ExpressVPN review 2026: fast and simple, but watch the renewal price
ExpressVPN is one of the fastest and easiest VPNs you can buy, with RAM-only servers and 28 independent audits behind it. Its weak spot is the renewal price: a single year of the Basic plan costs more than the entire first 28 months. We went through the pricing, terms of service, audit reports and independent speed and streaming tests to work out who should buy it and on which plan. Everything here is accurate as of October 1, 2026.
For years, ExpressVPN sold a single plan. Since September 2025, it has offered three plans (Basic, Advanced and Express Pro) that differ in device limits and bundled extras (CNET). The VPN itself is identical on all three.
Prices below are in US dollars before sales tax, with euro prices for buyers in the eurozone. For every feature we note where it actually works, because a few parts of the bundle are limited to the US or to a single platform.
01The verdict at a glance
| Area | Our take | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Very good | Gizmodo measured just a 7.8% speed loss, level with NordVPN. The very top speeds, though, come only from Lightway Turbo on Windows. |
| Privacy | Very good | RAM-only servers, a no-logs policy checked by PwC and KPMG, and 28 independent audits on record. |
| Ease of use | Excellent | The apps look the same on every platform and connect with one tap. |
| First-term price | Average | From $2.99 a month, but you pay for all 28 months upfront. |
| Renewal price | High | Basic renews at $99.95 a year, almost three times the introductory monthly rate. |
| Streaming | Very good | Independent tests unblocked most services, with occasional trouble on some Netflix libraries and Prime Video. |
| US-only extras | Limited | Identity Defender and its identity theft insurance are available to US customers only. |
Pros
- High speeds and very little speed loss in independent tests.
- RAM-only servers (TrustedServer), a long audit trail and its own Lightway protocol with post-quantum protection on by default.
- The simplest apps of any major VPN, including smart TV and router apps.
- Servers in 113 countries, with 214 locations to choose from.
- A 30-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase through the website.
Cons
- Renewals are expensive: a year of Basic costs more than the first 28 months.
- Roughly half of the locations on its server list are virtual, with the physical server in another country.
- Identity Defender and identity theft insurance are US only.
- Lightway Turbo, the fastest protocol, is still Windows only.
- No multi-hop and no port forwarding.
02What ExpressVPN is and who owns it
ExpressVPN is run by Express Technologies Ltd. in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction with no mandatory data retention laws for VPN providers (ExpressVPN). Its terms of service are governed by BVI law (ExpressVPN).
Since 2021 ExpressVPN has been part of Kape Technologies (ExpressVPN), which also owns CyberGhost and Private Internet Access (Wikipedia). In 2023 Unikmind Holdings took over Kape and delisted its shares from London’s AIM market (FCA, offer announcement), so the group no longer publishes results the way it did as a listed company. CyberGhost, ExpressVPN’s sister service, gets its own write-up in our CyberGhost review.
Two episodes still come up whenever ExpressVPN is discussed. In 2017, Turkish police seized an ExpressVPN server while investigating the assassination of Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov. They found no connection logs on it, because ExpressVPN doesn’t keep any (TorrentFreak). In 2021 it emerged that Daniel Gericke, whom ExpressVPN had employed since 2019, had previously worked for a UAE company that supported hacking operations. Under an agreement with the US Department of Justice he paid a $335,000 penalty (DOJ, PDF). ExpressVPN said it knew his professional background, though not the details of any classified work, and promised annual independent audits (ExpressVPN).
03Basic, Advanced and Express Pro: what each plan includes
All three plans share the same VPN, servers and apps. They differ in how many devices you can connect and which extra services you get (ExpressVPN).
| Feature | Basic | Advanced | Express Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous devices | 10 | 12 | 14 |
| Ad and malicious site blocking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tracker blocking | No | Yes | Yes |
| ExpressKeys password manager | No | Yes | Yes |
| ExpressMailGuard email aliases | Unlimited aliases, 1 recipient | 5 recipients, 1 personal domain | 30 recipients, 20 personal domains |
| Dedicated IP | Paid add-on | Paid add-on | Included |
| holiday.com eSIM | No | 3 GB for 3 days | 3 GB for 5 days |
| ExpressAI assistant | No | No | Yes |
| Identity Defender (US only) | No | Limited, insurance up to $3M | Full, insurance up to $5M |
Identity Defender, which covers identity monitoring and theft insurance, is for US customers only and isn’t sold separately (ExpressVPN). On Advanced it’s limited to five types of monitoring and only comes with yearly and two-year plans (ExpressVPN). If you mainly want a VPN, Basic is enough. Advanced makes sense if you’ll use the password manager and tracker blocking, or if you’re in the US and want identity monitoring. Express Pro mostly pays off if you need a fixed IP address, for example to reach company systems that only allow known addresses. Bought on its own, a dedicated IP costs $8.99 a month (ExpressVPN).
04How much ExpressVPN costs
| Plan | 1 month | 1 year + 3 months | 2 years + 4 months | Yearly renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $14.99 | $74.85 ($4.99/mo) | $83.72 ($2.99/mo) | $99.95 |
| Advanced | $16.99 | $89.85 ($5.99/mo) | $125.72 ($4.49/mo) | $119.95 |
| Express Pro | $22.99 | $134.85 ($8.99/mo) | $209.72 ($7.49/mo) | $199.95 |
Since February 2026, customers in the eurozone, the UK and Brazil pay fixed prices in their own currency (ExpressVPN). In euros, the two-year plans cost €69.72 for Basic, €111.72 for Advanced and €181.72 for Express Pro, renewing at €79.95, €109.95 and €179.95 a year (ExpressVPN). The dollar prices exclude sales tax, which is added at checkout where it applies.
- BasicFirst 28 months: $83.72Each year after: $99.95
- AdvancedFirst 28 months: $125.72Each year after: $119.95
- Express ProFirst 28 months: $209.72Each year after: $199.95
Prices before sales tax. Source: ExpressVPN pricing, October 1, 2026.
The renewal trap
The two-year plan doesn’t renew for another two years. After 28 months it renews every year at the yearly rate. On Basic that’s $99.95, more than the $83.72 you paid for the whole first term. Per month, you go from $2.99 to $8.33, close to three times as much (ExpressVPN). Auto-renewal is on by default when you pay by card or PayPal, and ExpressVPN can change the price before your next term (ExpressVPN). Put the renewal date in your calendar and compare offers before it comes around.
The advertised “80% off” is measured against the monthly plan price multiplied by 28 months, not against a regular two-year price (ExpressVPN).
- 1 month$14.99
- 1 year + 3 months$4.99
- 2 years + 4 months$2.99
- After renewal$8.33
Prices before sales tax. The renewal figure is the $99.95 yearly price divided by 12. Source: ExpressVPN pricing.
Buying in the app costs you the guarantee. Subscriptions bought through the App Store or Google Play aren’t covered by ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee, so refunds are up to Apple or Google (ExpressVPN).
05Speed: very good, but the protocol matters
Speed is one of ExpressVPN’s biggest strengths. In a review updated at the end of September 2026, Gizmodo measured an average loss of only 7.8% on downloads and 8.9% on uploads over a 190 Mbps connection. NordVPN was the only other service in its tests to lose that little (Gizmodo).
On a very fast connection the picture is more mixed. In April 2026 TechRadar recorded 1,177 Mbps with Lightway Turbo, on a par with NordVPN (1,249 Mbps) and ahead of Surfshark (1,021 Mbps). Standard Lightway, which is what Mac, Linux, iOS and Android users get, managed only 428 Mbps, the lowest of the top VPNs in that test (TechRadar). Lightway Turbo is currently available only in the Windows app (ExpressVPN).
- Lightway Turbo1,177
- OpenVPN1,038
- WireGuard967
- Lightway428
Download speed to the nearest server, measured in TechRadar’s lab. Source: TechRadar. Tom’s Guide, from the same publisher, reports near-identical results from the same round of testing.
On a typical home connection you won’t notice the difference. On a line of about 190 Mbps, Gizmodo found less than 1% between Lightway Turbo, Lightway and WireGuard, Turbo also added 9 ms of ping, and turning it on disables split tunneling (Gizmodo). If you have gigabit fiber and Windows, try Turbo or WireGuard. WireGuard is only available on Windows, Android and iOS (ExpressVPN).
CNET, which tested ExpressVPN through 2025, measured an average speed loss of 18%. That was the third-best result of the year, behind NordVPN (3%) and Proton VPN (16%) (CNET).
- NordVPN3%
- Proton VPN16%
- ExpressVPN18%
Lower is better. Tested from Ohio on a 370 Mbps fiber line, over 300 runs. Source: CNET.
06Privacy, audits and incidents
Since 2019 ExpressVPN has run every server on TrustedServer. The servers run only from RAM, so everything on them is wiped with each reboot (ExpressVPN). Its privacy policy says it never logs browsing history, traffic destination, data content, IP addresses or DNS queries. It does record the day you connected successfully (not the time), the VPN location, your country and ISP, and the total amount of data you transferred (ExpressVPN).
PwC first verified the no-logs policy in 2019, followed by three KPMG engagements. The most recent KPMG audit examined the setup as of February 28, 2025 and gave “reasonable assurance” that the systems worked as described. It’s a Type 1 assessment, which means it looks at a single point in time rather than a whole period (ExpressVPN). ExpressVPN’s trust center lists 28 audits from 2018 to 2026 in total, most of them by security firm Cure53 (ExpressVPN).
The most serious technical issue of recent years involved the Windows app. With split tunneling on, some DNS requests could travel outside the encrypted tunnel. A CNET reporter found the bug and ExpressVPN disclosed it in February 2024. The company said it affected fewer than 1% of users, all on version 12 of the Windows app, and fixed it in versions 12.74.0 and 10.51.0 (ExpressVPN). Security firm Nettitude then audited the fix (ExpressVPN).
ExpressVPN’s transparency reports show how many requests it gets from authorities. In the first half of 2026 there were 137, plus three warrants. For every period up to mid-2025, ExpressVPN states that none of the requests led to the disclosure of user data. Its newer reports don’t repeat that line (ExpressVPN).
- H1 2024170
- H2 2024163
- H1 2025374
- H2 2025155
- H1 2026137
Government, law enforcement and civil requests, excluding copyright (DMCA) notices. From H1 2025 the count also includes gag orders and National Security Letters. Source: ExpressVPN transparency reports.
For protection against future quantum computers, Lightway uses ML-KEM by default, the post-quantum standard selected by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). ExpressVPN has rewritten the protocol in Rust, and Cure53 and Praetorian audited the new version in 2024 (ExpressVPN).
07Features in practice
- Kill switch: formerly Network Lock, now called Internet Kill Switch. It’s on by default on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS and routers, and cuts your internet if the VPN drops (ExpressVPN). It worked every time in TechRadar’s tests (TechRadar).
- Split tunneling: send some apps through the VPN and the rest directly, handy for banking apps that block VPNs (ExpressVPN).
- Ad and phishing blocking: TechRadar saw 87% of ads and 84% of phishing sites blocked (TechRadar). On the d3ward test Gizmodo measured 71% of domains blocked, behind PIA and Proton VPN (Gizmodo).
- Obfuscation: ExpressVPN disguises VPN traffic automatically, with nothing to switch on (ExpressVPN). Useful on networks that block VPNs.
- MediaStreamer: a DNS service for TVs and consoles that can’t run the app. It isn’t a VPN, doesn’t change your location and requires you to register your IP address (ExpressVPN).
- Routers: ExpressVPN sells its own Aircove routers and the new Fortify, which costs $199.99 including 12 months of Advanced (ExpressVPN). A router protects every device at home, including ones that can’t run an app, and gets you around the 14-device limit (ExpressVPN).
There are apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone and iPad, Android, Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV, plus extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge (ExpressVPN). Gizmodo calls them the simplest in the category (Gizmodo), and users rate them highly: 4.7 out of 5 from more than 419,000 ratings on the US App Store (App Store) and 4.6 from 490,000 on Google Play (Google Play).
08Streaming
ExpressVPN is reliable for streaming, though not flawless. Gizmodo unblocked all 14 services it tested, but ITVX and Prime Video sometimes detected the connection and needed a different server in the same country. Disney+ blocked the desktop app and only opened through the browser extension (Gizmodo). In April 2026, TechRadar’s tests, also published by Tom’s Guide, ran into trouble with the Australian and Japanese Netflix libraries and with US Prime Video (Tom’s Guide). CNET confirmed Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Prime Video and Apple TV+ (CNET).
Before relying on a VPN for streaming abroad, read the service’s own terms. Many limit viewing to the country where you subscribe and can block accounts that get around it.
09Where it works and where it doesn’t
ExpressVPN covers 113 countries with 214 locations you can pick in the app (ExpressVPN). Not all of them are physical. In some markets ExpressVPN uses virtual locations, where the IP address is registered in the chosen country while the server sits elsewhere. ExpressVPN describes these as a “small number of markets,” but on its own server list roughly half the entries are marked as virtual, including Turkey, India, Taiwan and Vietnam (ExpressVPN). TechRadar checked 25 virtual locations and found most behaved as advertised (TechRadar).
Wondering how to protect your accounts beyond a VPN? Our guide on how to secure your phone and accounts covers the basics.
10ExpressVPN vs. the competition
| Service | Price from | Speed loss | Streaming | Devices | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | $2.99/mo | 7.8% | 9 of 9 | 10 to 14 | 30 days |
| NordVPN | $3.49/mo | 7.8% | 9 of 9 | 10 | 30 days |
| Proton VPN | $2.99/mo | 10.3% | 7 of 9 | 10 | 30 days |
| Surfshark | $2.49/mo | 9.6% | 8 of 9 | Unlimited | 30 days |
| CyberGhost | $1.99/mo | 13.3% | 8 of 9 | 7 | 45 days |
In Gizmodo’s testing, ExpressVPN and NordVPN are neck and neck on speed, though CNET’s 2025 tests favored NordVPN. NordVPN has more features and more countries, while ExpressVPN has simpler apps and a cheaper renewal: $99.95 a year for Basic versus $139.08 for NordVPN (Gizmodo). We compare the two in detail in ExpressVPN vs NordVPN 2026. Surfshark is cheaper and has no device limit; see our NordVPN vs Surfshark 2026 comparison and our Surfshark One Pro review. For 14 paid services side by side, read our comparison of the best VPNs of 2026.
11Who ExpressVPN is for, and who should skip it
| If you want | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A VPN that just works | ExpressVPN Basic | The simplest apps, high speeds, 10 devices. |
| A password manager and tracker blocking | ExpressVPN Advanced | ExpressKeys and tracker blocking included, 12 devices. |
| A fixed IP address | ExpressVPN Express Pro | Dedicated IP included, otherwise $8.99 a month extra. |
| The most features and countries | NordVPN | More features and 149 countries per Gizmodo. See ExpressVPN vs NordVPN. |
| Unlimited devices for less | Surfshark | No device limit and cheaper in the first term. |
| To pay nothing | A free VPN | Safe free options in Best Free VPN 2026. |
12Buying, refunds and canceling
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, but only to new customers and only on the first purchase. It doesn’t cover renewals, gift card purchases or subscriptions bought through the App Store or Google Play, and ExpressVPN may refuse a second refund to someone who has already had one (ExpressVPN). Refunds go back in US dollars, so if you paid in another currency, the amount you get back may differ slightly because of exchange rates. Gizmodo asked for a refund over live chat and had the money back in its PayPal account within 15 minutes (Gizmodo).
ExpressVPN’s terms are governed by the law of the British Virgin Islands and don’t mention statutory withdrawal rights (ExpressVPN). Whatever consumer law applies where you live, the 30-day guarantee is the simplest way to get your full payment back.
For step-by-step instructions on canceling on the website, in the App Store or on Google Play, and on claiming a refund, see our guide How to cancel ExpressVPN and get a refund.
- Buy your plan on the ExpressVPN website, not in the app, or you lose the 30-day guarantee.
- Install the app, sign in and connect to the recommended location.
- Within 30 days, test what matters to you: streaming, speed, banking, remote work.
- If you’re not happy, contact support via live chat and ask for a refund.
- If you’re staying, turn off auto-renewal in your account and compare the renewal price with current offers before your term ends.
13Frequently asked questions
How much does ExpressVPN cost?
The two-year Basic plan costs $83.72 before tax for 28 months, or $2.99 a month. After that it renews at $99.95 a year. In the eurozone it’s €69.72, renewing at €79.95 (ExpressVPN).
What is the difference between ExpressVPN Basic, Advanced and Pro?
The VPN is the same. Advanced adds two devices, the ExpressKeys password manager and tracker blocking. Express Pro adds two more devices, a dedicated IP and ExpressAI. Identity Defender on Advanced and Pro is US only.
How many devices can I use with ExpressVPN?
You can connect 10 devices at once on Basic, 12 on Advanced and 14 on Express Pro. With a VPN router you can connect as many devices as you like (ExpressVPN).
Does ExpressVPN keep logs?
It doesn’t log browsing history, IP addresses or DNS queries, which PwC and KPMG have verified several times. It only records the day you connected, the location, your country and ISP and the total data transferred (ExpressVPN).
Who owns ExpressVPN?
Kape Technologies, since 2021. Unikmind Holdings took over Kape in 2023 (FCA). The group also owns CyberGhost and Private Internet Access.
Is there a free version of ExpressVPN?
No. There’s a short free trial in the mobile apps and a 30-day money-back guarantee when you buy on the website (Gizmodo).
Is ExpressVPN faster than NordVPN?
They’re very close. Gizmodo measured the same 7.8% speed loss for both, and TechRadar recorded 1,177 Mbps for ExpressVPN with Lightway Turbo versus 1,249 Mbps for NordVPN (TechRadar).
14The bottom line
ExpressVPN is a strong choice if you want a fast VPN you never have to configure. Its apps are the simplest around and its privacy claims are backed by RAM-only servers and a long audit record. In Gizmodo’s speed tests it keeps pace with NordVPN.
The catch is the price. The first 28 months are reasonably priced, the renewals much less so. If you want the most features, look at NordVPN. If you want unlimited devices for less, look at Surfshark.
Data security matters for business websites and apps too. If you’re planning a site that handles customer data, see how we build custom websites and how we work.
15Sources
- ExpressVPN: pricing
- ExpressVPN: local currency pricing
- ExpressVPN: terms of service
- ExpressVPN: available subscriptions
- ExpressVPN: simultaneous connections
- ExpressVPN: Identity Defender cost
- ExpressVPN: server locations
- ExpressVPN: 214 locations in 113 countries
- ExpressVPN: about us
- ExpressVPN: trust center
- ExpressVPN: KPMG audit 2025
- ExpressVPN: privacy policy
- ExpressVPN: Lightway protocol
- ExpressVPN: kill switch
- ExpressVPN: features
- ExpressVPN: MediaStreamer
- ExpressVPN: Fortify router
- ExpressVPN: Windows DNS issue
- ExpressVPN: audit of the DNS fix
- ExpressVPN: statement on Daniel Gericke
- DOJ: deferred prosecution agreement (PDF)
- FCA: Unikmind offer for Kape
- Wikipedia: Kape Technologies
- TorrentFreak: server seized in Turkey
- Gizmodo: ExpressVPN review
- Gizmodo: best VPN
- Gizmodo: ExpressVPN vs NordVPN
- TechRadar: ExpressVPN review
- Tom’s Guide: ExpressVPN review
- CNET: ExpressVPN review
Prices, features and figures are accurate as of October 1, 2026.