ExpressVPN against Private Internet Access (PIA) is a luxury sports car against a reliable workhorse. ExpressVPN is a premium service with premium pricing, while PIA takes the no-frills, high-performance approach that…
A premium-priced VPN based in the British Virgin Islands, with RAM-only servers and a no-logs policy audited 23 times. It suits travelers and journalists.
Private Internet Access is a US-based VPN that had no user logs to hand over in three court cases. Deloitte audited it in 2025. Suits budget power users.
ExpressVPN against Private Internet Access (PIA) is a luxury sports car against a reliable workhorse. ExpressVPN is a premium service with premium pricing, while PIA takes the no-frills, high-performance approach that appeals to tech-savvy users.
PIA is famous in the VPN world for transparency. Its no-logs policy has been tested in court multiple times and passed every test. ExpressVPN is trustworthy but hasn't faced the same legal scrutiny. PIA's biggest strength is how far you can tailor it to your needs. It gives you granular control over encryption levels, protocols and connection settings, which would overwhelm casual users but will please power users.
PIA runs over 35,000 servers compared to ExpressVPN's 3,000+. The count says little about quality, though. ExpressVPN's servers consistently deliver better streaming performance. On long-term plans PIA costs roughly 1/3 as much as ExpressVPN.
| Feature | Express VPN | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
Ad & Tracker Blocking | ||
Anonymous Payment Methods | ||
Connection Protocols | ||
Custom VPN Protocols | ||
Customer Support Availability | ||
Dedicated IP Option | ||
Encryption Standard | ||
Independent Audits | ||
IPv6 Leak Protection | ||
Kill Switch | ||
Multi-Hop | ||
No-logs Policy | ||
Open Source Apps | ||
RAM-only Servers | ||
Simultaneous Connections | ||
Split Tunneling | ||
Streaming Support | ||
Support Channels | ||
Torrenting Support |
How technical you are will largely decide this one. Choose ExpressVPN if you want a premium, plug-and-play service with guaranteed streaming performance and world-class customer support. Opt for PIA if you're technically inclined and want maximum customization. It also suits anyone who would rather have proven transparency than pay premium prices. For power users and privacy advocates, PIA gives better value and more control.
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