ExpressVPN Review 2023

Our test results show that ExpressVPN is still one of the best VPNs.

Between its military grade encryption, large server network, and unblocking ability, it’s a great choice when price isn’t an issue. Read our full ExpressVPN review below for more details on its impressive range of features.

Launched in 2009, ExpressVPN is one of the longest-running VPNs that we review regularly. Today, it is widely regarded as one of the top VPN providers in the industry, offering robust encryption and top-notch security. As such, it still enjoys a spot on our ranking of the best VPNs.

However, the ExpressVPN price remains a key concern – it’s an expensive VPN provider compared to other industry stalwarts, like NordVPN. So, we tested ExpressVPN, including its large server network and different features, to update you on how it performs. Here’s our full ExpressVPN review.

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ExpressVPN: A Short Review

8.9

What We Liked

• Diverse VPN protocols
• AES-256 encryption
• Certified no-logs VPN
• Automatic kill switch
• Easy to install and use
• Large server network
• TrustedServer technology
• Obfuscated servers
• Works with Netflix and other streaming platforms
• Torrenting is allowed
• 24/7 customer support (including live chat)
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Bitcoin accepted

What We Didn't Like

• No dedicated IPs
• Expensive
• Customer support team can't handle overly technical problems
• Modest FAQ section on the site

ExpressVPN is a beginner-friendly service that consistently appears in our top five best VPNs. It offers intuitive apps that are easy to install and flaunts a collection of strong VPN protocols, including the super-fast and proprietary “Lightway.” AES-256 encryption also provides top-tier security. Moreover, the company doesn’t keep any activity logs that could be used against you.

We noted that ExpressVPN offers 3,000+ servers in 94 countries. Bonus features include obfuscated servers, TrustedServer technology, and split tunneling. ExpressVPN can even unblock Netflix US, Disney+, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.

These points factored highly into our total score of 8.9/10. But despite these great features, ExpressVPN’s price tag still feels rather high. Its acquisition by Kape Technologies and the hiring of an alleged hacker may also raise some questions for some.

However, if you are unsure about whether you want to purchase ExpressVPN, you can use the 30-day ExpressVPN free trial – a money-back guarantee – to see for yourself if the features offered suit your needs. And if you aren’t satisfied, you can claim a refund right away. Check out our ExpressVPN review for the full deep dive.

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Speed – How Fast Is ExpressVPN?

Slow internet connections can cause lag while downloading, streaming, and gaming. That’s why we test all VPNs on their speed – to see whether and to what degree a VPN service might slow down your connection.

During our tests, ExpressVPN never faltered in performance – we gave it a 9/10 for speed. Here’s why:

• We retained around 92% of our download speeds when connected to ExpressVPN.
• There was no noticeable change in speed during daily use.
• Our speeds were good, no matter what server we chose.
• ExpressVPN offers its own built-in speed test.

Speed test results for ExpressVPN

We tested ExpressVPN from the Netherlands. We evaluated different ExpressVPN servers from around the globe to observe how download and upload speeds were affected based on the server we used.

Note:

Results can vary based on your connection’s quality and your location. The values in the table below are an indication of potential speeds that ExpressVPN’s servers can offer.

Server	Download (Mbps)	Upload (Mbps)	Ping (ms)
No VPN	202.41	244.03	4
The Netherlands	121.84	206.42	6
Germany	105.52	195.65	19
United Kingdom	121.25	179.77	20
United States East (New York)	61.99	128.32	182
United States West (Los Angeles)	59.34	108.07	299
Canada	69.91	128.32	234
Brazil	60.24	111.08	423
South Africa	68.30	118.79	340
Japan	59.09	119.71	490
Australia	60.23	105.66	491

We’ve written VPN reviews on all the major providers, and in our experience, VPNs can affect your speed to different extents. This is particularly true on far-away servers or with low-quality VPNs.

ExpressVPN gave us some very good results on upload speeds throughout our tests, even for countries that were at a distance from our base in the Netherlands. Our download speeds had higher values in countries close to our location, with the United Kingdom giving us speeds as high as the Netherlands.

ExpressVPN maintained good speeds on faraway servers, even though the ping increased the further away we were from our location. Based on our results above, Australia had the highest ping for us. So using an Australian server may cause you to experience some lag, especially if you want to stream content from that country.

Overall, based on the speed test results above, we can say that ExpressVPN servers offer users around the world some very good download and upload speeds.

Speed during daily use

During our ExpressVPN review, we experienced solid speeds no matter what we were doing. Browsing was lightning-fast, and streaming and downloading were no problem either. We watched videos on YouTube and used Netflix to catch an episode of Night Agent in perfect quality.

When using recommended ExpressVPN servers, we saw no lag while gaming. Despite occasional spikes in ping – choose a nearby server to avoid this – we played Diablo II: Resurrected and Warzone: DMZ online without interruption. ExpressVPN is a great VPN for gaming.

Bear in mind that if you have a poor connection to start with, your speed with ExpressVPN might suffer. It might hamper efforts to play high-intensity online games, for example. The good news? With the 30-day money-back guarantee, you can see for yourself – effectively for free.

ExpressVPN in-app speed test

We tried out ExpressVPN’s dedicated app for its built-in speed test. We simply clicked the option “Speed Test,” and we were able to benchmark performance on recommended or all server locations. It took just a couple of seconds to get our speed test results. However, keep in mind that you can run this test only when your VPN is disconnected.

While using the dedicated speed app, you can check your latency – in other words, your ping when gaming. You can also see your download speeds and a general speed index. If you get stuck, ExpressVPN’s website has an easy guide that explains the tool in more detail. Overall, this tool worked really well for us.

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Safety – How Secure Is ExpressVPN?

Secure VPNs anonymize your browsing and protect you from any prying eyes. In addition to masking your real IP address and encrypting your traffic, the best VPNs won’t log your data.

Our main question was, “Is ExpressVPN safe?” The answer: absolutely. Here’s why we awarded this VPN a 9/10 for online safety:

• ExpressVPN uses industry-standard 256-bit encryption.
• We noted support for OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2, and Lightway protocols.
• Despite recent controversies, ExpressVPN has stuck with its strict “no logs“ policy so far.
• The service has an automatic kill switch.
• ExpressVPN’s obfuscation feature works automatically, but it was hard to find for us.
• To create an account, we only needed to provide an email address and payment method.

Protocols

The flexibility and performance of your VPN will largely hinge on its VPN protocols. They ensure consistent speeds and allow you to bypass online censorship and unblock Netflix US, for example.

ExpressVPN supports the following protocols:

• OpenVPN (TCP/UDP): The most popular open-source protocol that meets the needs of most VPN users, with an excellent speed-security balance. You can use TCP to tackle obstacles like the Great Firewall of China.
• L2TP/IPSec: Fast and somewhat secure but resource-intensive and easy to block. To be used as a last resort, we don’t recommend it unless you have high internet speeds.
• IKEv2: This protocol is very fast and less CPU-intensive than OpenVPN. It’s perfect for mobile users, as it can switch between mobile and Wi-Fi networks without dropping your connection.
• Lightway (TCP/UDP): ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol, which mirrors WireGuard’s speeds while adding TCP support, obfuscation, and better privacy. The protocol was independently audited by Cure53. Similar to IKEv2, Lightway won’t skip a beat when you switch between networks or lose signal.

ExpressVPN uses the AES-256 cipher to scramble your online traffic. This is the most secure encryption method we have today. It’s also used by the military, banks, hospitals, and other institutions that need to protect highly sensitive data.

Apart from AES, Lightway also supports the ChaCha20 cipher. AES has excellent hardware acceleration, though, and it will be available on most of your devices. So Lightway will resort to ChaCha20 only on entry-level mobile devices and low-powered routers.

If you’re not sure about the best protocol, you can let the ExpressVPN client pick one automatically. It will determine the best option based on your connection speed, location, and hardware configuration. During our ExpressVPN review, the provider chose the best server for us.

Logging and privacy

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands. While formally part of the UK, this region is governed by its own legislation. The absence of mandatory data retention laws makes it a VPN-friendly location. It’s also not a participant of the Eyes Alliance, where member nations share information with each other regarding the internet activity of online users.

ExpressVPN doesn’t keep any harmful user logs. This is fortunate, as the BVI Supreme Court can order a company to disclose customer records. Even if that does happen, ExpressVPN won’t have any IP addresses, traffic data, browsing history, or DNS queries to hand over.

ExpressVPN does collect some information – but it’s harmless:

• Account information: Email and payment method (remain anonymous by providing a newly-made email and paying for your subscription with Bitcoin)
• Aggregate VPN usage statistics: Your app version, successful connections on a particular day (without specifying the time), your country/ISP (but not your real IP), the ExpressVPN servers you connected to (but not the assigned IP), and the total sum of data transferred
• Anonymous app diagnostics: VPN connection diagnostics, usability diagnostics, speed test results, and crash reports (sharing this data is optional, and you can turn this function off at any moment)
• Customer support records: Any correspondence with ExpressVPN’s customer support as well as your country, operating system, and anything else that can help with troubleshooting

The above qualifies ExpressVPN as one of the best no-logging VPNs. While they collect some harmless data to keep the service running, it’s nothing that could personally identify you.

Of course, you have the right to access, transfer, correct, delete, and object to the processing of your personal data. All you have to do is contact the company at support@expressvpn.com and inform them.

Daniel Gericke controversy

ExpressVPN’s Chief Information Officer, Daniel Gericke, was fined for his role in UAE’s project “Raven” by the US Department of Justice. As a UAE mercenary hacker, he was supposedly involved in hack attacks against American citizens, political opponents, and human rights activists.

Although this occurred before Gericke’s involvement with ExpressVPN, his work on these surveillance practices caused worries in the community. In its official statement, ExpressVPN denounced the project itself but mentioned that “hiring an ex-offender is the best defense.” It shouldn’t cause too much concern, but in the interest of being thorough, we’ve flagged it to you.

Kape Technologies acquires ExpressVPN

In September of 2021, Kape Technologies announced the acquisition of ExpressVPN for $936 million. Kape Technologies also owns CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and some other VPNs. According to the parties involved, the ExpressVPN acquisition shouldn’t affect its independent operation.

Our team is constantly investigating the potential repercussions of these developments. So far, we have no evidence that ExpressVPN’s privacy and security have been affected or diluted.

Kill switch

Any VPN can suffer a temporary drop in connection. Even a two-second stutter is enough for your real IP to leak. That’s why the best VPNs have a kill switch. This fail-safe blocks all internet traffic until your VPN protection is restored.

ExpressVPN has an automatic kill switch on Windows, Mac, Linux, and routers. Note that they call it “Network Lock,” which is just a fancy name for a kill switch. You can disable it on Windows, Mac, and Linux, but not on routers – note that we don’t recommend doing this.

What’s more, the kill switch supports full leak-proofing that guarantees to block all non-VPN traffic. Unfortunately, this will block some VPN features, like split tunneling, as we noticed during our ExpressVPN review.

Obfuscation

ExpressVPN is advertised as a “stealth VPN,” which means that at least some of its servers provide “obfuscation” technology. Obfuscation masks your VPN traffic to look like regular browsing.

Note:

Some websites and services, such as Netflix, discourage VPN use. With stealth servers, even deep packet inspection won’t know that you’re using a VPN. This makes it less likely you’ll be blocked.

With Surfshark, for example, obfuscation (which they call “Camouflage”) activates automatically when you switch to OpenVPN. But information about ExpressVPN’s obfuscation tech is surprisingly scarce.

We’ve confirmed that ExpressVPN’s obfuscation activates automatically when it detects deep packet inspection. In other words, it all happens without you even knowing it.

Password manager

Password managers help you store and create secure passwords. ExpressVPN’s built-in password manager is “ExpressVPN Keys.” It’s also available as a Chrome browser extension on Windows, Mac, and Linux. ExpressVPN Keys uses zero-knowledge encryption, meaning you’re the only person with access to your login details.

Like most premium password managers, Keys lets you paste your passwords anywhere in just a few clicks. You can save an unlimited number of logins, so you’ll never have to memorize another password again.

Does ExpressVPN leak your data?

VPNs should protect your data, but sub-par services can leak data without your knowledge. That’s why we always run several key leak tests when we write a VPN review. Our ExpressVPN review is no exception.

While testing ExpressVPN, we didn’t see any dangerous data leaks. First up, we covered the basics – we checked whether ExpressVPN suffered from IP address leaks, and the good news is that it passed our tests.

Next up came our DNS leak test. ISPs (Internet Service Providers) use DNS servers to route your internet searches while logging your activity. A DNS leak can therefore give away your browsing habits, even when you’re using a VPN.

We used a US VPN server to conduct ExpressVPN’s DNS leak test. We didn’t see a single DNS leak across 40+ DNS servers, giving us confidence that the service is airtight.

Finally, we ran a WebRTC leak – this is another way in which your IP address can be leaked. It was one more win for ExpressVPN, with no WebRTC leaks in sight.

Additional ExpressVPN leak protection

ExpressVPN also provides some useful security tools on its official website. These include an IP checker, DNS/WebRTC leak tests, and a decent password generator. You can access these tools from your ExpressVPN client as well.

Additionally, ExpressVPN offers its own encrypted DNS server on each of its VPN servers. This means that your DNS requests won’t be exposed to third parties every time you visit a website.

What information does ExpressVPN need?

To create an account with ExpressVPN, you only need an email address and a payment method. This means you can stay completely anonymous if you use a fresh email (without any identifiers) and pay with Bitcoin.

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Usability – How User-Friendly Is ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN’s usability has been refined over more than a decade. Even if this is your first time using a VPN, you’ll have no issues navigating its site and clients. That’s why we awarded ExpressVPN a 9/10 for user-friendliness in our ExpressVPN review.

Here’s a quick rundown of our conclusions:

• ExpressVPN’s website is simple and easy to navigate.
• The installation is quick and clear on all devices and operating systems.
• ExpressVPN’s clients are beginner-friendly, uncluttered, and intuitive.
• The VPN offers an efficient split tunneling option.
• This VPN provider is on the expensive side.
• You can have up to five simultaneous connections.
• Crypto payments are accepted by Express VPN.
• The service offers 24/7 customer support (live chat included).
• The expertise of the live support team is not where it needs to be.

ExpressVPN’s website and installation process

The ExpressVPN website is simple and easy to navigate. We found everything to be intuitive and well laid out. Even VPN beginners will have no trouble finding their way around and getting ExpressVPN going.

Clicking the “My Account” button in the top-right corner will open up your personal dashboard. Here, you can edit your payment method, download apps for supported platforms, view invoices, get your referral link, tinker with the DNS settings, and change your password.

You can also view your subscription details and manage subscription settings from the ExpressVPN app.

Installing ExpressVPN was a quick and effortless process for us, with an installation wizard to guide you. We also checked out the native apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and certain routers.

Alternatively, you can set up ExpressVPN manually with OpenVPN or L2TP/IPSec. However, we don’t recommend this unless you know exactly what you’re doing. When it comes to some of the best browser extensions, ExpressVPN supports Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

Additionally, Express can be used with Android TV, Fire TV & Kindle Fire, gaming consoles, Apple TV, Chromebook, and many other platforms.

For this ExpressVPN review, we focused mostly on testing the Windows app. Installation is a few quick steps:

1. Go to ExpressVPN’s website.
2. Click on “Get Started” in the top-right corner.
   
   
3. Pick your subscription option.
4. Provide the required information (email and payment method).
5. Download the setup file for your system.
6. Click on the downloaded file, and the installation will start automatically.
7. After installation, enter your activation code.
   
   

Note:

During installation, you’ll be asked two questions.

1. “Do you want ExpressVPN to start with Windows?”
2. “Do you want to share crash reports, speed tests, usability diagnostics, and whether VPN connection attempts succeeded?”

We recommend choosing “Yes” to the first question, but selecting “No” for the second option if you’d prefer to share as little data as possible.

With all this in mind, we can say that ExpressVPN’s setup is beginner-friendly and streamlined to perfection. We especially like the fact that you can register an account and purchase a subscription in a single step.

ExpressVPN’s appearance and ease-of-use

ExpressVPN’s client is sleek and professional – a lack of complicated options on the main dashboard makes it extremely beginner-friendly. Everything “regular users” might need is right there on the screen. Some advanced options are also available once you scratch the surface.

The main window features a prominent on/off button and a shortcut to switch between ExpressVPN servers. We noticed that the Windows client also displays some interesting articles from the company’s blog at the very bottom.

The hamburger menu in the top-left corner allows you to:

• Open the server list.
• Perform an in-client speed test.
• Access the “Options” menu.
• Contact customer support.
• Check your IP address and test for DNS/WebRTC leaks.
• Get your referral link.
• Log out.

In summary, ExpressVPN’s client has something for both beginners and power users. We appreciate the minimalistic design and give ExpressVPN a huge thumbs up for its user interface. VPNs with complicated clients, like Windscribe, could definitely learn a thing or two.

Split tunneling

ExpressVPN offers split tunneling, allowing you to pick which apps are routed through the VPN and which can connect directly to the internet. You can find this option in the “General Settings” tab in your client.

You can set up split tunneling in two ways:

• Exclude programs: Do you want all your apps except Firefox to use the VPN? Then you can set up ExpressVPN so that only Firefox doesn’t pass through the encrypted VPN tunnel.
• Allow only a few programs: This can be useful when you only want your VPN for things like downloading torrents. You can add the torrent software to ExpressVPN’s split tunnel settings.

Split tunneling conserves your bandwidth and boosts your connection speed. Encrypted traffic runs slower, which means it uses more bandwidth. With split tunneling, you can use trusted apps and sites without VPN protection.

Pricing and payment methods

The ExpressVPN cost may put a few people off, with a price as high as some other competitors like BolehVPN (which is highly overpriced). However, one could argue that its impressive list of features justifies the high price tag, which is a fact easily discernable through this ExpressVPN review.

You can always use their 30-day money-back guarantee and get a free ExpressVPN trial that way. This will give you plenty of time to test the software cost-free and see if it works for you.

ExpressVPN offers three different subscription plans:

Pricing plans

• ExpressVPN 12 Months $6.67mth Deal View offer
• ExpressVPN 6 Months $9.99mth View offer
• ExpressVPN Monthly $12.95mth View offer

ExpressVPN accepts the following payment methods:

• Credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover JCB, Diners Club International)
• PayPal
• Bitcoin
• Various regional payment methods (WebMoney, Klarna, iDEAL, UnionPay, SOFORT, Giropay, and more)

Note that your subscription renews automatically by default. You can turn this off from the “Manage Subscription Settings” tab in your on-site personal dashboard.

Last, you can get 30 days of ExpressVPN subscription for free if you refer a friend and they sign up. You can refer as many friends as you want, even if they used to be ExpressVPN customers in the past.

How does ExpressVPN’s money-back guarantee work?

ExpressVPN gives you the opportunity to get your money back within 30 days of when you first subscribed to the service. To do this, all you have to do is contact customer support through email or ExpressVPN’s live chat function and request a full refund.

If you are thinking of using ExpressVPN, you can purchase a subscription and try out all of the services provided for 30 days. It is essentially like getting a free trial with ExpressVPN. And if you decide not to continue using the VPN, you can use their money-back policy to cancel ExpressVPN.

Important!

If you’ve downloaded the ExpressVPN app through the Google Play or App Store, you won’t be eligible for the 30-day money-back guarantee!

Also, keep in mind that if you’re billed through PayPal, you’ll receive a cashback bonus to your PayPal account. The amount will be equivalent to a one-month subscription, based on your current plan.

Customer service

When it comes to ExpressVPN’s customer support, we were interested in three things:

• The quality of the support materials on the official website (FAQs, setup/troubleshooting guides, etc.)
• The variety of communication modes (live chat, email, tickets)
• The response times and expertise of the support team

ExpressVPN offers a solid knowledge base on its site. You’ll be able to solve a lot of your problems simply by going through their troubleshooting tips and setup guides.

The search function needs a bit of work, however. We often got results that had nothing to do with our search terms. The FAQ section also feels somewhat modest.

The company maintains a 24/7 live chat, which is a huge plus in our book. This tool is available to both paying customers and random visitors. During our testing for this ExpressVPN review, we only had to wait a couple of seconds before starting our talk with a support operator.

They were always very pleasant and willing to help but not always very knowledgeable.

Note that we couldn’t get the live chat window to work while our adblocker was active. ExpressVPN’s live chat is provided by a third-party platform called SnapEngage. It uses eight necessary cookies, and you won’t be able to start the live chat if you’re blocking them.

You can also send emails and support tickets to ExpressVPN. These services are provided by a third-party platform called Zendesk.

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Server Network – Can ExpressVPN Unblock the Internet?

After you log into the ExpressVPN app, you’ll be able to see a range of information, including the different ExpressVPN servers available. ExpressVPN’s server network isn’t the largest we’ve seen, but it does offer thousands of servers worldwide.

With coverage of nearly 100 countries, there are also endless opportunities to bypass online censorship and freely access the internet.

As a result, ExpressVPN’s current server network gets an 8.5/10 from us:

• ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers in 94 different countries.
• Servers work for various streaming platforms, including Netflix.
• With ExpressVPN, you can torrent safely and anonymously.
• ExpressVPN’s servers run on TrustedServer technology for a true “no logs” policy and extra safety.
• ExpressVPN doesn’t offer dedicated IP addresses.

Number of servers and locations

ExpressVPN offers 3,000+ servers spread across 94 countries. Thanks to this impressive server network, you’ll always find a location that meets your needs. You can, of course, switch between ExpressVPN servers whenever and as much as you want.

The list of available locations is easy to access from the client’s home screen. When you click on the location shortcut underneath the on/off button, a list will appear next to the main window.

Here, you can see the locations you recently visited for easier access. You can also build a list of your favorite servers. Moreover, the “Smart Location” tool will pick the optimal server for you based on your current location, ping, and connection speed. The “All Locations” tab shows you all available servers grouped by continents.

ExpressVPN offers servers in the following countries:

• Americas: Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela
• Europe: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Liechtenstein, and Lithuania
• Asia Pacific: Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam
• Middle East & Africa: Algeria (virtual via the Netherlands), Egypt, Israel, Kenya, and South Africa

Note that around 3% of ExpressVPN servers are“virtual servers.” While the IP address matches the country you’ve chosen, the server is physically located elsewhere. For example, if you connect to Slovenia, your traffic will be routed through a server in the Netherlands and given a Slovenian IP address, which is something we noticed during our ExpressVPN review.

ExpressVPN uses these for countries where finding high-quality servers can be challenging. Unfortunately, it can have drawbacks in certain scenarios. For example, on an Argentinian virtual server, we couldn’t get an NBA League Pass. The NBA website can determine when a virtual server is in use and routed us to the Brazilian website, where the actual server is located.

ExpressVPN and streaming (Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, BBC iPlayer)

In spite of offering only shared IP addresses, ExpressVPN is a true geo-unblocking powerhouse. Their use of obfuscation paired with thousands of IP addresses definitely has something to do with this. ExpressVPN works perfectly with Netflix US, as well as many other regional versions. It’s on our list of the best VPNs for Netflix for a reason.

Here’s a complete overview of ExpressVPN’s geo-unblocking capabilities regarding streaming services:

Platform	Can ExpressVPN unblock it?
Netflix	✔
Disney Plus	✔
Hulu	✔
BBC iPlayer	✔

With Netflix tightening up its VPN block, the list of services that can unlock it grows thinner by the day. ExpressVPN is definitely one of the VPNs that haven’t given up the fight.

We were able to stream plenty of Netflix shows and movies without any lag or dreaded proxy errors. As a bonus, ExpressVPN also works with other coveted platforms, including Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.

ExpressVPN and torrents

If you can’t start your day without firing up uTorrent, ExpressVPN is the service for you. It allows anonymous P2P filesharing on all of its servers without any speed throttling. Just make sure your kill switch is active, as a dropping connection that leaks your IP in the middle of downloading a torrent is never fun.

As always, we have to point out that we do not recommend or condone illegal torrenting. Downloading copyrighted content can cause serious legal repercussions. In some countries, it can even mean jail time.

TrustedServer technology

Traditional VPN servers usually rely on hard drives, which store data until it is erased and rewritten. This raises the risk of hackers stealing sensitive information. ExpressVPN solved this problem by introducing its “TrustedServer“ technology.

Instead of using hard drives, ExpressVPN servers run entirely on volatile memory (or RAM). All information on any server is erased the moment it’s powered off. This prevents both data and potential intruders from persisting on the machine.

This RAM-only approach also ensures that every server runs on the most up-to-date software. This means that every single ExpressVPN server is running the exact same code. This consistency makes the network much easier to manage and reduces the chance of vulnerabilities and misconfiguration.

TrustedServer tech was audited by PwC, and there was a $100,000 reward in ExpressVPN’s bug bounty program specifically for discovering security problems within TrustedServer.

Dedicated IP address

Dedicated IP addresses are tied to your account, so nobody else can use them. Your IP remains the same every time you connect. Unfortunately, ExpressVPN doesn’t offer dedicated IPs (or static IPs, for that matter).

The company opted for shared dynamic IP addresses. This means that you’ll get a different IP every time you connect to a server. It might even be the address you connected to before, depending on the availability. The “shared” part means that you’ll be sharing your IP with hundreds or thousands of active users.

Shared IPs are excellent for torrenting since your P2P traffic can get lost among other users with the same address. They ensure better privacy for the same reason. Having said that, to find that a VPN giant like ExpressVPN doesn’t give the option for dedicated IPs (even for an extra fee) is surprising.

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Our Experience With ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN holds an unwavering spot on our list of the best VPNs. Throughout years of repeated testing, we’ve never had a negative experience. We’ve consistently seen lightning-fast speeds that support any activity and connections that hold strong.

On the question of “is ExpressVPN safe,” there’s no doubt that it’s a resounding “Yes” from us. A solid no-logging policy and RAM-only servers backed up with 256-bit AES encryption offered us great reassurance going into this ExpressVPN review. That was only solidified by a complete lack of data leaks that we observed during our rigorous testing circuit. Sure, they’ve suffered one or two security faux pas, but we’ve yet to see proof of any negative impact.

But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows – all of this comes at a cost, and ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPN services. You can find similar functionality from apps like NordVPN for a lower price.

Still, as long as you have an acceptable internet connection, it’s one of the best beginner-friendly services, with the most intuitive applications and streamlined installations. Most importantly, we’re confident in ExpressVPN’s ability to secure your privacy and protect your online activities.

ExpressVPN Review: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a quick question about ExpressVPN? We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about ExpressVPN down below. Simply click on a question to view the answer.

Is ExpressVPN secure?

Yes! ExpressVPN will secure your online traffic with AES 256-bit encryption and the safest VPN protocols. ExpressVPN also can’t log any information because of their TrustedServer technology: everything is instantly deleted, so nobody can see what you’re doing online.

In other words, ExpressVPN’s “no log” policy puts its money where its mouth is. Want to know more? Check out our full ExpressVPN review.

Does ExpressVPN work with (American) Netflix?

Yes, you can watch (American) Netflix with ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN has plenty of extremely fast servers all over the world, which makes it easy to stream Netflix content wherever you are.

Can I anonymously download torrents with ExpressVPN?

You can easily and anonymously download torrents with ExpressVPN. Because of the incredible speed of their servers, you’ll be able to download the torrents you want pretty fast. You’ll also be able to enjoy the protection of ExpressVPN as it offers excellent safety features.

Does ExpressVPN offer dedicated IP addresses?

ExpressVPN does not offer dedicated IP addresses. Many people use a dedicated IP to watch Netflix with their VPN. With ExpressVPN you won’t need a dedicated IP address to do that.

If you want a dedicated IP address to avoid captchas and other forms of extra verification, you can look for a VPN that does offer dedicated IP addresses, such as NordVPN.

How much does an ExpressVPN subscription cost?

An ExpressVPN subscription costs $6.67 per month. ExpressVPN is a bit more expensive than most other VPN providers. However, it does give you the best of the best in terms of quality. If you want to know more about this VPN provider, check out our ExpressVPN review.

Personal Opinions of VPNOverview’s Experts

“Expensive, But High-Quality VPN”

8.9

David Janssen

Cybersecurity Analyst

As editor of VPNOverview I have dozens of VPNs I can choose from at any given time. These past years I have used ExpressVPN extensively. I like ExpressVPN because it’s fast, it’s easy to use, and it just works really well on all devices.

Djordje Djordjevic

Tech Journalist

ExpressVPN apps are not winning any design awards anytime soon. However, their built-in features are streamlined to perfection. We’re talking about a well-polished VPN that caters to the needs of beginners and power users alike. It pulls off a perfect balance between airtight security and user-friendliness. ExpressVPN is one of my go-to VPNs both privately and professionally. I use it because I like knowing that my VPN will work, no matter what. However, their customer support needs a bit more work to match the quality of the software itself.

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