In a Nutshell
pros
- Smart Location server auto-selector
- Fastest speeds around
- Solid privacy and security features
cons
- Pricey plans
- Only 5 simultaneous connections
ExpressVPN Video Review: Fast speeds, strong privacy policies, and powerful connections
Privacy
ExpressVPN does not store any activity logs for the users on its network. In addition, it doesn’t collect any connection data either. ExpressVPN categorically states that it does not log any IP addresses, browsing history, traffic destinations, metadata, or DNS queries.
In terms of onsite security, ExpressVPN uses the 256-bit AES encryption technology that is industry standard for any professional service that needs to be on their game for security purposes.
Features
Online tools
Stream live events
Built-in speed test
Split tunneling
DNS leak protection
Auto-kill switch
IP masking
Torrenting allowed
Unlimited bandwidth
30-day money-back guarantee
$5,000 scholarship fund
As an award-winning service, ExpressVPN has a reputation to uphold, and it does this with a sweet set of features. For one thing, it’s got an app for any device you can think of and a tutorial on exactly how to use each one. On top of that, ExpressVPN really stands behind the claim of internet without borders. It offers unlimited bandwidth to help you reach any restricted content including videos, songs, social media sites, sports stations, and more from all over the world.
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 see how fast your VPN is actually going and gives you the ability to easily choose another server that works better for you.
One downside to ExpressVPN is the number of simultaneous connections. While 5 devices is generous compared to some services that only offer 1, from a major brand like ExpressVPN, we'd like to see it be even more forthcoming. That said, you can connect any device you want, you just have to limit the simultaneous connections to 5 at a time.
And to end things on a heart-warming note, ExpressVPN has a $5,000 scholarship fund. In order to promote greater awareness of internet privacy and security, ExpressVPN set up a scholarship fund that gifts one lucky young winner a $5,000 prize for writing the best essay on the given topic for the year. This doesn’t say much about ExpressVPN’s VPN quality, but it certainly speaks volumes to its integrity and quality of character.
Speed
ExpressVPN boasts an average speed of approximately 77.14 Mbit/s. Those are impressive numbers and clocks ExpressVPN in as one of the fastest in the industry.
ExpressVPN is famous for its fast network and call 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 downside to ExpressVPN is its price tag. But it’s really true that you get what you pay for. ExpressVPN is known to be the top of the charts in VPN services, and the price is indicative of this.
At the time of this writing, ExpressVPN was offering an additional 3 months free when you signed up for the year plan.
ExpressVPN has a 30-day money back guarantee. So, you can test out the VPN to see if it's what you're looking for and cancel if you don't feel it's the right fit for a full refund. In addition, if you refer a friend, you'll get another 30 days of service free. And you'll keep getting free months for every friend you refer. That's a fun incentive program.
Torrents
ExpressVPN allows torrenting, and helps you find the fastest download speeds by categorizing the servers by location. 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 is the fastest location for what you need it for.
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Netflix
ExpressVPN unblocks Netflix US, so you can get your regular shows wherever you are in the world. It also has a Smart DNS feature which could be more advantageous for streaming in some instances. In all cases, ExpressVPN is a great VPN for unblocking a variety of streaming services including Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Client Setup
ExpressVPN is easy to use for even a total layman. For the more tech-savvy users, you can dabble with things like firewall-based kill switch, DNS leak protection, and a slew of protocols. What’s even nicer about ExpressVPN client setup is that it is the same for both Mac and Windows, so you aren’t getting short-changed if you’re an Apple fan.
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 in an email using the online contact form. The staff is knowledgeable and answers your questions quickly. Ease of Use ExpressVPN is fairly easy to set up. Before you can download the app, you'll have to purchase a plan and create an account. Once you have logged in, click on the Set Up ExpressVPN link where you'll be able to access the app download screen. From there, you can set up your account on your own or follow one of the many device-specific tutorials on the ExpressVPN help pages provided. Once your account is set up, you just select a location and hit Connect to get VPN protection.
Bottom Line
ExpressVPN has a reputation that precedes itself. If you're looking for superior quality in terms of security, service, and speed, ExpressVPN is the way to go. You'll end up paying more for this VPN than some of the competition, but what you'll get in return can't compare. Top notch security, no logging whatsoever, and the fastest streaming and download speeds around are just a few reasons why to choose ExpressVPN.
