ExpressVPN review: fast, secure, but pricey VPN

ExpressVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) that Kape Technologies has owned since September 2021. Kape Technologies’s parent company is Unikmind Holdings, owned by Teddy Sagi. Also, ExpressVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands, which is not part of any surveillance alliances and has strict privacy laws.

ExpressVPN changes your IP address and encrypts your traffic by creating an encrypted tunnel, ensuring your information is hidden. This makes it almost impossible for someone, including your ISP, to eavesdrop on your online activity. While it seems like a robust VPN provider, it is necessary to investigate whether ExpressVPN performs well in all respects.

Here at VPNpro, we perform in-house tests to help you make a well-informed decision, so I tested ExpressVPN considering several factors. I tested the app's interface, server list, and its security. I also performed numerous speed tests and checked for DNS leaks. Lastly, I looked into ExpressVPN's pricing, customer support effectiveness, and device compatibility. Continue reading and learn more about what ExpressVPN offers in 2025.

VPNpro verdict

ExpressVPN is a solid VPN provider offering reliable services to enhance online privacy. It focuses heavily on privacy by undergoing independent audits and provides extra features to improve your security. ExpressVPN is also a fast VPN that offers stable servers, which work excellently for everyday browsing and streaming geo-restricted content. While ExpressVPN provides quality services, it is a bit pricey and only offers up to 8 simultaneous connections, fewer than other top VPNs on the market.

ExpressVPN pros and cons

• Fast speeds. ExpressVPN provides reliable speeds, guaranteeing a smooth browsing experience. Due to the fast in-house Lightway protocol, ExpressVPN’s average download speed is 455Mbps.
• Robust security measures. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which has strict privacy laws. It also uses the standard AES-256 encryption and has an independently audited no-logs policy, which ensures online privacy.
• Geo-restrictions bypassing. Due to servers in 105 countries, you will be able to access geo-restricted content on all popular streaming services from anywhere. ExpressVPN proved to work with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and other services.
• Additional features. ExpressVPN allows you to customize your VPN and add an extra layer of protection by using advanced security features. With ExpressVPN, you can use standard features such as kill switch and split tunneling, and enhance your security with parental controls or tracker blocking.
• Easy-to-navigate interface. While ExpressVPN provides premium services with additional features, it is suitable for both tech-savvy users and beginners. You will have no issues installing and navigating the app on various gadgets.

• High price. Although ExpressVPN is a premium VPN, the price is still a bit high compared to other top VPN providers. While the price depends on the duration of your subscription, the starting price of ExpressVPN is $4.99/month.
• Slow customer support response time. While ExpressVPN provides customer support via email and a 24/7 live chat, the response time is a bit slow. If you have any technical issues that need more attention, it might take longer to resolve.
• Limited simultaneous connections. ExpressVPN allows simultaneous connections on up to 8 devices. While it is a decent number, other reliable VPN providers offer unlimited connections for a cheaper price.
• No Multi-Hop servers. While Multi-Hop connections are not necessary for everyday browsing, having them would be beneficial, especially for the price of ExpressVPN. Having Multi-Hop servers would add an extra layer of privacy, especially in a country with internet restrictions.

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How much does ExpressVPN cost per year?

A 1-year ExpressVPN subscription costs $9.99/month (or $99.95/year), but the price might differ depending on promotions or special discounts. Apart from the annual plan, you can also choose from a monthly or a 2-year plan. Below you can find a breakdown of ExpressVPN’s plans and their prices:

• 1-month plan: $12.95/month
• 1-year plan: $6.67/month for the first year.
• 2-year plan: $4.99/month for the first two years.

To ensure you get up-to-date information, here at VPNpro, we constantly track and update ExpressVPN prices. After thorough monitoring, ExpressVPN seems way pricier than other top VPN providers, like Surfshark. Surfshark is an advanced and one of the best VPN providers for only $2.19/month, while ExpressVPN’s starting price is $4.99/month. Below, you can find a comparison of ExpressVPN and two other premium VPN’s pricing.

While ExpressVPN's cost per month for the 30-day plan is cheaper than other providers', long-term plans are pricier. In 2024, ExpressVPN introduced new features, so the prices increased slightly. Still, the most cost-effective option is the 2-year plan, as it offers a significant discount and often includes additional months for free. Besides, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to use the service risk-free with all its features. If you want to test it before committing, you can also get a 7-day free trial, available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

How extensive are ExpressVPN's server locations?

ExpressVPN offers 3000+ servers in 105 countries. The servers are located in different countries, including those in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. While it has a decent number of servers, other servers like NordVPN or Surfshark offer more servers at a cheaper price. However, ExpressVPN's server list is beneficial for several reasons, including bypassing geo-restrictions and faster speeds.

Many streaming services and other websites have geo-restrictions, meaning you can only access them in certain regions. ExpressVPN has servers all around the world, so you can easily change your location and access content from anywhere. It can also help improve your internet speed. By connecting to a server closer to you, you can reduce lag and avoid slow connections.

ExpressVPN uses 10Gbps servers, ensuring fast speeds, which is especially useful for streaming, as you should not experience buffering issues. For an additional fee, you can get a Dedicated IP, which provides you with an IP address that only you will use. Additionally, ExpressVPN does not have P2P-optimized servers, but all 3000+ of its servers in 105 countries support P2P traffic, so you should not have issues while torrenting.

How fast is ExpressVPN? Speed test results

In March 2025, ExpressVPN launched Lightway Turbo, which is available when using Lightway UDP or the Automatic protocol settings for faster upload and download speeds without any latency. Lightway Turbo routes the Lightway connection by routing it through several tunnels at once instead of just one. At the same time, ExpressVPN also launched Data Channel Offload for OpenVPN on Windows devices, which processes data packets more efficiently to boost speed.

During in-house testing, the average download speed of ExpressVPN was 455Mbps. While I did not notice any speed differences when streaming content or browsing online, the speed might vary depending on the server that you connect to. While connected to servers in Europe, such as France and the Netherlands, the speed stayed at 457-465Mbps. The speed decreased a bit while connected to the US server (420Mbps), as the server is further from my actual location.

ExpressVPN is a generally fast VPN compared to other top VPN providers like Surfshark and NordVPN. The average download speed of Surfshark is 466Mbps, while NordVPN’s average download speed is 438Mbps. Although Surfshark is still faster, ExpressVPN's speed is better compared to NordVPN.

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Is ExpressVPN good for streaming?

ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for streaming geo-restricted content as it unlocks all popular streaming services. With ExpressVPN, you will not miss out on your favorite content, no matter where you are, as it offers servers in 105 countries. Due to ExpressVPN’s 10Gbps servers and overall fast speeds, you will be able to reduce lag and bypass bandwidth throttling. This guarantees a fast streaming experience without slowdowns or buffering issues.

ExpressVPN also offers MediaStreamer, a DNS service designed to enhance your streaming experience. While the MediaStreamer does not provide protection, it is a great alternative for streaming if your device does not natively support VPN services.

To evaluate ExpressVPN’s streaming capabilities, I tested it by connecting to multiple servers across different locations and accessing a variety of popular streaming services. No additional setup was required to stream content with ExpressVPN. During this testing, I had no issues watching various regional libraries on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer without any limitations or errors. The streaming quality remained flawless on both mobile devices and computers. Due to the fast ExpressVPN speeds, I did not notice any lagging issues or slowdowns. With ExpressVPN, you can even stream geo-restricted sports content as it successfully bypasses blackout restrictions as well.

Is ExpressVPN good for torrenting?

While ExpressVPN does not have specialized P2P servers, it is still a safe and reliable VPN for torrenting. ExpressVPN fully supports P2P activity across all its servers, meaning that you will find a server for torrenting in all 105 countries. It also uses robust encryption and successfully hides your IP, meaning that no one, including your ISP, will be able to monitor your online activity. Enabling the Network Lock, which works as a kill switch and disables the internet in case your connection drops, will even add an extra layer of protection when torrenting.

Additionally, the provider is suitable for torrenting as it guarantees fast speeds. With 10Gbps servers and the fast in-house Lightway protocol, you should expect nothing less than high speed. Besides, ExpressVPN does not limit your data or bandwidth, and prevents your ISP from throttling your speed. During my in-house tests, a 5.7GB Ubuntu 24 client was downloaded in 4 minutes, reaching a download speed of 30Mbps at its peak.

Is ExpressVPN safe?

ExpressVPN is considered a secure VPN that focuses heavily on its users' privacy. It has a strict no-logs policy, which was independently audited by third-party firms, making ExpressVPN a reliable provider that can be trusted. According to ExpressVPN’s privacy policy, “We do not collect logs of your online activity while you are connected to our Services, including no logging of browsing history, traffic destination, data content, or DNS queries,”. This guarantees that your personal data is not collected, stored, or monitored when using ExpressVPN, leaving your online activity completely private.

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands and operates under its jurisdiction. The British Virgin Islands are not a part of the 5, 9, or 14-Eyes surveillance alliances, meaning that it is not required to collect or share any user information. Additionally, the BVI is a privacy-friendly location that has strict privacy laws, making ExpressVPN free from mandatory retention laws. The company’s privacy policy also explains that Express Technologies Ltd., which controls user data, is subject to the British Virgin Islands laws only. This means that, if requested, ExpressVPN is not required to provide any data, which guarantees legal safeguarding for its users.

Apart from user privacy, ExpressVPN uses advanced security measures to ensure total protection. In October 2023, ExpressVPN implemented post-quantum cryptography, which is designed to protect data from future quantum computers that could compromise traditional encryption. Not too long ago, ExpressVPN integrated ML-KEM into its Lightway protocol, which is the newest encryption standard. Additionally, the provider uses TrustedServer technology, meaning that ExpressVPN’s servers wipe all information every time they restart, leaving no data traces. There are also quite a few security features, such as the standard kill switch and split tunneling, but it also has more advanced features, such as ShuffleIP, which changes your IP address regularly for extra protection. Lastly, I performed in-house leak tests by visiting dnsleaktest.com, and I did not detect any DNS leaks.

Key takeaway: ExpressVPN is a secure VPN that guarantees privacy with its independently audited no-logs policy. Apart from basic security measures, ExpressVPN has implemented advanced technologies to deliver a highly secure and reliable VPN service.

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ExpressVPN app interface

ExpressVPN provides native apps for major operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. The desktop apps are straightforward, providing a minimal interface, so you will have no issues navigating them. If you are a Linux user, ExpressVPN provides GUI and CLI apps. Mobile apps are also easy to use with only minor differences, mainly through graphical elements and setting layouts. No matter which device you are using, you can connect to a server with a one-click button and find additional features in a separate section.

To evaluate ExpressVPN’s interface, I downloaded and installed the app on different devices. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, you will be able to navigate the app on different operating systems easily. Both Windows and macOS apps worked smoothly. I had no issues finding what I needed, as you can find different servers by pressing the three dots, and different settings by pressing the three lines. However, I noticed that it sometimes took a bit longer to connect to a server on macOS. The Linux GUI app is no different from Windows and macOS, yet the CLI app is more complex, so I would only recommend it for advanced users. While mobile apps are visually a bit different (generally only the settings interface is different), I had no issues connecting to different servers and finding additional features.

How to contact ExpressVPN customer support

In case you need help with your subscription or any technical issues, ExpressVPN provides customer support via email and live chat. You can also find answers to your questions in the provider’s knowledge base, which is limited but has detailed troubleshooting guides. Unfortunately, there is no phone support, which would be beneficial as it is usually the fastest way to solve any issues. Despite this, the live chat is a great alternative as it is available 24/7 and provides customer support in various languages, thanks to the auto-translate feature.

To test it out, I contacted ExpressVPN’s customer support myself. While I had to chat with an AI agent first, I was quickly transferred to a real person once I asked for it. The response time was around 4 minutes, which is not that great compared to Surfshark’s customer support. Despite that, the representative was respectful and friendly, making the experience enjoyable. The chat was also helpful, and the agent provided correct information, which is the most important thing when solving any issues.

Final thoughts: A top-tier VPN for security and speed

ExpressVPN is a solid VPN provider in 2025 that focuses highly on user privacy and implementing advanced security measures. It also provides fast speeds and reliable connections, meaning that you will be able to protect your identity online and access geo-restricted content. While it is a reliable VPN, ExpressVPN has some limitations, such as no MultiHop servers or an eight-device limit. Additionally, it is one of the most expensive VPNs on the market, and you can find other providers that offer more for a better price.

ExpressVPN for security ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5) – a secure VPN that focuses on users’ privacy

ExpressVPN uses robust encryption and has a strict no-logs policy, which ensures that your digital footprint will be secured, allowing you to browse the internet anonymously. Additionally, it has implemented robust security measures like TrustedServer technology, post-quantum protections, and ML-KEM, which guarantee total security on your connection.

ExpressVPN for streaming ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5) – successfully bypasses geo-restrictions on popular streaming services

ExpressVPN offers servers in 105 countries, which ensures access to geo-restricted content from anywhere in the world. Additionally, it is a fast VPN, allowing you to stream content without any lag or buffering issues. With ExpressVPN, you will be able to stream content on various platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.

ExpressVPN for torrenting ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5) – a private VPN that supports P2P traffic on all its servers

ExpressVPN allows you to torrent as it supports P2P across all its servers. Additionally, it proved to be a secure and reliable provider that uses robust encryption and does not keep any logs. With ExpressVPN, even your ISP will be unable to monitor your online activity, which is necessary for torrenting. However, it would be beneficial to implement specialized P2P servers designed specifically for torrenting.

ExpressVPN for overall value ⭐⭐⭐(3/5) – a solid yet expensive and limited VPN provider

While ExpressVPN provides fast speeds, focuses on security, offers stable connections, and bypasses geo-restrictions, it has some limits. ExpressVPN does not have many specialized servers, only allows 8 simultaneous connections, and offers free servers compared to other VPN providers. Additionally, ExpressVPN’s price is very high, and you can find other top VPN providers for a better price and overall value.

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FAQ

Is ExpressVPN free?

No, ExpressVPN is not free, but it offers a 7-day free trial. You can test it out completely free by taking the free trial from the Google Play or the Apple App Store. If you want to use it for longer but still save money, ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to use it for free for a whole month.

How much is ExpressVPN a month?

ExpressVPN has three different plan options for different monthly prices. You can get the monthly plan for $12.95/month, a 1-year plan for $6.67/month, and a 2-year plan for $4.99/month. The monthly plan is the most expensive one and offers fewer features than the long-term plans. Apart from more features, long-term plans offer better monthly pricing and often even additional months for free.

Where is ExpressVPN located?

ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands and operates under the country's jurisdiction. The British Virgin Islands have strict privacy laws and are not a part of any surveillance alliances. Due to these laws, ExpressVPN is not required to collect, store, or share any personal information of its users. Because of this, ExpressVPN is a secure VPN suitable for total anonymity online.

Does ExpressVPN keep logs?

No, ExpressVPN does not keep logs. ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy, meaning that they do not collect, monitor, or store any activity logs. The provider underwent independent audits, which verified the no-logs policy. Additionally, ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, a country with strict privacy laws. This ensures total user privacy when browsing online.

Can ExpressVPN be used in China?

Yes, ExpressVPN can be used in China. ExpressVPN provides a wide selection of servers in 105 countries, meaning that you will be able to find ones working in China. ExpressVPN guarantees security as it uses robust encryption and provides stable connections, which makes it an excellent choice for China. However, due to heavy internet restrictions in China, it is possible that some ExpressVPN servers might be blocked.