ExpressVPN Review [2022]: Is It Good + Worth the Price?

ExpressVPN is a VPN that’s fast, secure, intuitive, and more reliable than any other on the market. It is also a bit more expensive than top brands that offer similar functionality. Is ExpressVPN worth the investment in 2022? Here’s why I believe it.

ExpressVPN offers excellent speeds and top-notch security features. It has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. ExpressVPN allows you to connect up 5 devices simultaneously, including Android, iOS and Windows.

ExpressVPN was able to work with Netflix and all other streaming sites in my tests. There were no buffering, lag or interruptions as I streamed content. ExpressVPN supports torrenting from all its servers. This can be used to bypass firewalls in countries like Iran or China that have internet censorship.

ExpressVPN offers additional security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption and a kill switch.

• No logs policy– ExpressVPN claims it does not keep any user data logs (which have been independently audited, and confirmed).
• Split tunnelling – You can choose which data is routed through the VPN server or through your local network.
• Obfuscation — Makes it appear that you are browsing the internet without a VPN. This allows you to bypass restrictions and censorship.
• Tor support – This adds an additional layer of security to Tor’s network, making it impossible for any Tor node see your IP address.

While I love ExpressVPN in general, I don’t like its iOS app.

It doesn’t offer a kill switch or support for ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol. Split-tunneling is not available (but I don’t know of any VPN offering split-tunneling for iOS). ExpressVPN does not have an ad-blocker, something many of its top VPN competitors do.

However, I think ExpressVPN is my favourite VPN service in 2022. It’s fast, secure, feature-rich and reliable across all apps.

ExpressVPN offers a 1-month, 6-month and 12-month plans. The 12-month plan is the best value plan as it offers a great first-year discount and 3 additional months free. All subscriptions come with a 30-day guarantee of satisfaction.

ExpressVPN Full Review

After spending a couple of weeks researching and testing ExpressVPN, I can confidently say it is the best VPN available.It has a lot of useful features, high security and the fastest speeds in all of VPN industry.

Although it isn’t the most expensive VPN, it offers a great value. Plus, our 49% discount will allow you to save on your subscription. ExpressVPN currently offers 3 months free and a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN Features

ExpressVPN offers the following security features:

• AES encryption of 256 bits Encryption that makes internet traffic unreadable from end-to-end.
• No logs policy. ExpressVPN does not log any personal information, internet traffic or files that you download. ExpressVPN was audited by a third party to confirm this no-logs policy.
• Network Lock kill switch This feature prevents accidental data leaks by shutting down internet traffic when you are disconnected from the VPN server.

ExpressVPN’s servers are powered by RAM memory. This means that there is no physical hard drive. Every reboot of the server wipes out all data.

ExpressVPN also provides its own DNS on each server. This means that third parties won’t see DNS queries and that the server’s response time will be faster.

ExpressVPN offers built-in protection against WebRTC, IPv6 and DNS leaks. ExpressVPN allows you to disable WebRTC completely in your desktop apps and browser extensions Chrome, Firefox, Edge. ExpressVPN also blocks IPv6 traffic automatically (which is better than TunnelBear, which requires you to disable IPv6 manually).

ExpressVPN offers four protocols — OpenVPN, UDP, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec. Although I recommend Lightway to most people, this protocol is not yet available for iOS. IKEv2 as well as L2TP/IPSec, are not available for Android.

ExpressVPN offers complete forward secrecy. This means that the encryption keys used for encrypting and decrypting your internet traffic are changed every 15 minutes, or whenever you disconnect. This protects your sensitive data, even if the latest generated encryption key is hacked. The hacker can only see encrypted traffic but not any other traffic.

ExpressVPN offers additional security features in addition to the standard security features.

Split-Tunneling

ExpressVPN’s split tunnelling tool is very goodIt’s available for Android, Windows, or macOS. Split-tunneling is a feature that most premium VPNs provide for Windows and Android. However, ExpressVPN is the only VPN to offer this feature for macOS users. ExpressVPN currently supports macOS 10.15 and below.

Split-tunneling was flawless every time I tried it. It worked well when I downloaded torrents, made VoIP calls and accessed websites that were geo-blocked in my region. ExpressVPN’s split-tunneling allowed me to download torrents faster than when my traffic was routed through the VPN. I also had the ability to browse the internet on my own local network and make VoIP calls.

Split-tunneling with ExpressVPN worked well for me. It was also very easy to use on my Samsung Galaxy, Windows PC, MacBook Pro, and Windows PC. ExpressVPN does not allow you to exclude certain websites or IP addresses from your VPN tunnel. Competitors like ProtonVPN, for example, let you exclude apps and web browsers.

The split-tunneling option of ExpressVPN is an excellent way to send traffic over the VPN and to your local network simultaneously. However, most users can add or remove specific apps. This feature is easy to use and works well for Mac users.

Built-in Speed Test

ExpressVPN’s speed test feature allows you to quickly test ExpressVPN servers and find the fastest for your location.This tool ranks servers by latency (how long your device takes to connect with the VPN server), and download speed. It’s available for Windows and macOS.

ExpressVPN’s speed testing was very accurate during my testing. ExpressVPN’s top-recommended server was tested against lower-ranking servers. The top recommendation server was always faster.

This feature allows you to choose the fastest server each time you use VPN. This feature is not available on most other VPN providers. CyberGhost VPN offers the closest, which allows you to see how each server is performing.

ExpressVPN’s speed testing feature is great. The speed tests are easy to perform, you don’t need to use any third-party to obtain the results. It’s also accurate and not offered by other VPN providers.

Support for Tor Traffic

All ExpressVPN servers can handle traffic from The Onion Router, (Tor).There are no need to enable any option. You can use the Tor browser immediately after connecting to ExpressVPN.

Many VPNs that support Tor Over VPN have dedicated servers for Tor traffic. ExpressVPN allows you to use Tor on any server that you choose.

ExpressVPN also has an.onion edition of its official website, which allows users to remain anonymous when purchasing a subscription. ExpressVPN is also available to users who live in countries that have strict internet censorship.

However, a VPN using Tor can result in slow internet speeds. The Tor network encrypts traffic multiple times and the VPN adds another layer of encryption to make the connection even slower. This feature took sites longer to load (over 10 to 15 seconds), and I experienced a 70 to 80% slowdown compared to my normal internet speed.

ExpressVPN is recommended if you use.onion websites and want to prevent leaks while using Tor’s network. However, you will still need to download the Tor browser in order to access the Tor network. Competitors like ProtonVPN allow you to browse.onion domains using browsers such as Opera or Chrome. This could make it more convenient for some users.

ExpressVPN Privacy & Security

ExpressVPN adheres to a no-logs policy

It doesn’t track your IP address, which sites you visit, and what files you download. ExpressVPN’s Privacy Statement clearly states that it logs only your email address (for communication purposes), payment details (for issuing refunds), as well as the VPN apps downloaded. ExpressVPN records communications with support staff (to improve user experience and monitor for abusers).

ExpressVPN has been subject to multiple independent audits in order to confirm its no-logs policy. This is something I love. Cure53, a cybersecurity firm, reviewed ExpressVPN’s Chrome extension in 2018. It found that ExpressVPN met all major privacy and security standards. A year later, auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) confirmed ExpressVPN was in compliance with its Privacy Policy and that user data is erased each time a server is rebooted (with its TrustedServer technology).ExpressVPN’s headquarters is in British Virgin Islands (BVI). This is a good thing because ExpressVPN does not have mandatory data retention laws in the BVI. However, the BVI High Court cannot order ExpressVPN share user data. ExpressVPN does not log data so there wouldn’t be any information to turn over. The BVI is not a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances, a group of countries who share intelligence data.

ExpressVPN’s transparent, no-logs policy was independently verified. It’s also headquartered in a privacy friendly country that is not part of 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances.

ExpressVPN Speed & Performance

To find the average VPN speed, I did dozens of speed tests when ExpressVPN servers were connected. My VPN speed was the fastest when I used a local VPN server in Romania, but it was also very fast when I used remote servers in the USA and Australia.

To get a baseline speed, I began my speed tests by not connecting to ExpressVPN.

Next, I used ExpressVPN’s Smart location feature (I was connected with a server in Romania) to connect to the fastest VPN server.I had no speed drops and was able surf the web and view content with no delays.

Finally, I tried an Australian server. I was surprised that the Australian server was faster than the US server in terms of download and upload speeds. Although I could stream HD content, the streaming speed was slower than on the US server. It sometimes defaulted to SD quality for about 4-5 seconds before switching to HD. YouTube loaded my 1080p videos instantly, while 4K videos took just a few seconds to load. A 70 GB torrent file was also downloaded in less than 2 hours. This is very fast.

I ran speed tests using both OpenVPN (and Lightway) to determine which protocol provides the fastest speeds. I also tested Lightway on an Australian and Romanian server. OpenVPN speeds on the Romanian server were 53% slower that when I used Lightway. OpenVPN speeds on the Australian server were 75% slower.However, Romania’s internet speed is so fast that it’s unfair to compare my results with those of people from other countries. So I asked my American colleague to do speed tests.

He first ran a speed test without being connected to ExpressVPN.

Next, my colleague connected to a New York server using Smart Location. He experienced the same thing as me, connecting to an ExpressVPN server in New York. However, he didn’t notice any difference in browsing the internet or streaming content.

He connected to a server in England. His ping spiked significantly but his download speed dropped by only 15%. This is very good. He experienced fast torrent download speeds and no glitches on two separate VoIP calls.

My colleague connected to an Australian server for his speed test. This was one of the closest servers to his location. His internet browsing speed was not affected by the fact that he connected to a server in Australia (which took only 2-3 seconds to load). He also streamed content (HD video loaded in under 5 seconds and stayed in HD for longer than 5 seconds).

ExpressVPN overall is one of fastest VPNs in – I was able streaming content from multiple sites in HD quality during my tests. I also had fast connections for torrenting and it only took a few seconds for movies to load when I was connected to distant servers.

ExpressVPN Servers & IP Addresses

ExpressVPN is home to more than 3,000 servers located in 160 countries.

This server network is huge and will allow you to find servers near you no matter where you are located. ExpressVPN should display server load percentages, like CyberGhost VPN. This will allow you to see how many people are connected to a server before connecting to it.

ExpressVPN servers allow P2P traffic. This makes it much easier to locate a server nearby to speed up downloads. ProtonVPN, for example, only allows P2P from certain servers. ExpressVPN servers all support obfuscation, which is a lot more convenient than choosing from a limited list.

ExpressVPN servers are mostly physical servers. They are physically located in the country you connect to, and usually provide faster speeds. However, ExpressVPN also uses virtual server (which are in a different country to the one you connect). I like the fact that ExpressVPN discloses the location of its virtual serversbut – ExpressVPN’s virtual servers are routed through the Netherlands and Hong Kong.

ExpressVPN servers use shared IP addresses which means that you can share your IP address with multiple users. This is good for privacy as your traffic will be mixed with many other users’ data. ExpressVPN does not currently offer dedicated IP addresses. Private Internet Access and CyberGhost VPN offer dedicated IP addresses at an additional cost. PrivateVPN also offers dedicated IPs with specific protocols.

ExpressVPN has many servers around the globe that support P2P traffic. ExpressVPN has physical servers located in most locations. Users are assigned one of several shared IP addresses.

ExpressVPN Streaming & Torrenting

ExpressVPN is compatible with all streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+.

As well as lesser-known platforms such as Crackle, Sling TV and RaiPlay.

During my tests, I had high streaming speeds and HD content loaded immediately. I could even watch 4K videos on my PS4 with no buffering.

ExpressVPN is a great torrenting tool because it allows you to use P2P traffic from all its servers. ExpressVPN is compatible with all torrenting clients. However, I found qBittorrent to be the fastest.

ExpressVPN protects against IPv6 and WebRTC leaks. Before I started torrenting, I did 10 tests with ExpressVPN’s leak testing tool, as well as with a third party service. I had no leaks either way.

ExpressVPN is an excellent streaming and torrenting VPN. It can access all the most popular streaming sites, supports torrenting on all its servers, and works with all major torrenting clients.

ExpressVPN Bypassing Censorship

ExpressVPN uses encryption to conceal your VPN traffic and allow you to bypass restrictions in countries that block the internet.

When you use the Auto protocol setting, obsfuscation will automatically be enabled.

ExpressVPN’s Obfuscation Tool is very similar to VyprVPN’s — however, ExpressVPN’s ObfuscationFeature provides faster speeds

ExpressVPN Plans & Pricing

ExpressVPN VPN is one of the most expensive VPN services available. However, you can get it at a special 49% discount.

You can choose from a subscription-based plan with a 1-month, 6-month or 12-month plan. The 12-month plan comes with an additional 3 month free. Although the 12-month plan is the most affordable, it’s more costly than CyberGhost VPN’s 12-month plans. ExpressVPN plans all offer the same features.

ExpressVPN offers up to five simultaneous connections per subscription. This is the average number for top VPNs. This number is less than CyberGhost (7 connections), and IPVanish (allows unlimited connection).

ExpressVPN accepts credit cards and PayPal. All plans come with a 30-day money back guarantee.

ExpressVPN is generally more expensive than other top VPNs but offers great value because of its fast speeds, strong security features and privacy features and almost perfect functionality.

ExpressVPN Ease of Use: Mobile & Desktop Apps

ExpressVPN offers apps for Android, iOS and Windows. ExpressVPN installation is easy. I was able to download and install ExpressVPN in just 1-2 minutes on my Samsung Galaxy, iPhone X and Windows 10 PC.

Android

ExpressVPN’s Android application is easy to use and feature-rich. It was easy to install on my Samsung Galaxy.

You can connect quickly to a VPN server via the Smart location tool from the app’s home screen or to your most recent locations. You can tap on Smart location to see a list of suggested locations as well as the option of viewing the complete list.

You’ll find WebRTC, IP, and DNS leaks tests under the Privacy & Security Tooltab.

ExpressVPN’s Android application doesn’t have the Network Lock. However, you can still activate “Block Internet when unable to reconnect or connect to VPN”, which works in a similar manner. Although the Android app doesn’t have Tor support or ExpressVPN speed testing, these are not major issues for most Android users. ExpressVPN’s servers run at a very fast pace, so privacy-conscious users won’t need Tor.

ExpressVPN is one of the most popular Android apps. This app has great security features and speeds.

iOS

ExpressVPN iOS app is very similar in design to the Android app. Split-tunneling is not available in the iOS app (I don’t think any VPN offers split-tunneling on iOS), and there’s no Lightway protocol. But, it does have the IKEv2 & L2TP protocols.

ExpressVPN iOS app does not include a kill button or the “Block Internet when unable to reconnect or connect to the VPN” option. If you lose your connection, an auto-reconnect setting will connect your device to the VPN. This is the best option.

ExpressVPN’s iOS application is very well designed. But, the app does not have a kill switch. ExpressVPN’s iOS App is a great choice, even though it does have a drawback. However, the app has good security features and is easy to use.

Windows/Mac (Desktop)

ExpressVPN’s application was installed on my MacBook Pro and Windows 10 PC. You can also connect to the Smart Location and your most recent servers, just like the mobile apps.

Click on the menu icon to view server locations and access the Option menu. You can also run ExpressVPN’s Speed Test and contact support.

You’ll find advanced settings, protocol options, security features and more in the Options menu. Although you have the ability to customize your VPN, ExpressVPN makes it easy to set all the essential functions to the recommended default settings. This saves you the hassle of having to enable or disable them manually.

You should also remember that ExpressVPN is the only VPN that offers split-tunneling on macOS. However, it is only available for macOS 10.15 and below. The feature is not yet available for macOS 11.0.

ExpressVPN’s desktop apps are excellent. ExpressVPN’s Windows and macOS apps are almost identical. ExpressVPN also offers split-tunneling on macOS 10.15 or lower (unlike many of its competitors).

ExpressVPN Apps: Is ExpressVPN Easy to Use?

ExpressVPN apps can be used in a very simple way.

Both apps have most of the same features, with a few exceptions. The iOS app lacks split-tunneling and a kill switch. The Android app has the IKEv2 protocol and L2TP protocol. Only macOS version 10.15 and lower supports split-tunneling. The apps work as promised and are almost identical.