We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research, and also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
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Wizcase was established in 2018 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, Intego and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on Wizcase 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 Proton VPN 2024

We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!

Proton VPN is from the same entity also responsible for ProtonMail — a respected encrypted email service. Does this expertise carry over to their VPN? For the most part. Proton VPN goes toe-to-toe with ExpressVPN in some key areas, but falls short in some others as well. It’s always tough to beat ExpressVPN in terms of speed, but what about others? More Info

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.

How do these VPNs Compare?

How to use this chart

ExpressVPN is widely regarded as one of the best VPNs in the world, offering a well-rounded service that backs up its fast speeds. Proton VPN does have some unique features and impenetrable security, but does need to work on value and support.

Speed

Proton VPN’s speeds are not the best, but still usually serviceable for streaming in most cases. On the other hand, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market, so there’s no contest here. If you want the best streaming speeds, and upload/download speeds, always go with ExpressVPN.

VPN vendor
Download speed reduction 11% (UK) 31% (UK)
Upload speed reduction 16% (FRA) 99% (FRA)
Ping time to google.com 24ms 217ms
Average time to connect (sec.) 11ms 6.7ms
Unblock successful for Netflix-logo Hulu-logo Kodi-logo Espn-logo Youtube-logo Bbc-logo Netflix-logo Youtube-logo Hulu-logo Kodi-logo Bbc-logo
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Why Most Speed Tests are Pointless & How We Correctly Test VPN Speeds

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.

Servers

ExpressVPN currently has 148 server locations in 94 total countries around the world, which is definitely better than the 112 locations in just 14 countries that Proton VPN has.

VPN vendor
Server Locations 3,300 1520
Server Countries 105 65
IP Addresses 1,500+ 698
Dynamic Server Switching
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The Big Mistake When Comparing Number of Servers and What to Really Look For

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

Support

ExpressVPN backs up their stellar product with support on all levels, be it live chat, email help, or a large knowledge base and tutorials on their site. Proton VPN currently lacks a live chat or any 24/7 support, but can be emailed for help. They have some decent help material on their site.

VPN vendor
Email Response Time 0.3 2
24/7 Support
Live Chat
Knowledge Base
Video Tutorials
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How We Test Customer Support and Why Should You Care

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.

Ease of Use

ExpressVPN homepage screenshot

ExpressVPN is incredibly easy to download and set up and use on multiple devices. Once opened, the app will offer to connect you to a recommended server based on your location, but you can just as easily choose to connect to the location of your choice. If you wish to change from the automatic security protocol, simply click on the settings button and you’ll see the full list of protocols to choose from.

ExpressVPN can unblock content on most any streaming platform — another reason why it’s so popular.

VS
protonVPN

Overall, we found Proton VPN easy to use. Once you’ve signed up for an account, you can download the appropriate software based on your operating system. They have clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. Depending on your subscription you may use this service on multiple devices. Set up is easy and only takes a few minutes.

Once loaded, you can choose which country to connect to, or you can select the quick connect feature. Typically, connecting to the server takes a few seconds, but if you choose a relatively full server, it may take longer. If you have a server that you want to connect to regularly, you can create a profile with that location and server information. Profiles appear on the quick connect dropdown list.

Pricing

THE WINNER IS

Visit ExpressVPN Website!

Which VPN Will You Choose?

Both these VPNs use 256-bit encryption, so that’s a wash in that aspect. We liked how Proton VPN only uses two versions of OpenVPN, and their re-routing Secure Core features, but the lack of server countries and slower speeds make ExpressVPN the clear winner here. More Info
We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research, and also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
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WizCase is reader-supported so we may receive a commission when you buy through links on our site. You do not pay extra for anything you buy on our site — our commission comes directly from the product owner. Some providers are owned by our parent company. Learn moreWizcase was established in 2018 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, Intego and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on Wizcase 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..