ExpressVPN and NordVPN are the two of the best VPNs in the current market, but the high price of ExpressVPN drives a lot of people away as compared to NordVPN which has a much cheaper offer. Is ExpressVPN worth the price?
After thoroughly testing both NordVPN and ExpressVPN, I’ve come to a definitive conclusion that might help others on the fence about these two leading VPN services. Let’s dive deep into the comparison, but I’ll say it upfront: NordVPN has edged out ExpressVPN for me (Although ExpressVPN’s price is nearly twice that of NordVPN), and here’s why:
Privacy & Security – ExpressVPN raises concerns for some users.
ExpressVPN received criticism after being acquired by Kape Technologies
ExpressVPN received criticism after being acquired by known malware distributor Kape Technologies in 2021. Kape previously made money through ad platforms. However, it shut these down in 2016, long before purchasing ExpressVPN.
Nonetheless, people are still wary of ExpressVPN. You can see a lot of criticism on Reddit with many people giving up using ExpressVPN because of this!
ExpressVPN logs more data than NordVPN
NordVPN and ExpressVPN are both very private VPN services. Neither service collects any information that could identify you from your online activity.
However, ExpressVPN retains slightly more information than NordVPN. It logs the date of connection, server location, and the total amount of data transmitted during the network session.
Still, neither service collects personally-identifiable activity data. Both VPNs have been subject to external audits to confirm this. NordVPN most recently in 2024 and ExpressVPN in 2022.
Speed: ExpressVPN is the faster VPN on nearby servers, but NordVPN is faster on far-away servers
ExpressVPN is faster than NordVPN on nearby servers
To test NordVPN and ExpressVPN local speeds, we used the app’s automatic server selection feature. In NordVPN, this is called ‘Quick Connect’. In ExpressVPN, it’s named ‘Smart Location’.
The table below shows a comparison of NordVPN and ExpressVPN’s speed performance.
| NordVPN | ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Local Download Speed | 95Mbps | 97Mbps |
| Average International Download Speed | 86Mbps | 85Mbps |
| Local Upload Speed | 94Mbps | 91Mbps |
| Ping | 8ms | 8ms |
| Time to Connect | 3.6 seconds | 1.5 seconds |
| Fastest VPN Protocol | WireGuard (NordLynx) | Lightway |
We found that ExpressVPN’s speeds are slightly faster on local connections. When using it, our download speeds dropped by just 3% to 97Mbps. NordVPN caused our speeds to slow to 95Mbps, an 5% drop.
Both VPNs will be more than fast enough for almost every web activity. However, if you want the fastest raw download speed, ExpressVPN will perform better on nearby servers.
Upload speeds are important for nearby connections. You’re more likely to be connecting locally when using the VPN for activities like torrenting and secure video conferencing.
NordVPN’s upload speeds are faster than ExpressVPN’s. In our tests, we recorded an upload speed reduction of 6% with NordVPN, compared to 9% with ExpressVPN.
NordVPN is faster for long-distance connections
To stream geo-blocked video content in HD and 4K, a VPN needs to have fast download speeds on international connections.
We recorded ExpressVPN and NordVPN’s download speeds while connected to servers in four different continents from our test location in the US. Here’s a table showing our results:
| Server Location | NordVPN | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| UK | 90Mbps | 93Mbps |
| Germany | 92Mbps | 87Mbps |
| Japan | 89Mbps | 83Mbps |
| Australia | 84Mbps | 83Mbps |
As you can see, NordVPN is faster than ExpressVPN on most international servers. Though the difference is not that stark, our content still loaded quicker and we didn’t experience any buffering.
With regards to network speed, the results may differ depending on each person’s broadband provider and geographical location. When you look at the reviews on some websites or read about the discussions of users on Reddit, you will see people with varying opinions about the speed. Some would say NordVPN is faster, while others would express that ExpressVPN is faster. This is because of the different conditions that can affect the user experience.
So the best way is to test it yourself using the VPN software’s 30-day money-back guarantee policy.
Recommendation: Unless you are in search of the fastest VPN, then speed should not be the sole factor affecting your decision-making since ExpressVPN and NordVPN have very little impact on the native network speed, and the effect is so small that you wouldn’t even notice the difference.
I suggest starting with NordVPN first, as it offers excellent service and is very cost-effective. In comparison, ExpressVPN is indeed too expensive.
(Limited Time Offer)
Price – Equally excellent, why spend twice as much money?
ExpressVPN and NordVPN are currently the top VPNs in the market and display great qualities. There is not much difference when it comes to their functions which is why there is no need to pay nearly double the price for this.
According to my testing, NordVPN offers better security and has its own advantages in terms of speed, unless NordVPN does not support the country you’re in or after the trial period you find that it does not perform well due to your location, otherwise there is no reason to choose ExpressVPN.
If you are really still on the fence, keep in mind that ExpressVPN and NordVPN both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Therefore you could purchase both VPNs, test each service for a few weeks, and then cancel the one you don’t want for a full refund.
Get the current maximum discount on two VPNs through my link.
NordVPN Has a Huge Network Scale, ExpressVPN Supports More Countries And Regions.
| NordVPN | ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Countries | 60 | 106 |
| Countries with City-Level Choice | 6 | 14 |
| Servers | 5,754 | 3,000 |
Tips:
- Total server count as a larger overall network eases congestion and boosts speeds.
- The number of countries available, as this increases the chance of a nearby server and of getting an IP address from the region you want.
Although NordVPN has a larger server network of 5,754 servers compared to ExpressVPN’s 3,000, ExpressVPN operates servers in far more locations. With ExpressVPN, you can get an IP address from 46 more countries than NordVPN. Both VPNs support all major countries. Unless you need servers in some obscure countries, otherwise, the number of countries supported by both VPNs is sufficient.
Security & Technical – NordVPN is marginally more secure than ExpressVPN
The table below shows a comparison of NordVPN and ExpressVPN’s encryption and security features.
| NordVPN | ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| VPN Protocols | WireGuard & OpenVPN | Lightway & OpenVPN |
| Encryption Cipher | AES-256 & ChaCha20 | AES-256 & wolfSSL |
| Kill Switch | Yes | Yes |
| Leak Protection | Yes | Yes |
| First-Party DNS | Yes | Yes |
| Open-Source Apps | No | Browser Extension Only |
| Colocated Servers | Yes | No |
Our research found that NordVPN is marginally more secure than ExpressVPN. NordVPN uses reputable encryption ciphers and protocols, like WireGuard and ChaCha20, while ExpressVPN uses proprietary alternatives. We found that ExpressVPN’s macOS client will leak your true IP address when changing server locations.
Conclusion: NordVPN wins in 2024
While we like and recommend both of these VPN services, we believe that NordVPN is the better option. It has made massive progress over the past few years and has overtaken ExpressVPN in most categories, especially in the areas of performance, privacy, and streaming.
It is for all of these reasons and more that we consider NordVPN to be the best all-around VPN service and give it our top recommendation.
At the end of the day, either of these two VPNs may be the best service for you. It all depends on your needs and uses for the VPN. Whichever service you decide to go for, be sure to get the best price via the discounts below:
Whichever service you decide to go for, be sure to get the best price via the discounts below:
NordVPN’s Cyber Deal is live:
Get 67% Off NordVPN plus an extra 3 months FREE below:
(Coupon is applied automatically; 30 day money-back guarantee)
And now for ExpressVPN.
Right now, 49% off is the best deal you can get on ExpressVPN. Even with the discount, ExpressVPN is still much more expensive than NordVPN — about double the price.
If you are really still on the fence, keep in mind that ExpressVPN and NordVPN both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Therefore you could purchase both VPNs, test each service for a few weeks, and then cancel the one you don’t want for a full refund.
ExpressVPN Coupon
SAVE: 49% + 3 months free
(Coupon is applied automatically; 30 day money-back guarantee.)