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ExpressVPN Review: Brief Overview 

Pros

  • Super fast & ultra secure
  • Great for HD/4K streaming
  • Instant setup & very easy to use
  • AES-256 encryption
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • More expensive than some rivals
  • 3 simultaneous connections
Price: $6.67 a month
Good for:
Compatibility:

Technical Features

  • Max devices supported: 3
  • Number of IP addresses: 15000
  • Number of servers: 1000
  • Number of server locations: 144

Although there are many comparisons ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN, we can say that ExpressVPN arguably offers one of the best VPN services currently available on the market.

Whenever you look up ExpressVPN rating, you’ll see excellent scores and highly positive reviews, but how honest is that? Is ExpressVPN legit?

Well, you’ll be happy to know that it is, and all the hype around it is completely justified.

However, it is always better to check the country you are in right now, to see whether it’s legal to use a VPN there. 

If you were ever wondering who owns ExpressVPN or where is ExpressVPN based, we’ve got answers for you.

ExpressVPN International Ltd. is based in the British Virgin Islands and is a privately owned company. The fact that it’s headquartered in the British Virgin Islands is significant since this jurisdiction is renowned for its excellent privacy protection and no data retention laws. 

So, you can rest assured that your VPN connection will be safe, and if you ever have any concerns, you can quickly contact their customer support through their live chat 24/7. 

ExpressVPN features 

expressvpn general illustration. A man using a VPN on his laptop while sitting on a chairOur leak tests showed no IP or DNS leaks, so if you were wondering is ExpressVPN safe, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll be completely protected. Their DNS Leak Protection feature is free and available to all users. 

They have over 160 VPN server locations, use advanced encryption, have a capable kill switch, and have no activity or connection logs. The company allows for split tunneling, can bypass DNS queries, has excellent customer support, and more. 

ExpressVPN Review: Speed test and performance 

Whether you’re using streaming services, torrenting, or anything in between, you can rest assured that your VPN connection will be pretty fast with ExpressVPN. We’ve tested the connection in a few different locations, and the results were very consistent and very satisfying. 

Speed test in Europe was the best, and you can easily reach a download speed of over 80 Mbps and an upload speed of over 50 Mbps

The lowest results we’ve gotten were in Hong Kong, where download speeds were around 30 Mbps and upload speeds around 12 Mbps. 

Read also: ExpressVPN vs. IPVanish.

Server and logging 

Express VPN provides users with various server options despite connection; locality. You can choose from more than 100 countries located on 5 continents. Many countries have alternative servers to make the connection easier.

ExpressVPN claims that it does not save any logs and does not record the history of a user’s inquiries while he/she has connected to the server.

However, you need to know that the third parties can store some pieces of information used for registration for tracking your user experience.

The server you are connecting through, and the quantity of data you’ve used are stored as well. The company assumes for providing a user with a better service. On the other hand, it may be an attempt to prevent a user from constant downloading and torrent using.

Privacy and security

expressvpn illustration of its privacy issuesThese are a big concern of ExpressVPN company. It applies various security measures promoting it to the safest services and protecting from the cybersecurity threats:

  • 256-bit AES key is used to protect your traffic from all third parties.
  • The mixes your traffic with other users, making it harder to identify it.
  • All amateur users have a default safety protocol. Profound users can choose from UDP, SSTP, TCP, PPTP, L2TP manually. It allows ExpressVPN to play the customers’ way. Each protocol has a combination of speed & safety. If you want to use this software for torrents or watching videos, choose PPTP. If you need to protect your billing information, pick UDP or L2TP
  • Good news for readers of this review from China. The product is on Baidu through some filial or redirecting sites.
  • The website has some useful instruments to identify data leaks and test the security of a user’s Internet connection.

The company does not provide a browser extension; you have to download software on your device.

Torrenting 

Torrent lovers and online TV fans can be pleased with this review.

We have tested ExpressVPN with two instruments – a simple torrent manager and Popcorn Time – a TV streaming service. After connection to Amsterdam, we have managed to download a standard TV show (45 minutes) with 720p quality and 100 seeds in 15 minutes.  

Popcorn Time had no problems either.  It took one minute to gather seeds.

The speed was enough to watch an episode of ‘Walking Dead’ with a 720p resolution. There were no connection glitches for all 50 minutes.

We download materials with copyright, so use the server locations where this activity is not prohibited by the law (Romania, Netherlands, Spain).

From this point, we can guarantee that ExpressVPN is definitely one of the best VPNs for torrenting.

Netflix

Finally, ExpressVPN is among a few VPN providers that offer unrestricted access to Netflix.

Their VPN servers will get you connected to Netflix, among other streaming services, and you’ll even be able to access BBC iPlayer. All in all, this is the very best VPN service to watch Netflix.

Windows Client

The ExpressVPN windows client has an off and on button that allows you to activate the service whenever you want. As well as a clear status display that helps you see the current server.

Besides, the client app is designed with a unique location feature that permits you to choose any location you desire with a menu button at the top-left hand corner of the app providing speedy access to other features.

With the smart location feature, you can double-click one of the many countries to access its servers, check the list of locations, and pick one manually. You can also use the search box to search for the locations. It also has a speed test feature to test the speed of any location connected to it.

Most importantly, it has a kill switch that automatically blocks all internet traffic whenever the VPN connection drops, preventing data leaks. Finally, it comes with the split tunneling feature, which permits users to know which application should be using the VPN or those that shouldn’t.

Android App

ExpressVPN Android app comes with a good location selector for easy accessibility to several servers like the windows client. It also has an excellent user interface that shows you the current server location and the VPN status.

The app also has a privacy and security tools menu to check your connection’s security. This security tool displays your current location and IP address. You are also allowed to check for DNS and WebRTC leaks and generate stored passwords on the app.

However, unlike the windows client, the android app doesn’t come with the Speed Test to test for the connection speed. Be that as it may, it also comes with the split tunneling feature.

An auto-connect feature that immediately turns on the VPN when you connect to an unsecured connection and an app and website shortcuts allows users to hold up to five app shortcuts, thereby facilitating the commonly used fast launching applications immediately the VPN connects.

iOS app

The ExpressVPN iOS app comes with all of the features available on the Windows client and Android app. The only disadvantage is that it doesn’t come with a kill switch like the android application.  The app auto-reconnects to the connection whenever it drops rather than killing any data transmission to avoid leaks.

Browser extensions

The VPN comes with both chrome and Mozilla Firefox extensions that allow you to control the browser’s service and client rather than external applications. However, you must have the client app installed on the computer (the extension is available on both Windows and Mac)

One of the pros of using the browser extension is to communicate with the express VPN desktop client if you have any installed on your system and read its state. While also helping you control the desktop client from your browser.

It also has some of the features of the desktop client but not all. The extension doesn’t have speed testing. The only significant feature of the extension comes from its ability to prevent HTML5 geolocation from displaying your exact location while using the VPN, blocking WebRTC leaks at the browser level, and using HTTPS Everywhere.

Streaming

When it comes to streaming, ExpressVPN boasts better performance than the majority of its counterpart. Its video streaming support is 4K UHD which makes it one of the faster in the market.

It also supports streaming services like Netflix, AmazonPrime, BBC iPlayer, HBO, Hulu. One of the merits of using this app is that it automatically helps you unblock streaming apps and sites abroad. Be that as it may, the streaming servers are not usually labeled. It also works great with online games.

Does ExpressVPN offer Split Tunneling?

Yes, it does. Split Tunneling is a feature that permits users to know which application ought to be using the VPN or those that shouldn’t. This is important for peer-to-peer file sharing since you can set the torrent client (if you are downloading on torrent) to use the VPN while other apps connect.

Support for Tor

Yes, Expressvpn has support for Tor.

With Tor, you get a more robust and most secure connection. You get the encryption of Express VPN and the anonymity of Tor. However, using Tor and Expressvpn can slow down your internet connection.

How much is ExpressVPN? 

One of the top concerns of any VPN service user is the pricing. Seeing how you get access to an abundance of advantageous features with ExpressVPN, it shouldn’t be surprising that this isn’t a cheap VPN service. 

Depending on your plan, you can expect to pay up to $12.95 a month.

Starting with this monthly plan is expensive, but they do offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied. Although seeing as this is the best VPN service, you’ll probably be more than happy with it. 

ExpressVPN’s most affordable plan is the 12-month one, which costs $8.32 a month.

You can occasionally find excellent discounts that will allow you to subscribe to their services at around $6.67 a month, although this isn’t always an option. 

Compatibility

expressvpn on multiple devicesExpressVPN is compatible with all your devices, and you can use it on: 

  • Windows 
  • Mac 
  • iOS 
  • Android 
  • Linux 
  • Routers 
  • Chrome 
  • Firefox 

ExpressVPN Support

There is almost nothing to seize upon in the review.

The company is in the United States. We sent an inquiry via email and got an immediate answer.

We asked our Chinese friends to do the same; they have got a quick response as well. The 24/7 online chat worked great: there was no waiting for informative answers.

The operators are attentive, try to give full answers. We wish they could launch a multilingual product.

Final Thoughts

The observing product in this review can be an optimal choice for your VPN home needs.

It covers a significant number of devices.

Along with the possibility to turn on up to three gadgets to one account, it can become the best choice for the whole family. Its speed is enough for average entertainment performance.

In conclusion, the absence of free VPNs, strict refund rules, and overall expensiveness can spoil the final impression.

Compensating it by the excellent support, customers are provided with and a wide range of countries available. This product deserves its right to be called one of the best VPN providers on the net for now.

FAQ

Does ExpressVPN work in China?

Yes, it does. ExpressVPN China gives you access to the internet from the mainland. However, it can be slow at times, but you will be able to do all you want.

What is the ExpressVPN upload speed like?

This depends on certain things like the server location, your location, the VPN protocol, and any network congestion. Be that as it may, ExpressVPN upload speed can be as fast as its download speed.

Does ExpressVPN offer obfuscated servers?

Yes, they do. However, they are not labeled, and the servers cannot be disabled or enabled by the user.

Do I recommend ExpressVPN?

Of course, it’s a great choice. What are ExpressVPN alternatives? I advise you to try NordVPN and CyberGhost.

Will anyone know if I use ExpressVPN?

Yes, there’s a huge chance they will. However, private a VPN is, it doesn’t mean anonymity.

 

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