ExpressVPN Review – How Secure & Fast is this VPN (Best for October 2023)

You can circumvent geo-restrictions, content libraries, and location-based streaming services using a VPN. Based on our testing in this ExpressVPN review, it is a great streaming VPN for lag-free streaming thanks to its ability to evade limitations and steady connection speeds. Too much hype about ExpressVPN! Let’s check in this guide whether is ExpressVPN worth it or not.

ExpressVPN is a popular VPN service among both consumers and professionals. The provider focuses a high priority on providing its customers with long-term security and privacy. Users, on the other hand, highlight the high quality of service provided by ExpressVPN.

This includes little effect on connection speed as well as amazing streaming capabilities. Because of these advantages and the strict privacy policy, people all over the globe choose ExpressVPN, despite its higher monthly fees.

Do ExpressVPN prices match their expectations? We tested speed with several server locations and tunneling technologies to answer that. We also tested it with several streaming providers and studied each feature to assess the security suite’s performance. See what we discovered about ExpressVPN and how good is ExpressVPN in 2023.

Pros

• Good download speed
• It is useful for torrenting RAM-only servers for complete privacy.
• Unblocks a wide range of streaming services
• Independently audited
• Online trackers are blocked.
• 8 simultaneous connections
• Money-back guarantee for 30 days
• Free 7-day trial through iOS and Android devices

Cons

• Expensive subscription plans
• VPN with limited features

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ExpressVPN is a fantastic VPN that is now offering an outstanding October discount. The 1-year plan is 49% reduced, bringing the monthly cost down to $6.67. This is very reasonable pricing for a VPN of this level.

⭐ Rating:	4.5★★★★☆
🥇 Overall rank:	#1 out of #56
📖 No logs policy:	Yes
💵 Price:	From $6.67/month
🖥️ Servers:	3000 servers in 94 countries
📱 Supporting Devices:	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, routers, streaming devices, smart TVs
🍿 Streaming services:	HBO Max, Disney Plus, Hulu, YouTube TV and more
💸Money Back Guarantee:	30-Days
🔥 Coupons:	ExpressVPN coupon 49% OFF

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What’s New in ExpressVPN Latest September & October Updates

1- The latest macOS app (v11.5.0) started offering native VPN support for all Apple silicon Macs – including M1 and M2. This meant that Express VPN now offers a seamless performance on all the newer versions of Mac along with lower battery consumption.

2- ExpressVPN’s built-in VPN-protected router Aircove was audited by Cure53 before its launch. The results were positive, with the auditing firm stating that ExpressVPN offers a robust level of encryption in every element.

3- ExpressVPN launched a Wi-Fi 6 router called Aircove, offering built-in VPN protection. Please note that this is the industry’s first-ever router with ExpressVPN’s proprietary software.

4- The VPN made various improvements to its Android app, including preventing taking screenshots of the ExpressVPN app.

5- Threat Manager feature release: This feature was launched on September 1, 2023. It prevents ads, trackers, and malware-infected websites from loading. This protects individuals from internet risks and enhances their privacy.

6- ExpressVPN increased the number of simultaneous connections to eight.

That’s not all. ExpressVPN Reddit has introduced a host of new features since our last evaluation. For example, this VPN announced its transition from 1Gbps to the new 10Gbps servers, which is a significant update to its capable infrastructure. Now, this means that you get much better speeds and reliable connections than they already were!

Moreover, its Threat Manager is the latest privacy tool that blocks advertisements, trackers, and malware-infested websites. Currently, it’s available on Mac, Linux, and iOS and is soon to be released on other devices/operating systems.

Some features have also been removed from the Windows apps as per the ExpressVPN Reddit review, including IKEv2/L2TP protocols and the built-in speed test. Also, you can now delete your ExpressVPN account directly from the iOS app, unlike other companies that make it super-hard for users to there ExpressVPN subscription and their accounts.

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ExpressVPN Pricing: How Much Does ExpressVPN Cost?

ExpressVPN, like other premium VPN companies, does not restrict certain features to specific tiers. You will get the same package. The only variation is the duration of the subscription. The longer the subscription, the greater the savings.

Hence, ExpressVPN has three subscription options and you can check their pricing below:

SUBSCRIPTION PLAN	PRICE/MONTH
12-month	$8.32*
Six-month	$9.99*
One-month	$12.95

While you don’t get an ExpressVPN lifetime Subscription anymore, ExpressVPN provides a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid memberships, which are invoiced in U.S. dollars. ExpressVPN supports PayPal Credit cards, in-app payments from Apple, and in-app purchases from Google Play all have an automatic renewal setting for subscriptions.

To prevent getting charged when your membership expires, you may disable auto-renewal. However, if you’re still unsure and want to see how ExpressVPN stacks up against the competition after reading ExpressVPN review Trustpilot, here’s a look at the price for ExpressVPN and some of our other top VPNs:

VPN provider	Monthly plan	1-year plan	2-year plan	Free trial	Free version	Money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN	$12.95	$6.67/month	N/A	7-day (via iOS and Android)	No	30 days
Surfshark	$5.99	$3.22/month	$2.30/month	7-day (via iOS and Android)	No	30 days
NordVPN	$12.99	$4.99/month	$3.19/month	7-day (via Android)	No	30 days
CyberGhost	$12.99	N/A	$2.19/month	$12.99	N/A	$2.19/month
Atlas VPN	$11.99	$3.29/month	$1.82/month	7-day (via iOS and Android)	Yes	30 days
IPVanish	$11.99	$3.49/month	$2.99/month	7-day (via iOS and Android)	No	30 days (only with yearly subscriptions)

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Can I get ExpressVPN for free?

Yes, you can utilize ExpressVPN for free for 7 days using the free trial option. You can obtain the trial by downloading ExpressVPN for iOS or Android devices, and after signing up, you can enjoy the free trial on any device that ExpressVPN supports.

Moreover, you’re free to test out the service and all of its features this way before committing to a long-term membership plan.

VPN provider	ExpressVPN
Free trial	7-day free trial (iOS, Android)
Free version	No
Money-back guarantee	30 days

This way, you can check out the service and all its features without having to commit to a costly membership right away. You can additionally try out this service risk-free thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee. The best thing about these choices is that there are no limits on either data or speed.

No completely free version is available indefinitely. However, we wouldn’t recommend depending on the free versions because of their restrictions and lack of functionality. Instead, take advantage of our ExpressVPN discounts to save money on the industry’s best VPN service.

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ExpressVPN Payment Methods

Express VPN reviews make it easy to learn about the best VPN. You can subscribe to ExpressVPN by paying via several different payment options. These are the types of payment they accept:

Payment method	Description
Credit card	ExpressVPN accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Delta, Diners Club International, OneCard, and Hipercard as payment methods.
Debit card	You can pay for ExpressVPN with Visa and Mastercard debit cards.
PayPal	Pay for ExpressVPN using PayPal in most countries.
Bitcoin	You can pay for ExpressVPN with Bitcoin, a popular cryptocurrency.
Other cryptocurrencies	ExpressVPN also accepts other cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash.
Online transfer payments	ExpressVPN accepts Western Union and MoneyGram online transfers.
Local payment methods	In certain locations, ExpressVPN also offers local payment options.

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ExpressVPN Servers – How Many Servers Does ExpressVPN Offer?

ExpressVPN offers 3000+ servers in 160 locations across 94+ countries including servers located . Amongst all high-rated VPN services, ExpressVPN comes with the perfect balance of physical and virtual servers in most countries.

This server network is available across four regions worldwide:

While most servers in ExpressVPN’s network are bare-metal, physical servers, less than 3% of the servers are virtual.

However, this VPN still has a lot more servers in Europe and the Asia Pacific than any of the top VPN providers. Also, you can choose among the four locations in Africa, while other VPNs only offer one or two.

One of the most distinguishing characteristics of ExpressVPN’s network is its RAM-only servers compared to most providers’ hard disk-based servers. Therefore, any information related to the user gets instantly deleted whenever their servers are restarted and refreshed. this technology makes ExpressVPN safer than most competitors, aAs we have discussed in our”}” data-sheets-userformat=”{“2″:513,”3”:{“1″:0},”12″:0}”>s we have discussed in our ‘Is ExpressVPN Safe ‘ review.

Obfuscated servers

ExpressVPN is known as a Stealth VPN, meaning a few of its servers use obfuscation technology. This feature masks your VPN traffic and makes it seem like regular internet traffic. Using stealth servers, even deep packet inspection would enable you to see that you’re using a VPN.

However, there’s barely any information about ExpressVPN’s obfuscation technology. To confirm it, we raised some questions in the live chat support of ExpressVPN. We asked if they support obfuscation technology and how many servers, they have and got the following reply:

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ExpressVPN TrustedServer Technology – What is trusted server technology?

The most sophisticated VPN server technology provides critical privacy security measures. It’s ExpressVPN TrustedServer.

• Since VPN servers function only on RAM, all data is erased with each reboot.
• Servers never write to the hard disk, reducing data risk even more.
• At startup, every server’s whole software stack is reinstalled.
• There are no irregularities in what is operating on each server.

It removes the risk of hard drives and also has other features. Here are few of the features:

• The issue with conventional servers solved by TrustedServer: The conventional server uses hard disks, which store all data until they are wiped and written over. This puts servers in danger of leaking important data. However, TrustedServer uses RAM only. The operating system and programs cannot write data to the hard disk, eliminating hard drive security risks./li>
• TrustedServer increases security and consistency: Every ExpressVPN server utilizes the latest software thanks to TrustedServer. Every time a server begins, it loads the newest read-only image including the software stack, OS, and more. That means ExpressVPN knows what’s operating on every server, reducing vulnerabilities and misconfiguration and greatly enhancing VPN security.
• TrustedServer: Raising the security bar: TrustedServer technology significantly improves user privacy and security by tackling VPN server concerns. TrustedServer technology has been independently certified twice, by PwC and Cure53. ExpressVPN’s bug bounty program now offers a $100,000 one-time prize for TrustedServer security concerns.

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Does ExpressVPN Work in China?

Yes, ExpressVPN is one of the very few VPNs that can bypass the Great Firewall of China. Thanks to its advanced technologies and features, you can easily access your favorite social media, streaming services, and websites over the internet in China.

That’s because China is a country with strict internet censorship. Its censorship is known as the Great Firewall of China. Using Express VPN China’s internet connection, you cannot access popular websites like Facebook, YouTube, and even Google.

When China’s authorities banned VPNs some years ago, ExpressVPN remained one of the few that still worked. So, we thought to ask ExpressVPN’s representatives if we could install the VPN within China. For our ExpressVPN review, we took the question to its live chat support:

The live chat representative quickly provided us with ExpressVPN’s mirror site that you can safely use to download Express VPN in China. We opened the site, and it worked!

If you’re outside the country for some reason and want to access Chinese TV, then you can use ExpressVPN’s Hong Kong servers for that. We tried doing so with its Hong Kong – 2 server and enjoyed shows on IQIYI outside China without any delays.

There is another benefit of using ExpressVPN in China. Not only do you get to circumvent the Great Firewall of China by encrypting your online activities, but you can also access foreign content and social media sites quickly.

In addition, all of ExpressVPN’s servers employ obfuscation technology and keep their IP list updated so that you can unblock Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat in China without any issues. However, since the laws and regulations keep on changing, we recommend you do your research.

As per ExpressVPN’s customer support team, the VPN works great in various other restrictive countries as well, including Russia, Turkey, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. But, ensure that you install the VPN on your device before entering the country, so you don’t find the site blocked by any chance.

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Is ExpressVPN Good for Streaming?

Yes, definitely it is! ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for streaming. It offers fast speeds and works with streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime. Moreover, it is also the best VPN for Crave TV and other VoDs like Global TV, and Stack TV for Canadian viewers. While testing, we could unblock 40+ streaming platforms.

ExpressVPN actively monitors the unblocking performance of its servers. Every time an IP gets blocked, the VPN replaces it with another IP address. So while the VPN provides a list of streaming services it can access, its unblocking capabilities are more robust than that. We couldn’t find a single website that the VPN couldn’t access.

However, there’s a slight drawback: the VPN doesn’t unblock a few Netflix regions as mentioned in the ExpressVPN review Netflix.

We tested around 50+ servers including US, British, Canadian, Australian and other regions. As a reult we unblocked this entire list of streaming platforms with ExpressVPN:

Unblocked: 20+ Netflix libraries, including US, AU, and Japan

ExpressVPN lets us unblock Netflix libraries worldwide and stream without any interruptions. Since Netflix has the most powerful VPN-detection technology, even the most premium VPNs struggle to keep up with the platform. We faced no proxy errors during our tests and could change our Netflix region to over 20 libraries without extra effort.

To start testing our ExpressVPN with Netflix, we connected to its Chicago server and signed into the streaming platform without trouble. We could enjoy the movie we chose in HD without any buffering issues.

With this VPN, the far-away servers offered the same speeds and playback quality while streaming Netflix. For example, we connected to its Montreal server, and the performance was similar to the one we get without a VPN. However, the video did take a minute to load when connected to its Tokyo server.

Besides the American Netflix library, we could also unblock Netflix in the following countries:

However, we did face trouble using ExpressVPN’s virtual servers to unblock Netflix. We connected to its virtual Indian server but could only access Netflix Originals of the Indian library, not the regional content.

However, it didn’t matter much and is better than the irritating proxy error because ExpressVPN did unblock all the famous libraries of Netflix that the platform is keen to protect from foreign eyes. In short, ExpressVPN is worth it when it comes to streaming.

Unblocked: Disney+

As we all know, Disney+ offers some of the best shows out there. When testing ExpressVPN with Disney+, we were blown away by its performance. On the first try, ExpressVPN unblocked the platform and allowed us to watch She-Hulk without buffering on all of the servers that we tested and did not let us face errors like Disney Plus not working with VPN.

Since Disney+ lets users stream content in Ultra-high-definition, only premium VPNs can handle the job. With ExpressVPN, we got great results when we tested its US servers. We were able to watch Disney+ using its Australia, Canada, and United Kingdom servers without any buffering issues. Videos took only 2-5 seconds to load.

Unblocked: Hulu

Next up, we tried testing ExpressVPN with Hulu, and it, too, worked exceptionally well. We were able to unblock Hulu and watch HD shows and movies like Fresh in no time. You can also stream your favorite sports like Super Bowl LVII on Hulu with ExpressVPN.

Normally, it is quite difficult to unblock Hulu with other VPNs. However, ExpressVPN did a great job. We could unblock Hulu using multiple US servers and never once encountered any issues.

Unblocked: HBO Max

ExpressVPN with HBO Max also worked bufferlessly. Without any stutter or lags, we could stream Game of Thrones in no time. We tested every US location ExpressVPN provides, and every single one allowed me to access HBO Max without any problems. The video quality was great too. It never felt like we were connected to a VPN server.

Unblocked: Amazon Prime Video

We also tested ExpressVPN with Amazon Prime. If you don’t know already, this OTT platform is available worldwide. However, regional libraries vary depending on your region. We used the United States and Canada servers during testing to unblock it. We could stream shows and movies in HD without any buffering issues.

We did encounter a bit of an issue on the UK server, however, after clearing our cache and switching servers, we were able to watch multiple shows without any further hindrances.

Also Unblocks: BBC iPlayer, Kodi, Crunchyroll, Peacock, ESPN+, social media sites, and more

Aside from the top OTT platforms we discussed earlier, ExpressVPN can also unblock many other platforms like ITV, Peacock TV, Crunchyroll, ESPN+, and much more.

For example, when we tested ExpressVPN with ITV, it took only 5 seconds for the video to watch Love Island UK season 9 in US
. Just for reference, we used our 100 Mbps internet connection. Next, we streamed golf on ESPN+, which also worked great. Everything loaded instantly and played back flawlessly. Even Crunchyroll worked great.

Overall, ExpressVPN is an excellent streaming VPN. We could access every streaming platform, and the videos played back flawlessly with only a few minor hiccups.

As for social media platforms, ExpressVPN works great with those too. So, if you travel frequently and want to use Facebook, unblock Twitter, YouTube, and WhatsApp in restrictive regions like the Middle East, ExpressVPN is a great option. if you wanna delete Snapchat account and have any sort of trouble.

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Does ExpressVPN Allow Torrenting?

Yes, you can freely download P2P files with torrent clients using ExpressVPN’s servers. You can connect to any ExpressVPN server and torrent without any restrictions.

Per our testing, this VPN’s stable speeds and high degree of security make it a perfect companion for torrenting.

If you see other apps on your device getting affected by the VPN connection, then you can enable split tunneling, separating your VPN traffic (torrent client) so the rest of the sites and apps you use remain unaffected.

Since there are no bandwidth caps or limitations, you’d never face a throttled connection. Moreover, it’s no-logs policy and crypto support make ExpressVPN torrent an excellent combination.

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Speed & Performance: How Fast is ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPN services, mainly due to its proprietary Lightway protocol. This protocol delivers fast speeds and is quite speedy while switching between a mobile network and a Wi-Fi connection.

We conducted ExpressVPN speed tests on long-distance and local servers, we consistently received fast speeds on our connection. Using a connection of 100 Mbps, we carried out our tests on two sets of servers across Asia, Europe, and America.

Across all times and locations tested, ExpressVPN delivered an average download speed of 85 Mbps. It’s a blazing-fast VPN but a bit slower than NordVPN, which averages around 90 Mbps. However, ExpressVPN’s speeds throughout usage were so smooth that we did not see a difference between a normal and a VPN-enabled connection.

Here are the speed results of Express VPN on a 100 Mbps base internet connection. The stats for the most commonly used servers are mentioned below:

As per our testing, the local servers of ExpressVPN lowered our download speeds by 12-15%. The long-distance servers came with a speed loss of around 15%, which was not bad and still better than all the VPNs in the industry. For more information, you can check out the ExpressVPN speed test offered on long-distance and local servers.

Local Speeds

ExpressVPN offers incredible speed on its local servers. The servers in the United States or within the 4000 kilometers range dropped our download speeds by up to 15%. Since a VPN passes your traffic through a tunnel and encrypts it, most VPN servers reduce your speeds by a significant number but not Express VPN.

The first test we conducted was on the US – New York server using our 100 Mbps connection and got the following speeds:

The distance between New York and Los Angeles is over 3900 kilometers, so the LA server was 3% slower. We conducted a speed test on the Los Angeles – 2 server and got the following results:

ExpressVPN’s speeds hold up quite well in short distances. The testing proved that sometimes, the closest server might not be the fastest. The New York server probably had fewer users when we tested it. We’re unsure because you can’t view the load percentage or how crowded the servers are in the apps.

Besides, there were more servers we tested for ExpressVPN gaming review and streaming, and ExpressVPN’s local servers offered almost similar speeds to one another. You can check out a few here:

To begin, we connected to ExpressVPN’s USA – Atlanta server to see how fast it was. Since it was a local server, we only saw a 1% loss in download speeds, resulting in 89.78 Mbps, and a 5% drop in upload speed when compared to the basic connection speeds.

Next, we evaluated ExpressVPN’s performance on the Buffalo server. With just 120 ms ping, we received a download speed of 92.26 Mbps and an upload speed of 89.45 Mbps.

We then tested how well ExpressVPN worked with the New Jersey server. Our ping was under 108 ms and we were able to download at 89.38 Mbps and upload at 84.66 Mbps.

The performance of ExpressVPN on the Los Angeles server was then evaluated. Our ping was 110 ms, and we had download speeds of 89.42 Mbps and upload speeds of 84.64 Mbps.

Long-Distance Speeds

The speed drop on long-distance servers was slightly more as seen in review ExpressVPN, but they were still quite commendable. The Germany – Frankfurt server was over 6900 km away from our location, but we lost only 17% of our download speeds. Usually, VPNs do slow down by 15%-20% on long-distance servers, so this speed drop was quite normal.

We did not face any difference while browsing or streaming at these speeds. So next, we tested the UK – London server, which was over 6300 km away from us.

While connected to its London server, our download speeds increased by 1%.

Overall, ExpressVPN’s long-distance servers offered fast speeds as we tested a few more servers and recorded their results in the screenshot below:

We started our speed tests by connecting to ExpressVPN’s Australia – Melbourne server. Since it was a local server, our download speeds dropped by just 1%, to 89.26 Mbps, and our upload speeds dropped by only 3%, relative to our baseline connection rates. The pings, however, were a little too high.

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Security and Privacy: Is ExpressVPN safe?

Despite repeated hits to its reputation, ExpressVPN’s privacy and security initiatives have continued to scale in the industry. After investigating the service for months, we’re convinced that ExpressVPN is one VPN we’d highly recommend to privacy-conscious users, thanks to its RAM-only server fleet, heavily audited no-logs policy, and transparency.

Considering its robust transparency measures, we can undermine Kape’s capability to reap and sell user data through ExpressVPN. We don’t actually think that Kape does that anyway. Here’s why:

ExpressVPN can be deemed the king in Kape Technologies’ portfolio. At this VPN’s purchase, Kape’s revenue increased by 89%, likely doubling by 2023’s end. Assuming this, we’re confident that Kape won’t try jeopardizing ExpressVPN’s reputation and profitability by harvesting data from them.

Following our inquiry, we found evidence of ExpressVPN addressing the matter post-Kape acquisition in its privacy policy. Here is an excerpt of the policy for you:

Now that we know all ExpressVPN users are safe from data collection, let’s take a closer look at all these security features and see if this VPN itself is a safe bet:

Secure connections via tunneling

Split tunneling allows you to send data across the internet privately while exempting some traffic from the VPN tunnel. This is useful if you want to enjoy streaming with an international connection and access your banking site with a local IP. To start, all you need is to decide which app will use the VPN connection.

You’ll find three options under the settings of split tunneling:

For testing, we chose the 3rd option and added our Netflix app to test the feature. Then, we connected to ExpressVPN’s USA – New Jersey – 3 server and accessed the streaming platform’s app. It worked great, and we could stream the exclusive US content while using our local IP for everything else normally.

This feature is only available on the Mac, Windows, and router apps for ExpressVPN. Sadly, you don’t get split tunneling on mobile apps.

Data Encryption — Military-Grade Protection

The encryption technology of ExpressVPN protects your personal information. It safeguards you using its AES 256-bit encryption, which is a combination of 4096-bit RSA key and SHA-512 HMAC authentication with AES 256-bit cipher. On the 256-bit keyspace, your data is simply uncrackable. Please note that this is the same encryption level that banks, governments, and militaries use to secure sensitive data.

AES 256-bit means 1.1 x 10^77 or 2^256 possible combinations. The number of bits tells you the possible number of combinations there are to make the key.

Moreover, ExpressVPN uses the SHA-512 HMAC authentication, which is super-secure for transferring all kinds of data, including torrent files. With a shared key, both the sender and receiver can determine the identity of the file. In case of any changes in the secret key, you’ll know that the file has been tampered with, and so the breach would quickly be identified and dealt with.

It further uses perfect forward secrecy, which changes the encryption key every time you log into ExpressVPN. So, even if someone decrypts your key, your past and future sessions will not be decrypted.

Finally, each security protocol will slightly change your level of encryption. For example, the Lightway protocol uses wolfSSL, which is not AES but still tends to be 256-bit encryption. So, it’s more open-source and pretty secure.

Security Protocols

ExpressVPN offers different protocols, allowing you to customize the VPN for any situation. Security protocols are rules that a VPN uses to inform how to encrypt your data.

Please note that every protocol is a bit different than the other, so let’s dig into the ExpressVPN Keys review:

• Lightway: This protocol is exclusive to ExpressVPN. It seamlessly transitions between networks and doesn’t drain too much battery, making it an excellent choice for mobile phones. It offers two options: Lightway UDP and TCP. As per our testing for the ExpressVPN Lightway review, the TCP is 10% faster than UDP and is a better option for unreliable networks.
• IKEv2: This was only 2% faster than OpenVPN, as per our tests. The protocol isn’t too secure and can easily be blocked by firewalls, so you should only use it if the rest aren’t working. Moreover, it has no TCP option.
• OpenVPN: This open-source protocol is one of the most secure options. It has TCP and UDP options; however, UDP comes out a bit faster than TCP.
• L2TP/IPsec: This is the oldest and the least secure option. However, it turned out the fastest in our tests and can be used if you prioritize speed over security.

You can switch to different protocols using the protocols tab on Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android. Whereas on Linux, you can use various commands in the terminal. Moreover, you get a different set of protocols based on your device:

You can also use the Automatic selection option to choose the best protocol based on your connection. Please note that not every server supports L2TP/IPsec protocol. Overall, we’d recommend using Lightway to you for the best security and speed.

Lightway

Lightway is a lightweight proprietary protocol of ExpressVPN, which is ideal for users wanting security on mobile. Here are a few benefits of the protocol as per our tests:

• Ability to establish connections instantly: When tested, we could connect to the Lightway protocol within 2 seconds.
• Updated level of encryption: It uses the wolfSSL encryption, which is the latest cryptographic library providing 256-bit encryption.
• Fast speeds: Our base speeds improved by 3% while connected to Lightway. However, you can switch from wolfSSL to ChaCha20 for a speed boost if you’re using a device that’s not extremely powerful, like a phone.
• Codebase is small: The protocol has only 1000 lines of code, which is the lightest codebase amongst all protocols, making it extremely easy to audit Lightway.

Please note that ExpressVPN does not offer a SOCKS5 proxy on its apps and servers. To know more about it, read our ExpressVPN SOCK5 guide.

ExpressVPN kill switch

ExpressVPN kill switch (Network Lock) is available on the app for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and routers. It keeps your activities safe if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly. it’s better to use ExpressVPN MikroTik or ExpressVPN on pfSense.

This kill switch mechanism ensures that there’s not even a single packet of your data that slips through the internet from your computer without ExpressVPN guarding it.

To evaluate the kill switch for our ExpressVPN review, we connected to ExpressVPN’s AU – Brisbane server and then switched our internet off to see the results. We kept the ExpressVPN app open on our screen while doing so, and this is the error we immediately received:

Once this error was displayed on our screen, we could not access any site until we connected to our Wi-Fi network again. In short, ExpressVPN worked flawlessly without any issues and responded swiftly to our attempts.

You can enable and disable the kill switch on the Windows and Android apps using its toggle as per your preference. As per the ExpressVPN router review, the same function isn’t offered on the router app, though.

Additionally, the feature is known as Network Protection on Android devices, and you require setting the feature to ‘Always On’ in the settings to make the most of it. Not to mention, ExpressVPN’s kill switch is automatic on Mac, iOS, and Linux.

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ExpressVPN DNS leak protection

ExpressVPN has a built-in leak protection feature that blocks any technique hackers use to access your data.

It works this way: You enter a URL in your address bar to visit any website. That URL is sent through the encrypted tunnel to a DNS server by ExpressVPN. The DNS server then looks for the IP address and sends it back to ExpressVPN to access the website. ExpressVPN instantly sends you back to that page. No traffic manages to escape the tunnel’s protection.

Your data can be accessed through several methods, including IPv4, WebRTC, IPv6, and DNS leaks. However, ExpressVPN passed all our leak tests with flying colors on its Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows apps in our ExpressVPN review.

First, we executed its DNS/IP leak tests using ipleak.net on seven global servers.

The image above demonstrates that each test only detected the DNS server and IP address for Brisbane that we were currently connected to using the app.

Then, we ran ExpressVPN through browserleaks.com to check whether it leaked our WebRTC information or not. Since we were connected to the Canadian server of ExpressVPN for the test, the results below showed IP addresses associated with ExpressVPN’s servers, evidence that we did not encounter WebRTC leaks at all with ExpressVPN.

Even if a VPN keeps you secure in every way, please note that leaks can still occur. That’s why it’s great to ExpressVPN, since it offers a built-in DNS leak protection feature, keeping you secure from all kinds of leaks.

Does ExpressVPN keep logs?

No, ExpressVPN does not keep any connection or activity logs of its users. No activity logs mean ExpressVPN does not view, store, or record the sites you visit. It also doesn’t log your traffic or destination’s content, session duration, timestamps, or source IP address.

ExpressVPN no-logging policy is stringent, and the VPN is confident enough not to over-advertise its no-logs policy on its homepage.

ExpressVPN does not keep:

To sum up, no record exists of where you connected to ExpressVPN or what you did while connected.

The only information ExpressVPN stores are:

This is super impressive. Literally, not many VPNs log less information about their users. The best part is all this information is used for maintenance and to improve the quality of the service – not for any malicious reasons.

But if you still want more anonymity, ExpressVPN allows its users to buy subscriptions with cryptocurrency. How cool is that!

Also, after you’re done using ExpressVPN and want to end your subscription, you can reach out to ExpressVPN and have your personal information completely wiped. We confirmed this through ExpresVPN’s live chat support:

If you’re not aware, ExpressVPN’s zero-logs policy was tested in 2017 when the Turkish government seized one of ExpressVPN’s servers. However, they discovered nothing because no data was stored, demonstrating the legitimacy of the no-logs policy, because ExpressVPN is also the best VPN for offshore. And as we mentioned earlier, ExpressVPN has been independently audited by Cure53, PwC, and F-Secure.

Independent Audits

Trusting a VPN with your privacy is a huge deal. With ExpressVPN, you don’t have to worry one bit. Why?

Well, ExpressVPN has been audited by Cure53, PwC, and F-Secure, proving that it has a legitimate privacy policy and can be fully trusted.

If you don’t know, Cure53 is a cybersecurity team that tested its Chrome and Firefox browser extensions, as well as its Lightway protocol. During the audit, Cure53 did find some issues. However, ExpressVPN promptly addressed them. Cure53 confirmed that ExpressVPN had addressed the issues a month later.

Cure53 also found several vulnerabilities in the Lightway protocol during the audit. However, it did confirm that the Lightway codebase was of high quality.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) also audited ExpressVPN. Their audit covered ExpressVPN’s privacy policy and TrustedServer Technology. The audit results were published for the general public to see in 2019 and 2020. Following the audit, PwC discovered that ExpressVPN provides all of its security and privacy features.

Finally, F-secure also had a crack at ExpressVPN and independently audited it in late 2021. It audited ExpressVPN’s Windows app for vulnerabilities. After the audit, F-secure found a few low-severity issues in the app. However, the F-secure team stated that it could never find information about any of ExpressVPN’s customer service – proving that ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy is watertight.

Overall, ExpressVPN is as best as it gets. ExpressVPN’s Android app has also been certified by the ioXt Alliance.

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Interface and ease of use

Platform	Experience
macOS	Very similar to the Windows client
Windows	Basic but functional VPN app
Linux	Works through terminal but tricky to use
Browser	Attractive extensions for Chrome, Brave, Opera, Edge, and Firefox
Mobile	Android app has more features than iOS

The user experience on all ExpressVPN applications is fairly comparable and simple to use. It provides full-featured programs for five operating systems: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. Furthermore, there are several browser extensions. During our ExpressVPN review and app testing, we came to the following conclusions:

• macOS version: Pretty identical to the Windows version, easy and simple to use
• Windows version: Simple and straightforward setup, easy access to all functions
• Linux version: More complicated navigation, certain functionality missing
• Browser versions: Lightweight, transparent, and simple to use
• Mobile versions: well-equipped interfaces that are responsive and simple to use

ExpressVPN supports a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux, as well as applications for the Kindle Fire, Chromebook, and routers.

ExpressVPN browser extension review is fantastic and highlights that they are available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Furthermore, if you have smart TVs or consoles that do not natively support VPNs, you can use Media Streamer to stream geo-blocked stuff on the big screen.

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What Devices Can Be Used On ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN multi-platform compatibility review highlights that you can use VPN on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, routers, Linux, and Kindle, along with manual configuration for Chromebook, Linux, and wireless routers (DD-WRT, Tomato, Sabai, and Asus), as well as gaming consoles and streaming sticks (PlayStation 3 and 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, FireStick, and Apple TV).

Moreover, ExpressVPN Xbox is also a good combination for streaming and gaming. Let’s not forget that it’s also the best VPN for Synology and other storage devices. you can also use ExpressVPN as it is a risk-free VPN for gaming.

The best thing is that the apps are intuitive on every device and work similarly. All of them, except the Linux app. Since the Linux app doesn’t have a graphical interface, we had to interact with it through text. However, we found it extremely easy to access every feature of this VPN and switch servers using the command line.

While the apps are similar, their features do differ from one another:

Can ExpressVPN be used on a PC? (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Yes, ExpressVPN is a risk-free VPN service that works with all Windows PC laptops and desktops. It’s compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11.

Now to answer your Does ExpressVPN work on Mac? the question, ExpressVPN works with all Apple laptops and desktops. It offers dedicated apps for various Mac versions, including macOS 10.12 (Sierra), 10.15 (Catalina), 0.11 (El Capitan), 10.14 (Mojave), 10.13 (High Sierra), 12 (Monterey), and X 11 (Big Sur). Moreover, it also offers native apps for its Mac Silicon devices.

Moreover, we’ve also seen potential users ask, Does ExpressVPN work on Linux? Well, ExpressVPN is compatible with the following Linux systems: Debian: 9 (Stretch) and 10 (Buster), Fedora: 34, and Ubuntu: All the interim and LTS releases are currently supported by the standard support window.

It can also be used on Raspberry Pi (armhf): 10 (Buster) and 9 (Stretch), Mint: Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) 4 and Linux Mint 20.1, and Arch: latest release.

The apps of all desktops are user-friendly. However, we did take some time to learn Linux’s commands since it doesn’t have a graphical user interface (GUI).

To access ExpressVPN and visit its settings in Linux, you’ll be required to use the commands within the terminal. For example, the “expressvpn list all” command will prompt the VPN’s list of the server locations to connect to. However, since the browser extension is easier to use, we only access the terminal to change the protocol settings.

Can you use ExpressVPN on Android?

Yes, you can use ExpressVPN with all Android tablets and smartphones. The Android app of ExpressVPN is similar to its Windows counterpart, with features like a kill switch, split tunneling, auto-connect, and a few extras. The VPN’s Protection Summary displays a percentage of the number of times you’ve connected to the VPN since its installation.

To use the VPN on Android, you’d require signing up to it through ExpressVPN’s website and then installing its app from the Google Play Store. Also, you’d need an Android version of 5.0 or over.

Its Android app allows you to select between the OpenVPN and Lightway protocols. However, in our opinion, Lightway is the superior option for phones as it helps you save battery life while letting you swiftly switch between your networks. The Android app also allows you to add up to 5 website and app shortcuts.

While testing the Android app for our ExpressVPN review, we found it to work as great as its PC counterparts. Switching servers was swift, and we could enjoy HD streaming without any issues.

However, Android does lack a feature called ‘Reinstall VPN Configuration” that lets you install the VPN from within the app in case of any issues.

Does ExpressVPN work on iOS?

Yes, the ExpressVPN review for iPhone highlights that it works flawlessly on all iOS devices. ExpressVPN secures your iPhone on LTE/4G, Wi-Fi, 3G, and other mobile data carriers. Select between IKEv2, UDP, and TCP protocols, or choose the one that’s best for you.

ExpressVPN’s iOS app is compatible with iOS 12 and newer and is quite similar to Android. The app is available on the Apple App Store with relatively easy configuration (use our ExpressVPN iPhone guide for step-by-step instructions). In addition, it includes various exclusive features, including an IP checker, DNS/WebRTC leak tester, and a password generator.

However, the iOS app does have a few limitations due to the restrictions of its operating system. For example, unlike Android, the VPN does not offer a split tunneling feature on iOS.

However, you do get Parallel Connections and Threat Manager on iOS, so the VPN would work faster on restricted networks, and you’ll be absolutely protected from malware on your device.

Please note that ExpressVPN is compatible with iOS 12 or later, so you can install the VPN only if you’re using the mentioned versions of the OS.

Does ExpressVPN work on Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge?

Yes, ExpressVPN offers dedicated extensions for Firefox, Google Chrome, and Edge. These ExpressVPN extensions offer more than just VPN protection with WebRTC blocking, location spoofing, and HTTPS Everywhere. However, ExpressVPN doesn’t have a Safari extension yet.

Browser extensions let you control the ExpressVPN app remotely using your Chrome, Edge, Vivaldi, Firefox, and Brave browsers. While they aren’t precisely like proper VPN apps, they’re valuable to your device’s browser. However, for the ExpressVPN extension to work, you’d require a standalone VPN app installed in the browser. We tested ExpressVPN on many other browsers and found that it is also one of the best VPNs for UC browsers along with the best VPN for Brave browser etc.

To use the browser ExpressVPN extension, you are required to activate one of the following apps: ExpressVPN’s Mac app (7.1 or later), ExpressVPN’s Windows app (6.9 or later), and ExpressVPN’s Linux app (2.0 or later).

Using a browser extension allowed us to unblock streaming services like Hulu and HBO Max that need geo-location in the browser. These streaming platforms can use geo-monitoring technology to check where they are exactly. However, turning the “Spoof your Location” toggle to On made it seem like you’re in the exact location of the VPN server.

These extensions also come with some fantastic benefits. First, the extension prevents HTML5 geo-location from revealing your actual location. It further offers WebRTC leaks and enforces HTTPS Everywhere.

We tested the VPN and faced no WebRTC leaks on its extension. Moreover, we visited 5 different websites with HTTPS Everywhere enabled, and the VPN provided us with the HTTPS version every time.

Please note that each ExpressVPN subscription includes browser extensions for the browsers mentioned above. These extensions are helpful but, unfortunately, unavailable for tablets or phones. That’s because it’s easy to switch between an app and a browser on a desktop but difficult when using a touch screen.

Also, ExpressVPN’s Chrome and Firefox extensions allow you to use a VPN with GUI. The only drawback with extensions is that you cannot change your extensions’ settings.

How do I use ExpressVPN MediaStreamer ?

MediaStreamer ExpressVPN’s SmartDNS tool, allows you to access geo-restricted TV shows and movies by spoofing your location. However, unlike a regular VPN, MediaStreamer does not encrypt your browser traffic.

This VPN feature is useful for streaming on devices that do not natively support VPN apps. These include gaming consoles, streaming sticks, and Smart TVs, such as Roku, PlayStations, unsupported routers, and Xbox.

MediaStreamer is a proxy you can use directly by connecting to ExpressVPN’s DNS server. With it, we could easily stream on devices like Samsung Smart TV, Apple TV, PlayStation, Raspberry Pi, Xbox, etc., and faced no connection issues.

Let’s not forget that you can also set up MediaStreamer on your router and simultaneously use it on multiple devices. For a quick guide, here is how to use ExpressVPN MediaStreamer on a v1 router:

It took us about 5 minutes to configure MediaStreamer directly on our PS5. We had to register our IP address in our ExpressVPN account. Then, we were instantly provided with MediaStreamer IP addresses, which we entered into our PlayStation’s network settings.

Since we were within in USA, our global team helping in this ExpressVPN review informed us that they could easily access streaming platforms like Hulu, Prime Video, and HBO Max using the US server on their PlayStation.

How many devices can be connected to ExpressVPN simultaneously?

ExpressVPN’s single subscription can be used on five devices simultaneously, regardless of the platforms (including virtual machines). You can install ExpressVPN on a large number of devices, but only five devices can be connected at the same time.

We faced no performance issues when we installed ExpressVPN on multiple devices. While various other VPNs offer more simultaneous connections, here’s a pro tip: You can set up ExpressVPN directly onto a router. In that case, you’ll be able to secure all the devices that connect to your router simultaneously, regardless of how many multi-logins ExpressVPN officially allows.

For testing this feature, we configured ExpressVPN on our Mac, iPhone, Windows PC, FireStick, and Kodi (through MediaStreamer). We started streaming exclusive US Netflix content while playing Call of Duty on our phones and faced no lags or buffering during both activities. This means that you have nothing to worry about when it comes to ExpressVPN’s performance on multiple connections.

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ExpressVPN Customer Support

According to our ExpressVPN review, the VPN indeed outperforms other providers in this category. The service has divided the support section into subcategories, including live chat support, troubleshooting guides and installation instructions, email support, and support ticket submissions.

In case you need help with something, you can contact the customer support team of ExpressVPN any time via its chat box available at the bottom-right corner of your screen. All you need to do is visit their website and enter your ExpressVPN login credentials to get started.

Does ExpressVPN have live chat?

Well, let us reiterate. Yes, ExpressVPN’s live chat support is available 24/7 and is now better than ever! If you ever face any issue with your service, just get in touch with the support team, and it’ll promptly help you.

From finding an optimized server to access Netflix Australia to solving our technical installation issues – its representatives take adequate time to provide informative answers and get to the bottom of your problem to assist you.

We also tested the service response by canceling our subscription with this VPN and could do it without the representatives probing into the issue or asking any irrelevant questions.

The VPN also offers an extensive list of troubleshooting guides that can help you if you face frequent connection drops, slow speeds, error messages or want to cancel your account or change your password. These guides are very well-written and offer multiple solutions in layman’s terms instead of assuming you already have technical knowledge.

The setup guides are even better. They cover every topic from generic to techniques to help you, including installing the ExpressVPN app, configuring manual connections, or using OpenVPN GUI. Also, you get these guides for almost every operating system or device you own, including Windows, Mac, routers, Smart TVs, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebooks, and more.

Its search bar is so robust that you get all these guides as soon as you enter a single keyword. Our tests discovered 126 results for Mac, 56 for DNS, 31 for Asus, and 113 for Android.

Finally, we decided to shoot a question to check out its email support. While the VPN claims to answer within 24 hours, we got ours within an hour!

ExpressVPN’s customer support is the best we’ve seen as we’ve tested the support apart from all popular VPN services in the industry.

Compare ExpressVPN With The Top Alternative VPNs

After going through “Is ExpressVPN safe Reddit” threads and conducting the ExpressVPN review Reddit, we also compared the VPN with various top competitors in the industry. You can check the comparisons below:

• ExpressVPN vs NordVPN
• ExpressVPN vs IPVanish
• ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost
• ExpressVPN vs PIA
• ExpressVPN vs PureVPN

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FAQs – ExpressVPN Review

What is the downside of ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN is more expensive than several competitors (although not the most expensive VPN). Furthermore, ExpressVPN does not provide all of the functions that some other VPN providers do.

What is better ExpressVPN or NordVPN?

Each VPN uses cutting-edge safety protocols. ExpressVPN features a password manager to protect user information, while NordVPN’s Meshnet function allows for encrypted connections across several devices. However, NordVPN costs just around half as much as ExpressVPN while still delivering excellent service.

How much does ExpressVPN cost?

Subscriptions to ExpressVPN are as follows: ExpressVPN is $12.95 per month, $59.95 for six months, and $99.95 for a year.

Why ExpressVPN is so expensive?

ExpressVPN spends a lot of money maintaining a large, secure, and lightning-fast network. ExpressVPN, in contrast to cheap VPN services, spends money on a superior, more stable infrastructure in order to provide you comfort when browsing.

Is ExpressVPN still trustworthy?

Yes, ExpressVPN’s top-tier security protocols make it a secure option. The provider’s use of AES-256 encryption disperses your online data into pieces, providing security that is offered by governments.

Does ExpressVPN offer a free trial?

There is a free trial available for mobile devices with ExpressVPN. In addition, if you are unhappy with the service for any reason during the first 30 days, you can request a full refund of your payment.

How many devices can be connected to ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN can be installed on an unlimited number of devices. However, if you have a 6- or 12-month subscription, only eight devices can be connected to the VPN at the same time.

Does ExpressVPN slow down Internet speed?

Yes, ExpressVPN, like any other VPN, slows down your internet speed. As a result, in our testing, we assess the drop-off from the baseline connection to determine how much it decreases speed.

Is ExpressVPN owned by China?

No, ExpressVPN is not owned by China. ExpressVPN is a VPN by an organization registered in the British Virgin Islands called Express Technologies Ltd. The company markets the software as a security and privacy tool that masks users’ IP addresses and encrypts their web traffic. Also, you can consider ExpressVPN as the best VPN for China due to its strong encryption, reliable connection, and ability to bypass the Great Firewall.

Is ExpressVPN blocked by Netflix?

NO! ExpressVPN works excellently with Netflix, The servers of ExpressVPN offer fast and unthrottled access to Netflix streaming.

Is ExpressVPN good for gaming?

Yes, ExpressVPN is a popular option among gamers who are looking for a reliable and fast connection. The provider offers a vast range of server locations, robust encryption, and great speeds.

Does ExpressVPN protect from ISP?

Yes, you can trust ExpressVPN to keep your data safe from ISP. If you’re using ExpressVPN, ISPs cannot view what you’re downloading and from where. They can only view that you’re downloading something while using a VPN server.

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Final Verdict – Is ExpressVPN Good in 2023?

Yes, ExpressVPN is by far the best VPN service we’ve tested in 2023, offering excellent speeds, security, and unblocking ability so you can enjoy its well-rounded service wherever you are in the world. This VPN is tough to beat in every aspect.

ExpressVPN’s speeds were so fast that we faced no buffers while streaming in Ultra-HD. Its far-away servers eliminated ISP throttling on our connection and offered better speeds than we received before.

As for security, its private DNS and AES 256-bit encryption let us pass all leak tests. Moreover, the privacy-friendly headquarters – the British Virgin Islands and no-logging policy made it easy for us to trust ExpressVPN with our data.

However, one thing that was a letdown was its inability to offer an ad-blocker to its users. But that wasn’t much of a big deal as you can get various effective ad-blockers for free.

So, in short, the ExpressVPN review highlights that it is worth every penny it costs. So, if you’re looking for the best, ExpressVPN is undoubtedly the way to go!