We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!
Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
As you can see from the chart, ExpressVPN beats AstrillVPN on all fronts. However, in the features section, AstrillVPN is almost at par with ExpressVPN. Astrill offers some advanced features like VPN sharing, smart mode and multi-mode, but ExpressVPN has a Smart DNS which more useful.
ExpressVPN is far much ahead when it comes to its support, pricing, and ease of use. AstrillVPN is one of the most expensive VPNs you’ll find, and so ExpressVPN offers you a better VPN at a lower price.
ExpressVPN is far much faster than AstrilVPN.
ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs in the world and it beats AstrillVPN speeds by a huge margin. This can be attributed to the VPN’s larger server network and superior infrastructure. Despite AstrillVPN using OpenWeb which is a proprietary protocol, it couldn’t come close to challenging ExpressVPN.
We noticed a speed reduction of 76% with AstrillVPN, which is a huge speed cut compared with ExpressVPN’s 19%.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Download speed reduction | 22% (UK) | 11% (UK) |
| Upload speed reduction | 32% (FRA) | 16% (FRA) |
| Ping time to google.com | 23ms | 24ms |
| Average time to connect (sec.) | 9.2ms | 11ms |
| Unblock successful for |
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| Visit Site | Visit Site |
Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.
ExpressVPN has a server network that consists of 3,000+ servers spread across 160 locations in 94 countries. Astrill VPN on the other hand has 350+ servers in 115 cities across 64 countries.
With ExpressVPN’s server network, you’ll have access to more regions, and therefore you can unblock more content. Further, you won’t be clogged with other users in the same server, and most ExpressVPN servers are not blocked by services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Server Locations | 300 | 3300 |
| Server Countries | 55 | 105 |
| IP Addresses | 324 | 1,500+ |
| Dynamic Server Switching | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
The ratio of servers to countries is an important factor to look at when choosing a VPN. Only paying attention to location or number of servers can get you in trouble. More servers generally means faster speeds, but if VPN X has a few more servers than VPN Y but twice as many users, VPN X will typically have slower speeds. Ideally, you want a VPN that has a lot of servers in every location. This way you won’t have to worry that server/country that you want will be overburdened and running slow
ExpressVPN offers faster and better customer support.
AstrillVPN offers 24/7 live chat support, something that only a few top VPNs have. However, we noticed that their live chat can be quite frustrating. You can wait for 2 minutes and not get connected to a support agent. An agent can also take long to respond to a question.
ExpressVPN on the other hand connects you to an agent in just a few seconds. Their customer support is very friendly and helpful. Their support guides and knowledge base are also more comprehensive.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Email Response Time | 20 | 0.3 |
| 24/7 Support | ||
| Live Chat | ||
| Knowledge Base | ||
| Video Tutorials | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.
Enrolling in AstrillVPN and setting up their VPN client is a swift procedure achievable in just a few minutes. Although their desktop clients might have a somewhat older look, they still offer a user-friendly experience. Additionally, you’ll encounter numerous customization choices that allow you to personalize the VPN according to your particular requirements and goals.
From the main screen, it is simple to choose a protocol, and you have access to additional features such as split tunneling, smart mode, ad blocker, VPN sharing, and more. Moreover, the main window displays the connection quality for your convenience.
Their smartphone apps are quite impressive, and you will have no trouble using them.
ExpressVPN is one of the most user-friendly VPNs, and creating an account is just as easy. From there, you won’t get any trouble whether you want to use the VPN for privacy, security, censorship, or even streaming on services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
We offer a user-friendly connection process, allowing you to connect to a server with just one click. Within our server section, you’ll find a selection of recommended servers located in different regions. Our VPN service also comes with a range of customization options. You can take advantage of features such as the kill switch, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, split tunneling, and even Smart DNS to tailor your experience according to your preferences.
There are browser extensions and smartphone apps that are just as impressive and easy to use.
*Please note that ExpressVPN's generous money-back guarantee applies to first-time customers only.
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