We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
Advertising Disclosure

vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN vs PureVPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.9/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 9.6/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 8.0/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Editor's Note: Transparency and impartiality are important to us when bringing you our best selection of VPNs. Some of the industry-leading products on our list, including Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company. The VPNs we choose are derived from a thorough testing process.

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Former Managing Editor

    Trying to choose between ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and PureVPN? When comparing three top VPNs like these, it can be hard to find the subtle differences to help decide which is the best VPN for you.

    We put all three VPNs through speed and security tests and ranked them based on their reliability and features. All three offer large server networks, good unblocking abilities, streaming and torrenting support, and a lengthy money-back guarantee.

    However, we also found some important differences. Namely, ExpressVPN offers servers in far more countries worldwide. PureVPN has some of the most generous policies regarding simultaneous device connections. NordVPN and ExpressVPN both offer unique, proprietary VPN protocols optimized for increased speed and security.

    PureVPN has lots of commendable features, but its slow speeds and less advanced apps let it down. NordVPN and ExperssVPN are some of the fastest VPNs we tested and have some of the most highly customizable and intuitive apps.

    Our Score

    Features 9.9/10
    Pricing 9.4/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 9.6/10
    Pricing 9.1/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 9.5/10
    Features 8.0/10
    Pricing 8.0/10
    Ease of Use 9.0/10
    Reliability & Support 8.5/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image James Everard
    James Everard

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 9.9/10

    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...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    D
    Dijana
    10.0/10
    Amazing quality

    ExpressVPN is fantastic! It offers blazing fast speeds, strong security features, and a user-friendly ... interface. Perfect for streaming, browsing, and protecting your online privacy. Highly recommended!More

    Latest negative user review
    C
    Charli
    6.0/10
    Ok, but expensive

    Seems ok, but I wouldn't say it's worth $20AUD a month. That's steep if you live in a backwater like A... ustralia, where the currency is not valuable. Easy enough to set up - you don't need to be Einstein - but unless you're a tech nerd who can take a look under the bonnet, you'll just have to trust what they say about their product. It frequently drops out without the slightest warning, often when it's the only thing online at the time - despite fast and flawless fiber internet, rendering expression entirely useless UNLESS you have it sitting on your desktop where you can keep an eagle eye on it to actually see it when it drops out so you can kick it back into service again (it doesn't do it by itself), which seems to defeat its purpose, so I'm taking away 2 stars for that. Support is good and they do get back to you as fast as they can.More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Former Senior Writer

    Our Score: 9.6/10

    On the surface, NordVPN looks like a really impressive service. It claims to have a huge global server network, a speedy and reliable connection, and iron-clad security and privacy features. Plus, you can get it all for just $2.99/month. That all sounds great, but is there a catch? To find out, we did an in-depth analysis of NordVPN. The team and I tested its speeds and how well it performs whe...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    2
    210493Lu
    10.0/10
    The Best of The Best

    I simply tested all VPNs looking for cutting-edge online security, I tested the most expensive and the...  most talked about virtual anonymity, none made me as happy as NordVPN, it stands out for several reasons that the much more expensive ones it doesn't have, its double encryption, dedicated IPs, onion VPN, makes NordVPN unique, with almost 6,000 servers around the world and 12 million customers like me, you can see that NordVPN is not playing games with its customers and their online security , it always innovates to keep you more secure day after day, for a fair price in the long term and without sacrificing the speed of your connection, recently Nord is developing a new VPN protocol, Nordlynx a version still under construction derived from the Wireguard protocol, if you want to have a VPN of last security that think how it will make you more secure in the next month NordVPN is the right choice, I am completely thankful for being a customer and for finding what to me is the perfect VPN.More

    Latest negative user review
    S
    SAM
    2.0/10
    BUYER BEWARE!

    BUYER BEWARE! If you purchase NordVPN, it will throttle your interned speed/connectivity by 50%, like ... it did to mine. I pay $100/month to get speeds of nearly 600mbs. With NordVPN turned on, my speeds decrease to 250mbs. Nord’s “customer support” is useless and unprofessional, and, after nearly 3 weeks of endless “try this, try that”, they were unable to resolve the issue and blamed it on everything under the sun except their product, when it is OBVIOUS that, since I have zero speed issues with Nord turned off, and ONLY experience the issues with Nord turned on, it is NordVPN that is causing the issue. When I asked them for a refund of my one year subscription paid in advance and in good faith, they refused, and have now decided to ignore me. So, YOU’VE BEEN WARNED. Their VPN will devastate your internet speeds, their “support” is ridiculous, they are in denial, and they will not refund your money, even if their product is a failure…More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Lawrence Wachira
    Lawrence Wachira

    Editor

    Our Score: 8.0/10

    PureVPN (which recently purchased Ivacy) is a highly rated and affordable VPN, but it has had its share of controversies. A previous incident involving the FBI severely impacted its reputation. So, has it done enough to rebuild trust since then? To find out, my team and I investigated its privacy policy and everything else it offers. We tested its speeds, streaming performance, security featur...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    R
    Rich
    10.0/10
    An excellent value, all things considered

    While they will absolutely throttle p2p in most servers, it's easy to find and log into the p2p server... s. They responded promptly when I had questions (although once it was basically to say "sorry, tough luck"). Overall though, I think I paid something like $20 for a year's subscription - I really can't complain. I'm sold on the service, although I think the fact that it's based out of HK is a bit spooky. 9/10More

    Latest negative user review
    J
    John
    2.0/10
    Not Private! They cooperate with FBI! Application will NOT CLOSE (only minimizes)

    PureVPN COOPERATES WITH FBI INVESTIGATIONS! You can verify this with any search! PureVPN REQUIRES ... USERS TO PROVIDE REAL NAME TO USE THE SERVICE! VPN Does NOT Support Close Application, Against Windows Standards! Close Actually Minimizes and it Keeps Running. Company refuses to change this back (used to operate correctly) A clear violation of your rights as owner of your PC.More

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $4.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 8 devices
    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    Starting price $2.14/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 31 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    ExpressVPN is best overall because of its superior unblocking capabilities and widespread global server network, which gives you access to the biggest range of streaming content from around the world. Its security and privacy are also up there with NordVPN, although it has slightly more user-friendly apps.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    This was a close battle between NordVPN and ExpressVPN; however, ExpressVPN is the victor in the end. Both are extremely fast VPNs, which is important for torrenting, and are based outside of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. One advantage of ExpressVPN is that all its servers support P2P, while some of NordVPN’s servers don’t. Plus, with more server locations, you’re more likely to find one near you for faster downloads.

    Best VPN for Windows

    NordVPN is the winner as it offers one of the best VPN apps for Windows with support for the NordLynx protocol and highly customizable interface and security settings. I particularly like its visual map interface which gives you a great idea of where servers are located. ExpressVPN’s app is equally secure and user-friendly but not as customizable and lacks the map interface.

    Best VPN for Android

    ExpressVPN wins this round thanks to its clean and minimal app with its one-tap connect button that’s perfect for mobile screens. It also comes with robust security features, like automatic Wi-Fi protection, customizable website shortcuts, and in-app troubleshooting. Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer apps for a wide range of Android devices, including Kindle Fire and Android TV.

    Best VPN for Mac

    NordVPN’s macOS app just about comes out on top thanks to its intuitive, map interface. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN’s macOS apps also support their respective proprietary protocols, NordLynx and Lightway. Both are also equally as feature-rich and user-friendly as the Windows apps. While there’s nothing wrong with PureVPN’s macOS app, it lacks some advanced features and settings that the other VPNs have.

    Best VPN for iOS

    Like its Android app, ExpressVPN for iOS is simply one of the most user-friendly VPNs you’ll find anywhere, so it's this category's winner. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN have extremely high app store reviews, which means most users are very happy with their experience, with PureVPN close behind. All offer essential security features, like 256-bit encryption and a kill switch, although none offer split tunneling. ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer some additional protection from trackers in the form of their Threat Manager and Threat Protection features, respectively.

    Best VPN for USA

    Between these three VPNs, ExpressVPN is the clear winner for users in the US. It has the most server locations across the US, as well as globally. All ExpressVPN servers also support all its VPN protocols and P2P. This means that no matter whether you are in the US trying to connect to a server in another country or in another country trying to connect to a server in the US, ExpressVPN gives you the best chance of finding the fastest server.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    While PureVPN has many features that are worth paying attention to, it just can’t quite catch up yet to market leaders, like NordVPN and ExpressVPN. It has a surprisingly vast server network, robust security, and generous device limits. However, NordVPN and ExpressVPN are in a class of their own, with cutting-edge VPN protocols and advanced security features, like tracker blocking. In this particular battle, however, ExpressVPN comes out on top thanks to having the widest server network and the most user-friendly apps suitable even for beginners.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with ExpressVPN
    Go with NordVPN
    Go with PureVPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is ExpressVPN better than NordVPN and PureVPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is better overall than NordVPN and PureVPN. It has 3000 servers in 105 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $4.99 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between ExpressVPN, NordVPN and PureVPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then ExpressVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests.

    Is ExpressVPN faster than NordVPN and PureVPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is faster than NordVPN and PureVPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free.. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do ExpressVPN, NordVPN or PureVPN offer any deals?

    ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and PureVPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 82% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Kristina Perunicic is a former editor for vpnMentor. She’s a cybersecurity expert with an interest in VPNs and their importance in the digital privacy landscape.