NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Which One is More Worth Buying?
ExpressVPN costs nearly twice as much as NordVPN—is it really worth the price? Can the more affordable NordVPN meet your needs just as well?
NordVPN and ExpressVPN are two of the most recognized names in the VPN world—but which one actually gives you more for your money?
To help you decide, we didn’t just run our own speed and security tests—we also pulled insights from trusted tech reviewers like PCMag, Tom’s Guide, and CNET, plus real user feedback from Reddit and Trustpilot. Our goal? To give you an honest, no-hype breakdown of what each VPN offers and who comes out on top.
Detailed Comparison
🚀 Speed Test Results: NordVPN Wins by a Step
Both services are impressively fast—and in everyday browsing, you probably won’t notice a difference.
The difference? Small enough that casual users might not care, but if you’re streaming in 4K, gaming, or downloading large files, NordVPN’s performance gives it the clear win.
This lines up with what tech experts are saying: PCMag, Tom’sGuide and CNETboth rank NordVPN as the fastest VPN on the market right now.
We’ve been testing VPNs for more than 10 years, and part of that process includes speed tests. In our latest round, NordVPN comes out on top of download speed results, trailed closely by ExpressVPN.
NordVPN is currently the fastest VPN, based on our latest speed tests. Out of the VPNs we speed tested, NordVPN’s speeds were the most consistently fast across the board. NordVPN averaged just an 11% speed loss overall, Mullvad came in second place with a 13% average speed loss and Surfshark followed with a 17% overall speed loss. Proton VPN and ExpressVPN rounded out the list with a 21% speed loss and a 25% speed loss, respectively.
When you factor in NordVPN’s better speeds, lower price, ExpressVPN’s security concerns (more on that below), it’s hard to justify paying extra for ExpressVPN.
🔒Security: ExpressVPN’s Parent Company Raises Concerns
Both VPNs claim to have strict no-logs policies, but ExpressVPN’s ownership has raised red flags among privacy-conscious users.
⚠️ Ownership: ExpressVPN was acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021—a company previously linked to adware distribution. This has led many users to question its commitment to privacy. (Source: Reddit)
User discussion on Reddit
⚠️ Company Instability：Kape’s recent cuts to core teams could degrade service quality.
These cuts impacted critical teams including engineering and quality assurance, and even ExpressVPN’s Chief Technology Officer for Privacy, Dan Gericke, announced his departure. These developments have sparked speculation about potential declines in quality across Kape-owned VPNs like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and PIA. (Source: PCMAG)
The Open Letter of Dan Gericke (ExpressVPN’s Chief Technology Officer for Privacy)
🏆 By contrast, NordVPN has consistently prioritized innovation and security:
RAM-only servers (no data is ever stored)
Independent security audits (PwC, 2021-2024)
No ties to adware companies
Advanced security features like Meshnet and Threat Protection
Tips: Most top-rated VPNs offer similar features and performance, so why overpay?
Save More
1 Month Plan
12.95$/Mo
12.99$/Mo
1 Year Plans
155$ 99.95$ / 12 Mo
139.08$ 59.88$ / 12 Mo
2 Year Plans
311$ 139.72$ / 24 Mo
270$ 83$ / 27 Mo
1 Month Plan
12.95$/Mo
2.99$/Mo
1 Year Plans
155$ 99.95$ / 12 Mo
139.08$ 59.88$ / 12 Mo
2 Year Plans
311$ 139.72$ / 24 Mo
270$ 81$ / 24 Mo
Both VPNs offer discounted plans, but NordVPN’s pricing is significantly more affordable, making it a better option for users seeking premium features at a lower cost.
💰 Save More with NordVPN Today:
1-Year Plan: Save $40 vs ExpressVPN
2-Year Plan: Save $60 vs ExpressVPN + up to 10GB free eSIM data from Saily(Today only!).
Top tech websites like Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, and Security.org have named NordVPN the Best VPN of 2024 and 2025, solidifying its reputation as the industry leader.
TechRadar
The best VPN overall
Our latest testing proves that NordVPN continues to lead the pack in terms of providing the best VPN experience possible. Offering a superbly quick and secure VPN, alongside security tools to improve your overall online and on-computer security, NordVPN offers an impressive security package for a surprisingly low cost.
NordVPN offers the best overall VPN package, with great privacy at a reasonable price. It’s able to unblock just about every streaming service worldwide, and excellent speeds mean it won’t be slowing you down. If you want very simple apps, something like ExpressVPN might be better, but overall, Nord leads the pack.
NordVPN is a popular choice, because it strikes a nice balance between remaining user-friendly and full-featured, all without sacrificing speed on most platforms. Our CNET Labs tests clocked a class-leading 11.1% average internet download speed loss. The service’s focus on privacy means you’ll get niche but useful features like a Double VPN and Tor over VPN for enhanced encryption. In addition, regular no-logs audits foster transparency.
– Reivewd by CNET
PCMAG
What makes NordVPN stand out is that it has continued to grow and respond to an extremely competitive market. After adding just about every VPN feature available, NordVPN diversified its product, adding a password manager, an antivirus, and an encrypted file locker. Its unique set of features helps it stand out from other VPN services by providing cross-platform file-sharing and traffic routing between your devices or rented servers. All these additions help NordVPN justify its high price. So, while it is more expensive than much of the competition, NordVPN is an excellent, innovative product that is well deserving of our Editors’ Choice award.
With its feature-set, we recommend NordVPN to users who are looking to improve their overall digital security posture. It’s not just a VPN, especially if you sign up for the mid-tier or top-tier plans. That said, even if you’re looking for just a VPN, the Basic plan is an excellent option that can give you a rich selection of security and privacy features for daily use.
When it comes to top-tier VPNs, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN stand out as excellent choices.
✔ Choose ExpressVPN if you’re willing to pay more for stable speeds and don’t mind the concerns around its parent company. Learn more about ExpressVPN.
✔ Choose NordVPN if you want:
Faster speeds, even during peak hours
Stronger security & privacy protections
A more affordable plan with premium features
For most users, NordVPN is the smarter long-term investment.
👉NordVPN’s Special Campaign
Get 76% discount ($11.59 $3.39/month) + up to 10GB free eSIM data from Saily (Today only!).
Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test both risk-free. Purchase, try them out, and if you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund, no questions asked. It’s the perfect way to find the VPN that’s right for you.
Choose a VPN for comprehensive protection and peace of mind online today.
Mavis has over 6 years of experience testing VPNs, particularly their streaming and unblocking capabilities. She specializes in researching how well VPNs work in different countries around the world.
