ExpressVPN review

According to VPN users, ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN choices in 2023 due to great security and privacy indicators. Yet, users themselves also point out the quality of performance ExpressVPN delivers. This includes low impact on connection speed and impressive streaming capabilities. Due to these strengths, people worldwide choose ExpressVPN despite its pricier subscriptions.

However, does ExpressVPN fulfill the expectations that its cost provokes? To answer that, we have put it through speed tests using different server locations and tunneling protocols. We also challenged it with multiple streaming services and, of course, examined each of its features to evaluate the functionality of the security suite. Continue reading to learn what we’ve found about ExpressVPN.

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ExpressVPN pros and cons

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What is ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN is a popular VPN provider that offers various useful features and tools to secure your browsing experience online. This VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is a privacy-friendly jurisdiction. Registered as Express Technologies Ltd., the product belongs to Kape Technologies since 2021.

Founded in 2009, ExpressVPN underwent multiple changes, including scandals. In 2017, ExpressVPN’s app got removed from the Apple App Store due to involvement in the investigation of the assassination of the Russian ambassador. However, a couple of years later, the provider has become a founding member of the VPN Trust Initiative, changing its security and privacy approach altogether.

ExpressVPN offers applications for all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Each application is equipped with industry-leading AES encryption and an in-house-built Lightway tunneling protocol, which combines stable performance with protection. To maintain the VPN’s reliability, ExpressVPN regularly goes through independent security and privacy audits accomplished by companies like Cure53.

How much does ExpressVPN cost?

Like most premium VPN providers, ExpressVPN doesn't lock particular features behind certain plans. You're getting the same package. The only difference is the subscriptionlength. The longer the subscription you pick, the bigger discount you get.

Here are different ExpressVPN prices available based on subscription plans:

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Even with the longest subscription, ExpressVPN costs quite a lot, especially compared with other top VPN providers, like NordVPN (starting at $3.19/month) and Surfshark (starting at $2.30/month).

One singular difference between available ExpressVPN subscription options is that with a 1-month plan, you’ll get only 5 simultaneous connections, while the 6-month and 1-year plans expand that number up to 8 simultaneous connections.

However, let’s put ExpressVPN side to side with our other top VPN providers and compare the pricing plans available:

As for the payment options, you can use a credit card, PayPal, Bitcoin, or other options like UnionPay. So, there are choices for those who want to remain private and those who prefer convenience.

Can you get ExpressVPN for free?

Yes, you can test ExpressVPN for free with the free trial option available for 7-days. You can obtain the trial by getting ExpressVPN for iOS or Android devices, and after completing your signup process, you can use that free trial on any device that ExpressVPN supports.

This way, you can try the service out and all of its features before committing to a long-term subscription plan.

This way, you can try the service out and all of its features before committing to a long-term subscription plan.Alternatively, you may use a 30-day money-back guarantee for testing this service out. The best part is that both of these options don’t have data nor speed caps.

There’s no forever-free version to use. However, free versions aren’t the ones that we would even suggest relying on, as they come with strict limitations and lack features. Instead, you can benefit from our ExpressVPN coupons and snatch a budget-friendly deal for a market-leading VPN suite.

Is ExpressVPN safe?

Yes, ExpressVPN is safe due to the industry-leading security measures it applies. The AES-256 encryption that the provider uses scatters your online data into pieces, ensuring governmental-level protection.

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The provider also went miles for the ability to ensure complete online privacy by going for court approval and independent audits on its no-logs policy. And not less important is the privacy-friendly country of jurisdiction. Overall, ExpressVPN seems like a durable VPN provider.

Encryption

When you connect to a VPN server, your IP address is concealed and the traffic becomes encrypted. It means that the data stream is unreadable to those who don't have encryption keys.

ExpressVPN uses the AES 256-GCM and ChaCha20/Poly1305 cyphers.

Your authentication is processed with the help of the SHA-512 hash function. This solves the problem of using your credentials for login, and not exchanging them in plain text. This ensures that your password would still be safe in case of a data breach.

Tunneling protocols

Lightway (UDP/TCP) – the newest open-source addition to the service uses lightweight cryptographic libraries to make your connection faster. It's perfect for mobile devices or for those who have frequent internet drops. It's available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.

OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) – one of the most popular and widespread tunneling protocols. It comes in two options: one that favors speed (UDP) and one that favors stability (TCP). With ExpressVPN, you can freely choose between UDP and TCP. It's also available on all ExpressVPN clients.

IKEv2 – the best option for mobile devices, as it allows for seamless switching between mobile and cellular data without the need to manually reconnect. It is also quite fast and is available on macOS and iOS.

Network Lock

Network Lock (Network Protection for smartphones) is the name for ExpressVPN’s kill switch, which is usually a central component of any Virtual Private Network. If you're using a VPN to protect your identity, the kill switch shuts down your Internet connection when the VPN connection gets interrupted or otherwise disrupted. This prevents unwanted leaks of your real IP and location.

You can easily turn on the Network Lock by heading to your settings. It's also possible to disable or allow access to the other local network devices like file servers and printers. This creates a block so strict that your device gets cut off from the local network. It can be handy if you're using a VPN in a public place.

Plus, it can disable specific apps if you customize it like that. The feature is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Logging

In the privacy policy, ExpressVPN state that they don't collect any logs of your activity. This extends to browsing history, DNS queries, or data content. So, essentially everything that you do will be known only to you. Moreover, they proved that ExpressVPN has a strict zero-logs policy both in court and third-party audits.

However, they do collect some usage information, like successful VPN connections and the aggregate sum of transferred data. It’s mainly used to improve the service, and if you're worried, you can opt-out.

ExpressVPN's chosen business location doesn't interfere with providing a privacy-friendly VPN service because they're based in the British Virgin Islands. This location doesn’t have any potentially harmful data retention laws, and also doesn't belong to any big surveillance alliances, such as the Fourteen Eyes alliance.

Overall, ExpressVPN’s operation doesn't raise many questions. Their privacy policy is quite easy to read and doesn't include cryptic lawyers' jargon.

Security and privacy audits

ExpressVPN has put itself through a series of independent audits. Their no-logs policy was audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the Big Four accounting companies, which also audited NordVPN. The report indicated that ExpressVPN's setup is in accordance with their privacy claims.

In addition, ExpressVPN has also gone through numerous security audits for their apps, browser extensions, and infrastructure – these audits were performed by Cure53, the company that has also audited Surfshark VPN.

But this isn't the only way ExpressVPN ensures your utmost privacy. Their bug bounty program, which has been running for years, covers not only all of their clients but also VPN servers and internal systems. This allows independent testers to catch a bug or a vulnerability that in-house developers might’ve missed.

TrustedServer technology

For those, who remain skeptical about obstructions of justice and third-party audits, ExpressVPN has another ace up its sleeve. TrustedServer technology makes it physically impossible to store data logs because the servers are running only on RAM, storing only working data. So, it allows the data to be exchanged at extremely high rates and instantly purges the data the moment it's not in use.

Such a mode of operation also means that the software that manages your connections has to be reinstalled every time the server shuts down. So, if a threat actor would find a vulnerability and installed a backdoor, it would also be wiped with the rest of the data during the reset. So, with one simple solution, they're shaving off a long list of potential vulnerabilities.

Speed and performance: how fast is ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN is one of the speediest VPNs on the market. It has a proprietary VPN Lightway protocol, which allows for relatively fast and also secure speeds. Yet, it’s not as fast as some other established providers in the industry, the most famous being NordVPN’s custom NordLynx protocol.

But let’s take a closer look at the speed test results to get a better picture.

Data period: 09.20 - 10.04

	Download retention	Upload retention
US (NY)	13% (127 Mbit/s)	15 % (151 Mbit/s)
Canada	23% (223 Mbit/s)	28 % (268 Mbit/s)
United Kingdom	13% (130 Mbit/s)	20 % (194 Mbit/s)
Australia	24% (227 Mbit/s)	26 % (254 Mbit/s)
Germany	25% (242 Mbit/s)	30 % (290 Mbit/s)

Download/Upload baseline speed - 1000 Mbit/s

See live VPN provider data on our VPN speed test tool

Using their proprietary Lightway protocol, the connection time was almost instant. In addition, no matter which server we picked, how far away it was from our original location, the performance stayed stable and impressive – we didn’t encounter lags or buffering. Overall, ExpressVPN retains around XX% of the initial speed, which makes it one of the fastest VPN providers on the market.

Let’s see how ExpressVPN compares to other top VPN providers in terms of download speed:

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ExpressVPN performance with other protocols

Apart from ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol, the VPN provider offers other, more common VPN protocols to its users. Here you can see the differences in ExpressVPN speed using other tunneling protocols.

• Baseline: 300 Mbps download, 300 Mbps upload

• IKEv2: 211.2/9.5
• OpenVPN (TCP): 103.7/52.6
• OpenVPN (UDP): 174.1/123.5

The OpenVPN UDP protocol shows some impressive speeds. The drops can be as low as 14%, which is certainly not a bad score. Meanwhile, IKEv2 also performs as one of the fastest available protocols. Overall, ExpressVPN can be blazing fast. It breaks most previous speed records when you pick a nearby country (even if it means picking the same country you live in).

That said, it does have some strange drops in random locations and for no apparent reason. This makes the service very inconsistent, which can be a dealbreaker if your needed location suffers from poor performance.

In simple terms, here’s how ExpressVPN protocols compare to each other in terms of speed, security, and connection stability:

All in all, ExpressVPN might not be the fastest VPN out there, but it still performs pretty well compared to some other VPN providers. The speeds are suitable for streaming, gaming with a VPN, and casual browsing alike.

ExpressVPN servers and locations

The last time we checked, ExpressVPN had 3,000+ servers in 60 countries. However, they have hid the number as of recently. Nevertheless, you can find most servers in these regions:

Generally, you shouldn't have a hard time finding an ExpressVPN location to connect to. ExpressVPN has more servers in both the Asia Pacific and Europe than any other top provider as of right now, so it won't be a problem switching your IP address to almost anywhere. What’s even more impressive is that you can choose between 5 locations in Africa and the Middle East, while other VPNs usually offer one or two.

The server selection and connection processes are also extremely easy. To change your ExpressVPN server, go to VPN locations on your client app >> choose whether you want to see recommended, recent or all locations >> connect. That’s all there is to it.

All in all, ExpressVPN certainly doesn’t disappoint when it comes to servers and locations.

Does ExpressVPN work in China?

Yes, ExpressVPN is known to work in China. Even if some of the servers are blocked, ExpressVPN fixes whatever issues have arisen and can function in the country again.

These VPN blocks aren’t unusual. China actively blocks VPN providers. As such, not all of them are able to bypass the great firewall of China.

However, keep in mind though that to be able to use a VPN in China, you’ll have to download and install the client app before you travel there.

Additionally, ExpressVPN support usually doesn’t recommend manual connections, so your best bet is to keep the client up to date and try different networks till you find the one that works.

ExpressVPN features

ExpressVPN may not be the one VPN with the most features, but of those that it does have, each seems to serve a different and pretty important purpose. You get the VPN-standard ones like split tunneling and stealth mode and some more sophisticated features such as MediaStreamer or Threat Manager. Let’s take a closer look at everything that ExpressVPN has to offer.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling gives you much more precise controls on how to direct your VPN traffic. So, there are three ways how you can set up ExpressVPN:

• If you use the default option, all your traffic goes through a selected VPN server
• You can exclude selected apps from VPN, forcing them to connect directly
• It's also possible to set it up, allowing only selected apps to use a VPN

So, you can tailor this tool directly to your usage. Do you prefer watching foreign streaming libraries but like to listen to your local charts? Add an exclusion to the Spotify app, and direct the rest of the traffic through the VPN.

MediaStreamer

With your subscription, you're also getting a SmartDNS feature called MediaStreamer. This feature is especially useful when you're accustomed to watching streaming media on a device that doesn't support VPN.

With MediaStreamer, you can change the DNS address, and the device will act as if it's using a VPN when connecting to geo-restricted sites. It only works with US libraries, but these are the ones that are the most restricted.

MediaStreamer did work on our test PC, but it didn't work on Xbox. It seems that Cloudflare DNS settings on the router were overwriting them.

Router applet

ExpressVPN has streamlined the router VPN setup process by introducing a router applet that shaves a couple of steps from the complicated setup. What’s more, since the applet is made from the ground up by ExpressVPN, you can control which devices will be using a VPN, adjust your connection settings, and configure your port forwarding settings.

There's one more thing - the router application now supports adding devices into device groups, letting you choose different servers for each group. This allows you to connect to different servers on different devices simultaneously.

Stealth servers

Stealth servers, stealth mode or obfuscated servers are all methods employed to mask VPN usage from Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). Oppressive governments, streaming services, and some other websites use Deep Packet Inspection as an anti-VPN technology.

Stealth servers are available when connecting to a protocol that’s chosen automatically by the service. Once the VPN detects DPI, your connection automatically switches to stealth servers.

Threat Manager

Threat Manager on ExpressVPN is essentially a feature that blocks all tracking and other potentially malicious activity from third parties when browsing or using apps.

ExpressVPN does this by cross-checking every website or app you visit with its own constantly updated blocklist.

Thus, with Threat Manager turned on, online tracking from some websites or apps will be reduced to a minimum, further enhancing your online privacy and anonymity.

Unfortunately, ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager feature is currently only available for macOS, iOS, and Linux users.

Password manager

One of the newest additions to ExpressVPN’s iOS and Android apps, and browser extensions is ExpressVPN Keys which is a password management tool. With it, you can secure your logins in an encrypted vault and autofill them on websites or apps.

The password manager is based on zero-knowledge encryption, that’s common among market-leading password managers as well. The encryption scrambles your stored data into pieces, making it hardly possible to access for anyone but you.

In addition, Cure53 has performed an independent audit for this password manager on all available platforms that ensures the security of this tool.

How does ExpressVPN work?

After logging into your ExpressVPN account, you’ll first see the connect button. Pressing it will automatically choose the closes server available, which will hide your real IP address and encrypt your data. This way, your ISP, pages you browse, or even government won’t be able to track your activity online. Alternatively, you can scroll through the list of available server locations and pick the one that you wish.

With a VPN connection, you’ll be able to bypass geo-restrictions, content libraries, and unblock various location-based streaming platforms. Based on our tests, ExpressVPN is an excellent streaming VPN due to its ability to bypass restrictions and stable connection speeds, leading to a lag-free streaming experience.

This is also a very secure VPN. With strong encryption, secure tunnels, and various security features, like a kill switch, Threat Manager to block ads and trackers, and an independently audited no-logs policy – you can be certain that your sensitive data will be protected.

More so, you can have ExpressVPN on various platforms, like desktop and mobile OS, smart TVs, and streaming sticks, and it can be set up on routers. You’ll also get up to 8 simultaneous connections with a single subscription.

How to download ExpressVPN?

It's very easy to download ExpressVPN on any of your devices. The mobile users can get the app from the app store, while desktop users can also find it from the official ExpressVPN website.

Even so, we have prepared an easy-to-follow guide for you. Here's how to download ExpressVPN:

1. Head over to the official ExpressVPN website and choose your subscription plan.
2. Fill in the checkout information and choose your payment method.
3. Download ExpressVPN on the chosen devices and install the app.
4. Log in to your account with your email address.
5. Connect to the chosen server and enjoy the perks of a VPN!

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How to use ExpressVPN?

ExspressVPN offers simplistic and intutive apps. The setup process is also really easy to follow – after confirming your subscription and downloading the app, all that’s left is to log in and start using it. Therefore, this VPN is accessible for both beginner and experienced users.

1. After installing the app, log in to your ExpressVPN account.
2. Open Settings (hamburger menu).
3. Ensure you’ve enabled the kill switch, and pick Lightway protocol.
4. Return to the main page.
5. Pick a server of your choice and enjoy secure browsing online.

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Is ExpressVPN good for streaming?

Enjoy streaming with ExpressVPN

Streaming is one of the major attractions why the users flock to ExpressVPN. They have a reputation for being able to unlock anything that is watchable online. Their faster speeds surely help with that, as well.

Unblocking Netflix with ExpressVPN

Our tests can do nothing else but confirm that it's perfect for geo-restricted media unblocks. We tested it with the German Netflix library, and it worked flawlessly. The upside is that we didn't need to pick a specialized streaming server or tick anything. Everything worked out of the box.

Unblocking other streaming services with ExpressVPN

Presumably, it’s not only Netflix libraries that you’ll want to unblock. Other streaming services, such as Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+, as well as streaming devices such as Apple TV, also have tons of content to offer. So, it is only fair to see if ExpressVPN works with them just as well.

BBC iPlayer and YouTube TV didn't pose many problems for ExpressVPN. UK expatriates and those who want to see how the ads on YouTube look like in other countries can do so without any problems.

All of this is good news if you're looking for a VPN for entertainment. ExpressVPN will easily allow you to stream Hulu or Disney+ shows outside the US, and change your Netflix region so you can watch that one show that isn’t available anywhere else.

Is ExpressVPN good and safe for torrenting?

Yes, ExpressVPN is good for torrenting. It allows P2P connections on all of its servers, has good speeds, and advanced security features which make it a decent torrenting VPN. During our tests, it took some time before download speeds went up, but once it happened, the speed was 6-15 MB/s (48-120 Mbps). The speed was also prone to fluctuations. ExpressVPN is a good enough choice for torrenting, given that you aren’t looking to download or upload files at light speed.

However, if you’re looking for a VPN for torrenting only, we suggest searching for a more affordable and faster provider, such as Surfshark or NordVPN. Both of these providers have shown very good results when tested for torrenting, and the same can’t be said about ExpressVPN.

Interface and ease of use

User interface on all ExpressVPN apps is fairly consistent and easy-to-use. Overall, it offers full-featured apps for five operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. Besides, there are multiple browser extensions. During our ExpressVPN research and thorough testing of the apps, we came to these conclusions:

• Windows version: intuitive and clear setup, can easily find all the features
• macOS version: very similar to Windows version, simple and easy use
• Linux version: more complex navigation, lacks some features
• Mobile versions: well-equipped interface, responsive and easy to navigate
• Browser versions: lightweight, clear, and easy to use

ExpressVPN has clients for a variety of operating systems, which include Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, as well as apps for Kindle Fire, Chromebook, and routers. You can also get ExpressVPN browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Plus if you have smart TVs or consoles that don't support VPNs natively, you can use Media Streamer to access geo-blocked content on the big screens.

Windows and macOS

Usually, the Windows app is the best version of a VPN that you can experience. However, there isn't a night and day difference between Windows and macOS versions in this case. Both applications look almost identical and have the same features.

The main window is pretty small and pretty much has one big button to connect. You can even add shortcuts or connect to the most recently used server. If you want to access options, the window will open on the side. At first, we found it a bit clunky. Still, we appreciated that we could change settings to fit our needs better.

It's not a dealbreaker that the app doesn't have a map. There's a location filter according to the continent from which you can select the country you need.

Split tunneling is available on Windows and older macOS versions. Sadly, the feature is not available on macOS 11 and above anymore. So if you have an Apple computer, it would be wiser to pick a different VPN. In addition, Threat Manager is not available for Windows users.

Linux

ExpressVPN has apps for Debian, RedHat, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, and Arch-based Linux distributions. None of them require root permissions, which most cautious users will appreciate. The feature suite is a bit limited compared to other ExpressVPN versions.

You can list all available servers, use Lightway tunneling protocol, and diagnostics are simple to perform. It doesn't feel clunky or underdeveloped.

It's even possible to control the app through a browser extension if you don't like to use the terminal. So, you can choose the way which seems more convenient to you. That said, some features are missing. For example, there's no split tunneling.

Android

Android app version borrow the design logic directly from the desktop counterpart. The country selection tab is identical, but the options tab is modified to fit taller mobile screens.

That said, Android does have some features that establish it as a better-equipped version. While both apps have auto-connect and can switch between several tunneling protocols, only the Android app has split tunneling and shortcuts.

The overall feel of ExpressVPN Android app is pretty nice, as the interface is responsive and easy to navigate. We also liked the modern feel of it.

iOS

Just like with the Android app, the iOS one looks like the desktop version. You get the same country selection tab, the same connection button, and the level of ease of use.

On the other hand, the iOS version is a lot more limited than the Android one. There’s no split tunneling feature to customize which apps require a VPN tunnel connection and which don’t. In addition, you also won’t get shortcuts to quickly access your most visited sites.

However, these differences don’t create too much of a hassle, and the iOS app is still very useful and helps secure your activity online.

Browser extensions

There are ExpressVPN browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi for those who need a more lightweight option. They can also act as supplements for your desktop app – you can control the app via the extensions.

Otherwise, it protects you against WebRTC leaks and spoofs your geolocation. You can even set it up so that it would connect each time you open a browser. This makes it essentially a better version of the Opera browser with an integrated VPN.

The UI has a dark mode, and I found it very convenient to use. It shows your connection status extremely clearly.

ExpressVPN video review

Short on time to read the whole article? Check out our video review for ExpressVPN – you’ll find all the same tests and facts, just condensed into 7 minutes of quality content and striking visuals.

ExpressVPN customer support

ExpressVPN has made their customer support easier by including a lot of useful information on their support website. There you can find a lot of guides and tips with screenshots, and sometimes even videos. This makes setting up your device a pretty easy task when you can access such an extensive knowledge center. It's also nice to see that it's kept up to date.

If the issue is too big to solve on your own, you can always reach out to a human. For that, there are 24/7 live chat or email tickets. If the question is too tricky, the live chat query might be converted to an email ticket, and you will be contacted later. Keep in mind that the first thing that you will be asked during the session is your email. So, it seems like they're verifying your account status before providing support.

During our usage, our experience was only positive. When asked, the customer support agents sent us the transcripts to our mailbox, so we could conveniently store the given tips for later.

What's new after the last update?

ExpressVPN is always improving its provided service, therefore, there are constant updates regarding security, performance, or the app’s interface. Here is current news from ExpressVPN:

• July 2023: ExpressVPN partners with The Cyber Helpline to assist victims of cyber crimes.
• March 2023: The Lightway tunneling protocol is verified by Cure53, an independent audit company, for the second time.
• December 2022: ExpressVPN Keys successfully goes through an independent security audit completed by Cure53.
• December 2022: ExpressVPN releases its password manager beta version on the iOS and Android apps.
• December 2022: Two external audits for ExpressVPN mobile applications by Cure53.
• August 2023: ExpressVPN expanded the number of simultaneous connections.

Final verdict

Overall, ExpressVPN is a trustworthy, safe, and capable VPN service. It has fast connection speeds and works with streaming platforms such as Hulu, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. What’s more is that it ensures high-quality protection, ensuring no IP leaks throughout your time online.

Even though ExpressVPN isn’t the most feature-rich VPN provider out there, its tools are well-developed and reliable. Besides the standard VPN features such as a kill switch or alleged stealth servers, there is a MediaStreamer – a SmartDNS tool to better your streaming experience.

However, there’s still room for this VPN to grow. ExpressVPN is one of the priciest VPNs on the market right now, especially compared to other top VPNs like NordVPN or Surfshark, which offer many more features for a much lower price. Alternatively, ExpressVPn should expand its feature list to validate the high subscription price.

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