN is better for privacy due to its location in the British Virgin Islands, which shelters it from surveillance laws. Regular and transparent third-party audits further underscore its commitment to user privacy.

Works in China — ExpressVPN Is More Effective

The status of VPNs in China is complicated. Even the best VPNs stop working in China from time to time as the country continually updates its Great Firewall (GFW) technology.

Overall, ExpressVPN is the best of the two for China. It outshines PIA in obfuscation technology, mimicking HTTPS traffic better than PIA's Shadowsocks, and works a lot more reliably in China as a result. While PIA claims it can work in China, it is also clear that it doesn’t guarantee service there.

Both VPNs offer servers in Macau, which is in China but isn’t subject to the Great Firewall.

Winner

ExpressVPN is the better option for China due to its specialized obfuscation technology that allows it to work more reliably in the country.

Installation & Ease of Use — ExpressVPN Is Sleek and Intuitive

Both ExpressVPN and PIA offer straightforward installation across various devices, but you may notice that ExpressVPN takes the lead in simplicity, particularly on mobile platforms. It sets up with fewer taps and gets you connected faster. On desktops, both VPNs are clean and user-friendly, though ExpressVPN has the edge with its sleek interface.

ExpressVPN's server list is simple and easy to navigate

PIA has two “views” — the app opens in a condensed view that shows the location you’re connected to, but you can expand it to see more details. Personally, I really like seeing this extra technical information, and I think it’s great you can hide it unless you need it. The expanded version of the app, unfortunately, takes up a lot of space on your screen. It’s still fairly intuitive, but not as much as ExpressVPN.

PIA's Settings panel has 10 submenus

When it comes to using these VPNs on routers, both provide supportive guides, but ExpressVPN supports more models directly and offers more precise instructions. Plus, its router app’s installation is a lot more hands-off, unlike PIA’s setup, which requires you to change a lot of settings in your device’s admin panel.

Winner

ExpressVPN is the better choice for installation and ease of use due to its faster setup, particularly on mobile devices, and its user-friendly interface. Its superior router support is also appealing if you're looking to extend VPN protection to your entire household.

Reliability & Support — ExpressVPN’s Excellent Live Chat

Both services offer 24/7 live chat, but ExpressVPN allows you to access support directly from its homepage, giving you quicker service. It also updates its knowledge base more frequently and organizes it more intuitively; I found PIA’s content a little frustrating to navigate.

PIA matches up well, providing competent support with occasional promotions that enhance support features. However, the quality of support from ExpressVPN often surpasses PIA with more personalized and detailed responses. I generally found that the former’s customer support responded a lot quicker than the latter’s.

Both VPNs offer support in multiple languages, but the quality of non-English support can vary, with ExpressVPN maintaining a higher standard, according to my international colleagues.

Winner

ExpressVPN is the better choice for reliability and support due to its faster response times, more regularly updated knowledge base, and the ability of its support agents.

Tips on Choosing Between ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access

• Smooth streaming. Fast and consistent connections are important for reliable streaming. Both VPNs provide this, although ExpressVPN works with more platforms.
• Fast speeds. Decent speeds are essential for data-heavy activities like streaming, gaming, torrenting, and video calls. PIA offers fast connections, but ExpressVPN is simply the quickest service we’ve used.
• Server networks. PIA offers one of the largest server fleets on the market, but ExpressVPN beats it in terms of speed, reliability, and versatility.
• Robust security features. Both VPNs offer 256-bit encryption, reliable kill switches, and leak protection. But PIA’s dizzying array of security features is truly impressive.
• Respectable privacy practices. You can’t argue with the no-logs credentials of either of these services. However, ExpressVPN’s HQ in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands offers peace of mind, and it regularly invests in ensuring its service keeps your details secure.
• Easy to use. You might be in gadget heaven playing with PIA’s extensive settings, but even its most ardent fans would have to admit that ExpressVPN’s simple, smooth app is easier to use.
• Trustworthy money-back guarantee. We’ve tested both VPN’s money-back guarantees several times over the years, and they’re always reliable and hassle-free.

ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access — Reddit Opinions

Both of these VPNs have many admirers and positive comments on Reddit. ExpressVPN is commended for its reliability, fast speeds, and streaming capabilities and is recommended as an all-around service for general use. PIA is credited as an excellent choice for the security-conscious and for those who want a customizable torrenting experience.

Redditors praise both services for their robust privacy practices