ExpressVPN Review 2026: Premium VPN Tested

Overall Rating: 4.3/5 | From $6.67/mo | Servers: 3,000+ in 105 countries | 8 simultaneous devices

ExpressVPN is one of the most established names in the VPN industry, operating since 2009 and consistently appearing in mainstream tech media recommendations. It has strong privacy credentials, reliable performance, and polished apps. However, at nearly double the price of NordVPN and three times the price of Surfshark, the question is whether the premium is justified. We tested it in 2026 to find out.

ExpressVPN Plans and Pricing

• Monthly — $12.95/mo. Full access, no commitment.
• 6 months — $9.99/mo. Better value than monthly.
• 12 months — $6.67/mo. Best per-month rate, includes 3 months free. Most popular plan.

ExpressVPN is notably more expensive than competitors. At $6.67/mo for the annual plan, it costs roughly twice as much as NordVPN ($3.39/mo) and three times as much as Surfshark ($2.19/mo). There is no 2-year plan available, which further limits long-term savings. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Speed Testing

ExpressVPN uses its proprietary Lightway protocol on modern devices, which delivers solid performance. In our 2026 testing, we recorded average download speeds of 580 Mbps on nearby servers — fast and more than capable for streaming and browsing. However, this trails both NordVPN (730 Mbps) and Surfshark (620 Mbps) in our head-to-head comparisons.

Long-distance server performance is where ExpressVPN historically held an edge, though NordVPN has largely closed that gap with NordLynx.

Privacy and Security

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands — outside major surveillance alliances — and maintains a no-logs policy. Its TrustedServer technology runs all servers on RAM only, preventing data from being written to physical drives.

In 2021, ExpressVPN was acquired by Kape Technologies, a company with a complex history in adware. ExpressVPN operates independently, and there is no evidence this acquisition has affected its privacy practices, but it is a factor some privacy-conscious users consider.

• ✅ AES-256 encryption
• ✅ Lightway, OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols
• ✅ Kill switch (Network Lock)
• ✅ DNS leak protection
• ✅ TrustedServer RAM-only technology
• ✅ Split tunnelling
• ✅ No-logs policy (audited by PwC)
• ⚠️ Owned by Kape Technologies since 2021

Server Network

ExpressVPN operates 3,000+ servers across 105 countries — strong global coverage, comparable to Surfshark, though notably smaller than NordVPN’s 6,700+ server network. Server locations are well-distributed across major regions, with good coverage in Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

Streaming Performance

ExpressVPN has historically been one of the strongest VPNs for streaming and remains capable in 2026. In our tests it unblocked:

• ✅ Netflix (US, UK, AU and other libraries)
• ✅ Disney+
• ✅ BBC iPlayer
• ✅ Amazon Prime Video
• ✅ Hulu

Streaming performance is reliable, though NordVPN unblocked a wider range of regional Netflix libraries in our testing.

Apps and Ease of Use

ExpressVPN’s apps are among the most polished in the industry — clean, fast, and extremely easy to use. The one-click connect interface is beginner-friendly, and the app is consistent across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and smart TV platforms. Router support is also available, including custom firmware for select models.

The subscription covers up to 8 simultaneous devices — more than the typical 5-device limit, but fewer than Surfshark’s unlimited connections or NordVPN’s 10-device allowance.

Customer Support

ExpressVPN offers 24/7 live chat support and a comprehensive help centre. In our tests, live chat response times averaged around 3 minutes with helpful, knowledgeable responses. Support quality is consistently good.

Who Is ExpressVPN Best For?

• Users who prioritise app polish and want the simplest, most refined VPN experience
• Existing ExpressVPN customers who are happy with their service and see no reason to switch
• Router users who want native router firmware support

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Polished, beginner-friendly apps across all platforms
• Reliable performance and strong streaming unblocking
• RAM-only TrustedServer technology
• Router firmware support
• Long-established, well-known brand
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons:

• Significantly more expensive than NordVPN and Surfshark
• Slower speeds than NordVPN in our 2026 testing
• No 2-year plan — limits long-term savings
• Only 8 simultaneous device connections
• Owned by Kape Technologies — a consideration for privacy-focused users
• Smaller server network than NordVPN

Our Verdict

ExpressVPN is a capable, well-designed VPN with strong performance and excellent apps. However, at $6.67/mo it struggles to justify its premium over NordVPN and Surfshark, both of which match or exceed it on speed, server count, and features at significantly lower prices. If budget is a consideration — and for most users it is — NordVPN offers better performance, more servers, and more features for roughly half the price.

ExpressVPN remains a legitimate choice if you specifically value its app design or router support, but it is no longer the automatic recommendation it once was.