Proton VPN doesnt have Lightway,and cant bypass internet firewalls and restrictions in countries with online censorship.
Also, all of Proton VPNs apps are open-source, meaning anyone can inspect them for cracks in security.
Both VPNs also come with perfect forward secrecy, which regularly changes the encryption key for each VPN session.
In addition, both providers have other secure protocols, like OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec.
So, this ones a tie.
However, this feature isnt that good, as it doesnt work very well in restrictive countries.
ExpressVPNs Threat Manager and Proton VPNs NetShield are pretty similar because they both block malicious sites and third-party trackers.
Both providers come with port forwarding, which lets you connect to more peers to get faster downloads.
ExpressVPN and Proton VPN each have a password manager.
ExpressVPN has a built-in password manager, but Proton VPNs password manager has to be downloaded separately.
ExpressVPN Keys securely stores your logins, lets you quickly generate secure passwords, and auto-fills login fields.
I really like that the password manager comes free with each ExpressVPN subscription.
Still, I wish Proton Pass was built into Proton VPN.
Plus, Proton VPN blocks trackers, malware, and ads with its ad blocker.
Whats more, ExpressVPN also had its TrustedServer technology audited in 2019 and 2022.
Only minor issues were found, which the provider quickly fixed.
On the other hand, all of Proton VPNs apps are open-source and audited.
While ExpressVPNs apps are not open-source, they have undergone independent security audits.
Its Windows app underwent a security audit in 2021 and a retest in 2022.
On both occasions, the app was found to be very safe.
I also like how both ExpressVPN and Proton VPN are based in privacy-friendly countries.
Proton VPN even accepts cash payments, which are also great for privacy.
Proton VPN also has open-source apps that have been audited, and it releases a regular transparency report.
Servers Both Have Excellent Server Networks
Both VPNs have great server networks.
ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries, whereas Proton VPN has servers in 117 countries.
Either VPN lets you avoid overcrowded servers and use nearby servers to get fast speeds.
ExpressVPN and Proton VPN both use physical servers, which are physically located in the country you connect to.
Each provider allows torrenting on servers in all locations and has obfuscation on all of their servers.
ExpressVPN also provides access to dedicated IP addresses for a small extra fee.
Winner (Servers): Its a tie
ExpressVPN and Proton VPN have great server networks.
ExpressVPN comes with servers in 105 countries, while Proton VPN has servers in 117 countries.
They support obfuscation on all servers and torrenting in all locations.
Even so, it still wasnt able to provide me with faster speeds than ExpressVPN.
I had blazing-fast speeds for browsing, streaming, and torrenting on both nearby and distant servers.
This isnt really surprising, though, seeing as ExpressVPN isthe best VPN for streaming on the market.
Theyre also compatible with smaller sites, like Fubo, Pluto TV, DAZN, and Crunchyroll.
On the other hand, Proton VPN works with 90+ streaming services and lacks a smart DNS.
In addition, both ExpressVPN and Proton VPN provide excellent security for torrenting.
They can also block ads on torrenting sites.
But while both VPNs have router support, only ExpressVPN comes with a native router app.
Plus, its 30-day money-back guarantee means you could try it out for yourself.
Plus, its fast, secure, and user-friendly.
Unfortunately, Proton VPN doesnt work in countries that restrict access to the internet.
Both VPNs come with excellent mobile apps theyre very intuitive, easy to navigate, and provide great security.
ExpressVPNs apps are slightly easier to use but thats only because they have fewer prefs than Proton VPN.
It also has the advantage of a dedicated router app.
When it comes to ease of use, honestly you cant go wrong with either ExpressVPN or Proton VPN.
Proton VPN comes with a 1-month, a 1-year, and a 2-year plan.
And both providers setup guides come with helpful screenshots ExpressVPNs tutorials even feature video guides.
While each VPN provides an impressive library of support guides, ExpressVPN also has video tutorials.
And both have live chat, but ExpressVPN provides 24/7 live chat, which is more convenient.
And in terms of email support, ExpressVPN answers emails much faster than Proton VPN.
Plus, its among the limited number of VPNs with completely open-source and audited applications.
It includes a good free plan and a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
I can confidently recommend both ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN.
But overall ExpressVPN is my top choice for 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ExpressVPN better than Proton VPN?
ExpressVPN outperforms Proton VPN in speeds, streaming, gaming, bypassing censorship, and customer support.
However, Proton VPN is still one of the best VPNs on the market.
Proton VPN beats ExpressVPN in extra features, plans and pricing, and privacy.
Which one is better for streaming ExpressVPN or Proton VPN?
Also, its missing a smart DNS.
Do ExpressVPN and Proton VPN have free plans?
Proton VPNs free plan is one of the only free VPN plans that includes unlimited data.
It also has pretty good speeds for a free VPN plan, and it provides strong security and privacy.
Which one is more secure ExpressVPN or Proton VPN?
Which one is faster ExpressVPN or Proton VPN?
I had fast speeds with Proton VPN too, but I did experience some minor slowdowns on distant servers.
Which one is better for torrenting ExpressVPN or Proton VPN?
Both VPNsprovide very good P2P support, so it was impossible for me to pick a winner.
They can also get rid of ads on P2P sites.
Is ExpressVPN better than Proton VPN for gaming?
Yes while Proton is good for gaming, ExpressVPN isthe best gaming VPN on the market.
Also, theres no guarantee that it will work with cloud gaming services.
Read more about the best VPNs in 2025
