ExpressVPN review

Pricing

ExpressVPN has a simple pricing structure that allows you to pay either month-to-month, every 6 months, or every year. As with other VPN services, the yearly plan provides the biggest savings and even tacks on an additional 3 free months. Still, when compared to other VPN options, pricing is on the higher end.

Supported Devices

You can use the service on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. They also have browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Unlike other VPN services that use an extension to supply proxy server connections, the ExpressVPN extension controls the desktop program so you can start the VPN without leaving your browser.

Ease of Use

You can be a complete VPN beginner and still use ExpressVPN. When you start the client, all you have is an on/off button and two other buttons: “smart location” and “choose your location”.

There’s also a basic list of settings, such as deciding whether you want ExpressVPN to launch at boot, whether you want the Kill Switch enabled, and specifying your VPN protocol.

But overall, you won’t find a ton of customization options. Reviewers suggest looking elsewhere if you’re looking for a high level of flexibility and control. With that said, it’s perfect for people who want something simple to use.

Simultaneous Connections

Despite its higher price tag, ExpressVPN only allows for 8 connected devices. Many competitors offer more connections for a lower price.

Included Features

ExpressVPN makes up for the higher price tag by including a lot of features such as:

• Kill switch protection
• P2P support
• Encrypted DNS service on servers
• Perfect Forward Secrecy support
• Military grade encryption

Perfect Forward Secrecy adds a layer of security by assigning a new key each time you connect to the VPN and replaces your key every sixty minutes while in session. In addition, ExpressVPN runs their own 256-bit encrypted DNS on each server. This further reduces logging risks and protects against potential hackers.

Privacy and Logging

If you’re worried about logging, don’t be.

ExpressVPN’s privacy policy states that is has a zero-log policy. In addition, it’s also based in the British Virgin Islands -- a region with no data retention laws. And, like other VPN services, it runs OpenVPN protocol, but on the server itself for an additional layer of security.

And while most reviewers were impressed by the company’s dedication to protecting their users’ identity, some were less than thrilled with the lack of information on the company. PC World was especially critical stating, “... the secrecy behind who runs the company and where they are is disappointing... hiding who you are is not how you build trust with customers.”

Performance

Reviewers mentioned very few issues with speed when browsing the Internet although some ran into issues with connecting to a handful of servers. However, resolving most issues was as simple as reconnecting a few minutes later.

Latency was good with the fastest speeds on servers nearest to their physical location and then getting slower the further away the server was.

Unsurprisingly, locations that didn’t have the best infrastructure were slower. But even with the slower servers, they could easily stream and download HD videos with no problem.

Support

While all companies claim they have fast support, ExpressVPN backs up that claim with 24/7 live chat support. You’re able to connect with someone within minutes if you have an issue. And, as critics discovered, the representatives were always knowledgeable and able to fix the problem quickly.

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Summary

ExpressVPN might not be the cheapest VPN service available, but it provides a nice set of features for the price.

TechRadar notes, “ExpressVPN is a quality VPN which delivers in just about every area.”