ExpressVPN Review

ExpressVPN has a "no-logging" policy that puts privacy before all else. What data do actually they keep? Read our ExpressVPN review to see how it stacks up against the competition.

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. Think of it as an internet security service that can:

• Change your online address to hide your location AND
  
• Encrypt your data to keep your identity and activity private

Basically, a VPN prevents hackers and/or spies from knowing, WHO, WHERE or WHAT you do online. So how do they work?

First, a VPN creates an encrypted connection from your device to one of their servers.

Then that server connects to the internet, acting as a "middleman" between the sites you visit and your computer.

Thanks to the encryption process, your data is exchanged as a code. The information can only be understood by your device and the VPN server.

WHERE IS EXPRESSVPN BASED?

ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), which doesn't have data retention laws. Why is this important?

It means the country is NOT required to keep logs on their users. BVI is also not part of the "14 Eyes" group intelligence so it's difficult for other countries to request user logs from them.

Governments requesting logs must first petition the BVI High Court. They must then go through a lengthy legal process to get the court order. An extremely strong case is needed to request user logs from ExpressVPN.

While based in BVI, ExpressVPN operates more than 3,000 servers in locations across 94 countries.

More than 97% of the servers are physically present in the country in which they're listed. The rest are virtual servers whose locations don't match their destination IP address.

For example, you could connect to an ExpressVPN server in Cambodia. It would be a Cambodian IP address, but the actual server may be in Singapore. Virtual servers can

1. Help conceal your actual location. This is good for "high risk" countries where server seizures are common.
   
2. Allow for faster connection speed. A closer server equals a faster connection.

What Does EXPRESSVPN Cost?

ExpressVPN has three payment plan options. Each include device apps, 24/7 customer support, and unlimited high-speed bandwidth:

Monthly Plan is $12.95 billable each month
6-Month Plan is $59.99 ($9.99 a month) billable twice a year.
12-Month Plan is $99.95 ($8.32 a month) billable once a year.

Express VPN accepts a wide variety of payment methods. (More on that below.)

What Does EXPRESSVPN Include?

A subscription allows for three device connections per account. Simply download the app to your device to begin - the company offers apps for:

• Windows
  
• Mac
  
• iOS
  
• Android
  
• Routers
  
• Linux

You can also connect the service directly to your router. This allows you to protect yourself without having to install the app on each device. And you'll bypass ExpressVPN's three-device limit.

Is Express VPN worth the cost? Keep reading to find out.

REASONS WE LIKE EXPRESSVPN

"No-logging" policy
ExpressVPN clearly states which information it collects and why.

They log dates (but not times) when you connect to their VPN service. They also collect the VPN server location used and the amount of data spent.

This information is used to troubleshoot technical problems.

High level of security and privacy
ExpressVPN takes security very seriously. They provide:

• 256-bit AES encryption
  
• DNS/IPv6 leak protection
  
• Kill-switch
  
• Split tunneling

If all sounds like jargon, check out the company's "Privacy Research Lab" page, which explains those terms clearly.

ExpressVPN also reviews the weaknesses each feature addresses. And it teaches you how to test for "leaks" using online tools.

Bypass the great (fire)wall of China
China often plays a cat-and-mouse game with VPNs. But ExpressVPN is one of the few providers that holds up well against the country's efforts to ban them.

They maintain servers in nearby Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan which are optimized for users in China.

Occasionally, you may still experience problems while trying to connect in China. If so, simply contact Express VPN for assistance in finding a server.

P2P file sharing
P2P file sharing exposes your IP address. That makes it easy for anyone on the P2P network to identify you, which makes you an easy target for spying or cyber attacks.

ExpressVPN allows you to spoof your IP address so it can't be traced. Moreover, their speed-optimized network is perfect for file sharing requirements.

Now that you know the benefits, check out some drawbacks.

REASONS TO CHOOSE ANOTHER VPN PROVIDER

It's expensive
ExpressVPN's 12-month subscription offers the best value. But it's still higher than many competitors.

Keep in mind: the price IS worth the service. You get a fast, secure connection with access to a huge network of servers. The high price also ensures that ExpressVPN makes money from their service - not your personal data.

Still, if you're looking for something cheap, you can find a better deal. (See below for more info.)

No voice support line
ExpressVPN has no phone support. If there's a problem, you'll need to contact them through their live chat or email.

To be fair, you'll face the same issue with other VPN providers like NordVPN and VyprVPN. But if speaking with an agent is important to you, find a VPN service that offers this perk.

Three-device limit
ExpressVPN's three device connection limit is pretty stingy. Providers like NordVPN allow up to six connections. It might be a problem if you use multiple devices.

However, you can install ExpressVPN directly on your router. That way, all devices connected to the router are protected.

Think ExpressVPN is the right service for you? Keep reading to learn how to sign up today.

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR EXPRESSVPN?

Follow these step by step instructions to enroll in one of ExpressVPN's plans.

1. Visit the site to select a plan: monthly, six-month or annual.

2. Provide some basic information to register your account.

3. Choose a payment method. ExpressVPN accepts credit cards, PayPal, and Bitcoin, as well as providers such as WebMoney and UnionPay.

4. Install the app on your devices (up to 3). First-time users will need to input an activation code, which will be different for each device. Your confirmation email will have a link to the web page containing your codes.

Alternatives to ExpressVPN

NordVPN
ExpressVPN has servers in more countries. But NordVPN has the higher server count overall. So which is one is best for you?

Having access to more countries is useful if you travel a lot or want to access a site from a specific country. But having more servers means less traffic congestion.

Check out other Pros and Cons of ExpressVPN and NordVPN.

	ExpressVPNIPVanish
	ExpressVPN	NordVPN
	SPECIAL OFFER Get ExpressVPN - Learn More	SPECIAL OFFER 3 Year Plan - $3.49/Month - Learn More
	Benefits and Features
Live Chat Support	Yes, 24/7	Yes
Subscription	$12.95/month $9.99/month (6-month subscription) $8.32/month (12-month subscription)	$11.95/month $6.99/month (12-month subscription) $4.99/month (24-month subscription) $3.49/month (36-month subscription)
Payment Methods	Credit card, Paypal, Bitcoin, Paymentwall (UnionPay, giropay, Yandex Money, etc)	Credit card, Bitcoin, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, UnionPay
Free Trial	30-day money back guarantee	30-day money back guarantee
Windows	Yes	Yes
iPhone App	Yes	Yes
macOS	Yes	Yes
Android App	Yes	Yes
Linux	Yes	Yes
Cancellation	Paypal and credit card users can cancel via their ExpressVPN account. Customers paying with Bitpay will not have their subscription renewed.	Credit card users can cancel via their NordVPN account. You can also cancel recurring subscriptions on the Apple store and Google Play.
Jurisdiction	British Virgin Islands	Panama
Number of Servers	3000+ servers	5200+ servers
Countries Served	94 countries	59 countries
Security Protocols	OpenVPN (with TCP/UDP), IKEv2, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec	PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN (with TCP/UDP)
Encryption	AES-256	AES-256
Works in China	Yes	Yes
Devices per license	5 devices	6 devices
Routers	Yes	Yes
Anonymous	Allows user to stay anonymous. Accepts payment in Bitcoin and other methods. Registration only requires e-mail address.	Allows user to stay anonymous. Accepts payment in Bitcoin and other methods. Registration only requires e-mail address.*
Keep Logs	Does not store activity or connection logs. Keeps information on apps and app versions activated, dates (not times) connected to VPN service, choice of VPN server location, and total amount of data transferred per day.	Keeps no logs, except user's e-mail address, username, and payment data. Bitcoin can be used to keep personal data private.
Allows P2P	Yes	Yes. P2P traffic will automatically be rerouted to servers in Canada and the Netherlands.
Money Back Guarantee	30-day money back guarantee.	30-day money back guarantee.
	Get ExpressVPN	3 Year Plan - $3.49/Month 2 Year Plan - $4.99/Month 1 Year Plan - $6.99/Month
ExpressVPN: Pricing information from published website as of 06/18/2018 NordVPN: Pricing information from published website as of 06/18/2018

IPVanish
ExpressVPN lets you pay anonymously. But IPVanish lets you use up to 10 devices with one account.

Here's a comparison of ExpressVPN and IPVanish.

	ExpressVPNNordVPN
	ExpressVPN	IPVanish
	SPECIAL OFFER Get ExpressVPN - Learn More	SPECIAL OFFER Start Now - Learn More
	Benefits and Features
Live Chat Support	Yes, 24/7	Yes
Subscription	$12.95/month $9.99/month (6-month subscription) $8.32/month (12-month subscription)	$10.99/month $9.99/month (3-month subscription) $7.49/month (12-month subscription)
Payment Methods	Credit card, Paypal, Bitcoin, Paymentwall (UnionPay, giropay, Yandex Money, etc)	Credit card, Paypal
Free Trial	30-day money back guarantee	30-day money back guarantee
Windows	Yes	Yes
iPhone App	Yes	Yes
macOS	Yes	Yes
Android App	Yes	Yes
Linux	Yes	"Best support" - not guaranteed
Cancellation	Paypal and credit card users can cancel via their ExpressVPN account. Customers paying with Bitpay will not have their subscription renewed.	Paypal and credit card users can cancel via their IPVanish account. You can also cancel recurring subscriptions on the Apple store and Google Play.
Jurisdiction	British Virgin Islands	United States
Number of Servers	3000+ servers	1400+ servers
Countries Served	94 countries	60+ countries
Security Protocols	OpenVPN (with TCP/UDP), IKEv2, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec	OpenVPN (with TCP/UDP), IKEv2/IPSec, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec
Encryption	AES-256	AES-256
Works in China	Yes	No
Devices per license	5 devices	Unlimited devices
Routers	Yes	Yes
Anonymous	Allows user to stay anonymous. Accepts payment in Bitcoin and other methods. Registration only requires e-mail address.	Not anonymous. You'll have to provide payment details for your subscription.
Keep Logs	Does not store activity or connection logs. Keeps information on apps and app versions activated, dates (not times) connected to VPN service, choice of VPN server location, and total amount of data transferred per day.	Keeps no logs, except user's e-mail address, username, and payment data.
Allows P2P	Yes	Yes, on all servers
Money Back Guarantee	30-day money back guarantee.	30-day money back guarantee.
	Get ExpressVPN	Start Now IPVanish for Android IPVanish for iOS
ExpressVPN: Pricing information from published website as of 06/18/2018 IPVanish: Pricing information from published website as of 06/18/2018

VyprVPN
VyprVPN is based in Switzerland, which has great privacy laws. They currently offer more than 700 servers across 73 locations all around the world and provide unlimited data usage.

They've got regular features such as auto-connect and kill-switch. Also, VyprVPN offers its proprietary Chameleon protocol and VyprDNS for added security.

The company has apps for most devices and operating systems, each with an easy-to-use interface. Performance-wise, the service is quite fast.

If you want options similar to ExpressVPN and NordVPN, VyprVPN could be a good alternative.

Windscribe
Windscribe is a great choice if you're willing to trade performance for price. It has apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS clients.

Their free plan is generous and you can use it for as long as you like. With a confirmed email address, you get 10GB/month of data limited to one device.

Performance-wise, Windscribe should be sufficient for casual users. Their main weakness? You'll only have access to 10 countries.

ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is a free VPN service from the guys who made ProtonMail, the free encrypted email service. That shows the company cares about online security and privacy.

The free service is rather limited, however. You can connect to three countries from only one device. ProtonVPN also throttles the speeds for free users to make way for paid ones. The free version has no P2P support either.

Still, it's not all bad. ProtonVPN offers unlimited data, even for free users. For the casual user who only needs a VPN occasionally, ProtonVPN is a good choice.

Bottom Line

ExpressVPN offers transparency, an extensive network of servers, and fast connection speeds.

The price is a drawback - it's one of the more expensive VPN services on the market. But few other VPNs match up to ExpressVPN in terms of speed and number of servers.

For casual users with a budget, there are better, cheaper options. But if you don't mind paying for a premium VPN service with plenty of server locations, ExpressVPN is worth a look.