ExpressVPN Review

Our comprehensive review of ExpressVPN covers its most important features, and a secret method to get 3-month free service!

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
 available_devices
3000+ Servers
94 Countries
British Virgin Islands
No logging
Last Update: May 5, 2022

ExpressVPN Review

ExpressVPN is a top-rated VPN service based in the British Virgin Islands. Express VPN has managed to stand out even though VPN services are plentiful in an otherwise crowded market. It accomplishes this in part by providing a plethora of valuable features.

ExpressVPN Review Screenshot

Currently, the company operates a network of over 3000 servers in 94 countries and 148 cities. These cities and countries can be found in North America, Europe, and Asia. 

In addition, unlike the other services we've looked at, ExpressVPN follows a strict no-logging policy (more about that below). 

We've been using ExpressVPN for a while and have some thoughts on the service. Please read the entire review because we reveal a clever little trick for getting three months of service for free.

Expressvpn network

ExpressVPN Features

No Logging Policy – Confirmed!

It's one thing for a VPN service to claim that it doesn't keep logs, but it's another thing entirely if it's proven. Authorities in Turkey had seized servers belonging to ExpressVPN, according to reports from December 2017

As part of an investigation into the death of a Russian ambassador, the authorities attempted to obtain the company's customer data. 

Because the company didn't keep logs, there was no data obtained. If anything, it demonstrates ExpressVPN's commitment to protecting customer identity and data by strictly enforcing its no-logging policy, even in countries like Turkey.

Expressvpn encryption

Encryption Features

ExpressVPN employs SHA-512 HMAC authentication, AES 256-bit cipher, and RSA key encryption of 4096 bits. 

The Diffie-Hellman key exchange is used to provide Perfect Forward Secrecy. The service's encryption is thought to be impenetrable!

Kill Switch

Express VPN refers to the "Kill Switch" as the "Network Lock." When the internet connection drops, the so-called network lock is supposed to keep the data safe by blocking traffic. The feature is designed to keep your network safe at all times. 

It's available in Mac OS, Linux, Windows, and Router apps. During our testing, the network lock feature worked as expected on both our Windows and Mac OS computers. 

If there is a problem with the internet connection, the app will display a notice stating that there is a problem with the connection and that the Network Lock is blocking traffic.

Split Tunneling Feature

Split tunneling is available in both the Mac OS and Windows apps for the service. It allows you to select which programs use the VPN tunnel and easily bypass it to access the internet via regular means. 

The feature is disabled by default, but it can be enabled by going to settings and turning it on from there. By default, all traffic is routed directly through the VPN. You can choose from a variety of options in the settings:

  • To allow all apps to pass data through the VPN
  • Do not let the apps you choose to use the VPN tunnel
  • Allow only the apps you choose to use the VPN tunnel

A pop-up will appear when you click either of the options, allowing you to select the apps. It is, in our opinion, one of the best ways to ensure that your connection is secure while also avoiding suspicion from your ISP. 

Additionally, those on slower connections can choose which apps can use the VPN, such as Skype, which can use the VPN tunnel, but web browsing can generally be done without it.

Unblocks Netflix

In our experience reviewing VPN services, we've come across many VPNs that fail to unblock Netflix. As a result, finding a VPN service that can unblock Netflix is difficult. Thankfully, ExpressVPN comes to the rescue. 

We're sure others will have the problem that not all servers are Netflix compatible. Furthermore, there isn't a single button that allows you to see or connect to a Netflix-compatible server. 

So, especially when using non-US servers, be prepared for trial and error. For example, Netflix worked fine with servers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Expressvpn netflix

The Pros

  • Very Easy to Use.
  • Unblocks Netflix and many other streaming services.
  • Supports torrents.
  • Split Tunneling Feature.
  • A Proven Zero logs policy.
  • Supports over 20 Devices.
  • 24/7 Customer Support.
  • OpenVPN plus AES-256 Encryption.
  • DD-WRT router support.
  • 30-Day Money-back guarantee.
  • Blazing-fast VPN speeds.

The Cons

  • Comparatively more expensive.
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
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ExpressVPN Pricing: How Much is Express VPN

ExpressVPN pricing

Customer Support

Customer support is important to VPN users because it gives them peace of mind that someone will assist them if they need it. Unfortunately, unlike the other VPN services we tested, there is no phone number for customer service. 

They do, however, have a decent live chat feature. Live chat is available on ExpressVPN's website 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Contacting a customer service representative takes about two minutes on average. 

We spoke with customer service several times during our testing and asked them a series of questions. We received answers to all of our questions, except a few extremely technical. That's pretty good by industry standards!

Expressvpn support

What is ExpressVPN MediaStreamer?

ExpressVPN subscribers have access to MediaStreamer, an intelligent DNS service. The MediaStreamer is usually included in the subscription and allows you to access geo-restricted content without encrypting your internet traffic. 

The smart DNS tool, in essence, redirects your DNS servers to a different region. As a result, it creates a false impression on the website, allowing you to access previously restricted content. Unlike a traditional VPN connection, Smart DNS does not change your IP address or provide encryption. 

While this may improve your internet speed and allow you to access blocked content, it does not demonstrate the security benefits of using a VPN.

For example, your ISP can still monitor you, and throttling and other forms of censorship are still possible. In addition, MediaStreamer is not an app, despite its appearance. Instead, it's included with the ExpressVPN app. 

To use MediaStreamer, you switch from your ISP's DNS servers to ExpressVPN's DNS servers. It then becomes a proxy at that point.

expressvpn media streamer

Is ExpressVPN Safe for Torrenting?

Torrenting isn't an issue with ExpressVPN. Subscribing unlocks unlimited access to all torrent content. To access any torrent server, you need to use ExpressVPN for torrenting. ExpressVPN has a high-level network security protocol in place to ensure uninterrupted torrenting. 

The VPN, for example, uses OpenVPN and AES 256-bit encryption, the strongest currently available. You will also be protected from DNS leaks. A compromised server is immediately redirected to other virtual servers in the area.

expressvpn torrent

ExpressVPN has a reliable kill switch in case of an emergency. Torrent uses encryption to protect your privacy and data. So you can torrent and stream content anonymously. ExpressVPN is especially useful if you live in a country where torrent sites are restricted. 

Changing your IP address is easy with ExpressVPN. Anyone watching would think you were downloading from abroad. Because you appear to be using the service in another country, you can use torrents without informing local authorities. 

Is ExpressVPN safe for torrenting? It is safe to say that ExpressVPN is secure enough to protect you without inadvertently or intentionally revealing your location. Its only flaw is that it does not allow port forwarding. As a result, seeding and uploading files take time.

Is ExpressVPN Legit?

ExpressVPN is a reliable service. The app is a tool, in the same way, any other tool on your laptop, Android, or iOS phone. The app's developer is based in the British Virgin Islands. If you're familiar with VPNs, you'll recognize the significance of a VPN service's country of origin. 

A good VPN must adhere to the laws and regulations of its home country. As a result, VPNs in the Five Eyes (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) are uncommon. 

In these countries, VPN services are required to report their activities to the government. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, is a different story. 

Aside from that, the service adheres to a strict confidentiality policy. In addition, because they are based in the British Virgin Islands, they can maintain their zero-log policy.

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
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What is the Average ExpressVPN Speed?

Whether you're using the VPN for gaming, streaming, or doing something else with your VPN, internet speed should be a top priority for you. As a result, you should be curious to see how fast ExpressVPN is. In general, the speed of a VPN service is determined by several factors. 

These variables include your location, ISP, VPN software you're using, device, time of day, and so on. ExpressVPN continues to be one of the fastest VPN services available today, according to numerous tests. 

The VPN stands out among its competitor's thanks to its new proprietary protocol called Lightway. While most competitors use the WireGuard protocol, ExpressVPN chose a different path by developing a VPN protocol that follows their previous protocol, OpenVPN. 

expressvpn speed

Lightway was twice as fast as OpenVPN in our tests, and it was three times faster in some cases. We saw an average download speed of 135 Mbps with ExpressVPN across multiple locations. The upload rate was around 105 Mbps. 

Before arriving at our average speed, we tested their servers in Europe, Asia, and North America. Unless your average internet speed exceeds 100 Mbps, you will almost certainly not experience any downtime at such a high speed.

The following is a list of the regions we tested and the average network speed we got:

  • Asia: 136 Mbps
  • Europe: 134 Mbps
  • North America: 136 Mbps
expressvpn server map

If you want the fastest network, use the Lightway protocol. Customers' applications and routers can use Lightway. You can also use OpenVPN, which supports UDP and TCP. TCP is more reliable than UDP. 

Aside from that, there's IKEv2. But be aware that their features, locations, and network compatibility are limited. For example, a speed tester in the ExpressVPN desktop app shows the ping time and download speed for all ExpressVPN server locations. 

Ping time, also known as latency, is a useful indicator of server lag. Usually, the download speed test takes longer than the ping test. Also, the download speed test results may not match your system. 

Ping time and download speed tests alone cannot determine service speed. Because the internet is so volatile, the results are somewhat random. Users with fast internet connections will notice a larger speed difference between the two tests.

What You Need to Remember

VPNs are one of the tools that help internet users today. In addition to all the benefits of having a VPN, ExpressVPN allows you to do much more. It's secure, lets you stream/ torrent, and works well. 

ExpressVPN may be the best choice if you value your online privacy. The VPN is hosted outside the Five Eyes. So they can follow their no-log policy to the letter. 

ExpressVPN users can choose from up to 3,000 different servers when online with that many servers. ExpressVPN is ideal for Netflix and torrenting. 

Torrenting and streaming are a breeze with ExpressVPN's lightning-fast internet. You'd also have access to content not available locally. 

ExpressVPN lacks multi-hop encryption, unlimited concurrent connections, and dedicated IP addresses. If not, ExpressVPN is a safe, secure, and affordable option.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best servers/locations for VPNs?

Every VPN provider has a unique set of servers located worldwide, so this depends on the specific VPN service provider. There are several popular server locations, but the following are some of the most popular: The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and France are among the countries participating.

How do VPNs work?

Many people use virtual private networks (VPNs) because they provide security and privacy while browsing the Internet. One of the primary benefits of using a VPN is that it encrypts your data, preventing it from being accessed by unauthorized individuals. When you connect to a VPN server, the only thing your Internet service provider (ISP) or hackers will be able to see encrypted data, which will be unreadable.

Can VPNs be used to access blocked websites?

Can VPNs be used to access blocked websites? YES! Not all VPNs can bypass censorship, though. According to the best information, IPVanish is currently one of the few services that can do this well. The reason for this is that they will ask you which country you would like your connection routed through before beginning the installation process.

Is ExpressVPN Worth It?

ExpressVPN provides a winning combination of excellent speeds, superior performance, and reliability, as we like to call it. Furthermore, its ever-expanding VPN network, which adds new servers almost every few months, indicates that things are only getting better. 

ExpressVPN's uncrackable, top-of-the-line military-grade encryption and split tunneling are also appealing. But, of course, all of this implies that you can use the internet and a VPN simultaneously. 

Above all, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. So the only disadvantage for some people will be the higher prices. 

But don't worry, we've got you covered! Click the link to get a 3-month free trial. So there's yet another reason to start using ExpressVPN or switch to it if you're already using it.

The VPN that just works.
With 35% Off
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By: Michael Miller
Michael is the CEO of VPN Online, one of the fastest-growing media companies in the cyber-security space. VPN Online was started in 2019 after Michael consulted with many Fortune 500 companies and saw the lack of understanding about cybersecurity many of their employees had.