Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Avira vs ExpressVPN
Where Avira and ExpressVPN differ
| Compare |  Avira |  ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €5.95 | $2.99 |
| Long-term plan price | €4.00 | €2.49Lower |
| Devices | 5 | 10 to 14Higher |
| Server countries | 36 | 113Higher |
| Renewal price | €87.95 | €79.95Lower |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Jurisdiction | DE | VG |
| Features | Kill switch | Kill switch, Split tunnellingCovers more |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, IPadOS, Android, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Android TV, Smart TVs, Routers, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave |
| Owner | Gen Digital Inc. | Kape Technologies |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | 28 monthsHigher |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | KPMG 2025 |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | Lightway, WireGuard |
| Streaming services | Streaming services (vendor claim: unblocks access to geo restricted services) | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- ExpressVPN scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Long-term plan price is lower at ExpressVPN: €2.49 vs €4.00.
- Devices is higher at ExpressVPN: 10 to 14 vs 5.
- Server countries is higher at ExpressVPN: 113 vs 36.
- Renewal price is lower at ExpressVPN: €79.95 vs €87.95.
- Features: only ExpressVPN offers Split tunnelling.
- Platforms: only Avira offers Mac.
- Platforms: only ExpressVPN offers MacOS, Linux, IPadOS.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at ExpressVPN: 28 months vs 12 months.
- Support channels: only Avira offers Community.
Our verdict on each
Avira
Avira suits readers who want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager under one subscription, and who keep paying after the first year. The annual antivirus plan opens at €47.95 and renews at €87.95, so the renewal figure is the one to plan around.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN suits readers who want an audited no-logs VPN with broad server coverage, but its monthly plan and renewal terms sit above the field. The long-term plan lands at €2.49 a month, with servers in 113 countries and a subscription covering 10 to 14 devices.
Score breakdown
| Area | Avira | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Monthly billing sits at €5.95, and renewal at €87.95 outweighs the lower entry price. | 9.3HigherThe monthly plan lists $2.99 and the longest plan advertises €2.49, with renewal billing at €79.95 above that opening rate. |
| Offer | 9.0Extras add vpn and password manager, a 30 day trial and a 60 day money-back window. | 9.4HigherCovers 113 countries and 10 to 14 devices, with a 30 day refund window and audited no logs logging. |
| Privacy | 9.8Higher | 9.1 |
Pick Avira if, pick ExpressVPN if
Pick Avira if privacy and money-back period matter most.
Pick ExpressVPN if offer, long-term plan price, devices, and server countries matter most.
If neither fits
NordVPN has server countries at 150, against 36 for Avira and 113 for ExpressVPN.
NordVPN reviewWhere these facts come from
Avira
- avira.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- e-shop.avira.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
ExpressVPN
- expressvpn.com: 19 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Avira | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 27 of 232 | 23 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 25 of 280 | 22 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 13 of 63 | 11 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 23 of 189 | 19 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Avira | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, Travel | No logs, Streaming, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Avira Operations GmbH | Express Technologies Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Germany | Virgin Islands, British |
| Founded | 1986Lower | 2009 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Chat, Email, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Avira | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Free plan limits | 500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free) | Not confirmed |
| Logging policy | Strict no-logs policy; browsing activity not tracked and data not sold to third parties | No activity or connection logs: browsing history, traffic destination, data content, DNS queries and user-linked IP addresses are not collected; RAM-only TrustedServer infrastructure, independently audited |
| Open source | No | No |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Browser | Private dns, Ad blocker |
Password managers
| Fact | Avira | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Security audit | AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives test certifications, antivirus products only (2020) | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | 256-bit encryption, bank-grade | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | Avira | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 30 days | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Avira | ExpressVPN | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term plan price | €4.00above the median | €2.49lowest quarter | €3.99 |
| Devices | 5below the median | 10 to 14highest quarter | 10 |
| Server countries | 36below the median | 113highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | €87.95above the median | €79.95above the median | €69.99 |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 monthsat the median | 28 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Avira
Pros
- A free version and a free password manager plan sit alongside the paid tiers
- A single subscription covers 5 devices across Windows, Mac and Android
- The bundle adds vpn and password manager to the antivirus plan
Cons
- Renewal runs at €87.95 against a first year of €47.95
- Support runs on help centre and community only
- Free usage is capped at 500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free)
ExpressVPN
Pros
- The logging policy rules out activity and connection logs, and the audit behind it is KPMG 2025.
- Lightway and WireGuard protocols, with a kill switch and split tunnelling in the same subscription.
- Apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, covering desktop, mobile, TV and browsers.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so any test of the service costs money from the start.
- Renewal billing of €79.95 sits far above the €2.49 monthly rate on the longest plan.
- The long-term plan price ranks 24 of 112 among the brands compared on price, so buyers on the tightest budget have cheaper options.
Who each suits
Avira
Who it suits
- Readers who want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager from a single subscription.
- Small households that fit within 5 devices and want a free version to fall back on.
- People who want coverage on Windows, Mac and Android without managing separate vendors.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who need wider device coverage: Comodo (Xcitium) lists 50 devices.
- Readers shopping in Brazil, where ESET Brasil prices its first year at BRL 64.22.
- Readers already inside the Apple ecosystem, where iOS, iPadOS and macOS are covered.
ExpressVPN
Who it suits
- Business users who need an audited no-logs policy and RAM only servers.
- People who travel or stream and need broad country coverage in a single subscription.
- Households that want the same account across desktops, phones, TVs and browsers.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers shopping for a cheaper privacy entry point, where Apple Inc. charges $0.99 a month.
- Houses that want antivirus coverage alongside device protection, where ESET Brasil plans cover 3 to 25.
- Anyone who actually wants a password manager rather than a VPN, where Sinew Software Systems charges $1.99 a month.
Current offers
Avira
Current offer
Free trial
Not ready to commit? Get FREE 30-day access to all our Premium products: 30 days free
No credit card required; email address required; homepage legal text states that for trials a payment method is required at sign-up and is charged at the end of the trial unless cancelled first
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Big savings. Strong online security: 45% off Avira Prime: 45% off the first year of Avira Prime (up to 5 devices)
Applies to the first annual period; subscription automatically renews at the renewal price unless the renewal is cancelled
Source, checked September 26, 2026
ExpressVPN
Current offer
Discount code
Fall sports offer: Save 80%
Limited-time offer on 2-year plans; amounts shown in EUR, sales tax applied at checkout where applicable
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Basic plan, 2 Years + 4 Months: €2.49/mo, Save 80% (EUR 69.72 billed for the first 28 months)
Then autorenews at EUR 79.95 annually; 30-day money-back guarantee for new users
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Avira
What does Avira cost in the first year, and what happens at renewal?+
The annual antivirus plan is €47.95 for the first year and renews at €87.95. Monthly VPN billing is €5.95, and the long-term VPN plan runs €4.00. The step up at renewal is the part worth budgeting for if you stay subscribed.
Is there a free Avira version?+
Yes. Avira offers a free version of the antivirus, and the password manager has a free plan as well. The free VPN is capped at 500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free), so it suits light use rather than everyday browsing. The free tiers give you a way to sample the products before paying.
ExpressVPN
How much does ExpressVPN cost at the start?+
The monthly plan lists $2.99 a month, and the longest plan advertises €2.49 a month across 28 months. Renewal billing is quoted separately at €79.95, which is the figure to budget for later. The advertised opening rate is the number most readers see first, and it is not the ongoing cost.
Does ExpressVPN have a free plan?+
There is no free plan, so there is no way to try the service without paying. The refund window is the practical substitute: 30 days from purchase to decide. Anything past that point carries the full subscription cost, so the timing of a trial matters.
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