TorGuard vs ExpressVPN: which VPN is better?

TorGuard and ExpressVPN both offer impressive services, each catering to different types of users. ExpressVPN appeals to VPN newbies, while TorGuard engages the more experienced crowd. So, when you put these two VPNs side by side, how do they stack up?

ExpressVPN wins in comparison to TorGuard. Although TorGuard is a better choice for Linux users and those who want more advanced features, ExpressVPN is the all-around better choice. As one of the most reputable VPNs on the market, it delivers the great connection and streaming performance, plus better privacy features in comparison to TorGuard.

However, let’s dig in deeper and find out why and which VPN is actually better: is it ExpressVPN or TorGuard?

TorGuard vs ExpressVPN

When comparing TorGuard vs ExpressVPN, we found both provided great speeds and impressive features. While TorGuard has more attractive pricing and better options for Linux, ExpressVPN has a better security suite, superior streaming, and 24/7 customer service. After running thorough tests in terms of security, performance, features, and other categories, ExpressVPN is our winner.

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Netflix and streaming performance

If streaming geo-blocked content is one of your top priorities, ExpressVPN is the better choice. This streaming VPN can easily unlock shows from around the world and offer fast, high-resolution streaming.

Express VPN can easily help you access various libraries on Netflix, like those in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Japan. You can easily switch servers and view what each country has to offer.

ExpressVPN also works with other favorite platforms, like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney +, and BBC iPlayer. You can also enjoy its SmartDNS feature known as Media Streamer. This feature lets you easily stream on devices that don’t directly support a VPN app.

TorGuard, on the other hand, makes streaming a little complicated. TorGuard cannot access streaming platforms with its Standard plan. If you want TorGuard to even attempt to unblock your favorite shows, you will have to pay more for its Pro plan.

With TorGuard’s Pro plan, you’ll get access to a dedicated IP address optimized for streaming. Still, it’s hard to justify the higher price tag for a feature that comes standard with other top VPN providers.

Wrapping up

ExpressVPN is the winner of the streaming category. It provides fast, easy, and high-quality streaming experiences, and unblocks all of the popular streaming sites. On the other hand, TorGuard can't access streaming platforms at all.

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Plans & pricing

ExpressVPN and TorGuard both struggle to offer truly competitive pricing. Their top competitors are finding ways to offer comparable services for lower monthly prices.

That being said, both VPNs offer monthly options for those who don’t want to get locked into an annual commitment. While the shorter subscription plans aren’t the best deals, they can end up being more affordable for someone who doesn’t need a VPN in the long term.

Before discussing these prices, we have to dig into TorGuard’s pricing structure in more detail. TorGuard offers two main tiers of service: the Standard and Pro plan.

While the Standard plan is cheaper, it doesn’t include some VPN essentials like streaming. To get what many VPNs offer automatically, you have to pay more for TorGuard’s Pro option.

While TorGuard’s Pro plan is more expensive than its Standard plan, it remains competitive with ExpressVPN. Their monthly costs are similar, and TorGuard Pro is actually less expensive than ExpressVPN with an annual subscription, which is $4.00/month compared to ExpressVPN’s $6.67/month.

It’s worth noting that each VPN has a different money-back guarantee. Like most premium VPNs, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. TorGuard has a shorter window, only offering 7 days for a full refund.

While this category is close, our winner is TorGuard. When comparing TorGuard’s Pro plan to ExpressVPN, the two are essentially the same for monthly commitments. When looking at annual plans, TorGuard Pro is less expensive.

If you want to get the best possible deals for either VPN, we’ve got the latest coupons to help you out. Check out our TorGuard coupon codes and our ExpressVPN coupon codes.

Wrapping up

TorGuard is the clear winner of the price category. While the monthly price for both TorGuard and ExpressVPN is pretty close, with long term plans it becomes abundantly clear that TorGuard is a lot less expensive.

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TorGuard vs ExpressVPN: which is more secure?

When comparing TorGuard vs ExpressVPN, both providers have excellent security suites to keep you and your data safe.

One main difference between TorGuard and ExpressVPN is where they are headquartered geographically. TorGuard is based in the United States, making it part of the 5-Eyes jurisdiction. ExpressVPN is free of any problematic alliances since it is located in the British Virgin Islands.

For users who prioritize their privacy, choosing a VPN beyond data collection laws can be a comfort. Although both VPNs have strict no-logs policies, privacy enthusiasts might feel safer with a non-US-based company like ExpressVPN.

Infrastructure

ExpressVPN, under its TrustedServer technology, offers its users an extensive fleet of RAM-only servers. This coveted technology wipes all data clean every time it is rebooted. Logs are non-existent to hackers or any other interested third party.

While there are rumors online about TorGuard using diskless servers, this is not confirmed by the company itself. Hopefully, we will see TorGuard embrace this extra secure technology in the future. For now, ExpressVPN has the better infrastructure.

Privacy

Both TorGuard and ExpressVPN use AES-256 encryption to keep your online activity protected. Military and governmental organizations choose this encryption protocol for its strength– it would take millions to billions of years to crack. VPN users can feel confident that their activity is being encrypted to the same degree.

TorGuard gives its users some advanced control over the encryption protocol in use. Since AES-256 is so powerful, it can hog a lot of processing power. If you need to lessen the burden on the device, you can switch to AES-128-bit encryption instead.

Even though it might look like less secure encryption, it would also take millions to a billion years to crack through a brute force attack. It still hasn’t been breached to this day, making it a legitimate alternate encryption protocol.

Logging

Both ExpressVPN and TorGuard follow strict no-log policies to protect user privacy.

ExpressVPN has even gone the extra mile to prove it. In addition to its RAM-only server network and location outside 5-Eyes jurisdiction, it has also been independently audited. PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the big names in this type of audit, found everything checked out with ExpressVPN’s no-log policy.

While TorGuard also has a no-log policy, it has yet to undergo an independent audit.

Wrapping up, we see ExpressVPN offers all the same great security protection as TorGuard with the added bonus of independent audits and a privacy-friendly location.

Wrapping up

Overall, ExpressVPN offers all the same great security protection as TorGuard with the added bonus of independent audits and a privacy-friendly location. That's why ExpressVPN is the winner of this category.

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Speed comparison: TorGuard vs ExpressVPN

For our speed comparison, we set ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol against TorGuard’s use of the WireGuard protocol. We put them to the test with servers around the world to see which one would come out on top.

• Baseline: 1 ms ping/ 457 Mbps download/ 470 Mbps upload

To get a clearer picture of our winner, we averaged the download and upload results for each provider across all server tests. Here’s the final average for ExpressVPN vs TorGuard:

As you can see from the test results, ExpressVPN and TorGuard are pretty even when it comes to performance. While TorGuard has a faster average download speed, ExpressVPN clearly has a faster average upload speed.

Since the averages were close, we looked at how consistently the providers were able to post these speeds. ExpressVPN fluctuates a bit but stays closer to its average results overall.

TorGuard showed to be much more extreme. It dropped to a lowly 7 Mbps when downloading from its server in Japan. Then, it rises above the original download speed in Germany to hit 472 Mbps.

While both VPNs are capable of impressive performance, ExpressVPN can deliver fast speeds more consistently to a global audience. TorGuard is a touch more hit or miss depending on the server you need, and it still doesn’t end up being one of the fastest VPNs on the market.

Wrapping up

ExpressVPN is overall faster than TorGuard, therefore, it's the winner of the speed comparison. In addition, ExpressVPN provides more stable performance.

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Features overview

When it comes to features, TorGuard and ExpressVPN are pretty evenly matched. Both providers have most of the essential extras that users want and need in a VPN.

Wrapping up

While both ExpressVPN and TorGuard seem to be evenly matched when it comes to features comparison, ExpressVPN still manages to take the win. This VPN offers better developed tools and they are available on more devices.

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Split tunneling

With split tunneling, you have total control over what activity is sent through the encrypted tunnel and what is not. Split tunneling lets you choose exactly what apps or websites connect to the VPN and use its IP address. This feature makes it easy to multitask while maintaining both a local and VPN connection.

If you need a VPN to access streaming sites but want to use your faster, local connection for other sites, split tunneling is the perfect tool.

With ExpressVPN, you can use its split tunneling feature on Android, Windows, and older macOS versions (it won’t work on macOS 11 or above). With TorGuard, this feature is only available on Android.

SmartDNS

For avid streamers, a SmartDNS feature is a must-have. SmartDNS unblocks geo-restricted content on devices that aren’t compatible with a VPN itself. While it won’t give you all the security and privacy benefits, it will navigate around geo-restrictions to stream your favorite content on any device.

SmartDNS is a popular feature for smart TVs that don’t support a VPN app. ExpressVPN has MediaStreamer, which makes it easy to stream from your favorite device without sacrificing access or quality.

TorGuard also offers a SmartDNS feature. Keep in mind you’ll need to purchase a Pro plan for access to its streaming services.

Kill Switch

If you want to make sure you’re never without VPN protection, you’ll want to make sure you choose a provider with a reliable kill switch.

If you’re connected to your VPN and your connection drops, the kill switch will sever your connection to the internet completely. This keeps you from accidentally browsing unprotected since you might not even notice your VPN disconnected.

For ExpressVPN, you’ll find this feature under the name Network Lock. It can easily be turned on and off from the settings. During our tests, it remained fully functional, allowing no IP leaks.

With TorGuard, you can find it in settings as App Kill. Here, you can fully customize your kill switch and choose which apps it should close in case of an emergency.

Ad blocker

Both ExpressVPN and TorGuard offer ad blockers built-in to their VPN services. A VPN ad blocker is a great protection against malware and tracking attempts that lurk in pop-up ads. This feature can also give you an overall faster browsing experience, as these malicious ads can eat up your bandwidth.

TorGuard can block ads on Android, iOS, and Windows. You can easily enable this feature in the settings.

ExpressVPN has Threat Manager, a new feature that keeps you safe from tracking attempts. It’s not yet available on Windows and Android, but you can activate it if you’re a macOS, iOS, or Linux user.

When testing TorGuard vs ExpressVPN features, it’s a pretty close call. While TorGuard has a more advanced ad blocker, ExpressVPN outperforms in the other categories. For example, its split tunneling is available on nearly all major devices. So, considering it all, ExpressVPN includes a better package of features.

Server locations

Even though ExpressVPN no longer lists its total numbers of servers worldwide, it has an impressive fleet of RAM-only servers with both virtual and physical locations. It’s also in the process of updating from 1Gbps servers to 10Gbps servers, promising better performance for users around the globe.

With ExpressVPN, you can use its Smart Location tool to automatically connect you to the best server based on where you are. While you might not know how many servers you get to choose at a specific place, this VPN’s algorithm will do its best to match you with the one for the best performance.

Lastly, ExpressVPN outrivals TorGuard in the number of available server locations. As the latter offers nearly two times smaller countries' selection, ExpressVPN is a better VPN choice for traveling, streaming, and overall browsing.

Wrapping up

ExpressVPN is the winner of the server locations comparison against TorGuard. While both providers offers a wide range of servers, it the global coverage that gives ExpressVPN the win.

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Torrenting

Both TorGuard and ExpressVPN work for torrenting. Neither one has dedicated P2P servers, but their existing servers support this kind of file sharing.

If you’re looking for a VPN with a great torrenting proxy, that’s where TorGuard comes in. TorGuard has SOCKS5 Proxy, while ExpressVPN does not. Meaning, TorGuard will offer you better P2P support along with spoofing your location.

When we tested these VPNs, we found ExpressVPN jumped up and down in speed when downloading P2P files. While TorGuard can also vary in speed, we found it to be on the faster side of VPN torrenting performance. If you’re looking for an overall better torrenting with a VPN experience, TorGuard is a better choice.

Wrapping up

TorGuard wins the torrenting comparison part of this ExpressVPN vs TorGuard review. This provider offers more stable and speedy P2P experience and offers SOCKS5 Proxy.

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Platforms, interface, and ease of use

Both ExpressVPN and TorGuard have impressive apps and interfaces for the main operating systems. While ExpressVPN has a better overall design, TorGuard has the advantage of being excellent for Linux.

ExpressVPN allows for 5 simultaneous connections, even with all of its compatible devices. TorGurad, on the other hand, allows you to connect 8 different devices all at the same time. If you go for its Pro VPN plan, you get upgraded to 12 simultaneous connections.

Desktop apps

Both ExpressVPN and TorGuard have apps for all the major operating systems. If you’re a Linux user, TorGuard even has a GUI app just for you. With a functional kill switch and smooth user experience, TorGuard is a better pick for Linux compared to ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN is compatible with Linux but is a little more complicated to set up. If you want a GUI, you can only find it through a browser extension and not the app itself.

When it comes to macOS and Windows, both VPNs have great apps that function smoothly. ExpressVPN seems catered towards beginners, with a simple and easy-to-navigate interface.

TorGuard’s priority seems to be advanced customization for the user, making it a better fit for those who already know their way around a VPN. It seems to be for those less concerned with simplicity and more focused on full control of advanced settings.

Mobile apps

Both ExpressVPN and TorGuard have great mobile apps for both Android and iOS. These apps are all pretty easy to navigate and work without major issues.

For both providers, you’ll only find split tunneling on the Android apps due to regulations set by iOS itself. Moreso, TorGuard’s iOS app also lacks the WireGuard tunneling protocol, which can result in worse connection speeds. While ExpressVPN has a stronger iOS application with more features available.

Wrapping up

With TorGuard vs ExpressVPN in this category, it’s nearly a draw. The pros and cons almost even out between these two providers, with ExpressVPN suiting beginners while TorGuard leads the way for Linux and advanced users. However, the latter descends to ExpressVPN due to not having advanced tunneling protocol on the iOS VPN application.

Winner

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Customer support

With articles, community forums, and other resources, both ExpressVPN and TorGuard have a vast knowledge base for their customers. TorGuard is also eager to send you to its official YouTube channel, where you can find tutorials, informative clips, and how-to videos.

The biggest difference is with individualized support. ExpressVPN has 24/7 live chat available, meaning you can get personal help from an expert whenever you need it.

TorGuard, on the other hand, can’t guarantee the same service. You can contact its support team by email and hope for a pretty quick turnaround time. It mentions the possibility of live chat, but it’s not available 24/7.

Wrapping up

Overall, ExpressVPN is this category’s winner since it can guarantee personalized support around the clock.

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TorGuard vs ExpressVPN – which one wins?

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After testing these VPNs across 10 most critical categories, ExpressVPN is our final winner. With better streaming performance, enhanced infrastructure, and 24/7 customer support, ExpressVPN is the better choice over TorGuard.

Linux users and more experienced users might find TorGuard more suitable to their more advanced needs. But for the average user, ExpressVPN has a great mix of usability and performance.

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