Astrill vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN Provider Is Better in 2024?

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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

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 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. 

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*

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. 

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

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)

Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data averaged from 07/03/24 to 07/31/24

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.

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

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