ExpressVPN is the VPN that serious travellers and privacy-conscious users have recommended for years. It’s also consistently the most expensive option in the market. Whether that premium is justified depends on what you need it for.
We ran it through the same tests we use for all VPN reviews — speed, privacy policy, streaming, and real-world reliability.
Speed tests
ExpressVPN uses its own protocol called Lightway, built on WolfSSL. It’s fast — competitive with NordVPN’s NordLynx (WireGuard-based) in most conditions.
Testing from a UK connection:
- UK server: ~97% of base speed — effectively no loss
- US server: ~75% of base speed — solid for streaming, fine for most use
- Netherlands: ~94% — very fast
Lightway is impressive in one specific scenario: reconnecting after a dropped connection. It re-establishes in under a second, which matters if you’re on a mobile connection that drops in and out. NordLynx is marginally faster in sustained transfers, but ExpressVPN’s reconnect behaviour is noticeably better.
Privacy and logging
ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited by KPMG and Cure53. The audits confirmed no traffic data, connection logs, or IP addresses are stored.
The more significant validation came in 2017, when Turkish authorities seized an ExpressVPN server in an attempt to find data related to a criminal investigation. They found nothing — because there was nothing to find.
ExpressVPN is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, outside the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. That said, they were acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021 — a company with a historically questionable past in adware. They’ve since cleaned up the business significantly, but it’s worth knowing if you’re privacy-focused and doing your own due diligence.
Streaming
One of the strongest areas. ExpressVPN reliably unblocks:
- Netflix (including US, JP, and other regional libraries)
- BBC iPlayer
- Disney+
- Amazon Prime Video
- ITVX
It’s consistently one of the most reliable VPNs for streaming geo-restricted content. If that’s your primary use case, it earns its price.
Apps and usability
The apps are polished across all platforms — Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and router firmware. The router support is a genuine differentiator: install ExpressVPN on your router and every device on your network is covered without needing the app on each one.
The interface is simple: pick a location, press connect. The “Smart Location” feature picks the fastest server automatically. No technical knowledge needed.
What we liked
- Consistently fast with Lightway protocol
- Excellent reconnect speed on mobile connections
- Genuinely reliable for streaming
- Router app is a standout feature
- 24/7 live chat support that’s actually helpful
- 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked
What could be better
- The most expensive mainstream VPN — significantly pricier than NordVPN
- Only 8 simultaneous connections (NordVPN allows unlimited)
- Kape Technologies ownership is worth being aware of if privacy is a top concern
- No built-in ad blocker (NordVPN’s Threat Protection is a nice extra that ExpressVPN lacks)
Pricing
ExpressVPN is expensive. The 12-month plan typically runs around £6–7/month, versus NordVPN’s £3–4/month on a 2-year plan. That’s a significant difference over time.
The only place the price is clearly justified is if you specifically need router support or the reconnect reliability on mobile matters to you.
ExpressVPN vs NordVPN
| ExpressVPN | NordVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Reconnect speed | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Privacy audit | ✓ (KPMG + Cure53) | ✓ (Deloitte) |
| Streaming | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Router support | ✓ Full app | ✓ Manual config |
| Simultaneous connections | 8 | Unlimited |
| Price (annual) | ~£75/yr | ~£45/yr |
| Ad blocker | No | Yes (Threat Protection) |
If you’re choosing between the two: NordVPN is better value for most people. ExpressVPN earns its premium if you specifically need router support or the superior mobile reconnect behaviour.
Verdict
ExpressVPN is a genuinely excellent VPN. Fast, reliable, well-audited, and outstanding for streaming. The apps are the most polished in the industry.
The question is whether it’s worth the premium over NordVPN. For most home users, probably not. For travellers on patchy mobile connections, people who want whole-home VPN via their router, or anyone where streaming reliability is critical — the extra cost is defensible.
Our rating: 4.5/5 — Excellent product, hard to justify the price for typical home use.
One of the fastest and most reliable VPNs available. Outstanding for streaming and router-level coverage.