ExpressVPN is a virtual private network service offering fast speeds and a user-friendly interface. Plans come with a money-back guarantee within 30 days of sign-up, access to servers in more than 90 countries and 24/7 customer support.
For day-to-day personal use, ExpressVPN meets a wide range of needs, but it has limited functionality for businesses – and intentionally so.
Those who are looking for a dedicated IP address won’t find that with ExpressVPN, but users can take advantage of the compatibility across multiple types of devices and will be able to secure literally any device connected to their router by using ExpressVPN’s router app that is included in its subscription package.
Pros
- Highly configurable
- Supports a wide range of devices
- Reliable fast speeds
- 24/7 customer support
- Servers are available in over 160 cities in 105-plus countries
Cons
- Not the cheapest provider
- Not the best for Linux users
- Logs the amount of data transferred
![ExpressVPN](https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/fit-in/x/https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/expressvpn-red-horizontal-rgb-a9fa82f51ee51859e9976a866a34409c900cbd7d097ff816053e39022d5d554b.png)
At a glance
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPN services, due in part to its compatibility with most devices, its app for routers and large number of server locations. The company is privately held and headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, a country that’s considered privacy-friendly because it does not have any agreements to share data with other countries.
ExpressVPN offers one type of plan, which includes all available apps, unlimited bandwidth and 24/7 customer support. Pricing is £10.70 per month, with discounts offered for those who pay six months (£8.25 per month) or 12 months (£6.87 per month) in advance.
Users can take advantage of a 30-day free trial to test out ExpressVPN’s services. The company also offers more than 3,000 servers in more than 105 different countries, giving you the ability to choose the one offering the fastest speeds.
Privacy and security
In addition to hiding your IP address, ExpressVPN uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit keys, aka AES-256, to encrypt your data. The company also never keeps activity logs, including information on DNS queries, traffic destination and browsing history.
ExpressVPN also does not maintain any record of your connection logs, such as source IP address, connection timestamps and any ExpressVPN IP addresses your computer uses.
No-logs policy
ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy means it does not maintain any record of your connection logs, such as source IP address, session duration, connection timestamps and any ExpressVPN IP addresses your computer uses.
Multifactor authentication
ExpressVPN verifies user identity with multifactor authentication, which adds two or more identity-checking steps to user logins. This provides a major security boost to any online account, especially if a password is compromised.
Core features
Split tunnelling
Split tunnelling, available on all of ExpressVPN’s supported devices, allows you to choose what traffic goes through the VPN and what traffic goes directly to the internet. Not all VPNs offer this service.
ExpressVPN offers two different ways to take advantage of split tunnelling: Users can protect their information on an app-by-app basis, or they can choose a blanket protection approach and choose what apps they wish to exclude.
Network lock
ExpressVPN’s kill switch is called Network Lock and is used to help maintain your privacy and security. If for any reason your VPN connection drops, Network Lock will automatically block all online activity until your connection is restored. That way, your IP address and data won’t be exposed.
ExpressVPN app for routers
Setting up a VPN router is a simple way to secure all your devices on your Wi-Fi network and saves you time from installing a separate app on your devices. Users can purchase a router that’s preconfigured with ExpressVPN or install it themselves using a compatible router.
The app comes with your ExpressVPN subscription and can protect all your devices through the router on your network.
Technically speaking, ExpressVPN allows only five simultaneously connected devices, but all devices connected through the secure router – even smart TVs, printers and Wi-Fi connected light bulbs – are protected.
Anonymous browsing
ExpressVPN allows you to browse the internet anonymously by never logging your internet traffic or VPN connections. This ensures that nothing can match you with an IP address or timestamp. In addition, shared IP addresses cannot be traced back to you.
DNS protection measures
ExpressVPN uses a private DNS. Every VPN server runs its own encrypted DNS queries so that there is no chance of exposure to third parties. It also means potentially faster requests so that users can access faster speeds.
Dedicated IP
ExpressVPN does not offer dedicated, or static, IPs. Instead, ExpressVPN regularly rotates IP addresses from thousands of servers in dozens of locations around the world. This rotation increases user anonymity and safeguards privacy. Users are given the best possible IP available when they connect to the ExpressVPN server.
Kill switch
ExpressVPN’s kill switch is called Network Lock and is used to help maintain your privacy and security. If for any reason your VPN connection drops, Network Lock will automatically block all online activity until your connection is restored. That way, your IP address and data won’t be exposed.
Other benefits
Customers want a VPN service that’s fast, secure and offers the best protection against third-parties having access to sensitive information. Here are some additional features that makes ExpressVPN a solid choice:
- TrustedServer technology: ExpressVPN prevents apps or their operating systems from retaining data by using RAM or volatile memory. All data will be erased each time the server is powered off and on, preventing any data from remaining on ExpressVPN’s servers
- Private DNS: Every VPN server runs its own encrypted DNS queries so that there is no chance of exposure to third-parties. It also means potentially faster requests so that users can access faster speeds
- 24/7 support: Customers can access thorough tutorials and articles through the company’s support center. Support is also available through their live chat option 24/7.
ExpressVPN pricing and plans
ExpressVPN plans include all available apps, unlimited bandwidth and 24/7 customer support.
ExpressVPN has three pricing plans, but as with most VPN companies, the only difference between the plans is the length of commitment.
Monthly plans cost £10.70 each month, while the six-month plan costs £49.52 and the annual plan is £82.56. Unless you turn off the auto-bill option, you will automatically be re-billed at the end of the subscription period.
Each subscription comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
ExpressVPN setup
ExpressVPN’s setup process is simple. After signing up and paying for the service through ExpressVPN’s website, you will be invited to download the app. Once the app is downloaded, hit the On Button, and you’ll be instantly connected to the best location for your connection.
You can also pick a location from its global network. ExpressVPN’s website also offers step-by-step guides on how to install and use ExpressVPN on all your devices.
ExpressVPN speed and performance
ExpressVPN claims to consistently be one of the top VPNs for speed. Its proprietary VPN Lightway protocol was designed to make the VPN experience speedier.
The small print
Although ExpressVPN has a large number of servers, it does not allow as many devices running simultaneously compared to its competitors, some offering unlimited connections. However, using a VPN router allows you to connect to virtually all your devices.
How ExpressVPN stacks up
Comparing different VPN services makes sense since you want to ensure the plan you ultimately choose will protect your data and allows you to work at faster speeds. Two other contenders, NordVPN and Hotspot Shield offer similar features and competitive prices.
NordVPN offers a higher number of services and maximum number of simultaneous devices, but it does not offer the option of a VPN router like ExpressVPN. However, users who want a dedicated IP address will like that NordVPN offers this service for an extra £13.09 per month. (A discounted rate of £3.79 is available if you purchase a one-year plan or £2.99 if you buy a two-year plan.) For business users, NordVPN also offers a business tier subscription called Teams.
Hotspot Shield offers a similar number of servers as ExpressVPN for about the same price, but it has slightly lower user reviews. This option may be a solid choice for users having trouble committing, as it’s one of the only reputable VPNs with a free version. Though when it comes to privacy and security, we don’t recommend relying solely on a free VPN.
ExpressVPN Alternatives and How They Compare
Is ExpressVPN right for you or your business?
ExpressVPN is a service geared toward individuals first and foremost. In fact, it openly touts not providing business VPN services to best protect the privacy of individuals, not corporations.
However, ExpressVPN may still work for some small businesses in certain circumstances. ExpressVPN supports up to five devices simultaneously. Ostensibly, a business of five could use ExpressVPN for remote protection. Or, if the business has a centralised office, it may protect all devices connected to an ExpressVPN-compatible router.
Split tunnelling is also a useful feature for businesses who need to route some sensitive traffic through the VPN and some directly to the internet. However, those who are after additional protection such as a dedicated IP, a core business feature, will need to look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a VPN?
A virtual private network, or VPN, grants users a degree of online anonymity, security and privacy. It masks your IP address by establishing encrypted connections so that third parties can’t trace your online activity.
Will using a VPN slow my internet speed?
Using a VPN does slow down your speed a bit since it will add some additional steps to access the internet. These steps include connecting to a remote server as well as the encryption process – premium services are designed to minimise the gaps in speed.
What’s the benefit of having servers in different countries?
Using a server from different countries may allow you to bypass certain restrictions (such as blocked websites) depending on where you’re located.
Is ExpressVPN easy to use?
One of ExpressVPN’s highlights is the fact that its user interface is fairly consistent across all devices and easy to use.
The full-featured app works on the five most common operating systems—Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Linux. Some reviews have found that the setup on the Windows version and macOS version is intuitive, simple and easy to use while the Linux version is more complex to navigate and lacks some features.
Both the mobile and browser versions have been reported to be easy to navigate.
What devices is ExpressVPN compatible with?
One ExpressVPN subscription allows users to connect up to five different devices at a time.
These devices can be computers (laptops and desktops), mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, wireless routers, streaming media consoles, browsers, smart TVs and more.
It is important to note that users can install ExpressVPN on every device they own but are limited on how many may be actively connected at the same time.
Can ExpressVPN be used for streaming?
Some users are drawn to ExpressVPN specifically because of its reputation for being able to unlock any available content to watch online. The ExpressVPN app works on certain streaming media consoles including Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Chromecast with Google TV, Nintendo Switch and streaming media consoles that run on Android TV.
ExpressVPN gives users the ability to bypass content-based throttling and government censorship, meaning that users can watch shows or movies that are not available where they are located. The ability to stream and download content with unlimited bandwidth means users will have a smooth streaming experience free from throttling.
Are VPNs safe?
In general, yes, VPNs are safely used by millions of people all over the world. The vast majority of users are able to browse the web anonymously and without issue.
However, there have been times in which VPN providers have been compromised and had their customers’ information stolen. It is also worth noting that, depending on the provider’s country of origin, the VPN might be beholden to government surveillance programs.