ExpressVPN review
Our Verdict
ExpressVPN is the best VPN service nosotros've tested, and there'south very little to fault. With plenty of servers, splendid speeds, rock-solid privacy features, innovative software developments and class-leading streaming performance, information technology's quite simply the best service on the market place today.
For
- Tons of server locations
- Stable apps for just about any device
- Excellent speeds
- Class-leading support
Against
- A little expensive
- Just 5 simultaneous connections
Tom's Guide Verdict
ExpressVPN is the best VPN service we've tested, and there'south very little to mistake. With plenty of servers, excellent speeds, rock-solid privacy features, innovative software developments and class-leading streaming performance, it's quite merely the best service on the market today.
Pros
- +
Tons of server locations
- +
Stable apps for just well-nigh any device
- +
Excellent speeds
- +
Class-leading support
Cons
- -
A footling expensive
- -
Only 5 simultaneous connections
For the past several years, ExpressVPN has well and truly taken up the best VPN drapery, and rave reviews from users and industry experts alike accept cemented it as the VPN to shell. In our full and unbiased ExpressVPN review, nosotros unpack everything the provider has to offer and see if it tin live upwards to the hype.
Based in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN was established in 2009 and since then has been on a race to the pinnacle. Its generous amount of global servers gives it worldwide appeal, and information technology's used by millions.
All the same, with somewhat hefty subscriptions costs it'southward not the very cheapest, and then here we'll be seeing if, nether the skin, ExpressVPN is genuinely worth the money, and how it compares to the competition.
If y'all're interested in a particular aspect of ExpressVPN, you can bound to the following sections past clicking the navigation bar at the peak of the folio. If non, then proceed scrolling for our full, in-depth ExpressVPN review.
ExpressVPN one-infinitesimal review
Starting at $12.95 a calendar month on a rolling monthly basis, and dropping to $vi.67 a month (including the three months free available to Tom's Guide readers), ExpressVPN is no bargain basement VPN. Nonetheless, users are treated to a 30-day coin-dorsum guarantee, during which they can test the total service and claim a full refund if they're not happy. And at present, those signing upward to a 12-month plan will also get a gratuitous yr of deject backup from Backblaze.
ExpressVPN uses industry-standard 256-AES encryption and a 4096-bit RSA certificate, with back up for plenty of protocols including the super-fast proprietary protocol Lightway. Yous'll besides become Perfect Forward Secrecy, and all Express'south 3,000+ servers are RAM-merely (known as TrustedServer), meaning none of your data can be physically be stored. Plus, its no-logging policy has been independently audited, backing up the strong claims made on-site.
Speeds are excellent, and ExpressVPN's in-house and open-source protocol LightWay delivers excellent connections of well over 500mbps. Some WireGuard-enabled VPNs can top that, but in practice that will be enough fast enough for most whatever user. And, importantly, connections are reliable and rarely, if ever drib out.
That's adept news, since information technology'southward not bad for unblocking pretty much every streaming provider we tried too – regional Netflix, BBC, iPlayer, Amazon Prime number, Hulu, and more. And, P2P sharers will be pleased as every server is optimized for torrenting – although the website seems to keep it pretty placidity.
In terms of usability, ExpressVPN'due south apps are available on a wide range of devices, and not just typical desktop and mobiles systems. Yous'll get access to a dedicated router app, a Linux client, and MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) support for games consoles to proper noun a few. All of these are easy to use and powerful with in-depth setup guides.
The limit of 5 devices is something of a drawback, and disappointing because the price. Another small gripe is that while the browser extension is powerful, it relies on having ExpressVPN installed on your PC or Mac – not great for those looking for a browser extension to avoid just that.
However, with first-class back up – both written articles and 24/7 live chat – any issues you accept should be sorted easily, and if we're honest, few VPNs offering everything ExpressVPN does in one package, and none do it likewise.
Keen to get stuck into the nitty-gritty details of ExpressVPN? Merely go along scrolling, as we've got everything you need to know, right here.
- Click to caput straight through to the ExpressVPN website
Latest updates
While non directly related to ExpressVPN's performance or usability, the biggest change in contempo months is undoubtedly the fact that the VPN was acquired by Kape Technologies for well-nigh $1bn. Kape also owns Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ZenMate.
Nosotros're fairly confident that ExpressVPN will stay contained in terms of its product – as have its stablemates – and while Kape has a somewhat chequered past, nosotros're confident that this hasn't compromised ExpressVPN'due south privacy. For more info, read ExpressVPN'due south own article on the matter.
Product-wise, we're very pleased to encounter Limited'south own protocol Lightway get fully open-source.
Its router app has also seen improvements. At present, you lot can group you devices, pregnant that all your Smart TVs, for example, utilize a particular server for streaming overseas content, while your smartphones apply a local server.
Finally, ExpressVPN'southward Windows app is becoming more accessible, with narrator support and keyboard navigation. Nosotros're pleased to see ExpressVPN introducing these easily missed features, as many providers neglect this sort of update.
ExpressVPN on newspaper
Number of servers: 3,000+
Number of countries: 94
Platforms supported: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, BlackBerry, Kindle Fire, Nook, routers, consoles (MediaStreamer), Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple Television receiver, Boxee, Chromebook, Windows Phone
Simultaneous connections: 5
Split tunneling: Yes
Impale switch: Yes
Supported protocols: Lightway, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2
Country of registration: British Virgin Islands
Support: 24/7 live conversation, electronic mail, knowledgebase
ExpressVPN toll: how much is information technology, and is there an ExpressVPN gratuitous trial?
To get-go off, let's look at the numbers – an area in which plenty of potential users volition make up their minds.
Like but about every VPN provider, if you get for a one-month rolling plan you'll exist paying the most – $12.95 to be exact. If we're honest, this is really only whatever adept for true commitment-phobes, or those signing up to test out the service.
Sign upward for six months and you'll see that price drop to $9.99, which isn't bad, but it'south still fairly expensive compared to other providers. ExpressVPN is ane of the only providers to offer a mid-length program like this, though, and so we're sure it'll appeal to some users.
You'll become the best value if yous sign upwards for a year, and without any deals or discounts you lot'll be paying $eight.32 a month – which, overall, works out at $99.95 a year. That'south nonetheless substantially more expensive than cheap VPN providers like Surfshark, whose longest program dips under $2.l a month. Yet, if you sign upward through Tom'due south Guide, you'll exist able to claim three months free on any 12-calendar month program, which takes the monthly cost down to a much more reasonable $vi.67.
It'due south too worth noting that other cheaper providers may crank up the price upon renewal. If you're in it for the long haul, your ExpressVPN outlay will stay the aforementioned for an indefinite corporeality of fourth dimension (sans the three months free, of course), whereas providers similar IPVanish and Surfshark offering absolutely tasty introductory offers, but increase to prices similar to or even more ExpressVPN after the commencement term's up.
- Sign up now and claim your three free months
In terms of payment methods, at that place'south a good selection on offer. Alongside traditional methods like PayPal and credit bill of fare, you'll also be able to use Bitcoin, and other payment providers including AliPay, Yandex Money, WebMoney and more. Most of all, we're pleased to meet Bitcoin support, equally this can help make the whole paper trail more difficult to link back to you.
If you fancy a VPN free trial, downloading the Android or iOS app volition get you vii days gratis, and plans of whatever length come with a thirty-day money-back guarantee so you can brand sure the service suits y'all before yous commit – be aware that this chargeback is only available once, though.
Thankfully, cancellation is straightforward. All you demand to do is contact the support team and request your refund, and they will oblige – there'll be no investigation into how much yous've used the service, and equally long as it'south inside the 30 days, yous'll get your money back. That displays impressive conviction on ExpressVPN's part.
The question most volition be asking, then, is whether ExpressVPN offers enough to justify its slightly higher cost – and whether whatsoever sacrifices are worth information technology to save a couple of dollars a month.
How private is ExpressVPN?
The cadre of any great service, privacy is absolutely brand or break for VPN providers. And, while other providers might make flimsy promises, ExpressVPN has some serious tech on evidence to prove information technology.
To kick off – and be forewarned that nosotros're getting technical here – ExpressVPN uses a 4096-scrap SHA-512 RSA certificate, employs manufacture-standard AES-256-CBC to encrypt its command channel and HMAC to safeguard against real-fourth dimension alteration of regular data. When we inspected the OpenVPN config files, we confirmed this was absolutely the example.
To give you even more than protection, Perfect Forrad Secrecy is also present, meaning that you're given a new session key each fourth dimension you lot connect, and a new one every lx minutes after that. That means that fifty-fifty if your connectionis somehow compromised, all they'll get is a maximum of 60 minutes of information before they're booted.
While the extent of which isn't made public, ExpressVPN too has a number of obfuscated servers which are very useful for using it as a Cathay VPN. These servers cloak the fact that you're using a VPN at all, and can sidestep regional VPN blocks, or even brand it useable at places like universities that may restrict VPN utilise.
Finally, ExpressVPN'due south Android app has recently been given the ioXt certification. That means the design of the app and service has been investigated on a low level, so users can be sure that the software is behaving in the correct way. Undertaking these tests yourself is a tricky job, so this certification is a big greenish tick in our books.
How secure is ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN runs its own cypher-knowledge 256-scrap encrypted DNS on every ane of its servers. This eliminates the demand to use the vulnerable OpenDNS or any other third-party DNS services. These 3rd parties are liable to log your DNS requests and, if unencrypted, offer up a handy way for hackers to intercept and alter your requests.
While we didn't go super in-depth with this, brief testing on websites such as IPLeak and DNS Leak Test proved that ExpressVPN indeed does non leak DNS data – and if yous want to utilize it, the apps too provide this service too.
Yous'll likewise go a elementary and functional kill switch to cut your cyberspace in the outcome that your VPN-protected connection fails, which is very useful for torrenting. If you didn't have this, you could be browsing or downloading for hours without realising yous were disconnected.
Finally, we get to the fact that every one of ExpressVPN'south servers is 100% RAM-only. Compared to traditional hard-deejay servers, RAM-simply servers are physically unable to save information afterward power-down (even after a complete wipe, information tin can sometimes yet be retrieved from hard drives). This follows VPN best practice to a tee, and leads us very well onto…
Does ExpressVPN keep logs?
ExpressVPN seems confident enough in its reputation to not plaster its homepage with claims of zero logging. Yous'll have to exercise a chip of earthworks to find out.
On its 'What is VPN' page, you'll find out that ExpressVPN believes that 'privacy is a primal correct. We don't keep connexion or activity logs, and we never share your details with anyone.' What'south more, to clarify this you'll find a simple, effective no-logging statement written in plain English (you'll see that this is something ExpressVPN does very well later on, too).
Y'all'll encounter that ExpressVPN does not proceed track of the IP accost used to connect, your login fourth dimension, the IP you're assigned, any of your traffic, or any information concerning the pages you visit.
However, there are still some minimal logs kept, namely the engagement (not time) of when you lot connect, your server selection, the amount of data transferred, and the version number of your customer. Without the time, IP, or browsing information though, it'south impossible to utilise this to link whatsoever activity taken on the spider web to whatever specific ExpressVPN user.
Another positive is that fact ExpressVPN is based in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands, simply similar competitor Surfshark. The BVI has no laws requiring companies based there to submit information to the Great britain or Usa, and it'southward also non part of either the 5 Eyes or 14 Optics alliances. This, combined with the fact Express logs no personally identifiable information and is very clear about what itdoes keep rails of, makes for pleasing reading for the privacy-conscious.
Notwithstanding, don't take our discussion for it – ExpressVPN has been independently audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, and while we're not permitted to quote from the report, information technology is freely available to read for anyone.
How fast is ExpressVPN?
Having good connexion speeds is essential, fifty-fifty for the most privacy-focused user. And at present, with the advent of WireGuard, many VPNs are pushing speeds to levels we've never seen before, and now that gaming VPN services are becoming popular, it's imperative for any provider to ensure they're not left behind. Thankfully, ExpressVPN's Lightway can keep up with the pack.
To briefly summarize our methodology, we used a Windows 10 automobile to connect ExpressVPN to the nearest location (Us and U.k.). To test the speeds we used a number of different speed exam sites and services, and we noted down at to the lowest degree v results from each. We repeated the procedure three times, using OpenVPN and Lightway.
Starting off on our 1Gbps US line, ExpressVPN'southward OpenVPN connections were impressive, delivering speeds of around 310Mbps. That's consequent with our last test results, and although a couple of providers were marginally faster (Hibernate.me at 390Mbps and ProtonVPN at 400-600Mbps), it'south safe to say ExpressVpn delivers some of the fastest OpenVPN connections around.
When using Lightway, speeds shot upwardly to 580Mbps, which is comparable to most other services' WireGuard speeds. Some, such as NordVPN, CyberGhost, and IPVanish evangelize faster connections withal, but for the boilerplate user on average home Wi-Fi, there would exist no discernible divergence in performance.
How good is ExpressVPN for streaming?
It's no longer a secret that ane of the nigh tempting VPN uses is unblocking streaming content on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime and many more than.
ExpressVPN isn't shy – its website overtly states which services y'all'll be able to unblock (hint: it's pretty much all of them). This can only be skilful news, as it ways the provider is essentially holding itself to these claims, and using them as direct selling points.
We tested all the services – Netflix, Amazon, iPlayer, and Disney+ - from a choice servers worldwide.
Recent changes Netflix has made to its VPN detection system means just about every Netflix VPN has had serious issues with the streaming site. However, ExpressVPN has somehow institute a fairly reliable way around this, and is currently the only service we tested that tin unblock the US, Great britain, Canadian and Australian libraries.
Amazon Prime unblocking doesn't work the same mode as Netflix (your content is limited to your sign-up land), simply if you're abroad and want to sentry shows from dorsum home, ExpressVPN works well as well. In our testing it reliably accessed U.s. content from the UK.
BBC iPlayer can exist troublesome for many VPNs and the BBC has invested a lot of coin into protecting its free-to-watch content. However, ExpressVPN had no consequence unblock the British streaming site, and got us access every time nosotros tried. Disney+ finished our testing on a high, with all our attempts being successful.
However, losing access to certain streaming sites is an issue all VPNs have to combat, as IP addresses are blocked and different protections are put into identify.
When ExpressVPN has had these issues, users haven't been left in the dark. If you have trouble with a certain service or server, it'southward well worth opening a live chat and firing a question at a member of the squad. They'll usually give yous a straight reply, and advice to remedy the situation.
Also, it's worth noting that ExpressVPN has a dedicated Smart DNS role chosen MediaStreamer, which lets users streaming on not-VPN supporting devices similar Smart TVs and game consoles switch location and sentinel geo-blocked content. Out of the VPNs that offer Smart DNS (and not all practise), ExpressVPN'southward MediaStreamer is probably the easiest to use.
- Check out which VPNs work with Netflix
How good is ExpressVPN for torrenting?
While not hugely publicised on the website, every VPN server ExpressVPN offers is optimized for P2P sharing – which is more than most other providers tin say. That means there's no faffing around trying to find a torrenting server, considering whichever one you choose volition be suitable.
If you notice other applications afflicted by ExpressVPN, you'll also be able to activate split tunneling. This allows yous to split the traffic from certain apps – in this case your torrent client – and straight that through the VPN while leaving the rest of your inter use unaffected.
There are as well no caps on data transfer, and you lot'll never have your connexion throttled. Plus, the excellent privacy and security features, alongside Bitcoin support and no activity logs make ExpressVPN an splendid selection if you're looking for a torrenting VPN.
How easy is it to install ExpressVPN?
For many people, setting upwardly a VPN tin can exist a daunting feel, but ExpressVPN has quite effectively taken the stress out of information technology. Dissimilar most providers, to download ExpressVPN you lot'll accept to sign up and make an business relationship starting time. However, one time yous've done that, the process is very simple.
From the homepage, ExpressVPN will discover your system OS and direct you towards the version it thinks y'all need – and it's always been correct in our experience. If you want to download a unlike version, you can also select that from the navigation bar at the top of the site.
Incidentally, these pages are far more than simply, say, links to the Google Play Store. You can go in that location if you want, but you can also download the .APK files for the Android VPN version, and even use a QR code to email yourself a setup link.
One time you've downloaded and installed the app on whatever device you're using, you'll be prompted to verify with an activation code. Thank you to this you lot don't demand to enter your login details, which is more welcome than you'd call back. And that's all there is to it.
If you'd prefer to use a different customer, you can practise this easily by using Express'south OVPN configuration files.
How proficient are ExpressVPN's desktop apps?
The bread and butter of whatsoever VPN service, desktop VPN apps should be simple, clear, and give yous access to everything y'all'll want to exercise in a couple of clicks. ExpressVPN does not disappoint.
With an initially simple interface, you'll see the automatically chosen Smart Location plus a huge, inviting on/off button. If you just want to get protected and forget nigh it, all you lot need to do is click that button.
Clicking the selected location volition bring upwardly a list and search box for choosing a dissimilar server, and the app also allows you to choose favorites and displays your ii most recent servers. You'll too exist able to connect to your final three locations through a arrangement tray icon on Windows, and the carte bar on Mac, without opening the app.
You won't notice much information most the health of whatsoever particular server from the server list, but a born speed test is besides easily bachelor and tin requite you exact data on whatsoever servers yous wish.
Open settings, and yous'll take a option of protocols, including Lightway, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, L2TP/IPSec, and IKEv2 (support for the ancient and vulnerable PPTP has been dropped). You tin can toggle the reliable kill switch from here, aslope IPv6 leak protection and DNS settings. You besides get access to split tunneling, which allows you to select which apps route through the VPN and which don't.
How proficient are ExpressVPN's mobile apps?
In terms of interfaces, both the Android and iOS apps are very similar to the desktop versions – and both are available from their respective apps stores. Setup is super unproblematic on both systems, and just requires you to enter your login details and take a couple of permissions.
Both versions include some interesting extra utilities beyond VPN protection, including an IP address checker, a DNS leak tester, a WebRTC leak tester, and a countersign generator. Neither of the mobile apps back up the useful speed test that the desktop version provides, so at that place's no easy way of telling how quick a server is before you connect, merely Smart Location tin normally solve this.
The iOS version has a couple of limitations cheers to the Bone. Y'all don't go split tunneling or a kill switch – both of which the Android version has – simply you practise become the option of automated reconnection, which is every bit close to a kill switch every bit iOS will allow. It'southward not perfect, only it'southward about as skillful as nosotros're going to get with Apple's software for at present.
While they lack some other skilful features such equally the power to set your preferred DNS servers, ExpressVPN'south mobile apps are powerful, well designed and, chiefly, like shooting fish in a barrel to use. We've seen some others provide marginally more than in-depth apps, but unless y'all're genuinely going to miss DNS customization, these mobile versions will be more than enough.
How good is ExpressVPN'southward browser extension?
ExpressVPN also offers a useful browser extension, available for both Chrome and Firefox. And, unlike some competitors, it's non a simple proxy – this is a total-blown VPN in your browser. While this does hateful y'all'll take to have the standalone client installed as well, it does give you some serious added benefits.
In effect, it means you lot don't take to switch between windows to modify settings (once more, more useful that you lot might call back), but there are a few actress bonuses. Firstly, the extension will enforce HTTPS Everywhere, prevent HTML5 geolocation from revealing your truthful location, and it also blocks WebRTC leaks.
While the extension doesn't offering everything the app does (no favorites, for case), information technology's a useful addition that you lot may or may not want to use. Nosotros certainly welcome the choice.
However, many users of Chrome VPN extensions (and browser VPNs every bit a whole) utilise them because they don't want to install a true VPN client on their PC – and in this case, ExpressVPN's browser add-on won't fit the bill. But, in terms of features, it'southward i of the very all-time.
What customer support does ExpressVPN offer?
While ExpressVPN has proven to be very stable in our experience, like any complex software, problems can crop up – from server upsets to lost Netflix access. This is when information technology's of import to have an experienced client support team on paw when you need information technology the most.
Your first port of call should ExpressVPN'due south encyclopaedic raft of articles and setup guides, which cover topics equally varied as remedying connections that drop out, setting up the VPN on a router, how to cancel your account and how to ready MediaStreamer.
These manufactures don't go on for thousands of words, just they're not too brief either – y'all'll go the background info necessary to understand the problem, and then the steps you lot demand to take to resolve it. Each app also has a defended setup guide, and nosotros're comfy maxim they're the best-written FAQ articles from any VPN.
If you don't want to search through that, though, you'll want to hop on the 24/7 live conversation – and male child, are they good. We asked a whole bunch of admittedly geeky questions, and each fourth dimension a real person replied within minutes – it was evident nosotros weren't talking to a bot.
Even if you think you might not need this sort of support, it'southward incredibly useful when yous come up upward against an issue that you can't work out – or can't be bothered to do the earthworks around to resolve yourself. Plus, they can too tell you lot the best servers at any given indicate to use to access blocked Netflix locations, and that's a really useful tool in itself.
Final verdict
Just almost every aspect of ExpressVPN impresses, with simple apps that brand it easy to admission all the expert-level features on offer – and we'd hope and then. Any less than that would draw our attention fifty-fifty more towards the hefty cost tag, only as it stands, information technology's thoroughly worth the extra expenditure to admission what'south quite perchance the most polished and usable VPN service on the market today.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/expressvpn-review
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