The Best ExpressVPN Alternative for 2025: Premium VPN Services at a Lower Cost
ExpressVPN offers excellent VPN services, but it also comes with a premium price tag. If you’re looking for something more pocket-friendly, there are a few options out there. We did the legwork for you and found five of the best ExpressVPN alternatives. Read the guide to learn more.
Written by Arjun Ruparelia (Writer)
Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)
Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)
Last Updated:
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: Read more
- NordVPN — Best VPN overall with great speeds, advanced features and affordable pricing. NordVPN is available at a 72% discount and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Surfshark — Best VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections. You can sign up for Surfshark with a 66% (plus 3 months free) discount and use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind.
- CyberGhost — User-friendly interface.
- PrivadoVPN — Robust security and generous free plan.
- Private Internet Access — More extra features than ExpressVPN.
Facts and Expert Analysis: The Best ExpressVPN Alternative
- ExpressVPN is one of our favorite VPNs. However, if you find it expensive, you could consider selecting one of the best alternatives to ExpressVPN.
- NordVPN is the best alternative to ExpressVPN because it offers a similar feature set and better performance for less than half the price.
- Consider PrivadoVPN if you’re looking for a free alternative to ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN is one of the best virtual private networks available. It has an excellent feature portfolio, top-notch security and blazing-fast connection speeds. We’ve seen ExpressVPN perform consistently well during our tests. So, why would anyone want an ExpressVPN alternative? Well, ExpressVPN comes with a major downside — its premium price tag.
ExpressVPN is one of the easiest VPNs to use, and when selecting an ExpressVPN alternative, you may trade off user-friendliness for a lower price tag. However, some alternatives, like our top pick, NordVPN, do offer features you won’t find on ExpressVPN.
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09/05/2022
Updated Windscribe pricing: the paid plan increased to $5.75 per month from $4.08. The Build-a-Plan minimum purchase also increased to $3 from $2. Also updated Windscribe’s free data cap to 15GB due to it offering 5GB extra permanently when you tweet about the service.
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10/23/2023
Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s recent increase of 5 simultaneous connections to 8.
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10/01/2024
We refreshed these rankings based on the latest VPN testing and market analysis.
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01/26/2025 Facts checked
We’ve updated our VPN ranking to include PrivadoVPN as the best free alternative to ExpressVPN.
Top Alternatives to ExpressVPN
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- : PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay, JCB, UnionPay, Bitcoin, Ethereum, X-Coin
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Average speedDownload Speed87 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency4 ms - 2
- : PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay, Amazon Pay
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Average speedDownload Speed93 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency4 ms - 3
- : PayPal, Credit card, bitcoin, Amazon Pay
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Average speedDownload Speed41 MbpsUpload Speed5 MbpsLatency37 ms - 4
- : PayPal, Credit card
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- 5
- : PayPal, Credit card, Amazon, Paygarden, Apple Pay, Google Pay
- : Unlimited
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Average speedDownload Speed74 MbpsUpload Speed7 MbpsLatency12 ms
What Makes the Best ExpressVPN Alternative?
The VPN services mentioned in this article make excellent ExpressVPN alternatives either because they offer similar performance or features that ExpressVPN lacks. Also, all virtual private networks listed in this roundup cost less than ExpressVPN.
Many of the top VPN services manage to beat ExpressVPN in several aspects, like the number of simultaneous connections and options on the user interface.
All ExpressVPN alternatives listed here offer excellent security and have a strict no-logs policy. You can’t go wrong with any ExpressVPN alternative in this guide, but you should select a service based on your needs. For instance, if you need a VPN for online anonymity while torrenting, you might want to select a VPN like NordVPN or Private Internet Access.
We talk about how each of the ExpressVPN alternatives we’ve picked offers something better than ExpressVPN in addition to a lower price.
The 5 Best ExpressVPN Alternatives
Before you pick an alternative, you probably want to learn more about the VPN providers. Below, we discuss what problem you can solve by selecting a certain ExpressVPN alternative and a quick overview of what else the alternative offers.
1. NordVPN — Best ExpressVPN Alternative
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
NordVPN is the best ExpressVPN alternative. Our recent speed tests show that NordVPN is the fastest VPN around and beats ExpressVPN.
You don’t need to worry about security or privacy either. NordVPN is one of the most secure VPNs out there, with a strict no-logs policy. You also get all the essential features on NordVPN like unlimited bandwidth and a kill switch. NordVPN also offers an assortment of other features as we discuss in our NordVPN review.
Specialty Servers
You also get four types of specialty servers, including double VPN, which splits traffic between two VPN tunnels; Onion over VPN, which combines the security of the Tor network with VPN (the reason NordVPN is the best VPN for Tor). P2P servers support high-speed P2P sharing and obfuscated servers help conceal VPN usage and bypass VPN-blocking firewalls.
Additionally, you can access dedicated IP servers provided you pay for a dedicated IP address. Learn more about how the two services compare in our NordVPN vs ExpressVPN throw down.
You get a very similar feature set and performance with NordVPN even though it costs almost half the price of ExpressVPN. Of course, the best value plan (the two-year plan) is cheaper than ExpressVPN’s equivalent best value plan. If you don’t mind the long subscription period, NordVPN is one of the best ExpressVPN alternatives. You can also take it for a spin with its 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not ready to commit.
- **VAT may apply
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are shown only apply for the first 12 months.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- **The prices are applicable only for the first 24 months. Secure, high-speed VPN Threat Protection Pro™: Anti-malware and advanced browsing protection Threat Protection Pro™: Ad and tracker blocker Password manager with Data Breach Scanner 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage Identity and SSN monitoring and alerts Credit monitoring services Up to $1M in identity theft insurance Up to $100K in cyber extortion insurance
- 10
2. Surfshark — Best Budget ExpressVPN Alternative
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
Surfshark hasn’t been around for as long as other VPNs on the list. However, the VPN service has grown considerably in the recent past. It now includes a few features that give Surfshark a clear advantage over ExpressVPN.
For instance, while both Surfshark and ExpressVPN offer app-based split tunneling, Surfshark also offers URL-based split tunneling. If you like using the VPN only for select websites, URL-based split tunneling can come in handy.
However, Surfshark’s split tunneling feature isn’t available on Mac, Linux or iOS, so this benefit is only applicable to Windows and Android users. Learn more about how the two services compare in our Surfshark vs ExpressVPN comparison.
Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
ExpressVPN allows up to eight simultaneous connections, while Surfshark allows as many as you’d like. Combine that with the fact that Surfshark has no bandwidth limits and offers good connection speeds, and you’ve got a fairly cost-effective service provider. Need more information on Surfshark? Give our thorough Surfshark review a read.
Surfshark’s long-term options are already priced at quite affordable rates, and with all the essentials like excellent security features, unlimited bandwidth and unlimited simultaneous connections, it’s one of the best ExpressVPN alternatives if you’re looking to minimize the cost. You can also try Surfshark yourself risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Everything in One, plus Data removal Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
3. CyberGhost
Good
Good
Very Fast
CyberGhost is comparable to ExpressVPN on several fronts. For instance, CyberGhost offers seven simultaneous connections compared to eight on ExpressVPN. Both VPNs offer similar security features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection, but they differ in one key feature — split tunneling.
ExpressVPN has app-based split tunneling. On the other hand, split tunneling on CyberGhost is called “smart rules.” You can set rules for a list of selected websites for which you don’t want to use VPN protection.
For instance, you can continue gaming via your low-latency, unprotected internet connection, while using the CyberGhost VPN client to download a file from the internet. You can also set up automated actions using smart rules. Learn more about how it works in our CyberGhost review.
User-Friendly Interface
CyberGhost and ExpressVPN have a similar design on the surface. When you launch either VPN software, you’ll see a power button for activating the VPN connection. You’ll also see a list of servers you can choose from. This is where CyberGhost goes a step further.
On ExpressVPN, you get a separate window for selecting a server, which displays a few recommended server locations, a search bar and the option to view all servers.
On the other hand, CyberGhost also shows you your distance from each server location and its server load, and allows you to sort the list based on both parameters too. Learn more about how the two services compare in our guide on CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN.
CyberGhost’s best value is the three-year plan, and you usually get free months on top of that too. The subscription length is a little longer than others on the list, but you can always start with a trial and claim a full refund using the 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not fully satisfied. Read our CyberGhost alternative guide to learn more.
- *The 2-year plan includes 4-months free which breaks down the 56.94 t0 $2.03 per month. *The price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.
- Unlimited GB
- 7
- Yes
4. PrivadoVPN
If you’re looking for a free VPN service, PrivadoVPN is the best you’ll find on the internet. Typically, free VPNs are unreliable, insecure and slow — PrivadoVPN is none of those things. In fact, PrivadoVPN’s logging policy is one of the most transparent VPN policies around.
PrivadoVPN offers top-notch security that’s comparable to ExpressVPN with most standard security protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard) and AES-256 encryption. Speaking of connection speeds, our latest tests confirm that PrivadoVPN is consistently fast on local connections — although there’s a bigger drop over long distances. You can learn more about our speed tests in our PrivadoVPN review.
Generous Free Plan
The free version offers almost everything you’d expect from a paid VPN service, including unlimited data. However, there’s a 10GB high-speed monthly data cap and you can only choose from server locations in 10 countries. Even with those limitations, PrivadoVPN’s free plan is one of the best you’ll find among free VPNs.
If you want access to more servers and PrivadoVPN’s Control Tower (with boosted speeds, ad block and threat protection), you can upgrade at a very affordable price. The best value plan costs $1.11 per month for a two year subscription with three months free — cheaper than ExpressVPN’s annual plan. PrivadoVPN also has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- 10GB
- 1
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
5. Private Internet Access
Fast
Fast
Very Fast
Private Internet Access (PIA) offers 10 simultaneous connections — more than ExpressVPN. Considering it also costs a lot less, the price per user is reduced significantly. PIA also sports a sleeker interface that shows a lot more information than ExpressVPN in the expanded view, including the connection time and bandwidth usage.
PIA also adds an extra layer of security to the VPN tunnel by allowing you to use a SOCKS5 or Shadowsocks proxy. Using a proxy provides a secure connection without as significant an impact on the performance as a double VPN. Learn more about how PIA compares with ExpressVPN in our PIA vs ExpressVPN guide.
More Extra Features Than ExpressVPN
By “extra,” we’re referring to features that a VPN service could function without but are nice to have. In addition to a regular kill switch, PIA also offers an advanced kill switch that disallows any web traffic unless the VPN connection is active.
With PIA, you also get access to MACE. It’s an ad blocker, but it’s more efficient than most because it doesn’t need to look at your blocklist before denying a DNS request — learn how that works in our guide to DNS records. Plus, you don’t need to install any extensions on the browser when using the desktop or mobile app. Find out more about what PIA offers in our Private Internet Access review.
PIA’s best value option, the two-year plan, is a great deal. Though there are several fronts where ExpressVPN beats PIA, the price and the added feature set might appeal to you if you’re looking for a good, low-cost VPN service. Of course, you can try PIA out with its 30-day money-back guarantee to see how it works before committing to a long-term plan.
- 10
- Yes
1-month plan, 6-months plan, 1-year plan, 2-year plan + 2 months
Why Is ExpressVPN Good?
ExpressVPN isn’t just good; it’s one of the best VPNs out there. It goes above and beyond the basic VPN features and performance in almost all aspects. For instance, it’s one of the most secure VPNs and has the Lightway protocol, its proprietary security protocol that offers an excellent combination of speed and security. However, ExpressVPN is costly. Learn more in our ExpressVPN review.
Final Thoughts
ExpressVPN is one of the better VPNs. Still, that doesn’t mean you should just blindly choose this provider, as there are many others that can match and beat ExpressVPN in terms of security, online privacy and performance.
NordVPN is our top pick, thanks to its speedy performance and rock-solid security. Experience the power of NordVPN yourself, risk-free, with the assurance that you can get your money back within 30 days if you’re not completely satisfied.
Have you used ExpressVPN before and then switched to a different service? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading.
FAQ
Yes, PrivadoVPN is a great free alternative to ExpressVPN. There are a few limitations, like a 10GB high-speed data cap and access to server locations in 10 countries; however, you’ll still have a secure connection, so you won’t need to worry about online safety. You’ll also have solid speeds for streaming or other online activities.
Our tests reveal that NordVPN is the best VPN service out there. It has best-in-class features and consistently performs well on our tests.
ExpressVPN is not owned by China. The VPN service was acquired in 2021 by Kape Technologies, a U.K.-based adware company.
If your budget allows for it, you should certainly consider ExpressVPN. It offers secure servers to protect online data, fast connection speeds and seamless access to geoblocked websites like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video by hiding your real IP address.