ExpressVPN Review 2026

Speed & Performance

ExpressVPN retained 85% of our 487 Mbps baseline using the Lightway protocol - delivering 414 Mbps download and 389 Mbps upload with 14ms added latency. This makes it the second-fastest VPN in our ratings, behind only NordVPN.

Lightway is ExpressVPN's proprietary protocol, built for speed and quick connections. It's open-source (audited by Cure53) and uses wolfSSL cryptography. Connections establish in under a second, and protocol switching when moving between Wi-Fi and cellular is seamless.

At 414 Mbps, ExpressVPN handles 4K streaming, online gaming, and large downloads without any perceptible slowdown. The 14ms latency addition is minimal for gaming.

Privacy & Security

ExpressVPN has the most extensive audit history in the VPN industry. KPMG verified its no-log policy in 2024, PricewaterhouseCoopers audited it in 2023, and Cure53 has conducted multiple security assessments of the Lightway protocol and browser extensions.

Based in the British Virgin Islands - a jurisdiction with no data retention laws and no intelligence-sharing agreements - ExpressVPN has no legal obligation to store or share user data.

TrustedServer Technology

Even under a court order, there's nothing to hand over - because nothing is ever written in the first place.

Security Features

• Encryption: AES-256-GCM with 4096-bit RSA key
• Kill Switch: Network Lock (all platforms)
• Split Tunneling: Per-app and per-URL rules
• DNS Leak Protection: Private, encrypted DNS on every server
• Lightway Protocol: Open-source, audited by Cure53
• RAM-Only Servers: TrustedServer (all 3,000+ servers)

Streaming & Unblocking

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming in our ratings. It unblocks 20+ Netflix libraries - more than any other provider - along with Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, DAZN, and most major platforms worldwide.

MediaStreamer (ExpressVPN's Smart DNS feature) enables streaming on devices that don't support VPN apps, like smart TVs and gaming consoles, without speed reduction from encryption.

Streaming Platform Support

Pricing & Plans

ExpressVPN is the most expensive VPN on the market. The best available price is $6.67/month on the 1-year plan (which includes 3 months free). There's no 2-year plan available. While expensive, all plans include the same feature set with no tiering.

Server Network

ExpressVPN operates 3,000+ servers across 105 countries with 160 server locations. While smaller than NordVPN or CyberGhost in raw numbers, the geographic coverage is excellent and all servers support P2P traffic and obfuscation by default.

• Total servers: 3,000+
• Countries: 105
• RAM-only: Yes (all servers, TrustedServer)
• All servers support: P2P, streaming, obfuscation
• No specialty categories: Every server does everything

If ExpressVPN Isn't Right for You

ExpressVPN excels at streaming and ease of use, but the price is the highest in this category. If budget matters or you need more simultaneous connections, these deliver strong alternatives: