ExpressVPN Review (Jan. 2024): Expensive, But High-Quality
ExpressVPN is one of the best-performing VPNs in the world, as you’ll discover in our ExpressVPN review. Thanks to its robust encryption and top-notch security, it is widely regarded as one of the top VPN providers in the industry.
The main drawback is its price tag. Compared to VPN services like NordVPN, ExpressVPN is certainly on the pricier side. So, is it actually worth your money?
For this detailed ExpressVPN review, we put the VPN, including its large server network and security features, to the test. Want to get started right away? Make use of ExpressVPN’s limited deal — the perfect way to save money on this VPN giant.
Limited offer: Save 49% on your ExpressVPN subscription + three free months!
ExpressVPN: Pros and Cons
What We Like:
- Diverse VPN protocols to encrypt your connection (AES 256 encryption)
- Certified no-logs VPN: does not store any personal data
- Easy to install and use (24/7 live chat support available)
- Large server network to unblock apps, websites, and streaming services
- Obfuscated servers to hide your VPN traffic
- Various payment methods (incl. Bitcoin) accepted
- Torrenting is allowed
What We Don't Like:
- No dedicated IPs available (i.e. no personal VPN servers)
- More expensive than other VPNs
- Customer support team can't handle overly technical problems
ExpressVPN is a beginner-friendly service that consistently makes an appearance in our top five best VPNs. It is an easy-to-use VPN that flaunts a collection of high-quality features.
The VPN runs on a variety of strong VPN protocols, including the super-fast and proprietary “Lightway” protocol, ideal for streaming. AES 256 encryption provides top-tier security. Moreover, the company doesn’t keep any activity logs that could be used against you.
ExpressVPN offers thousands of servers in 105 countries. Bonus features include obfuscated servers, TrustedServer technology (RAM-only), and split tunneling. ExpressVPN can also unblock Netflix US, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more.
Despite these great features, ExpressVPN’s price tag is still rather high. Its acquisition by Kape Technologies and the hiring of an alleged hacker may also raise questions for some.
If you are unsure about whether to purchase ExpressVPN, we recommend using the 30-day ExpressVPN free trial – a money-back guarantee – to see for yourself if it suits your needs. Disappointed? You can claim a refund right away. Check out the rest of our ExpressVPN review for the full deep dive.
💵 Price | From $6.67 a month |
📱 Operating systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux |
💻 Connections | 8 |
💳 Payment methods | PayPal, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, iDeal, Bitcoin, Sofort, UnionPay, MINT |
🔒 Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, Lightway |
📥 Torrent options | Torrenting allowed |
📅 Money-back guarantee | Money-back guarantee, 30 Days |
📋 Logs | Zero logs |
🎬 Works with |
How Much Does ExpressVPN Cost?
The best ExpressVPN deal has a low price of $ 6.67 per month for twelve months. Compared to other VPN providers, this is relatively expensive. However, keep in mind that ExpressVPN doesn’t ask you to commit for multiple years.
This is one of the biggest benefits of purchasing ExpressVPN: you can get a good deal on a short-term plan! For most other VPN services, you’re signing up for a years-long commitment if you want to save money. ExpressVPN’s short-term plans make it perfect for VPN users looking to change providers or beginners who are new to using a VPN on a daily basis.
Moreover, you get a highly secure VPN with tons of useful features. Right now, ExpressVPN has a limited offer that gets you three extra months for free!
Is ExpressVPN free? Unfortunately not. Users can choose between three different premium subscription plans. Each plan, however, comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee that gives you a full refund if you’re not satisfied. Essentially, this can be used as an ExpressVPN free trial.
- ExpressVPN 12 Months $6.67mth Deal View offer
- ExpressVPN 6 Months $9.99mth View offer
- ExpressVPN Monthly $12.95mth View offer
ExpressVPN accepts the following payment methods:
- Credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover JCB, Diners Club International)
- PayPal
- Bitcoin
- Various regional payment methods (WebMoney, Klarna, iDEAL, UnionPay, SOFORT, Giropay, and more)
Note:
Your ExpressVPN subscription renews automatically by default. You can turn this off via the “Manage Subscription Settings” tab in your on-site personal dashboard.
If you’re billed through PayPal, you’ll receive a cashback bonus to your PayPal account. The amount will be equivalent to a one-month ExpressVPN subscription, based on your current plan.
Lastly, you can get 30 days of ExpressVPN for free if you refer a friend and they sign up. You can refer as many friends as you want, even if they used to be ExpressVPN customers in the past.
Do you get your money’s worth with ExpressVPN?
The ExpressVPN cost may put a few people off. However, you do get access to an impressive list of features and some of the most advanced security features you can get.
ExpressVPN is truly one of the most established VPN providers in the world. They’ve been at the top of their game for over a decade and, as you can see in this ExpressVPN review, manage to outperform their competitors on most fronts.
If you’re unsure whether it’s worth the investment, you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee to get a free ExpressVPN trial. This will give you plenty of time to test the software and see if it works for you.
Does ExpressVPN Work With Streaming?
ExpressVPN is a true geo-unblocking powerhouse, as we discovered through our ExpressVPN review. The ExpressVPN obfuscated servers, paired with the availability of thousands of IP addresses, definitely works in favor of streaming fans.
During our ExpressVPN review, we found that ExpressVPN works perfectly with Netflix US and UK, as well as many other regional versions. It’s on our list of the best VPNs for Netflix for a reason.
Here’s a complete overview of ExpressVPN’s geo-unblocking capabilities regarding streaming services:
Platform | Can ExpressVPN unblock it? |
---|---|
Netflix (US) | ✔ |
Netflix (UK) | ✔ |
Disney Plus | ✔ |
Hulu | ✔ |
BBC iPlayer | ✔ |
Prime Video | ✔ |
HBO Max | ✔ |
As you can see, ExpressVPN is a great VPN for streaming! Unblock any platform you like from the comfort of your own home. You can change between servers with a single click and stream anything you like without lags, disruptions, or proxy errors.
We will highlight our experiences with some of the most popular streaming services below!
ExpressVPN and Netflix
While conducting our ExpressVPN review, we tested ExpressVPN’s servers for various international Netflix libraries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. It didn’t take more than a couple of seconds to establish a VPN connection, and the streaming experience was seamless.
We verified ExpressVPN’s unblocking capacities by looking for shows that are exclusively available in certain Netflix libraries. As you can see, we unblocked access to all fifteen seasons of Supernatural, which is only available on Netflix USA.
Thanks to ExpressVPN’s fast servers, you won’t even have to wait for any stream to buffer!
ExpressVPN and Hulu
Unblocking Hulu was a piece of cake with ExpressVPN! This US-based streaming service has some of the toughest geo-blocks in place, but ExpressVPN had no issue with it.
Stream Hulu originals from anywhere in the world. ExpressVPN has 24 server locations in the United States alone.
ExpressVPN and Prime Video
For access to Amazon Prime Originals like The Man in the High Castle or blockbuster classics like The Lord of the Rings, you can unblock Prime Video with ExpressVPN.
We had no issue getting access to Prime content and could stream without any lagging or buffering.
ExpressVPN and HBO Max
Not every VPN is able to unblock HBO Max, but ExpressVPN bypassed HBO Max geo-blocks easily. During our ExpressVPN review, we could establish our VPN connection within seconds and were able to stream in HD without any disruptions.
Even for streaming services that have been pushing back against VPN use, like HBO Max, ExpressVPN’s servers are no match!
Torrenting With ExpressVPN
If you start your day by firing up uTorrent, ExpressVPN is certainly the service for you. It allows anonymous P2P filesharing on all of its servers without any speed throttling.
Just make sure your kill switch is active, as a dropping connection that leaks your IP in the middle of downloading a torrent is never fun.
As always, we have to point out that we do not recommend or condone illegal torrenting. Downloading copyrighted content can cause serious legal repercussions. In some countries, it can even mean jail time. Luckily, ExpressVPN allows for safe torrenting and protects your traffic at all times.
ExpressVPN Servers and Locations
ExpressVPN’s server network isn’t the largest we’ve seen, but it does offer thousands of servers in 105 countries, giving you plenty of opportunities to bypass online censorship and freely access the internet.
The list of available locations was easy to access from the app’s home screen during our ExpressVPN review. When you click on the location shortcut underneath the on/off button, a list will appear next to the main window.
Here, you can see the locations you recently visited for easier access. You can also build a list of your favorite servers.
Moreover, the “Smart Location” tool will pick the optimal server for you based on your current location, ping, and connection speed. The “All Locations” tab shows you all available servers grouped by continents.
ExpressVPN offers servers in the following countries:
- Americas: Argentina, Bahamas, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela
- Europe: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom
- Asia Pacific: Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
- Middle East & Africa: Algeria (virtual via The Netherlands), Egypt, Ghana, Israel, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, South Africa
Good to Know:
Around 3% of ExpressVPN servers are“virtual servers.” While the IP address matches the country you’ve chosen, the server is physically located elsewhere. For example, if you connect to Slovenia, your traffic will be routed through a server in The Netherlands and given a Slovenian IP address. Some online services can determine when a virtual server is being used.
Notably, all of ExpressVPN’s servers run on TrustedServer technology, matching the VPN provider’s strict no-logs policy.
TrustedServer technology
Traditional VPN servers usually rely on hard drives, which store data until it is erased and rewritten. This raises the risk of hackers stealing sensitive information. ExpressVPN solved this problem by introducing its TrustedServer technology tool.
Instead of using hard drives, ExpressVPN servers run entirely on volatile memory (or RAM). All information on any server is erased the moment it’s powered off. This prevents both data and potential intruders from persisting on the machine.
This RAM-only approach also ensures that every server runs on the most up-to-date software. Every single ExpressVPN server is running the exact same code. This consistency makes the network much easier to manage and reduces the chance of vulnerabilities and misconfiguration.
TrustedServer tech was audited by PwC, and there was a $100,000 reward in ExpressVPN’s bug bounty program specifically for discovering security problems within TrustedServer.
Dedicated IP address
Unfortunately, ExpressVPN doesn’t offer dedicated IPs (or static IPs, for that matter), as we discovered during our ExpressVPN review. Dedicated IP addresses are tied to your account, so nobody else can use them. Your IP remains the same every time you connect.
The company opted for shared dynamic IP addresses. This means that you’ll get a different IP every time you connect to a server. It might even be the address you connected to before, depending on the availability. You share your IP with hundreds or thousands of active users.
Shared IPs are excellent for torrenting since your P2P traffic gets lost among that of other users with the same address. They ensure better privacy for the same reason. Having said that, to find that an ExpressVPN dedicated IP is not offered by the VPN provider (even for an extra fee) is surprising.
How Fast is ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN’s speed test results are very impressive! No matter what VPN server we connected to, we hit high speeds. More importantly, the VPN runs smoothly in the background during daily use without you even noticing.
Speed test results for ExpressVPN
We tested ExpressVPN from The Netherlands. We evaluated different ExpressVPN servers from around the globe to observe how download and upload speeds were affected based on the VPN server we used.
Note:
Results can vary based on your connection’s quality and your location. The values in the table below are an indication of potential speeds that ExpressVPN’s servers can offer.
Server | Download (Mbps) | Upload (Mbps) | Ping (ms) |
---|---|---|---|
No VPN | 202.36 | 247.17 | 4 |
The Netherlands | 192.04 | 229.51 | 7 |
Germany | 193.22 | 234.18 | 12 |
United Kingdom | 191.00 | 233.61 | 14 |
United States East (New York) | 173.36 | 220.93 | 96 |
United States West (Los Angeles) | 154.29 | 172.86 | 153 |
Canada | 184.68 | 154.16 | 91 |
Brazil | 119.00 | 127.66 | 214 |
South Africa | 129.82 | 86.71 | 181 |
Japan | 127.19 | 99.17 | 243 |
Australia | 114.67 | 98.49 | 260 |
Based on the speed tests we conducted during our ExpressVPN review, we can say that ExpressVPN servers offer users around the world some very good download and upload speeds.
Even for countries at a distance, ExpressVPN gave us some very good results throughout our tests. In countries close to our location, we barely lost any speed.
Generally, ExpressVPN maintains good speeds on faraway servers, too, even though the ping increased the further away we were from our location. Using a very distant VPN server may cause you to experience some lagging, though we didn’t experience any issues ourselves.
Is ExpressVPN Safe?
ExpressVPN is one of the safest VPNs you can choose. It supports strong VPN protocols, 256-bit encryption, and has a strict no-logs policy. On top of that, its additional security features work really well.
Secure VPNs anonymize your browsing and protect you from any prying eyes. In addition to masking your real IP address and encrypting your traffic, the best VPNs won’t log your data, which is exactly what ExpressVPN does.
Daniel Gericke controversy
ExpressVPN’s Chief Information Officer, Daniel Gericke, was fined for his role in UAE’s project “Raven” by the US Department of Justice. As a UAE mercenary hacker, he was supposedly involved in hack attacks against American citizens, political opponents, and human rights activists.
Although this occurred before Gericke’s involvement with ExpressVPN, his work on these surveillance practices caused worries in the community. In its official statement, ExpressVPN denounced the project itself but mentioned that “hiring an ex-offender is the best defense.” It shouldn’t cause too much concern, but in the interest of being thorough, we’ve flagged it to you.
Does ExpressVPN leak your data?
For this ExpressVPN review, we’ve run several tests to see if ExpressVPN suffers any leaks (IPv4/IPv6 leaks, DNS leaks, WebRTC leaks). When connecting to an ExpressVPN server in Washington, D.C., our IP address was changed to an ExpressVPN IP address within seconds.
Looking at the DNS server location list, there were no issues.
However, when running a WebRTC leak test, we did notice a potential leak. On various servers and devices, we kept getting the same notification: “WebRTC IP doesn’t match your Remote IP.”
After contacting ExpressVPN about this, they suggested using their browser extension since “it disables the browser’s WebRTC by default.”
While the browser extension, indeed, did not show any WebRTC leaks, ExpressVPN’s regular client can’t guarantee this. We certainly consider this a flaw and hope ExpressVPN will be able to change this in the future.
Can you sign up to ExpressVPN anonymously?
To create an account with ExpressVPN, you only need an email address and a payment method. This means you can stay completely anonymous if you use a fresh email (without any identifiers) and pay with Bitcoin.
For optimal privacy, we recommend using a secure email service.
Logging policy
ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands. While formally part of the UK, this region is governed by its own legislation. The absence of mandatory data retention laws makes it a VPN-friendly location.
It’s also not a participant of the Eyes Alliance, where member nations share information with each other regarding the internet activity of online users.
ExpressVPN doesn’t keep any harmful user logs. This is fortunate, as the BVI Supreme Court can order a company to disclose customer records. Even if that does happen, ExpressVPN won’t have any IP addresses, traffic data, browsing history, or DNS queries to hand over.
ExpressVPN does collect some information – but it’s harmless:
- Account information: Email and payment method (remain anonymous by providing a newly-made email and paying for your ExpressVPN subscription with Bitcoin)
- Aggregate VPN usage statistics: Your app version, successful connections on a particular day (without specifying the time), your country/ISP (but not your real IP), the ExpressVPN servers you connected to (but not the outgoing VPN IP address), and the total sum of data transferred
- Anonymous app diagnostics: VPN connection diagnostics, usability diagnostics, speed test results, and crash reports (sharing this data is optional, and you can turn this function off at any moment)
- Customer support records: Any correspondence with ExpressVPN’s customer support as well as your country, operating system, and anything else that can help with troubleshooting
The above qualifies ExpressVPN as one of the best no-logging VPNs. While they collect some harmless data to keep the service running, it’s nothing that could personally identify you.
Of course, you have the right to access, transfer, correct, delete, and object to the processing of your personal data. All you have to do is contact the company at support@expressvpn.com and inform them.
Protocols and encryption
The flexibility and performance of your VPN will largely hinge on its VPN protocols. They ensure consistent speeds and allow you to bypass online censorship and unblock Netflix US, for example.
ExpressVPN supports the following protocols:
- OpenVPN (TCP/UDP): The most popular open-source VPN protocol that meets the needs of most VPN users, with an excellent speed-security balance. You can use TCP to tackle obstacles like the Great Firewall of China.
- L2TP/IPSec: Fast and somewhat secure but resource-intensive and easy to block. To be used as a last resort, we don’t recommend it unless you have high internet speeds.
- IKEv2: This protocol is very fast and less CPU-intensive than OpenVPN. It’s perfect for mobile users, as it can switch between mobile and Wi-Fi networks without dropping your connection.
- Lightway (TCP/UDP): ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol which mirrors WireGuard’s speeds while adding TCP support, obfuscation, and better privacy. The protocol was independently audited by Cure53. Similar to IKEv2, Lightway won’t skip a beat when you switch between networks or lose signal.
ExpressVPN uses the AES-256 cipher to scramble your online traffic. This is the most secure encryption method we have today. It’s also used by the military, banks, hospitals, and other institutions that need to protect highly sensitive data.
Apart from AES, Lightway also supports the ChaCha20 cipher. AES has excellent hardware acceleration, though, and it will be available on most of your devices. So Lightway will resort to ChaCha20 only on entry-level mobile devices and low-powered routers.
If you’re not sure about the best protocol, you can let the ExpressVPN client pick one automatically. It will determine the best option based on your connection speed, location, and hardware configuration. When testing for our ExpressVPN review, the provider chose the best ExpressVPN server for us.
Kill switch
ExpressVPN’s kill switch worked effectively for us.
Any VPN can suffer a temporary drop in connection. Even a two-second stutter is enough for your real IP to leak. That’s why the best VPNs have a kill switch. This fail-safe blocks all internet traffic until your VPN protection is restored.
ExpressVPN has an automatic kill switch on Windows, Mac, Linux, and routers. Note that they call it “Network Lock,” which is just a fancy name for a kill switch. You can disable it on Windows, Mac, and Linux, but not on routers – note that we don’t recommend doing this.
We tested the kill switch manually by using an IP address tool when disconnecting and reconnecting to our network. Our real IP address never leaked through.
What’s more, ExpressVPN’s kill switch supports full leak-proofing that guarantees to block all non-VPN traffic. Unfortunately, this will block some VPN features, like split tunneling, as we noticed when testing the VPN for our ExpressVPN review.
Obfuscation
ExpressVPN is advertised as a “stealth VPN,” which means that at least some of its servers provide “obfuscation” technology. The ExpressVPN obfuscated servers will mask your VPN traffic to look like regular browsing.
Note:
Some websites and services, such as Netflix, discourage VPN use. With stealth servers, even deep packet inspection won’t know that you’re using a VPN. This makes it less likely you’ll be blocked.
With Surfshark, for example, obfuscation (which they call “Camouflage”) activates automatically when you switch to OpenVPN. But information about ExpressVPN’s obfuscation tech is surprisingly scarce.
We’ve confirmed that ExpressVPN’s obfuscation activates automatically when it detects deep packet inspection. In other words, it all happens without you even knowing it.
Password manager
ExpressVPN’s built-in password manager is “ExpressVPN Keys.” It’s also available as a Chrome browser extension on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Password managers help you store and create secure passwords.
ExpressVPN Keys uses zero-knowledge encryption, meaning you’re the only person with access to your login details.
Like most premium password managers, Keys lets you paste your passwords anywhere in just a few clicks. You can save an unlimited number of logins, so you’ll never have to memorize another password again.
Split tunneling
ExpressVPN offers split tunneling, allowing you to pick which apps are routed through the VPN and which can connect directly to the internet. You can find this option in the “General Settings” tab in your client.
During our ExpressVPN review, we discovered that you can set up split tunneling in two ways:
- Exclude programs: Do you want all your apps except Firefox to use the VPN? Then, you can set up ExpressVPN so that only Firefox doesn’t pass through the encrypted VPN tunnel.
- Allow only a few programs: This can be useful when you only want your VPN for things like downloading torrents. You can add the torrent software to ExpressVPN’s split tunnel settings.
Split tunneling conserves your bandwidth and boosts your connection speed. Encrypted traffic runs slower, which means it uses more bandwidth. With split tunneling, you can use trusted apps and sites without VPN protection.
Threat Manager and ad blocker
With ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager tool, you can prevent websites and apps from tracking your online activity and sharing it with (unknown) third parties. You can activate it via the Options menu in your ExpressVPN client.
Additionally, ExpressVPN has recently rolled out a new ad blocker feature, which filters ads and stops them from loading in your browser.
The ad blocker is part of a set of improvements ExpressVPN has made. This also includes the option to block access to explicit content (Options > Settings > Advanced Protection) as well as automatic updates for the desktop app, which will ensure your security features are always up-to-date.
Is ExpressVPN Easy to Use?
Even if this is your first time using a VPN, you’ll have no issues navigating ExpressVPN’s site and apps.
The installation is quick on all devices and operating systems. ExpressVPN’s mobile and desktop apps are beginner-friendly, uncluttered, and intuitive. You can have up to eight simultaneous connections, and there’s 24/7 customer support to help you with any issues.
ExpressVPN on Windows
Installing ExpressVPN was a quick and effortless process for us, with an installation wizard to guide us. We checked out the native apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and certain routers.
For this ExpressVPN review, we mostly tested the Windows app. Installation can be done in a few quick steps:
- Go to ExpressVPN’s website.
- Click on “Get Started” in the top-right corner.
- Pick your subscription option.
- Provide the required information (email and payment method).
- Download the setup file for your system.
- Click on the downloaded file to install ExpressVPN.
- After installation, enter your activation code.
Pro Tip:
During installation, you’ll be asked two questions.
- “Do you want ExpressVPN to start with Windows?“
- “Do you want to share crash reports, speed tests, usability diagnostics, and whether VPN connection attempts succeeded?“
We recommend choosing “Yes” to the first question, but selecting “No” for the second option if you’d prefer to share as little data as possible.
ExpressVPN’s client is sleek and professional – a lack of complicated options on the main dashboard makes it extremely beginner-friendly. Everything “regular users” might need is right there on the screen. Some advanced options are available in the hamburger menu in the top-left corner.
The main window features a prominent on/off button and a shortcut to switch between ExpressVPN servers. We noticed that the Windows client also displays some interesting articles from the company’s blog at the very bottom.
On the “My Account” page on the ExpressVPN website, you can find your personal dashboard. Here, you can edit your payment method, download ExpressVPN apps for supported platforms, view invoices, get your referral link, tinker with the DNS settings, and change your password.
You can also view your subscription details and manage subscription settings from the ExpressVPN app.
You also have the option to set up ExpressVPN manually with OpenVPN or L2TP/IPSec. However, we don’t recommend this unless you know exactly what you’re doing.
ExpressVPN can be used with Android TV, Fire TV & Kindle Fire, gaming consoles, Apple TV, Chromebook, and many other platforms. Additionally, it supports one of the best browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
With all this in mind, we can say that ExpressVPN’s setup is beginner-friendly and streamlined to perfection. We especially like the fact that you can register an account and purchase a subscription in a single step.
Customer Service
During our ExpressVPN review, we found ExpressVPN’s customer service team helpful but not always knowledgeable.
When it comes to ExpressVPN’s customer support, there are several ways you can get support:
- There’s a knowledge base on the website, which includes setup guides and troubleshooting tips.
- You can reach out via the 24/7 live chat feature.
- It’s also possible to contact the support team via email at support@expressvpn.com.
You’ll be able to solve most problems you run into based on the information on the website. However, the search function needs a bit of work. We often got results that had nothing to do with our search terms. The FAQ section also feels somewhat modest.
Moreover, the company maintains a 24/7 live chat, which is a huge plus in our book. This tool is available to both paying customers and random visitors. During our testing for this ExpressVPN review, we only had to wait a couple of seconds before a support operator got back to us.
They were always very pleasant and willing to help but not always very knowledgeable.
Note that we couldn’t get the live chat window to work while our ad blocker was active. ExpressVPN’s live chat is provided by a third-party platform called SnapEngage. It uses eight necessary cookies, and you won’t be able to start the live chat if you’re blocking them.
Finally, you can send emails and support tickets to ExpressVPN. These services are provided by a third-party platform called Zendesk. When communicating via email, we got an expert response within a few hours. We received helpful advice right away!
ExpressVPN’s money-back guarantee: How to get a refund
ExpressVPN gives you the opportunity to get your money back within 30 days of when you first subscribe to the service. To do this, all you have to do is contact customer support through email or ExpressVPN’s live chat function and request a full refund.
If you are thinking of using ExpressVPN, you can purchase a subscription and try out all of the services provided for 30 days. It is essentially like getting a free trial with ExpressVPN. And if you decide not to continue using the VPN, you can use their money-back policy to cancel ExpressVPN.
Important:
If you’ve downloaded the ExpressVPN app through the Google Play Store or App Store, you won’t be eligible for the 30-day money-back guarantee!
Comparisons With Other VPNs
To see how ExpressVPN compares to other VPN providers, have a look at our comparison table below.
VPN | |||||
Score | 9.3 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.6 |
Price | $ 2.99 | $ 1.99 | $ 6.67 | $ 2.03 | $ 2.03 |
Operating systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux |
Connections | 6 | Unlimited | 8 | 7 | Unlimited |
Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, Lightway | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP/IPsec, PPTP |
Compatibilities | |||||
Visit NordVPN | Visit Surfshark | Visit ExpressVPN | Visit CyberGhost | Visit Private Internet Access (PIA) |
Do We Recommend ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN holds an unwavering spot on our list of the best VPNs. Throughout years of repeated testing, we’ve rarely had a negative experience with this VPN service. We’ve consistently seen lightning-fast speeds that support any activity and connections that hold strong.
A solid no-logging policy and RAM-only servers backed up with 256-bit AES encryption offer us great reassurance any time we test this virtual private network. While they’ve suffered one or two security faux pas, we’ve yet to see proof of any negative impact.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows – all of this comes at a cost, and ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPN services. You can find similar functionality from VPN apps like NordVPN for a lower price.
Still, our ExpressVPN review revealed that this VPN provider is one of the best beginner-friendly services, with the most intuitive applications and streamlined installations. Most importantly, we’re confident in ExpressVPN’s ability to secure your privacy and protect your online activities.
Do you have a quick question about ExpressVPN? We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about ExpressVPN down below. Simply click on a question to view the answer.
Yes! ExpressVPN will secure your online traffic with AES 256-bit encryption and the safest VPN protocols. ExpressVPN also can’t log any information because of their TrustedServer technology: everything is instantly deleted, so nobody can see what you’re doing online.
Yes, you can watch (American) Netflix with ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN has plenty of extremely fast servers all over the world, which makes it easy to stream Netflix content wherever you are, as we discovered through our ExpressVPN review.
You can easily and anonymously download torrents with ExpressVPN. Because of the incredible speed of their servers, you’ll be able to download the torrents you want pretty fast. You’ll also be able to enjoy the protection of ExpressVPN as it offers excellent safety features.
ExpressVPN does not offer dedicated IP addresses. Many people use a dedicated IP to watch Netflix with their VPN. With ExpressVPN you won’t need a dedicated IP address to do that.
If you want a dedicated IP address to avoid CAPTCHAs and other forms of extra verification, you can look for a VPN that does offer dedicated IP addresses, such as NordVPN.
An ExpressVPN subscription costs $6.67 per month. ExpressVPN is a bit more expensive than most other VPN providers. However, it does give you the best of the best in terms of quality.
Got this service to access Netflix Asia. It’s not guaranteed that you’ll get a server on that region even though the app says you’re connected.
The exp. date is for 2022 but ExpressVPN is not working. Please Help!
Hey Myron, if you're having trouble with ExpressVPN, you should contact their own support on their website, here.
Does ExpressVPN hold up in 2021?
So far it still holds op. They have recently changed their branding and tweaked their software and we're still looking into that, but o far it seems like they still hold up really well!
Very helpful. I would like to join.
If you want to get a subscription to ExpressVPN, you can do so by visiting their website by clicking here.
Good quality, although kill switch is triggered quite often. But I guess that is what it's for, probably doing it's job when my connection is somewhat unstable. Pretty pleased with ExpressVPN so far.
Thank you for sharing your experience! If your connection is unstable, the kill switch will indeed be triggered quite regularly. This does make sure that none of your online data will slip past your secure connection, however. We're glad you're enjoying ExpressVPN! It's one of our absolute favorite providers.