NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison in 2026

NordVPN and ExpressVPN are two of the most popular VPNs, and on paper, they look very similar. Both cover the basics well, so the winner comes down to speed, streaming reliability, apps, extra features, and overall value.

For this NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison in 2026, the Cybernews research team and I tested and compared both providers over September 7 through September 14, 2026. I also checked current pricing, platform support, and audit documentation.

Overall, NordVPN came out ahead, but it wasn’t better in every area. NordVPN was faster in most of my tests, more reliable for streaming, and offers more useful everyday extras, while ExpressVPN’s cheaper Basic plan, more consistent apps, and stronger US identity protection could matter more depending on your needs. Keep reading for the full comparison.

Key differences between NordVPN and ExpressVPN

NordVPN is the better overall choice for this comparison, while ExpressVPN offers better value for some budgets and devices. Both rank among the best VPNs, but they earn their recommendations for different reasons.

Category	NordVPN	ExpressVPN
Starting promotional price	$3.49/month	$2.99/month
Initial payment	$94.23 for 27 months	$83.72 for 28 months
Server count	Thousands; published totals vary	Exact current total not confirmed
Country coverage	223 locations	214 locations
Simultaneous connections	10 on every tier	10 on Basic, 12 on Advanced, 14 on Express Pro
Operating jurisdiction	Panama	British Virgin Islands
Protocol in the main speed comparison	NordLynx	Lightway
Standout features	Double VPN, Meshnet, next-gen antivirus on eligible plans	Aircove, ExpressMailGuard, ExpressKeys, ExpressAI on eligible plans
Best for	Downloads, streaming, and desktop security extras	Lower costs, simpler apps, and router use

Choose NordVPN if:

• You want better overall performance. NordVPN was faster in 7 of 10 speed tests, including Canada, Germany, Japan, and the US. It also worked with every streaming service I tested on the first selected server.
• You want more from one subscription. NordVPN adds Meshnet, next-gen antivirus, Double VPN, identity protection, and 1TB of encrypted storage.
• You want more server choices. NordVPN offers more countries and location options, as well as dedicated specialty servers.

Choose ExpressVPN if:

• You prefer simple, consistent apps. ExpressVPN looks and works similarly across its supported platforms.
• You only need the VPN essentials. ExpressVPN’s Basic plan costs less and covers secure browsing and streaming without making you pay for bundled storage or additional security tools.
• You want stronger US identity protection. Its higher plans include broader monitoring, data removal, and higher insurance limits. Email aliases and included eSIM data also make ExpressVPN more useful for travel.

Pricing and plans: draw

I’d call pricing and plans a draw. ExpressVPN has a slightly cheaper Basic plan, but NordVPN offers much more value in its midrange plans at the same price, especially if you want malware protection and encrypted storage alongside your VPN.

Plan level	NordVPN	ExpressVPN
Basic	Basic: $3.49/month	Basic: $2.99/month
Midrange	Complete: $4.49/month	Advanced: $4.49/month
Premium	Prime: $7.49/month	Pro: $7.49/month

For someone who only needs the core VPN features, ExpressVPN Basic has the edge. It costs $83.72 upfront, compared with NordVPN Basic’s $94.23, and both cover 10 simultaneous connections. Either plan is enough for everyday needs like streaming, bypassing geo-restrictions, secure browsing, and torrenting, so you can’t really go wrong with either if you don’t need the extra security tools included in higher tiers.

That said, in my opinion, both VPNs offer the best value in their mid-range plans. ExpressVPN costs $4.49/month, while NordVPN follows up with $4.49 during the initial term, but NordVPN Complete offers more value with 1TB of encrypted NordLocker storage, the NordPass password manager, and a next-gen antivirus. ExpressVPN Advanced includes useful extras such as identity protection, email aliases, and eSIM data. However, fully protecting your devices and having enough secure storage for personal files makes the Complete NordVPN plan a better choice.

At the top tier, ExpressVPN starts at $7.49/month, with NordVPN at $7.49 during the initial term. NordVPN Prime adds Coveron identity protection to Complete’s security tools and encrypted storage. ExpressVPN pricing offers a Pro plan, which adds a dedicated IP, expands identity protection, and supports 14 simultaneous connections, while NordVPN keeps 10. Highest-tier plans are really worth it if you need broader identity protection, but for everyday use, either provider’s midrange plan is a steal.

Free trials and money-back guarantees

Both VPNs give you a chance to try them before committing, though ExpressVPN makes getting started a little easier for iPhone users. The NordVPN free trial lasts 3 days and requires an Android device to activate through Google Play. The ExpressVPN free trial lasts just as long, but you can start it on either Android or iOS. An important thing about both trials is that once activated, you can use each subscription on all supported devices, including desktops.

Three days should give you a feel for the apps, but for a longer testing period, a card will be required. That’s where their 30-day money-back guarantees come in: you pay for a subscription upfront, then you can request a refund if it doesn’t work out.

That said, this is not guaranteed to last, since, for example, ExpressVPN temporarily removed its 30-day money-back guarantee option for new subscriptions during its 2026 World Cup, but the guarantee has since returned for eligible first-time customers.

For the longer testing window, I’d sign up through the provider’s website because, with both VPNs, you’d have to contact Apple directly for a refund on App Store purchases, while ExpressVPN also leaves Google Play refunds to Google rather than covering them under its own guarantee. Just remember to request your refund within 30 days, since turning off auto-renewal alone only stops the next payment and doesn’t grant a refund.

Streaming: NordVPN wins

Based on testing and my personal experience, NordVPN gets my streaming recommendation because it got me watching without switching servers or adjusting settings. Netflix libraries in the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia all loaded on the first selected server. BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video in Germany worked without troubleshooting, too.

ExpressVPN also performed well during testing, accessing Netflix in the US, UK, Japan, and Australia, alongside BBC iPlayer and Disney+. Both VPNs can handle popular streaming platforms, but NordVPN takes the edge for getting every platform we tested working on the first attempt, every time.

After work, the last thing I want is to spend another half hour finding a server that works. That’s why NordVPN’s lack of retries matters more to me than simply saying it “works with Netflix.” The only friction I noticed was brief buffering on distant connections to Japan and Australia, which settled once playback got going.

Speaking of which, both VPNs also provide far more bandwidth than streaming generally requires. For example, Netflix recommends 15Mbps for 4K and 5Mbps for full HD, and every NordLynx (NordVPN’s protocol) and Lightway (ExpressVPN’s protocol) speed test comfortably cleared those speed requirements. That means the difference between 700Mbps and 600Mbps won’t automatically improve the stream, since once there is enough bandwidth, successful access and a stable connection are the most important parts.

With NordVPN, SmartPlay runs automatically inside the app, combining streaming-related DNS routing with the encrypted VPN connection. There’s no separate streaming mode to activate. ExpressVPN works similarly through its apps, while MediaStreamer extends streaming support to a broader range of devices and content without requiring manual DNS setup.

With that said, if your TV or console cannot run a VPN app, you can still setup encrypted VPN tunnel through a compatible router. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN support this, although setting them up on a router involves entering service credentials and importing configuration files rather than simply installing an app.

ExpressVPN has a convenience edge with Aircove, its own router with VPN software already installed. However, you’d need to buy the router in addition to your ExpressVPN subscription, and as of September 14th, Aircove routers were out of stock.

Speed and performance: NordVPN wins

NordVPN takes the download-speed win, with NordLynx beating ExpressVPN’s Lightway in 7/10 matching countries. The advantage is held across nearby European connections and longer routes to the US and Japan. But ExpressVPN wasn’t far off: it delivered faster downloads in Australia, the Netherlands, and the UK.

I compared both protocols against a baseline of 940Mbps download and 600Mbps upload. Alongside download speeds, I looked at ping, since a fast connection can still feel sluggish if your data takes too long to travel back and forth.

Country	NordVPN NordLynx download	ExpressVPN Lightway download	NordVPN ping	ExpressVPN ping
US	✅ 799Mbps (85.0%)	740Mbps (78.7%)	96ms	113ms
Australia	567Mbps (60.3%)	✅ 651Mbps (69.3%)	288ms	220ms
Canada	✅ 773Mbps (82.2%)	722Mbps (76.8%)	112ms	125ms
Germany	✅ 863Mbps (91.8%)	838Mbps (89.1%)	28ms	29ms
France	✅ 841Mbps (89.5%)	836Mbps (88.9%)	35ms	37ms
Japan	✅ 662Mbps (70.4%)	595Mbps (63.3%)	242ms	242ms
Netherlands	850Mbps (90.4%)	✅ 876Mbps (93.2%)	31ms	29ms
Sweden	✅ 889Mbps (94.6%)	819Mbps (87.1%)	12ms	13ms
Singapore	✅ 728Mbps (77.4%)	711Mbps (75.6%)	189ms	175ms
UK	833Mbps (88.6%)	✅ 841Mbps (89.5%)	35ms	38ms

Percentages show download retention

North America gave NordVPN the biggest advantage, with faster downloads in both Canada and the US. On the US connection, NordVPN delivered 799Mbps against ExpressVPN’s 740Mbps and also recorded a lower ping. While the margin isn’t very big, I’d still lean toward NordVPN if I regularly needed US servers for downloading large files, although either connection had plenty of bandwidth for streaming content.

In Europe, both VPNs delivered fast connections, so I wouldn’t choose between them on speed alone. NordVPN reached 889Mbps in Sweden compared with ExpressVPN’s 819Mbps, while ExpressVPN narrowly led in the UK and the Netherlands.

Long-distance connections to Asia and Australia also produced similar results. NordVPN downloaded faster in Japan, but both providers recorded 242ms ping, making that connection a poor choice for competitive gaming, regardless of download speed. Australia favored ExpressVPN, which reached 651Mbps against NordVPN’s 567Mbps and had lower ping. If Australian servers are important to you, ExpressVPN’s stronger result is worth considering.

Uploads are where both VPNs had to compromise the most. While close connections remained mostly unchanged from the original 600Mbps upload speed, speeds dipped substantially overseas, falling to around 14% of the baseline in Japan. For backing up photos or uploading large videos, I’d recommend using a nearby server for both.

Security and privacy: draw

NordVPN and ExpressVPN are closely matched in terms of security and privacy, and I wouldn’t choose one over the other based on encryption alone. Both back their no-logs policies with independent assessments, run RAM-only servers, and include safeguards against exposing your traffic if the VPN disconnects. The differences are more about how those protections work and what evidence each provider has to support them.

Encryption

Both VPNs cover the encryption standards I expect from a premium VPN service. NordVPN uses ChaCha20 with NordLynx and AES-256 with OpenVPN, while ExpressVPN’s Lightway supports both AES and ChaCha20. For everyday browsing, streaming, or working on public Wi-Fi, both encryption ciphers offer excellent protection.

In my NordVPN leak tests, I checked NordVPN and ExpressVPN for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks using ipleak.net and dnsleaktest.com. Neither exposed my real IP address or ISP’s DNS servers during testing, so neither had an advantage in these checks. Both also include a VPN kill switch, which blocks internet traffic if the VPN connection unexpectedly drops.

Also, while large-scale quantum attacks remain a future threat, interestingly, both NordVPN’s NordLynx and ExpressVPN’s Lightway already offer post-quantum protection. Built around post-quantum security standards, this protection is designed to keep encrypted traffic safe from any future decryption attempts using quantum computers.

I’d use system-wide protection if keeping all traffic inside the VPN were my priority. NordVPN’s app-level control is useful if you specifically want a browser or torrent client closed, but it isn’t a substitute for protecting the rest of your connection.

Independent audits

NordVPN’s no-logs infrastructure has now been independently checked six times, with NordVPN announcing the latest Deloitte audit in February 2026. The auditors mainly verified that its infrastructure matched NordVPN’s no-logs commitments.

ExpressVPN has similar evidence behind its privacy claims, although its latest assessment is slightly older. In 2025, ExpressVPN announced that KPMG reviewed its TrustedServer technology and also found no issues with its no-logs infrastructure. NordVPN’s more recent assessment is reassuring, but I wouldn’t consider ExpressVPN less trustworthy on that difference alone.

Jurisdiction, infrastructure, and past incidents

Neither VPN has a clear advantage on jurisdiction. NordVPN, owned by Nord Security, operates under Panama’s laws, while Kape Technologies’ ExpressVPN operates from the British Virgin Islands. Both operate outside the Five, Nine, and Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances, but that doesn’t exempt either company from legal requests.

This is why both NordVPN and ExpressVPN publish transparency reports explaining how they handle these requests. And in extreme cases, they are forced to comply with the authorities. For example, in October 2024, NordVPN was legally obliged to share payment-related information and confirmed an account existed, but, crucially, since it has a no-logs infrastructure, it had no browsing or connection logs to hand over.

Both providers use RAM-only servers designed to prevent writing information to permanent local storage. NordVPN calls its network diskless, while ExpressVPN uses TrustedServer technology.

NordVPN introduced this infrastructure as part of wider security improvements following a 2018 incident involving one rented server in Finland. NordVPN said no credentials or browsing data were exposed, and it ended its contract with the data center.

ExpressVPN had a different problem in 2024, when its Windows split-tunneling feature could send DNS requests outside the intended route. ExpressVPN fixed the issue and commissioned independent testing by Nettitude to check the fix. I wouldn’t treat these incidents as equivalent, but both are reasons to judge a VPN by how it addresses problems, not just the security features it advertises.

Neither provider has a flawless record, but both addressed their past issues and uphold their privacy claims with stronger infrastructure and independent audits. Since both also report legal requests openly and retain no browsing logs, I consider this part of the comparison a draw.

Features: NordVPN wins

In short, NordVPN easily wins for both core VPN features and useful extras. That said, ExpressVPN still covers the essentials and offers some strong identity protection benefits, but it cannot match NordVPN’s Meshnet, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, or 1TB of encrypted storage.

Here’s how the main features compare:

Feature	NordVPN	ExpressVPN
Split tunneling	✅ Yes, platform support varies	✅ Yes, platform support varies
Double VPN or MultiHop	✅ Yes, fixed Double VPN routes	❌ No
Tor integration	✅ Yes, Onion Over VPN	❌ No dedicated Tor servers
Web protection	✅ Scam and phishing protection; expanded protection on Complete and Prime	✅ Lite Protection; tracker blocking added on Advanced and Pro
Malicious download scanning	✅ Yes, on supported desktop apps	❌ No
Password manager	✅ NordPass on Complete and Prime	✅ ExpressKeys on Advanced and Pro
Encrypted cloud storage	✅ 1TB with Complete and Prime	❌ No
Scam call and message protection	✅ Yes, message protection is Android-only	❌ No
Dark web monitoring	✅ Yes, monitoring expands on higher plans	✅ Yes, through Identity Defender
Financial monitoring	✅ Bank and card transaction monitoring for US accounts	✅ Expanded financial monitoring on eligible US plans
Private device connections	✅ Yes, Meshnet	❌ No direct equivalent
Private email aliases	❌ No	✅ Yes, ExpressMailGuard
eSIM data	❌ No	✅ Yes, on Advanced and Pro
Private AI chatbot	❌ No	✅ ExpressAI on Pro
Dedicated IP	✅ Optional add-on on every plan	✅ Add-on on Basic and Advanced; included with Pro

Connection controls

NordVPN takes the overall win for connection controls, but ExpressVPN is actually better at split tunneling. ExpressVPN covers more platforms, especially Apple devices, while NordVPN tops it with VPN privacy features, such as Double VPN and Onion Over VPN.

I appreciate split tunneling most when banking apps or stubborn services refuse to work while I am connected to a VPN server abroad. My local public transit website is one example, since I have no reason to route it through the VPN anyway.

Both providers worked flawlessly during testing, and their browser extensions even let me exclude specific websites. However, ExpressVPN still has the edge on Apple devices, with app-based split tunneling on macOS and limited IP-based rules on iOS.

Where NordVPN pulls ahead is with its extra VPN privacy controls. Double VPN sends traffic through two servers rather than one, separating the entry and exit points. ExpressVPN has no comparable multi-hop option. NordVPN also includes Onion Over VPN for adding Tor protection to the connection. However, the connection gets slowed down, especially with Onion Over VPN, since traffic is routed through Tor.

Device and file protection

NordVPN wins for connecting devices and protecting files, by a quite substantial margin, too, mainly because ExpressVPN has no alternative to NordVPN’s Meshnet or NordLocker. Meshnet creates an encrypted network between your devices. During my NordVPN testing, it performed flawlessly when I transferred files and tried accessing my home computer remotely.

Funny enough, Meshnet almost disappeared. NordVPN planned to shut it down, but users spoke up, and the company changed its mind. NordVPN kept the feature, continues to support it, and now plans to make it open source. That is honestly a pretty cool example of NordVPN listening to its users.

What's nice from both providers is that each includes password managers on their midrange and top plans. NordPass and ExpressKeys generate, store, and autofill passwords, so neither has a major advantage for basic password management.

NordVPN dominates this section with a generous 1TB of encrypted NordLocker storage on Complete and Prime. It's truly great for any sensitive information, such as passport copies, tax records, recovery codes, and other files that contain personal information. ExpressVPN does not include an equivalent encrypted storage service.

If you already pay separately for cloud storage and/or use a password manager such as NordPass, NordVPN Complete can cover all three pillars of security needs in one subscription.

NordVPN next-gen antivirus

NordVPN pulls ahead here as well. During testing, its next-gen antivirus blocked 9 of 10 malicious URLs and scored 100/100 in Adblock Tester. It also scans downloaded files, while ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager mainly blocks connections to known malicious and tracking domains.

NordVPN’s next-gen AV is also backed by independent testing, which provides a much larger testing sample. AV-Comparatives’ May 2026 evaluation recorded 96% phishing protection across 275 phishing URLs. NordVPN also produced no false positives across the lab’s 200 legitimate sites.

Overall, with its next-gen antivirus, NordVPN is trying to redefine what antivirus is and does. The idea is to stop threats before they ever enter the system, rather than deal with them once the device is already infected. I honestly think this is a really good idea, but it may take a while before NordVPN fully gets there.

Zero-day threats can still slip past security systems before protections catch up. NordVPN’s tool also cannot scan the entire device or continuously monitor running processes, so I would not rely on it as my only antivirus just yet. Still, it is a genuinely useful extra for shopping, banking, and downloading files online.

Monitoring and identity protection

ExpressVPN wins this part overall, especially for US customers looking for proper identity theft protection. NordVPN still has some genuinely useful tools for catching scams and exposed data early.

NordVPN can warn you when your personal information appears in a breach or a linked bank account shows a suspicious transaction. Its mobile apps can also flag scam calls and risky text messages. During testing, one email returned 3 breach alerts and showed exactly which services and details were affected, so I knew what to secure immediately.

ExpressVPN’s Identity Defender covers much more. It monitors credit activity, financial accounts, public records, and other signs that someone may be misusing your identity. It can also remove personal information from data brokers.

If identity theft does happen, eligible customers can get up to $3 million in insurance with the Advanced plan or $5 million with the Pro plan. NordVPN Prime bundles similar monitoring and recovery support through Coveron, but ExpressVPN offers higher insurance limits.

ExpressVPN’s email aliases, eSIM, and ExpressAI

ExpressVPN throws a little bit of everything into its higher-tier plans, including email aliases, travel data, and a private AI chatbot. I can see myself using some of them, although none would convince me to upgrade on its own, but they can add value if they replace something I already pay for.

ExpressMailGuard is probably the one I would use most. It creates email aliases that forward messages to my normal inbox, so I would not have to share my real address with every random store or website. Basic includes 10MB of monthly relay bandwidth, while Advanced includes 100MB.

When it comes to travel eSIM data, ExpressVPN throws in 3 days of 3GB data with the Advanced plan, or 5 days with the Pro plan. That should be enough to get online after landing, but it may not carry you through an entire trip.

Lastly, ExpressVPN Pro includes ExpressAI, a privacy-focused AI service with 500 daily credits and file uploads up to 50MB. ExpressVPN says chats are not used for model training and protects them through confidential computing. Cure53 has also audited the service, making it a useful extra for users who want private AI tools included with their VPN plan.

Server network: NordVPN wins

I could simply say that NordVPN has over 9,300 servers while ExpressVPN has around 3,000, declare NordVPN the winner, and move on, as most comparisons do. The problem is that neither provider actually discloses the exact live server count, so these numbers are likely false.

Even if the numbers were exact, more servers do not automatically mean a better network. What matters is whether the servers are fast, reliable, and capable of doing what I need. Both providers proved that during streaming testing, giving me working connections to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and other platforms.

What matters much more to me is where those servers are located. NordVPN offers 224 selectable locations, while ExpressVPN covers 214. While not a big gap, that wider coverage still makes it easier to find a nearby server or the right regional IP for a local service. NordVPN also offers separate categories for Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, and obfuscated servers.

Apps and ease of use: ExpressVPN wins

ExpressVPN wins because its apps are a little more consistent across all platforms. NordVPN is still easy to use, especially on Android and Linux, but because it has such a broad feature set, some of them are more limited on certain devices.

	NordVPN	ExpressVPN
Desktop apps	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Mobile apps	Android, iOS	Android, iOS
TV apps	Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV	Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV
Linux interface	✅ Graphical app	✅ Graphical app
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, Opera	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi
Split tunneling	Windows, Android, Android TV	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and limited IP exclusions on iOS
Simultaneous connections	10	10 on Basic, 12 on Advanced, 14 on Pro
Router support	Manual configuration	Aircove for existing owners or manual configuration
Overall experience	Easy and feature-heavy	Simple and consistent

Desktop and Linux apps

During testing, ExpressVPN was more consistent across desktop platforms, especially on macOS, where it supports split tunneling, while NordVPN does not.

Its Windows and macOS apps use nearly identical compact layouts, with the connection button, current location, and main tabs always in the same places. Advanced settings open in a separate panel, keeping the home screen clean.

NordVPN’s desktop app offers more controls, but accessing them requires a little tinkering. The home screen shows recent servers and a map, and offers tabs for different features and protection layers on the left side of the screen, such as Meshnet or next-gen antivirus, while settings such as the protocol and kill switch are located behind the profile menu.

The biggest difference between these two providers on Windows and macOS is split tunneling. NordVPN supports it on Windows but not macOS, while ExpressVPN provides app and IP-based controls on macOS 11 and newer. Apple’s sandboxing also limits NordVPN’s App Store version, including its app-level kill switch, so I recommend downloading the NordVPN app directly from its website to access the full feature set.

On Linux, both NordVPN and ExpressVPN have proper graphical apps, so I could connect, switch servers, and change settings without using terminal commands. The ExpressVPN Linux app is nearly identical to the Windows and macOS versions, while the NordVPN app looks much smoother and has far less clutter than on other desktop platforms.

Mobile and TV apps

There is little difference between the mobile apps. ExpressVPN keeps the same compact layout used on desktop, while NordVPN simplifies its busier desktop interface for phones. Both let me connect, change locations, and reach the main settings within a few taps, so neither felt meaningfully easier to use.

The main functional difference, again, is split tunneling. Both providers support it on Android, but NordVPN leaves it out of its iOS app. ExpressVPN recently added limited iOS support, although it only excludes individual IP addresses instead of entire apps.

When it comes to TVs, both providers have native apps for Apple TV, Android TV, and Fire TV. However, NordVPN has one useful advantage on Android TV because here, its app actually supports split tunneling.

Router setup and port-forwarding

If you’d like to set up a router and use VPN across all of your devices, even ones that natively do not support VPN applications, ExpressVPN offers an easier router experience, while NordVPN provides more capable VPN-level port forwarding through a specialized add-on. However, neither option is particularly easy for a new customer, and as of September 14th, 2026, both require manual router setup.

ExpressVPN normally stands out for Aircove, its proprietary router with a built-in app-like dashboard. It lets owners organize devices into groups and connect each group to a different VPN location. That is considerably easier than manually installing VPN configuration files on a regular router.

However, Aircove was not available to buy during my test run. ExpressVPN’s agent told me it was out of stock and that a new router model was being prepared. The agent also confirmed that Aircove could not handle the gaming-server port-forwarding setup I asked about.

ExpressVPN supports port forwarding on some compatible third-party routers, but forwarded traffic remains outside the VPN tunnel. This can make a device publicly accessible, but it does not route incoming connections through ExpressVPN or hide the home network’s IP address.

NordVPN does not sell a comparable consumer router, so whole-network protection requires manual configuration. Its regular servers and Dedicated IP also lack port forwarding. For private gaming with friends, Meshnet offers a simpler, free way to connect approved devices.

However, it does offer port-forwarding with a quite unique offering from a VPN company: NordVPN’s Dedicated Server add-on. It provides a static VPN IP, dedicated resources, and up to 20 port-forwarding rules. The connection supports speeds up to 1Gbps and includes 4TB of monthly bandwidth, but only works with the NordLynx protocol. It also does not host the game itself, so you still need your own computer or server.

Torrenting: NordVPN wins

NordVPN was the better VPN for torrenting. Its proprietary protocol NordLynx recorded the highest peak of all protocols tested, reaching 104MB/s and averaging 93MB/s, completing the download in 48 seconds. ExpressVPN’s WireGuard matched the average and completion time, but its 101MB/s peak was slightly lower.

For the torrenting test run, I downloaded the 4.47GB Kali Linux 2026.2 ISO through UK servers. I used the same device and torrent client, with a 930Mbps download and 600Mbps upload baseline. I repeated the download using every available protocol, recording the peak speed, average speed, and total completion time.

ExpressVPN performed well with four protocols, but OpenVPN TCP completely fell apart. It averaged only 11MB/s and took 6 minutes and 24 seconds, while NordVPN’s OpenVPN TCP averaged 75MB/s and finished in 59 seconds.

NordVPN protocol	Max speed	Total time	Average speed
NordLynx	104MB/s	48s	93MB/s
NordWhisper	74MB/s	1min 10s	63MB/s
OpenVPN UDP	62MB/s	1min 18s	57MB/s
OpenVPN TCP	82MB/s	59s	75MB/s

ExpressVPN protocol	Max speed	Total time	Average speed
Lightway UDP	97MB/s	51s	87MB/s
Lightway TCP	98MB/s	50s	89MB/s
WireGuard	101MB/s	48s	93MB/s
OpenVPN UDP	90MB/s	51s	87MB/s
OpenVPN TCP	12MB/s	6min 24s	11MB/s

Nonetheless, ExpressVPN came very close. WireGuard matched NordLynx’s 93MB/s average and completed the download in the same 48 seconds. Lightway UDP, Lightway TCP, and OpenVPN UDP also stayed between 87MB/s and 89MB/s, making ExpressVPN impressively fast across most protocols, but one.

Customer support: NordVPN wins

Based on my test, NordVPN took the lead on customer support by a slim margin. Reaching a human required more effort, but the agent joined in under one minute, and NordVPN’s AI gave me a useful answer before the transfer. ExpressVPN added me to its waiting list immediately, but I waited about 10 minutes and had to ask several follow-up questions to get a clear answer.

Support option	NordVPN	ExpressVPN
24/7 live chat	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
AI assistant	✅ Nordbot AI	✅ AI Assistant beta
Human agent	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Email support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Set up and troubleshooting guides	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Phone support	❌ No	❌ No
Wait time for a human agent during my test	Under 1 minute	Around 10 minutes
AI-to-human transfer	Required issue details first	Immediate waiting-list transfer

Both providers offer the support channels I expect from a premium VPN, including live chat, email, and detailed troubleshooting guides. When I tested their live chat customer support, I was greeted by their AI assistants in each case before being transferred to a human for more complicated questions.

For a fair comparison, I asked both providers how I could host a gaming server and whether port forwarding was available. Considering there isn’t that much information on it, this was specific enough to test whether support could explain a technical feature.

NordVPN’s AI assistant initially prompted me to describe the issue, even after I had requested a human twice. However, when I asked the question, it explained that Meshnet works for private gaming with friends, while the Dedicated Server add-on supports public hosting with up to 20 port-forwarding rules. After that answer, I asked for a human once more, and finally, a real agent joined in under 1 minute and confirmed the details with a setup guide.

ExpressVPN placed me in the human-agent queue immediately after I requested it, but the agent took about 10 minutes to connect. I asked whether Aircove supported gaming-server hosting and port forwarding.

The answer initially suggested it did not support port forwarding, but after I shared ExpressVPN’s router guide, support clarified that port forwarding was available on other compatible routers, not Aircove.

NordVPN or ExpressVPN: final verdict

After testing NordVPN and ExpressVPN side by side, NordVPN comes out on top because it simply gives me more for my money. While both providers offer impeccable security, NordVPN was faster, more reliable, and offered more server locations. More importantly, its midrange plan bundles NordPass, next-gen antivirus, and 1TB of encrypted storage at the same $4.49/month price as ExpressVPN Advanced.

ExpressVPN is not far behind. Its apps are easier to use across different devices, its Basic plan is cheaper, and its identity protection offers higher insurance limits for eligible US customers. If you only need a basic VPN, its entry plan makes total sense. However, if you want the best overall performance and a broader security package for the same midrange price, I recommend NordVPN.

FAQ

Recent Updates