In a Nutshell
pros
- Smart Location feature automatically selects the best VPN server
- Superior speeds with Lightway protocol
- Exceptional privacy and security features
cons
- Pricey plans
- Only 5 simultaneous connections (unless using router app)
ExpressVPN Video Review: Fast speeds, strong privacy policies, and powerful connections
Privacy
ExpressVPN does not record and collect any activity or connection logs from their users. ExpressVPN categorically states that it does not log any IP addresses, browsing history, traffic destinations, metadata, or DNS queries (and has been independently audited to confirm this).
Your VPN traffic is encrypted with 256-bit AES encryption technology, the industry-standard trusted by the best security experts and used by the U.S. government.
Features
- Threat manager
- Lightway protocol
- Built-in speed test
- Split tunneling
- DNS leak protection
- Auto-kill switch
- IP masking
- Router app for unlimited connections
- Stream content from anywhere
- Torrenting allowed
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24-hour live chat support
ExpressVPN is an award-winning service with a sweet set of features. For one, it’s got an app for every device you can think of and a helpful tutorial on how to use each one. ExpressVPN stands by their belief in an internet without borders. The VPN comes with unlimited bandwidth to help you overcome download limits and helps you bypass ISP throttling. Download and game all you want, without limited speeds and decreased bandwidth.
ExpressVPN provides strong security for you and your browsing. It’s got an auto-kill switch, DNS leak protection, and IP masking to ensure anonymity and privacy at all times. The built-in speed test allows you to check how fast your VPN speeds are, letting you pick the fastest server to connect to.
While you can install ExpressVPN on as many devices as you want, the catch is that you can only have 5 simultaneous connections. While 5 connected devices is generous compared to other services that only offer 1 from a major brand like ExpressVPN, we'd like to see it offer more. A good workaround is to install the ExpressVPN app on your router, allowing you to connect unlimited devices in your household and set up device groups to connect to different server locations
On a heartwarming note, ExpressVPN has a $5,000 scholarship fund. Set up to promote greater awareness of internet privacy and security, a scholarship of $5,000 is given to the young writer of the best essay submitted. This doesn’t say much about ExpressVPN’s VPN quality, but it certainly speaks volumes to its integrity and quality of character.
Speed
In our testing, ExpressVPN boasts an impressive average speed of 77.14 Mbit/s. With speeds like this, ExpressVPN is easily one of the fastest in the industry.
ExpressVPN is famous for its fast network of servers and rightfully calls itself the fastest VPN on the market. We tested out a variety of servers across Europe and Asia and weren't disappointed.
For instance, when connecting to the server in Dublin, Ireland, we received a connection speed of 69.52 Mbps, a 23.63 Mbps on our baseline connection speed of 93.15 Mbps. This represents a relatively modest 25% drop in connection speed—and the almost 70 Mbps connection that we had through the VPN was more than fast enough for all purposes, including streaming video.
How Much Does Express VPN Cost?
The biggest drawback to ExpressVPN is its price. ExpressVPN is known to be at the top of the charts in VPN services, and you know what they say—you get what you pay for.
For a limited time, ExpressVPN is offering an additional 3 months free when you signed up for the annual plan. This brings the price of the annual plan down to $6.67/month.
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. You’ll get to enjoy the full-featured version of ExpressVPN with no restrictions. So, you can test it out and see if it's what you're looking for. If you don't feel it's the right fit, you can request for a full refund. Additionally, if you refer a friend, you'll get another 30 days of service free. There’s no limit to the number of friends you can refer—for every referral who signs up, you’ll both get 30 free days added to your account.
Torrents
You can torrent with ExpressVPN.To get the fastest download speeds, choose a server in the country you want to download from. You can also use the ExpressVPN Speed Test tool to identify which server location is the fastest and choose the right one for you.
Netflix
ExpressVPN unblocks Netflix US, so you can stream your favorite shows from wherever you are in the world. It also comes with a MediaStreamer service and a Smart DNS tool which is advantageous for streaming as it helps you access geo-blocked content by spoofing your location. In all cases, ExpressVPN is a great VPN for streaming. Using it to unblock a variety of streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more, is easy.
Client Setup
ExpressVPN is easy to use for everyone. Tech-savvy users can dabble with features like firewall-based kill switch, DNS leak protection, and more. What’s great about ExpressVPN’s app is that it is the same for both Mac and Windows. You will not be short-changed on features if you’re an Apple user.
Apps
ExpressVPN has apps suitable for a variety of devices including:
Windows
Mac
Android
iOS (iPhones, iPads, iPods)
Linux
Routers
Chromebook
E-Book readers
Windows phones
Streaming media consoles
NAS devices
DDNS
BlackBerry
Smart TVs
You can also get tutorial assistance for setup of apps like Lubuntu, Parrot Security, Peppermint, and pfSense (OpenVPN).
How Does ExpressVPN Compare?
Customer Support
ExpressVPN offers 24/7 customer support and live chat. You can also send an email using the online contact form. The staff is knowledgeable and answers your questions quickly.
Ease of Use
ExpressVPN is very easy to set up. Before downloading the app, you need to sign up for an account. Once you’re logged in, click on the “Set Up ExpressVPN” link and you'll be directed to the app download screen. From there, you can set up your account on your own or follow a device-specific tutorial from the ExpressVPN support page. Once your account is set up, you just hit “Connect” to get VPN protection.
Bottom Line
ExpressVPN’s reputation precedes it. If you're looking for superior security, service, and speed, ExpressVPN is the way to go. You'll be paying more for ExpressVPN than for the competition, but what you'll get in return is incomparable. Top-notch security, no logging whatsoever, and the fastest streaming and download speeds around, among other benefits, are reasons to choose ExpressVPN.