ExpressVPN Review 2024: Fast & Secure, But Is It Worth It?

ExpressVPN is one of the most popular and trusted names in the industry. It’s known for being one of the safest, fastest VPNs around, so I wanted to see if it can live up to these claims. It’s not the cheapest VPN, but it often offers discounts that make it a better value for the money. Other decent VPNs offer similar features for less in the long term. So, do you really need to pay that much for a VPN as good as ExpressVPN?

To find the answer, we performed extensive tests on desktop and mobile devices running Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. We tested its speeds while gaming, streaming, and torrenting. I also explored its security features, device compatibility, and its own Lightway protocol. To see if it's still trustworthy, I dove into its privacy policy, independent audits, and company history.

My conclusion: ExpressVPN is tough to beat in almost every way. It’s definitely worth the price. It is one of the fastest VPNs I've ever tested, is incredibly easy to use, and has powerful security features. Plus, it's one of the best VPNs for streaming securely, and it has the best VPN router app I’ve tried. There's a money-back guarantee, too, so you can test out all of ExpressVPN’s features risk-free. You have 30 days to get a refund if it’s not for you.

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ExpressVPN Pros, Cons, and Needed Improvements

ExpressVPN works great with streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. While testing, we focused on its speed, stability, and compatibility with popular streaming platforms. ExpressVPN constantly updates its servers, so we rarely encountered any issues, and could safely stream our favorite shows. You’ll have no problem streaming in HD or UHD from anywhere.

It was particularly notable that ExpressVPN worked with every platform we tried without having to switch servers or alter any settings. All 3,000 servers are optimized for streaming, so we simply hit connect and started streaming.

It’s possible to securely access the following platforms from anywhere with ExpressVPN:

Works With: 20+ Netflix Libraries, Including US, UK, and Japan

We could watch Netflix securely and stream without interruptions. Even when binge-watching our favorite shows for hours, we didn’t experience any delays or buffering. Its UK servers worked seamlessly with Netflix UK during our tests.

There were no dips in quality throughout the entire episode

It didn’t have trouble working, even with less popular Netflix libraries. Our tests show that ExpressVPN can safely access the following Netflix libraries without added delays:

Works With: Disney+

We could watch shows like Welcome to Wrexham on Disney+ with no buffering. Episodes loaded almost instantly, and the quality never dropped during our streams. Overall, it worked with several Disney+ libraries, including the US, Australia, Canada, Italy, and the UK.

We were pleased to discover that all servers we tried worked equally well with Disney+

Works With: Prime Video

Once again, we could switch platforms without changing servers or settings. Prime Video UK and US streamed without problems in all our tests, and we could safely watch in HD. We had no problems watching our favorite shows on Prime Video Canada, Germany, and Australia either, despite them using the platform’s standalone primevideo domain.

Videos loaded in the best quality right away with no pixelation

Works With: BBC iPlayer

ExpressVPN worked with BBC iPlayer at the first attempt, but given the popularity of the platform, we tested servers in all of ExpressVPN’s 5 UK locations. They all worked with iPlayer without hesitation, and we binge-watched coverage of Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

We were able to watch BBC iPlayer with superb video quality too

Works With: Hulu

ExpressVPN worked flawlessly with Hulu. We could watch shows and movies on the platform in HD with super short load times while connected to ExpressVPN’s US servers.

We watched the whole of Wonka with no lag or quality drops

Many VPNs have a tough time securely accessing Hulu due to its powerful VPN detection technology. So, it’s impressive that ExpressVPN does so with uninterrupted streams.

Also Works With: Max, Peacock, Crunchyroll, ESPN+, DAZN, RTL, Kodi, and more

ExpressVPN worked with every other platform we tried, including Max, Peacock, Crunchyroll, ESPN+, and many more. We were even able to stream the public-domain movie Night of the Living Dead on Kodi. For more information, check out our guide on how to stream Kodi safely.

Overall, ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN for streaming. It also works with dozens of popular social media sites and apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Google (and Google services like Gmail), Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Tinder, and more.

In fact, we usually carry a “Doesn’t work with…” section; but there was no need for it here.

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ExpressVPN provides the fastest speeds of any VPN we’ve tested. We have a dedicated VPN speed tester who regularly tests ExpressVPN and all the other top vendors from the same location in the US. This helps us create fair comparisons since all the tests in the table below were done with the same connection. The ExpressVPN results were recorded with the Lightway UDP protocol since it gave us the best speeds.

See how ExpressVPN compares to other fast VPNs

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• • CyberGhost VPN
  • Private Internet Access
  • NordVPN
  • Surfshark
  • IPVanish VPN
  • PrivateVPN
  • Proton VPN
  • Hotspot Shield
  • hide.me VPN
  • TunnelBear VPN

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182.72 Mbps

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These tests are conducted from the USA

*N/A indicates that we do not currently have speed test data for this location

ExpressVPN is incredibly fast. In other words, speeds rarely drop by more than 40%, even on the farthest servers. To put that into perspective, it’s common for even the best VPNs to drop your speeds more. For example, a 20% drop on local servers and up to 60% at long distances are common results, even with fast VPNs.

ExpressVPN works great for online gaming, and it actually lowered our ping with the closest server from our gaming testing location. The server in the UK gave us 29ms of latency compared to the 32ms we had with no VPN connected.

Ping is the key metric for gaming, and you’ll want it below 85ms for online play. This is because it measures your actions in relation to the on-screen response. If you press a button and your character doesn’t react immediately, you won’t be able to stay competitive. Thankfully, ExpressVPN kept our ping below 85ms on all European servers.

Our character could run, jump, fly, and shoot with zero delays

We could enjoy games of all genres as it also worked well with fast-paced shooters. While playing Counter-Strike 2, we could quickly load up matches and play like normal. Even a tiny amount of lag is noticeable in these games, but we never detected any while using nearby servers.

It’ll become difficult to enjoy online games with distant servers, but that’s common. I’ve never found a VPN that worked well for gaming on far-off locations. Sending data across the world almost always increases your ping, even with the fastest VPN we’ve tested.

You may notice that we've used the same Midlands server for all of ExpressVPN’s UK-based testing. That’s not laziness on our part; it’s simply to illustrate that ExpressVPN’s entire server network is optimized for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and even obfuscation.

So, while it only has around 3,000 servers compared with Private Internet Access’s 29,650, it avoids overcrowding while maintaining fast speeds. Most of its servers are 10 Gbps servers, which means there is a lot of bandwidth (exactly 10 billion bits per second) to handle very high traffic from multiple users. Plus, you can almost always quickly connect to servers; it rarely took us longer than 2 seconds, which is much faster than most VPNs.

There are plenty of locations to choose from in many countries, with 5 in the UK, 24 in the US, and multiple cities in Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, and Canada, to name a few. City-level servers make it easier to optimize your speeds. That’s because they let you know which city a server is in, so it’s easier to find one nearby.

And with locations in 105 countries, you get coverage in some regions that few VPNs provide. These include Panama, Honduras, Lebanon, Kenya, Macau, Mongolia, Armenia, and Malta.

While the IP addresses are all owned by ExpressVPN, they do work with third-party data centers. Their job is to maintain the servers, but they have no access to the information on them. After contacting ExpressVPN, I was told their partners can see traffic coming in and out of the server. However, they don’t have the proper credentials to tie any online activity to individual users.

TrustedServer Technology

ExpressVPN boosts your security and privacy by running RAM-only (diskless) servers. They call this TrustedServer Technology. RAM is incapable of storing any data, so once it’s restarted, any data from your session is deleted. Everything, including the operating system, is loaded fresh with each reboot from a secure read-only image stored on the hard drive.

This improves security by getting each server on the latest code

Most VPNs store their information on hard drives. This is less secure because hard drives store data until it’s manually deleted. ExpressVPN’s servers are rebooted every 1–2 weeks. Since these servers won’t store your sensitive information, you’d be safe no matter how often they reboot. However, it’s good that they're continually restarted to ensure they’re updated.

ExpressVPN is even offering a bug bounty of $100,000 to anyone who can find flaws in its servers. This is one of the highest sums any company has offered on Bugcrowd (the website where it hosts its bug bounties). ExpressVPN doesn’t expect anyone to gain unauthorized access to its servers, or to find leaks. So, this shows me it’s very confident in the security of its servers.

Smart Location

Smart Location is convenient, but we were able to find faster servers ourselves. For example, Smart Location kept trying to connect our US-based speed tester to Dallas, but Houston was 2 to 3% faster.

Obfuscated Servers

All of ExpressVPN’s servers have automatic obfuscation. No specialty servers, settings, or obfuscating protocols — you just need the default Automatic protocol selection. The servers simply detect VPN blocks and give you an extra layer of encryption when you need it. It means that you may not even notice when you’re evading tough media blocks or website blocklists at work, college, or on public WiFi hotspots.

Virtual Servers

The government of India stipulates data-sharing laws that would negate the no-logs policy of a VPN. Therefore, ExpressVPN offers virtual servers for India. That means they can give you an Indian IP, but they aren’t physically located in the country (they’re in Singapore and the UK). These are ExpressVPN’s only virtual servers.

ExpressVPN’s range of security features and bank-level encryption will protect your data. I thoroughly tested its kill switch, split tunneling, and Tor compatibility. Plus, I compared its protocols and did a deep dive into its proprietary Lightway technology. The latter gives ExpressVPN the edge over its competitors in terms of efficiency and security.

Encryption — Bank-Level Protection

ExpressVPN’s encryption technology protects your private information. It keeps you safe with 256-bit AES encryption, which combines an AES 256-bit cipher with a 4096-bit RSA key and SHA-512 HMAC authentication. This is the same level of encryption used by militaries, banks, and governments. In simple terms, your data is virtually uncrackable.

The number of bits in a key determines the number of possible combinations. For instance, 1 bit leads to 2 combinations, while 8 bits result in 256 combinations. But with 256 bits, you get a huge 78-digit number worth of combinations, making it extremely difficult to decrypt even a small part of the data.

The Lightway protocol additionally supports ChaCha20. ExpressVPN will choose the best cipher for you automatically, but you can also switch between them yourself. This may come in handy when you’re experiencing slow connections. Some older devices might not be optimized for running with AES 256-bit, so it’s worth testing both ciphers for the best results.

ExpressVPN ensures high security for data transfers, such as P2P file sharing, through the use of SHA-512 HMAC authentication. It uses a shared secret key that allows both the sender and receiver to verify a file's authenticity. Any alteration in the secret key would indicate tampering, enabling prompt detection, so any breach would be quickly identified and dealt with.

ExpressVPN employs perfect forward secrecy as well. This feature alters your encryption key with each logon session, ensuring that even if one key is compromised, previous and future VPN sessions remain inaccessible as they use different keys.

Security Protocols — Superior Options for All Devices

Protocols are a set of rules a VPN uses to tell it how to encrypt your information. They can be switched in the protocols tab for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

You can use advanced options to change the encryption cipher

Here are the 2 main options:

• Lightway. This protocol was developed by ExpressVPN, and no other VPN offers it. It drains less battery and transitions between networks seamlessly, making it a good choice for phones. There’s a UDP and TCP option. UDP was faster during our speed tests, but TCP can be more reliable on unstable networks.
• OpenVPN. This is one of the most secure protocols. It’s open source, and people all over the world continuously examine the code to strengthen it. It also has UDP and TCP options.

The macOS app also has IKEv2, and you’ll have different options for protocols depending on your device. There’s also an automatic setting. This will choose the best protocol for you based on your setup and situation. Overall, I’d recommend Lightway UDP since it offers the best balance of speed and security.

Lightway

Lightway is ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol that’s super lightweight and quick (our speeds were around 14% faster than with OpenVPN). On mobile devices, it also changes networks quickly. Rather than terminating the VPN connection, it idles when the signal drops, allowing quick reconnection when switching between WiFi and mobile networks.

Plus, Lightway often establishes connections in less than a second. With only 2,000 lines of code, Lightway has one of the smallest VPN protocol code bases, making it easier to audit and resulting in lower battery usage.

It also offers advantages over WireGuard, the industry-standard protocol for speed. Firstly, Lightway supports obfuscation. With other VPNs, you’d have to switch to the slower OpenVPN in order to activate the security feature. Further, Lightway offers a TCP option, which WireGuard does not.

You now get post-quantum protection with Lightway as well. While most computers can’t crack standard encryption levels in any realistic timeframe, cybercriminals with quantum technology can do it in a few days. That’s why I’m happy ExpressVPN has updated its exclusive protocol with quantum protection, so you’ll be safe if these attacks become widespread in the future.

Leak Tests — Passed

ExpressVPN passed all of my leak tests on Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone apps. In my first set of tests, I used ipleak.net with 10 different servers.

Every protocol was tested and my location was never revealed

The image above shows that each of the tests only saw the VPN’s Canada IP address and DNS server I was connected to within the app. IPv4, IPv6, WebRTC, and DNS leaks are all different ways that your data can be accessed. Even if a VPN does a great job protecting you in every other way, leaks like these can still occur. That’s why it’s great that ExpressVPN has built-in leak protection to conceal your data from every method hackers use to access it.

In addition, the IP Shuffle feature enhances your privacy by dynamically changing the assigned IP address for each website or session. This approach makes it harder for trackers to link activities or profiles to you. ExpressVPN does this without disconnecting the VPN, so you stay protected the whole time.

Private DNS on All Servers

One of the reasons ExpressVPN passed my leak tests is because of its private DNS servers. You need to access a network called the Domain Name Server to move between websites. A Private DNS server cuts out this middleman, eliminating one more area where your information can be leaked.

There is an option to use your own DNS, but I recommend sticking with ExpressVPN’s own Private DNS servers as often as possible.

Kill Switch

ExpressVPN’s kill switch blocks your internet traffic if the VPN ever disconnects, so you’re always protected. This is an essential feature in any VPN, and ExpressVPN calls its version Network Lock.

On the mobile apps, it's called Network Protection in Settings

On Windows, Linux, and Mac, ExpressVPN's kill switch is enabled by default. You can also grant access to devices on the LAN. This is handy if you have a printer or other devices connected via WiFi.

Tor Compatibility

ExpressVPN can be utilized in conjunction with Tor (The Onion Router) through the Tor over VPN technique. Tor operates as a distinct browser that encrypts all data within its network. Originally built for anonymous browsing on the regular web, Tor can also be used to access the dark web.

While some illicit activities take place there, the dark web also serves as a vital platform for activists and whistleblowers worldwide to disseminate crucial information anonymously. However, it’s often associated with criminal activity, and since your ISP and government agencies can detect the use of the Tor browser, using a VPN is advisable.

Crypto Trading Compatibility

ExpressVPN’s bank-level security makes it a great choice for trading crypto. I logged into my Bitpanda account on Mac and sold some IOTA. I just had to respond to an “Authenticate this new browser” security email. On my iPhone, I logged into Blockchain and bought some Litecoin.

I spoke to ExpressVPN’s live chat about this matter, and they said some websites and apps block the use of proxies and VPNs, so it may depend on your preferred platform.

Advanced Protection

ExpressVPN goes the extra mile when it comes to security with its Advanced Protection features. Threat Manager stops websites and apps from communicating with third parties known to track your activity or engage in malicious behavior. It’s available on all ExpressVPN’s apps, and is on the Aircove router as well.

Additionally, ExpressVPN includes an ad blocker feature. Together, Threat Manager and Ad Blocker stopped an impressive 59% of ads and trackers in my tests. That’s impressive for a VPN blocker, but you can also use it in conjunction with another free ad blocker.

I tested ExpressVPN with an online ad blocker test tool

Finally, you can use Parental Controls to block adult sites, offering a safer browsing experience on family PCs and children’s devices.

Identity Defender

Identity Defender is a comprehensive set of tools that helps you take greater control of your personal information. This suite includes four powerful products: ID Alerts, ID Theft Insurance, Data Removal, and Credit Scanner.

Currently, the Identity Defender is available only for new US-based users on its iOS and Android apps. Support for more devices is coming soon. ExpressVPN is also working on rolling the feature out for more regions.

• ID Alerts. This feature is included for free with all ExpressVPN subscription plans. It monitors sensitive information like Social Security numbers and alerts you to potential identity risks, including unauthorized address changes or mail redirection.
• ID Theft Insurance. Available for free with 2-year subscription plans, this feature offers up to $1 million in coverage for identity theft-related damages. It includes support for recovering stolen accounts and addressing fraud-related expenses.
• Data Removal. Also included in the 2-year plan, this tool helps you identify and remove personal information from data brokers and people-search websites. You can opt out of these databases and monitor for future exposures.
• Credit Scanner. This is available for free with the 1-year and 2-year plans and tracks changes in your credit to detect signs of fraudulent activity. Additionally, the two-year plan offers a detailed monthly credit report with an overview of credit status, accounts, balances, and payments.

If you subscribed to the 1-month or 1-year plan, you can still get ID Theft Insurance and Data Removal, but you’ll need to pay an additional fee.

ExpressVPN has a zero-logs policy and is located outside of the 14 Eyes Alliance. In addition, the company’s privacy policy has been court-proven several times and has a reputation as one of the most trustworthy on the market. It's owned by Kape Technologies, which owns other VPNs such as CyberGhost and Private Internet Access.

Does ExpressVPN Keep Logs? No

ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy, so it will never store, share, or sell your personal data.

I appreciate how clear ExpressVPN's privacy policy is

ExpressVPN states it only collects:

• Information you used to sign up (billing details and email address)
• How many apps and app versions you’ve activated
• The day a connection was made (no specific time)
• The server location you connect to (but not the IP address assigned to you)
• The amount of data transferred in one day

I was impressed with how little information is stored; I can’t think of another VPN that collects less. This is the minimal amount of information needed to maintain the VPN and stay in contact with customers. It only reveals that you’ve used a VPN at some point, nothing more.

In addition to everything else, ExpressVPN's policy of not keeping logs was challenged in 2017. The Turkish government seized one of ExpressVPN's servers while investigating a serious crime. However, they discovered no information as no data had been stored, validating the authenticity of the no-logs policy.

Was ExpressVPN Audited? Yes

Independent audits done by several reputable security firms prove ExpressVPN is as secure as it claims. These reports never found any major issues and each minor vulnerability was quickly fixed. Of all the VPNs we’ve tested, ExpressVPN has the most frequent audits (currently 19) by the largest variety of firms.

Cure53 audited its Lightway protocol (2021), TrustedServer technology (2022), and the Chrome and Firefox extensions (2018). The browser extensions are open-source, so anyone can perform similar tests. Its latest audits were on the Linux and macOS apps in 2022.

PricewaterhouseCoopers is one of the industry's leading auditing firms. For an entire month, they reviewed ExpressVPN’s privacy policy and TrustedServer technology by examining code and interviewing team members (2019).

KPMG audits major companies in several industries, from insurance to governments. In 2022, it also audited the TrustedServer tech and ExpressVPN’s privacy policy.

F-secure tests the security of many of the world’s top banks. In 2022, it looked for any weaknesses in the Windows v.12 app and found none.

ExpressVPN also received ioXt Alliance certification for its Android app. The app was checked in 2021 for low-level security issues to ensure its design and how it can be trusted.

In March 2024, ExpressVPN hired Nettitude to conduct one of its highly accredited penetration tests for the Windows app after a tech writer reported leaks. The tests found a medium-level risk that the VPN quickly resolved. These tests also led ExpressVPN to publish a paper in the engrXiv Engineering Archive describing more thorough DNS leak testing methods.

You can read the results of any of these audits within ExpressVPN’s Trust Center, which is a section of its website dedicated to providing users with more information about the service. There, you’ll also find its biannual transparency reports, which detail any legal requests the provider has received in the previous 6 months. You’ll also be able to read more about its bug bounty program and the privacy initiatives it takes part in.

Based in the Privacy-Friendly British Virgin Islands

ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands, a country with no data retention laws. The country where a VPN company is incorporated is very important because it's required to follow the rules and regulations of its jurisdiction. Along with their strong privacy laws, it’s very difficult for prosecutors to acquire a warrant. They don’t have a mass surveillance program, and the BVI are also outside of the 14 Eyes Alliance (or SIGINT Seniors Europe). This is an agreement between countries to share data on their citizens.

Does ExpressVPN Work in China?

ExpressVPN is known as one of the few VPNs that work in China, and has a page on its website dedicated to the subject. Due to the Great Firewall of China, ExpressVPN and other services may not always be accessible, and they can experience some downtime. However, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out without financial risk.

It recommends selecting the Automatic protocol option and lists some servers that should work in China. These include US - Los Angeles 5 and UK - Wembley, but check the website for the up-to-date list. You also get servers in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau.

With ExpressVPN, you can usually chat to a live agent within 30 seconds

The ExpressVPN website is blocked in China, along with many other VPN sites. But, ExpressVPN maintains a mirror URL for use in China. Again, it’s best to contact customer service for the latest URL. Live chat also told me that the service works in other restrictive countries like Iran, the UAE, Turkey, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

The Chinese government has banned many VPNs, but there have been no publicly reported cases of them going after tourists for using them. My teammates and I don’t condone any illegal activities and advise you to read up on the local laws before deciding to use a VPN.

ExpressVPN allows P2P file sharing with unlimited bandwidth on every server, so it’s great for torrenting. Many VPNs restrict P2P to specialty servers, but with ExpressVPN, you’ll be able to use the best location near you for top speeds. It works with qBitTorrent, Transmission, Vuze, Deluge, uTorrent, and every other major P2P application.

To test ExpressVPN’s torrenting performance, I used Vuze to download the public domain movie Night of the Living Dead. Using my trusty UK - Midlands server, I was able to download at 8.3 MB/s, letting me complete the 1.76 GB download in under 4 minutes. It was just 1% slower than downloading the same file without the VPN.

ExpressVPN doesn’t offer a SOCKS5 proxy. It does offer port-forwarding, but only at router level, so it’s a little fiddly to set up. I’d recommend using the regular VPN since its leak protection and Network Lock kill switch will keep your file-sharing private at all times.

While torrenting is legal in most countries, downloading copyrighted files isn’t. We strongly urge you to only access torrents within the public domain to refrain from breaking any laws.