Head to head
ExpressVPN vs Proton VPN
ExpressVPN vs Proton VPN contrasts a premium travel favorite with a Swiss privacy brand that also offers a free plan. Pay for Express when polish matters; choose Proton when jurisdiction and open source lead your checklist.
Compared by the BestVPNOnline editorial team
Prices checked Nov 12, 2026How we rate
Polished apps and TrustedServer RAM-only design.
From$2.99/mo · 2-year plan (+4 months)
Wins 2 of 9 categories
30-day money-back guarantee
Swiss privacy focus with a genuine free tier.
From$2.99/mo · 1-year plan
Wins 2 of 9 categories
30-day money-back guarantee
Winner by category
Level on published specs: 2 wins each, 4 tied. Every row uses each provider’s published figures.
| Category |  ExpressVPN |  Proton VPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 9.0/10 | 8.9/10 | ExpressVPN |
| From price | $2.99/mo | $2.99/mo | Tie |
| Server countries | 113 | 149 | Proton VPN |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 | 10 | Tie |
| Money-back window | 30 days | 30 days | Tie |
| Platforms with apps | 9 of 9 | 7 of 9 | ExpressVPN |
| Free plan | No | Yes | Proton VPN |
| No-logs audit | Published | Published | Tie |
| Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | Switzerland | Your call |
Verdict
ExpressVPN for premium travel apps; Proton VPN for Swiss privacy positioning and free-tier access.
Choose ExpressVPN if…
- Premium apps and TrustedServer
- Travel / router focus
- No need for a free plan
Choose Proton VPN if…
- Swiss jurisdiction
- Free plan availability
- Open-source clients
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Every spec, against the field
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Comparing ExpressVPN, Proton VPN
From / month
$2.99
2-year plan (+4 months)
- Server countries
- 113
- Devices
- 10
- Money-back
- 30 days
- Jurisdiction
- British Virgin Islands
- No-logs audit
- Streaming
- Torrenting (P2P)
- Free plan
- Router support
30-day money-back guarantee
From / month
$2.99
1-year plan
- Server countries
- Most149
- Devices
- 10
- Money-back
- 30 days
- Jurisdiction
- Switzerland
- No-logs audit
- Streaming
- Torrenting (P2P)
- Free plan
- Router support
30-day money-back guarantee
| Head to head2 VPNs | ExpressVPN#3 overall | Proton VPN#4 overall |
|---|---|---|
| Score & value | ||
Editorial score 9.0 out of 10Top score | Editorial score 8.9 out of 10 | |
$2.992-year plan (+4 months) | $2.991-year plan | |
30 days | 30 days | |
| Network | ||
113 | 149Most | |
10 | 10 | |
| Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | Switzerland |
| Privacy & use | ||
| No-logs audit | ||
| Streaming | ||
| Torrenting (P2P) | ||
| Free plan | ||
| Apps | ||
| Linux app | ||
| Fire TV app | ||
| Router support | ||
| Verdict | ||
| Best for | TravelBeginners | PrivacyFree VPN trials |
| Ready to choose?Every plan has a money-back window. |
Prices are the lowest USD per-month figure on each provider’s own pricing or checkout page, before VAT or sales tax, checked Nov 12, 2026. They include promotions running at the time and change often. * CyberGhost only showed us euro pricing (2.19 €/mo), so the USD figure may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a free plan?
Proton VPN offers a free plan. ExpressVPN is paid-only with a money-back window.
ExpressVPN vs Proton VPN · Higher ranked
Go with ExpressVPN, or try Proton VPN
Polished apps and TrustedServer RAM-only design. From $2.99/mo (2-year plan (+4 months)) · 30-day money-back guarantee.
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Back to the best VPN rankings or read the ExpressVPN review and Proton VPN review.