ExpressVPN Review 2026

The Bottom Line

ExpressVPN remains one of the strongest all-round VPN services on the market. Speeds are consistently high across UK, US, and international servers, the Lightway protocol connects fast with minimal impact on your connection, and the service has expanded well beyond a simple VPN into a broader digital security suite.

Privacy credentials are solid: a no-logs policy independently audited multiple times, RAM-only TrustedServer infrastructure, and a BVI jurisdiction that sits outside data-sharing alliances. It unblocks the major streaming platforms reliably, and the apps cover practically every device you’re likely to own.

The pricing is higher than budget rivals on monthly billing, but the 2-year plan brings the cost into competitive territory. The new tiered plans (Basic, Advanced, Pro) mean you now pay for what you actually need.

Pros: Fast speeds, reliable connections, strong privacy credentials, excellent streaming unblocking, wide device support, new digital security suite included in higher tiers, ISO-certified security processes.

Cons: More expensive than most rivals on monthly billing, no WireGuard support, iOS app lacks split tunnelling, live chat requires an email address.

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1. Speed & Performance

How fast is ExpressVPN?

Speed and reliability have always been ExpressVPN’s strongest selling points, and after years of daily use that hasn’t changed. I’ve had no random disconnects or dropped connections across desktop or mobile, and real-world browsing and streaming have felt consistently smooth throughout testing.

To put numbers to that experience, I ran speed tests from a UK residential connection on a Windows system using ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol. My baseline unprotected connection speed was 510 Mbps.

Results across a selection of servers:

The European results are the real story here. Switzerland led the way at 416 Mbps, with the Netherlands close behind at 413 Mbps and the UK at 410 Mbps.

France and Sweden were slightly behind at 379 Mbps and 361 Mbps respectively, but all five European servers came in above 360 Mbps from a 500 Mbps base connection.

That is strong and consistent performance across the board, and noticeably more even than previous testing rounds where mid-range European servers were pulling noticeably lower numbers.

The US result is where things get more interesting. New York came in at 185 Mbps, which represents a significant drop from the European figures and a steeper transatlantic penalty than I would typically expect from ExpressVPN.

For streaming and browsing it is perfectly fine, but if you are regularly connecting to US servers for work or gaming it is worth being aware of. Server load and routing at the time of testing can play a role here, and this is something I will retest to see if it holds.

Australia at 163 Mbps is the lowest result, as you would expect from the longest route tested. In practical terms it is still above what HD streaming needs, so it remains usable for casual purposes.

For anything latency-sensitive like gaming on Australian servers from the UK though, you would feel the distance.

What do these speeds mean in practice?

For most users the numbers above are well beyond what any single activity demands. Here’s a rough guide to where different activities sit:

• Web browsing and email – Any server on this list is overkill. Even 20 Mbps is ample.
• HD streaming (1080p) – Netflix recommends 15 Mbps. Every server tested cleared this comfortably.
• 4K streaming – Typically requires 25 Mbps. Again, all servers passed easily.
• Online gaming – More dependent on latency than raw speed. UK and European servers performed well here; connecting via Australia or the US will add noticeable ping, which matters for competitive gaming.
• Torrenting large files – Even on the slower Nordic servers, you’d be downloading at speeds that saturate most home broadband connections. No issues here.
• Video calls – Zoom and Teams recommend around 3 Mbps for HD calls. Every server tested is well above that threshold.

I tested across a Windows desktop, a Google Pixel Pro, and an Amazon Fire TV Stick. Performance was consistent across all three. Lightway remains my protocol of choice, it connects fast and holds up well across both wired and Wi-Fi connections.

Smart Location

VPN speeds vary more than most people realise. Distance, server load, latency, and the quality of your own internet connection all play a part  and picking the optimal server manually often comes down to trial and error.

ExpressVPN’s Smart Location feature takes the guesswork out of this by automatically analysing available servers and recommending the best one for your current location and network conditions.

At home in the UK I tend to stick with familiar servers, but when travelling, particularly in Asia, where internet quality can be inconsistent and local infrastructure differs significantly from what you’re used to. I found that Smart Location made a meaningful difference. In most cases the server it recommended outperformed ones I chose manually.

It’s a genuinely useful feature for anyone who moves around, and a sensible default for new users who aren’t yet familiar with the server network.

If you prefer to select your own, then you’re free to do just that and I do tend to do that sometimes depending on my needs.

Does ExpressVPN keep logs?

ExpressVPN operates a no-logs policy, meaning they don’t retain records of your activity while connected. They do collect some minimal connection metadata, such as the amount of data transferred, connection time, and app version but this is standard practice across the industry and cannot be used to identify what you were doing online or which sites you visited.

What strengthens this further is their use of shared IP addresses. Multiple users share the same IP simultaneously, which makes it effectively impossible to tie any specific activity back to any individual user, even with the minimal data that is retained.

Their no-logs policy has been independently audited multiple times by firms including PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG, with the most recent audit of their privacy commitments in June 2025.

In 2025, ExpressVPN and the wider Kape Group achieved four internationally recognised ISO certifications: ISO/IEC 27001 (information security management), ISO 18295-1 and 18295-2 (customer support operations), and ISO 9001 (quality management).

The distinction between these and a standard audit is important: ISO certifications aren’t a single point-in-time check, they verify that security and privacy practices are embedded in ongoing daily operations and subject to continuous review.

For a privacy service, that’s a more meaningful long-term assurance than an audit alone.

A partnership between ExpressVPN and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in early 2026 has produced a tool that blocks access to child sexual abuse material across ExpressVPN’s entire network, without compromising their no-logs policy.

It’s a meaningful demonstration that privacy and online safety don’t have to be at odds with each other, and one of those rare developments we applaud without reservation.

How many devices can I use with ExpressVPN?

The number of simultaneous connections now depends on which plan you choose:

• Basic – 10 simultaneous devices
• Advanced – 12 simultaneous devices
• Pro – 14 simultaneous devices + a Dedicated IP included

This is a significant improvement over the previous flat limit of 8. There’s no cap on how many devices you can install the app on, the limit only applies to devices connected at the same time.

For context, a household with a couple of phones, a tablet, a laptop, and a Fire TV Stick is already at five concurrent devices. The Basic plan’s 10-device limit comfortably covers most families with room to spare.

In comparison:

• NordVPN – 10 connections
• Surfshark – Unlimited connections
• IPVanish – Unlimited connections
• VyprVPN – 10 connections

Where is ExpressVPN based?

ExpressVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a jurisdiction with no mandatory data retention laws. This means ExpressVPN has no legal obligation to record or hand over your data, something that matters most in scenarios where a government or law enforcement agency might attempt to compel a provider to share customer information.

The BVI is also outside both the 5-Eyes and 14-Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances, which means there’s no international treaty mechanism through which member countries like the US, UK, or Australia could demand access to ExpressVPN’s data.

ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies, which also owns Private Internet Access, CyberGhost VPN, and Zenmate, among others.

Kape was previously listed on the London Stock Exchange but delisted in 2023. It’s also worth noting that Kape’s publishing arm (Webselenese) owns several well-known VPN review sites including vpnMentor and Wizcase, something to be aware of when reading third-party coverage of ExpressVPN or any other Kape-owned product.

None of this has changed ExpressVPN’s BVI jurisdiction or its operational privacy stance, but transparency on ownership is useful context.

In comparison:

• NordVPN –  Panama
• Surfshark – Netherlands
• IPVanish – United States
• VyprVPN – United States
• CyberGhost VPN – Romania

Both Panama and BVI are considered strong privacy jurisdictions. Netherlands is adequate. US-based providers are the most exposed to legal data requests, which is relevant if government surveillance is a concern for you.

For most users, however, this won’t be much of an issue depending on why you’re using a VPN.

How is ExpressVPN’s customer support?

ExpressVPN offers support via live chat, support tickets, and direct email.

Their 24/7 live chat is the fastest route for most issues. I’ve found the team knowledgeable and responsive, when I had trouble with BBC iPlayer, they pointed me straight to a working server without any fuss.

Responses to straightforward queries tend to use standard templates, but more specific or technical questions get more considered answers.

One gripe: you’re now required to enter an email address to access live chat. For a privacy-focused service this feels at odds with the brand, though you can use a throwaway address if you prefer not to share your real one.

For more involved issues, email and support tickets tend to produce better results than live chat, you get a considered reply from someone with the right background, and you have space to explain the problem properly. Response times in my experience have been within an hour or two rather than days.

Their self-service help centre is also worth mentioning. It covers setup guides for every supported device and platform in detail, and for common issues like unblocking a specific streaming service or configuring split tunnelling, you’ll often find a clear answer there without needing to contact support at all.

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2. Server Network

ExpressVPN offers servers in 105 countries, spanning North, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Australasia, and a smaller presence in the Middle East and Africa.

They no longer advertise a specific server count, their focus has shifted to country coverage and connection quality, which I think is the more meaningful metric anyway. Raw server numbers can be inflated easily and tell you little about actual performance.

In comparison:

• NordVPN – 118 countries
• Surfshark – 100 countries
• IPVanish – 108 countries
• VyprVPN – 70 countries
• CyberGhost VPN – 100 countries

ExpressVPN’s 105-country coverage is among the widest available. For the vast majority of use cases, streaming, privacy, travelling,  you’re well covered. Where the network is thinner is in parts of Africa and the Middle East, which matters if those are the regions you specifically need access to or from.

ExpressVPN is one of the few services that maintains high-speed servers across both OpenVPN and Lightway protocols in almost all locations, rather than reserving the best performance for a single protocol.

3. Security & Privacy

What encryption and protocols does ExpressVPN use?

ExpressVPN supports OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), IKEv2 (on select platforms), and their own proprietary Lightway protocol. Older protocols, PPTP, SSTP, and L2TP/IPSec have all been dropped from the apps.

All connections use AES-256 encryption, the same standard used by governments and financial institutions worldwide, with an RSA-2048 key for connection authentication. This is as robust as consumer VPN encryption gets.

Which protocol should you use?

This is a question I get asked often, so it’s worth breaking down the options:

Lightway is ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol and my default recommendation for most users. It’s built on the wolfSSL library (well-established in security-critical environments), uses significantly less code than OpenVPN making it easier to audit and maintain, connects faster than any other protocol I’ve tested, and handles reconnections after a network switch (like moving from Wi-Fi to mobile data) almost instantly.

Lightway has been open source since 2021 and audited most recently in 2024, meaning independent security researchers can inspect it. The latest version also includes post-quantum protections, future-proofing against the eventual capability of quantum computers to break current encryption standards.

For everyday use, streaming, and travel, Lightway is the one to use.

OpenVPN is the industry veteran, battle-tested over many years and universally trusted. It’s slower to connect and generally achieves lower throughput than Lightway, but it’s particularly useful in restrictive network environments like China, where Lightway can be inconsistent.

If you’re having trouble connecting in certain countries, switching to OpenVPN (UDP for speed, TCP for reliability) is worth trying.

IKEv2 is available on iOS and some other platforms. It’s fast and handles network transitions well, making it a reasonable choice on mobile. It’s more limited in configurability than the other two but works well for general use.

What about WireGuard? ExpressVPN does not support WireGuard.

This is a conscious choice, Lightway is their alternative and they’ve invested significantly in it. In my testing, Lightway connects faster than WireGuard-based implementations on competing apps and achieves comparable speeds. But if WireGuard specifically is important to you, NordVPN and Surfshark both offer it.

DNS leak testing

I ran DNS leak tests across three testing sites, DNSLeakTest.com, DNSLeak.com, and IPX.ac and found no DNS leaks in any test.

This means your browsing activity stays within the VPN tunnel and your ISP cannot see the domains you visit.

DNS leaks are a meaningful privacy risk. Even without knowing the content of your traffic, a leak would allow your ISP to log every domain name you visit.

This matters more than it might sound, if you’re visiting medical information sites, financial services, or anything else you’d rather keep private, your ISP can build a detailed picture of your behaviour from domain names alone, even without seeing page content.

TrustedServer technology

ExpressVPN runs all servers on RAM only, no hard drives. This means every time a server reboots, all data is completely and automatically wiped. There’s nothing to persist between sessions, nothing to seize, and no residual connection data left behind.

The practical implication: even if a server were physically compromised by a third party, a reboot restores a completely clean state. Any backdoor or modification an attacker had installed would vanish.

This has been independently audited and verified, and it remains one of ExpressVPN’s strongest technical differentiators, it is becoming more common but it’s still not a universal standard across the industry.

It’s probably one of my favourite security features of ExpressVPN.

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4. Apps

ExpressVPN has apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, and a wide range of smart TV platforms. A consistent design language across all of them means once you’re familiar with one app, you’ll find the others immediately intuitive.

Android app

The home screen connects you in a single tap. Your two most recently used server locations appear on the main screen for quick reconnection, and a full server list is one click away, split into recommended and all-locations views.

The Shortcuts feature lets you pin apps to the ExpressVPN home screen, so you can launch them immediately after connecting without navigating back to your phone’s home screen. This is particularly useful for banking apps or streaming services where you always want the VPN active before opening them.

Key Android features:

• Split tunnelling – Choose specific apps to bypass the VPN. Useful for banking apps or services that block VPN connections, letting you keep protection where you want it and drop it where you don’t.
• Network Lock (kill switch) – Cuts your internet connection if the VPN drops, preventing your real IP from being exposed. Activates automatically.
• Protocol switching – Toggle between Lightway, OpenVPN UDP, and OpenVPN TCP within the app settings.
• In-app live support – Access the support team directly from within the app without needing to open a browser.

iOS app

The iOS app mirrors the Android layout closely, which makes switching between devices seamless. Connection is a single tap, and the server list uses the same recommended/all-locations structure.

iOS users get a 7-day free trial not available on other platforms, worth using if you want to test the service before paying.

There are some platform-level limitations worth knowing before you commit.

The iOS app is restricted to IKEv2, this is an Apple constraint rather than an ExpressVPN choice, and IKEv2 performs well for general use. However, it does mean you can’t use Lightway on iPhone.

Split tunnelling is also absent on iOS, again due to Apple’s platform restrictions. The Network Protection kill switch is available.

Desktop apps

Windows, Mac, and Chromebook apps all share a consistent interface with the mobile apps. Connection is fast, the server list is well organised, and the settings area exposes a full range of options without being overwhelming.

Key desktop features:

• Kill switch (Network Lock) – Activates automatically on install. Blocks all internet traffic if the VPN drops.
• Split tunnelling – Select individual apps or websites to exclude from the VPN tunnel.
• Obfuscated servers – Disguise VPN traffic to look like regular HTTPS, useful in countries that block VPN protocols.
• DNS and IPv6 leak protection – Both active by default.
• System tray minimisation – Hide the app from the taskbar entirely. A small detail, but it keeps things clean and doesn’t broadcast that you’re running a VPN.

In connection speed comparisons against other desktop VPN apps, ExpressVPN consistently connects faster, something I attribute to Lightway’s lean architecture.

App feature comparison at a glance

Feature	Android	iOS	Windows	Mac	Fire TV
Lightway protocol	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓
OpenVPN	✓	✗	✓	✓	✗
IKEv2	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗
Kill switch	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗
Split tunnelling	✓	✗	✓	✓	✗
Ad/tracker blocking	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Obfuscated servers	✓	✗	✓	✓	✗

The iOS limitations stand out on paper, but it’s worth reiterating that most are platform constraints rather than ExpressVPN choices.

If iOS is your primary device and split tunnelling or Lightway are important to you, that’s worth factoring into your decision.

Fire TV and other devices

The Fire TV app is genuinely one of my favourites across any VPN provider. It’s been redesigned and is now both better-looking and easier to use than its previous version.

The standout feature is the app launch bar, displayed immediately after connecting, it gives you one-tap access to your most-used streaming apps without navigating back to the Fire TV home screen.

Given how clunky the Fire TV interface can be, this is a real quality-of-life improvement for streamers and a feature I make huge use of when watching TV.

Beyond Fire TV, ExpressVPN also supports Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, Chromecast, Android TV, and Nvidia Shield.

Setup guides are available for Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox. Linux is supported via a command-line app.

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5. Streaming

Streaming is where ExpressVPN is arguably strongest relative to the competition. Many VPNs that perform well on speed and privacy tests fall down here because streaming platforms actively block VPN IP addresses.

ExpressVPN puts consistent effort into staying ahead of those blocks. I tend to use their service more times than not for my streaming needs, and in all honestly it’s because they work 9 times out of 10 for what I want to watch.

There is only an odd occasion where I’ve needed to switch to another provider for streaming on a regular basis and often within a few weeks if I come back to ExpressVPN they’re now working again with that particular service.

Other streaming services

In ongoing testing, ExpressVPN has reliably unblocked: Hulu, YouTube TV, Peacock, Paramount+, NBC Sports, Sky Go, ITV X, TNT Sport, Channel 4, 10Play (Australia), and 7Plus (Australia), among others.

Fubo Canada works well too with no issues when I’ve been connecting to their Toronto servers.

Overall, ExpressVPN is one of the strongest performers for streaming unblocking I’ve tested across any VPN service. It’s not infallible, but it’s more consistently reliable across a wider range of platforms than most of its competitors.

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6. Pricing and Plans

ExpressVPN now offers three tiers, Basic, Advanced, and Pro, each available across three billing periods. All prices shown are in US dollars; when you visit the ExpressVPN website you’ll be shown pricing in your local currency.

What’s included in each plan?

Basic – The core VPN with Lite Protection (ad and malicious site blocking), 10 simultaneous devices, and 10 ExpressMailGuard email aliases. This is the no-frills option if you want the VPN and nothing else.

Advanced – Everything in Basic, plus: Advanced Protection (ads, trackers, malicious sites, and more), the ExpressKeys password manager, 100 ExpressMailGuard aliases, Identity Defender with 5 alerts, and 3 holiday.com credits. Covers 12 simultaneous devices. This is the most popular tier and the one I’d recommend for most users.

Pro – Everything in Advanced, plus 14 simultaneous devices, a Dedicated IP included as standard, unlimited ExpressMailGuard aliases, 11 Identity Defender alerts, and 5 holiday.com credits.

How much does ExpressVPN cost?

Monthly billing:

• Basic – $12.99/mo
• Advanced – $13.99/mo
• Pro – $19.99/mo

12-month plan (billed as 15 months – 12 months + 3 free):

• Basic – $3.49/mo ($52.39 total for first 15 months)
• Advanced – $4.19/mo ($62.89 total for first 15 months)
• Pro – $6.29/mo ($94.39 total for first 15 months)

2-year plan (billed as 28 months – 24 months + 4 free):

• Basic – $2.44/mo ($68.40 total for first 28 months)
• Advanced – $3.14/mo ($88.00 total for first 28 months)
• Pro – $5.24/mo ($146.80 total for first 28 months)

All plans renew at full annual pricing after the initial term. That’s worth factoring in, the renewal rate is significantly higher than the promotional rate, so either set a reminder to review before it renews or treat the long-term price as the one you’re committing to.

Which plan should you choose?

For most users, the 2-year Advanced plan at $3.14/month is the best overall value. The step up from Basic adds the password manager, enhanced tracker blocking, and email aliasing, tools that have genuine standalone value.

If you’re already paying for a separate password manager, this alone could offset the difference in cost.

The Pro plan makes most sense if you were planning to pay for a dedicated IP add-on separately, or if you need the maximum device count.

If you only want the VPN and nothing else, the 2-year Basic plan at $2.44/month brings ExpressVPN into competitive pricing territory with most mainstream rivals.

All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked and I’ve seen no complaints of users unable to get refunds which often happens with some other providers.

Payment options: Credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Bitcoin/crypto via BitPay. Options vary by region.

7. ExpressVPN’s Digital Security Suite

This is the biggest product shift since my last review. ExpressVPN is no longer just a VPN, it’s expanding into a broader digital security and privacy suite, with additional tools bundled into the Advanced and Pro tiers.

ExpressKeys – A zero-knowledge password manager. Your passwords are encrypted locally before they leave your device, meaning ExpressVPN never has access to them. Included in Advanced and Pro plans. If you’re currently paying separately for 1Password, Bitwarden Premium, or similar, this alone makes the Advanced tier worth considering.

ExpressMailGuard – An email aliasing and encrypted relay service. Create disposable email addresses for signups that forward to your real inbox. This keeps your actual address out of the hands of data brokers and reduces spam exposure. Limit varies by plan: 10 aliases on Basic, 100 on Advanced, unlimited on Pro.

Identity Defender (US users only, currently) – Monitors data breaches and alerts you if your personal information appears in leaked datasets. Available in Advanced (5 alerts) and Pro (11 alerts). A standalone app is in development.

ExpressAI (coming soon) – A private AI platform built on confidential computing, designed so that your prompts and data remain inaccessible even to ExpressVPN. Details are limited at this stage, but the privacy-first positioning is consistent with the rest of the product.

These are practical tools with genuine utility, not just features added to justify tiered pricing. The question to ask yourself is whether any of them replace something you’re already paying for, if so, the maths on the Advanced tier ($3.14/month on 2-year) looks very different.

8. Verdict

After years of testing, ExpressVPN continues to sit at the top of the market. The core product, speeds, reliability, security architecture, and streaming performance remains excellent. The privacy credentials are as strong as they’ve ever been, and the 2025 ISO certifications add a meaningful layer of ongoing accountability that goes beyond what most competitors offer.

The move into a broader digital security suite is significant. Bundling a password manager, email aliasing service, and identity monitoring alongside the VPN changes ExpressVPN’s value proposition meaningfully, particularly for users who are currently paying for those tools separately.

The new hybrid browser extension with Smart Routing deserves a specific mention, being able to assign different VPN locations to individual browser tabs is a genuinely novel feature that solves a real problem for anyone who regularly accesses content from multiple regions.

Where it falls short: Monthly pricing remains expensive. iOS lacks split tunnelling and Lightway. There’s no WireGuard. Live chat requires an email address, a minor but persistent irritant for a privacy-first service. And the connection device limit, while improved, still falls behind Surfshark and IPVanish on unlimited tiers.

My recommendation: If you want the best overall premium VPN and increasingly, more than just a VPN, ExpressVPN justifies the cost, particularly on the 2-year plan. The 30-day money-back guarantee means there’s no risk in finding out for yourself.

ExpressVPN has been my go-to provider for many years and I’m still using them on a daily basis for privacy reasons and streaming. A nod to their service is that I use them personally for 9/10 of my reasons and only switch when needed.

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What do users think?

ExpressVPN holds a TrustScore of 4.0 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

vykTh0r: “Express VPN is a great product. It’s very easy to use and my connection speed took a much lighter hit than with other VPNs I tried prior.”

Benjamin Crompton: “Gives you a free trial where, 24 hours before your trial converts to a paid plan, they email you to remind you. If only more companies would do the same.”

Bob Keller: “Audrey stayed with me until the strange problem was resolved. She was very patient and worked through the issue professionally.”

Simon: “I’ve not been able to connect through ExpressVPN in China last month. I lose confidence in your service.”

Simon’s experience is a useful reminder: no VPN guarantees consistent access in China. If China is your primary use case, test it thoroughly within the 30-day guarantee window.

Have you used ExpressVPN? Let us know your experience in the comments below.

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• What is a VPN? The Ultimate Guide
• Does ExpressVPN work with Netflix?
• Does ExpressVPN keep logs?