ExpressVPN Review 2025 — How is it in Reality (February 2025)

 

My Honest Thoughts…

ExpressVPN Review — My Honest Thoughts

expressvpn review banner

I personally think ExpressVPN is the #1 VPN in 2025. I’ve been using it regularly for the past 10+ years (especially while traveling), and it has always provided me with an excellent experience. 

For starters, the VPN service offers excellent security and privacy. Not only does it come with all industry-standard security and privacy features, but it also has had its no-logs policy audited multiple times, and it uses advanced security features like RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy (PFS) too. In addition, it passed all of my leak tests, it comes with free access to a password manager, and it also has a feature that blocks connections to malicious sites.

Plus, ExpressVPN is excellent for streaming and torrenting too. It’s compatible with 100+ streaming platforms, and it works with 15+ Netflix libraries. Also, it supports P2P downloads across all of its servers. 

And the provider has tons of other perks too — it works without issues in restrictive countries like China and Russia, it has servers in 100+ countries, it provides the fastest speeds on the market, it has excellent gaming support, and it comes with intuitive apps for all major platforms (even routers!). 

Really, there are only a few minor drawbacks that I could mention. The provider allows 8 connections, which is good, but I’d like to see that increased to 10 (or just add unlimited connections). Also, I wish the provider would add port forwarding support into its desktop and mobile apps, not just its router app. Finally, it’d be nice to see ExpressVPN add support for split-tunneling on its iOS app, as some top VPNs have started doing it.

Other than that, ExpressVPN’s prices begin at $5.49/month. It has monthly and yearly plans, and the longest plan often comes with extra months of service for free. Also, the provider has a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

🥇 Overall Rank1 out of #19
🌍 Server NetworkServers in 100+ countries
💻 Number of Devices8
🎁 Free Plan
💸 Starting Price$5.49/month
💰 Money-Back Guarantee30 days

ExpressVPN Security and Privacy Security and Privacy

ExpressVPN provides access to all industry-standard security and privacy features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and a no-logs policy (this is what I expect any VPN to have to be considered good). I’ll go ahead and discuss all of those features more in-depth below. 

Security Features

ExpressVPN Security
Uses 256-bit AES Encryption
Has a Kill Switch
Has DNS Leak Protection
VPN ProtocolsLightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec
Passed My Leak Tests

ExpressVPN has the following: 

  • 256-bit AES encryption. This is the same level of encryption that the military uses. Encryption is used to make your internet traffic 100% unreadable. 
  • Kill switch. This is a security feature that shuts down all internet access if the VPN disconnects. It does that to prevent traffic leaks. ExpressVPN’s kill switch is also called Network Lock. The provider supports kill switch functionality on all of its mobile and desktop apps (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS). 
  • DNS leak protection. The provider runs its own encrypted DNS servers. This means there’s no risk of your DNS traffic leaking outside of the VPN tunnel. If that were to happen, your internet service provider (ISP) could see what sites you’re browsing despite you being connected to a VPN. 

And the provider also uses secure VPN protocols. It comes with Lightway, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec. OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec are both secure, but I like Lightway the most — this is ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol, which has been designed to be ultra-secure and also provide blazing-fast speeds (since its code base is extremely lightweight). Plus, Lightway is designed to resist network changes, which means your VPN connection won’t drop if you change from Wi-Fi to mobile data, for example.

Plus, I like how ExpressVPN actually comes with full leak protection. In addition to preventing DNS leaks, it also has built-in protection against IPv6 and WebRTC leaks. I put the provider’s leak protection to the test by running 20 leak tests on 4 different servers (5 leak tests for each VPN server) — and I’m happy to say that I never experienced any leaks.

Screenshot of ExpressVPN's connection screen on its Windows app with leak tests being run in the background.

Also, ExpressVPN only uses RAM-only servers. This is what I consider an advanced security feature. RAM-only servers are great, as they only write data to the RAM instead of the hard drive — so, every time the server resets, all data is wiped completely.

In addition, the vendor also uses PFS. This is another advanced security feature, and it basically provides a different encryption key for each VPN connection — this ensures that even if an encryption key is somehow compromised, cybercriminals can’t use it to spy on past or future VPN connections. 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN provides industry-leadaing security, as it has all essential security features. In addition, it also doesn’t leak your data, it has a proprietary protocol (Lightway) that’s very secure and super fast, and it also uses advanced security features (RAM-only servers and PFS). 

Privacy Features

ExpressVPN Privacy
Logs User IP Addresses
Logs User Traffic
Audited No-Logs Policy
HeadquartersBritish Virgin Islands

ExpressVPN provides excellent privacy, as it has a strict no-logs policy. This is something I expect any good VPN to have. ExpressVPN clearly states in its privacy policy that it doesn’t record user IP addresses and traffic — so, it doesn’t see your real location, and it also doesn’t know what sites you access while you’re connected to the VPN. 

The provider only logs data that can’t compromise your privacy. It collects your email address, which it needs to set up your account and communicate with you. Also, it records the app versions you activate when you install the VPN on your device, and the dates when you connect to the VPN (please note — the dates, not the time). And to maintain the quality of its service, ExpressVPN also logs how much data its users transfer. 

Also, I like how the provider’s no-logs policy has passed multiple independent audits. On top of that, ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has also been proven true when one of its servers was seized by Turkish authorities in 2017 — the local authorities weren’t able to find any user data on the provider’s server. 

In addition, ExpressVPN has also undergone tons of other security audits. The provider’s desktop and mobile apps and its browser extensions have been audited, and no concerning security issues were found. In addition, ExpressVPN also had its proprietary protocol (Lightway), its ExpressVPN Keys password manager, and its Aircove router independently audited.

What’s more, the VPN releases a transparency report every 6 months. The report details all the user data requests ExpressVPN has received, and also shows how the provider doesn’t comply with them. For example, between July and December 2023, ExpressVPN’s transparency report says the VPN received roughly 152,847 user data requests, and that it didn’t comply with even one of them. 

Also, ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. This country has very strong privacy laws — the main highlight being that it doesn’t have mandatory data retention laws. Another thing to note is that the British Virgin Islands are not a part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances (groups of countries that share web surveillance data with each other). 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN is very good for privacy, as it comes with a strict no-logs policy that doesn’t record sensitive data. Also, its no-logs policy is audited, and so are its apps and infrastructure. And the VPN is also located in a privacy-friendly location.

ExpressVPN Extra Features Extra Features

ExpressVPN Extra Features
Split-Tunneling
Blocks Ads
Blocks Malicious Sites
Obfuscation
Smart DNS

ExpressVPN is extremely feature-rich, as it provides access to all extra features you get with any top VPN (and also provides access to other useful additional tools). This includes split-tunneling, a feature that blocks ads and shady sites, obfuscation, and a smart DNS. I know some of you might not be familiar with how these features work, but I’m going to explain what each one does in a bit. 

With ExpressVPN, you get access to: 

Split-Tunneling

Screenshot of ExpressVPN's split-tunneling feature on its Windows app.

Split-tunneling lets you pick which apps use the VPN, and which apps don’t. This feature is normally useful for increasing VPN speeds — the less traffic the VPN has to route and encrypt and decrypt, the faster its speeds will be. 

ExpressVPN’s split-tunneling feature is available on most of its apps — Windows, macOS, and Android. Just keep in mind that, on macOS, the tool is only available on versions older than macOS 11. Also, the provider’s router app has a feature that’s similar to split-tunneling, which lets you choose which devices use the VPN (and which server locations they use), and which devices don’t. 

I use the vendor’s split-tunneling very often (especially while traveling), and it always works well. I usually rely on it while streaming, torrenting, or gaming — I only route traffic from my streaming app, torrenting client, and gaming app through the VPN, which generally improves my speeds by about 10–15%, which is pretty good. 

I’m happy with ExpressVPN’s split-tunneling, but I should still mention that Private Internet Access (PIA) does it better. PIA offers split-tunneling on Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux — plus, it provides access to split-tunneling on macOS 11 and above. What’s more, PIA lets you split-tunnel both apps and websites, which is more convenient. 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN supports split-tunneling on Windows, macOS, and Android. Its feature allows you to split-tunnel app traffic, and it also works very well. 

Advanced Protection

Screenshot of ExpressVPN's Advanced Protection feature on its Windows app.

Advanced Protection is the provider’s ad-blocking feature. It stops ads from loading, it stops ad trackers from spying on your online browsing and preferences, and it blocks connections to malicious websites. It can even block adult websites, so it provides some form of parental controls too. Advanced Protection is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. 

I always use Advanced Protection with ExpressVPN, and it always works very well. It gets rid of all banner and video ads on websites, making them load faster. In addition, the feature also blocks all ads on search engines. Also, for this review, I tried accessing a few unsafe HTTP websites with Advanced Protection enabled, and it always blocked my connections to those sites. 

Advanced Protection is very good, but I still think NordVPN’s Threat Protection is a bit better. In addition to blocking ads, trackers, and malicious websites, it also blocks malware-infected downloads. What’s more, you don’t need to be connected to the VPN for the feature to work, which is very convenient. 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN’s Advanced Protection tool is very good at blocking ads, stopping ad trackers from spying on you, and blocking malicious and adult websites. Plus, the feature is available on all ExpressVPN apps.

Obfuscation

Screenshot of ExpressVPN's protocol selection on its Windows app.

Obfuscation is a security tool that hides VPN traffic, making it look like regular internet traffic. Obfuscation is useful for avoiding VPN traffic blocks in restrictive countries, and it’s also good for enjoying additional privacy (as nobody can see your VPN connection). 

ExpressVPN has excellent support for obfuscation, as it supports it on all of its server locations and via all of its protocols (though, it recommends using its Lightway protocol for the best results). This also means that obfuscation is available via all of its apps. This is very convenient, as some providers only allow obfuscation on specific servers, and only via the OpenVPN protocol — it's a very secure protocol, but it doesn’t have the best speeds. 

Plus, the provider’s obfuscation also works extremely well. I talked with 5 different support reps, and they all confirmed that the VPN works without issues in restrictive countries like China and Russia. Also, I can personally confirm that ExpressVPN works in such countries, as I never experienced any issues while using it while traveling through China.

Conclusion: ExpressVPN allows obfuscation on all of its servers and via all protocols, which is extremely convenient. Plus, its obfuscation tool works without issuers in restrictive regions. 

Smart DNS

Screenshot of ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer setup page.

ExpressVPN’s smart DNS (called MediaStreamer) can improve your streaming experience. A smart DNS is a service you can manually configure on devices that don’t support VPN apps, like certain smart TVs or gaming consoles. Once you set it up, you can then use it to access streaming content. 

To use the smart DNS, you need to perform a manual setup. But don’t worry — ExpressVPN provides access to really helpful step-by-step tutorials that even include screenshots, so the process is really straightforward. When I configured the smart DNS on my smart TV, it only took about 5–7 minutes. 

Also, the vendor’s smart DNS provides decent variety. ExpressVPN’s support reps told me MediaStreamer is compatible with major streaming services from the US and the UK, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. 

But remember — a smart DNS isn’t as secure as a VPN. It can’t encrypt your traffic (but this does mean it’s faster than a VPN), nor can it hide your IP address. So, you should only use it when security and privacy don’t matter, and you only care about accessing streaming content and having very fast speeds.

Conclusion: ExpressVPN’s smart DNS is very useful for watching streaming content on devices that don’t natively support VPN apps. The smart DNS is much faster than a VPN connection (but less secure), and also works with top streaming sites from the US and the UK. 

ExpressVPN Keys

Screenshot of ExpressVPN's ExpressVPN Keys feature on its Android app.

ExpressVPN Keys is the provider’s password manager, which is a service that protects logins and sensitive data, helps you securely log into websites, and lets you generate strong login credentials. ExpressVPN Keys comes free with each subscription, and is built into the provider’s iOS and Android apps. On desktop, you can use it via a browser extension. 

ExpressVPN Keys allows you to secure tons of sensitive data, including passwords, credit card details, passports, medical information, insurance details, and more. ExpressVPN Keys can auto-fill login details on websites, and also lets you quickly copy-paste all the other data you store to use it on different platforms (like copy-pasting credit card details when buying something online). 

And ExpressVPN Keys also has all the essential features top password managers come with:

  • Zero-knowledge encryption. ExpressVPN can’t see the data you store in its password manager — this is only visible to you. 
  • Military-grade encryption. ExpressVPN Keys secures all stored data with 256-bit AES encryption. 
  • Unlimited logins. The password manager allows you to store an unlimited number of logins and secure notes. 
  • Multi-device sync. ExpressVPN Keys can automatically sync information across an unlimited number of devices. 
  • Password health monitor. This tool tells you how secure your logins are, and alerts you if there are any issues (like reused, weak, or exposed passwords). 
  • 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication). ExpressVPN Keys generates a unique time-sensitive code that you need to use to verify each login attempt (this adds an extra layer of security). 

The feature also lets you generate strong passwords via a built-in password generator. The generator is extremely detailed, as it can generate passwords that are up to 55 characters long. Plus, you can also configure the password to include capital letters, numbers, and symbols. And the tool is extremely easy to use — for example, it only took me 5 seconds to generate a new secure login for my Netflix account. 

Finally, I also like how ExpressVPN Keys has been audited. A security audit firm audited both the built-in feature on iOS and Android, and the browser extensions — only minor issues were found, and ExpessVPN quickly fixed them.

Conclusion: ExpressVPN Keys is a really good password manager that you get free access to. The feature lets you securely store logins and other data, generate strong passwords, get alerts about compromised logins, and more. 

Shortcuts

Screenshot of ExpressVPN's Shortcuts feature on the Windows app.

The Shortcuts feature lets you set up 1-click app and site shortcuts. This feature is available on most of the provider’s VPN apps, including Windows, macOS, and Android. 

I find this feature extremely useful. Basically, the shortcuts you set up show up on your connection screen after you connect to a VPN server. I personally use this feature to get instant access to YouTube and my go-to torrent client (qBittorrent) after I first secure my traffic with ExpressVPN. 

Plus, Shortcuts is extremely simple to use too — the way it’s integrated is extremely intuitive, so you know exactly what you need to do (there’s no need for setup tutorials to show you how to proceed). I don’t think it takes me more than 5–10 seconds to set up a 1-click app or site shortcut.

Conclusion: ExpressVPN’s Shortcuts tool is very convenient, as it lets you quickly create 1-click shortcuts for specific apps and sites. Plus, the feature is very easy to use as well. 

Tor Support

Screenshot of a dark web page loaded in the Tor browser while connected to ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN supports Tor traffic on all of its server locations. This means you can first connect to ExpressVPN before using the Tor browser to surf the dark web. This way, you get better privacy and security — if Tor were to suffer an IP leak, only ExpressVPN’s IP address would be exposed (your real IP would still remain hidden). 

Just keep in mind that using a VPN with Tor might cause slowdowns. The Tor network is already pretty slow, and adding a VPN in the mix will only make the slowdowns more noticeable. That said, I still maintained pretty good dark web browsing speeds with ExpressVPN — on average, it only took about 10–11 seconds for a dark web page to fully load. 

But if you only want to use a VPN with Tor, I recommend trying NordVPN instead. In addition to allowing Tor traffic on all servers, it also has dedicated Onion Over VPN servers — these servers automatically route your traffic through Tor servers, allowing you to browse dark web sites in regular browsers, like Chrome and Firefox. That’s more convenient than using the Tor browser.

Conclusion: ExpressVPN provides great Tor support, as it allows dark web traffic on all of its servers. And it also maintains pretty good speeds for browsing the dark web too. 

Dedicated IP Addresses

Image showing a screenshot of the dedicated IP locations tab on ExpressVPN's pricing page.

ExpressVPN lets you get a dedicated IP for a small additional cost. A dedicated IP address is an IP that’s only assigned to you. This feature is useful when looking up things on search engines, as it helps you avoid annoying reCAPTACHA requests. Plus, it also lets you securely access your bank site (most bank websites block shared VPN IPs).

The provider’s dedicated IP system provides great variety and privacy. ExpressVPN has dedicated IPs in 20+ countries, such as the US, the UK, Singapore, Japan, Ireland, Germany, South Africa, and Canada. Plus, you need to create and use an access to code to get your dedicated IP — and ExpressVPN doesn’t know what your access code is, or what dedicated IP you get.

I only want to mention how the VPN’s dedicated IP feature hasn’t 100% rolled out yet. As far as I can tell, it’s only available to new subscribers for now. Plus, it’s not available in all countries. And the feature is also only available on Windows, iOS, and Android for now.

Conclusion: ExpressVPN provides paid access to dedicated IPs, which are really good for avoiding reCAPTCHAs on search engines and connecting to bank sites. The provider has dedicated IPs in 20+ countries, so you get great variety. 

Does ExpressVPN Work in China? 

Yes, ExpressVPN works without issues in China. I asked multiple support reps about this, and they all told me that users in China shouldn’t experience any issues using ExpressVPN there. And I can also confirm on my end that the VPN works there without any problems, as I’ve often used it while traveling through the country. 

I personally think ExpressVPN works so well in China because: 

  • It refreshes its server IPs very fast. This makes it extremely hard for Chinese ISPs to detect and block the VPN’s IP addresses. I tested this by running 15 leak tests on one ExpressVPN server — each test results displayed a different server IP. 
  • It provides obfuscation. ExpressVPN supports obfuscation, which hides your VPN traffic. This helps you bypass Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) blocks, which can detect and block VPN traffic. 
  • It uses TCP port 443. If you use the OpenVPN protocol over TCP, ExpressVPN will automatically use TCP port 443. This is important because that’s the same port that’s used by HTTPS traffic — so the Chinese government can’t use port-blocking to prevent you from using the VPN. 

Plus, I like how ExpressVPN uses mirrored links. These are exact copies of its site, but they are hosted on different URLs. These links help users in China access the provider’s site (the official site address is blocked in China). 

Does ExpressVPN Work in Other Restrictive Countries?

🇷🇺 Russia
🇦🇪 UAE
🇮🇷 Iran
🇹🇷 Turkey

Yes, ExpressVPN works without issues in other restrictive regions too, such as Russia, the UAE, Iran, and Turkey. I talked with 10 different support reps about this, and they all confirmed that ExpressVPN can be used in pretty much any restrictive country without issues. 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN is consistently able to access the web in restrictive regions like China, Russia, and Iran. That’s because it can easily evade IP blocks, DPI blocks, and port blocking. 

ExpressVPN Server Network Server Network

ExpressVPN Server Network
Number of Countries100+
Number of ServersUnknown
Has P2P Servers (all servers allow torrenting)
Dedicated IP Addresses

ExpressVPN has servers in 100+ countries — its server locations are located in most parts around the world, including North America, Central America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. This makes it extremely simple for all users to connect to nearby servers to get the fastest speeds. 

I also love how the VPN supports torrenting on all of its servers. This is extremely convenient, especially considering that some top VPNs only allow P2P support on specific servers. 

Really, the only thing that’s missing is being able to get a dedicated IP. This is an IP address that’s only assigned to you — it’s pretty useful for connecting to sites that block shared VPN IPs (like bank sites), and avoiding reCAPTCHAs. If this is an issue, try NordVPN, as it provides paid access to dedicated IPs in 15+ countries. 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN has a huge server network, as it provides access to locations in 100+ countries. In addition, it also allows P2P downloads on all of its servers, which is extremely convenient. 

ExpressVPN Streaming Streaming

ExpressVPN Streaming
Works With Netflix100+
Number of Netflix Libraries
Works With BBC iPlayer15+
Works With Disney+
Works With Amazon Prime Video
Smart DNS

I honestly think ExpressVPN is the best streaming VPN on the market. The provider claims to work with 100+ streaming platforms. In addition, it’s also compatible with tons of popular streaming services, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Plus, it’s also compatible with many other platforms, including Channel 4, Sling TV, Crunchyroll, RaiPlay, and Sky Go. 

What’s more, this is also an excellent VPN for watching Netflix. In addition to working with Netflix without issues, it’s also compatible with 15+ Netflix libraries — and this includes popular libraries, like Netflix US, Netflix UK, and Netflix Japan. 

Finally, I also like how the VPN comes with a smart DNS, which is a really useful feature for streaming. With a smart DNS, you can watch streaming content on devices that don’t support VPN apps. Or, you can just use a smart DNS to get very fast streaming speeds when security and privacy don’t matter. Plus, ExpressVPN’s smart DNS is easy to set up, and it’s compatible with popular streaming sites from the US and the UK, so you get a great variety.

Conclusion: ExpressVPN is by far the best VPN for streaming media in 2025. It’s compatible with 100+ streaming sites (including tons of popular ones), it works with 15+ Netflix libraries, and it provides access to a smart DNS.

ExpressVPN Torrenting Torrenting

ExpressVPN Torrenting
P2P Support  (all servers allow torrenting)
Port Forwarding (via router app)
SOCKS5 Proxy Support (all servers allow torrenting)

ExpressVPN provides excellent P2P support, as it allows torrenting on all of its servers. This means you can torrent on servers in 100+ countries, making it very simple to use a nearby server for downloading torrents to get the fastest speeds. 

The VPN also has port forwarding, but it’s only available via its router app. This feature is useful for torrenting, as it might increase your download speeds — that’s because it could let you connect to more peers. 

What’s more, the VPN provides excellent security and privacy for torrenting. It comes with an audited no-logs policy, it has a kill switch, and it provides full leak protection. Plus, its Advanced Protection feature is very useful for avoiding shady P2P sites, and it can also get rid of annoying ads on torrenting sites. 

That said, I still think Private Internet Access provides better P2P support. It allows torrenting on servers in 90+ countries, and it also provides excellent security and privacy. On top of that, the vendor provides built-in support for port forwarding in most of its apps, and it also comes with SOCKS5 proxy servers (they change your IP, but they don’t provide encryption, so they’re much faster than VPN connections). 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN has very good torrenting support — it allows P2P downloads on all of its servers, it supports port forwarding on its router app, and it provides high-end security and privacy for downloading torrents. 

ExpressVPN Gaming Gaming

ExpressVPN Gaming
Ping While Gaming on Distant Servers125–131 ms
Servers Have Anti-DDoS Protection
Router Support (has dedicated router app)
Cloud Gaming Support

I love using ExpressVPN for gaming — especially since it maintains super-fast speeds. I often use ExpressVPN while playing Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Team Fortress 2, and I always maintain very smooth ping (even on distant servers). Plus, I never experience lag while gaming, and my connections to the gaming servers never drop. 

In addition, ExpressVPN provides excellent security while gaming. Not only does it protect you against Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks by hiding your IP address, but all of its servers are also equipped with anti-DDoS protection — this means nobody can DDoS your connection to ExpressVPN’s servers to disconnect you from them. 

Screenshot of a match of Team Fortress 2 while connected to ExpressVPN.

And this VPN is excellent for playing online on gaming consoles too. That’s because it comes with a dedicated router app, which you can quickly install on your router, and easily use it too (since its router app shares the same design as all of its other apps). Router support is important, as gaming consoles (and other portable gaming devices) don’t usually support VPN apps — but setting up the VPN on a router allows such devices to use a VPN connection. 

And I also like how ExpressVPN guarantees cloud gaming support, which means you can use it to game on platforms that allow you to remotely stream video games to other devices, like laptops, gaming consoles, and smartphones. I can personally confirm the provider’s cloud gaming support works, as I was always able to use it to game on GeForce Now without any issues. 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN provides the best gaming support in 2025. It maintains blazing-fast gaming speeds, it has anti-DDoS protection on all of its servers, it has excellent router support (it even has a router app), and it works with cloud gaming platforms. 

ExpressVPN Speeds Speeds

Website Load TimeHD Videos Load TimeTime to Torrent a 10 GB File
Baseline Speeds (Without a VPN)InstantlyInstantly10–11 minutes
Speeds on Nearby VPN ServersInstantlyInstantly10–12 minutes
Speeds on Distant VPN ServersInstantlyInstantly11–13 minutes

I personally think ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market. This is mostly due to its proprietary Lightway VPN protocol, which is designed to be extremely lightweight, so that it can provide super-fast speeds. Also, the VPN has servers in 100+ countries, so it’s really easy to use nearby locations to get the fastest speeds. 

I ran several speed tests, and ExpressVPN always performed very well. On both nearby and distant servers, I had instant load times when browsing websites and watching HD videos (just like I do without a VPN). And my P2P speeds were extremely fast too. Without the VPN, it took about 10–11 minutes to download a 10 GB torrent — and with ExpressVPN, the same file only took 2–3 minutes longer to finish downloading (and this was on distant servers!).

Plus, I should also note that you get access to split-tunneling. This feature is useful for boosting VPN speeds, especially on distant servers. I actually tested this while streaming — I only routed Netflix traffic through ExpressVPN, and that improved my streaming speeds by about 15%, which is really good. 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN provides the fastest VPN speeds on the market. It always maintains lightning-fast browsing, streaming, and torrenting speeds in my tests — even when connected to really distant servers. 

ExpressVPN Pricing Pricing

ExpressVPN Pricing
Starting Price$5.49/month
Free Plan
Accepts Cryptocurrencies
Money-Back Guarantee30 days

ExpressVPN’s prices begin at $5.49/month. There are definitely more affordable options out there, but keep in mind ExpressVPN provides the best value at the moment. Also, if you get its longest plan, you often get extra months of service for free (plus an additional discount). 

I also like how the VPN accepts multiple payment methods, including credit/debit cards, PayPal, and even Bitcoin (this is great to see, as cryptocurrency payments provide better privacy). It also accepts 10+ other payment methods via Paymentwall, a third-party payments provider. 

Finally, the VPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is the industry-standard length for a VPN provider refund. Plus, ExpressVPN’s refund policy is no-questions-asked, which means you don’t need to meet any requirements to get your money back — just contact customer support for a refund, and you should get it back in a few business days. 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN provides the best value in 2025. Its prices are a bit pricey, but definitely worth it. Plus, the VPN accepts tons of payment methods, and it also comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN Simultaneous Connections Simultaneous Connections

Screenshot of ExpressVPN's counter for installed devices in the account dashboard.

ExpressVPN allows 8 simultaneous connections with each subscription. This is pretty good, as the industry average is around 5–10 connections, so ExpressVPN’s number of connections is on the upper end. 

If 8 connections isn’t enough, you can get more coverage by setting up ExpressVPN on your router. By doing that, all of the devices in your home that access the web via the router will use the VPN connection — so, you’ll essentially get unlimited simultaneous connections. Plus, ExpressVPN also has a dedicated router app, so configuring it on your router is much simpler than with other VPNs (which usually require a manual setup). 

Alternatively, you can get Private Internet Access or Surfshark instead. Both of those providers allow unlimited simultaneous connections. They don’t provide the same exact value as ExpressVPN, but they’re still very secure, they have really fast speeds, and they’re very good for streaming and torrenting.

Conclusion: ExpressVPN lets you connect 8 devices, which is on the upper end of the industry average of 5–10 connections. Plus, if you want to cover an unlimited number of devices, you can just use ExpressVPN’s router app to cover all web-connected devices in your home.

ExpressVPN Platform Availability and Ease of Use Platform Availability and Ease of Use

ExpressVPN offers excellent cross-platform compatibility, as it has apps for tons of platforms. It comes with an app for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, and Apple TV. In addition, it’s also one of the only VPN services with a dedicated router app, and it also provides access to an app for Kindle Fire and Chromebook. 

And installing ExpressVPN on your device is extremely simple. The whole process shouldn’t take more than 1–2 minutes. Just use the account dashboard to download the right app for your device, follow the on-screen instructions to install and set up the app, and start using it!

I’ll also take a look at how easy it is to use ExpressVPN on most platforms:

Windows and macOS

Screenshot of ExpressVPN's Windows app, showing the connection screen and settings.

I really like both of the provider’s Windows and macOS apps. They’re extremely easy to navigate thanks to their really intuitive design. Plus, both apps come with a quick-connect feature (called Smart Location), which automatically connects you to the fastest VPN server for your location. 

And both apps are equally feature-rich. You get access to useful additional features, like split-tunneling, Advanced Protection, and Shortcuts on both Windows and macOS. The ExpressVPN Keys feature isn’t available built into the desktop apps, but you can access it via a browser extension. And, also, I think it’s great that both the Windows and macOS apps come with the provider’s proprietary Lightway protocol. 

LightwaySplit-TunnelingAdvanced ProtectionExpressVPN KeysShortcuts
Windows App (only via browser extension)
macOS App (only via browser extension)

Conclusion: I think ExpressVPN has excellent Windows and macOS apps. They’re both very user-friendly, and both of them also provide access to the same useful additional features. 

Android and iOS

Three screenshots of ExpressVPN's Android app, showing the connection screen, list of servers, and settings.

I love how user-friendly the provider’s mobile apps are. The design is very mobile-friendly, and it’s great how there are helpful explanations for all settings and features (so you never feel lost while using the apps). Plus, on average, it only takes about 5–7 seconds to find and connect to a server — I especially like how all servers are grouped into different categories (there’s a category for each major geographical region), and how there’s a search field too.

I think both apps are feature-rich, but the Android app is noticeably better than the iOS app. While both mobile apps come with Lightway, Advanced Protection, and built-in access to ExpressVPN Keys, users on Android devices get access to two more features — split-tunneling and Shortcuts.

LightwaySplit-TunnelingAdvanced ProtectionExpressVPN KeysShortcuts
Android App
iOS App

Conclusion: ExpressVPN’s mobile apps are really good, as they both feature the same user-friendly design. They’re also feature-rich too, though the iOS app is missing some extras that are present on Android (split-tunneling and the Shortcuts feature).

Linux

ExpressVPN’s Linux app works on tons of distros, including Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Mint, and Arch. By default, it’s a command-line interface (CLI) app — but you can use it in a graphical user interface (GUI) mode via the browser extensions, which let you remotely control the app. 

I think the provider’s Linux app is really secure, as it comes with a kill switch, it provides access to Lightway, and it has the Advanced Protection feature. However, it’s missing some of the provider’s extra features, like split-tunneling and Shortcuts.

Conclusion: ExpressVPN has a great Linux app, which can be used in a GUI mode via browser extensions. Also, the app is really secure, as it has a kill switch, the Lightway protocol, and the Advanced Protection tool. 

Smart TV

Screenshot of the connection screen on ExpressVPN's Android TV app.

I’m a big fan of ExpressVPN’s smart TV apps. I especially like how the provider has apps for Android TV, Fire TV, and even Apple TV — so you’re covered no matter what smart TV operating system you use. 

Plus, its smart TV apps are extremely simple to use. The design is intuitive, and the interface is very easy to navigate with your TV remote. Aso, there are helpful explanations for all settings, and there’s a quick-connect feature as well. 

That said, its Android TV and Fire TV apps are the best — they’re feature-rich since they come with split-tunneling, Advanced Protection, and Shortcuts. The Apple TV app, on the other hand, doesn’t have those extras. 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN has very good smart TV apps that are available for all popular operating systems, including Android TV, Fire TV, and Apple TV. All smart TV apps are easy to use, but the Android TV and Fire TV apps are more feature-rich. 

Browser Extensions

Screenshot of ExpressVPN's browser extension, showing the connection screen, a list of servers, and its privacy settings.

ExpressVPN has “unique” browser extensions, as they let you remotely control the VPN app. This means you need to have the desktop app installed on your device first. That could seem inconvenient,but keep this in mind — because the extensions work this way, they encrypt all of your device’s traffic (a normal VPN browser extension only secures your browser’s traffic). 

The provider’s extensions are extremely easy to use, mostly because they share the same design as the desktop and mobile extensions. I really like how easy it is to connect to different servers, and how simple it is to find and change different settings. 

Also, the extensions are really secure. In addition to protecting your data with all of the security features you get on the desktop app, there’s also an option to stop websites from using HTML5 geolocation from seeing your real location when you’re connected to the VPN. 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN’s browser extensions are really simple to use, and they also provide excellent security since they protect your entire device’s traffic (as they let you remotely control the desktop apps). 

Routers

I really think that ExpressVPN has the best router support out there. That’s because it’s one of the only VPN services that comes with a dedicated router app, which you can quickly install on your router — the provider has step-by-step tutorials, so the whole process shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes. This is overall much more convenient than manually setting up the VPN on your router. 

The router app is compatible with many popular router models, including Netgear, Linksys, and Asus. Plus, if you don’t want to install the app on your router, and you don’t mind spending some money, you can always buy the provider’s Aircover router, which comes with ExpressVPN pre-installed on it (also, the router has passed an independent security audit). 

Also, the router app is very simple to use, mostly because it has a similar design to the provider’s desktop and mobile apps. In addition, the router app uses Lightway, and also comes with Device Group — this is a tool similar to split-tunneling, which lets you choose which devices use the VPN, which devices don’t, and which server locations certain devices use.

Conclusion: ExpressVPN is one of the only VPN services with a native router app. The app is pretty easy to install, and it also has a really intuitive design. What’s more, the app comes with Lightway, and it even has a feature that's similar to split-tunneling (but for devices instead of apps or sites). 

ExpressVPN Customer Support Customer Support

ExpressVPN Customer Support
Live Chat (24/7)
Email Support
Support Articles

I’m extremely happy with ExpressVPN’s customer support. It provides access to tons of useful support channels, including 24/7 live chat support, email support, and a really helpful support library that’s chock-full of articles and guides. 

I find the provider’s support library extremely helpful. It’s full of frequently asked questions (FAQs), setup tutorials, troubleshooting guides, and product-related announcements — to be honest, I rarely have to reach out to customer support, as the support articles have all the answers I need. I also really like how pretty much all tutorials come with screenshots and video guides. 

Also, ExpressVPN has extremely good live chat. It’s available 24/7, and it generally takes less than 10 seconds to be connected to a live chat rep. What’s more, all the live chat reps I talked with were always friendly and able to answer all of my questions accurately. 

Screenshot of a conversation with an ExpressVPN live chat rep.

I also tried out the provider’s email support, and it’s really good too. On average, it takes less than 24 hours to get a reply, which is a really good response time. In addition, all the email replies I received were extremely helpful and accurate. 

Conclusion: ExpressVPN provides amazing customer support. It comes with a very in-depth support library, it has 24/7 live chat support, and it provides responsive and helpful email support as well. 

What I’d Like ExpressVPN to Improve

There’s not a lot to improve since this is the best VPN out there in my opinion. So, everything I mentioned below will mostly feel like nitpicking — that said, if ExpressVPN were to implement those changes, it’d stand out from its competitors even more (and would also make people less likely to say it’s too expensive). 

The main thing I’d like to see ExpressVPN do is enhance its P2P support. It’s already very good, but I’d like to see the provider add support for port forwarding inside its desktop and mobile apps (like Private Internet Access does) — it’d be much more convenient than enabling it via the router app. Also, I think it’d be cool if ExpressVPN would offer SOCKS5 proxy servers too, as they’re useful for torrenting.

It’d also be cool if the provider would implement split-tunneling on its iOS app. Not many VPNs have split-tunneling on this platform, but there are some that have started implementing it — like TunnelBear and IPVanish, for example. 

Finally, I’d like it if the VPN would further increase its number of simultaneous connections. Being able to connect 8 devices is nice, but I don’t see why the provider wouldn’t up that number to 10 devices, like many other top VPNs do. Or, why not, even add support for unlimited simultaneous connections, like Private Internet Access and Surfshark did.

ExpressVPN Review — The Bottom Line The Bottom Line

I honestly think ExpressVPN is the best VPN on the market at the moment. It provides high-end security and privacy, it works with 100+ streaming platforms, it has servers in $5.49/month+ countries and allows torrenting on all of them, and it works without issues in restrictive countries. Plus, it’s the fastest VPN in 2025, it has intuitive apps for all major platforms (even routers), and it’s really good for gaming. Also, it has affordable plans and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. 

There are only a few minor issues that could be improved. First, I’d like to see the provider increase its number of simultaneous connections (from 8 to 10 or unlimited). Also, it’d be nice if ExpressVPN would provide built-in support for port forwarding in its desktop and mobile apps (it’s only available on its router app right now). And finally, I hope to see the VPN start adding support for split-tunneling on its iOS app, as some top competitors have already started doing this.

ExpressVPN Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions

No, ExpressVPN doesn’t have a free version. That said, I think its paid plans are somewhat affordable — but I recommend getting the longest plan to enjoy the best savings (plus, the longest plan often includes extra months of service for free). Also, the provider backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you could technically try it out like it's free.

Yes, I think ExpressVPN provides industry-leading security and privacy. For one, it has all essential VPN security and privacy features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch to prevent traffic leaks, a no-logs policy (that has also been audited), and DNS leak protection. Also, the provider has IPv6 and WebRTC leak protection, as well as advanced security features, like RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy. And it also protects against malicious sites via its Advanced Protection tool, and it comes with free access to a password manager too.

Yes, ExpressVPN works with zero issues in China, as well as other restrictive countries. That’s because the VPN provider refreshes its server IP addresses very often, supports obfuscation to hide VPN traffic, and also uses TCP port 443 via the OpenVPN protocol. What’s more, this is one of the most secure VPN providers on the market, so it’s an excellent choice to protect yourself from online surveillance in China. 

Yes, I think the VPN service offers excellent P2P support. It allows P2P downloads across all of its servers, which are located in 100+ countries. In addition, it has super-fast download speeds, it provides excellent security and privacy for torrenting, and it also supports port forwarding via its router app (this could increase your torrenting speeds by letting you connect to more peers). 

Yes, ExpressVPN consistently works with Netflix — not only that, but it’s also compatible with 15+ Netflix libraries, including Netflix US, Netflix UK, and Netflix Japan. What’s more, it also works with 100+ other streaming platforms, such as BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. And it has a smart DNS too, which lets you watch Netflix content on devices that don’t work with VPN apps.

Yes, the provider blocks ads via its Advanced Protection feature. The tool works very well, as it always gets rid of search engine ads and pop-up ads on media outlets whenever I use it. Plus, on top of blocking ads, it also stops ad trackers from spying on your online preferences. And it can also stop you from accidentally visiting malicious websites, and block connections to adult sites too.

Yes, as the provider allows up to 8 simultaneous connections. This is pretty good, as it’s one the higher end of the industry average of 5–10 simultaneous connections. Still, if you need to cover more devices, you can always just install ExpressVPN on your router — that way, all the web-connected devices in your home will use the VPN.

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