ExpressVPN Review

ExpressVPN is ranked first in our list of the Best VPNs of 2023. It is simple to use, has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, and includes all of the features most people require in a virtual private network (VPN), such as strong encryption and privacy features. It also does not participate in information-sharing agreements, which protect your data from prying eyes.

Ranked # 1

ExpressVPN is at the top of our list because of its ease of use, 3,000 VPN servers in 160 locations across 94 countries, military-grade encryption, and a slew of features. Based in the British Virgin Islands, this provider has a strict no-logs policy. It’s also not a member of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, or Fourteen Eyes Alliances, so your data is safe, and logs of your actual IP address, outgoing VPN IP address, connection timestamp, and session duration are kept private.

ExpressVPN’s plans come with a 30-day money-back surety and a month-to-month option if you don’t want to commit to a longer-term contract. The monthly service fee is $12.95; a 12-month plan saves you 35%.

Split tunneling is an advanced feature included with ExpressVPN’s service that allows you to route some traffic through into the VPN and the rest through a clear connection to the internet. ExpressVPN also provides unlimited bandwidth and a kill switch, which protects your data from hackers and others even if your connection is lost.

Should You Select ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN ranks first in our rankings in part because of its strong encryption and privacy features, fast connections through its roughly 3,000 servers, and commitment to keeping user data safe from government-prying eyes. It’s not the cheapest VPN, but it has enough features to appeal to social media users, journalists and activists, and anyone with sensitive data or concerned about being tracked by governments.

It can also “unblock” websites in some countries by routing data through an encrypted “tunnel” where the government, corporate networks, or schools cannot inspect or censor it. Furthermore, reviewers praise ExpressVPN’s user interface.

Professional reviewers point out ExpressVPN’s “no logs” policy, which states that the company cannot turn over your browsing history or other data because it lacks it. “ExpressVPN does not see, record, or store which websites you visit,” according to the company. “We never record the origin or content of your traffic.” When testing ExpressVPN, reviewers found no DNS leaks or other data leaks.

A static IP address, provided by some competitors but not ExpressVPN, can make it easier to log in to frequently visited websites. Furthermore, with a maximum of five devices connected at any given time, this VPN could be better for large families and groups.

Pros of ExpressVPN

• Wide dispersed fleet of servers
• Split tunneling
• Compelling user interface
• 100% secure and private
• Anonymity guaranteed
• Super-fast for streaming

Cons of ExpressVPN

• No dedicated IP address
• Not suitable for people with tight budgets
• No large number of simultaneous connections
• No free version

Cost of ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN offers three subscription plans: $12.95 per month, $59.95 every six months, or $99.95 annually. The only difference, as with most VPN service plans, is the length of time you commit to.

The company accepts all major credit cards, PayPal, and other services such as WebMoney. You can also pay with bitcoin to get an ExpressVPN subscription. The average monthly price of the VPN services we tested is $9.78, significantly less than ExpressVPN’s $12.95 asking price.

ExpressVPN’s six-month and annual plans will save you money, but the $99.95 yearly plan is still well above the $65.82 average we’ve seen across the VPNs we’ve reviewed.

The Use of ExpressVPN

Settings & Features

In both Windows and macOS, I quickly found the settings by clicking on a three-line icon in the top left-hand corner of the dashboard. The Android and iOS apps’ settings were also easy to find by tapping a button at the bottom of the dashboard. On every platform, navigating through the settings was simple and intuitive.

ExpressVPN’s Windows app includes split tunneling, which the macOS app does not. Split tunneling allows you to control which of your other apps connect to the internet via the VPN. This is especially useful for streaming apps, which can benefit from faster internet speeds by bypassing the VPN.

The iOS app, like its macOS counterpart, is less user-friendly because it lacks split tunneling. In addition, unlike the Android app, the iOS app cannot be configured to connect automatically when your phone boots up, and this wastes a bit of time if you always want to be connected.

Streaming and Social Media

I was able to watch a high-definition YouTube video without buffering or stuttering while using ExpressVPN. I could also connect to Facebook and scroll through my feed with ease. I had no DNS leaks while using ExpressVPN, which means the VPN properly concealed my IP address, location, and internet activity from my internet service provider.

Speed

ExpressVPN offers the best speed as compared to other VPNs. The average upload speed is 179.73, the average download speed is 421.17, and the average torrenting speed is 49.