Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
ExpressVPN vs Proton AG
What sets them apart
| Compare |  ExpressVPN |  Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 to 14Higher | 10 |
| Server countries | 113 | from 140 |
| No-logs audit | KPMG 2025 | Securitum, 2026 |
| Jurisdiction | VG | CH |
| Protocols | Lightway, WireGuard | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, IPadOS, Android, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Android TV, Smart TVs, Routers, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV |
| Owner | Kape Technologies | Proton AG |
| Longest plan (months) | 28 monthsHigher | 24 months |
| Monthly price | $2.99 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | €2.49 | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | €79.95 | Not confirmed |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days), Features (Kill switch, Split tunnelling).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Devices is higher at ExpressVPN: 10 to 14 vs 10.
- Protocols: only ExpressVPN offers Lightway.
- Protocols: only Proton AG offers OpenVPN.
- Platforms: only ExpressVPN offers IPadOS, Fire Stick, Smart TVs.
- Platforms: only Proton AG offers Chromebook, Amazon Fire TV.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at ExpressVPN: 28 months vs 24 months.
- Support channels: only Proton AG offers Community.
- Founded is lower at ExpressVPN: 2009 vs 2014.
- Features: only ExpressVPN offers Travel.
Our verdict on each
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.
Proton AG
Proton AG suits readers who want a published no-logs audit, a free tier and a bundled privacy suite rather than a bare tunnel, with the company based in Switzerland. Paid plans reach servers in from 140 countries and cover 10 devices, alongside free storage of 5 GB.
Score breakdown
| Area | ExpressVPN | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3The monthly plan lists $2.99 and the longest plan advertises €2.49, with renewal billing at €79.95 above that opening rate. | 9.3 |
| Offer | 9.4Covers 113 countries and 10 to 14 devices, with a 30 day refund window and audited no logs logging. | 9.4Term choice runs to 24 months with a 30-day refund window, and a free plan anchors entry pricing. |
| Privacy | 9.1Higher | 8.9 |
By the numbers
| Fact | ExpressVPN | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 to 14 | 10 |
| Server countries | 113 | from 140 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 28 months | 24 months |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | ExpressVPN | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 23 of 232 | 26 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 22 of 280 | 24 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 11 of 63 | 12 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 19 of 189 | 22 of 189 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | ExpressVPN | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Virgin Islands, British | Switzerland |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ExpressVPN | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free |
| Legal entity | Express Technologies Ltd. | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Virgin Islands, British | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2009Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Chat, Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Privacy tools
| Fact | ExpressVPN | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €2.49 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | No data or speed limits, no ads, no time limit, 1 device, servers in 10 countries randomly selected, medium speed. |
| Logging policy | 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 | No activity logs |
| Open source | No | YesHas it |
| Privacy tool type | Private dns, Ad blockerCovers more | Ad blocker |
Password managers
| Fact | ExpressVPN | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Not confirmed | Pass Family: up to 6 users, 6 Pass Plus accounts, admin panel |
| Passkeys | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Independently audited by third-party experts; audit reports public |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, 256-bit AES-GCM vaults, OpenPGP with ECC Curve25519 for vault keys |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Secure email
| Fact | ExpressVPN | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | The VPN connection from the user's device to Proton's servers; Proton also markets Proton for Business with end-to-end encryption. |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | ExpressVPN | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 5 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ExpressVPN | Proton AG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $2.99lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $9 |
| Long-term plan price | €2.49lowest quarter | Not confirmed | €3.99 |
| Devices | 10 to 14highest quarter | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 113highest quarter | from 140highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | €79.95above the median | Not confirmed | €69.99 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 132 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Proton AG
Pros
- No-logs claims are audited rather than asserted: Securitum's audit (Securitum, 2026) sits behind a No activity logs policy.
- Free limits come with no caps on data or speed, no ads and no time limit.
- 10 simultaneous devices, above the ranked VPN median of 8.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, and there is no phone line among them.
- The free plan limits put you on a single device at medium speed with randomly selected countries, so constant use points at a paid plan.
- End-to-end encryption is marketed for Proton for Business, while the consumer plan encrypts only the connection from your device to Proton's servers.
Who each suits
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.
Proton AG
Who it suits
- Readers who want a VPN, a passkey vault and encrypted storage under a single account instead of separate subscriptions.
- Families sharing storage, since Pass Family covers several users and Pass Plus seats through a single admin panel.
- Teams buying under a business audience (business) who need GDPR, HIPAA and ISO 27001 certifications on file.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone needing more devices on a single account: Proton covers 10, while ESET Brasil plans run 3 to 25 devices.
- Readers choosing purely on server spread: AVG lists from 100 countries, a base close to Proton's from 140.
- Readers who want a different audit trail to compare: Session Technology Foundation lists Quarkslab 2021 against Proton's Securitum, 2026.
Current offers
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
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.
Proton AG
What does Proton VPN cost, and how long are the commitments?+
The longest plan runs 24 months, the service is listed on a free model, and paid plans carry a 30-day money-back window. Across the ranked VPN field, monthly pricing has a median of €7.02 and long-term pricing a median of €3.97, which frames any quote you see.
Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?+
Yes. The free plan has no caps on data or speed, no ads and no time limit. It runs on a single device, reaches servers in a randomly selected group of countries and delivers medium speed, so the paid tier, which covers 10 devices, is the practical step for constant use.
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