ExpressVPN Review: Is It Still Worth the Premium Price?
We tested ExpressVPN across Windows, Android, and iOS for 30 days — measuring real-world speeds, security, and ease of use. Here's what we found.
At a Glance
✓ What We Liked
- Consistently fast speeds across 94 countries
- Proprietary Lightway protocol — quick reconnects
- Excellent app design on every platform
- Independently audited no-logs policy (PwC, Cure53)
- Works reliably with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+
- 24/7 live chat support — responsive and knowledgeable
✗ Room for Improvement
- One of the pricier options on the market
- Only 8 simultaneous connections (some rivals offer unlimited)
- Owned by Kape Technologies — worth noting for transparency
- No multi-hop / double-VPN feature
What Is ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN is one of the most established names in the consumer VPN space, first launched in 2009. It is now owned by Kape Technologies, the same company that also owns CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and Zenmate. The service operates out of the British Virgin Islands — a jurisdiction with no mandatory data-retention laws.
The company markets itself primarily on speed and reliability, and in our testing, those claims largely hold up. Its Lightway protocol, developed in-house, is built on the wolfSSL cryptographic library and delivers noticeably faster reconnection times than OpenVPN or WireGuard equivalents.
According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, using a VPN is one of the most practical steps internet users can take to limit what their ISP can see about their browsing. ExpressVPN's audited no-logs architecture is designed with exactly this goal in mind.
Supported Protocols
ExpressVPN supports a wider range of protocols than most rivals, giving users genuine flexibility depending on their situation.
Lightway
ExpressVPN's own protocol built on wolfSSL. Faster connection times, lower battery drain, and automatic reconnection when you switch networks. Open-sourced on GitHub for community scrutiny.
- UDP or TCP transport
- Audited by Cure53
- Best for: everyday use, mobile
OpenVPN
The industry standard open-source protocol, available over UDP (faster) or TCP (more reliable through firewalls). Battle-tested and widely audited.
- AES-256-GCM encryption
- 4096-bit RSA certificate
- Best for: desktop power users
IKEv2/IPSec
Strong security with excellent performance on mobile devices. Handles network switches (e.g., Wi-Fi to LTE) gracefully due to the MOBIKE extension.
- SHA-512 HMAC authentication
- Auto-reconnects on network change
- Best for: iOS devices
L2TP/IPSec
A legacy option kept for compatibility with older devices and routers that don't support newer protocols. Generally not recommended if Lightway or OpenVPN is available.
- Available on most platforms
- Router-compatible
- Best for: legacy setups
Speed Test Results
We conducted speed tests from a 500 Mbps baseline connection, connecting to servers in multiple regions. Results show the percentage of baseline speed retained.
| Server Location | Download | Upload | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 New York | 468 Mbps (93%) | 441 Mbps (88%) | 12 ms |
| 🇬🇧 London | 452 Mbps (90%) | 428 Mbps (86%) | 8 ms |
| 🇩🇪 Frankfurt | 445 Mbps (89%) | 418 Mbps (84%) | 11 ms |
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo | 312 Mbps (62%) | 295 Mbps (59%) | 118 ms |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 328 Mbps (66%) | 302 Mbps (60%) | 94 ms |
| 🇧🇷 São Paulo | 241 Mbps (48%) | 218 Mbps (44%) | 142 ms |
Tests performed using Lightway UDP protocol. Results vary by ISP and time of day.
Security & Privacy
ExpressVPN uses AES-256-GCM encryption with perfect forward secrecy — each session gets a unique key so that even if one session's key is compromised, past sessions remain protected. The kill switch (called "Network Lock") cuts internet access if the VPN drops, preventing accidental exposure.
We ran a DNS leak test using dnsleaktest.com on three different servers and found no leaks in any configuration. The VPN correctly routed all DNS queries through its own encrypted DNS servers.
Audit History
- PwC audited the no-logs policy — no identifying data retained
- Cure53 audited the Lightway protocol source code
- KPMG audited TrustedServer technology (RAM-only servers)
- F-Secure audited browser extensions
The TrustedServer initiative is particularly notable: all VPN servers run exclusively on RAM, which means data cannot persist between reboots. This is a meaningful technical safeguard beyond a simple policy commitment.
Key Features
160 Server Locations
Servers in 94 countries — one of the largest networks we've tested. Includes coverage in Africa and South America where many rivals fall short.
Streaming Unblocking
Consistently unblocks Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. Performance was reliable across multiple test cycles.
Split Tunneling
Route specific apps or websites outside the VPN tunnel. Useful for keeping local services accessible while protecting sensitive traffic.
Network Lock Kill Switch
Automatically blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. Configurable per-app on some platforms.
Private DNS
ExpressVPN runs its own zero-knowledge DNS on every server. No third-party DNS resolver sees your queries.
8 Simultaneous Devices
Cover your entire household — though competitors like NordVPN (10) or Surfshark (unlimited) allow more concurrent connections.
Using ExpressVPN on Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi in cafes, airports, and hotels carries real risks. As security researchers at Tripwire note, unsecured networks can expose unencrypted traffic to anyone on the same network. ExpressVPN's automatic trusted-network detection can be configured to connect automatically whenever you join a new network, which largely removes the burden of remembering to activate protection.
Pricing
ExpressVPN is priced at a premium compared to most rivals. At time of writing, plans are approximately:
12 Months
Most popular plan. Includes 3 months free. Billed annually (~$99.95).
View OptionsAll plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Prices may vary by region and promotion.
Our Verdict
ExpressVPN earns its reputation as a premium service. Speeds are among the best we've measured, the Lightway protocol is genuinely innovative, and the app design is the most polished of any VPN we've reviewed. The audited no-logs policy and TrustedServer infrastructure give us reasonable confidence in its privacy claims.
The downsides are real but manageable: the price is notably higher than competitors, simultaneous connections are capped at 8, and the Kape Technologies ownership is worth being aware of if corporate transparency matters to you.
If speed and ease of use are your priorities and you're willing to pay for a reliable, well-audited service, ExpressVPN is a strong choice. If budget is a concern, there are capable alternatives at lower price points.
View Best VPN Options →Platform Reviews
Windows
Full in-depth review of the Windows client, installation, performance, and features.
Read review →Android
How ExpressVPN performs on Android — battery impact, kill switch, and split tunneling.
Read review →iOS
The iPhone and iPad experience — Shortcuts support, widget, and performance on iOS.
Read review →