ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: which VPN should you get?

VPN is a term that gets bandied about a lot these days in articles, videos, sponsor segments and more. But perhaps you’re new to the world of online security and privacy and don’t really know what a VPN is, why you might want one, or which one to pick from the dozens that are out there.

A VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network, is a security tool that protects your internet usage from cybercriminals and can be used to unblock streaming content and websites around the world. If you would like a more in-depth answer, you can check out our What is a VPN article for more details.

different providers pick , you is pick pick right ? Techradar we is had companies cream crop time . picks – NordVPNExpressVPN.   Today we is going going details VPN lay exactly getting sign believe best choices .

ExpressVPNvs NordVPN: Specs

ExpressVPNvs NordVPN: specs comparison

Lowest monthly cost:
NordVPN: $ 3.09 ( years ) | ExpressVPN: $ 6.67 ( year )

Number of servers:
NordVPN: 6,000+ | ExpressVPN: 3,000+

Server countries:
NordVPN: 110 | ExpressVPN: 105

Maximum simultaneous connections:
NordVPN: 10 | ExpressVPN: 8

Money back guarantee:
NordVPN: 30 days | ExpressVPN: 30 days

BothExpressVPNand NordVPNoffer easy-to-use apps that feel polished, responsive, and cater to both beginners who just want to get online and more experienced users who want to tailor their specific privacy and connection settings.

While ExpressVPNoffers a more streamlined, minimalist app, the map layout in the NordVPNapp can be easier for beginners to understand, allowing users to directly click on the country they’d like to connect to rather than picking a server from a list that can include dozens of options.

As you can see from the table above, both companies offer servers all across the world, but NordVPNhas around double the number of servers that ExpressVPNhas. The larger number of servers means you’re less likely to have issues with overloaded servers slowing your connection down. It also  makes it more likely you’ll be able to find one that works with your streaming service of choice More locations means you’re more likely to find one in the country you need, or one close to you to guarantee a fast connection.

NordVPNalso edges ahead in terms of numbers of devices you can use. While ExpressVPNoffers a quite generous 8 simultaneous connections, NordVPNpips it to the post by offering a 10 device limit, which should be enough for even the busiest of households.

ExpressVPNvs NordVPN: Plans, pricing and trials

Where NordVPNis the clear winner is in the subscription costs. ExpressVPNstarts with a one-month plan that will cost you $12.95 per month. Opt for a 6 month subscription (paid in one lump sum) and the cost drops to $9.99 a month and if you’re willing to sign up for a one year subscription all at once, the cost drops all the way down to $6.67 a month, nearly half the cost of paying month-by-month. 

NordVPNoffers a monthly, 1-year and 2-year plans. For the monthly plan the cost ranges from $12.99 a month to $15.99 a month depending on the tier you pick. The real savings are to be found when you sign up for a longer-term subscription. For a 1-year plan, the costs run from $4.59 a month to $7.49 depending on tier, and for a 2-year plan it’s even cheaper, with the cheapest tier costing only $3.09 a month and the most expensive 2-year plan is still cheaper than ExpressVPN, clocking in at $5.99 a month.

BothExpressVPNand NordVPNoffer a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to check out their service without worrying about being left out of pocket if you find they’re not right for you.

ExpressVPNvs NordVPN: Security and privacy

NordVPNand ExpressVPNare broadly similar when it comes to the security features they have in place to protect their users.

Bothproducts use the strongest AES-256 encryption as well as Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS). You can learn more about PFS by following the link, but in short it minimizes the risk posed to your personal data in case of any sort of breach by regularly changing the encryption keys. So even if your current session is compromised, your next will be protected as a new key will be used that the attacker doesn’t have access to.

BothNordVPNand ExpressVPNclaim to block IP and DNS leaks (more on this in a little bit) and both of them sport their own encrypted DNS on all its servers.

NordVPNoffers some excellent additional features like 1 TB of cloud storage, a data breach scanner, Onion over VPN for access to the Tor network, its double VPN system and even cyber insurance to protect against scams and fraud, showing it takes the security of its users very seriously.

ExpressVPNoffers it own suite of features which, while not as extensive as NordVPN’s, includes an ad blocker and a password manager as well as its proprietary Lightway protocol to guarantee a fast connection, though it’s not as extensive an offering as NordVPN.

That all said, we can’t ignore the fact that everything hasn’t always been perfect. NordVPNsuffered a data breach in 2018, but they bounced back strong from this setback, and even brought in bring in PricewaterhouseCoopers to verify its no-logging policy. 

ExpressVPNisn’t without its issues as well, ones that we think are enough to dethrone it from our number one spot in our list of the best VPNs. One of our biggest concerns is that it’s now owned by Kape Technologies Plc (formerly known as Crossrider). Kape is a company with a somewhat checkered past involving ad-injectors and malware in web browsers, There’s also the fact that CIO implicated spying probe and, most concerningly of all, the recent discovery by CNET that ExpressVPNhas been leaking DNS requests when users were connected through its split-tunneling feature. 

issue fixed quickly , fact went unnoticed potentially years , coupled Kape recent decision lay-off around 200 staff, leaves us with concerns about the level of quality at the company 

While ExpressVPNoffers a solid core of features and a reliable VPN service, we feel that NordVPNis the better complete package.

ExpressVPNvs NordVPN: Logging and privacy

Whether or not a VPN logs data about its users is an important selling point for the privacy-conscious and we can confirm that both NordVPNand ExpressVPN privacy claims have been checked and verified by multiple independent audits.

NordVPNlogs a minimal amount of data when you use its service. They log the date of connection and the choice of server. On its own, that information doesn’t put users at risk in any way. As no other data is stored there is no way of tracing anything back to a specific user.

ExpressVPNsimilarly offers a no-logs claim, and according to the privacy policy they log the day you’ve connected to one of their servers (not the time) and which server you’ve connected to. They also log which location you’ve connected to as well as from which country/ISP (but not the specific IP address)

In both cases, the logging policies are clear and easy to understand. It’s always a good sign when everything is laid out in a clear, easy-to-understand format.

(Image credit: ExpressVPN)

ExpressVPNvs NordVPN: Performance

When connecting to servers around the world, both services did well, but NordVPNis just that bit more more reliable and very definitely the faster of the two. You can check out our full list of the fastest VPNS in our Fastest VPN List.

performance is is VPN crucial day – – day internet use . VPN means connection reduced crawl point .

This isn’t something you need to worry about with either NordVPNor ExpressVPN. In part this is thanks to each using their own specific VPN protocols, whether it be Express’s open-source Lightway and NordVPN’s version of WireGuard called NordLynx.

In our most recent round of speed tests NordVPNhas been the clear winner over ExpressVPNwhen using WireGuard (or Lightway/NordLynx), with our testing returning a download speed of over 950Mbps compared to Express’s 410Mbps. 

Even using the older OpenVPN protocol, the speeds were still more than enough for day-to-day use though here  it was ExpressVPNthat came out on top, averaging around 210 Mbps, while NordVPNpeaked at a somewhat less impressive 110Mbps.

ExpressVPNvs NordVPN: Streaming

One of the biggest use-case for VPNs is to access geo-locked streaming services, and there’s a constant battle between streaming providers and VPNs when it comes to accessing content in other countries. 

On its website ExpressVPNopenly states which services it can unblock, which is something of a gutsy move as these services are constantly working to block VPN access. However, ExpressVPNwalks the walk as well as talking the talk, our testing showing it can reliably unblock Disney+, YouTube and the BBC iPlayer. 

NordVPNis no slouch in this department either, and even with companies like Netflix stepping up their efforts to lock out VPNs it was still able to reliably unblock the overseas catalogs of all the popular major streaming services as well as some more niche ones such as Australian services 9Now and 10 Play, which are only available down-under.

That is makes makes category difficult separate .

ExpressVPNvs NordVPN: Torrents

If you torrent without using a VPN, you’re exposing your IP address to everyone you’re sharing files with and a VPN is an indispensable safety tool to keep you anonymous. We think both ExpressVPNand NordVPNoffer excellent P2P functionality.

ExpressVPNis more open to torrenting than some other providers, with P2P supported on all of its servers. The company also states there are no bandwidth restrictions and no data cap. It’s a refreshingly hassle-free experience.

NordVPNalso supports P2P on all its  servers, as well as offering  servers specifically optimized for P2P. As with ExpressVPNthere’s no restrictions or data cap and there’s a kill-switch to keep your traffic private in case of a loss of VPN connection.

(Image credit: Future)

ExpressVPNvs NordVPN: Mobile apps

Staying safe when you’re out and about and want to use a public Wi-Fi hotspot is a big concern, especially for those who like to work in cafes or use public transport frequently. This is why secure, reliable and easy to use mobile apps are an essential feature of any VPN.

BothExpressVPNand NordVPNhave two of the best best Android VPN apps around, and both are certified by the ioXt Alliance – a cybersecurity watchdog. Another sign that these two VPNs really take security seriously.

NordVPN is are mobile apps is are powerful easy use , expect – featured VPN . It is includes includes Threat Protection Lite , DNS blocking ads , trackers , malicious websites , VPN connected . Protocol options is include Android devices include NordVPN speedy NordLynx , OpenVPN . iOS devices is get slightly options inclusion IKEv2 .

ExpressVPN apps are also full-featured, with a selection of protocols (including its own Lightway) available and a clean layout that beginners will find easy to get to grips with. It’s as eas

ExpressVPNvs NordVPN: Support 

certainly hope wo problems VPN , inescapable fact is is modern world technology goes wrong ! Having easy – – use support service mean difference quick fix hours frustration .

NordVPNsports a comprehensive support database that covers pretty much everything you might need to know about its products, from basic installation questions to getting started with streaming or troubleshooting connectivity issues. It also offers email and live chat options if you can’t find what you’re looking for in the support site. There’s no phone number, which is a bit of a shame, but we imagine these days most people will be happy with the options on offer.

ExpressVPNis much the same, with an in-depth support database supplemented by email and live chat if you find you can’t locate the specific issue you’re facing.  Bothservices offer 24/7 live chat, so if you find yourself stuck you can reach out and talk to a real person.

Bothsupport sites are laid out in much the same way, and both have plenty of useful information,  though NordVPNs is a little more sleek and polished.

ExpressVPNvs NordVPN: which is better?

BothNordVPNand ExpressVPNremain our top two picks and we think they’re both a great choice, but in our opinion NordVPNis the clear leader in 2024 and the best VPN around right now. Head over here to sign up and try it out for yourself.

NordVPNand ExpressVPNhave been the industry leaders for years now, and their reputations are rightly deserved.  ExpressVPNhas been our top pick for a number of years here at Techradar but it’s difficult to ignore the gap between it and NordVPNin terms of price and included features, to say nothing of ExpressVPN new owner.

How do we test VPNs?

With there being so many VPNs to choose from, it’s important to know which ones are worth your time, which ones live up to the claims they make in their adverts, and which really should be avoided. 

Here at Techradar we’ve been putting VPNs through their paces for years now, and in fact we conduct an in-depth analysis of the top 30 VPN services every 6 months to ensure they’re still providing the quality of service they claim.

We make sure it lives up to the marketing. Whether it’s a free VPN or a paid one, it must provide the service it advertises, otherwise you’re just wasting your money. With our top recommendations like ExpressVPNand NordVPN, we make sure customers are getting their money’s worth. We test the claimed connection speeds and the ability to unlock streaming services around the world of every VPN we recommend by checking with multiple shows to see if the VPN can access and play them all or if it struggles with some of them.

We make sure that it’s something users will find easy to live with in the day-to-day. We look at points such as how easy it is to get the VPN app installed and set up,  how much attention to detail has been paid in is in the design and whether a beginner will be able to get to grips with it or if it requires specialist knowledge that limits the appeal.

We also look at what security tools each provider offers. Does it include other features and functionality to keep its users safe? But more than that, we check to see if there’s any sneaky things hiding where the average user might not look. Does the privacy policy clearly state how your data will be handled? 

Are there any sneaky little gotchas hiding buried deep in the Terms of Service? Is the pricing open and honest or does it use dark patterns or deceptive wording to trick you into paying more than you need to? The ultimate point of all our testing is not just to look at what a provider says it gives you, but what it really gives, and whether you can trust it with your data and your wallet.

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).

2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.