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 VPN.ac 2024

Table of Contents

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    One might imagine that a relatively newcomer in the VPN service market may not have much to offer but for the most part Romanian-based VPN.ac proves that assumption wrong. With ISO27001 and ISO9001 security certifications to boot, VPN.ac has certainly set itself apart from the competition by showing they have expertise in delicate areas of the VPN ecosystem. Unlike Express VPN, VPN.ac accepts a variety of payment methods including Bitcoin. Both VPNs boast of a serious commitment to anonymity with ExpressVPN having a reputation for being one of the most trusted VPN providers and VPN.ac providing military grade encryption of up to AES 256-bit encryption. ExpressVPN, however, steals the show with its SmartDNS, which allows users to unblock Netflix across all platforms. With an OpenVPN program, Express proves especially helpful for residents of China.

    Our Score

    Features 9.9/10
    Pricing 9.4/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 6.9/10
    Pricing 6.0/10
    Ease of Use 8.0/10
    Reliability & Support 4.8/10

    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 Doris Muthuri
    Doris Muthuri

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 6.9/10

    VPN.ac claims to be fast, safe, and one of the most affordable VPNs available. It even casts doubts on some of the top VPNs in the market in its advertising. That grabbed my attention and made me wonder if it can compete with them. To take the guesswork out of the equation, I tested it myself to see if it was as good as it claimed. I examined its speeds, gaming capabilities, and all its securi...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    A
    Aman
    10.0/10
    It works perfectly with Netflix and Hotstar

    Using VPN.ac since 2017, their service has been top-notch, it's like a boutique hotel, very private an... d exclusive service, Works perfectly with Netflix US, FR, and Hotstar/disney+ on all their servers. WireGurard connections super fast. Servers never overcrowded constant speed. Recently I tried All beautiful Nordvpn, very well polished, good client service but all copy-paste response, Fast connection but the most speed drops and it doesn't work with Hotstar/disney+ I ask them why they said their tech didn't figure out yet. so I had to ask for a refund.More

    Latest negative user review
    S
    Sam
    2.0/10
    Trash VPN

    Showing bandwidth in use 2-3% for node I choose, but sites loading ~5 min. I use it almost every year ... and this happens all the time. Spend your money on something different which actually works, don't waste your time with this vpn.More

    Pricing

    Starting price $6.67/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 8 devices
    Starting price $3.75/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 7 Days
    Number of devices per license 12 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Compared to VPN.ac, ExpressVPN is an overall better choice as it doesn’t keep logs, it works with Netflix US, and it offers faster speeds for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. On the other hand, VPN.ac offers slightly cheaper prices and 6 simultaneous connections, while ExpressVPN offers only 5. Despite this, ExpressVPN offers a great selection of coupons and deals to ensure the ultimate user experience.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Both VPNs allow P2P and torrenting. ExpressVPN permits torrenting on all its servers with high download speeds.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Although both VPNs provide software clients for Windows, ExpressVPN outshines VPN.ac with a sleeker Windows app that’s more feature-rich, engaging, and user-friendly.

    Best VPN for Android

    ExpressVPN offers a simple and fast app for Android, but Android users might appreciate VPN.ac’s Android app, as it provides more options - such as filtering which apps you want to tunnel through the VPN connection.

    Best VPN for Mac

    ExpressVPN once again excels with its polished, swift and easy-to-use app for Mac. Unlike the Mac client offered by VPN.ac, you can easily switch between servers with ExpressVPN.

    Best VPN for iOS

    Similar to their Android app, VPN.ac offers a slick client for iOS devices with special server modes for China and a news section. Both VPNs' iOS apps are easy to navigate and run smoothly in the background.

    Best VPN for USA

    ExpressVPN boasts a giant server network with 80+ ultra-fast servers in the US alone, whereas VPN.ac has 20+ servers in the US. In addition, you can use ExpressVPN to seamlessly unblock US restricted content and services such as Netflix US, Hulu, HBO, and many more.

    The Bottom Line

    While ExpressVPN is slightly more costly than VPN.ac, the benefits for Express customers are worth the extra coin. While VPN.ac keeps logs that it claims are automatically deleted after a day, ExpressVPN has a strict no logging policy so users can be absolutely sure of their privacy and anonymity. Both VPN providers work across many of the popular native apps including Windows, Android and iOS. Nonetheless, additional benefits, such as rapid connectivity speed, unlimited bandwidth and unlimited servers across a healthy number of countries make ExpressVPN a clear winner.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    FAQ

    Is ExpressVPN better than VPN.ac?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is better overall than VPN.ac. 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 VPN.ac?

    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 VPN.ac?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is faster than VPN.ac. 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 VPN.ac offer any deals?

    Both ExpressVPN and VPN.ac 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.