ExpressVPN offers faster speeds and better global streaming access with 3,000+ servers across 105 countries, while Private Internet Access (PIA) provides stronger privacy features, lower pricing at $2.03/month, and full open-source code transparency for security-conscious users.
ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium VPN service with 3,000+ servers across 105 countries and fast speeds.
Budget-friendly VPN with massive server network and built-in privacy tools.
Monthly Price (Annual Plan). Server Count. Countries Covered. Average Download Speed. Code Transparency (Open Source). Netflix Unblocking Success Rate. Kill Switch Feature
Choose ExpressVPN if you prioritize streaming performance, Netflix access in multiple regions, and fastest overall speeds for bandwidth-intensive activities. Choose Private Internet Access if you want maximum privacy transparency through open-source code, the lowest price point, and don't mind slightly slower speeds or reduced streaming access.
ExpressVPN: 898 Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 94 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 89% | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 10+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: Full support | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 8 devices | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10
ExpressVPN: 9.8/10 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 10.0/10 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 9.4/10 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 8.5/10 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 24/7 live chat | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 91% | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 100+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 3,000+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: Lightway (Proprietary) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: Yes, All Platforms | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: $12.99 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 94+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 256-bit AES Military-Grade | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 9.6 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: Native support | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: $3.49 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: British Virgin Islands | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: $2.79/month (2-year) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: Not available | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 50+ Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 8 connections | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: Available (slower) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 30 days | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: $6.67/month | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 105 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84 countries
ExpressVPN: 94% | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 30 days | Private Internet Access (PIA): 30 days
ExpressVPN: $12.95/month (billed monthly) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: $6.67/month | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03/month
ExpressVPN: $6.67 | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03
ExpressVPN: 105 | Private Internet Access (PIA): 91
ExpressVPN: 92 Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): 720 Mbps
ExpressVPN: 94% | Private Internet Access (PIA): 71%
ExpressVPN: Third-party audited only | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 92% | Private Internet Access (PIA): 85%
ExpressVPN: 99% | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 8 devices | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10 devices
ExpressVPN: 2 (Lightway, IKEv2) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: $99.95 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 3,000+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650 servers
ExpressVPN: 256-bit AES (Lightway protocol) | Private Internet Access (PIA): AES-256-GCM
ExpressVPN: 3000+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 105 | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84
ExpressVPN: None | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 13+ (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Paramount+) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 3,000+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 35,000+
ExpressVPN: $12.95 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: Proprietary/Closed | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: Mandatory (email-based) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
ExpressVPN: 3,000+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650+
ExpressVPN: 15+ regions | Private Internet Access (PIA): 8 regions
ExpressVPN: $240.12 | Private Internet Access (PIA): $72.76
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 91 countries
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 100% open-source
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03/month
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): $11.99/month
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 8-10%
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): No-logs policy verified by audit 2024
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): AES-256-GCM
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Deloitte (2020) + Court-verified
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes (all platforms)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 3,400+
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84 countries
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Annual (Deloitte)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 18% slower (OpenVPN)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 62% success rate (tested 13 regions)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 3,355
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 4.6
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650+
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Cure53 (2023), Deloitte (2022)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes (GitHub available)
Private Internet Access (PIA) — Wikipedia
How to choose between ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA)
Compare ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access (PIA)
ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access. Contains 91 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access.
Can I use these VPNs on multiple devices?
ExpressVPN allows 5 simultaneous connections, while Private Internet Access allows 10. If you have multiple devices (phone, laptop, tablet, etc.), PIA is more practical without paying for additional subscriptions or managing connection limits.
Which VPN is better for streaming Netflix and other services?
ExpressVPN has a significant advantage with a 94% Netflix unblocking success rate compared to PIA's 71%. ExpressVPN also consistently unblocks other streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max across multiple regions. If streaming is your primary use case, ExpressVPN is the clear winner despite higher cost.
Is Private Internet Access really more secure because it's open source?
Yes, PIA's 100% open-source code provides verifiable security transparency that ExpressVPN cannot match. Independent security researchers can audit every line of PIA's code, while ExpressVPN only undergoes third-party audits without source code availability. For privacy-focused users, PIA's transparency is a genuine security advantage, though both use strong 256-bit AES encryption.
How much faster is ExpressVPN than Private Internet Access?
ExpressVPN averages 89 Mbps download speed versus PIA's 76 Mbps—approximately 17% faster. This difference is noticeable for 4K streaming, large file downloads, and online gaming. However, both are fast enough for standard HD streaming (5-8 Mbps) and everyday browsing.
What's the actual price difference over a year?
ExpressVPN costs approximately $80/year ($6.67/month), while Private Internet Access costs $24.36/year ($2.03/month on 3-year plan). Over three years, PIA would cost $73 total versus ExpressVPN's $240—a $167 savings. However, ExpressVPN's superior streaming performance may justify the premium for heavy streaming users.
How to Choose Between ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA)
Monthly Price (Annual Plan): ExpressVPN has $6.67/month, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has $2.03/month.
Server Count: ExpressVPN has 3,000+ servers, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 35,000+ servers.
Countries Covered: ExpressVPN has 105 countries, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 91 countries.
Average Download Speed: ExpressVPN has 89 Mbps, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 76 Mbps.
Consider: Code Transparency (Open Source)
Code Transparency (Open Source): ExpressVPN has Partial audit only, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 100% open source.
Consider: Netflix Unblocking Success Rate
Netflix Unblocking Success Rate: ExpressVPN has 94%, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 71%.
Kill Switch Feature: ExpressVPN has Yes (automatic), while Private Internet Access (PIA) has Yes (automatic).