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ExpressVPN vs Astrill VPN Overview
When comparing ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN software, there are several key aspects to consider. These include their server networks, connection speeds, security features, user-friendliness, pricing, and customer support. The number and geographic distribution of servers can significantly impact a VPN’s performance and ability to bypass geo-restrictions. Connection speeds are crucial for seamless streaming, online gaming, and fast downloads. Security features, like encryption protocols and kill switches, determine how well your data is protected. User-friendliness is essential for both beginners and experienced users, as it affects the ease of use. Pricing, including subscription options and discounts, can influence your choice. Lastly, responsive and knowledgeable customer support can be a lifesaver when troubleshooting issues. This comparison will delve into these factors to help you make an informed decision between ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN.
Why Do You Need a VPN?
Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) has become increasingly important in today’s digital landscape for a variety of reasons. In this age of advanced technology and constant connectivity, the importance of using a VPN cannot be overstated. Here are five key reasons why using a VPN is essential:
Enhanced Privacy and Security
One of the primary reasons to use a VPN is to protect your online privacy and security. When you connect to the internet without a VPN, your online activities are exposed to ISPs (Internet Service Providers), government agencies, hackers, and other prying eyes. A VPN encrypts your internet connection, ensuring that your data remains confidential and secure. This is particularly important when using public Wi-Fi networks, where the risk of data theft is significantly higher.
Bypassing Geo-Restrictions
Many websites and streaming platforms restrict access to their content based on your geographic location. With a VPN, you can mask your IP address and appear as if you’re browsing from a different region or country. This allows you to access geo-restricted content and services, providing more freedom and choices in your online activities.
Protection from Cyber Threats
Cyber threats like hacking, phishing, and malware are ever-present on the internet. VPNs can help protect you from these threats by offering an extra layer of security. They can hide your IP address, making it more challenging for cybercriminals to target you and your devices. Additionally, some VPNs offer built-in malware and ad-blocking features for added protection.
Secure Remote Access
With the rise of remote work and the need to access sensitive corporate networks from different locations, VPNs play a crucial role in securing remote access. They create a secure tunnel between your device and your workplace’s network, ensuring that your data remains protected while being transmitted over the internet. This is vital for businesses and individuals who need to access confidential information remotely.
Preserving Net Neutrality
In some regions, net neutrality is a contentious issue. Internet service providers may throttle or prioritize specific types of internet traffic, potentially limiting your access to certain websites or services. Using a VPN can help you circumvent such practices by masking your online activities and preventing ISPs from discriminating against your data.
Astrill VPN vs Express VPN: Ownership
Express VPN is under the ownership of Kape Technologies, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, which also holds ownership of CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and Intego VPN. Kape Technologies completed the acquisition of ExpressVPN in September 2021. Astrill VPN on the other hand is owned by Veloxee Corp, a privately held company that is officially established in Liechtenstein. The team responsible for the company’s development is led by experts in the field of cryptography.
The locations of these companies are significant as they operate under different data retention laws and jurisdictional regulations. The British Virgin Islands have strict privacy laws that protect users’ anonymity and do not require data logging, ensuring user security and confidentiality. Liechtenstein has a long history of protecting the privacy of its citizens and residents, and this commitment to privacy is reflected in its laws and regulations. Considering these factors, it becomes evident that both ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN are operated by separate entities with distinct legal frameworks governing their operations.
Pricing Comparison
When evaluating their pricing structures, it is important to consider various factors such as subscription plans, contract lengths, and additional features offered.
Express VPN Pricing
ExpressVPN offers three subscription plans: monthly, six-monthly, and yearly. The monthly plan costs $12.95 per month, while the six-monthly plan amounts to $9.99 per month (billed every six months). The yearly plan provides the best value at $6.67 per month (billed annually).
Astrill VPN Pricing
Astrill VPN also offers three subscription plans: monthly, a one-year plan, and a two-year plan. Their monthly plan costs $30 per month, while a one-year plan amounts to $15.00 per month or $180 every year. For longer-term commitments, a two-year plan costs $12.50 per month or $300 every two years.
It is worth noting that both providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if users are not satisfied with their services.
Considering these prices and features available in each provider’s pricing structure can help determine which one suits individual needs better when comparing Express VPN and Astrill VPN in terms of pricing.
Note:
Prices may differ from the ones shown as new plans and deals are launched on a regular basis. Please be sure to check the most current price on the official website.Speed Comparison
When comparing the speed of different VPN services, one important factor to consider is their ability to provide fast download speeds for smooth browsing and uninterrupted streaming experiences. Both ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN are known for their reliable performance in terms of internet speed. Express VPN offers unlimited bandwidth, ensuring that users can enjoy high-speed connections without any limitations or restrictions. On the other hand, some users have reported that Astrill VPN lags behind in terms of speed, particularly during peak usage hours. However, it is worth noting that internet speed can be influenced by various factors such as server location, network congestion, and individual internet connection. Therefore, while both ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN strive to provide fast speeds and efficient performance, individual experiences may vary depending on specific circumstances.
Security Comparison
Astrill VPN supports various encryption protocols, including StealthVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec. Astrill VPN offers DNS leak protection, which prevents any potential leakage of sensitive information through the domain name system. Furthermore, it includes a kill switch feature that automatically disconnects the user’s internet connection if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, thereby preventing any accidental exposure to online activities.
On the other hand, ExpressVPN also provides top-notch security measures with its proprietary Lightway protocol and support for IKEv2/IPSec and OpenVPN tunneling protocol. The Lightway protocol is designed to enhance performance without compromising security standards.
Privacy Features
Astrill VPN and ExpressVPN are headquartered in locations that are not part of the 5/9/14 Eyes alliance. This is particularly advantageous because it means these services are not obligated to store your data on behalf of governmental agencies. Moreover, neither of them has a track record of compromising user privacy, making them secure options for your online activities. Astrill VPN collects anonymized information to optimize servers, and ExpressVPN collects data, such as successful connections and gives the user the opt-out options.
Encryption
Both VPN services utilize strong encryption protocols to secure user data. Astrill VPN employs AES-256-CBC encryption with RSA-4096 handshake, while ExpressVPN uses AES-256-GCM encryption with RSA-4096 handshake.
Logging Policies
Both Astrill VPN and ExpressVPN uphold no-logs policies, ensuring they neither gather nor retain any records of your online activities, encompassing browsing history, DNS inquiries, and IP addresses. Nevertheless, it’s important to note distinctions in their logging practices. ExpressVPN takes an additional step to boost transparency and security by subjecting its no-logs policy to an external assessment, conducted by Cure53, a highly regarded cybersecurity firm. In contrast, Astrill VPN hasn’t undergone an independent audit of its no-logs policy. Furthermore, ExpressVPN utilizes servers that operate on RAM-only disks, ensuring all data is wiped clean from the servers every time they are restarted. In contrast, Astrill VPN does not employ RAM-only servers.
Server Locations
With regard to server locations, both Astrill VPN and ExpressVPN have a wide network spread across various countries and regions globally. This ensures that users can access servers from different locations, allowing them to bypass geo-restrictions and access content from around the world.
ExpressVPN Server Locations
With more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries, ExpressVPN boasts an impressive global presence. This extensive network allows users to connect to servers in popular locations such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many more. The widespread server coverage ensures fast and reliable connections for users worldwide.
Astrill VPN Server Locations
Although Astrill VPN has a smaller network compared to ExpressVPN, it has servers in 115 cities in 57 countries, which is a decent range of server locations. Users can connect to servers in major regions like North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. While not as extensive as ExpressVPN’s network, Astrill VPN still provides options for users looking to access content from different parts of the world.
In this aspect of server locations comparison between ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN in the faceoff scenario presented here – both providers offer a solid range of options for accessing global content securely and anonymously. However, given its larger number of servers spread across numerous countries worldwide – ExpressVPN takes the lead in terms of providing a wider variety of server locations for its users compared to Astrill VPN’s relatively smaller network coverage.
Features Comparison
Here’s how the key features of ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN compare:
Smart Mode Functionality
Astrill VPN’s Smart Mode and ExpressVPN’s Smart Connect are both features designed to ensure fast and reliable VPN connections. They function by automatically selecting the optimal VPN server for users based on various factors like their location and current network conditions. These features also have the ability to bypass geo-restrictions and censorship.
However, there are notable distinctions between the two. Astrill VPN’s Smart Mode offers more customization options, allowing users to prioritize either speed, security, or both. It also permits users to manually choose a specific server location or select a server from a particular country, making it a flexible choice. On the other hand, ExpressVPN’s Smart Connect takes a more hands-off approach, automatically selecting the best server for users. This simplicity and user-friendliness make ExpressVPN’s Smart Connect an excellent option, particularly for those new to VPN services.
Ad & Malware Blocker
Both ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN provide users with browser extensions that enhance their online security measures. One notable feature is the ad and malware blocker, which helps protect users from intrusive advertisements and potential threats. This feature effectively blocks unwanted ads, preventing them from appearing on websites visited by users. Furthermore, it also filters out malicious content that may pose a risk to the user’s device or personal information. In ExpressVPN, this feature also deactivates user trackers, reducing the frequency of personalized advertisements you encounter during your browsing sessions.
Split Tunneling
Both Astrill VPN and Express VPN offer split tunneling features, however, there are notable distinctions in their implementations. Astrill VPN’s split tunneling provides a higher degree of customization compared to ExpressVPN. With Astrill VPN, users can individually select which applications and websites use the VPN connection while allowing others to bypass it. Additionally, users have the flexibility to establish rules that dictate which traffic is routed through the VPN based on factors such as the destination IP address, port number, or protocol.
In contrast, ExpressVPN’s split tunneling is less flexible than Astrill VPN’s. It permits users to choose which applications use the VPN connection and which do not. However, ExpressVPN does not offer the capability to create rules that define the routing of traffic through the VPN based on factors like destination IP address, port number, or protocol.
Specialized Servers
For the purpose of improving certain online activity or security in general, specialty servers are a tremendous asset. Both Astrill and ExpressVPN VPN have benefits.
For users in Asia and gamers, Astrill VPN offers VIP servers that are optimized for speed and have lower latency. These servers only allow traffic to be purchased in 100GB monthly bundles. There are servers available in Hong Kong, the USA, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and China.
Netflix and Streaming Comparison
When it comes to comparing the streaming capabilities of ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN, one notable aspect is their ability to unblock major streaming platforms and provide users with unrestricted access to their desired content from anywhere in the world. Both ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN have proven to be successful in bypassing geo-restrictions imposed by platforms like Netflix.
Here is a table showing the ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN work with streaming platforms:
| Streaming Platforms | Express VPN | Astrill VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix US | Yes | Yes |
| Other Netflix Libraries | Yes | No |
| Amazon Prime Video | Yes | No |
| BBC iPlayer | Yes | No |
| Disney + | Yes | No |
| HBO Max | Yes | Yes |
| Hulu | Yes | No |
| YouTube TV | Yes |
Device Compatibility
One significant aspect to consider is the compatibility of both ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN with various devices, as it influences the user’s ability to access VPN services across multiple platforms. ExpressVPN has introduced a router applet, simplifying the conventional setup procedure significantly. Moreover, you can concurrently link to diverse servers on separate devices. Astrill refers to this capability as VPN sharing, enabling the effortless transfer of the VPN connection to devices that traditionally wouldn’t support it, such as your router. When comparing device compatibility, both VPNs support a wide range of operating systems including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and routers. This allows users to seamlessly use these VPN services on their preferred devices without any limitations.
Apart from the above OS systems, ExpressVPN additionally facilitates the subsequent devices:
- Android TV and Amazon Fire TV
- Android TV Chromecast
- Chromebooks
- Fire Kindle
- Linux routers
- Windows and macOS routers
- All things considered
Desktop Applications
Astrill VPN’s desktop application, while somewhat more intricate than ExpressVPN’s, provides greater customization possibilities. Users have the flexibility to select from a range of VPN protocols, including Astrill’s unique OpenWeb protocol. They can also specify their connection to a particular server location or choose a server from a specific country.
On the other hand, ExpressVPN’s desktop application is highly user-friendly and boasts a simplified interface. Users need only choose their desired country for connection and click the “Connect” button. Express VPN’s desktop application also incorporates various features, including:
Mobile Applications
Astrill VPN and ExpressVPN both provide exceptional mobile applications for both Android and iOS platforms. These apps are user-friendly and encompass a wide array of features.
The Astrill VPN mobile app is recognized for its speed and reliability. It incorporates several advanced features, including StealthVPN, designed to bypass censorship and geo-restrictions, and Smart Mode, which autonomously selects the optimal VPN server. The ExpressVPN mobile app is similarly celebrated for its speed and dependability. Its user-friendly interface caters to beginners. ExpressVPN’s mobile app is equipped with advanced functionalities like a kill switch and split tunneling.
One notable contrast between the Astrill VPN mobile app and the ExpressVPN mobile app is the degree of customization they offer. Astrill VPN’s app allows users to make choices regarding prioritizing speed, security, or both. It also permits users to specify their connection preferences, such as server location or country selection.
Conversely, ExpressVPN’s mobile app offers a more hands-off approach. Users simply connect to ExpressVPN, and the service automatically determines the most suitable server for them. This design, along with its user-friendly nature, makes ExpressVPN particularly suitable for those new to VPN services.
Torrenting
When it comes to torrenting, both Astrill VPN and ExpressVPN are highly reputable options. They share several key strengths that make them appealing choices for torrent users. These strengths include robust security features with AES 256-bit encryption, vital safeguards such as kill switches and DNS leak protection, fast connection speeds that are essential for downloading large files efficiently, and a network of servers known for their reliability in preventing interruptions and maintaining consistent performance. Furthermore, both Astrill VPN and ExpressVPN offer comprehensive support for Peer-to-Peer (P2P) traffic, ensuring that torrent enthusiasts can make the most of their services. While these two VPN providers share many similarities, specific preferences and individual needs may determine which one is the better fit for your torrenting activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN Compare in Terms of Customer Support?
In terms of customer support, ExpressVPN, and Astrill VPN both offer 24/7 live chat support and email ticketing systems. However, ExpressVPN is known for its highly responsive and helpful customer service, while Astrill VPN’s customer support has received mixed reviews.
Are There Any Additional Fees or Hidden Costs Associated With Using ExpressVPN or Astrill VPN?
Both ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN have straightforward pricing plans without any additional fees or hidden costs. Both services offer transparent pricing structures, ensuring customers are aware of the total cost before subscribing to their services.
Can ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN Be Used to Access Geo-Restricted Content From Different Regions?
Both ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN can be used to access geo-restricted content from different regions. They provide users with the ability to bypass geographical restrictions and access online content that is normally unavailable in their location.
Do ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN Offer Any Discounts or Promotions for Long-Term Subscriptions?
Both ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN offer discounts for long-term subscriptions. However, the specific details of these promotions may vary over time, so it is advisable to visit their respective websites for the most up-to-date information on pricing and available discounts.
Conclusion
When comparing ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN, both are reputable VPN providers, each with its unique strengths. ExpressVPN excels in user-friendliness, top-notch security features, and a vast server network, making it an excellent choice for most users, especially those who prioritize ease of use. On the other hand, Astrill VPN offers advanced customization options and can be a solid choice for users who want a more hands-on approach to configuring their VPN. Ultimately, the choice between ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN depends on your specific needs and preferences, so consider your priorities carefully before making a decision.