ExpressVPN Review (2026): Is it the right choice?

ExpressVPN Review

ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN, priced at the premium end. It excels in all areas that matter: Privacy, security, streaming, and speed. It just works.

• Privacy: 100%. ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy is third-party audited, ensuring your privacy is fully protected.
• Streaming: 100%. In our tests, ExpressVPN provided reliable access to Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, Max, and BBC iPlayer.

• Speed: 100%. ExpressVPN is among the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, ideal for streaming, downloading, and gaming.

• Security: 100%. With RAM-only servers, the Lightway protocol, AES-256, a kill switch, and more, ExpressVPN is highly secure.

ExpressVPN is great, but NordVPN is the most advanced VPN.

Privacy

When we tested ExpressVPN, we found it to be one of the most privacy-focused VPNs available today. Its strict no-logs policy, proven privacy track record, and multiple independent audits provide exceptional reassurance that your data stays private.

No-Logs Policy & Proven Record

ExpressVPN enforces a strict zero-logs policy. It does not store, share, or sell any information that could identify you — including browsing activity, originating IP address, or connection timestamps. This commitment was put to the test in 2017 when Turkish authorities seized one of ExpressVPN’s servers during a criminal investigation. They found no logs or identifying user data, confirming the company’s claims in practice.

TrustedServer Technology

All ExpressVPN servers run exclusively on RAM using its proprietary TrustedServer technology. Because there are no hard drives, data is automatically wiped with every reboot, eliminating the risk of any persistent logs or residual information being stored. We verified during our testing that all server sessions are temporary and volatile, ensuring complete data privacy.

Independent Audits

ExpressVPN’s privacy and security infrastructure have been scrutinized through more than 19 independent audits conducted by reputable firms including PwC, KPMG, Cure53, F-Secure, ioXt Alliance, and Nettitude.

• PwC (2019): Verified the no-logs policy and TrustedServer implementation.
• KPMG (2022): Audited data-handling practices and server integrity.
• Cure53 (2018–2024): Assessed the Lightway protocol, TrustedServer, and browser extensions.
• F-Secure (2022): Tested the Windows v12 app, finding no vulnerabilities.
• ioXt Alliance (2021): Certified the Android app for compliance and security.
• Nettitude (2024): Conducted a penetration test; a medium-risk issue was found and swiftly fixed.

These regular, transparent evaluations confirm that ExpressVPN’s privacy claims hold up under external scrutiny.

Minimal Data Collection

In our review, we confirmed that ExpressVPN collects only minimal, non-identifying information needed for service maintenance. This includes billing details and an email address for account setup, the number of activated apps and versions, the day (not time) of each connection, the server location used (not IP), total daily data transferred, and basic account or bandwidth usage info. None of this data can be linked to individual users.

Jurisdiction

ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) — a privacy-friendly jurisdiction outside the 5/9/14 Eyes surveillance alliances. The BVI has no data retention laws, allowing ExpressVPN to legally uphold its zero-logs policy.

Transparency & Accountability

ExpressVPN sets a strong example in transparency. It publishes biannual transparency reports detailing all government and legal data requests (none of which have ever yielded user data). Its public Trust Center hosts audit reports, privacy documentation, and security research. The company also runs a bug bounty program to encourage responsible vulnerability disclosure and continually improve its systems.

Ownership & Trust

ExpressVPN was acquired by Kape Technologies, the parent company of PIA and CyberGhost. Since the acquisition, privacy measures have only strengthened — with increased transparency, more audits, and broader security initiatives. Independent verifications continue to confirm its RAM-only infrastructure and strict adherence to privacy promises.

Payment Privacy

For users seeking maximum anonymity, ExpressVPN supports anonymous payments, including cryptocurrencies, allowing you to subscribe without revealing personal financial information.

Reputation & Real-World Performance

ExpressVPN’s reputation as one of the most trustworthy VPN providers is well-earned. Its privacy claims have been verified through audits, technical evidence, and real-world legal cases. In our testing, the service functioned reliably even in censorship-heavy regions such as China, Iran, UAE, Turkey, Russia, and Saudi Arabia — thanks to optimized servers and mirror URLs designed for restricted networks.

Overall, ExpressVPN stands as a benchmark for privacy in the VPN industry — transparent, independently verified, and technically sound.

Streaming

ExpressVPN is one of the most reliable VPNs for accessing geo-restricted streaming platforms. Our testing confirms its effectiveness in unblocking major services like Netflix, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer, among others.

However, it’s not without flaws. For instance, its default US server doesn’t work with Netflix US. Instead, you’ll have to switch to the New Jersey server. We wonder how many users will have missed this option.

For a more straightforward solution, consider NordVPN or Surfshark.

Speed

ExpressVPN stands out as one of the fastest VPNs available, thanks to its Lightway protocol and 10Gbps servers. It’s exceptionally well suited for intensive web activities such as gaming, streaming, and video calls.

Security

When we tested ExpressVPN, we found it to be one of the most secure VPNs available today. It uses AES-256 encryption with a 4096-bit RSA key and SHA-512 HMAC authentication, the same “bank-level” protection trusted by financial institutions. Every session benefits from Perfect Forward Secrecy, which generates new encryption keys each time you connect, ensuring that even if one session were compromised, past and future data would remain secure.

Encryption and Protocols

ExpressVPN supports multiple modern ciphers — AES-256 and ChaCha20 — automatically selecting the best option depending on your device and network conditions. Its standout feature, however, is the Lightway protocol, a proprietary, open-source protocol developed by ExpressVPN for top-tier speed, efficiency, and security.

Lightway has been reimplemented in Rust to eliminate memory-related vulnerabilities, improve energy efficiency, and enhance overall system safety. With a minimal 2,000-line codebase, it’s easier to audit and runs smoothly even on low-power devices.

Lightway supports both UDP (for maximum speed) and TCP (for reliability on unstable connections) and includes Lightway Turbo for Windows, which delivers noticeably lower latency and faster performance. ExpressVPN plans to expand Turbo to other platforms soon.

For those who prefer traditional options, the VPN also supports OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), WireGuard, and IKEv2, with an automatic mode that intelligently selects the best protocol. Both Lightway and WireGuard now include post-quantum protection, adding resistance to future quantum computing threats.

DNS Servers and Leak Protection

ExpressVPN’s Private DNS servers ensure all DNS queries stay within the encrypted tunnel, keeping your browsing activity away from third parties. Our leak tests confirmed complete protection against IP, DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks across all platforms.

The built-in Network Lock (kill switch) is available on every app and includes an advanced mode that blocks all traffic until a secure reconnection is established, with the option to allow LAN traffic for printers or local devices. Another unique feature is IP Shuffle, which periodically rotates your IP address during a session without disconnecting you.

Independent Audits

All of ExpressVPN’s security claims are backed by 13 independent security audits in recent years, including detailed reviews by Cure53 and Praetorian in 2024. These audits covered Lightway, apps, browser extensions, and infrastructure — all of which passed without critical findings.

Importantly, ExpressVPN’s browser extensions operate as full VPN clients rather than simple proxies, encrypting all browser traffic. We verified this using Wireshark packet inspection and confirmed full encryption integrity.

Aircove Router

The company also offers a hardware solution, the Aircove router, which integrates Lightway’s Rust implementation. Aircove provides up to twice the VPN speed of standard routers, includes guest WiFi isolation, and was also audited by Cure53 for security.

ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager adds another protective layer by blocking trackers and malicious domains across all apps and routers. The built-in Ad Blocker removes about 59% of ads and trackers, while Parental Controls can block adult content on specific devices.

Other Features

Advanced privacy users will appreciate Tor over VPN support, which allows anonymous browsing through the Tor network, and compatibility with crypto trading platforms, ensuring secure and stable sessions.

For U.S. users, the Identity Defender suite adds an extra layer of real-world protection. It includes ID Alerts for breach monitoring, ID Theft Insurance covering up to $1 million in fraud-related damages, Data Removal from broker databases, and a Credit Scanner that monitors credit activity and provides monthly reports on two-year plans.

Conclusion

Overall, in our tests, ExpressVPN demonstrated an unmatched balance of encryption strength, transparency, and proactive innovation, making it one of the most secure VPNs you can use today.

Servers

When we tested ExpressVPN’s global coverage, we found that it offers physical servers in 47 countries and a total network—counting both physical and virtual servers—spanning 105 countries. This makes ExpressVPN one of the most globally diverse VPNs we’ve reviewed. To put that into context, the average total server country count among the top 10 VPN brands is 93, meaning ExpressVPN’s reach exceeds the industry norm.

Transparency remains an industry-wide challenge: only 5 of the top 10 VPNs publicly disclose how many of their servers are physically located versus virtual. ExpressVPN is one of the few that provides this distinction, giving users clearer insight into its infrastructure and routing practices.

It’s important to understand the difference between physical and virtual servers. Physical servers are actual, hardware-based machines located in the country they represent. Virtual servers, on the other hand, are software-defined and may be physically located elsewhere but configured to appear as if they are operating in a specific country.

This distinction matters for privacy and performance. Physical servers tend to offer more reliable speeds and transparent jurisdictional control over your data, since they physically exist in the claimed location. Virtual servers can enhance coverage and flexibility but may raise concerns about latency and the true geographic routing of your traffic. ExpressVPN’s openness about both figures — and its balanced ratio between physical and virtual servers — demonstrates strong infrastructure transparency compared to competitors, as only 5 of the top 10 VPN brands disclose their physical server counts.

Prices

In our pricing comparison across the top 10 VPN providers, ExpressVPN clearly positions itself as a premium option. The first-year price is $47.85, which is actually lower than the market average of $53.47. However, the renewal price jumps significantly to $194.85, nearly double the top 10 average of $102.85.

That sharp renewal increase is a key factor for long-term users to consider. While the first year represents good introductory value, the ongoing cost is among the highest in the industry.

For budget-conscious users, we recommend exploring Norton, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, Bitdefender, TotalVPN, or Avast, which typically offer lower renewal rates. Meanwhile, Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN cater to those prioritizing top-tier performance, advanced features, and consistent reliability — but at a premium price point.

User reviews

On Trustpilot, ExpressVPN holds a 4.0 rating from over 26,000 reviews. This score is just shy of the top 10 VPN brands’ average of 4.1, though the high number of reviews signals a large and engaged customer base.

From our testing and the user feedback we analyzed, ExpressVPN consistently earns praise for its ease of use, speed, and customer support quality. However, some users express concerns about pricing, particularly after the first renewal.

Overall, the sentiment toward ExpressVPN remains strongly positive — it’s regarded as a polished, high-performance VPN that delivers on security and reliability, even if its pricing model leans toward the expensive side.

Ownership

ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies, a London-based security software provider with ties to Israel. Kape also owns CyberGhost VPN, Private Internet Access, ZenMate, and Intego Antivirus, with over 7 million paying subscribers across its products.

Kape Technologies

ExpressVPN was founded in 2009 by Peter Burchhardt and Dan Pomerantz, then acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021.

Kape’s history is notable:

• 2012: Teddy Sagi, an Israeli entrepreneur, acquired Crossrider, a browser extension development company later associated with adware.
• 2014: Crossrider went public on the London Stock Exchange.
• 2016: New management pivoted to privacy and security.
• 2017-2021: Kape acquired CyberGhost VPN, Intego, ZenMate, Private Internet Access, and ExpressVPN.
• 2023: Kape delisted from the London Stock Exchange and became private.

Some worry that Kape is largely a financial holding company, focusing on subscriber growth, while limiting the R&D spend in its companies.

ExpressVPN is based in the BVI

ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), an independent Caribbean territory. Although historically linked to the UK, the BVI operates its own judiciary, legislature, and law enforcement, and it is not part of the 14 Eyes Surveillance Alliance.

The BVI was chosen for its lack of data retention laws and the difficulty of obtaining user data through subpoenas. However, ExpressVPN’s substantial user base in the U.S. and EU, along with its parent company’s Western ties, means the BVI registration doesn’t guarantee complete immunity.

Ultimately, ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy and RAM-only servers—which prevent data storage—are more crucial to ensuring user privacy.