ExpressVPN Review

Our Take: ExpressVPN offers many useful features for less than $13 per month, making it one of the best VPN applications on the market. In addition to working with many of the most popular streaming services, ExpressVPN has no data cap, giving you the freedom you need to browse the internet at high speeds. If you're looking for a VPN that performs reliably and offers widespread server coverage, even in countries like China and the United Arab Emirates, ExpressVPN is a good choice. Budget-conscious consumers who prioritize low prices over features may be better served by a different VPN application.

ExpressVPN opened in 2009 to help online users enhance their security and privacy at an affordable price. Since then, the company has set up more than 3,000 servers and established work groups in several countries, including Canada, Portugal, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The following guide provides an overview of ExpressVPN, including information on its key features, pricing plans and pros and cons. It also highlights reviews from real ExpressVPN users to help you understand the potential benefits of using the service.

Pros and Cons of ExpressVPN

What We Like and What We Don’t Like
ProsCons
  • Offers 24/7 technical support via online chat for the user’s convenience
  • Works in China and the United Arab Emirates
  • Offers fast speeds and reliable performance across its server network
  • More expensive than some of its competitors with similar features
  • Some users report dropped connections when changing server locations
  • It can take some time to connect to a server

Key Features of ExpressVPN

We reviewed ExpressVPN according to the four most important features of any VPN: security and privacy, server coverage, performance, and price. Below is a breakdown of ExpressVPN’s key features.

Security & Privacy

The purpose of using a VPN to connect to the internet is to keep your browsing activities private and prevent unauthorized users from accessing your personal data. That’s why it’s so important for a VPN service to offer a high level of security and privacy. ExpressVPN delivers with 256-AES encryption, the gold standard for protecting sensitive information online. AES encryption was created to help the U.S. government protect data against a variety of attack techniques. The technology is now available to businesses and consumers, making ExpressVPN a secure way to connect to your favorite websites and other online resources.

ExpressVPN is also dedicated to protecting users’ privacy, which is why it has a no-log policy for its VPN service. The company doesn’t keep any logs of user activity, including data content, browsing history, DNS queries, connection logs, or traffic history. ExpressVPN also keeps no records concerning your IP address, start and stop times for your browsing sessions, the duration of each session or your outgoing VPN IP address. Because the system is designed not to store this information, ExpressVPN can’t share information about your activities with any other person or commercial enterprise.

Server Coverage

One of the main benefits of using a VPN is the ability to connect to different servers while traveling for business or leisure. To do this, the VPN you use must have a large network of servers spread across as many countries as possible. ExpressVPN certainly meets this criterion, as it has more than 3,000 servers in 194 countries. The company even has servers in China and the United Arab Emirates, which is a real benefit to travelers who aren’t used to the internet filtering and blocking policies used by the governments of these countries. Using a VPN makes it possible to access a variety of content even when such filters are in place.

ExpressVPN’s extensive network of servers also makes it easier for users to access content that is intended for distribution in a specific region. For example, American travelers visiting other countries may not be able to access their favorite movies and television shows unless they connect to the internet using a U.S. server. ExpressVPN’s large server network makes it easy to do so.

Performance

Before signing up for a VPN service, it’s important to find out what features are included. ExpressVPN offers a variety of helpful features at an affordable price. For example, ExpressVPN works with up to five devices at one time, making it easy to maintain your privacy and security whether you’re using a desktop computer or a smartphone. The fact that ExpressVPN works on multiple devices also makes it a good choice for families, as several family members can be connected to an ExpressVPN server at the same time.

Speed is another important consideration for VPN users. ExpressVPN is somewhat unique in this regard; because the company doesn’t have a data cap, users don’t have to worry about ISP throttling causing slow speeds. With unlimited data, it’s possible to use ExpressVPN for streaming music and video, browsing the internet and using a variety of instant messaging and social media services. ExpressVPN is also compatible with many of the major streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, the BBC, Disney Plus, and Kodi.

Price

Every ExpressVPN subscription includes 24/7 customer support, unlimited bandwidth and all the ExpressVPN apps you need. If you prefer monthly billing, ExpressVPN costs $12.95 per month and is billed every 30 days. The company does offer discounts to users who pay for several months of service at a time, however. A six-month plan comes with savings of nearly 23%, as it averages out to $9.99 per month, and the 12-month plan gives users nearly 37% off the regular price of the service at $8.32 per month. The six-month plan is billed every six months ($41.94 total), and the 12-month plan is billed once per year ($99.84 total).

Although ExpressVPN costs a little more than similar VPN services, all three plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you decide it doesn’t quite meet your needs. Paying for ExpressVPN instead of using a free service gives you the peace of mind of knowing that you get unlimited bandwidth at an affordable price.

ExpressVPN Pricing
One-month$12.95/month
Six-month$9.99/month
12-month$8.32/month

ExpressVPN Overview

ExpressVPN Overview
Free TrialExpressVPN doesn’t offer a free trial, but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
Customer SupportCustomers can get technical assistance through the ExpressVPN live chat
Platform/Browser CompatibilityExpressVPN is compatible with the Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi browsers
Server Coverage3,000 servers located in 94 countries
Number of DevicesNordVPN works with up to five devices at a time
No-log PolicyYes
TorrentingExpressVPN supports torrenting
Streaming ServicesNetflix, Hulu, Prime Video, The BBC, YouTube, HBO, Showtime, Disney+, Kodi, etc.
Security Encryption256-bit AES
Kill SwitchYes
WebsiteLearn more at ExpressVPN

What Customers Are Saying

Customers love ExpressVPN because it offers a variety of features at an affordable price. One user states that it’s tough to find any drawbacks of using the service, “given all the advantages you get with it” for one low price. Users also appreciate the high level of reliability provided by ExpressVPN. One user raves, “I’ve had nothing but positive experiences with ExpressVPN — would not do without it,” and another claims that ExpressVPN has “amazing and super-fast customer service” on hand to help with technical questions.