Last Update: November 17, 2021
The number of VPNs available in the market keeps increasing by the day. It is good that people are becoming more aware of the need for VPNs, providing a broad market for these providers. However, the issue of which VPN to choose becomes a challenge for new users.
You would have encountered two names in your search for the perfect VPN: Avast VPN and ExpressVPN. These two VPNs are paid VPNs that promise to give their customers the best service at a fee.
Are you trying to choose between the two premium VPNs, and you are wondering which is better? Is the price of this VPN worth it? We have done a step-by-step examination of every factor you could consider in a VPN and compared these two.
Each one has its strengths and weaknesses. However, based on what you need in a VPN, there is one for you. This review will help you know which one excels in different areas and the overall winner of the comparison.
PureVPN was established in 2007 as a commercial Virtual Private Network service in Hong Kong. PureVPN is known for its versatility in operations, allowing the user to choose from various options.
On the other hand, NordVPN was founded in Panama in the year 2012. It started as a Windows-only app, but by 2016, it had expanded to include Android and Mac versions.
Because PureVPN is older software, most people consider it outdated compared with NordVPN. However, that is far from the truth.
PureVPN is not as old as you think. It has some features that NordVPN does not have and has a huge fan base despite its age. You can read our full PureVPN review to understand better.
Speed is one of the most important things when choosing a VPN. In this fast-moving world, you can’t afford to be behind. It would be best to have a VPN that can keep up with all the activities you might want to do, whether streaming or torrenting.
Therefore, one of the first things we checked in comparing Avast VPN and ExpressVPN is the speed. You might want to confirm our results for yourself before going for either of the VPNs.
VPN speed depends on several factors, from your location to your service provider.
We tried to vary these factors in testing for the faster VPN between these two VPNs. However, it is still possible to have a different result based on unique factors peculiar to you.
In our test, ExpressVPN emerged faster with a speed of 106.78 Mbps. With this speed, you can carry out any of your activities online without lags.
Avast VPN is also reasonably fast at about 73.8 Mbps. This speed is quite suitable for any streaming, gaming, and file sharing that you might want to do.
Remember that these are only average connection speeds. You might experience a different speed based on your ISP, server location, and physical location.
Based on our testing, ExpressVPN is the winner in this category. The VPN proved to be faster in different conditions in our testing. Avast VPN also recorded a fast enough speed, though.
When you pay a premium price for a VPN, you expect to get premium services. There are several features like a kill switch that you expect a paid VPN to have.
These features can be a make or break factor in your selection as they determine if the VPN is suitable for your needs.
We have examined features that you can expect from a premium VPN and shown how Avast VPN and ExpressVPN match up in these features.
If you are looking to enjoy content from geo-blocked regions on your streaming platforms with your VPN, the global coverage of the VPN is super important.
A VPN with more coverage will generally allow you to access more locations. Server coverage can also play a part in the speed of your VPN.
Avast Secureline VPN has a server in 55 locations spread across 34 countries.
They started with 19 countries which shows considerable growth and potential for more growth. The locations covered by the servers include significant locations like the UK, the US, Canada, and the Netherlands.
ExpressVPN has broader coverage than Avast. The VPN boasts over 3,000 servers in 160 locations. These locations are spread around 94 countries. This massive coverage is one of the highest in the industry.
It is, therefore, clear that there is hardly any content you can’t unlock from a region with ExpressVPN.
Beyond the security features, which we shall discuss shortly, some extra features can make using a VPN more enjoyable. Two of these features are the split tunneling and kill switch.
Split tunneling allows you to use some applications on your device without the VPN while others are routed through the VPN. You can enjoy this feature with ExpressVPN. However, you can’t get this feature with Avast VPN.
Both VPNs have the kill switch, though. With this feature, your connection is switched off immediately and the VPN service goes down for any reason. This extra layer of security ensures that no third party can hack into your information if your VPN connection is not up.
It is rare in this age to have only one device. The average person has at least two; a laptop and a mobile phone. You don’t want to have to subscribe to two or more VPNs for each of your devices. One account can cater to all your VPN needs.
Beyond using more than one device with an account, there are times that you want to use your devices simultaneously. VPNs are enabled for simultaneous connections of more than one device. The number of devices allowed just varies from VPN to VPN.
Avast Secureline VPN allows for the simultaneous connection of up to 5 devices. However, you would have to be on the multi-device plan to get this feature. The basic plan does not allow for the connection of more than one device.
Express VPN also enables the connection of up to 5 devices. You don’t get more than 5 devices from this VPN. But you can always connect a router such that you can access other devices with it and stay protected.
We have already made it clear that you probably connect to your VPN with more than one device. These devices don’t always have the same OS. Your mac laptop would not always connect with the same app as your Android phone.
Therefore, you want to check if the VPN app is compatible with your devices. Avast VPN supports a good number of platforms. You can connect the VPN to your Windows, macOS, iOS, Android devices. The browser extension also works fine for Chrome and Firefox browsers.
If these options do not encompass all your devices, you might be more interested in the broader range that ExpressVPN offers. With your Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Nook, Blackberry, and famed routers, you can use this VPN.
It also supports the more popular platforms like Android, macOS, and iOS. The browser extensions available include Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.
If you don’t have a lot of devices, you might be okay with what Avast VPN offers. But if you have several devices with varying operating systems, ExpressVPN is a more advisable choice for you.
Customer support is one feature of any application that you always check. It doesn’t matter how simple the app or service is. You might need to talk to someone that understands it better. With a support system in place, you can always get any issues or queries sorted quickly.
Avast VPN and ExpressVPN are straightforward services. But, if you run into any difficulties, the two VPNs have a customer support system in place to help. You can start with the FAQ section provided. ExpressVPN has a more detailed section, though.
Avast VPN takes the customer service a bit further by providing a three-fold system. You can get answers through 24/7 phone call support, trouble ticketing, or the user forum.
The phone call support is a unique touch as most VPNs don’t provide that. They also responded to a call to the number on their website promptly. The ticketing and user forum also work well.
ExpressVPN also provides standard customer support. It has a 24/7 live chat option with instructions and guides on setting up the VPN. If you have any further troubles, you can reach out to someone via email or a support ticket.
The overall winner in the features category is ExpressVPN. The VPN providers go all out in ensuring that subscribers have all they need in terms of features. The only advantage for Avast VPN is its top-notch customer support. However, ExpressVPN also has good customer service.
It is not enough to pay a premium price for a VPN. You want to ensure that this VPN works every time you need it. We put Avast VPN and ExpressVPN to the reliability test, and we found that they are both true to their word.
With Avast VPN, your privacy is sure. None of your data is leaked to the government or third parties. The servers also work well in every location available on the VPN. You would hardly have any issues with the VPN stopping suddenly in the middle of a connection.
ExpressVPN also provides you with the same measure of reliability. With their more extensive number of servers, you can reach any location you want within seconds and enjoy a reliable network. The VPN is also private and doesn’t leak your information to third parties.
So when it comes to reliability, you can say we have a tie between these two VPNs. You can enjoy an excellent connection to any location where they have servers located anytime.
The main reason why most people use VPNs is for the security features. In the world of monitoring from the government and data theft from different organizations, a VPN is vital to ensuring that you don’t fall prey.
A VPN has several features that make it almost impossible for anyone to steal your information. The data protection procedures are essential criteria to check in any VPN before you make a choice.
Avast Secureline and ExpressVPN both have AES-256 encryption to ensure that your data is safe. If anyone tries to hack into your data, they would only find a series of numbers that make no sense. Each also provides additional features to keep you extra safe.
ExpressVPN uses the OpenVPN protocol with PPTP, TCP/UDP, L2TP/IPSec, and SSTP protocols. When you couple these protocols with the DNS and IPv6 leak protection, you can see that you are extra safe.
You could also choose to use Lightway, a protocol created by ExpressVPN. The dedicated servers also ensure that no one can see your IP address by creating unique ones for DNS queries.
Avast Secureline doesn’t have all the security protocols that you will find in ExpressVPN. The VPN provides OpenSSL libraries on IPSec and OpenVPN with UDP. While these protocols are manageable, they might not give you the best protection.
So, when it comes to security, ExpressVPN is the winner. However, you can still get okay protection in Avast VPN.
Your internet service provider already logs your information and provides it to advertisers. You don’t have to suffer the same thing from a VPN supposed to keep you safe. You don’t want to try to stay safe and end up putting your data in the wrong hands in the name of a VPN.
Therefore, it is essential to choose a VPN that has a strict no-logs policy. VPNs that keep logs usually sell your information to third parties that could use it for anything. Let’s review how Avast VPN and ExpressVPN services hold up when it comes to logs.
ExpressVPN does not keep any logs whatsoever of your activities on the net. According to its privacy policy, it only has the basic data needed to activate the VPN, and none of this data can lead back to your IP address.
The audit by PwC on its code and members also confirms this practice. Therefore, you are safe from prying eyes.
Avast Secureline also claims not to keep the logs of its users. However, their privacy policy puts this in doubt. The policy shows that the VPN does not keep any activity logs.
However, they keep a record of your connection logs. These logs include your IP address and data usage.
This data is usually deleted after 30 days. It might not be a problem if you only use your VPN for streaming, but if you want to torrent, you don’t want to make use of this VPN. Therefore, it is clear that when it comes to logging policies, ExpressVPN takes the lead.
The location of a VPN impacts the quality of services that you will get from the VPN. Services located within or cooperates with the Five Eyes or Fourteen
Eyes are required by law to provide logs of the activities of their customers. Therefore, you can’t completely trust these services.
Avast VPN has its head office in the Czech Republic, which is a country that cooperates with the Five Eyes. While the country does not have any mandatory data retention laws, its cooperation with the surveillance alliances questions the service.
ExpressVPN, on the other hand, is located in the British Islands. This location is free from any form of data retention law. It is also not under or in cooperation with the Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance or the Five Eyes.
When you compare the jurisdiction of Avast Secureline VPN and ExpressVPN, it is clear that ExpressVPN is the better option. You are entirely sure of zero surveillance with the VPN.
Sometimes, the movie you want to watch on Netflix is not available in your location. You begin to wish for software that would help you unblock the limitations on the streaming platform. A VPN is that software that does the trick.
You can access geo-locked content with a good VPN from different streaming platforms. The VPN provides you with a different IP address. It makes you appear to be in the location of the content, making it possible for you to access it.
But, not all VPNs work well for geo-unblocking. We examined the capabilities of Avast VPN and ExpressVPN in this regard. ExpressVPN has comprehensive server coverage, making it easy for you to get service in different countries and access their content.
On the other hand, Avast VPN has a smaller number of servers. This small number means that their servers are often overloaded. Therefore, you might not always be able to get the content you want from Netflix.
Avast VPN has only one server designated for streaming US Netflix. You can stream from up to sixteen platforms with ExpressVPN. With only one server dedicated to streaming, it can get overloaded sometimes.
Therefore, AvastVPN is not the best VPN for your streaming needs. You have a higher possibility of reaching unblocking all streaming platforms you want with ExpressVPN.
Torrenting is a controversial online activity. This peer-to-peer file sharing helps businesses to share files safely. However, it is mainly used to share copyrighted movies, games, and other content under the owners’ noses.
When the owners of these files realized the problem that torrenting was causing, they got ISPs to block or throttle the network of customers who engage in it. Therefore, you will need a VPN to torrent if you want to gain access to some files.
A VPN protects you with encryption, so your ISP does not know what you are doing. It is not all VPN servers that can do this, though. So, we checked Avast VPN and ExpressVPN for how it helps you with torrenting.
ExpressVPN supports torrenting well. You can use the servers for torrenting and learn from the tips on the page on how torrenting works with the VPN. You can read our review of ExpressVPN to see more on how they protect you when torrenting.
Avast VPN can also protect you when torrenting, but there are specific servers that work for torrenting. You need to ensure that you are using the P2P servers when torrenting with this VPN.
Looking at the number of servers that support torrenting between the two services, ExpressVPN has the upper hand. You can still use Avast VPN as long as you choose the correct server.
The pricing and plans available are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN. You don’t want to pay more than necessary for a service when you get the same for a lesser price.
However, you should note that you can base your choice of a VPN solely on the price. You would only end up with a terrible VPN.
When it comes to comparing the price of Avast VPN and ExpressVPN, it is not as straightforward as you might think. The subscription plans of Avast VPN and ExpressVPN are not too alike, so it was a little challenging to compare them.
Avast VPN has a different plan for mac and PC users than their iOS and Android users. Mac and PC users pay $5 per month or an annual price of $59.99.
If you want to upgrade to five devices, you pay $6.67 monthly or $79.99 annually. For iOS and Android users, you pay $19.99 for an annual subscription with no option for a monthly plan.
ExpressVPN has a more straightforward pricing plan. You pay $12.95 for a monthly plan, regardless of the device. The annual plan is more economical at $99.95.
This pricing is generally more than the average in the VPN market. Therefore, ExpressVPN is one of the high-priced VPNs.
Comparing the price on any level, it is clear that Avast VPN is the more budget-friendly option. If you don’t want to spend too much on a VPN service, you might be tempted to go for this VPN.
When going for paid VPN, it is essential to know their refund policy. If you find that the VPN is not compatible with your needs, you can quickly refund and have your money back without any stress.
Both Avast VPN and ExpressVPN offer a 30-day money-back guarantee to their users. Avast VPN, however, offers a 7-day trial to users on all their devices. So, you can try out any of these VPNs without any fear.
Payment is also easy as each of the VPNs supports the popular payment methods. You can use PayPal and your credit or debit cards for payment on
ExpressVPN and Avast VPN. ExpressVPN takes it further by providing cryptocurrency options for payment.
What gives you value for your money depends primarily on you. If you only want to use your VPN for security and don’t want to spend too much on it, you can consider the AvastVPN option. But, you might end up not enjoying the value of the money.
However, if you want to enjoy all the full features of a VPN, ExpressVPN is the way to go. The VPN is a genuine premium that gives its users the whole experience of a VPN. You can enjoy torrenting and streaming without any stress with this VPN. The value is worth the money.
Our overall winner of this comparison between Avast VPN and ExpressVPN is ExpressVPN! The VPN won in most of the categories. It provides the best connection speed, features, servers, security, privacy, torrenting, streaming, and value for money.
Avast VPN, however, does well in certain areas as it surpasses ExpressVPN in pricing and customer service. It also ties with ExpressVPN in reliability, refund policy, and simultaneous connections. However, these features are not enough to match up with ExpressVPN features.
Therefore, you see why it is essential to make this comparison. If you only look at the prices, you might be wrong about what is better as a VPN choice. You can also check out an example of a similar article if ExpressVPN and Avast VPN do not seem like the VPN you want.
