ExpressVPN Review | Why is this the Best VPN Service?

ExpressVPN is a no-new name for all those tech nerds who want to have a secure internet environment. Each day, it gets harder to secure our personal identity, data, and communication on the web. Besides, VPN prices are always soaring, and they hardly work. After jiggling between 150 VPN services, I choose ExpressVPN as one of the best VPNs for you to have, and in this ExpressVPN review guide, I will tell you exactly why.

To give you a detailed review and opinion, I tested ExpressVPN against ten severe tests based on security, privacy, speed, geo-unblocks, and pricing. If this guide helps you out, do share it with your friends on social media and help them get a clear picture too.

Also, users often have mixed feelings between NordVPN and ExpressVPN; no doubt, both of them are industry-leading VPN services. So, you can also check my NordVPN vs ExpressVPN review guide that will help you pick the best one. 

Now, let’s learn more about ExpressVPN.

What is ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN is a VPN service that gives you a secure line of communication, military-grade encryption, geo-unblock streaming, and all of it for budget pricing.

Here are some of the notable features of ExpressVPN,

1. 160 VPN Locations
2. Split VPN tunneling
3. Kill Switch
4. Best-in-class encryption
5. Private DNS on each server
6. Unblock Streaming websites
7. Hide IP address
8. No-log Policy

When it comes to internet security and privacy, NordVPN and ExpressVPN have been my two top choices. Also, there are some other best options like Surfshark, but ExpressVPN has always been a budget-friendly and secure option to have.

Wondering why ExpressVPN is so hyped? Let’s discuss each of my tests against it and know if it actually makes sense to use this VPN over others.

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1. Security | Communicating through a Mask

Having a secure form of communication is by far the most important purpose of using a VPN service. Doesn’t matter if you work for a huge company or just browse through your social media; communicating your personal information without a layer of security can only cause you trouble. Mostly, tech experts use the man-in-the-middle process to steal this information, and you won’t even realize it.

This is where ExpressVPN comes into the picture, and no less than any Avenger saves your data.

When you use ExpressVPN, all your communication on the web is safe with multiple security options. One such option is the AES-256 encryption that scrambles your data into a non-understandable format and can only be known at the end-point with a decipher key.

Let me tell you one of the interesting facts about AES-256 encryption; as to experts, this military-grade encryption would take years together for the world’s fastest computer to decipher without a key. Now, that’s the type of secure communication I am talking about.

In addition, you also get a few other security options, like,

1. Private DNS on each 160 server locations
2. Obfuscated servers for added internet security
3. Trusted server technology to protect against the odds

From what I know from my ExpressVPN security test, the security options you get with it are something you might not want for everyday use, but your data and internet communication do. Also, the snoopers and intruders would hate it.

Also read: ExpressVPN vs Surfshark VPN: Which is the Best Overall?

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2. Privacy | Your Data is the New Oil

After all the data leaks I came across and personally reviewing some super bad VPN services, I just know how VPN companies store your personal data and sell it to third-party platforms for advertisement or sell it personally on the dark web and make millions out of it.

But this has to stop because this is your personal data, your digital payment information, and your user credentials from several platforms.

Thankfully, ExpressVPN thinks the same and has a no-log policy. 

This means they do not store any of your personal data for such purposes. Besides, there are independent audits, somewhat like NordVPN, where third-party agencies run a security audit on the servers and check if there are any data leaks or privacy issues. These audits are unannounced to ensure there is no manipulation and users can trust these reports.

Since ExpressVPN has security audits from third-party services, they cannot really manipulate the auditors and users about any issue. This is also why ExpressVPN stands tall when it comes to privacy trust and is one of the most reliable and privacy-friendly VPN options out there.

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3. Speed | VPN Shouldn’t Eat Your Bandwidth

It is a common conclusion that I have after testing out 150 VPN services that unreliable VPNs share your internet connection bandwidth for users from other locations. To make it simpler, they make your device and your internet bandwidth a host server for users from other locations to connect and eat up all of it.

This is exactly where you lose all your internet bandwidth and end up paying huge bills. So, I thought to give ExpressVPN a good speed test and know if there are some throttling issues with it, too, like the other VPN services. And I was awestruck. After the tests, I found ExpressVPN to make a no loss in my internet bandwidth and give me approximately the same internet speed for what I had paid for.

Here are my three-speed tests based on US servers, UK servers, and Asian servers.

1. Testing UK Servers with ExpressVPN

Be it streaming your favorite entertainment channels from outside the UK with a VPN or using a secure line from the UK servers, you can find almost no log or jitter in your connection. 

In fact, I found a great connection speed and also switched between a few servers to check if it was the same for all. To no surprise, the UK servers performed well and reliably with ExpressVPN.

After the speed test, I did actually transfer some data, like uploading files on Google Drive, downloading my favorite Netflix movie for offline watching, and some other data tasks. It was all quick, with almost the same speed as what I subscribed to with my WiFi and mobile carriers.

2. Testing US Servers with ExpressVPN

UK servers do throttle your streaming and internet experience with almost a 2-3% loss in speed, but all of it is temporary and fluctuating. So, after using ExpressVPN for a long time on US servers, I found it to be fluctuating in speed, and then I did the data transfer test. Uploading and downloading data to the internet platforms was no headache, and with ExpressVPN, it was like thin air that gave me the same experience I would get without using a VPN service but securely. 

Later, I also switched between VPN servers from the US territory and found them to be giving almost the same results. However, if you don’t have enough time to pick a server, you can also use the “Smart Server Suggestion” option to pick the best server for you.

Also read: How to Stream Amazon Prime Video on Discord?

3. Testing the Asian Servers on ExpressVPN

Asian servers do give you a big drop in your VPN speed with ExpressVPN, and it is near 10-20% in comparison to the US and UK servers. Let us first be clear that Asian servers are always clogged up, which is why most VPN services tend to have lower speeds, and this is what happened with ExpressVPN.

Apart from this, if you make a connection far away from the Asian servers, it is natural to see less speed. This is because when you make a connection such far, the data has to travel through multiple data servers and security layers in its entire connection period. In between all these server hoppings, certain countries block the use of the VPN service, which is the reason for the slow VPN speed.

Eventually, you can still rely on ExpressVPN when it comes to Asian servers, which is a lot better than 90% of all the other VPNs in the industry. 

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4. Streaming | Home to Entertainment

Regional entertainment has been one of the biggest issues for users who live outside or had to move for some reason. However, there shouldn’t be anything stopping you from watching your favorite movies and shows, even though they are available only in certain regions.

As VPNs help change your location to anywhere globally, OTT and other platforms think you are watching from the same region. However, it is not true with all kinds of VPNs out there. Only a certain VPN service like ExpressVPN managed to tackle such platforms and help you watch movies and shows unnoticed. So, if you are considering using any tom harry VPN service to seamlessly watch your favorite entertainment, the platform will block you but not with ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN does the job by unblocking geo-restricted content on regular and major platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and even the hardest to tackle of all, BBC iPlayer. No matter what region of the world you are trying to watch, most times, it will be a smooth process with ExpressVPN. One of the other VPN services that I can think of for doing the same is NordVPN which excellently unblocks streaming platforms for you.

Also read: How to Delete Netflix Watch History | Android, IOS, PC

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5. VPN Protocols | Connect More Securely

VPN protocols are ways through which you can connect to a VPN using a set of directed rules. These protocols are essential to make a connection using a VPN, and different protocols help connect differently, to be precise, to be more user-oriented.

For instance, the two most common VPN protocols are OpenVPN and IPSec/IKeV2. However, you might not find it to be suiting your needs. Like the OpenVPN protocol, it is hard to set it up while the IPSec/IKeV2 is limited and works on UDP.

Also read: VPN Tunneling: What is it and How Does it Work?

While exploring ExpressVPN, I came across their own VPN protocol known as Lightway Protocol. And it has left me amazed. The Lightway protocol is lightweight in nature, and unlike others, it follows double encryption standards; AES-256 and ChaCha20. The protocol is secure and maintains your privacy, while the always-on feature ensures you are always connected to a secure line.

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6. Torrenting and P2P | Can it Securely Share Data?

One thing that internet nerds are fond of is sharing public files through torrent channels as it becomes easier to share files, and you don’t have to maintain them; the seeders will do the job. However, torrenting is banned in certain countries to protect copyrights and privacy laws for entertainment and sensitive file sharing.

So, it becomes crucial that you have the best VPN that can help you with ease in torrenting or P2P (Peer-to-Peer) file sharing. ExpressVPN does the job for you when it comes to torrenting and P2P file sharing, and you need to worry about being detected. In fact, all the 160+ ExpressVPN servers are optimized for torrenting and file sharing across the globe.

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7. No Log Policies

No log policy ensures that your data is protected from the 5 eyes, 9 eyes, and 14 eyes countries. You must be wondering what these country groups are and why you should be worrying about them.

The 5 eyes, 9 eyes, and 14 eyes are groups of countries that allow tech companies to run their business, but they are obliged to give the government any kind of data when asked for. So, if you log on and use a certain platform that is based in these countries, they are obliged to give your data to the government or like agency. However, with ExpressVPN being operated from outside of these 14 regions, you can be worry-free about all the data that passes through this VPN service.

ExpressVPN also follows a strict no-log policy, as we discussed earlier, so none of your data is being shared with the agency, as the VPN service is not obliged to it. Besides, with a no-log policy, none of your data is stored on ExpressVPN servers to be shared with others or for the VPNs personal use.

Also read: MagEZ Slider Review | The Best 4-in-1 Wireless Charger for Apple?

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8. Student Benefits | Take a Scholarship Home

Like most VPN services, ExpressVPN also offers student benefits. However, it is not a chunk of discount in this case; ExpressVPN offers more than that.

Every year, ExpressVPN conducts a scholarship-based essay writing competition where the winner gets $5000 in scholarships. Besides, the top five runner-ups get one year of free ExpressVPN service. Now, this is something I came across left often under the “Student Benefit” options from leading VPN services.

The essay competition is completely online, which means you can submit your essay from any part of the world. However, there are certain rules and conditions that you must keep in mind. So it is best if you check the essay writing rules and regulations before submitting or preparing your essay to win $5000 worth of scholarship and a free ExpressVPN subscription for a year.

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9. Compatibility | Does your Device Support ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN is compatible with most of your smart devices, and you can get a subscription without worrying about your device’s compatibility. However, to make it simpler for you, here is the list of compatible devices that ExpressVPN supports,

1. Windows
2. Android
3. macOS
4. iOS/iPhone/iPad
5. Linux
6. Android TV
7. Browser Extension (Chrome and Firefox)

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10. Pricing | Huge Savings, Best Deals

Before you make your ExpressVPN purchase, did you know you could actually save big? Now, a huge discount is a common thing with VPN services and is only applicable to popular plans. However, with all the features that ExpressVPN has to offer, the pricing is justified.

I do not recommend you get the one-month or six-month plan with ExpressVPN, as they are a little expensive. If you are looking for a VPN for a short period but it is a little expensive, NordVPN can be the best alternative for this situation. However, for a year plan, you get a better deal with ExpressVPN compared to other popular and competitive VPN services.

After the purchase, you get access to,

• Built-in password manager
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Ultra-fast servers in 94 countries
• Dedicated app for your Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and other devices
• 24/7 support and community
• Best-in-class encryption and security
• Worry-free no-logs policy

Also, you can make your ExpressVPN purchase using payment options like Bitcoin, PayPal, Visa, Discover, Mastercard, American Express, Union Pay, and many others.

Here is the ExpressVPN pricing chart for you,

You can cancel your subscription, and if you do it within 30 days of your purchase, you get your money back. However, canceling after 30 days wouldn’t refund you any money, even though your account will be canceled. Besides, it is important that you cancel your account before the next billing cycle, or you will be charged again. The 30-day money-back guarantee is applicable on the first billing period only.

Also read: Shargeek Storm 2 Liquid Review | Coolest Power Bank to Have?

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Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

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Wrapping up: This is Why ExpressVPN is One of the Top VPN Services

In our ten practical tests, we found ExpressVPN doing a great job with speed, security, privacy, streaming, and other important factors. However, it is a little expensive for monthly and half-yearly subscriptions in comparison to most other VPN services. Besides, you can only make five simultaneous connections with your plan, which might not be suited for a bigger family.