Our ExpressVPN review is a complete guide to everything you need to know about this VPN service. It's arguably the best VPN on the market right now, offering security, privacy, accessibility, and more.
It's got all the features you'll want in a Virtual Private Network and has lots of benefits which we'll discuss in this review. We'll even cover the drawbacks so you'll get an unbiased assessment of this service. In our expert view, we think this is a top-of-the-line VPN. Read on to find out why.
| Headquarters | British Virgin Islands |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Number of servers | 3000+ |
| Connected devices | Up to 5 |
| Kill switch | Yes |
| Does the VPN keep logs? | No |
| Devices | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS |
| Extensions | Chrome, Firefox, Router |
| Protocols | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKev2 |
| Best price | $8.32/month |
| Free Trial | No |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
Nine out of ten ExpressVPN reviews hail this service as the best VPN. If the majority carries the vote, then there's no arguing the point. We've come to the same conclusion, having carried out our own ExpressVPN test.
If you didn't already know, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that protects your internet connection and privacy online. It encrypts your data and creates a secure connection. The best VPNs have many benefits, and ExpressVPN is one of the most decorated. The network is not only secure but also super-fast and unblocks pretty much any online entertainment channel, such as Netflix and Hulu. It offers apps for all services and is incredibly easy to use, even for novices.
That's not all. This provider offers a split tunneling feature that lets you choose the specific apps and websites to be encrypted by the VPN. And there's a kill switch that protects your data even if the server connection drops. Most impressive is the level of transparency. ExpressVPN are upfront about what they do, and they don't just make claims. There are independent third-party audits to back it up.
ExpressVPN offers lots of great services, that's why it's such a highly recognized provider. These are some of the major perks of the VPN:
ExpressVPN has a huge network with a global fleet of servers. Currently, more than 3,000 servers are available in 160 cities in 94 countries. This is more coverage than most other VPNs offer. Best of all, these are RAM-only servers (the proprietary TrustedServer technology), meaning your data cannot be physically stored, further promoting privacy claims. With so many servers, a connection is never too far away, so you can expect high speed and latency. See the full list of ExpressVPN server locations.
One of the main features of any VPN is to hide your IP address and allow you to roam the internet anonymously. Suppose you're wondering 'is ExpressVPN good for privacy?' You'll be happy to know that ExpressVPN offers maximum privacy when using public Wi-Fi, while file-sharing, e-shopping, or doing some other online activities that could potentially leave your private information vulnerable. It shields your identity from websites, apps, and services that want to track you. Not even your internet provider and mobile carrier can see your activities.
This VPN unblocks many streaming platforms so you can watch and download your favorite entertainment from anywhere. Even with streaming services like Hulu that actively make an effort to block VPNs, ExpressVPN is one of the few that actually bypasses such restrictions, giving you the freedom to watch Hulu content from outside of the US. Netflix, Apple TV, Disney+, and more are also accessible with this provider.
Security is top-notch with ExpressVPN, thanks to robust tunneling and encryption features. The service uses 256-AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), the same encryption standard used by the US government. ExpressVPN uses various protocols to implement this encryption, including its very own Lightway protocol that beats out all others in speed, reliability, and security.
One of the ways this provider keeps you safe is by upholding your privacy. ExpressVPN keeps no activity or connection logs that can be traced back to you. It doesn't collect and store any information about what users do, their browsing history, traffic destination, or data content, or DNS (Domain Name Server) queries.
ExpressVPN also uses a dynamic IP address, meaning you have a different IP address whenever you use the app. While there are some disadvantages to this, dynamic IP addresses make it even harder to track your activities, thereby offering greater security.
The overall speed performance of our ExpressVPN test revealed speeds of up to 560Mbps. This is impressive, but they're by no means the fastest, with the likes of NordVPN and SurfShark offering speeds close to the 1Gbps mark. What ExpressVPN prides itself in is consistent speed performance across all servers and protocols.
You can tell a good VPN service by how they stay on top of innovation, while improving features available for users. ExpressVPN is currently upgrading its servers from 1Gbps to at least 10Gbps. This increased bandwidth allows its new servers to handle more traffic with less congestion. Ultimately, this will enable faster speeds and more reliable connections.
You can download the ExpressVPN app on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. If you don't wish to install the app, browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, and Vivaldi.
ExpressVPN also provides router VPN software that will protect all devices connected to your network. As you can imagine, this method will let you use the VPN service on as many devices as are connected to the router (more than the stipulated 5 devices). You can install the VPN on your router or purchase the provider's very own Aircove router that comes with the VPN already installed.
Finally, ExpressVPN is available for several smart TV systems and game consoles like Nintendo, Playstation, and Xbox to allow you access content you'd normally be unable to.
The ExpressVPN pricing is higher than most. It's necessary to put that out there, so if cost is a major turn-off for you, you may want to try ExpressVPN alternatives. That said, you'll be paying a few dollars extra for top quality based on the features we've highlighted about this service. Fortunately, all plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Here's an overview of the subscription plans available for ExpressVPN:
| Term Length | 1 Month | 6 Months | 12 Months |
| Monthly Price | $12.95 | $9.99 | $8.32 |
| Savings | N/A | 22% | 35% |
You can simply do a month-to-month plan or sign a longer contract and take advantage of the discounted prices. The 12-month plan is the most cost-effective, offering a 35% discount.
ExpressVPN provides several payment methods for placing a subscription order, and they’ve included not only conventional solutions but also unconventional ones, notably Bitcoin. With all the security technology embedded in this VPN service, you would be right to expect that they’ve enabled a secure checkout where your payment information is fully protected.
Accepted payment methods include:
You can also use UnionPay, iDeal, GiroPay, and more powered by the Paymentwall gateway.
Customer service is extremely important for a VPN provider. Luckily, ExpressVPN already got the memo and provides 24/7 customer support by live chat. Other support features provided on the website include a dedicated FAQ section and VPN setup tutorials for various supported platforms.
Ready to begin enjoying a secure internet connection on any device? Here’s how to create your account and sign up for ExpressVPN:
The ExpressVPN app can be installed on various devices, so chances are, if you’ve got a modern smartphone, tablet, or computer, you’ll be able to get it.
Pros
Downloading and installing ExpressVPN is super-fast and easy. I was able to get it up and running all in a few minutes. Having already signed up for a subscription plan, I simply entered my login credentials, and the available servers were loaded up and ready to connect.
Through and through, the app is easy to use and great for beginners who’d rather not be faced with so many advanced settings and functionality. Although it could come off as unfriendly looking, I much rather liked that there were no graphic distractions. There’s a large on and off button (for connecting to servers) that you can’t miss. Once connected, it changes color from red to green.
The VPN is set to select the best server for your location automatically, but it also allows users to choose from any country or city manually.
Considering the advanced features that this VPN offers, the app is very easy to use. The app keeps it simple in terms of display and settings. Unfortunately, this means there aren’t many customization options, but for practical users like myself, this simplistic approach is the holy grail. You certainly won’t have any problems using the app on any supported device platform.
SurfShark is one of the top VPNs on the market and is often listed as the most affordable, with a $2.39 per month for a 24-month subscription. Besides the low price point, this provider boasts more than 3200 servers in 110 locations in nearly 100 countries. Alongside such massive coverage, SurfShark offers absolute privacy with high-grade security, a no-logs policy, and 10Gbps RAM-only servers.
With SurfShark, you won’t have to worry about connection speeds, especially on mobile devices. With so many server locations, you’re never far from a connection. The provider also has a broader country server list and unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning that with a single plan, you can launch the service on as many devices as you wish. This is one of its advantages over ExpressVPN.
It’s great for streaming, torrenting, and has some intuitive apps that can be downloaded across a variety of devices. It comes with a useful split tunneling feature and a multi-hop feature that enables better security and internet speeds by connecting two different VPN servers simultaneously.
A mention of NordVPN is never too far off from ExpressVPN reviews. These rivals are two of the top providers, and although our ExpressVPN test results place it as the best-performing provider overall, NordVPN is clear in terms of security and privacy.
NordVPN is a leading VPN service with a robust security system that includes malware protection, ad-blocker, tracker blocker, and threat protection to neutralize cyber threats before they harm your device. You can enjoy online privacy for up to 6 devices and dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and even Android TV.
This provider offers 5700 servers in 60 countries, so it covers many locales not serviced by other VPNs. All servers from this provider offer super-fast speeds for browsing, downloading, streaming, and torrenting. You can save up to 66% with a premium ‘complete’ plan at a monthly price of $5.49. Although this is pretty reasonable, renewal prices are considerably higher. Besides that, you’d be hard-pressed to find other areas where NordVPN doesn’t excel.
Private Internet Access VPN leaves the competition far behind in terms of coverage. More than 20,000 active servers across 84 countries are available for PIA VPN users. It also allows unlimited connections.
This VPN is about the best for Linux users, offering a native GUI (graphical user interface). It works great with other platforms, too, and with so many servers, it’s no wonder that it’s got one in every US state. The features of PIA VPN include rock-solid privacy thanks to a no-logs policy, robust security, and a super reliable kill switch.
The downside of PIA is that it doesn’t have the fastest connection speed but is by no means slow, with an average of 510 Mbps. Also, the apps are not the easiest to use and require a little getting around. Regardless, you’ll find plenty of value for your money, given a bargain price of $2.03 monthly with the initial three months free.
Starting off with the drawbacks, this provider allows only five simultaneous connections, whereas some of the competition enables unlimited devices for a single account. There’s also the high price point.
While cost doesn’t always determine quality, it does in this case because ExpressVPN combines ease of use, superb privacy, military-grade encryption, and an excellent customer experience like no other provider does. It’s also highly accessible as there are apps for various platforms, and the installation process couldn’t be easier. The disadvantages are easy to overlook when you consider that this is a VPN service you can trust.
One of the primary reasons for using a VPN is to enjoy the freedom to use the internet while staying anonymous. Privacy is one of the many features ExpressVPN offers, and in our ExpressVPN review, we covered this aspect of the service and how it fares. So come along and find out.
You wouldn’t want to waste your time on a VPN that isn’t legit, as that defeats the security that these providers are supposed to offer. Check out our free ExpressVPN reviews to find out more about this provider and how safe it is.
Dozens of VPN providers are available on the market, each one claiming to be the perfect VPN service for your needs. We’ve reviewed the best sites, their legitimacy, pricing, security, and other features. Check out our reviews here at TheGameHaus.com to find out the best ExpressVPN alternatives.
