ExpressVPN for Windows: In-Depth Review (2026)
A detailed look at the ExpressVPN Windows client — installation, interface, performance, features, and how it compares to alternatives.
Installation & First Run
Installing ExpressVPN on Windows is straightforward. The installer is a single .exe file (~18 MB) and completes in under 60 seconds. After logging in with your credentials or activation code, the app connects automatically using its recommended protocol (Lightway UDP by default).
The app requires Windows 7 SP1 or later, though Windows 10 and 11 are the officially supported versions where all features function correctly. No reboot is required post-installation.
Interface Design
The Windows client uses a clean, minimal design: a large connect button in the center, the selected server location below it, and a hamburger menu for settings. It's deliberately simple — a design philosophy that prioritizes one-click connection over feature discoverability.
Advanced users may find this frustrating at first. Settings like split tunneling, the Network Lock kill switch, and protocol selection are buried in the preferences panel rather than surfaced in the main interface. That said, once configured, the app stays out of your way effectively.
Performance on Windows
We ran speed tests from a 500 Mbps connection using Windows 11 Pro (22H2). The Lightway UDP protocol consistently outperformed OpenVPN by 20–30% on nearby servers:
| Protocol | Server | Download | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightway UDP | New York | 468 Mbps | 12 ms |
| Lightway TCP | New York | 412 Mbps | 18 ms |
| OpenVPN UDP | New York | 348 Mbps | 22 ms |
| OpenVPN TCP | New York | 301 Mbps | 31 ms |
| IKEv2/IPSec | New York | 390 Mbps | 14 ms |
CPU usage during active VPN use hovered between 2–4% on our test machine (Intel Core i7-12700, 16 GB RAM). Idle overhead was negligible.
Features Specific to Windows
Network Lock Kill Switch
Fully functional on Windows. Blocks all traffic if the VPN drops. In our tests, there was zero data leakage during simulated connection drops with Network Lock enabled.
Split Tunneling
Available on Windows — route specific apps through or outside the VPN. Useful for keeping local printers or home banking accessible without disconnecting entirely.
Lightway Protocol
Default and recommended. Open-source, audited, and genuinely faster than OpenVPN in our tests. Automatically switches between UDP and TCP if UDP is blocked.
Threat Manager
Blocks known malicious domains and trackers at the DNS level. Available on Windows and a useful extra layer — though not a replacement for dedicated antivirus software.
DNS Leak Protection
We tested DNS leak protection by connecting to a US server and running tests through dnsleaktest.com. All DNS queries resolved through ExpressVPN's own servers — no ISP DNS servers appeared in results with default settings. IPv6 leak protection is also handled correctly.
Known Limitations on Windows
- No WireGuard support (Lightway is ExpressVPN's alternative)
- No multi-hop (double VPN) routing
- Split tunneling not available in Lightway mode on Windows (only in OpenVPN/IKEv2)
- The app doesn't show real-time bandwidth usage in the main UI
Windows Review Verdict
The Windows client is polished and performs well. The Lightway protocol delivers the best speeds we've seen from ExpressVPN, and Network Lock works reliably. The main gap is the split tunneling/Lightway incompatibility — a real inconvenience for users who want both simultaneously. Otherwise, it's one of the better Windows VPN clients available.
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