ExpressVPN Review

Studies frequently show that people are concerned about their online privacy more now, than they have ever been before.

Thankfully, ExpressVPN is here to fix that. It claims to protect you at all times, whenever you’re online, for a low monthly fee – though it does cost more than most other VPN services. In this review, I’m going to analyze every aspect of ExpressVPN, including the features, encryption, the price and more – and ultimately decide if it’s worth it, or if there are better VPNs out there.

Now, on to the actual features and usability of ExpressVPN. Thankfully, it’s a somewhat straight-forward VPN, perfect for those looking for “no fuss”, plus it’s got an established name & reputation that only an industry stalwart can have.

ExpressVPN Quick Facts:

ExpressVPN has a massive global footprint – in a good way – and excellent privacy practices to keep your information safe.

Note that ExpressVPN *is* quite expensive compared to many of its competitors and also doesn’t offer quite as many features, so there are some drawbacks. I’ll cover these shortly.

Prices for ExpressVPN are on the dearer side, and while we’re on that topic, how much does ExpressVPN cost? The company actually has three subscription options:

• $12.95 billed each month,
• $59.95 billed every six months, or
• $99.95 billed annually

Like most VPN companies nowadays, the only price difference between these plans comes from how long you commit.

⭐ VPN Hound User Rating:	4.8
📝 No logs policy:	No logs
💯 Money-back guarantee:	30 days
🍿 Streaming services:	Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV
💵 Cheapest price:	$6.67/month (12 month plan)
💥 Current deal:	Sign up Now for 60% OFF at ExpressVPN

Visit ExpressVPN

Limited Offer: ⚠️ Sign up Now for 60% OFF at ExpressVPN — today only!

In terms of payment methods, ExpressVPN accepts all major credit cards, PayPal, and other services such as WebMoney. Additionally, you can purchase an ExpressVPN subscription with Bitcoin for even more anonymity – not many VPNs offer this, so a plus point for ExpressVPN.  However, if you’re looking for a VPN that offers (arguably) even safer anonymous cash payments, IVPN and Mullvad are better options.

ExpressVPN: Prices & Costs

As with most VPNs, you’ll save more money if you sign up for a longer package with ExpressVPN too.

Their pricing structure is quite different to other VPNs,as it’s surprisingly straight forward: ExpressVPN only has 3 packages, as I’ve highlighted in this table below.

In terms of simplicity, it’s a welcome difference. Most VPN providers nowadays – such as NordVPN for example – try to sign you up for 2 or even 3 year subscriptions.

Keep it simple, stupid. As the saying goes!

A quick glance at their prices and what is clear is that there are cheaper VPNs around, but you get what you pay for. I’ll outline below why I think ExpressVPN is great value for money, despite it being one of the more expensive VPNs.

If you’re struggling to justify the pricing, then why not check out our range of ExpressVPN coupons. We often have up to 60% off the above prices. Here’s an example:

Does ExpressVPN offer ‘Free’ access?

No, ExpressVPN doesn’t offer a free VPN subscription tier, sadly.

But this is not that surprising, since truly free VPN subscriptions are very rare.

Just FYI, TunnelBear does offer a free VPN – kind of. They give you completely free access to its global server network, though it does limit you to a paltry 500MB of data per month, which isn’t much at all.

So, we’ve established that Express isn’t free, but what exactly can you get for your money? Well, you can connect up to five devices simultaneously, which is pretty average among the VPNs we’ve reviewed. Some VPNs, such as Atlas VPN, IPVanish VPN,  Surfshark VPN and TunnelBear VPN don’t limit the number of simultaneous connections whatsoever, so if this is a concern for you, then skip ExpressVPN (sadly there’s no way to increase it).

Another difference with ExpressVPN and others is that, while some VPNs offer additional features like ad-blocking and malware protection, ExpressVPN claims to be solely focused on making the best VPN possible. It doesn’t provide many add-ons or dedicated IP addresses, but the company’s dedication to providing a high-quality VPN experience is evident in the quality of its product.

ExpressVPN Review: Privacy Overview

Next, let’s talk about the privacy features of ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN is fundamentally opposed to any efforts to install “backdoors” or attempts by governments to otherwise undermine such technologies.

I’ll start with this quote, from ExpressVPN themselves. This quote is in regards to seized ExpressVPN servers in Turkey – where it was shown pretty much conclusively that no logs are kept:

The incident demonstrated that ExpressVPN doesn’t keep logs that could be used to identify users or their online activities, even under the most “extreme” circumstances (i.e. terrorism).

So, it’s safe to conclude that ExpressVPN is great for protecting your privacy when online, at least where no-logs policies are concerned.

But it isn’t all rosey. A downside is that it doesn’t offer as many privacy features as some of its competitors.

For example, you can’t use ExpressVPN to access the Tor anonymization network, nor can you create a multi-hop connection. And that’s a shame, in my opinion, as these features can be super helpful if you’re looking for the optimum level of protection from government snooping or surveillance capitalism.

ExpressVPN Protocols & Security

VPN technology has come a long, long way as of late, and there are many ways to create a VPN connection now. At the top of the list is – as many readers will know – the preferred option, OpenVPN, a long-standing favorite that is open-source and has been picked over for potential vulnerabilities by anyone with the interest to do so.

There’s also WireGuard, a newer open-source protocol that claims better speeds and newer encryption technology, although not all VPN companies have fully embraced it.

ExpressVPN has instead focused on OpenVPN and its own protocol that it calls Lightway, which uses the open-source wolfSSL cryptography library. This is a smart move since trying to build an entirely new cryptographic system isn’t always the safest (or easiest) option. The good news is that Lightway has been subjected to a third-party audit with positive results.

Both Lightway and OpenVPN are supported on ExpressVPN’s Android, Linux, Mac, and Windows apps, as well as routers configured to use the service. The ExpressVPN iOS app currently only supports OpenVPN and IKEv1/2, while the macOS and Windows apps have legacy support for L2TP, but I advise against using this older protocol. The ExpressVPN Windows app also supports IKEv2.

Security is one of the best things about ExpressVPN, and I’m sure you’ll find pretty much every feature for your use case.

Server Locations – Where Are They?

Another key part of any VPN subscription is access to the company’s fleet of VPN servers.

ExpressVPN offers 160 server locations across 94 countries, which is nearly double the average of other VPN products we’ve evaluated. The company also excels in geographic diversity, with several servers in Africa and excellent coverage across South America. It also maintains servers in countries with repressive internet policies like Turkey and Vietnam, as well as in Hong Kong and Ukraine.

While ExpressVPN doesn’t have the largest collection of servers, it does maintain a consistently high-quality collection of them – and that’s arguably even more important.

ExpressVPN has servers in:

1. 26 countries across Asia Pacific,
2. 15 countries across the Americas,
3. 47 countries across Europe, and
4. 5 countries in the Middle East and Africa.

Although ExpressVPN’s overall server count is smaller than some of its competitors like NordVPN, PIA or Surfshark, it still offers a significant number of servers in each region.

While we’re discussing NordVPN, ExpressVPN has servers in more countries across all four regions than they do. This makes it easier to find a location to connect to, allowing you to switch your IP address almost anywhere you need to. Additionally, ExpressVPN has a surprising number of server locations in Africa and the Middle East, with five locations available compared to other VPNs that usually offer only one or two.

ExpressVPN’s geographic spread is ideal for those who are looking to use a VPN for online gaming.

How do I get the fastest speeds from ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN offers several ways to optimize your connection speed for gaming but also these tips can be used for general browsing too. Here they are:

1. Connect to a server that’s closest to you: Distance from the server can affect your connection speed, so it’s best to choose a server that’s nearest to your location.
2. Choose the right protocol: ExpressVPN offers several protocols to choose from, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Lightway. Lightway is the newest and fastest protocol, and it’s optimized for speed and reliability.
3. Use the automatic server selection feature: ExpressVPN has an automatic server selection feature that can help you find the fastest server available. This feature can be accessed by clicking on the “smart location” button on the app’s home screen.
4. Use a wired connection: If possible, connect your device directly to your router using an ethernet cable instead of relying on Wi-Fi. This can provide a more stable and faster connection (nothing to do with a VPN but a generally good tip regardless!).

Server Quality – Are They Virtual Servers?

VPN companies often use “virtual servers” and “virtual locations” to support their massive fleets of servers.

What are these? Well, virtual servers are basically software-defined servers, and virtual locations are servers configured to appear as if they are in a country other than where that physical server is actually located.

While virtual servers and locations aren’t necessarily bad, it’s important for companies to be transparent about where customer data is heading.

ExpressVPN is transparent about its use of virtual servers, disclosing that less than 3% of servers are NOT physically located where they appear to be and listing their true location.  In other words, 97% of servers are in the actual location they advertise.

It’s worth adding that ExpressVPN also allow customers to select specific servers, maximizing teh company’s wide range of location options all round… Hooray!

RAM-Only Servers

To protect your data, identity and surfing histroy, ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers that don’t write any information to disk, plus they use a cryptographic key scheme that assigns unique keys for each server and does not store those keys on disk. They call all this TrustedServer. These servers are located in third-party data centers that limit access to them, and they’re wiped of all this data often – sometimes as frequently as every few minutes. More information here.

While ExpressVPN offers a great service overall, its best features are geared towards frequent travellers, business people, or those with more specific needs, rather than newbies (TunnelBear, on the other hand, is geared towards entry-level VPN users).

Granted, most VPN companies can spin up servers as needed to meet increases in demand, so the overall number of servers isnt that important. With that in mind, ExpressVPN currently has around  3,000 servers, but CyberGhost has over 9,200 servers, making it the leader in this category.  Ultimately, what’s most important is that a VPN service has a sufficient number of servers in locations that are convenient for you, so be sure to consider that when choosing a VPN.

Encryption – A comparison

ExpressVPN uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-GCM cipher to ensure that your data is secure and encrypted. This is a military-grade encryption that is virtually impossible to crack.

• If you choose to use the Lightway protocol, ExpressVPN will use the ChaCha20/Poly1305 cipher, which ismore suitable for low-powered devices like routers and mobile devices.
• Your authentication is processed with the SHA-512 hash function, which ensures that your credentials are not exchanged in plain text. This means that even in the case of a data breach, your password would remain safe.
• ExpressVPN supports multiple tunneling protocols to ensure the best security and speed for your device – in fact, it’s one of the fastest VPNs globally. OpenVPN is one of the most popular and well-rounded protocols, with two options for speed (UDP) or stability (TCP).
• IKEv2 is another popular option, especially for mobile devices, as it allows for seamless switching between mobile and cellular data without the need to manually reconnect. Lightway is the newest open-source addition to the service, which uses simple cryptographic libraries to make your connection faster.

ExpressVPN’s No-Logs Policy

So, what does “no logs” mean exactly? Well, it means that ExpressVPN doesn’t keep any records of your online activities – no browsing history, no connection logs, no IP addresses, nada! This is great news for anyone who wants to keep their online activities shielded from prying eyes.

But wait, it gets better. 🙂

ExpressVPN isn’t just saying they have a no-logs policy – they’ve actually gone the extra mile to get an independent audit to prove it. That’s right, a third-party auditor recently verified that ExpressVPN doesn’t collect or store any of your personal information nor data on your online activities.

Avid readers of VPN Hound will know that ExpressVPN has a solid reputation in the VPN industry for providing robust security and privacy features. I can’t stress enough the importance of protecting your online privacy, so it’s esential to choose a VPN service that takes this seriously.

Privacy Policy

I like ExpressVPN’s privacy policy as it is clear and concise, assuring its users that it does not collect or sell any user data. The company is based in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws, and the no-logging policy has been tested and verified.

What sets ExpressVPN apart from loads of other VPN providers is that it has released the results of third-party audits to validate the security of its service. The company has undergone multiple audits from reputable firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), KPMG, and Cure53 – read here – , which is a great sign of transparency and accountability.

Remember that, as per the above section on privacy, ExpressVPN also has (mainly) RAM-only servers, which means no information is stored on disk, making it more difficult for attackers to steal your data.

Ownership

In a notable (and surprising) development, in 2021 ExpressVPN was acquired by Kape Technologies, a company that also owns CyberGhost VPN and Private Internet Access VPN, among other privacy and security companies. This acquisition raised concerns among some ExpressVPN users about the independence of the company and its commitment to privacy. Why? Because Kape Technologies has a somewhat controversial past, as it was previously known as Crossrider, a company that was associated with adware and browser hijacking.

However, ExpressVPN has assured its users that it will remain an independent entity under Kape’s ownership, with no sharing of infrastructure or data with other Kape companies. Despite this assurance, some of you may still have reservations about using a VPN owned by a larger company with a complex history, which I completely get. Only you can decide if ExpressVPN is right for you. 🙂

ExpressVPN software: Hands-on Review

ExpressVPN has a user-friendly and intuitive client that I have always found easy to navigate. One unique feature of the app is that you don’t log in with a username and password. Instead, you use an activation code found on the ExpressVPN customer portal. This may be confusing for some users, but it makes teh login process much simpler and arguably safer.

The app has recently undergone a complete overhaul of its branding and design, with a new ’70s “airline vibe” as some call it,  that is more approachable than the black-and-green hacker aesthetic found in many other VPNs.

The app is built around a large on/off button, and when disconnected, the top third resembles a purple-orange sunset that blossoms into bold green when connected. The app also includes a list of shortcuts to frequently used apps and websites. I really love it.

While browsing servers, the app provides only basic information about each server, such as location and ping time, but it does include a Speed Test tool. From the Options panel, you can configure the app’s settings, including the Kill Switch, split-tunneling, and preferred VPN protocol.

ExpressVPN protects against potential leaks of your real IP address, ISP, and DNS requests, and it was able to stream from Netflix during testing. I found that the service provides apps for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, as well as a command-line tool for Linux users. Additionally, they now have Fire TV and Kindle Fire apps, instructions for using the service on Apple TV, PlayStation, and Xbox devices, and a MediaStreamer SmartDNS tool.

ExpressVPN on Android & iOS

ExpressVPN offers a reliable and user-friendly mobile app for both Android and iOS devices.

The app for Android devices has a layout that looks identcal to the iOS version of the app – but offers more features, including split-tunneling, a Kill Switch, and auto-connect settings. The Android app also has a cool 70’s vibe with pleasing cool grays, purples, and orange tones, and a large connect button in the center of the screen. The app also has a “time protected” bar that informs users how often they are using the VPN while connected to the internet. In our tests, we were able to play videos on YouTube and Twitch without any interruptions or buffering while connected to a server in India. Our real IP address and DNS information remained private while connected to that server, as verified by DNSLeakTest.

The iOS app for ExpressVPN is also user-friendly but, unlike most apps, actually lacks some features found on the Android versions, such as Kill Switch and split-tunneling.

However, the app features a warm autumnal color scheme similar to the Windows version, and a large connection button in the middle of the screen. Users can choose a VPN location from a list of countries and cities, with a short list of servers within each city, and the app includes an auto-reconnect feature that restarts the VPN when the internet connection restarts.

ExpressVPN on Mac

ExpressVPN’s macOS app is not available in the App Store strangely, but it can be downloaded from the ExpressVPN website. I tested the app on a MacBook Pro. The app’s interface has the same retro and autumnal color scheme once again, and it’s nice that ExpressVPN have brought all of these together to create a brand identity.

To ensure that our IP address was not being leaked, we visited DNSLeakTest and ran an extended test while connected to a server in Canada.

The server did not leak our information. We then tested th espeed and reliability of the VPN by visiting YouTube and watching a few videos. The videos loaded quickly, and we did not experience any lag or buffering. Overall, very impressive stuff.

What about Netflix & Streaming?

Netflix works fine via ExpressVPN, regardless of what country you are located in. And while it’s unlimited, bear in mind that there is a 5 device limit.

Every ExpressVPN subscription includes the MediaStreamer smart DNS proxy service that can be used on devices that do not support VPN apps, but allow for changing default DNS servers.

And it’s not just for Netflix… It works for things like Apple TV, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One too – users can replace the default DNS server IP addresses with MediaStreamer IPs to access region-locked platforms from abroad.

However, it is worth noting that devices connected through MediaStreamer are also counted against the five-device limit.

I was able to get it BBC iPlayer to work really well, so UK expats can enjoy watching BBC content without the need to actually be located in the UK. There was little to no buffering or delays, and the server selection means that if you do have a problem, just switch to another server.

What about non-library content?

Non-library content is notoriously harder to view with a VPN. But if you use the Smart Location setting, it’s a breeze with ExpressVPN:

Does ExpressVPN support split-tunneling?

Yes.

Here are the steps to use split tunneling on ExpressVPN:

1. Open the ExpressVPN app and click on the Menu icon
2. Select “Options”.
3. In the “General” tab, check “Manage connection on a per-app basis”.
4. Click on “Settings”.
5. Choose whether you want to allow only selected apps to use the VPN or prevent selected apps from using the VPN.
6. To allow an app to use the VPN, click on the “+” button and select the app from the list.
7. To prevent an app from using the VPN, click on the “-” button and select the app from the list.

Can I use it for Torrenting?

Yes.

ExpressVPN allows for torrenting and P2P file sharing on its servers.

And unlike some other VPN providers that designate specific servers for torrenting, ExpressVPN doesn’t require you to use particular servers for P2P activities. So you can choose a fast server close to your location and start downloading.

A Kill Switch, also known as the “network lock,” is available on desktop apps, and a simpler kill switch is built into the mobile apps. This feature stops all internet traffic if the VPN connection unexpectedly disconnects, ensuring that your P2P traffic is always encrypted.

Does ExpressVPN work in China?

Yes.

ExpressVPN is a reliable VPN provider in China, offering access to the free and open internet from the mainland. Users do not have to change any settings to use the service, and it generally works well.

However, like all VPNs that work in China, it may experience occasional downtime, particularly around politically-sensitive events. Despite this, ExpressVPN is a veteran VPN provider in China and has a good track record of bouncing back quickly.

A quick word on obfuscated servers… (sometimes called stealth mode or stealth servers):

Just to clarify, obfuscated servers are a feature that ExpressVPN offers to hide VPN traffic and make it harder for network administrators or governments to detect and block VPN connections. When a user connects to an obfuscated server, the VPN traffic is disguised as regular internet traffic, making it more difficult to detect and block. While obfuscated servers are not labeled in the ExpressVPN app, users can contact customer support to find out which servers are currently obfuscated.

And that brings me nicely onto…

Is ExpressVPN Customer Support any good?

I personally have found ExpressVPN’s staff to always be responsive and friendly in all times I’ve contacted them.

The support system uses Zendesk to manage help tickets, and support documentation is available in several languages, including English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. ExpressVPN has a wide range of guides on various topics for all platforms too, which can be helpful if you don’t want to wait for a livechat operator.

In addition to livechat, users can submit a ticket on the website or send a direct email to the support team. Email is a more private option for users who do not trust Zendesk (like me!). The money-back guarantee offered by ExpressVPN has been tested by the reviewer and was honored with no arguments.

Just to add. I recently had an issue with my ExpressVPN connection and decided to contact their 24/7 live chat support for assistance. The representative, named “John” – unsure if real or fake name – responded to me within a minute and was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. He patiently walked me through some troubleshooting steps and helped me resolve the issue within just a few minutes.

I was impressed with how easy it was to get in touch with support, and even more impressed with the quality of assistance I received. John was clearly very experienced with the product and was able to provide clear and concise instructions that helped me get my VPN connection working properly again.

What about Threat Manager?

ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager is a fairly powerful, new feature designed to protect your online privacy and security by blocking all tracking and potentially malicious activity from third parties. This is achieved by cross-checking every website or app you visit against a constantly updated blocklist maintained by ExpressVPN.

I’m not convinced by the privacy credentials here so I would disable it, particularly if you’re paranoid.

With Threat Manager turned on, tracking from websites or apps will be reduced to a minimum, enhancing your online privacy and anonymity, but not completely thwarted. This feature adds a small extra layer of security to your browsing experience, but I’d probably skip it altogether personally.

Other VPNs to consider

Verdict: Is ExpressVPN any good?

So that about wraps up the VPN Hound review of ExpressVPN. After thoroughly testing ExpressVPN for a few weeks, I really do highly recommend it without any reservation. It is one of the best VPNs around and part of the reason why we’ve consistently called it the best VPN here at VPN Hound.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned VPN user, ExpressVPN is an excellent choice that excels in almost every aspect, from speed and security to unblocking region-locked content and evading censorship.

Despite its higher price point compared to some other VPN providers, ExpressVPN’s performance is unmatched, making it the best all-around VPN option in the market. Its customer support is top-notch, and the company is committed to ensuring the satisfaction of its users, offering a 30-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked.

The downsides are that it’s not cheap, and you are limited to maximum of five devices. These won’t really matter much to the average user.

So in short, if you are looking for a reliable and powerful VPN that will provide you with a seamless and secure online experience, I highly recommend ExpressVPN.

⭐ VPN Hound User Rating:	4.8
📝 No logs policy:	No logs
💯 Money-back guarantee:	30 days
🍿 Streaming services:	Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV
💵 Cheapest price:	$6.67/month (12 month plan)
💥 Current deal:	Sign up Now for 60% OFF at ExpressVPN

Go To ExpressVPN

Limited Offer: ⚠️ Sign up Now for 60% OFF at ExpressVPN — today only!