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ExpressVPN Review

I highly recommend ExpressVPN for those who have little patience for buggy applications and services. It’s one of the most stable VPN services I’ve encountered to date, and so far, I’ve experienced no crashes, bugs, or other annoyances.

Read on for our experience and speed test results with ExpressVPN; or click here to visit them online.

ExpressVPN is one of the top brands in the Virtual Private Network (VPN) space. It runs a rock-solid service that’s fast, stable, and secure. More importantly, it boasts an excellent reputation in the very challenging cybersecurity industry. 

It’s one of the VPN brands that I have a unique love-hate relationship with. Despite the excellent performance it brings, ExpressVPN prices will raise eyebrows for many. That said, prices vary for all products, and it nonetheless has its share of fans.

Currently, one of its strongest selling points is the Lightway protocol, which offers impressive speeds on ExpressVPN servers. While they haven’t associated it with WireGuard, tests have shown Lightway to offer similar excellent levels of performance.

About ExpressVPN

Quick Facts

FeaturesDetails
HeadquarterBritish Virgin Islands
Number of Servers5,200+
Servers in Countries95
Protocol SupportPPTP, L2TP, IKEv2, Lightway, OpenVPN
LoggingNo
Kill SwitchYes
Muti-server hoppingNo
P2P / Torrenting Yes, all servers
Websitehttps://www.expressvpn.com

Feature Highlights

ExpressVPN isn’t a Swiss army knife but packs everything you’ll need to say online safely and privately into one convenient installation. It has a stellar reputation, is available for almost all platforms, and runs one of the most stable services around. 

Run ExpressVPN on Any Device

Run ExpressVPN on Any Device
ExpressVPN is available on almost any platform in the market. You can run it on things as mainstream as Windows or macOS. It’s also possible to deploy ExpressVPN on niche devices like the PlayStation and Xbox. I’ve even run it on my Asus router, and it works fine (albeit a little slowly due to hardware limitations).

Access to Netflix US Content

Access to Netflix US Content
ExpressVPN works with Netflix, which is fantastic since the Netflix US library is fantastic. No matter where you are, it will allow you to easily skip past geoblocks and gain access to the thousands of titles that wouldn’t otherwise be available.

ExpressVPN’s Lightway Protocol is Fast

ExpressVPN’s Lightway Protocol is Fast
ExpressVPN built its protocol, Lightway, and introduced it while many were starting to integrate WireGuard. Lightway is just as fast and is native to ExpressVPN, reducing reliance on external development factors.

Our Take on ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN Pros

  • Stable and robust performance
  • Available on almost all platforms
  • Excellent reputation for privacy and security
  • Lightway protocol offers impressive speeds
  • Minimal interference encountered when browsing with ExpressVPN active

ExpressVPN Con

  • More expensive compared to the industry average
  • No multi-server hops available

Who Should Use ExpressVPN?

I highly recommend ExpressVPN for those who have little patience for buggy applications and services. It’s one of the most stable VPN services I’ve encountered to date, and so far, I’ve experienced no crashes, bugs, or other annoyances.

Honestly, for the price they are asking, I would expect nothing less. Thankfully they deliver in spades, and since introducing the Lightway protocol, speeds match the best services there are in the VPN market.

Is ExpressVPN Worth the Price?

ExpressVPN can cost double or more than what many competing brands charge. Yet, they also don’t try to tie you into extended contracts plus offer excellent stability and a streamlined experience. If you hate problems with services, then it’s definitely worth the price.

How to Setup ExpressVPN on Your Devices

Installation for ExpressVPN is similar to other applications. The experience is more platform dependant than anything else. The good part is that it requires minimal configuration once the installation is complete. All you need is to enter your credentials and hit the connect button.

Overall Setup Process

  1. Visit the ExpressVPN website and sign up for a subscription package.
  2. Log in to your account.
  3. Get the app you need from their downloads page.
  4. Make a note of the Activation Code in your account.
  5. Launch the ExpressVPN application installer.
  6. Once complete and run for the first time, you will need to enter your activation code. You only have to enter this code for the first run. If you re-install the app or install it on another device, you can get the code at any time from your account dashboard at the ExpressVPN website.

The applications for ExpressVPN on Windows and macOS don’t look identical but similar. The company has paid enough attention to detail that the apps inherit the design characteristics of the respective operating systems.

ExpressVPN Windows Application

ExpressVPN Windows Application

The ExpressVPN windows application is small and compact. It adopts a design from the Windows interface to blend in with all your other applications and folders. There’s nothing to shout out about regarding how it looks, but it reeks of simplicity, which is good.

ExpressVPN macOS Application

ExpressVPN macOS Application

As with their Windows app, the macOS application for ExpressVPN is very basic but usable. It doesn’t go for flair but seeks to obtusely blend into the background and look as similar to the native interface as possible. Some setting options differ, but that’s due to the operating system rather than any omission on ExpressVPN’s part.

ExpressVPN Coupons

ExpressVPN Coupons

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ExpressVPN User Reviews

In Summary

4.2
Rated 4.2 out of 5
4.2 out of 5 stars (based on 5 reviews)
Excellent40%
Very good40%
Average20%
Poor0%
Terrible0%

It’s one of the VPN brands that I have a unique love-hate relationship with. Despite the excellent performance it brings, ExpressVPN prices will raise eyebrows for many. That said, prices vary for all products, and it nonetheless has its share of fans.

Click here to order ExpressVPN online

ExpressVPN is a game-changer!

Rated 5 out of 5
August 23, 2021

I love the fact that ExpressVPN gives me the ability to cruise the net without censorship all while preventing hackers from obtaining my information- this makes me feel safe and secure whilst using the internet.

What I dislike most about ExpressVPN is sometimes there are sites that I visit that are unrecognizable by the VPN blocker, so I’ll have to either disable the blocker or exit out of the page. I wish there was a trick or some way to work around this issue.

Brit E

Effective technology but poor renewal process!

Rated 3 out of 5
August 18, 2021

ExpressVPN is simple and apparently effective. However their renewal process locked out my iPad from key applications – which is terrible.

Bob A

Recommended

Rated 4 out of 5
July 12, 2021

ExpressVPN is definitely an excellent choice. If price is not a major concern, you won’t find a better all-around VPN. ExpressVPN performs well on every front, including speed, security, unblocking region-locked sites, evading censorship, and customer support.

Paul Bischoss – Comparitech

Excellent but expensive

Rated 4 out of 5
April 9, 2021

ExpressVPN’s dedication to privacy is impressive, and its fleet of far-flung servers outclasses much of the competition. Anyone who doesn’t need that worldwide access may find its price a bit steep, though.

Max Eddy – PC Mag

Safe, but Is the Price Too High?

Rated 5 out of 5
February 1, 2021

ExpressVPN is one of the safest, fastest VPNs around – and they are one of the few VPNs left that can bypass the Great Firewall of China.

BUT the one drawback has always been the price. It often offers discounts that make it more affordable, but there are other decent VPNs offering similar security features for much cheaper.

Matthew Amos – VPN Mentor

Helen Chan

Helen Chan is a writer and mother of one. Despite her background in business, her love for tech has resulted in extensive experience in web connectivity and security.
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