Founded in 2009, ExpressVPN is one of the oldest VPN providers. Known for its fast speeds and ability to unblock popular streaming platforms, it’s long been ranked among the best VPN services available. We wanted to find out if ExpressVPN is proactive in staying ahead of the competition, or if it’s now relying on its reputation. To do this, we put it under the microscope: measuring server speeds, studying the small print, and even testing its money-back guarantee.
ExpressVPN – Server Network and Coverage
A growing number of VPNs, ExpressVPN included, are becoming less transparent about just how many servers it offers. There may be an element of strategy behind this in not wanting to provide rival VPNs with a competitive edge. Of course, it may be that ExpressVPN’s server count fluctuates too much to provide an accurate number, or that its focus is more on the quality of servers it’s providing.
Before removing its server count, ExpressVPN’s network exceeded 3,000 servers and it’s likely that’s still the case. This is a high number of servers for a VPN, although there are some VPNs that offer more. NordVPN now claims to offer over 5,000 servers globally, while CyberGhost recently surpassed 10,000 servers although, like ExpressVPN, it has since removed its server count.
What we do know is that ExpressVPN’s network covers 105 countries, which is double that of many VPNs. The biggest difference between ExpressVPN’s network and that of many rival VPNs is that it covers more countries in Africa and Asia. Although ExpressVPN doesn’t state how many servers it has in each country, it’s safe to say there’s a healthy number in the US where it covers a dozen cities in all.
Given the scale of ExpressVPN’s server network, you’ll likely be able to find a server in your preferred country or, at the very least, in a nearby location. If ExpressVPN’s server speeds are anything to go by, there are plenty of servers to go around. I rarely encountered a server that was obviously suffering heavy load.
ExpressVPN – Speed and Performance
I first used ExpressVPN more than five years ago and found it to be one of the faster VPNs I’d tested. The good news is that, based on my recent speed tests, this is still very much the case. As expected from any paid VPN service, ExpressVPN provides unlimited bandwidth, so there’s no limit to the amount of browsing, streaming, or online gaming you can do.
Unlike many of the top VPN providers nowadays, ExpressVPN hasn’t implemented the very popular WireGuard protocol. Instead, it has a proprietary protocol called Lightway. While both VPN protocols are designed for fast connections, Lightway’s codebase is even more lightweight, with just 2,000 lines of code (compared to the 4,000 lines of WireGuard).
In order to test ExpressVPN’s server speeds, I connected to three server locations nine times each (three mornings, afternoons, and evenings). The aim was to generate an average global speed for ExpressVPN by trying servers at varying distances from my location during both peak and off-peak hours.
The closest ExpressVPN server to home is Barcelona, Spain (100 miles). I also connected to a server in New York (3,700 miles), as well as one in Tokyo (6,200 miles). As expected, my internet speed when not connected to the VPN, at 286 Mbps, was much better. This is due to the fact that a VPN adds extra steps to the process with encryption and data routing.
What’s particularly curious however, is that I achieved faster speeds when connecting to a server in New York (139 Mbps) than in Barcelona (108 Mbps). This is despite the 3,600 mile difference between those servers and my location. Stranger still, I recorded the same speeds on ExpressVPN’s servers in Barcelona and Tokyo (108 Mbps) even though there’s a more than 6,000 mile difference between them and where I’m based.
Of course, there’s more to a VPN’s speed than the distance between the server and a user’s physical location. However, these tests were conducted on the same Wi-Fi network, using the same VPN protocol (Lightway). ExpressVPN’s support assured me that all servers have been optimized but it’s quite possible that server quality varies by location or that, at the very least, the ratio of servers to number of users isn’t as generous in some locations.
Still, ExpressVPN’s global average speed was 118 Mbps, which is very respectable. Keep in mind that the speeds you experience will almost certainly vary. For example, you’re more likely to experience faster VPN speeds with a higher baseline internet speed. The speeds ExpressVPN offers should still be more than fast enough regardless of whether you’re just using your VPN for simple browsing or for more bandwidth-intensive activities.
ExpressVPN Speed Test Results
ExpressVPN – Unblocking and Streaming Capabilities
ExpressVPN is one of the stronger unblocking VPNs for streaming. It has long been one of the most consistent VPNs you can use with Netflix, allowing you to access many different country versions including the US, UK, Canada, and Japan. This is impressive considering how many VPNs fail to work with Netflix due to its very stringent VPN IP address blocking.
I also tested ExpressVPN with streaming services including Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, ITVX, and Paramount Plus and had no issues with any of them. If you are having trouble with accessing a particular website or service, it’s worth trying more than one server. Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies between each new attempt ensures the website in question forgets your previous IP address.
ExpressVPN even works in China despite the strict restrictions on not only online content, but VPNs themselves (the Great Firewall blocks VPN traffic and VPN websites). ExpressVPN is able to bypass this through obfuscated servers which make encrypted traffic appear unencrypted. You won’t find these servers in ExpressVPN’s apps though as this all happens automatically when connecting from China.
As mentioned further above, ExpressVPN offers impressive speeds so you can expect seamless streaming. Indeed, I was able to stream in 4K resolution without lag or buffering, even when connected to servers further afield.
ExpressVPN – Security Features
As with any quality VPN service that takes user security seriously, ExpressVPN protects data with 256-bit AES encryption. As long as you’re connected, your ISP and other third parties will no longer be able to read your online activity. This is particularly important if you live in (or are traveling in) a country in which citizens have limited internet freedom and may face legal repercussions for their online actions.
You can connect to the following VPN protocols when you use ExpressVPN:
- Lightway (ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol)
- OpenVPN
- IKEv2
In the case of both Lightway and OpenVPN, you can toggle between TCP and UDP (you’ll want to opt for UDP if your priority is speed) By default, ExpressVPN automatically selects the protocol that’s most appropriate for your network.
ExpressVPN claims to protect users from DNS and IPv6 leaks and this was apparent in the leak tests I ran in which no DNS or IP leaks were observed. ExpressVPN also has a kill switch feature (referred to as “Network Lock”). If your VPN connection drops unexpectedly due to a power outage or when switching Wi-Fi networks, it stops your internet traffic and reduces the risk of data leaks.
That’s not all ExpressVPN offers in terms of security features however. Towards the back end of 2023, ExpressVPN introduced its Advanced Protection feature which blocks ads, trackers, and malicious content. This is available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. That said, these advanced protection features are disabled by default so you’ll need to enable them manually in settings.
Not content to assume that ExpressVPN’s Advanced Protection does its job, I decided to try it out. Using an online ad block test, I found that my desktop browser (Brave) with shields down blocked just 4 of 140 ads. With shields up, it blocked 138. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN’s Advanced Protection blocked 121 of 140 ads, which is pretty impressive for such a new feature. Still, there’s some room for improvement.
Another very new ExpressVPN feature is ExpressVPN Keys, ExpressVPN’s built-in password manager. This allows unlimited password (as well as credit card details and notes) storage. It uses zero-knowledge encryption, ensuring your privacy is very much protected because nobody else can see or access it – ExpressVPN included. It has been independently audited by Cure53, and even includes a feature that alerts you to data breaches and vulnerable passwords.
ExpressVPN – Privacy and Logging Policies
ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands which has no data retention laws. It’s also not part of an international intelligence alliance such as Five Eyes (or 14 Eyes). A concerning fact is that ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies, formerly known as Crossrider, which was previously involved in distributing malware.
Signup with ExpressVPN requires you to provide an email address although ExpressVPN provides a “privacy guarantee” stating that this isn’t shared with anyone. Unfortunately, ExpressVPN doesn’t offer anonymous payment methods. You can pay in Bitcoin although it’s not anonymous unless you use a mixing service. There are a small number of VPNs that accept cash or gift cards so it would be good to see ExpressVPN do the same.
ExpressVPN doesn’t keep any identifying logs of users. This means no logging of your browsing activity or IP address (VPN or original IP address). It also doesn’t log connection timestamps or session duration. ExpressVPN states that it can’t be compelled by authorities to provide such information because it simply doesn’t have it to give.
Note that ExpressVPN does collect some usage data. This includes:
- Apps and app versions you’ve activated
- Successful connections to the VPN
- Connected server location (and from which country and ISP)
- Total sum of data transferred
Although ExpressVPN can also collect app diagnostic data, this is on an opt-in basis only. It’s good to see that ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited by PwC (June 2019) as well as KPMG (September 2022). Another positive is that ExpressVPN has introduced biannual transparency reports which detail information requests its legal department receives.
ExpressVPN – Signup and Setup
An increasing number of VPNs are introducing different subscription tiers, letting users choose which additional features they’d like alongside their VPN. While this provides greater flexibility, it can be overwhelming, particularly for first-time VPN users. ExpressVPN keeps things simple with just one subscription tier. You’ll receive access to all of ExpressVPN’s features, regardless of whether you sign up for one month, six months, or a year.
Once subscribed, you’ll be taken to a page to create the password for your new ExpressVPN account. ExpressVPN provides a randomly generated password made up of letters (lower and uppercase) and numbers although you can create your own password if you prefer. After this, you’ll be able to download the ExpressVPN app. It lets you connect up to eight devices at once which is above average for a VPN (and more than both NordVPN and CyberGhost).
Installation took less than a minute on both desktop and mobile, and upon logging in for the first time, I was prompted to enter my activation code from the app download page (you can also find this via your ExpressVPN account dashboard). Following a quick tour of what’s new in the app, you’re in and can connect to a server.
ExpressVPN – Apps and Compatibility
ExpressVPN provides more apps than most VPNs so you can use it with most of your devices:
- Windows
- Android
- Mac
- iOS
- Linux (CLI app)
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Routers
Not all VPNs have an app for Linux so that’s a definite plus for ExpressVPN. It’s also one of the few apps to offer an Apple TV app although this is starting to change since the tvOS update that allows the downloading of VPN apps.
What’s unique about ExpressVPN though is its custom firmware for routers. This is pre-configured with ExpressVPN’s servers and replaces a router’s existing firmware. An even easier option is ExpressVPN’s AirCove, a router with ExpressVPN already built-in. One advantage of using a VPN with a router is that devices connected to the router don’t count against the simultaneous connection limit.
Last but not least, ExpressVPN has browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave. Just keep in mind that although extensions offer a high level of convenience, they only secure browser traffic.
Having had plenty of time with ExpressVPN’s apps, I think they can best be described as functional. There’s nothing flashy about them, but that’s no bad thing. The home view is the same across the desktop and mobile apps, and in both cases you can connect to a server in a single click. ExpressVPN’s Smart Location feature automatically picks the fastest server while a shortcut takes you to your most recent location.
ExpressVPN lets you favorite specific server locations although it’s not immediately obvious how to do this on Android or iOS (swipe right to add a location to the list). In just a couple of clicks in the desktop and mobile apps, you’ll get to ExpressVPN’s Settings page. This is all very neatly laid out with different features and VPN protocols clearly explained, making it very accessible.
ExpressVPN – Customer Support
Having interacted with many VPNs over the years, I can safely say that ExpressVPN is one of the best when it comes to customer support. Live chat is available 24 hours a day and, whenever I’ve used it, I’ve received prompt, helpful replies.
ExpressVPN’s email support is also excellent, and I was surprised to find that it was only slightly slower than its live chat. I sent three emails to test its response times. The first email contained a straightforward request, the second required more detailed information, and the third sought more advanced technical details. With an average response time of just 6 minutes and 40 seconds, it’s the fastest I’ve tested.
Here are the questions I sent to ExpressVPN, their response times, and quality of answer:
Of course, it’s not just about the speed of replies. It’s little good if a VPN answers quickly only to fail to answer the question! Fortunately, ExpressVPN provided three relevant replies, two of which were good and answered my question, while the other was a little too generic for my liking, failing to provide specific instructions for optimizing the VPN for gaming as I’d requested.
As an alternative to ExpressVPN’s live chat and email support, ExpressVPN provides setup tutorials, troubleshooting guides, and FAQs. The setup guides are particularly useful as they take you through the process step-by-step, providing screenshots along the way so it’s difficult to get lost. In many cases, a video tutorial is also linked and ExpressVPN has a very active YouTube channel with dozens of videos uploaded in recent weeks.
