ExpressVPN: A Comprehensive Review
When it comes to VPN services, ExpressVPN stands out as a premier option. Scoring an impressive 9.6/10 overall, it ranks at the top of the VPN services we’ve tested. With fast servers in 106 countries, robust encryption, and reliable performance across all major streaming platforms, ExpressVPN offers a solid VPN solution for privacy-conscious users, streamers, and torrenters alike. Although it comes with a higher price tag compared to its competitors, the premium features and superior user experience make it a compelling choice.
Let’s dive into the detailed breakdown of why ExpressVPN holds its crown as one of the best VPN services available.
Performance Ratings: A Snapshot
Before we explore each category, here’s a quick look at how ExpressVPN scored across our testing criteria:
- Streaming: 9.9/10
- Torrenting: 9.3/10
- Privacy & Logging: 9.2/10
- Speed: 9.7/10
- Server Locations: 9.9/10
- Bypassing Censorship: 9.0/10
- Security & Features: 9.6/10
- Ease of Use: 9.9/10
- Customer Support: 9.8/10
- Price & Value: 7.5/10
Streaming: Unblock Any Platform, Anywhere
ExpressVPN is renowned for its ability to bypass geo-restrictions on major streaming platforms, making it an ideal choice for users wanting access to Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and other services from around the world. We found it to be incredibly reliable, streaming in HD and 4K quality with virtually no buffering.
The VPN boasts Smart DNS functionality, meaning you can use it on a variety of devices that typically don’t support VPNs directly, such as Apple TVs and game consoles. ExpressVPN’s streaming capabilities were top-notch across the board, accessing platforms like:
- US Netflix: Yes
- Amazon Prime Video: Yes
- Hulu: Yes
- Disney+: Yes
- BBC iPlayer: Yes
However, it’s worth noting that ExpressVPN’s default US server doesn’t work with Netflix. You’ll need to manually select the New Jersey – 1 server for US Netflix access. While it’s a minor inconvenience, it’s something to keep in mind as other VPNs do this automatically.
Despite minor setbacks with Netflix libraries in countries like South Korea and Mexico, ExpressVPN remains the best overall VPN for streaming. For anyone frustrated by geo-blocks, it’s a powerful tool that delivers consistently high performance.
Speed: Consistently Fast, Even on Long-Distance Connections
Speed is often the make-or-break feature of any VPN, and ExpressVPN delivers well in this regard. Thanks to its Lightway protocol, which was developed in-house, ExpressVPN provides 97 Mbps download speeds on a 100 Mbps connection—only a 3% drop from the baseline.
When testing ExpressVPN servers across six continents, we consistently experienced fast speeds that were more than sufficient for streaming, gaming, and even heavy downloading. Here’s how it fared in specific locations:
- New York (US): 97Mbps
- London (UK): 93Mbps
- Sydney (Australia): 83Mbps
- Tokyo (Japan): 83Mbps
- Johannesburg (South Africa): 66Mbps
While its nearby server speeds were excellent, there was a slight reduction when connecting to servers further away, such as in South Africa. Even so, ExpressVPN performed admirably across the globe, only lagging behind some competitors when it comes to long-distance connections.
For gamers, the low latency and 8ms ping on nearby servers make it ideal for competitive online gaming, and the VPN supports gameplay on consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Although its international ping time can spike, local servers are generally fast enough for smooth gaming experiences.
Privacy & Security: Strong, But With Room for Improvement
ExpressVPN takes your privacy seriously. It has a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that none of your browsing activity or IP address data is recorded. The service is based in the British Virgin Islands, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction with no mandatory data retention laws, which adds an extra layer of assurance.
Here’s a breakdown of the key security features:
- Encryption: AES-256, considered military-grade encryption
- Protocols: Lightway, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec
- Leak Protection: Passed all DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak tests
All of ExpressVPN’s apps come equipped with a kill switch (called Network Lock), which ensures your real IP address isn’t exposed if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. However, the macOS app does have a minor leak issue when switching servers, something the VPN warns users about before the switch is made. It’s a small flaw, but one worth noting for Mac users.
Another area where ExpressVPN excels is with its diskless servers (TrustServer technology), which ensures that no data can be stored or extracted from its servers. This adds an additional layer of security, reducing the risk of data breaches.
Despite its strengths, there are a few advanced features that ExpressVPN lacks, such as:
- Multi-hop servers (for added security)
- Dedicated IP addresses (to reduce CAPTCHAs and avoid blacklists)
- WireGuard protocol (which is faster than most tunneling protocols)
These missing features may disappoint privacy-focused users who want more control over their VPN setup. That said, ExpressVPN’s simplicity and streamlined interface make it ideal for users who prefer ease of use over technical customizations.
Torrenting: Fast, Secure, But No Port Forwarding
For P2P enthusiasts, ExpressVPN is a strong contender. It allows torrenting on all 3,000 servers and doesn’t impose any bandwidth limits. Combined with its AES-256 encryption and no-logs policy, ExpressVPN ensures your torrenting activities are safe from prying eyes.
While ExpressVPN doesn’t offer port forwarding, which can help increase seeding and torrent download speeds, it still clocked in at an average 9.4MiB/s download rate in our tests, which is nearly on par with your standard connection speed. This makes ExpressVPN one of the best VPNs for torrenting, second only to services that offer port forwarding capabilities.
Server Locations: Coverage Across 106 Countries
ExpressVPN excels in providing extensive coverage with servers located in 106 countries. With more than 3,000 IP addresses to choose from, users have the flexibility to connect from nearly any major region. The VPN offers city-level servers in countries like the US, but it doesn’t offer as many city options as competitors like Private Internet Access or HMA.
This wide range of locations makes it a fantastic option for accessing localized content, be it sports broadcasts or region-specific streaming libraries. However, some high-demand countries like Russia and the UAE are still missing from its server network.
Ease of Use: Designed for Everyone
One of ExpressVPN’s strongest points is its ease of use. Whether you’re on Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS, the apps are intuitive, responsive, and consistent across all platforms. Installation is simple, and connecting to a server is as easy as hitting a large “on” button.
On desktop and mobile versions, ExpressVPN provides shortcuts to frequently visited websites once connected, which is a neat feature. While the mobile apps for Android and iOS are highly rated, Linux users will have to navigate the command-line interface, which might be a bit daunting for beginners.
The VPN also offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, which are particularly user-friendly and encrypt all web traffic.
For more advanced users, ExpressVPN provides a router app that makes it easier to secure all devices connected to your network. Setting this up is straightforward, and it’s a great solution for homes with many devices that need VPN protection.
Customer Support: Stellar, But Slow
ExpressVPN prides itself on offering 24/7 live chat support. In our testing, the support team was knowledgeable and helpful, resolving our queries without much trouble. However, the live chat does tend to be a bit slower compared to other VPNs, with an average response time of 126 seconds. This is notably slower than services like NordVPN, which usually respond in under a minute.
In addition to live chat, ExpressVPN has a solid range of guides, tutorials, and FAQs on its website, catering to both beginners and advanced users. While it doesn’t have a chatbot for instant answers, the human agents are efficient once they engage with you.
Price & Value: A Premium Price for Premium Features
ExpressVPN’s biggest drawback is its price. Starting at $6.67/month on a 15-month plan, it’s more expensive than many of its competitors. However, unlike other VPNs that raise prices after the initial term, ExpressVPN’s prices remain stable after renewal.
That said, the service comes with a 7-day free trial for mobile users and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans, so you can test it out before committing.
Given its superior performance and features, the higher cost may be justified for users looking for the best VPN on the market.
Conclusion: A Top-Tier VPN Worth the Investment
While ExpressVPN may not be the cheapest option, it justifies its price with excellent streaming capabilities, fast speeds, and robust security features. Whether you need a VPN for privacy, streaming, torrenting, or bypassing censorship, ExpressVPN is a versatile tool that won’t disappoint.
If you value top-tier performance and are willing to pay a bit extra, ExpressVPN is undoubtedly one of the best VPN services available today.