Monthly Pricing > $12.95/Month
# of Servers > 3000+ servers in 94 countries
Encryption > AES with 256
Jurisdiction > British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN offers a complete, easy to use and unique VPN service for those who are willing to pay a little extra for a well-designed app, high level of compatibility, top-notch security, excellent performance and great customer service.
Pros: Cons:In a world full of VPN providers, it’s not so easy to make the right choice. We tested ExpressVPN to see if it lives up to its reputation, built over a decade ago. Is it really as good as everyone says?
Is it really the fastest VPN provider on the market? Will you be able to enjoy all its features? We provide all of these answers in our ExpressVPN review.
What is ExpressVPN? How to install it?
ExpressVPN is a VPN provider based in the British Virgin Islands, which was founded in 2009.
With more than 10 years of experience, it is now the real reference in the market. Many of its users consider it to be the best VPN on the market in 2022, especially in terms of speed and security.
So we wanted to check all this and evaluated its application on many criteria. Below in our ExpressVPN review, you’ll discover its strengths and drawbacks, in full transparency. Does it deserve its leading position? That’s what we’re going to investigate right now.
Installation & Configuration
The easiest VPN client to use!
If you are looking for an easy to use and minimalist VPN application, look no further!
It does not have all the bells and whistles provided by other competitors but is efficient and has everything you need.
How to install ExpressVPN application?
The ExpressVPN application is compatible on a wide range of devices. Not only can it be installed on computers, tablets and mobiles, but also on routers, game consoles, Smart TV and Apple TV. All you have to do is download the file corresponding to your device from the provider’s website.
The installation is very intuitive on Mac computers, Windows PCs, iPhone, iPad or other Android mobiles and tablets and it takes only a few seconds (or minutes). In general, you won’t even need to refer to the installation guide as the various steps are so easy to follow.
And when it comes to configuring the software on less traditional devices such as televisions and connected boxes or Wi-Fi routers, it’s also easy.
Even the less computer-savvy will be able to install it in no time. But just in case, ExpressVPN provides full installation tutorials in video and text format in its help section. So in that respect, our review of ExpressVPN is excellent.
How to use the VPN?
The great strength of the ExpressVPN application is its uncluttered look.
Only the essential information and commands appear on the interface, which makes it very easy to use. In short, you just have to choose a country in its list of locations and then click on the activation button in the middle to establish the connection. ExpressVPN’s algorithm will select the most suitable server according to their load and your geographical location.
Then wait 2-5 seconds until everything turns green. Once it does, you’re connected and your IP is masked. From that moment on, you can start browsing completely anonymously.
Performances
NOT the Fastest VPN on the market
NordVPN is offers better speeds according to our latest tests but ExpressVPN does not shy away with its Lightway protocol.
Once the VPN was installed on our computer, we wanted to test its speed in order to have a really complete review of ExpressVPN. A good connection speed is extremely important for smooth daily browsing, but also for streaming, downloading and P2P torrent sharing.
First of all, it is very important to understand that any VPN will influence your speed, it is unavoidable. And for good reason, it adds an extra step between you and the site you want to visit since your traffic is redirected to a remote server. More steps means a longer journey, and therefore an increase in response time.
Also, the speed of ExpressVPN will depend greatly on your basic speed without VPN. There is no point in comparing the speed performance of a VPN if it is not done on the same basic connection. For the realization of our speed test and to make an opinion on ExpressVPN, our basic connection was the following:
Another essential information to understand our speed test, we were based in Dubai when the test was performed. Therefore, the speeds displayed for the connection in France and the US will vary considerably (upwards) if you are in France.
Here are the results we obtained for the US:
Without much surprise, we see a fairly large increase in ping or latency but the download and upload speeds remain really satisfactory. Our opinion on ExpressVPN and its connection speed is therefore very positive.
Since you may use your VPN to have a UK IP address, we also wanted to test the speed when connecting to a server in the United Kingdom. There, the geographical distance is even more important, and obviously, this is felt on the performance.
Here are the results of the speed test by repeating the operation with a connection to a server on the other side of the Atlantic ocean:
The response time increases even more, which is logical, and there is also a slight drop in download and upload speed. Nothing to worry about since playing a video in Ultra HD requires a speed of 25 Mb/s and 5Mb/s for a video in HD. So you won’t have any problem to watch videos hosted in the US.
Overall, ExpressVPN does very well in terms of speed and we can only recommend it. This is another positive point in our ExpressVPN review. Let’s move on to the second part: streaming.
Is it up to the task of unblocking international bookstores? Can you use ExpressVPN to virtually convert your Netflix USA subscription to Netflix UK or Japan?
Test of ExpressVPN for streaming
Let’s continue our review of ExpressVPN with its streaming skills. Whether you want to change countries on the Netflix platform or access foreign channels when you travel abroad, ExpressVPN delivers.
In fact, we didn’t encounter the slightest problem during our tests – foreign and domestic channels combined. The error message that may appear due to geo-blocking disappears once the connection to ExpressVPN is established and the page refreshed.
Apart from TV programs, we also looked at the situation with streaming services. Many users use these tools to unblock platforms not available in their geographical area. Let’s start with the most used SVoD platform: Netflix. It is important to know that lately, Netflix has developed a very powerful proxy detection system that makes it much more difficult for VPNs. This test was therefore highly anticipated.
The first test consisted in checking if we could access the UK library of Netflix (with a UK IP) from abroad with ExpressVPN. As you can see on the image below, everything worked perfectly and the video launched quickly and without any problem.
As you may know, the UK catalog of Netflix is quite different from the US one. So we also tried to find out if ExpressVPN was able to unblock Netflix US. Without prolonging the suspense any further, the result was positive on the first try. The library change is instantaneous. It is a certainty, the provider manages to bypass the blocking set up by Netflix. Another good point that will leave you with a very good opinion of ExpressVPN.
Good news, ExpressVPN also worked perfectly for Disney+, DAZN, OCS, Hulu and even Amazon Prime Video, which is excellent for VPN blocking.
Security
A VPN client packed with security features
This is the best part of NordVPN. NordVPN is one company that values the privacy of its users. Maybe, we can justify their price on this feature alone. Offering completely anonymous VPN services, NordVPN works from RAM on all of their servers; therefore, it is impossible to log or store any user’s browsing data. Also, due to their 2048 bit encryption tunnel over SSL, double VPN features and an option of utilizing Tor over VPN, users can expect high levels of data encryption.
A VPN is first and foremost about protecting yourself and preventing anyone else from capturing your confidential information.
For this, ExpressVPN will encrypt all your data on the internet using the latest 256-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithm. Also, its VPN server will assign you a new IP address as soon as you connect. In this ExpressVPN 2022 review, we’ve combed through the security as well as the privacy policy of the provider.
Security
In order for a VPN provider to protect you effectively, it must first and foremost properly encrypt your data. For this, ExpressVPN offers a wide range of VPN protocols such as Lightway, OpenVPN (UDP and TCP) IKEv2 or L2TP-IPsec.
The choice of protocol depends on the balance between speed and security you are looking for. Often the best compromise will be OpenVPN, but in some cases you may have to choose another one.
However, we advise you to check the “Automatic” option which will immediately find the most appropriate protocol for your network and country. This is ideal for beginners who want maximum security without getting into the technical aspect. By default, this interface is not visible when you open the ExpressVPN window, you will have to go to the application settings.
Once the VPN was activated, we made sure that no IP and DNS leaks occurred. It is extremely important to check this to avoid any unpleasant surprises. To analyze the effectiveness of ExpressVPN, we used the website https://ipleak.net/. The latter provides us with information on IP address, location, DNS used and WebRTC leaks.
You can see from the image above that ExpressVPN effectively hid our IP address, locating us in New York State. Also, the DNS has the VPN server’s IP and not yours, which proves that no DNS leakage is detected (very dangerous for your anonymity). Finally, there is no WebRTC leak. This is essential to ensure that your browser will not leak your IP address to the visited websites.
ExpressVPN’s security is even better because the provider has its own DNS servers. Thus, any risk of leakage is significantly reduced. As a reliable VPN provider, ExpressVPN obviously has the Kill Switch feature which it calls Network Lock. It is this feature that will cut off all exchanges with the internet if your VPN protection should ever abandon you for a few seconds.
ExpressVPN privacy policy
Let’s continue this ExpressVPN review with another essential point which is the privacy policy. Everything we’ve just seen about security is all well and good, but it would be totally useless if ExpressVPN wasn’t beyond reproach when it comes to managing your data. We reassure you right away, the provider does not need to manage them since it simply does not collect them.
To confirm this, the provider had an external audit of its servers by PwC in 2019. This audit confirmed that ExpressVPN’s claims were legitimate. No information about you (your original IP address, for example) and your browsing with the VPN (sites visited, DNS requests, the destination of your traffic…) is recorded.
Remember that the location of a VPN company is extremely important. Indeed, some countries are obliged to keep logs (connection logs). Others, like the British Virgin Islands, have no data retention laws. Also, they do not belong to a coalition like the 5, 9 or 14 Eyes.
There’s a reason why ExpressVPN’s headquarters are located there. Thanks to their strict no-log policy, your data is truly safe with ExpressVPN and that is perhaps the most important point of this review.
Still, it should be noted that very little information about your account is kept. This is the case of the email address you gave when you registered for the service or the payment method, for example. This allows us to keep you informed by sending you emails but also to manage the billing and, eventually, to proceed to a refund. In any case, this data will not threaten your privacy since it has no connection with your online activities.
Does circumventing censorship work?
If you are used to traveling or going on business trips abroad, you probably know that one of the uses of VPN is to bypass censorship. What about ExpressVPN? Does it effectively bypass censorship in the most censored countries?
As we told you at the time of the ExpressVPN speed tests, we were located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This country is one of the few countries in the world that block VPNs. Obviously, we were able to use our VPN without any problems, which proves that it works perfectly in this country.
Also, many users we contacted confirmed that it works very well in other countries in the Middle East, but also in China and Russia. ExpressVPN’s servers are very powerful and they are constantly updated to be able to overcome blockages.
Our opinion on ExpressVPN can only be very good when it comes to circumventing censorship. With just one click, you can regain your freedom on the internet and not be deprived of your usual sites and applications. It is the second best VPN for China according to our tests!
Gaming: is ExpressVPN a good solution for online gaming?
More and more people ask us if it is possible to use this VPN to play online. So we decided to dedicate a section of our review to this topic.
First of all, it’s worth noting that ExpressVPN can be used on a computer, a PS5, an Xbox Series X / S, or a Nintendo Switch. In other words, no matter which console you prefer, you’ll be able to use it.
But why activate a VPN protection when playing online? There are several reasons why you might want to do this. It could be to avoid DDoS attacks, improve your online anonymity, or access geo-restricted servers.
With ExpressVPN on your side, you’ll ensure that your gaming experience is of the highest quality. While protecting you and allowing you to change your IP address and location, it will give you the opportunity to enjoy good performance. In our tests, we found that the ping remained relatively low, so you can play FPS games without worrying.
The same goes for the speed, which is not too much affected, especially if you can connect to a server near your current location.
To sum up, ExpressVPN is a very good choice for those who are looking for a VPN to play video games online.
Try this VPN with their 30 -day money-back guarantee
Server network and country coverage
The quality of the network is essential in your choice of a VPN. You need both a lot of countries available, but also a lot of servers in the countries.
Indeed, if you have 100 countries available, but only 1 server per country, you can be sure that the performance will not be up to par. The servers will be constantly overloaded and this will have an impact on your throughput which will be very slow.
Users generally have a positive opinion of ExpressVPN because it offers one of the best networks on the market. And for good reason, it has more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries. In other words, you will always find what you need. It’s a good way to connect in as many countries around the world as possible.
Some of the countries covered include France, Switzerland, Germany, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and many more! You’ll really have to do a thorough search to find a country that isn’t covered by ExpressVPN.
During our test of ExpressVPN, this large infrastructure translated into great performance in terms of speed, as you saw earlier in this review. We’ll also add that the provider’s servers are of very good quality.
Sure, they don’t have as much as NordVPN or CyberGhost, but after our numerous tests, we really think they offer better performance. On that note, don’t be impressed by a huge number of servers. Quantity is not everything and quality is just as important.
User Experience
User experience is very good overall. The NordVPN client is the most user-friendly one by a mile on the market!
The interface of the VPN client is modern and offers a slick design.
Subscription Cost
ExpressVPN Pricing
Monthly subscription > 12,95$ / month
6 months subscription > 9,99$ / month
1 year subscription > 6,67 $ / month
Promo: Save up to 49% and get + 3 months FREE!
Now we come to the point on which ExpressVPN is often criticized: its price. It’s true that it’s not the cheapest VPN on the market, but we think its pricing is totally justified.
And for good reason, if you compare it to its competitors that sometimes cost less than 3$ per month, you have to commit yourself for 2 or 3 years to get to such a monthly cost. With ExpressVPN, you won’t have a longer subscription than its 12-month offer.
As it happens, three offers are available in 2022:
- 1 month at $12.95
- 6 months at 59,95$ (9,99$ / month)
- 12 months + 3 months free at $99.95 ($6.67 / month)
The long term offer is clearly the most interesting since it allows you to benefit from a 49% discount and 3 months free! The only “constraint” is that you will have to pay the bill in one go and not via monthly payments.
We will also add that ExpressVPN has a 30-day money back guarantee. No justification is required if you ever want to get your money back. All you have to do is contact the support to get your money back in full. It’s hard to have a negative review of ExpressVPN when you know this. Either you are convinced or you get your 100% refund!
When it comes to payment methods, you won’t be short of choices either. The solutions are as follows:
- Payment cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover…)
- PayPal
- Bitcoin
- WebMoney
- Giropay
- UnionPay
- iDeal
No matter which payment method you choose, you will always be able to take advantage of the 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee.
Customer Support
Online service automatically means customer support. How do I reach ExpressVPN? Is it responsive? We’ve tested all of this for you to reassure you before you buy.
If you need help, you have three options at ExpressVPN:
- The FAQ (Find a solution)
- The instant messaging
- User manuals (very detailed guides)
Our preferred option is to use the online chat which is accessible from the official ExpressVPN website. During our test, we were impressed by their responsiveness. We contacted them twice and never waited more than 30 seconds before getting a response.
The advisors are reachable 7 days a week and 24 hours a day from the instant messenger, which gives you the opportunity to contact them at any time and without any limit. So don’t hesitate to send them a message if you have any questions.
Additionnal features
We are almost at the end of this article. That said, there are still some points we want to cover. This additional information might help you refine your opinion of ExpressVPN.
The number of parallel connections
With an ExpressVPN subscription, you’ll be able to use the app on 5 devices simultaneously. This means that you’ll be able to use it on a computer, a tablet, and 3 phones at the same time, for example. You can, however, install it on an unlimited number of devices. However, only 5 can be activated at the same time. This is good news since today we all have several computer devices.
Note that you can increase the number of simultaneous connections if 5 are not enough for you by configuring the VPN directly on your Wi-Fi router. This way, all connected devices will benefit from the protection.
Split Tunneling
Another interesting feature that we liked during our ExpressVPN test was Split Tunneling. This allows you to manually select which applications require a VPN connection or not.
For example, if you’re watching Youtube videos on Google Chrome and at the same time P2Ping on uTorrent, you can enable VPN only on uTorrent and let your browser run without VPN. This way, you’ll optimize the speed as much as possible and improve your user experience considerably. You can do the same with your email application if you feel that it does not need VPN protection.
TrustedServer technology
As of 2019, ExpressVPN has implemented the new TrustedServer technology on its entire infrastructure. The principle is simple: the servers run only on RAM so that no trace of user data is kept. As soon as the server restarts, everything is gone. This sets it apart considerably from its competitors whose servers run on hard disk.
This is an extra layer of security, showing, once again, that ExpressVPN is on the cutting edge of security technology.
Browser extensions (Chrome and Firefox)
Last point before our final ExpressVPN review: browser extensions. If you don’t want to bother with Split Tunneling configuration, you can take advantage of ExpressVPN’s excellent extensions for Chrome and Firefox. Installation is one click and then you’ll have the ExpressVPN icon in the top right corner of your browser screen.
We particularly liked this feature during our test of ExpressVPN since it makes it very easy to activate and deactivate the VPN only on the browser. The extension complements the desktop application since it allows you to protect yourself even more effectively against WebRTC leaks.
NordVPN Review Conclusion
Our Take
After this comprehensive test, our review of ExpressVPN is very positive. This is a great option for users who need a quick setup, easy operation, and perhaps a little bit of handholding. Their apps are easy to set up, they connect with a few clicks only, and the service offers responsive customer support. The speeds are very good using the lightway protocol!
Best For | User experience |
Price | Expesnive |
Discount | Up to 49% |
Promotion | + 3 months FREE |
After this complete review of ExpressVPN and the tests of many criteria, we can confirm that it is probably the best provider in 2022.
Apart from its slightly higher than average pricing and its limited number of simultaneous connections, we have nothing to criticize.
Its performance lives up to its reputation and the user experience has been taken care of from A to Z to offer a simple and efficient service. We can only advise you to test it now and to take advantage of its satisfied or refunded period in order to get your money back if it doesn’t suit you.
To take advantage of its 49% discount and get 3 months free, consider taking the 12 months subscription. To find out more, we invite you to go directly to the website of the VPN provider.
Its strengths
- Excellent speeds
- Easy to use
- Unlock the Netflix platform
- 24/7/365 customer support
- Wide global coverage (94 countries)
- Multiple compatible devices
- TrustedServers technology
- Split Tunneling
- Works in all countries of the world
Its weaknesses
- Only 5 connections at the same time but can be easily installed on a router
- Pricing higher than its competitors
How does ExpressVPN compares with other top providers?
F.A.Q
Do you have any questions regarding NordVPN? We might have the answer for you: