Cost and Features Comparison 2024

Key Takeaways: Astrill vs ExpressVPN
  • The main difference between Astrill VPN and ExpressVPN is that ExpressVPN offers an easier user interface, as well as better overall performance and value.
  • If you want a no-compromise VPN that’s a breeze to use on any device, ExpressVPN is the better choice. 
  • For power users who feel comfortable digging deep to make the most of a VPN, Astrill VPN’s highly configurable feature set is an attractive proposition. 

Facts & Expert Analysis About ExpressVPN vs Astrill

  • ExpressVPN offers more for the day-to-day user: Unless you want to dig deep into security settings, ExpressVPN is an easier choice and is much cheaper than Astrill VPN.
  • Astrill VPN has big shoes to fill in terms of privacy: With a lackluster privacy policy and no external audits, you have to take Astrill’s word that it won’t do anything malicious with your data. 
  • Torrenting enthusiasts will love Astrill: With configurable port forwarding on every protocol it supports, it’s easy to set up a torrenting client while using Astrill VPN. 

If you’re looking for a virtual private network (VPN) and don’t mind spending a bit more for a subscription, our top VPN recommendation is ExpressVPN. It has all the bells and whistles, performs admirably in a variety of scenarios and doesn’t cut corners. That said, Astrill VPN offers an interesting alternative, so let’s take a deeper look and compare Astrill vs ExpressVPN. 

At first glance, Astrill VPN lags behind ExpressVPN in terms of usability. However, take a closer look and you’ll find a VPN that offers plenty of features for the right user. Whether it’s a good choice for you depends on how you want to use your VPN and whether you prefer customization over ease of use. 

On the other hand, if you’re the kind of person who wants a no-compromise VPN that covers all the bases, ExpressVPN might be more up your alley. Without further ado, let’s dive into our ExpressVPN vs Astrill VPN comparison. 

  • 10/24/2024

    Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s recent increase of 5 simultaneous connections to 8.

  • 07/31/2024 Facts checked

    We rewrote the article to include more relevant points of comparison, as well as our new speed test methodology. 

Cloudwards Choice: ExpressVPN Is the Winner

Andrej is an expert in VPNs and online privacy.

Even though Astrill VPN does offer more in terms of configurability, ExpressVPN has it beat in every other aspect. Its speed and security are top notch, and the apps are remarkably easy to use on any device. Add to this the significantly more affordable pricing, and ExpressVPN is the clear winner.

Which Is Better: Astrill vs ExpressVPN?

Though there is a clear winner in almost all categories, which VPN is a better fit depends on the specific use case. For example, ExpressVPN is a more suitable choice for the average Joe thanks to its easy-to-use apps for almost any platform, whereas Astrill is the better pick for power users who don’t mind dabbling in settings and configurations.

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Who Is Astrill For?

  • Power users: Astrill VPN offers extensive configurability and support for a massive number of VPN protocols, making it excellent for power users who want to set the VPN up their way. 
  • Users in China: Very few VPNs work well in China, but according to the online consensus, Astrill VPN is one of the best at bypassing censorship (the so-called “Great Firewall”) and unblocking sites there. By comparison, ExpressVPN only occasionally works in China.

Who Is ExpressVPN For?

  • Everyday users: With a simple UI on its apps, ExpressVPN gives the everyday user a quick and easy point of entry into using a VPN. 
  • Streaming fans: ExpressVPN can unblock any streaming service and provide access to high-resolution content thanks to high speeds and low latency across the board. 
  • Privacy-conscious users: ExpressVPN has a nearly perfect track record when it comes to security breaches and data leaks, which makes it great for privacy-conscious users. 

Our Detailed Comparison Methodology

When comparing ExpressVPN and Astrill, we took a detailed look at all the factors that you should care about when choosing a VPN: security and privacy, speed, apps and ease of use, streaming and torrenting, and overall features. For more details about each of these VPNs, check out our Astrill VPN review and our ExpressVPN review

ExpressVPN vs Astrill VPN: Comparison at a Glance

$6.66 / month(All Plans) 30-days money-back guarantee $12.50 / month(All Plans) 7-days money-back guarantee
Review Review
General
Payment methods PayPal, Credit card, Bitcoin, PaymentWall PayPal, Credit card, Perfect Money, WeChat Pay, Direct Bank Transfers, Monero
Accepts cryptocurrency
Simultaneous connections 5
Supports split tunneling
Unlimited bandwidth
Free trial available 7 days (mobile only)
Refund period 30 days
Worldwide server amount 3,000+ servers in 105 countries 300+
Desktop OSes Windows, MacOS, Linux Windows, MacOS, Linux
Mobile OSes Android, iOS Android, iOS
Browser extensions Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Can be installed on routers
Streaming
Can access Netflix US
Can access BBC iPlayer
Can access Hulu
Can access Amazon Prime Video
Security
Encryption types 256-AES, ChaCha20 256-AES, ChaCha20
VPN protocols available OpenVPN, IKEv2, Lightway OpenVPN, OpenWeb, StealthVPN, WireGuard
Enabled at device startup
Allows torrenting
No-logging policy
Passed DNS leak test
Killswitch available
Malware/ad blocker included
Support
Live Chat 24/7 24/7
Email support 24/7 24/7
Phone support
User forum
Knowledgebase

ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN share a couple of similarities, but they’re vastly different in areas that matter quite a bit to certain users. They’re both solid in terms of security and privacy; both give you peace of mind with features such as split tunneling, a kill switch and a strict no-logs policy; and both are solid choices for torrenting. 

However, they differ in several key areas. ExpressVPN offers apps that are significantly easier to use, it is faster and can access more streaming services, and it has a larger, better-distributed server network. With that in mind, Astrill VPN is still a better choice for some users, so let’s dive into the details.

Astrill vs ExpressVPN Cost Comparison

Though ExpressVPN is usually more expensive than the competition, Astrill makes ExpressVPN look downright cheap. The monthly cost for Astrill is $30, whereas you can get ExpressVPN for a month for $12.95. A year-long Astrill subscription brings the price down to $15 per month, but ExpressVPN’s year-long plan will only set you back $6.66 per month. 

Our biggest nitpick is the fact that Astrill offers no money-back guarantees or refund, which means you’ll have to pay for at least a month-long subscription if you want to try it out. With ExpressVPN, all plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get your money back if you don’t like the VPN.

ExpressVPN Plans

Astrill vs ExpressVPN: Similarities

Though far from identical, Astrill and ExpressVPN share similarities that make either of them a good choice in certain scenarios. Security comes to mind first, but so do the feature set and streaming capabilities. 

Security

Security is one of the key criteria when it comes to choosing a VPN. You should pick a provider that encrypts all VPN connections and is transparent about the protocols it uses. Configurability is a bonus here, since some users prefer to choose the protocols and types of encryption they use. 

Encryption AES-256 AES-256; ChaCha20
Hash SHA512 N/A
RAM-Only Servers
IP & DNS Leak Protection
Kill Switch
No-Logs Policy Audit Audited Not audited
Outside Intelligence-Sharing Alliances?

ExpressVPN makes no compromises here. In terms of protocols, it offers its proprietary protocol (the Lightway protocol), as well as OpenVPN and IKEv2. Security-wise, you get AES 256-bit encryption, which is the industry standard for VPN services. ExpressVPN’s constant security audits, the latest of which was in April 2024, show that its security is excellent. 

expressvpn protocols

ExpressVPN lets you choose a protocol, but you
can’t configure much more than that. 

Astrill VPN takes security up a notch, offering OpenWeb and StealthVPN as proprietary protocols, as well as Wireguard and OpenVPN. Both OpenWeb and StealthVPN use AES 256-bit encryption, and you can choose from a range of encryption protocols with Wireguard and OpenVPN. 

However, the company has yet to undergo an independent audit. That said, we had no issues with DNS or IP leaks.

astrill openvpn encryption

Some of Astrill VPN’s supported protocols let you choose the encryption level you want or disable encryption altogether.

Core Features

When looking at these VPNs’ features, we first considered elements like a kill switch, which disables your connection if your VPN connection drops, and split tunneling, which makes it so only certain apps or websites use the VPN connection. Anything else, such as configurability, was considered a bonus but not critical. 

ExpressVPN covers its bases in this regard. Its “network lock” kill switch feature lets you choose whether to allow local traffic while you’re disconnected. This is a neat addition that enables you to still use a local printer or file server even if a problem arises elsewhere. Configurable split tunneling is also neat, though it’s not available if you use ExpressVPN on macOS 11 or above. 

expressvpn features

The general settings on ExpressVPN’s macOS app let you configure the network lock, but split tunneling is unavailable for newer macOS versions. 

Astrill VPN goes a step further here, offering both a configurable kill switch and split tunneling that also works on a per-website basis, provided you know the website’s IP address. In addition, Astrill offers a VPN sharing feature, allowing you to use a primary device as a hub and protect other devices connected to it. 

To add to this, the VPN offers advanced configurability, such as port selection for every protocol. Therefore, Astrill gains the upper hand in this category.

astrill vpn sharing

Astrill’s VPN sharing feature lets you turn a primary device into a hub and tunnel up to five devices through it via the VPN’s servers. 

Streaming

Plenty of users choose to access their favorite streaming services via a VPN. Not only does it provide additional encryption and security, but it also gives you the opportunity to virtually change your location and enjoy content libraries only available in certain locations. 

ExpressVPN is excellent in this regard. We had no issues accessing the Netflix U.S. library or Hulu when tunneling through a U.S. server, and we could also access Amazon Prime Video in multiple locations, as well as BBC iPlayer in the U.K. 

Astrill VPN is just as good when it comes to accessing streaming platforms via different server locations, and we had no problems whatsoever with the services listed above. However, it is worth mentioning that, due to the somewhat slower speeds compared to ExpressVPN, our experience wasn’t as good with Astrill. We go into more detail below. 


🇺🇸 U.S.
🇬🇧 U.K.
🇨🇦 Canada
🇩🇪 Germany
🇯🇵 Japan
🇳🇱 Netherlands

🇺🇸 U.S.
🇬🇧 U.K.
🇨🇦 Canada
🇩🇪 Germany
🇯🇵 Japan
🇳🇱 Netherlands

ExpressVPN vs Astrill: Differences

Though both ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN are secure and offer an almost on-par feature set, this is where the similarities end. The VPNs differ quite a bit in nearly every other scenario, with ExpressVPN gaining the upper hand in almost every category. 

Apps & Ease of Use

A VPN isn’t of much use if you can’t install it on your device of choice and use it without jumping through hoops every time you want to establish a connection. This is why ease of use, as well as compatibility with various devices and platforms, is essential for any VPN. 

expressvpn app ui

ExpressVPN’s UI is almost identical on any device you use it on. It has a clean, simple interface that’s easy to use, even for first-time VPN users.

ExpressVPN has some of the best app compatibility around. It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and iPad OS devices, as well as smart TVs, streaming devices, gaming consoles and routers. The apps are remarkably easy to use and have a similar UI across the board. Its feature parity is almost perfect, but there’s no split tunneling on macOS 11 or above.

Astrill VPN offers apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and iPad OS, as well as router support. However, smart TVs, streaming devices and gaming consoles aren’t supported. To add to this, Astrill’s apps haven’t aged well, presenting an outdated UI that’s difficult to navigate — even more so if you want to dive deep into configuration options. 

astrill app ui

Astrill VPN’s desktop app feels dated, with very little useful data displayed and a cramped interface that’s difficult to navigate.

Features:
Operating Systems




iPad OS





iPad OS
Browser Extensions
Brave

Vivaldi
N/A
Other Devices Smart TVs

Chromecast with Android TV
Nvidia Shield
router app
N/A
router app
Ease of Use Easy Moderate
Simultaneous Devices 8 5*
*Via VPN sharing feature
Privacy

Privacy is one of the main reasons why people opt to use a VPN. Encrypting your connection and tunneling it through a VPN server ensures no third party can see your internet activity — not even your ISP. 

ExpressVPN’s track record is impeccable. The strict no-logs policy claims ExpressVPN only collects app data, timestamps and amount of data, none of which is personally identifiable. All data is stored on RAM servers, so it’s wiped with every reboot. Independent audits, the latest of which KPMG conducted in December 2023, confirm that ExpressVPN’s policy is reliable. 

Astrill VPN is somewhat disappointing in this area. The privacy policy clearly states that users’ IP addresses are collected, and though Astrill claims all data is wiped once you disconnect, there has been no external audit to confirm this. In addition, depending on the payment method, Astrill may collect your phone number, though it claims no data is stored on its own servers. 

Speed

You’ll be hard-pressed to enjoy using a VPN if you have to deal with slow browsing speeds, so speed is an important metric when comparing VPNs. Latency should also be considered. High latency may cause buffering issues when streaming and gaming, but it will also negatively impact your browsing experience on slow-loading websites. 

ExpressVPN is one of the most consistent VPNs we’ve tested in terms of speed and latency. Tunneling through different locations gives us consistently high download and upload speeds. The latency did increase when tunneling through distant servers, but it was never high enough to cause issues. 

Astrill VPN was less than stellar. Download speeds were excellent, especially when connecting to some of the 10Gbit servers available, but upload speeds suffered. Latency also wasn’t the best, which means Astrill VPN is a bad choice for online gaming — especially if you live far from the server you’re tunneling through. 

Testing location: North Macedonia; Connection Speed: 150/150 Mbps

Location: * *
🇺🇸 U.S. 132 Mbps/44 Mbps/135 ms 122 Mbps/31 Mbps/195 ms
🇬🇧 U.K. 130 Mbps/110 Mbps/31 ms 132 Mbps/97 Mbps/60 ms
🇨🇦 Canada 144 Mbps/63 Mbps/121 ms 149 Mbps/56 Mbps/153 ms
🇩🇪 Germany 147 Mbps/123 Mbps/34 ms 130 Mbps/110 Mbps/38 ms
*Upload/Download/Latency

These tests line up with our running VPN speed test comparison, where we run daily tests on ExpressVPN among other services.

Download Speed (Higher is better)Upload Speed (Higher is better)Latency (Lower is better)
Torrenting

For a VPN to be good for torrenting, it should offer port forwarding to allow for both incoming and outgoing connections to your device. Both Astrill VPN and ExpressVPN allow you to set up port forwarding. Astrill VPN offers this feature in the desktop app, but you must set up ExpressVPN on a supported router to use port forwarding.

astrill port forwarding

Astrill VPN’s port forwarding feature is an ace up its sleeve for users who want to use the VPN for torrenting.

Server Fleets

Another key aspect when choosing a good VPN is having a large server network that is well distributed throughout the world. This allows you to tunnel through to various locations and choose secure VPN server locations that are physically close to you. 

ExpressVPN has an excellent server network, with servers in 105 countries and far-reaching distribution across all continents. Astrill VPN, on the other hand, has servers in only 58 countries, which is a tad more than half of ExpressVPN’s network. 

Region:
Americas 24 countries 5 countries
Europe 47 countries 35 countries
Asia Pacific 27 countries 16 countries
Middle East & Africa 8 countries 2 countries
Customer Support

Last, we compared the support options for both VPNs, taking a look at all the support channels available for each VPN, as well as the responsiveness and overall interaction with their representatives. 

ExpressVPN has an extensive knowledgebase, which covers everything from the basics to detailed setup guides for various devices. If you need something that’s not covered in the knowledgebase, the 24/7 live chat support has knowledgeable and friendly representatives, and the contact email usually provides a reply within 48 hours. 

Astrill VPN also offers a knowledgebase, with video tutorials that make some of the guides a tad easier. If you have additional questions, you can use the contact form or live customer support, though it is not available 24/7. This could be a problem in some scenarios, as you could be left with no answer or resolution to your issue if you can’t find support online.

Support:
24/7 Live Support
Phone Line
Email Support
FAQ
Knowledgebase

Astrill VPN vs ExpressVPN: Use in China

China is notorious for heavy censorship laws that make it difficult for VPN providers to operate within the country. Most of the country relies on state-owned internet service providers, which means the government can see and control which websites you visit (including VPN websites). 

If a VPN service is operating in China with physical Chinese servers, it means it’s cooperating with the government. Tunneling through VPN servers is crucial if you value your privacy. If you need a Chinese server, choose a virtual one.

Does Astrill VPN Work in China?

Yes, Astrill VPN works well in China, offering solid streaming performance and obfuscated servers. As we discuss in our guide to the best VPN for China, thanks to its StealthVPN protocol and obfuscated servers, you can use Astrill VPN to keep your data private. Astrill VPN wins for users in China for this reason.

Does ExpressVPN Work in China?

Unfortunately, ExpressVPN does not work in China. Though we have had success using it in the past, the government recently blocked the service from working. 

The Verdict: Why We Think ExpressVPN Wins Overall

If you need a reliable VPN that doesn’t compromise on speed or security, is excellent for streaming, has a larger server network and offers easy-to-use apps for almost any platform, ExpressVPN is the way to go. The icing on the cake is its excellent customer support and more reasonable pricing than Astrill VPN, making it an easy choice for most users. 

If You Want to Consider Other Services, Check Out…

If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN, NordVPN is an excellent choice. Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, and if you want to try out a free VPN before committing to a paid subscription, Proton VPN should be your go-to. 

FAQ: ExpressVPN vs Astrill VPN

  • No, Astrill VPN is not better than ExpressVPN for most users. However, it does offer some advanced security features and configurability when it comes to security, so it might be more appealing to advanced users, as well as users in China, where Astrill outperforms ExpressVPN.

  • At the moment, ExpressVPN is the best all-around VPN service.

  • Surfshark is the best VPN for China. Though Astrill VPN is the most reliable VPN for China, its extremely high pricing puts it out of reach for many. Surfshark is a significantly more affordable option that has servers in Macau SAR China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

  • No, Astrill VPN is privately owned and incorporated in Liechtenstein. Astrill has simply developed a reputation for being a solid VPN provider for use in China.


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