Jake Tech Lab

ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access comes out ahead of ExpressVPN on 3 of the 6 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.

ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN
6.5
Fair
1 of 6 rounds
vs
Private Internet AccessWinner
Private Internet Access
7.2
Good
3 of 6 rounds

The verdict

Private Internet Access takes it, 3–1 on rounds.

On the published figures and the independent review sites, Private Internet Access takes 3 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.

Choose ExpressVPN if…

  • • You want ExpressVPN's edge on how many countries it covers

Choose Private Internet Access if…

  • • You want Private Internet Access's edge on what it costs to start and what the long plan costs

Round by round

  1. Round 1How many countries it coversExpressVPN wins
    ExpressVPN8/10

    113 countries

    server locations

    Source: listify.cool ↗

    Private Internet Access5/10

    104

    countries

    • 91 countries, against 113 countries

    Source: security.org ↗

    ExpressVPN wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

  2. Round 2What customers say on TrustpilotTie
    ExpressVPN7/10

    4.4 out of 5

    TrustScore from 29,239 reviews on Trustpilot

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

    Private Internet Access7/10

    4.3 out of 5

    TrustScore from 11,010 reviews on Trustpilot

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

    Nothing to separate them here.

  3. Round 3What it costs to startPrivate Internet Access wins
    ExpressVPN5/10

    $14.99/mo, billed monthly

    Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2 Years + 4 Months (first term)

    • $14.99/mo, billed monthly, against $11.95/mo, billed monthly

    Source: expressvpn.com ↗

    Private Internet Access8/10

    $11.95/mo, billed monthly

    PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    Private Internet Access wins this round on what the published sources say.

  4. Round 4What the long plan costsPrivate Internet Access wins
    ExpressVPN5/10

    $2.99/mo, first 28 months

    Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2 Years + 4 Months (first term)

    • $2.99/mo, first 28 months, against $2.03/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (first term)

    Source: expressvpn.com ↗

    Private Internet Access8/10

    $1.89/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (not $2.03)

    3 Years plan card (TOP OFFER)

    • PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    Private Internet Access wins this round on what the published sources say.

  5. Round 5How many devices at oncePrivate Internet Access wins
    ExpressVPN5/10

    10 devices (Basic)

    Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2 Years + 4 Months (first term)

    • 10 devices (Basic), against Unlimited devices

    Source: expressvpn.com ↗

    Private Internet Access8/10

    Unlimited devices

    PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    Private Internet Access wins this round on what the published sources say.

  6. Round 6How long you have to get a refundTie
    ExpressVPN7/10

    30-day money-back

    Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2 Years + 4 Months (first term)

    Source: expressvpn.com ↗

    Private Internet Access7/10

    30-day money-back

    PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    Nothing to separate them here.

ExpressVPNExpressVPN
Check price
Private Internet AccessPrivate Internet Access
Check price

Side by side

ExpressVPNBest for what customers say on trustpilotExpressVPN
Check price
Private Internet AccessTop ratedPrivate Internet Access
Check price
Overall score
6.5
7.2
Best
Price
See price
See price
What the long plan costs
6.4
8.0
What it costs to start
5.9
6.9
What customers say on Trustpilot
7.4
7.3
How many devices at once
5.5
7.5
How many countries it covers
7.1
6.3
Head-to-head findings
What the long plan costs
$2.99
$1.89/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (not $2.03)
What it costs to start
$14.99/mo, billed monthly
$11.95/mo, billed monthly
What customers say on Trustpilot
4.4 out of 5
4.3 out of 5
How many devices at once
10 devices (Basic)
Unlimited
How many countries it covers
113 countries
104 countries
Trying it before you pay
No free plan
—
How long you have to get a refund
30-day money-back
30-day money-back
How many servers it runs
—
—
Record
Head-to-head record
2–4–2
8–0
Head-to-heads won
33 %
100 %
Rounds won
36 %
54 %
Pros
    • PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)
    • server locations
    Cons
    • 113 countries, against 150 countries
    • $2.99, against $2.49
    • 10 devices (Basic), against Unlimited devices
    • No free plan, against Free plan
    • 104 countries, against 150 countries
    • 91 countries, against 113 countries
    • 91 countries, against 100 countries
    • $11.95/mo, billed monthly, against $9.99/mo, billed monthly
    Add a third option to this comparison →

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