Editor's Rating | |
---|---|
Overall | |
Features | |
Price | |
Customer Service |
- Customer service
- Perhaps the best speeds
- 87 countries
- Device support
- Kill switch
- Built-in smart DNS
Negatives
- Rather pricey
ExpressVPN is a purebred VPN company that operates from the British Virgin Islands since 2009. ExpressVPN claims it is the fastest VPN on earth today, a daring claim in the highly competitive VPN world. In advance, we can say that you are indeed going to read about a top company in the business today. Next to speed, ExpressVPN puts great care into its neatly designed and reliable desktop client software and apps with all the right security settings in place. Their server network spans an impressive 87 countries with great coverage and accessibility across the globe. The only significant disadvantage of theirs is that things are a bit costly, but ExpressVPN is intended to run whenever your device is turned on, and with speeds that are indeed quite good, you should have an unhindered time on the internet.
Features
We conducted our tests on the client that ExpressVPN dedicates to Windows 7 and later versions. There is another one reserved for Windows XP and Vista. For both of them, and for any other software of the company, the key term is automation. Most features can be set up to start by themselves by simply ticking in a box. These include an auto-start option and also an auto-connect one. There is a bit of a twist on the latter, as you cannot select a certain server to connect to once the ExpressVPN client starts. Instead, you are offered to visit the last VPN location you connected to.
Kill Switch
A more rare sight though is a kill switch. When enabled, this tool will shut your VPN down automatically if you are attacked, or if you encounter any complication that would threaten your online safety. You can also set up your VPN to initiate connection either automatically, or with certain types of encryption only. The client does not hesitate to inform you that the less reliable (and more sparsely used) types of protocols (PPTP, SSTP) do not run on every server.
Smart DNS
ExpressVPN also has a smart DNS service that is fully integrated into the VPN. In fact, it is present as a tick as well. By default, a VPN only changes the IP address of your device for the duration of your connection. This still leaves your other type of identifier, the DNS address exposed. Thus, by automatically connecting to ExpressVPN’s DNS servers on top of the VPN you will guarantee yourself a much higher level of safety. This is great, as most other companies offer smart DNS either separately as a free addition, or worse yet, another product to buy. This is not the case with ExpressVPN.
VPN Network
ExpressVPN has connections to 87 countries and across about 136 servers. This is quite good, as most other companies stop at around the 30 mark. It is also true though that a few other top VPN providers have well over 100 different states on their lists. Because ExpressVPN is famous for being the fastest provider today, we found it important to dive deeper into the matter. We ended up comparing the Windows client’s built-in speed test feature with our own results.Luckily, ExpressVPN’s software automatically lists out all connections – from the best to the worst in descending order. There are general trends we observed during probing, and thus we would like to assume that the values displayed there are average ones.
The case is such because ExpressVPN’s connections are indeed quite fast and are equally fast compared to each other. However, they take time to ramp up. We would also like to warn you that countries with worse internet capabilities are naturally capped in speed. If you experience a quicker internet than a given country’s capabilities allow it, we suggest not using that server. We love animals, but that sounds a bit fishy.
Privacy Protection
ExpressVPN’s privacy policy is nothing special. Regarding your connections, the following data are stored, according to the official website: “times when connected to our service, choice of server location, and the total amount of data transferred per day.” This is fine and dandy, but unlike other organizations, it is not explicitly mentioned that the websites you visit are not paid attention to. Therefore policy wise, there is still a possibility that ExpressVPN monitors (but does not store) the domains you load in.
For the protection of the connections themselves, you get full service. A good variety of encryption protocols are available for use. OpenVPN is the most secure today, but for mobile devices, L2TP is generally recommended (at least until some hardware advances in the future). SSTP and IPSec are also on the table, but do not taste PPTP, it is unsafe compared to the rest.
OS, Device Support
Device support is neat with ExpressVPN. For Windows, you have different software available for XP-Vista and Windows 7-8-10. Mac clients are also numerous, with four different options to go for, depending on the type of Mac you plan to use. For Linux, the Ubuntu/Debian/Fedora/CentOS setups are supported, this is also impressive. Mobile devices include iOS and Android, each with their own pleasant to use native mobile app that runs as smoothly as the desktop client. We must praise the setup guides as well at this point, as they are sorted and divided based on the version of the mobile device you use – this is a rare, but helpful addition. Amazon Kindle Fire is also welcome, along with Apple TV. Gaming consoles include PS 3&4 and Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Pricing
ExpressVPN definitely has its price, and not on the cheap side. Of course, you could argue that with such exceptional speeds, the organization is right to demand more. It can be said that ExpressVPN is suitable for streaming, even for full HD quality, eliminating the need to purchase a separate smart DNS for high speed streaming.
One month of ExpressVPN costs $12.95. Half year is set to $9.99 per month ($59.95), which are the standard monthly expenses elsewhere, mostly. One year of quality VPN will lighten your purse by $8.32 per month ($99.95) worth of money, meaning that this, their best offer is 35% off. All in all this is about two bucks per month more than the monthly costs of other comparable VPN solutions. All packages have a 30-day refund time attached to them. However, it must be emphasized that ExpressVPN does not have a free trial to boot.
You payment options include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Visa Electron, DriversClub, PayPal, Bitcoin, WebMoney, Giropay, OneCard, some debit cards, and more.
Customer Service
ExpressVPN has one of the most complete customer service systems in today’s VPN world. You can contact them via all the other conventional means in use. These include live chat, e-mail and ticket submission-based help, as well as the barely even seen telephone and remote desktop-oriented assistance options. During our testing, ExpressVPN showed second to none response times with stellar assistance across the different support channels. The company also thrives in social media: you can find them on Facebook and Twitter primarily and in the case of a latter, the organization responds to queries on the message board. ExpressVPN also has its own blog that is mostly reserved for VPN an internet security news, ranging from politics and its effects to sports news or even contests.
Bottom Line
To sum up, ExpressVPN scores great across all departments. A kill switch or more automation is always welcome, and with such fantastic device and software, your VPN experience is bound to be satisfying. All this greatness does come with a somewhat greater price than the ones you see with other top VPN companies. With ExpressVPN’s features that let you stream content at impressive speeds, you may no longer feel the need to pay for a separate smart DNS to enjoy, which then further justifies its premium price. Furthermore, the availability and quality of customer support is of such high level that you may not mind paying a couple of bucks more.
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Gulianni says
If you live in China, you need this app. Seriously.
Rubben says
Pro tip : if you’re having trouble watching netflix, it’s because you are on the wrong server. They update the servers every day to stay a step ahead. Open a chat box if you need help.
Jaimie says
Added Expressvpn to my Linksys WRT and it works great. I highly recommend this service.
Dekv says
I use this VPN everyday in France. Works really well. I appreciate how the American servers work too.
Mike says
I primarily use the Mac app to stream NBA and NFL games when I’m abroad. It’s crazy how good it works.
Lambert says
Works really well with Popcorn time. I also use it with iPlayer too. Good service.
Norman says
good vpn for gaming. Helps me keep my servers secure and I can switch between east and west cost servers without any lag.
Liam says
I run chromecast with expressvpn and use it with apple tv too. Works great.
Yonah says
Anonymous, private and best of all, very fast. I have it installed on my windows desktop, Macbook and iPhone. All work great.
Marek says
ExpressVPN is an essential as a good antivirus. The Mac app especially is good.
Allen Uyil says
Works pretty good on my iphone. I like how to app just runs in the background without too much noise or interference. Easy to use too.
Joe says
I have had expressVPN for 1yr now! (ONLY because I signed up for the 1 yr plan) I was mostly using ONLY the DNS servers to stream, but when that quit working I was forced to purchase a new router (which they recommended, and advertised on their website) so I could use their VPN service… my speeds went down EXTREMELY LOW!!!! Sometimes by as much as a 90% loss!!!! I constantly argue and fight back and forth with them, only to get BS excuses in return! I do NOT feel they should be legally allowed to advertise as they do!!!! STAY AWAY!!!!
Tom says
There are cheaper options available, but in the end you get what you pay for. This service has worked really well for me. The speeds are as good as if you were browsing regularly and the connection success rate is damn near perfect. Plus, they’re actively updating and revamping their apps to make them better. Customer service is srsly the best in the business and it works extremely well in China.
Awesome vpn service. Runs smooth on everything from my macbook to ps4. I like how they’re constantly optimizing their network to provide a faster service.
Gabrel Thomas says
Am in Nigeria and can’t find Express VPN on Google Play Store as becuase it says that it isn’t available. Please help out.
Gabriel T
Peter Wolf says
I wonder if ExpressVPN do have a hidden download limit. If you exceed it, they throttle your bandwidth very quickly down to zero, but rarely disconnect you.
At such times, when expressvpn seems to have lost connection with its servers, if I shut down expressvpn I can browse/download/upload as normal over my standard ISP connection.
(I’m not 100% certain of expressvpn being the cause of the dropouts, but I’m gradually trying out new/replacing bits of hardware to try and determine if the fault is with expressvpn or not.)
I get the impression expressvpn give you a months grace after joining their service, then they begin tightening the screw on your bandwidth/connection.
jordi says
Banks and airlines could learn a lesson or twelve from ExpressVPN’s excellent customer service
Chris says
As a digital nomad it’s nice knowing that Express VPN is keeping me safe when I’m on airport or cafe wifi.
Otto says
If you want to give the middle finger to Comcast, buy ExpressVPN and never turn it off.
Tom says
ExpressVPN is outstanding! Every traveller should invest in a subscription or at least try under the 30-day refund period.
Jakow says
Couldn’t buy games off steam while travelling abroad in Spain because my location didn’t match up. Connecting to the US on ExpressVPN solved the problem.
Mary says
Even if you don’t torrent but go to those illegal streaming sites like Couchtuner and YIFY, you should probably be using a good VPN like Express
Martin says
You can stream the Walking Dead on Hulu from outside the US with ExpressVPN.
Carlos says
Up to 5 not 3 devices would make me jump in and get a year + delete PIA just like that! I miss terribly Hulu+ from PcS in Quintana Roo.
Jakow L. says
I’ve watched a looooot of Bojack Horseman and Bob’s Burgers on ExpressVPN
Jenny says
A lot of people in Brazil are switching to Telegram because gov’t has been blocking Whatsapp, but it still works with ExpressVPN on iOS and probably Android too.
Aven says
French guy here. I can watch UK and US Netflix with ExpressVPN.
Ozren says
Express APP is awesome on my ASUS tablet.
Dana says
I think if ExpressVPN lowered their price there would be no question about which VPN was the best.
Charles says
I would rather pay the price of a handful of movie tickets for a quality product than have a so-so product so all things considered with EVPN, customer serv, etc…I’m cool with the annual fee…js
Vesna says
Two thumbs up for ExpressVPN. One for customer support and one for a great, fast app.
Jack says
5 star reviews are fake on most sites, ExpressVPN sucks! I am a computer expert, and they do not have fast servers at all, even trying different servers they are slow, Tormenting with the worst speed possible. I can post the conversation between me and customer service for laugh but I’ll save them the embarrassment. They know nothing! Stay away from these fake paid reviews, stay away from ExpressVPN.
Barbara Eagleson says
5* Customer Service. This is what you want with any on-line purchase and company. I needed my setting “tweeked” and something_ was wrong. My speed was dropping off horribly, and I knew something was wrong. EXPRESSVPN, sat with me for literally hours on line, doing screen shots, and working out all my problems. The amazing patience of Freddy at EXPRESSVPN was beyond anything that you could expect from customer service. All I can say to anyone with speed problems, dropping really badly is THAT YOU HAVE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS! and these CAN be fixed! My setting needed changing, and most importantly DO NOT EVER have your APP running in the background when you are connected to wifi VPN. CLOSE the APP, watch your speed go from 4 or 5 as mine was to a blazing 45!! Don’t give up!! Have patience, you’ll get a perfectly working VPN with Express, but YOU have to have patience and time to work out your settings! Most people will be easy, I had a dual router set-up using APPLE_ Time Capsule (no OPEN VPN possible with that) and piggybacked into Netgear Night Hawk 7000. 5***** to ExpressVPN with great product, and EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE!! Thank you FREDDY!!
David says
I like that ExpressVPN uses activation codes so you only have to set it up once and then never log into the app again.
Marcus says
I can use Snapshot and Instagram in China with Express
Dam R, says
Bought an ExpressVPN subscription for my son when he studied abroad in Shanghai. I figured it’s easy to use and pretty reliable. Now they allow more computers to be connected at the same time, so we just share one plan from opposite sides of the world!
Adam says
Got Express on my Kindle Fire. Runs smoothly, doesn’t drop the connection.
Mick says
Just finished up watching Game of Thrones from Italy on HBO Go with Express vpn.
Brad says
Been using Express while living in China for three years and it’s been better than all the ones my colleagues here use.
Dec. says
In a world of poorly put together VPNs Express is a well polished gem.
Peter says
ExpressVPN makes the best and most stable mobile apps for both iOS and android imo
Marc says
just got expressvpn. really love gow easy it is to use. great support, great download speeds.
Angel says
watching the new season of broad city from New Zealand with express VPN. Yass queen!
Marvin says
expressvpn works very well with Steam if you’re having trouble making payments from other countries.
Alex says
Comcast has a nasty habit of restricing bandwidth to netflix, but you can get around it with an encrypted VPN like Express.
Logan says
Just binge-watched the entire new season of House of Cards from China with ExpressVPN.
Sebastian says
I’ve watched netflix from 4 different continents with ExpressVPN
Materrazi says
Never have to worry about videos buffering on Express VPN
Xocoa says
This company stole $99.95 USD from me without my consent through Paypal for a service I haven’t used in 2 years. Paypal sided with them and put in the transaction anyway despite my contacting ExpressVPN to cancel my account. ExpressVPN promised to refund me the money and said they did, but they didn’t. So I made a complaint to Paypal again and I have to keep contacting them and receive more lies and excuses from them not to pay me back because I “put in another dispute”. I have to take legal action. AVOID!
Our says
Express is my 31 app when travelling on mobile and desktop
Clay says
So fast, so so easy. Highly recommend ExpressVPN!
Mick says
So as someone who has used tons of VPNs before, ExpressVPN definitely has more servers than your average VPN. This means that my service is largely freed up and is nice and quick!
Kroon says
They have a 30 day free trial which is pretty good for a VPN company. First time I signed up, I actually chose not to go forward with ym30 day trial because I didnt think I’d use it enough. However I ended up signing up for the yearly package all the same afterwards 😛
Michael says
A bit on the pricey side when it comes to VPNs, but for the added couple of bucks, its definitely worth the consistent quality
Cindy Chan says
I am from Singapore. I always have problem connecting to US networks. For a VPN that costs so much, I would have expected to connect to any network I want in less than a min. Totally unacceptable. Plus livechat is currently down and I have to wait a few hours for replies. So much for customer service. Going to ask for a refund soon if this problem isn’t fixed. #1 VPN my ass….
Axel P. says
When you travel, there are a lot of places where internet connection is severely limited. Having a good VPN is essential if you want to stay in touch with people back home. I tried many of the free ones, with limited success, before getting an ExpressVPN subscription. The difference is unbelievable. It’s just so quick! And it’s never been down, as far as I can tell. Great service. 5 Stars.
Jasmin says
The last VPN service I used put me off them. My internet connection is quite slow, and it just wouldn’t work with a VPN at all. Too much buffering made watching videos impossible. A friend put me on to ExpressVPN, and I am shocked at how quick it is. No buffering at all. And now I can stream all my shows again. Very happy!
Jones says
I’ve tried hundreds of VPNS over the years. When you travel as much as I do, they are essential for safety and connecting. ExpressVPN has the most stable and robust connection I have found. And the speed is staggering. 10/10.
Ryan says
When we were travelling the Middle East, my Grandparents were involved in a car accident. We were frantically trying to get hold of them, or get news of what had happened, but we were having serious connection troubles. Most of the sites we used to communicate on were blocked or heavily censored. It wasn’t until we bought an ExpressVPN connection that we were able to get in touch with people back home. It turned out to be OK, but I can’t thank ExpressVPN enough for their service.
Dave says
works great! no complaints
Fritz says
I’ve used Express VPN for about 9 months, connecting to one of their servers has become a highly time-consuming and agonizing task, increasingly often connecting to any one of them is absolutely impossible, even worse they constantly disconnect just seconds after connecting. The speed has become most of the time unacceptably slow, insufficient for even simple communication purposes. Their services started out somewhat acceptably, then they got worse and worse. The services provided now are definitely not worth the money paid.
Bmax says
Do not get Express VPN, constantly disconnects (I’ve used them for about a year with tons of customer service and hair pulling). They will throttle your connection and limit your bandwidth, or just constantly disconnect you to reset your buffer when trying to watch a movie or video. This saves them on bandwidth, and wastes your time. They start out decent, then they get worse and worse. Definitely, do NOT get Express VPN! I’ve finally become exhausted with them, so I’m now writing my reviews everywhere I can.
Talia Hansen says
I am looking around for more security to add to my malware and antivirus and AES/WPA2 encryption for my wireless without having to go out and buy an expensive firewall. Express VPN was an excellent choice, works fine, very simple to use and very reliable.
Gregory Davidson says
Really impressed with the service. The fact I am on the other side on the world and the technician was able to help me remotely. Very Fast and reliable connection. I was able to get my job done efficiently while I travel abroad. I owe my job promotion to express VPN. Highly recommended!
Samir Casey says
Satisfied is not even able to describe the service; 1- The speed was amazing and Reliable – i have received a reply so quick and not only did a reply came – the reply included an answer !!! (which i have not encountered before!) AND MOST IMPORTANTLY – it was the correct answer and the appropriate solution !! I promise i have never had such a customer service experience SWIFT EFFICIENT EFFECTIVE !!! wow
Poor Bastard says
Here’s my experiences using ExpressVPN for the last few months.
I’m using this ExpressVPN to bypass censorships, including accessing blocked sites and hulu.com. Occasionally, it’s hard to connect, but by waiting a bit longer or switching services, it’s always worked out. It’s fairly good considering lots of other VPN services didn’t even work once for where I am when it’s a hard time. I used it for months without having any big problems.
It worked for my DD-WRT router, so I can setup two Wi-Fi access points, one for VPN, one for direct connection, it’s worked good. Also when on the go, there’s an official Android app available, the app updated often for what I saw, and included a Gadget, so you can turn it on or off handy.
Hulu is blocking IP ranges, but also blocking VPN services, and last I checked, ExpressVPN is one of them. But lucky, there’s a free tool called “Hola!”. Turn on ExpressVPN, then turn on Hola for Hulu.com, it’s worked for me, and the speed is good here. You can enable Hola only for sites you choose, and can edit this list anytime. Besides using Hola, you can of course using a smart DNS service, like StrongDNS, to access Hulu. (If you live in a place where Hola is not blocked, you can using Hola only to access Hulu. And if you living in a place don’t have heavy Internet censorship, you can use StrongDNS only to access Hulu and other geo limited streaming services.)
Here’s a silly referral link for ExpressVPN, click it to signing up, then we can both get one month free:
Joan Hibbard says
I would like to say that I was extremely satisfied with ExpressVPN while my children and I were in China. We were homeschooling and it was important that we were able to reach those websites from China with acceptable response time. I was also able to keep friends and family updated through Facebook. We are back in the US and no longer need our VPN, but I will highly recommend ExpressVPN to friends and will sign up again when I go back to China!
Malcolm Barclay says
Excellent service! I have no complaints at all with the service I have received from ExpressVPN over the last twelve months. Professional Customer support, Looking forward to the continuation of service when my contract is renewed.
Anonymous says
Have had nothing but problems with the company. Their troubleshooting is mediocre at best. Their price would be great if the service worked when you wanted it to. Their customer service gets back to you but always a ridiculous amount of excuses and a lot of “it’s all Vpns not just us” type of crap. Even though their speeds aren’t the best I had few to no issues with strong vpn and will be returning to them.
I love to travel says
Excellent service. I travel a lot and need a good speedy connection when im abroad. This does the trick – thanks for the review!
Juliette Caroche says
This isn’t the first VPN I’ve tried, but it is the best so far out of about 6. I need fast servers to get good streaming on my Netflix account and to get into Hulu when I’m out of town like now.
Salvatore Giannino says
ExpressVPN works great for me to get a US IP address to communicate more securely with the home office, and to access Facebook and Skype when I am in the field.
Shane Cunningham says
I didn’t want to try ExpressVPN at first because it was more expensive than others. But then after trying others I realized I wasted a lot of time and money. ExpressVPN offers a lot more features and security than others for the price.
Phillipe Gratneau says
I started trying VPNs without knowing much about how they work. I chose ExpressVPN because they have great support and many options. Together I was able to learn how to choose great settings for my different activities. I stay with ExpressVPN because I have experiences their superior servers and service over more than a year.
Simon Yao says
When I first started using VPNs, I didn’t know much about how they worked. I just knew that I needed one for provacy protection. I looked for one that gave good tutorials and support. When I tried ExpressVPN it stuck because there are a lot of options that I could play with without gettingcharged extra fees. When I learned how to control the options, I stayed with ExpressVPN because they have great servers and security.
Jessica Liu says
ExpressVPN has been a great help in my efforts to spread the word abouot website censorship and violations of freedom in China. I feel safe with them and so I can focus on my efforts towards Internet privacy and freedom.
Maria Torres says
ExpressVPN worked like a charm when I was in Sochi for the Games. I wanted a reliable and fast VPN to share Olympic highlights conveniently and it is the best I have tried.
Johann Wildeboer says
ExpressVPN is not expensive like most websites claim. They just don’t have hidden charges. I appreciate this honesty. And I am also very particular about privacy policies. I found their policies to be very honest as well. Then I tried them and was even more impressed by the quality of service.
Haamid Amanpur says
I need to get website access from China for work and I need to make sure I am not tracked so I chose ExpressVPN because they have a good privacy policy. They also have reliable speeds and the strong OpenVPN protocol for best security.
Liese Antje Ostermann says
ExpressVPN offers a lot of features and protocol options that other VPN providers charge extra for. And customer service is very clear about what is included in their packages and how to get the best settings. Apps for different devices also do not cost extra.
Dakshi Patel says
I use ExpressVPN alot for private file sharing and video and live streaming. Our work files sometimes get corrupted because of personal BYOD devices passing malware to our network. Now our remote workers started using personal VPNs. We got the best results with ExpressVPN Android and iPhone/iPad apps. We want to get the ExpressVPN DD-WRT flashed outers for our offices too.
Luigi Santorini says
When I started using ExpressVPN, their customer support was very fast and helpful. I found them in vpnexpress.net and liked the articles. Now I feel confident because I learned a lot about the protocols and servers. It is very easy to use, and I especially like that it uses OpenVPN so it is more secure and private.
Sonja Isabelle Ellstrom says
ExpressVPN is the first VPN service I tried. I chose this provider because they provide a lot of information about VPN services and how to install and manage it on different devices. It works very well to unblock content and so far no security issues.
Jehona Allenbach says
I like this provider. I tried them for three months and it is very easy. I use OpenVPN and I feel safe when I access any website from my country.
Da-wei Zhao says
I love the features of ExpressVPN, especially the options to change protocols and the availability of apps for so many different devices. I had some trouble at first and customer support sometimes took a while to review the issue but I understand because they were very thorough in solving my problem.
Luca Farber says
I love the privacy I get with ExpressVPN. As a journalist covering stories in Asia and the Middle East, I have to be very careful. ExpressVPN provides me with the protection I need so I can focus on my work without looking over my shoulder. Support is great, too, and I like the manageable protocol options.
Arcee Denise says
Excellent and reliable. It made our China vacation more worthwhile.