We review VPNs independently, but we may earn commissions if you buy a VPN via our links.

ExpressVPN Review

Why Trust Us?

We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.

Simon Migliano
Simon Migliano

Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more. Read full bio

Fact-checked by JP JonesAdditional Testing by Luke Williams

ExpressVPN app
Get ExpressVPN

Privacy

9.2/10
Privacy
Best Rating
9.7/10
Average Rating
5.2/10
Worst Rating
0.1/10

We calculated this rating by examining the VPN's logging policy, jurisdiction, ownership, and privacy features. We also evaluated its history of handling user data and responding to legal requests.

Read our VPN testing methodology to learn more.

Ranked #7 out of 61 VPNs for Privacy

ExpressVPN is a trustworthy VPN service that runs entirely on diskless servers and doesn’t store any personally-identifiable data, a claim verified through independent audits. It’s also based in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws. While its 2021 acquisition by Kape Technologies raised concerns, we've seen no evidence of any negative impact on user privacy.

Originating IP AddressNo
Browsing ActivityNo
Individual Connection TimestampsNo
Date of Last ConnectionYes
VPN Server IPNo
Device InformationNo
Individual Bandwidth UsageYes
Account InformationYes

ExpressVPN collects less data than the vast majority of VPNs. It also offers an anonymous payment method when signing up, and its diskless server network means the service can’t log any activity data.

However, ExpressVPN does retain some anonymous connection logs, such as the date of your last connection and your bandwidth usage. This data is only used for diagnostic purposes and to improve the service.

Importantly, a third party can’t use this information to identify you from your web activity. Real-world tests, like server raids and third-party audits, have confirmed this fact several times.

That said, we’d still much prefer if the VPN adopted a true no-logs privacy policy, like Private Internet Access and PrivateVPN.

Based in a Privacy-Friendly Jurisdiction

ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), an excellent jurisdiction choice for a VPN service. The BVI doesn’t have any mandatory data retention laws, making it easier for ExpressVPN to maintain the assurances made in its logging policy.

The BVI is not part of any data-sharing alliance like the Five Eyes, meaning other governments and agencies cannot force ExpressVPN to hand over any user information.

ExpressVPN Is Owned by Kape Technologies

ExpressVPN’s 2021 acquisition by Kape Technologies sparked controversy due to Kape’s history with an SDK platform that third parties used for ad injection. However, this platform was shut down in 2016, years before the ExpressVPN acquisition.

Under Kape’s ownership, ExpressVPN has actually improved its privacy practices through additional audits and bug bounty programs.

Diskless Servers Prevent Logging

Unlike most other VPNs that store server information on hard drives, ExpressVPN’s servers are diskless. Named TrustServer, this feature prevents the VPN from logging any of your usage data and it makes it impossible for a hacker to extract data from the server.

ExpressVPN is one of the only VPN services to have had its diskless server network audited by a third party. Cure53, the auditor, confirmed that all of ExpressVPN’s servers are diskless and that “No IP addresses or PII [personally identifiable information] can be written to physical disk”.

All of its servers are owned and operated by ExpressVPN, too, meaning they aren’t rented from a third party. We prefer this as it minimizes the possibility of a server being interfered with by a hacker or other bad actors.

Streaming

9.9/10
Streaming
Best Rating
9.9/10
Average Rating
4.6/10
Worst Rating
0.8/10

We calculated this rating by identifying which streaming services the VPN could unblock and measuring how consistently it could access them.

Read our VPN testing methodology to learn more.

Ranked #1 out of 61 VPNs for Streaming

Over years of testing, ExpressVPN has remained the most reliable VPN for bypassing geo-blocks on streaming services. In our latest round of tests, it effortlessly accessed US Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and 95% of the 120 services we test. Plus, unlike Windscribe and other alternatives, the videos always load in maximum quality without buffering or drops in frame rate.

Streaming ServiceWorks with ExpressVPN
BBC iPlayer (UK)Yes
DAZN (Canada)Yes
Disney+ (UK)Yes
Hulu (US)Yes
ITVX (UK)Yes
Max (US)Yes
Netflix (US)Yes
Netflix (UK)Yes
Prime Video (US)Yes
Sky Go (UK)Yes

Unblocks US Netflix & 17 Other Regions

In every test for the past 12 months, ExpressVPN always worked with US Netflix. The videos loaded instantly and streamed in HD without any buffering.

However, we found that ExpressVPN’s default US server doesn’t stream Netflix. Instead, you’ll have to manually connect to the “New Jersey - 1” server location.

Other VPNs, like Surfshark and NordVPN, automatically connect you to a server optimized for streaming, so we’d like to see ExpressVPN do the same.

ExpressVPN with Netfix Canada

ExpressVPN unblocks all major Netflix libraries without issue.

Unlike most other VPN review websites, we also test every VPN with Netflix in every server location.

Netflix Libraries That ExpressVPN Works With
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Turkey
  • UK
  • US

Disappointingly, ExpressVPN doesn’t work at all with some popular Netflix libraries, like Mexico and Argentina. Windscribe is a better choice if you want to unblock international Netflix libraries.

Streams Max, YouTube TV & All Other US Streaming Sites

When using ExpressVPN, we could access US streaming services from anywhere. The VPN worked with Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and it works to bypass YouTube TV blocks.

Unlike Netflix, every site was accessible with any US ExpressVPN server, including New York and San Francisco.

ExpressVPN unblocking The Penguin on Max

ExpressVPN streams US streaming sites from anywhere.

In each case, videos loaded within one second. The videos always stayed at the maximum quality of 4K or 1080p and didn’t buffer at any stage.

Unblocks BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Sky Go & Other UK Platforms

Unlike many popular VPNs, like PIA and PrivateVPN, ExpressVPN unblocks the UK library of Disney+.

While connected to its London server, we were able to access Star content from our US Disney+ account for no additional cost. We enjoyed content like Family Guy and Grey’s Anatomy, which is usually only available with a Hulu subscription.

Accessing Star content on Disney+ while connected to a UK ExpressVPN server

We could access Star content on a US-based Disney+ account by connecting to a UK server.

ExpressVPN also bypasses BBC iPlayer’s geo-blocks on all its UK servers. Using it, we streamed live and on-demand content in HD, including Match of the Day and Top Gear.

Until recently, ExpressVPN was a poor choice for BBC iPlayer. Before, you’d have to use the VPN’s browser extensions or MediaStreamer Smart DNS service. We’re pleased ExpressVPN has focused on improving its streaming performance.

We also found the VPN to be a top choice for accessing other UK streaming platforms. It worked with Sky Go, Now, Channel 4, and ITVX. It’s also the best VPN for France, able to unblock every French streaming service.

Speed

9.7/10
Speed
Best Rating
10/10
Average Rating
7.0/10
Worst Rating
0.4/10

We calculated this rating using our proprietary tests of download, upload, and ping speeds across servers in 10 countries.

Read our VPN testing methodology to learn more.

Ranked #5 out of 61 VPNs for Speed

According to the data from our most recent speed tests, ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs: beating PIA, NordVPN, and many other leading VPN services. Using its Lightway protocol, we recorded speed losses of just 3%, which is more than fast enough for every intensive web activity, including gaming, streaming, and video calling.

As the data shows, connecting to a nearby server barely impacted our download speed, with a loss of just 3%. Regardless of your location, you can expect similar high speeds when connecting to nearby servers.

Of all the VPNs we’ve reviewed, ExpressVPN is the second-fastest VPN for download speeds on both local and international connections.

ExpressVPN’s impressive speeds come from two key features: its custom-built Lightway protocol optimized for performance, and a network of 10Gbps servers that provide high bandwidth capacity.

That said, we’ve observed a decline in ExpressVPN’s international speeds recently, and it’s no longer the fastest VPN for far-away servers. Compared to our previous tests, its speeds have decreased by 27% in South Africa and 7% in Germany.

To put all of this into context, you can see how ExpressVPN’s speed performance compares to other leading VPNs in the chart below:

ExpressVPN’s Exclusive Lightway Protocol Gives It an Advantage

Comparison bar chart showing ExpressVPN's local and international speed performance against other leading VPN services.

Fast Ping for Lag-Free Gaming

ExpressVPN’s strong speed performance makes it a top choice for gaming. We recorded a ping time of 8ms on a nearby server, which is faster than almost every other VPN we’ve reviewed.

Using ExpressVPN on Xbox, our connection was quick enough for fast-paced games, like Warzone and Halo. The VPN was always fast enough for competitive gaming on every local server we tested.

Playing Halo Infinite online while connected to ExpressVPN

We didn’t experience any lag on Halo Infinite while connected to ExpressVPN.

The VPN also has servers in countries like Egypt and Argentina, where you’ll encounter easier gaming lobbies. But as is typical, ExpressVPN’s ping time increases significantly on further away servers. Unless you’re playing a slower-paced game, we recommend you stick to servers in your country.

Security

8.6/10
Security
Best Rating
9.0/10
Average Rating
6.4/10
Worst Rating
1.0/10

We calculated this rating by testing the VPN's security protocols, encryption, leak protection, and kill switch reliability. We also assessed the provider's track record and any past security incidents.

Read our VPN testing methodology to learn more.

Ranked #10 out of 61 VPNs for Security

ExpressVPN offers strong security overall, passing all of our core tests this time around. However, its choice to not support WireGuard is frustrating, it previously leaked DNS requests on Windows due to a bug, and its macOS app leaked our IP address when switching servers.

Independent AuditYes
VPN Kill SwitchYes
Leak ProtectionYes

ExpressVPN Uses a Proprietary VPN Protocol

ExpressVPN uses a different VPN tunneling protocol than other VPN services. We’d prefer if the VPN used more established technologies, as these have been tested for longer and by more people.

ExpressVPN’s default protocol is Lightway, which was developed by ExpressVPN and is exclusive to it. Thankfully, Lightway encrypts traffic using the AES-256 cipher, a very secure encryption method you can trust to conceal your most sensitive data.

Lightway is open-source, meaning anyone can inspect its code base. Although this is an excellent way to build trust in a proprietary tunneling protocol, it’s still not as trustworthy as a widely used open-source protocol like WireGuard.

Lightway has performed well in our security tests, but we’d like to see ExpressVPN at least add WireGuard as an option.

ExpressVPN's protocol options list

ExpressVPN offers Lightway but not WireGuard.

Like most other VPN services, ExpressVPN uses Perfect Forward Secrecy, a 4096-bit RSA key, and SHA-512 HMAC authentication. Put simply, this conceals your web activity and ensures an attacker can’t alter your internet data in real time.

Apps & Extensions Securely Encrypt Traffic

ExpressVPN’s apps and browser extensions successfully encrypted all our traffic, including internet activity outside the web browser. We checked for this using Wireshark, a tool that allows you to analyze individual packets.

We found that the VPN successfully concealed the websites we visited, and obfuscated data on insecure HTTP websites.

ExpressVPN with Wireshark on macOS

Head of Research, Simon Migliano, tested ExpressVPN’s encryption with Wireshark.

Though this might be expected, surprisingly many other VPN browser extensions are basic web proxies that don’t encrypt network traffic.

Kill Switch Stops IP Address Leaks

All of ExpressVPN’s apps include its ‘Network Lock’ kill switch. We rarely see kill switches available on every platform, especially Fire TV and iOS, so we’re pleased ExpressVPN has maintained functionality across all devices.

To verify ExpressVPN’s kill switch works as expected, we tested it using our in-house kill switch testing tool. This checks for IP address leaks after an unexpected connection drop.

As you can see in the screenshot below, ExpressVPN’s kill switch successfully prevented our true IP address from leaking outside of the VPN tunnel.

Testing the efficacy of ExpressVPN's kill switch

ExpressVPN’s kill switch isn’t fully secure on macOS.

That said, we did discover that ExpressVPN’s macOS app leaks IP addresses when changing to a different server location. The app shows you a warning message before you do this, but it’s disappointing that ExpressVPN has not fixed this vulnerability altogether.

Passed Our Data Leak Tests

We ran ExpressVPN through our IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests. The VPN passed all tests, meaning we recorded no network traffic leaks and all our personal information was hidden.

As shown in the screenshot below, ExpressVPN masked our real UK network details.

Testing ExpressVPN for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks

ExpressVPN passed all of our leak tests.

Previously, a bug in ExpressVPN’s Windows app caused DNS leaks when split tunneling was enabled, allowing your ISP to see the websites you visited.

Thankfully, the issue was fixed quickly once disclosed, and we’ve not seen any evidence to suggest the issue has recurred.

Reassuringly, ExpressVPN uses first-party DNS servers. In other words, ExpressVPN handles and encrypts your DNS requests, not your ISP. Very few VPN services have these servers.

For added security, we’d like to see ExpressVPN support IPv6 addresses in the future. Currently, ExpressVPN simply blocks your true IPv6 address and doesn’t replace it with one from the VPN server. This risks leaking your IPv6 address if the blocking functionality fails.

Security Features Verified by Third-Party Audits

As paranoid internet users, we’re put at ease by ExpressVPN’s commitment to transparency. It commissions more independent security audits than any VPN we’ve reviewed.

In the last 3 years alone, ExpressVPN has been subject to 13 security-related audits. By comparison, NordVPN has had just one in security audit in the same time.

Most recently in May 2024, Cure53 conducted a security audit of ExpressVPN’s browser extension. Only two minor issues were identified, both of which were fixed before the report was made public.

Server Locations

9.9/10
Server Locations
Best Rating
9.9/10
Average Rating
6.7/10
Worst Rating
1.0/10

We calculated this rating by assessing the number of countries and cities available, their geographic spread, and availability in popular regions.

Read our VPN testing methodology to learn more.

Ranked #1 out of 61 VPNs for Server Locations

ExpressVPN has servers in 106 different countries, which is the fifth-highest number of all 61 VPNs we tested. Using it, you can get an IP address from almost every location in the world. However, what sets ExpressVPN apart in this category is that it has more city-specific server options than any other competitor, allowing you to get IP addresses from specific cities and regions.

ContinentCountries with Servers
Europe47
Asia26
North America13
South America10
Africa6
Oceania3

As you can see from the table, ExpressVPN has servers in many locations. In each continent, the VPN allows you to get an IP address from many more countries than other top VPNs, including 15 more than PIA VPN.

That said, some popular regions are still missing. We’d like to see ExpressVPN add virtual locations in the UAE and Russia in a future update.

ExpressVPN Server List on iOS & Android

ExpressVPN server list on iOS (left) and Android (right)

Interestingly, even though ExpressVPN and every other VPN review site claims it has servers in 105 countries, we found the actual figure is 106.

We’ve checked this dozens of time in the app to ensure we’ve not miscounted. While it’s likely an innocent oversight on ExpressVPN’s part, it’s unusual to see a VPN service understate one of its own features.

More City-Based Server Locations Than Other VPNs

ExpressVPN lets you connect to servers in specific cities in 15 countries, which is significantly more than IPVanish (7) and CyberGhost (9).

This feature is valuable for connecting to the closest possible server to you, or for accessing localized content like avoiding MLB blackouts or watching out-of-market NFL games.

However, ExpressVPN provides fewer US city-based servers than some other VPN services. For example, ExpressVPN has servers in 14 states, while Private Internet Access allows you to get an IP address from 50 states and HMA from 48.

User Experience

9.9/10
User Experience
Best Rating
9.9/10
Average Rating
7.0/10
Worst Rating
2.0/10

We calculated this rating by assessing the VPN’s ease of use, interface design, and setup process across multiple platforms.

Read our VPN testing methodology to learn more.

Ranked #1 out of 61 VPNs for User Experience

For us, ExpressVPN is categorically the easiest and nicest VPN to use. Its apps don't require any learning curve, you just need to press the large ‘on’ button and the app will automatically select the best protocol and server location based on your network and location. We also love just how quick the app opens and connects to a server. These quality-of-life features might seem small, but they make a noticeable difference when you're using a VPN daily.

Installation & Setup

We found it extremely easy to install, set up, and use ExpressVPN. We chose our subscription plan, created an account, and entered our payment details.

After we subscribed, we received a confirmation email with an activation code and a link to the installation guide for our device.

Even setting up ExpressVPN’s router app requires no technical knowledge and is just as intuitive once installed. To avoid setup altogether, you can purchase ExpressVPN’s Aircove router. This comes with ExpressVPN pre-installed, but it’s expensive.

Interface & Ease of Use

Thankfully, ExpressVPN updated its design in 2021. Before then, we criticized it for looking outdated and for being difficult to use on some platforms. The new update looks a lot better and keeps the design consistent across devices.

Desktop & Laptop (Windows & Mac)

Although many VPNs release subpar Mac apps compared to the Windows versions, both ExpressVPN desktop apps are practically identical. This is a good thing, as ExpressVPN’s desktop apps are the most intuitive VPN apps we’ve used.

You can customize the home screen to include shortcuts to your most frequently visited websites. We prefer the app’s design without them, though, so we’re glad you can disable this feature in the settings.

ExpressVPN's apps for Windows and macOS

The VPN’s server list is easy to navigate, too. ‘Recommended’ servers are selected by default, but it doesn’t reveal the whole server list. We had to click ‘All Locations’ to see the full list, or we used the search bar to find a specific location.

That said, we would like to see some information about each server, like ping and server load. Without it, it’s impossible to determine which server will provide the best connection.

Mobile (iPhone & Android)

ExpressVPN’s mobile apps look and feel very similar to the desktop versions. The interface is taken up by the large connect button and you change servers by using the same server list.

ExpressVPN's apps for Android and iOS

Both apps include the Protection Summary in the bottom half of the home screen. This tells you how long you’ve been connected to an ExpressVPN server over the past week, as well as the IP address of the VPN server.

Frankly, we don’t find the Protection Summary feature useful at all, and it makes the app worse to use. The information it provides isn’t practical and is intimidating to beginners.

Previously, we could disable the Protection Summary in the settings, but this option has frustratingly been removed, narrowing ExpressVPN’s design lead over competitors.

We’ve wished and requested for years for it to add dark mode to its mobile apps, too, but this is still missing.

Streaming Devices (Fire TV, Apple TV & Android TV)

ExpressVPN’s apps for Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV are well-designed and user-friendly, featuring a dark mode interface that made it easier to read text on our TV screen.

While a light mode option would be a welcome addition for added customization, the apps already stand out for their intuitive layout. Server locations are organized by continent, complemented by a clear and straightforward visual design that simplifies server selection.

ExpressVPN's app for Fire TV Stick

We like how ExpressVPN has consistent interface across all these devices. We’re puzzled when competitors like NordVPN use a different app design for its Fire TV and Apple TV apps.

Day-to-Day Experience

As we’ve mentioned throughout this review, ExpressVPN is simply a joy to use. We choose to use it as our daily driver over every other VPN service.

After years of using it, we sometimes take for granted just how well it does the basics: like quick server connection times, a minimal and attractive interface, and superb performance that handles everything with ease.

ExpressVPN on iOS

ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN to use.

The difference becomes obvious when we switch to even other top VPNs. Surfshark, for example, can even frustrate us with constant upgrade pop-ups and minor annoyances. ExpressVPN, by comparison, feels premium from day one.

Most of the time, we just click the large ‘on’ button and we’re set. We only venture beyond the home screen when connecting to international servers for geo-blocked content.

The one issue that bothers us is that we encounter CAPTCHAs more often with ExpressVPN than any other VPN service. This significantly worsens the experience of using it as these often take over 10 seconds to finish.

To fix this, we’d like to see ExpressVPN refresh the IP addresses on its servers more frequently or limit the number of people who can connect to a single server IP address.

Torrenting

9.3/10
Torrenting
Best Rating
9.7/10
Average Rating
6.2/10
Worst Rating
0.0/10

We calculated this rating by assessing the VPN's torrenting features, including P2P servers and port forwarding support. We also evaluated its average bitrate and stance on file-sharing.

Read our VPN testing methodology to learn more.

Ranked #2 out of 61 VPNs for Torrenting

In our tests, ExpressVPN downloaded P2P files a lot faster than most of the competition. All 3,000 of ExpressVPN’s servers allow torrenting activity, and its kill switch and private logging policy will prevent your ISP from seeing your P2P activity. The only downside is the lack of port forwarding, but ExpressVPN is fast enough without it.

Torrenting AttributeExpressVPN
Permits P2P TrafficYes
Average Download Bitrate9.4MiB/s (6% loss)
Countries with P2P Servers106
Port ForwardingNo
Kill SwitchYes
Logging PolicyNo Identifiable Data

With its strong AES-256 encryption and private logging policy, ExpressVPN is one of the safest VPNs for torrenting. Unlike some other VPN services, there’s no record of ExpressVPN ever forwarding DMCA requests to users.

We tested ExpressVPN with torrent clients like qBittorrent, uTorrent, and Deluge. In every instance, the VPN concealed our IP address and all other personal information. All of our activity was masked from our ISP and other third parties.

Using ExpressVPN with the qBittorrent torrent client

ExpressVPN is a top VPN for downloading torrent files.

Fast P2P File Transfers, but No Port Forwarding

We also measured ExpressVPN’s torrenting speeds when running it through our in-house P2P speed test process.

Even though it doesn’t support port forwarding, we found that ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs for torrenting. ExpressVPN’s average speed was 9.4MiB/s, meaning we could download any sized torrent file almost as quickly as without a VPN.

Here’s how quickly we could download a 20GB torrent file with ExpressVPN compared to other top VPNs:

VPN Service Download Bitrate Time To Download 20GB Torrent File
No VPN 10MiB/s 32 minutes
ExpressVPN 9.4MiB/s 34 minutes
Private Internet Access 9.6MiB/s 33 minutes
CyberGhost 3.9MiB/s 81 minutes

It’s not the very fastest P2P VPN we’ve tested, but ExpressVPN’s impact on torrent download times is almost unnoticeable.

Device Compatibility

9.9/10
Device Compatibility
Best Rating
9.9/10
Average Rating
6.0/10
Worst Rating
1.0/10

We calculated this rating by evaluating the VPN's support for various devices. We considered dedicated apps, browser extensions, Smart DNS functionality, and router compatibility.

Read our VPN testing methodology to learn more.

ExpressVPN is compatible with more devices than any other VPN service. As well as its standard desktop and mobile apps, it has an excellent browser-based app for routers and a Smart DNS feature. ExpressVPN allows 8 simultaneous connections, which is slightly below average.

WindowsYes
MacYes
iOSYes
AndroidYes
LinuxYes
Amazon Fire TVYes
Android TVYes
Apple TVYes
RouterYes
ChromeYes

Simultaneous Connections: 8

ExpressVPN looks and feels identical across every platform and device, so you won’t have trouble knowing how to use it.

ExpressVPN's apps for macOS & iOS

If you plan on sharing your subscription with others, be aware that ExpressVPN allows only 8 simultaneous connections per account. This is slightly below average, and is especially disappointing given that cheaper services like PIA and Surfshark don’t impose any limits.

Router App

By installing ExpressVPN on a router, you can protect all the devices on your network, and spoof your location on devices that don’t support VPN apps, like Smart TVs and games consoles.

ExpressVPN is the only VPN that offers a dedicated router app. This means that you can change VPN settings and switch servers through a website on your laptop or phone as simply as you can on its desktop or mobile apps.

Testing the ExpressVPN Router App

ExpressVPN’s router app extends compatibility to every device.

If you don’t want to install the software on a router yourself, ExpressVPN even offers its own routers — Aircove and Aircove Go.

Smart DNS

If you can’t or don’t want to install ExpressVPN on your router, ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS feature, MediaStreamer, provides an alternative.

With this, you can’t select an IP address location manually. Instead, it’ll only work with a set list of over 100 compatible streaming services, such as US Netflix, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer.

Additional Features

6.4/10
Additional Features
Best Rating
9.9/10
Average Rating
3.3/10
Worst Rating
0.2/10

We calculated this rating by evaluating the VPN's extra capabilities beyond the basic VPN service. This includes bypassing censorship, additional tools like malware blockers, and customization options like split tunneling.

Read our VPN testing methodology to learn more.

ExpressVPN lacks many of the additional features we’d expect from such an expensive product. While its ad and tracker blocker performed reasonably well in our tests, it falls short in other areas — we couldn’t use multi-hop servers or spoof our GPS location. Unlike some of its closest competitors, ExpressVPN has been slow to innovate or experiment with unique features that set it apart from the rest.

Additional FeatureExpressVPN
Split TunnelingYes
VPN ObfuscationYes
Multi-Hop ServersNo
Dedicated IPYes
Ad BlockerYes
Password ManagerYes

VPN Obfuscation Often Beats Network Restrictions & Censorship

ExpressVPN is a good choice for accessing blocked websites and apps, either on restricted networks or in countries with web censorship.

The VPN disguises your VPN traffic as regular web traffic, letting you access restricted websites and apps. It’s so effective that the VPN also circumvents internet censorship in the UAE, Russia, Iran, and all other restrictive nations.

Unlike every other VPN, obfuscation technology is built into all of ExpressVPN’s servers. There’s no manual configuration required and no specialized apps to install, making it the easiest VPN we’ve used for circumventing internet censorship.

Using ExpressVPN to bypass China web censorship

ExpressVPN works intermittently in China.

Dedicated IP Finally Available

Finally, in October 2024, ExpressVPN launched a long-awaited dedicated IP feature. Until then, it was the only VPN in our top 10 that didn’t offer this functionality.

This feature allows you to connect to a server with an IP address that’s exclusive to you, unlike standard VPN IPs that are shared among dozens of users.

An added bonus of this feature is that it gets around the CAPTCHa issue that is common with ExpressVPN, and many other VPNs too.

Threat Manager Is an Adequate Ad & Tracker Blocker

All of ExpressVPN’s apps include an ad and tracker blocker, named Threat Manager.

According to our data, Threat Manager only blocked 60% of ads and trackers. Private Internet Access and NordVPN prevented 100%.

Bar graph titled "ExpressVPN Threat Manager Ad & Tracker Blocker Performance," showing the blocking effectiveness for Ads at 60%, Analytic Trackers at 17%, and Social Trackers at 57%.

As it stands, Threat Manager is a useful feature that’ll enhance protection of your web activity from data profiling. But there are better alternatives available.

Simple but Functional Password Manager

ExpressVPN Keys is available on iOS, and Android, and as a Chrome browser extension for desktop.

Though it was a surprise that it was included in the base VPN subscription, unlike Proton VPN’s or NordVPN’s password managers, we were mostly underwhelmed by it and have since returned to using a dedicated password manager.

ExpressVPN Keys doesn’t autofill passwords in Chrome, and unlike 1Password and LastPass, it doesn’t have an app for Safari on Mac.

ExpressVPN Keys password manager

The Keys Chrome extension lacks basic features, like autofill.