ExpressVPN Review
The fastest VPN we've ever tested. At a price.
ExpressVPN has held the speed record in every test we've run. The proprietary Lightway protocol — open-sourced and independently audited — is demonstrably faster than WireGuard on most real-world connections. The tradeoff is price: it's the most expensive mainstream VPN by a significant margin.
Our scores
ExpressVPN
Overall score — April 2026
ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN we've tested and the easiest to use — but at $8.32/month it's nearly twice the price of NordVPN. Justified only if raw speed or near-zero setup friction is your primary requirement.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fastest speeds we've recorded — 98% speed retention on nearby servers
- Lightway protocol (proprietary, open-source) is genuinely fast and audited
- Consistently unblocks all major streaming platforms
- MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) works on devices that can't run a VPN app
- Industry-first TrustedServer technology — RAM-only, no hard drive data
Cons
- $8.32/month is the most expensive mainstream VPN — hard to justify vs. NordVPN
- Only 8 simultaneous connections
- No ad blocker or additional security features
- Acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021 — privacy advocates have concerns
Speed
755 Mbps
Download
510 Mbps
Upload
7 ms
Latency
98%
Speed kept
755 Mbps average download, 98% speed retention. Lightway maintains performance even on cross-continent routes where WireGuard competitors drop to 60-70% of base speed. Latency overhead of just 7ms on nearby servers.
Tested: . 1 Gbps base connection.
Privacy & Security
Incorporated in the British Virgin Islands — good jurisdiction. TrustedServer technology uses RAM-only servers, verified by auditors. However, the 2021 acquisition by Kape Technologies (which owns other VPNs and previously distributed adware) is a legitimate concern for privacy-first users.
Streaming
The best streaming unblocking rate we've tested — 100% success rate across Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime over 6 months of testing. MediaStreamer lets smart TVs and game consoles use the VPN without installing an app.
Pricing
$12.95/mo
Monthly
$8.32/mo
Annual plan
billed annually
At $8.32/month on the annual plan, it's 2.4× the price of NordVPN's 2-year plan. Unless you're getting the speed or streaming-specific benefits, the cost is hard to justify. Good for professional or high-stakes users who need maximum reliability.
User Ratings
4.5/5
Trustpilot
18k reviews
4.2/5
Google Play
120k ratings
4.6/5
App Store
80k ratings
48%
Community
Reddit sentiment
Ratings sourced from Trustpilot, Google Play Store, and Apple App Store. Community score is derived from Reddit/r/VPN sentiment analysis. Scores are aggregated periodically and may not reflect real-time data.
Verdict
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for raw speed and streaming unblocking — but the price and Kape Technologies ownership are real downsides. If you need the fastest possible connection for streaming in restrictive countries, it's worth the premium. For everyday privacy, NordVPN or Mullvad offer better value.
ExpressVPN vs. Alternatives
| Feature | ExpressVPN8.6/10 | NordVPN9.2/10 | Surfshark9/10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Score | 8.6 | 9.2 | 9 |
| Monthly Price | $8.32/mo | $3.39/mo | $2.19/mo |
| Servers | 3,000+ | 6,400+ | 3,200+ |
| Countries | 105 | 111 | 100 |
| Simultaneous Devices | 8 | 10 | Unlimited |
| Speed (tested) | 755 Mbps (98%) | 730 Mbps (96%) | 695 Mbps (91%) |
| No-Logs Policy | |||
| Independently Audited | |||
| Kill Switch | |||
| Ad Blocker | |||
| Streaming | |||
| Torrenting / P2P | |||
| Port Forwarding | |||
| Obfuscation | |||
| Double VPN | |||
| RAM-Only Servers | |||
| Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | Panama (outside 5/9/14 Eyes) | Netherlands (EU jurisdiction) |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
All data verified April 2026.