ExpressVPN is one of the safest and fastest VPNs on the market, but unfortunately, it is expensive. While it often comes with price cuts, other good VPNs with similar security features can be a lot cheaper. So, is there any need to pay more for a premium VPN like ExpressVPN?
To find out, we personally ran a series of tests on desktop and mobile devices, covering Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and
iOS system. we tested ExpressVPN’s speeds and researched its security features, device compatibility, and its unique Lightway protocol. To determine if ExpressVPN is trustworthy, we also dug into its privacy policy, independent audit findings, and company history.
The verdict: ExpressVPN is hard to beat. It’s definitely worth the money, especially since I’ve found a few tricks that improve the price. In addition, it offers a money-back guarantee, and users can try all its features risk-free. . If you feel that the product does not work well, you can apply for a refund within 30 days.
Go through the key points faster:
ExpressVPN significantly outperforms other VPNs when it comes to connecting to distant servers. Even connecting to a server that spans half the world is faster than my benchmark speed!
With 3,000 servers deployed in 94 countries, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau, ExpressVPN makes it easy for users to find the closest and fastest servers.
- Military-grade encryption and advanced security features.
ExpressVPN’s encryption technology and advanced security feature perfectly guarantee the anonymity of the user’s connection.
- The company is trustworthy and focused on privacy protection.
ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy is no rhetoric. Its customer protection has been proven.
- Native apps are compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and routers.
It provides easy-to-use, full-featured apps for all major operating systems, but one system version has apps that are missing.
Great value for money, especially for long-term subscribers. As long as you choose the one-year package, the price will be more affordable.
Server Network: Server network spreads all over the world
ExpressVPN has numerous servers around the world, making it easy to get a faster and more stable connection. Once the server is congested, there will be problems such as slow speed and unstable connections. Generally speaking, the farther away the server is from you, the slower it will be. Fortunately, ExpressVPN has 3,000 servers in 94 countries, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. You can easily find a server that is close and free of congestion.
ExpressVPN’s servers are not only widely distributed around the world, but also have good coverage within the same country. For example, it has servers on both coasts of Australia, which is pretty good. It also has servers in several countries that other VPN competitors often overlook, such as Hong Kong, Venezuela, and Turkey. However, the servers in these places are virtual servers, which may have a certain impact on the speed. In addition, servers in Western Europe and North America are evenly distributed and have the best coverage.
The huge network of servers all over the world is one of the big reasons why ExpressVPN is highly recognized.
Smart Location
The Smart Location feature is handy, but even without it, I was able to find faster servers. This feature recommends servers for you based on distance, latency, and speed. While this saves time, you can also manually find a faster server with a few more tries yourself. For example, Smart Location helped me connect to the server in San Francisco, but I was 31 Mbps faster when I connected to the server in East London.
TrustedServer Technology
ExpressVPN’s servers run only on memory, which ensures greater security and privacy. It’s called “TrustedServer Technology”. No data can be stored in memory, and after rebooting, all data in the network session will be deleted. Every time you reboot, everything, including the operating system, is reloaded from a read-only image stored on the hard drive. This helps to enhance technical security in the following ways:
- None of your data is stored on the hard drive.
- Data is stored for a shorter period of time.
- The software is reinstalled each time the server restarts, ensuring that the software has the latest security patches.
- Ensure software consistency across all servers. For some VPNs on the market, the software on the different servers
- varies, making some of the servers less secure.
This makes ExpressVPN one of the most secure VPNs on the market. If you want to remain anonymous online, it is the best choice.
Security: Personalized top encryption
ExpressVPN has numerous security features and military-grade encryption to keep your data safe in any situation. Many VPNs claim to provide continuous protection in the event of a disconnection, guaranteeing that the user’s IP will always be hidden. To know what the truth is, you have to confirm it through research and testing.
I thoroughly tested ExpressVPN’s additional security features, such as safety switches and split tunneling. Plus, we compared all of ExpressVPN’s protocols and delved into its unique Lightway technology. Finally, I also investigated its third-party audit results to confirm whether its infrastructure and practices stand up to scrutiny.
The only downside I’ve found is that ExpressVPN doesn’t offer a built-in ad and malware blocker. This is a very useful feature, but the blocker feature of other VPNs is actually not easy to use. For full protection, a dedicated app or extension needs to be downloaded. Given that there are plenty of free and effective ad blockers out there, I don’t think it’s a big problem, although ExpressVPN’s app lacks this built-in feature.
The security of ExpressVPN is unmatched by other VPNs.
Encryption technology: Military-grade tight protection
ExpressVPN’s encryption technology keeps your private information safe and secure. It uses 256-bit AES encryption, combining AES 256-bit cipher with 4096-bit RSA key, SHA-512 HMAC authentication algorithm to ensure user security. In plain language, user data is basically impossible to crack. The military, banks, and governments also use the same level of encryption to protect their own confidential information.
If you want to stay safe online, ExpressVPN is undoubtedly the best choice.
Security Protocols: Multiple Options for All Devices
ExpressVPN has a variety of security protocols to choose from, allowing you to set up VPNs according to different situations. A protocol is a set of rules that determine how a VPN encrypts information. On Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, you can toggle the rules on the Protocols tab. In Linux, you can use commands in the terminal.
Each protocol has its own characteristics:
- Lightway: Developed by ExpressVPN, it’s an exclusive deal that no other VPN has. It consumes less power and can switch smoothly between different networks, so it is especially suitable for use on mobile phones. The TCP option works especially well on unreliable networks and was also 10% faster than UDP in our tests.
- OpenVPN: Open source features make it one of the most secure protocols. People around the world continue to validate the code and make improvements. It also offers UDP and TCP options, and for me, the speed of both is almost the same.
- IKEv2: While IKEv2 is widely believed to be faster than OpenVPN, in my tests it was only 1% faster. I would choose IKEv2 only if other protocols are not available because it is not secure enough. It doesn’t offer TCP options, so it might be blocked by some firewalls.
- L2TP/IPsec: One of the oldest protocols, and therefore the least secure. It was the fastest in testing, though. Use this protocol when you need speed more than security.
| Windows | Mac | Android | iOS | Linux | Router |
Lightway | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
OpenVPN | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
L2TP/IPsec | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
IKEv2 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Device Compatibility: Supports multiple devices
Compatible with all major operating systems and devices, ExpressVPN offers native apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux devices, as well as running on a wide variety of routers.
The ExpressVPN app is simple to use and supports multiple devices. Apps function roughly the same on all devices and operating systems. The only exception is the Linux app, which has no graphical interface and I can only interact with it using text. Even so, it’s relatively easy to switch servers and use various features from the command line.
While most of the apps are similar, there are subtle differences in functionality.
| Windows | Mac | Android | iOS | Linux | Router |
GUI | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Safety switch | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
IKEv2 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Lightway | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Tunnel split | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Registration and installation: quick and easy on any device
Signing up and installing ExpressVPN took me less than 4 minutes. Specific steps are as follows:
Quick Guide: Install ExpressVPN in 3 Easy Steps
- Choose a package. Open the ExpressVPN website and start registering. Choose a plan and enter your information.
Install the application. Log in on the website to qualify for the money-back guarantee. Then download the app to your usual device and enter the activation code. - Start browsing the web safely! One-click connection to the server, you can start surfing the Internet and get effective protection!
- The above steps apply to Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. With Linux, you need to use the command line, but the download speed is as fast as other versions. ExpressVPN also lists a detailed setup guide on its website.
ExpressVPN is one of the easiest VPNs to download and install. Before you purchase the package, check the ExpressVPN Coupon Codes list.
Ultimate Verdict: Ultra-reliable, fast, extremely secure, and great value for money
ExpressVPN is the fastest and most reliable VPN I’ve ever used. Some of its distant servers even boosted my internet speed.
When it comes to security, ExpressVPN is hard to beat. Powered by military-grade encrypted, private DNS servers, it passed all of my leak tests without a hitch. Plus, it has a strict no-logs policy and is based in the privacy-conscious British Virgin Islands. All of these security measures give me the confidence to hand over my data to it.
The only small downside – ExpressVPN doesn’t offer an ad blocker like some top VPNs. But since there are already several free and easy-to-use blockers on the market, this is not a big problem.
All in all, I would recommend ExpressVPN to anyone who needs a VPN. It’s definitely value for money.