June Wan/ZDNET
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- ExpressVPN now has a twenty-eight-month VPN-only subscription for $98 ($3.49 per month).
- The servers are optimized for global geo-restrictions and fast bandwidth connections without giving up safety.
- Slight connection delays are noticeable when switching servers, and the VPN is still relatively overpriced.
ExpressVPN is one of the best virtual private networks (VPNs) to ever exist. I’ve reviewed it three times in less than a year, and each time it’s inching closer to NordVPN, another terrific service. Now that the provider has revised prices, we can only hope that critics are silenced.
Also: The best VPN services: Expert tested and reviewed
Based on my latest findings, ExpressVPN remains reliable for unblocking streaming services worldwide. I also recommend it as a gaming VPN for PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The speeds are astronomical, and it’s fairly easy to set up. But there’s more to this VPN that generates buzz, and not all of it is positive.
Why ExpressVPN’s security is ahead
Best-in-class data transfer and encryption
The VPN’s Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) cryptography also has perfect forward secrecy (PFS). After transforming your traffic into incoherent numbers and characters, the VPN also secures the data with safe keys. These keep changing every fifteen minutes or so, just in case one of the private session keys is compromised.
This strong encryption ensures that internet service providers, administrators of the Wi-Fi networks you often use, and cybercriminals won’t be able to see your private communications and web searches.
Protection from IP and DNS leaks
The whole point of using a secure VPN is to stay anonymous online. Once connected to any ExpressVPN server, the app automatically protects your private information including IPv6 address, domain name service (DNS), and WebRTC requests on browsers. You should also turn on the kill switch setting, Network Lock, to ensure your internet protocol (IP) address is well protected if a VPN connection is lost.
Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET
Secure and efficient VPN tunnels
From time to time, I’ve tested ExpressVPN’s in-house Lightway protocol and compared it to the WireGuard VPN tunnel found on most apps today. Lightway always wins in speed, even though both provide strong data integrity.
A protocol refers to a set of instructions the VPN follows while tunneling your traffic. A well-optimized protocol works like a well-oiled car engine — you’re less likely to experience slow speeds while using the VPN.
Besides Lightway, there are also OpenVPN (TCP and UDP) and IKEv2/IPSec protocols. In my protocol-testing, ExpressVPN had a slight edge over NordVPN on iOS and macOS platforms since I had access to the IKEv2 protocol. It offered much better connections and seamless network switching on iPhone and iPad.
Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET
Advanced Prtotection
This set of safety tools found in the app’s settings helps filter risky web content. They can block malware links and trackers embedded on apps and websites from communicating with your device and collecting data. There are also parental controls to stop explicit content and an ad-blocker called Threat Manager.
Safe password storage
Bundled together with your subscription is an end-to-end encrypted password manager service called ExpressVPN Keys. It stores or generates secure passwords, allowing you to sync and access your online accounts in a few clicks. You can also use the vault to secure sensitive information like bank card details and personal notes.
Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET
Split tunneling to easily manage apps
With the split tunneling feature, you can select certain apps or websites to route through the VPN while leaving out others. It gives you some control over connections, and I got better speeds on apps tunneling outside of the VPN as a result. However, split tunneling isn’t offered on iOS or macOS 11 and higher versions. So far, there’s no signs it’ll be available any time soon.
Privacy that you can trust
The VPN provides strong privacy right from the server level. All the servers use private DNS, a great addition that can stop internet providers from monitoring your online activities. Also, the VPN’s TrustedServer technology ensures encrypted data is only saved to volatile and temporary RAM storage that gets wiped clean during server reboots.
Shuffle IP is another clever system used by ExpressVPN to increase confidentiality. It kept changing my IP address every time I opened a different website, limiting any chances that third-party websites could find my real IP address.
Moreover, I did some digging through the VPN’s privacy policy document and found it to be more reassuring than most providers I’ve reviewed including NordVPN and CyberGhost. The app doesn’t log user searches, IP addresses, location, or connection timestamps. Neither did I find contentious clauses that the service may, for example, share users’ data with marketing or partner companies in some instances.
ExpressVPN, being based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), is also positive news. The territory doesn’t require companies to collect and retain users’ information. It’s also outside of the 14 Eyes Alliance countries that cooperate for surveillance purposes.
An extensive server network to connect anywhere
ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries and 160 cities worldwide. This is a fairly good number of server locations, giving you secure IP addresses wherever you might want to access content. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t disclose the total number of servers available as it once did.
The servers are well distributed on all continents. Some are virtual servers, meaning they provide you with an IP address for the country you want to connect to, but the server infrastructure is in a different nearby location. This isn’t a concern because the servers work fine and can, even still, provide better connections. You can also pay a little extra for a dedicated IP address that is exclusive to you.
ExpressVPN’s Smart Location feature automatically recommends the fastest server for your location. The Mac app also has a speed test tool to help you gauge speeds and latency on any server before connecting, so you can pick the right server in any location.
Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET
Awesome connectivity and performance across the board
Speed
The VPN easily beat most services we tested to get on the fastest VPNs shortlist, coming second only to NordVPN. Both of these providers use exclusive and proprietary protocols you won’t find elsewhere. But ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol was faster than NordVPN’s NordLynx on some distant server locations like Hong Kong, Japan, India, and Australia.
I experienced minimal speed drops with the ExpressVPN app, recording up to 97% speed retention on servers in my location. This is impressive, given that using a VPN often impacts internet speeds due to the service encrypting and tunneling your connections. This means you can secure several devices with ExpressVPN and browse or stream simultaneously in high definition without buffering.
Below is a summary of my connections with ExpressVPN when I connected to servers in different regions from South Africa. I chose the locations randomly, mainly from regions with expected high user traffic.
VPN server locationServer location distanceDownload speedsPing/latencyUpload speedsWithout VPN0126Mbps11ms79MbpsSouth Africa0122Mbps
(3% drop)14ms77
(2% drop)Ghana3,088 miles118Mbps
(6% drop)21ms75
(4% drop)US (New York)7,967 miles105Mbps
(%16 drop)177ms69
(13% drop)US (Miami)8,042 miles111Mbps
(12% drop)144ms71
(10% drop)Canada (Toronto)8,275 miles117Mbps
(7% drop)125ms72
(9% drop)Bahamas7,859 miles104Mbps
(18% drop)189ms69
(13% drop)UK (East London)5,607 miles117Mbps
(7% drop)122ms73
(8% drop)France (Paris)5,395 miles112Mbps
(11% drop)157ms72
(9% drop)Switzerland5,186 miles110Mbps
(13% drop)171ms73
(8% drop)India (via Singapore)4,969 miles102Mbps
(19% drop)201ms67
(15% drop)Australia (Woolloomooloo)6,723 miles99Mbps
(21% drop)246ms67
(15% drop)Japan (Osaka)8,393 miles93Mbps
(26% drop)271ms65
(18% drop)
While you can expect speed losses, like with any VPN, they are, in most cases, within tolerable limits. In fact, I couldn’t distinguish when I was or wasn’t using ExpressVPN because the speeds were fast on most servers. I did, however, experience significant connection delays when switching servers. Sometimes, I waited nearly 10 seconds to connect to a selected server.
Streaming
To date, ExpressVPN is still my go-to VPN for geo-restrictions. I’ve always had smooth experiences with accessing sites like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO, and ESPN. The fast speeds also mean you can stream in the best picture quality.
ExpressVPN obfuscates traffic on all its servers, so most platforms can’t detect that you’re using a VPN in the first place. The provider regularly replaces the shared IP addresses with new ones, which is another reason behind the success with geo-streaming.
Gaming
The app is more reliable for gaming on PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles than even CyberGhost, which offers dedicated gaming servers. You can use it for cloud gaming on Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. I managed to find servers with ping below 150ms, the acceptable maximum latency recommended for most high-profile games, quite fast.
Still, you need to be selective when picking servers for gaming. Servers closest to you or your gaming host will always provide optimal connections without lag. As you move further, the ping or latency increases significantly, making fast-action gameplay impossible.
Torrenting
Unlike NordVPN, which only allows torrenting on specific P2P (peer-to-peer) servers, ExpressVPN supports torrenting on all servers. You can securely transfer and download large files with ease, especially since the VPN doesn’t limit bandwidth usage. ExpressVPN hides your torrenting traffic and activities when using torrent clients like uTorrent, Vuze, and qBittorrent.
ExpressVPN’s new tier prices: Are they any good?
With the one-month, one-year, or two-year plans, users can now choose Basic, Advanced, and Pro tiers starting as low as $3.49 a month. I noticed that the Basic subscription, the most affordable, doesn’t come with a password manager. Still, we should celebrate that the new plans offer more connections — 10-14 as opposed to just eight previously.
Below is a breakdown of what the different tiers offer;
Basic
Advanced
Pro
Price
$3.49 for 28 months, $5 for 15 months, and $13 for one month
$4.49 for 28 months, $6 for 15 months, and $14 for one month
$7.49 for 28 months, $9 for 15 months, and $20 for one month
Simultaneous connections
10
12
14
Password manager
No
Yes
Yes
Advanced protection
Lite (without tracking and adult site blocker)
Yes (includes blockers for ads, malicious sites, trackers, and adult sites)
Yes (includes blockers for ads, malicious sites, trackers, and adult sites)
Identity monitoring
No
Yes
Yes
Credit monitoring
No
Yes
Yes
Dedicated IP
No
No
Yes
Data removal
No
No
Yes
Aircove router discount
No
Up to 50%
Up to 75%
eSIM data
No
Up to 3 days unlimited
Up to 5 days unlimited
While these price changes are commendable, ExpressVPN isn’t quite there yet. If you pay for Basic, you’re forfeiting some of the features, and the Pro plan is very expensive. You can get cheaper VPN services that are almost as reliable as ExpressVPN. Surfshark, for example, has rates as low as $2 per month with extra add-ons like antivirus included. You can also connect unlimited devices.
ExpressVPN has a seven-day free trial, but only for Android and iOS if you download from the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store, respectively. All of the plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test the service risk-free. The payment options are bank cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, and more.
User experience and compatible devices
It’s pretty straightforward installing and using ExpressVPN even if it’s your first time with VPNs. You can easily download a native app on most devices and connect in a few clicks. I also like how simple it is to sign in to the app without passwords, using an activation code or link sent to your email. If you come across efficient servers that you want to use again later, you can save them as favorites for easy access.
Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET
ExpressVPN works on these devices:
- Mobile: iOS and Android
- PCs: MacOS, Windows, and Linux
- Smart TVs: Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, and Samsung TV
- Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, and Edge
- Consoles: PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch
- Routers
If you have a device that doesn’t support direct VPN installation, like a Samsung TV or a gaming console, you can use MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN’s smart DNS feature. This allows you to access geo-restricted content, but your data won’t be encrypted. The VPN also supports Android APK installation if you have any issues with direct installation. ExpressVPN is easier to install on routers than most services since it offers a native router app, alongside Aircove brand routers with a built-in VPN.
Round-the-clock support is available to all subscribed ExpressVPN users. You can contact the staff for assistance 24/7 via live chat or email.
ZDNET’s buying advice
ExpressVPN stands for value, and that’s why it’s gotten a reputation for being pricey. It’s a very reliable app, and the team works nonstop to ensure it surpasses users’ expectations. The VPN is already a top trend-setter in the cybersecurity space, so you can be confident it meets the latest best security standards. Bottom line, I also appreciate the app’s simplicity, and I’d highly recommend it if you can afford it.
Does ExpressVPN work in China?
ExpressVPN may or may not work in China. A censorship system called The Great China Firewall blocks most foreign websites and traffic encryption apps. It’s still worth trying the VPN if you’re keen on securing your devices while traveling to China. Make sure to download and install the app before arriving in China to avoid inconveniences.
If all that you want is to access content in the People’s Republic of China from abroad, then ExpressVPN might help. It has servers in Hong Kong to spoof your current location, making it possible to access local services in China as if you’re in the country.
Which is the best free alternative to ExpressVPN?
Proton VPN offers a free app if you don’t want to pay for a VPN. You can use the service all year round without any bandwidth limit restrictions, although some useful features are locked behind a paywall. For example, you can only connect to servers in five countries and a maximum of one device per account. Proton VPN is only one among several safe and free VPN services you can try.
If you want a VPN like ExpressVPN only for temporary use, you can take advantage of the service’s 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to use all premium features for a month and then get a full refund.
Can I use ExpressVPN on Roku?
Yes, ExpressVPN can be used on a Roku device. There isn’t a native Roku app to download because the device doesn’t support direct VPN setup. One workaround is to install the VPN on a router and then connect your Roku TV to the network. This encrypts your connections and allows you to access content, like with a VPN.
Also, you can configure your Roku device with ExpressVPN’s smart DNS features, MediaStreamer. This option could let you watch geo-blocked content anywhere, but it doesn’t secure your connections from hacks or hide your online activities from third parties.
Why is ExpressVPN not working on my device?
If ExpressVPN isn’t working as it should, for example you can’t connect, try some things to troubleshoot the app. Confirm first that the problem isn’t your internet. Also, check if there are any pending updates and if there are, download and install them. Next, choose a different server or location, as sometimes individual servers might be down or experiencing issues.
Check that your antivirus isn’t blocking ExpressVPN. If so, add it to the allowlist. If problems persist, try uninstalling and reinstalling the VPN if you’re still having challenges. Uninstall any other VPNs running or installed on your device.
If all else fails, contact customer support for assistance.
