ExpressVPN is a top - rated serve that ranks well inour guidebook to the undecomposed VPN solutions , so we already live it ’s serious . It ’s also one of the most expensive option , so I ’ll take a look at whether there ’s enough economic value to rationalize the toll .
Whilethe best VPN trade can be enticing , I do n’t require to give solid cybersecurity , good focal ratio , and the power to unblock worldwide subject matter . I ’ll review all these characteristic and test customer service responsiveness to give you a complete mental picture of what to bear with an ExpressVPN subscription .
Specs
Tiers and pricing
The full bargain is $ 140 for two geezerhood of serve , a more competitive monetary value equivalent to $ 6 each calendar month . If you ’re new to ExpressVPN , this long - term design comes with four barren months , dropping your average monthly fee to $ 5 .
Even with the free month , ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPNs on the market . I wait fantabulous privacy protection , great speeding , systematically stable connections , and more to justify the extra money .
you’re able to apply the VPN on up to eight devices at once , so there ’s more value if you are buying for the whole menage . The company often has sale , so it ’s deserving checking our inclination ofExpressVPN deals to see if you could get a bargainon this agiotage military service .
ExpressVPN does n’t have a free version , but there is a seven - solar day trial and a 100 % satisfaction guarantee . If you buy a subscription and do n’t wish it , you have 30 days to call for a full repayment .
Design
ExpressVPN ’s Windows app look a chip superannuated with modest panels to look and crop localisation in 105 countries and commute setting . Despite the modified windowpane size , it ’s easy to set up and apply .
As with most VPNs , a large fundamental button countenance me connect to the default server with a single click . Since I ’m located in Canada , Toronto is the suggested server .
I can use the bill of fare at the top left to get to the VPN location leaning or simply choose the location displayed on the main screen to select a unlike host .
ExpressVPN shows a list of recommended location that are physically closest to where I am . Since every packet of data point I transmit and receive might travel through dozens of routers , adding a svelte holdup for every record hop . A closer location secure more antiphonal carrying into action .
I can also research for a specific location or browse through the inclination of res publica , city , and servers within cities . A Canadian server is often the fastest for me , but I ’m near the U.S. border , so the results are about the same .
If I favorite a host , ExpressVPN adds a Favorites lozenge for quick memory access . Since I often use a U.S. server to check that I see pricing in USD , I like to check the option to default to the last used location .
ExpressVPN options let in various site and ad blockers , rent - tunneling by app , and choice of VPN communications protocol . Lightway is unremarkably fastest but OpenVPN is available in sheath that does n’t lick . Both are available to run over UDP and TCP . ExpressVPN recommends UDP as the quick .
ExpressVPN ’s internet browser extension is simply a convenience feature film that trust on the screen background app . That means any changes I make in the extension affect my organisation , and are n’t limited to the web browser .
Features
ExpressVPN provide one of the fastest download speeds I ’ve ever seen from a VPN.ExpressVPN was n’t slaked with the existing VPN protocols , so it created Lightway , a quicker option to OpenVPN that gives user advanced options like choosing AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption , and UDP or TCP transport .
While it ’s nice to have the pick to limit those details , I never had to fuss with preferences to get degenerate download f number and dependable connection to server across the globe . Recent updates have increased public presentation even further , and I noticed server connections are almost instant .
I use a gigabit cyberspace connection with a verbatim Ethernet connector , so I get about 900Mbps upload and download speed without the protective cover of a VPN .
When I connected to ExpressVPN ’s recommendation of the fastest server , downloads were imperceptibly wearisome at 761Mbps ( 98 ms ping ) . Uploads neglect to 64Mbps ( 37 mebibyte Ping River ) . While that ’s a fraction of my normal upload pace , it ’s loyal for a VPN that is optimized for quick downloads .
The ExpressVPN server for the U.S. carry off 614Mbps downloads with a Ping River of 28 ms . Upload speed was also nice at 113Mbps ( 28 ms ) . A scummy ping indicates a more responsive connection , expurgate the initial wait when browse the connection and reducing latency in gaming .
On more distant waiter , download swiftness ranged from 365Mbps ( 229 ms ) on the other side of the planet in Australia to 531Mbps ( 96 MB ) across the Atlantic in the U.K. Germany and France had over 500Mbps uploads with ping a morsel over 100 one thousand . That ’s quick enough for surf and streaming television globally .
Upload speed are always slow for overseas locations . With SpeedTest.net , I assess 5Mbps ( 96 ms ) in the U.K. to 4Mbps ( 100 + ms ) in EU countries , with a low of 2Mbps ( 230 ms ) in Australia .
As expected , a Google Maps search for “ vegan restaurants near me ” show the best places to get a salubrious meal in New South Wales . ExpressVPN checks the boxes for a good streaming VPN .
ExpressVPN ’s Threat Manager claim to block malicious web site , and it did silently block all 13 malware tests on Wicar . Still , there was no warning signal , and it habituate reputation - based blocking , which is n’t as reliable as dedicated antivirus package .
I also tried ExpressVPN ’s Keys password manager , which comes with a pay subscription . It form for fussy - platform sync of logins , bank bill , and cards , but want thesharing features of the salutary password managers .
Support
ExpressVPN offers livelihood via live chitchat 24 hour a day , every day . I screen it quite late on a weekday . A chatbot asked for my email and the reason I messaged . I institutionalise my email address but before I had time to type anything else , an agent arrive on to aid me .
The greeting was super fast . It train about three minutes to get an answer to my question about split - tunneling in the browser app , which is still quick . The answer is that split - tunneling can be fix up in the app .
I try this out and found it ’s possible to apply the ExpressVPN connexion on one browser app and not another , as explained by the support factor .
I just had a general question , but I still appreciated the fast reply . ExpressVPN ’s straightaway help could make a big difference of opinion if you extend into a problem .
Privacy and security
All VPNs use oddment - to - ending encryption to protect your secrecy , obscure your internet activity from hackers and preventing abusive advertisers from build overly invasive profile about your penchant and habit . ExpressVPN late switch from intercrossed Kyber to intercrossed ML - KEM , following Google ’s lead . This should secure your data point even if hackers use a quantum computer .
The majuscule business concern are the esoteric details like natural process log and whether they ’re associated with your account data . Leading VPNs like ExpressVPN have strict no - log policy audited by third - political party security science laboratory to verify your data is good .
However , a flaw in DNS leak examination meant ExpressVPN had a privacy exposure in its Windows app that move about 1 % of its users . The likely leak remain for about two year before being discovered in February 2024 .
AnExpressVPN blog postdetails the issue , how it was drop , and how such a elusive testing error left at least one other unknown VPN with the same leak . ExpressVPN temporarily withdraw split tunneling until it resolved the problem in April 2024 .
I still trust ExpressVPN to protect my privateness . Besides this unfortunate oversight , it has an excellent course platter . It ’s also registered in the British Virgin Islands , which is n’t part of the Five Eyes intelligence alignment .
Is ExpressVPN right for you?
I like ExpressVPN and found its download speeds to be amongthe best VPNs for streaming video . It does n’t have as many options to fine - tune your connection as some VPNs . For example , it lacksNordVPN ’s twofold - hops option , which provides extra privacyby placing two VPN servers between you and the destination internet site .
ExpressVPN include a barren password manager , which provides cross - platform syncing of all your logins , poster , and notes . However , the word managing director does n’t have the sharing options of password director like1Password and Keeper .
While ExpressVPN offers ace - riotous downloads and penny-pinching - instant connections , it ’s the most expensive VPN I ’ve tested . If you like the auditory sensation of ExpressVPN ’s speed , post - quantum encryption , and live chat , the two - year architectural plan makes subscription prices competitive .
There are more economical solutions with good speed . It ’s worth check outalternative VPNs with immobile streaming like Proton VPN and Surfshark .
