ExpressVPN Review, Pricing & Features

What is ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN is a VPN software used by a wide range of businesses and individuals to access blocked content, change their IP address, and split tunnel their networking.

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Table of Contents

ExpressVPN Review Summary

ExpressVPN was founded in 2009 by British Virgin Islands company Express VPN International Ltd. Today, the service has been used by over 3 million users worldwide.

ExpressVPN’s features are built for small businesses with robust VPN needs. Its strongest features are its usability and split tunneling.

ExpressVPN is less affordable than competitors. Its pricing starts at $12.95 per month, and it does not offer a free plan.

Overall, ExpressVPN is a robust, albeit less affordable, solution built for customers in need of secure VPN software. ExpressVPN comes with very transparent security features as well as split tunneling. We highly recommend ExpressVPN if you’re in need of these advanced features.

ExpressVPN Pricing & Cost

ExpressVPN is a relatively less affordable solution than competitors. There are three pricing options. Users can pay $12.95 for one month, $59.95 for six months, or $99.95 for a full year.

ExpressVPN does not offer a free plan.

ExpressVPN Features

Let’s discuss the major features that ExpressVPN offers and how they can help your VPN needs. Product screenshots are included to add context and demonstrate the user interface.

Location & Device Coverage

ExpressVPN offers location coverage for up to 94 countries. You can choose from 160 servers. Compare this with NordVPN, which offers over 5,000 servers in 60 countries.

ExpressVPN offers support for a wide range of devices and operating systems:

  • Windows
  • MacOS
  • Linux
  • Chromebook
  • Android
  • Apple TV
  • Fire TV
  • iOS/iPadOS
  • Playstation
  • Xbox
  • Nintendo Switch
ExpressVPN Coverage

Security

ExpressVPN comes with a number of features dedicated to keeping your connection secure. In fact, the company lays out a four step strategy that clearly communicates how they protect users.

The first step is making sure systems are difficult to compromise. This is done through their build verification system, which ensures code and software is independently reviewed before being pushed out. ExpressVPN also features high strength encryption with AES-256.

The second step is minimizing potential damages. This is primarily accomplished through their adoption of zero trust. ExpressVPN uses their product themselves to routinely check in with API servers and receive updated configuration settings.

The third key step is minimizing the time of compromise. This is yet another way ExpressVPN ensures their platform itself is safe from cyber attacks. ExpressVPN has a 24/7 on-call security team that performs monitoring in real time.

Finally, ExpressVPN makes sure to validate their security controls at all times. This is done through both internal and external validation. Internal validation is accomplished through routine penetration tests, while external validation is done through several audit reports. These public audits are available to customers for even greater transparency.

As for additional security features, ExpressVPN offers a kill switch like many other VPN software solutions do. This can be automatically set up in the application’s preferences.

ExpressVPN Kill Switch

Advanced Features

ExpressVPN comes with one primary advanced feature that is very helpful: Split tunneling.

ExpressVPN Split Tunneling

Split tunneling allows you to route select devices and applications through ExpressVPN’s encrypted servers and allow others to use your home IP. This has several use cases:

  • Stream foreign films while using web services from local IP addresses
  • Download applications without slowing down general web activity
  • Access network printers while surfing the internet through VPN
ExpressVPN allows you to leverage split tunneling in two ways. You can split tunnel applications and devices with the normal method, protecting all connected devices except those specifically excluded. Conversely, you can leverage inverse split tunneling, which protects only your selected devices and applications, letting everything else connect to ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN Customer Service

ExpressVPN’s customer support team is excellent. Its customer support team is attentive and available through instant live chat.

Customer Support ChannelsLive chat
Other Support ResourcesVideo tutorials, troubleshooting guides
Application Status PageYes

ExpressVPN Alternatives & Competitors

ExpressVPN has a number of competitors. Its most comparable alternatives are Visme and Adobe Spark.

Here’s a full list of ExpressVPN competitors:

  • NordVPN
  • ProtonVPN
  • Surfshark
  • Private Internet Access
  • ZenMate VPN

Is ExpressVPN Right for You?

Overall, ExpressVPN is a robust, albeit less affordable, solution built for customers in need of secure VPN software. ExpressVPN comes with very transparent security features as well as split tunneling. We highly recommend ExpressVPN if you’re in need of these advanced features.

If you're interested, you can try ExpressVPN today.

Yousef Fatehpour

Yousef Fatehpour is a Junior Research Analyst at SoftwarePundit. He graduated from University of California, San Diego, where he studied Human Centered Design and Communications. His work at UCSD's Design Lab emphasized UX research and product management.

Yousef's primary areas of interest are software design, user journeys, and how user experience is handled across software markets. Yousef also has experience in product design and multimedia content production. You can connect with Yousef on LinkedIn.

Yousef is an expert in several software categories including:

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