Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
ExpressVPN vs PIA
What sets them apart
| Compare |  ExpressVPN |  PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $2.99Lower | $11.95 |
| Long-term plan price | €2.49 | $2.03 |
| Server countries | 113Higher | 91 |
| Renewal price | €79.95 | $47.88 |
| Jurisdiction | VG | US |
| Protocols | Lightway, WireGuard | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling | Kill switch, Multi hop |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, IPadOS, Android, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Android TV, Smart TVs, Routers, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Smart TV, Gaming |
| Longest plan (months) | 28 months | 39 monthsHigher |
| Devices | 10 to 14 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | KPMG 2025 | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Kape Technologies | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days).
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
- ExpressVPN scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Monthly price is lower at ExpressVPN: $2.99 vs $11.95.
- Server countries is higher at ExpressVPN: 113 vs 91.
- Protocols: only ExpressVPN offers Lightway.
- Protocols: only PIA offers OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec.
- Features: only ExpressVPN offers Split tunnelling.
- Features: only PIA offers Multi hop.
- Platforms: only ExpressVPN offers IPadOS, Apple TV, Fire Stick.
- Platforms: only PIA offers Opera, Smart TV, Gaming.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at PIA: 39 months vs 28 months.
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.
PIA
PIA suits readers who want an audited no-logs policy, open source apps and a long plan, with the long-term plan running 39 months at $2.03 a month. The trade-off is entry pricing at $11.95 a month for the single term and a renewal figure of $47.88.
Score breakdown
| Area | ExpressVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherThe monthly plan lists $2.99 and the longest plan advertises €2.49, with renewal billing at €79.95 above that opening rate. | 9.2Cost lands mid-table: PIA's monthly plan is $11.95 against the €7.89 figure, while the long-term plan holds at $2.03. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherCovers 113 countries and 10 to 14 devices, with a 30 day refund window and audited no logs logging. | 9.3The plan bundles kill switch and multi hop and 91 server countries in one subscription, plus a 30 day money back window. |
| Privacy | 9.1 | 9.1 |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | ExpressVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $2.99 | $11.95 |
| Server countries | 113 | 91 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 28 months | 39 months |
Intro price vs renewal
| Fact | ExpressVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term plan price | €2.49, then €79.95 (+3111%) | $2.03, then $47.88 (+2259%) |
A third option
Apple Inc. has monthly price at $0.99, against $2.99 for ExpressVPN and $11.95 for PIA.
Apple Inc. reviewWhat we checked
ExpressVPN
- expressvpn.com: 19 facts, checked September 26, 2026
PIA
- privateinternetaccess.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | ExpressVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 23 of 232 | 29 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 22 of 280 | 28 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 11 of 63 | 15 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 19 of 189 | 25 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ExpressVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more | No logs |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Budget |
| Legal entity | Express Technologies Ltd. | PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Virgin Islands, British | United States |
| Founded | 2009Lower | 2010 |
| Support channels | Chat, Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | ExpressVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €2.49 | $11.95 |
| Free plan | No | No |
| 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-logs: never tracks, stores, records or sells browsing data; RAM-only servers, no-logs policy audited by Deloitte |
| Open source | No | YesHas it |
| Privacy tool type | Private dns, Ad blocker | Ad blocker, Browser |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ExpressVPN | PIA | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $2.99lowest quarter | $11.95above the median | $9 |
| Devices | 10 to 14highest quarter | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | 113highest quarter | 91above the median | 62 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 28 monthshighest quarter | 39 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 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.
PIA
Pros
- The logging policy is no-logs, with browsing data never tracked, stored, recorded or sold, and Deloitte has audited it.
- The apps are open source, which suits readers who read the client code before trusting it.
- A network of 91 server countries, above the 46.5 figure for VPN brands.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so the 30 day money back window is the only route in before you commit.
- PIA's monthly plan at $11.95 sits above the €7.89 monthly figure across the site.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone number in that list.
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.
PIA
Who it suits
- Readers who want an audited no-logs policy and open source apps in a single subscription.
- Long-term buyers, since the long-term plan runs 39 months at $2.03 with a 30 day money back window.
- People who need one account across Windows, macOS and Linux and a wide spread of exit locations.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want to browse options before paying anything, since PIA has no free plan and Apple Inc. at $0.99 suits lighter privacy budgets.
- Readers who want a different kind of protection: ESET Brasil spans 40 to 70, a different footprint from PIA's 91.
- Readers on a strict budget for one subscription, since Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99 against PIA's monthly plan at $11.95.
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
PIA
Current offer
Discount code
83% off on 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA plan: 83% off, $2.03/mo (autorenews at $79 every 3 years)
amounts shown in USD, discount calculated against current monthly service pricing of $11.95/mo
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
30-day money-back guarantee: 30 days
new subscribers only; subscriptions bought via third-party app stores such as the Apple App Store are subject to those stores' terms
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.
PIA
How much does PIA cost a month?+
The monthly plan is priced at $11.95. The long-term plan drops to $2.03 a month when bought for 39 months, which is where most of the saving sits. Renewal is quoted separately at $47.88, so budget for a second figure as well as the monthly rate.
What does PIA cost at renewal?+
Renewal is listed at $47.88, set apart from the $2.03 monthly rate that opens the long-term plan. The two figures are not interchangeable, so a buyer who budgets on the headline rate alone is not prepared for the second term. Read the renewal line before committing to a long subscription.