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Visit ExpressVPN
  • Extensive server network
  • Very fast speeds
  • Unblocks all streaming services

ExpressVPN Review

We put ExpressVPN through a full battery of tests, measuring its speed, security, streaming ability, customer support, value and more. In this ExpressVPN review, learn why we recommend this service even though it’s not at the top of the heap.

Samuel Chapman
By Samuel Chapman (Writer, Editor)
— Last Updated: 2024-11-13T16:22:43+00:00 Facts checked by Igor Kurtz
Key Takeaways: What Is ExpressVPN & Is It Good to Use?
  • ExpressVPN is a virtual private network that conceals your online identity and changes your IP address.
  • ExpressVPN is quite fast and easy to use, but its biggest selling point is its excellent ability to unblock streaming sites around the world.
  • A major drawback is that ExpressVPN costs more than comparable VPNs. It’s also missing some interesting features — especially split tunneling — on most platforms.

Facts & Expert Analysis About ExpressVPN:

  • Real-world proof of privacy: ExpressVPN is among the few VPNs whose servers have been scrutinized by police. What’s more, it’s one of the rare services that has revealed no data.
  • Large network of real servers: Less than 5% of ExpressVPN’s servers are virtual. Given that it has thousands of servers in over 100 countries, this is an extremely good ratio. You can find a working server no matter where you are on Earth.
  • Why it doesn’t always work in China: ExpressVPN’s troubles in China are partly due to its notoriety. The Chinese government calibrates the Great Firewall to target ExpressVPN directly, so it’s often offline there.

ExpressVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) that’s built to do the job without getting in your way. It’s fast and unblocks almost any site, and its stripped-down app ensures you won’t get lost. ExpressVPN is definitely one of the best VPNs, but it’s not quite on top of the heap. This ExpressVPN review explains exactly why.

Among ExpressVPN’s favorable factors are the Lightway protocol — built from scratch by its team — a worldwide server network, and features to block ads and trackers. That said, the price may turn some of you away. The fact that it also lacks extra features like dedicated IP addresses and has almost no split tunneling counts against it.

To write this review, we examined ExpressVPN’s features, checked its prices, tested its speed and security, and mapped its worldwide server network. By the end, you’ll have all the necessary information to decide whether to invest in ExpressVPN or explore a different VPN service.

  • 08/27/2021

    Cloudwards completed a fresh review of ExpressVPN. Since our last review, the VPN hasn’t had any major revamp, and the official launch of the Lightway protocol is the only notable change. The new VPN has significantly improved ExpressVPN’s speed. 

  • 09/14/2021

    Kape Technologies announced that it planned to buy ExpressVPN, which claims the VPN will remain independent and continue third-party evaluations of the service.

  • 11/03/2021

    Updated ExpressVPN’s privacy and security scores following the evaluation of the privacy policy after Kape Technologies’ acquisition of ExpressVPN and the news of ExpressVPN’s new chief technical officer, Dan Gericke, being a former spy for the United Arab Emirates.

  • 03/22/2022

    Updated the review to reflect ExpressVPN’s most recent independent security audit by F-Secure of the Windows app (V10).

  • 05/21/2022

    Clarified how ExpressVPN’s obfuscation feature works.

  • 06/24/2022

    Updated the review to include the Cloudwards auto speed tests and comparisons.

  • 09/05/2022

    This review has been updated for 2022 with new speed tests, features and security and privacy information.

  • 10/23/2023

    Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s recent increase of 5 simultaneous connections to 8, as well as its expansion of server presence to 105 countries, previously 94.

  • 10/31/2023

    Added new information about ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager, ad blocker and parental controls.

  • 06/18/2024

    Added new information about quantum-resistant encryption and dynamic MTU in Lightway, the ExpressVPN Aircove router and the command line interface on Windows.

  • 09/27/2024 Facts checked

    We’ve updated this ExpressVPN review to include recent feature additions and more accurate data sets.

What Is ExpressVPN & Who Is It For?

ExpressVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) app that lets you connect to an encrypted proxy server before going online. As you browse, websites will see the VPN server’s IP address instead of your own, and the encryption prevents them from tracing your real identity. This VPN is for anyone who wants to maintain their online privacy and anonymity.

  • Release date: 2009
  • Developer: Dan Pomerantz and Peter Burchhardt
  • Owner: Kape Technologies
  • Platforms: Mobile and desktop apps, smart TVs, browsers, routers
  • Operating systems: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromebook, Kindle Fire
  • Notable features: Lightway protocol, Threat Manager ad and malware blockers, Network Lock kill switch, shortcuts
  • Pricing: $6.25 per month (one-year plan + four months)

How Does ExpressVPN Work?

ExpressVPN maintains a network of servers in countries all over the world. You can pick one of these servers using the client app. ExpressVPN then establishes a two-way connection to that server via a VPN protocol. Every request you send to a web server goes through the VPN first, as does every reply you receive.

Sam

The Cloudwards Expert Opinion

Samuel Chapman is a Cloudwards writer and expert in VPN and online security.

ExpressVPN is a fantastic service. It’s fast, simply designed and incredibly easy to use, and it’s the VPN we usually recommend to VPN beginners. However, it has few features beyond the absolute basics, comes with a high price tag and rarely ranks higher than the third-fastest VPN in our automated tests.

ExpressVPN Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Fast speeds
  • Strong security
  • Ram-only servers
  • Large server network
  • Very easy for beginners
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Great streaming sites unblocking 

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • No free plan
  • Limited split tunneling
  • Almost never works in China

ExpressVPN Video Review

ExpressVPN Alternatives

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Latest Features Added to ExpressVPN:

  • Works on Microsoft Copilot+: ExpressVPN is one of the first VPNs that is compatible with Microsoft’s new Copilot+ laptops.
  • Lightway now uses Kyber: ExpressVPN’s unique Lightway protocol now employs Kyber, an encryption standard designed to resist quantum decryptors.
  • Online store: ExpressVPN’s website has a storefront where you can buy Aircove router products; you can also buy Aircove on Amazon.

Features: What Can ExpressVPN Do?

85 % – Very Good

ExpressVPN is a minimalist VPN — there are few luxuries, but every feature works well. Competitors like NordVPN and Surfshark have surpassed ExpressVPN in the innovation department, but ExpressVPN excels at implementing the core features that a VPN needs.

Network Lock Kill Switch

A VPN kill switch watches your connection to the VPN server to see if it’s ever interrupted. If the VPN connection drops unexpectedly (and you didn’t disconnect it on purpose), the kill switch instantly cuts off your internet connection. This is helpful if you’re doing something that you don’t want your ISP to catch wind of, like torrenting.

expressvpn general features
ExpressVPN’s kill switch is known as Network Lock.

ExpressVPN calls its kill switch Network Lock. It’s not especially customizable, but you can exclude local devices from a network shutdown, so your printer and Bluetooth will still work. It’s hard to test a kill switch since we can’t schedule problems on the server end, but we can note that Network Lock has never given us a false positive.

Split Tunneling

Split tunneling lets you route some apps through the VPN while others go directly to the internet — usually ones that require better speeds. ExpressVPN’s split tunneling has both a blocklist and an allowlist, so it’s nice and flexible. Unfortunately, it appears only on Windows and on macOS versions 10 and below.

expressvpn split tunneling
ExpressVPN’s split tunneling is available only
on Windows and older macOS versions.

Advanced Protection

The ExpressVPN app groups three features under the “advanced protection” tab: Threat Manager, an ad blocker and parental controls. Threat Manager blocks trackers and prevents you from entering sites known to harbor malware. The ad blocker stops banner and video ads, while the parental controls block adult content.

expressvpn threat manager
ExpressVPN’s protection features work well,
but you can’t customize their blocklists.

All these features work very well — in particular, it’s rare to see a built-in VPN ad blocker that can stop ads on YouTube videos. The one annoyance is that you can’t build your own parental control blocklist; any judgments regarding what counts as “adult content” happen on ExpressVPN’s side.

Aircove Router

One of ExpressVPN’s top features is ExpressVPN Aircove, which is almost certainly the best VPN router. Nearly every other VPN router requires a tedious manual setup, but Aircove has its own app that’s just as user-friendly as ExpressVPN’s other features. It even lets you set different server locations for various devices connected through the router.

ExpressVPN Aircove

ExpressVPN Aircove

ExpressVPN Aircove saves you the hassle of finding a compatible VPN router and setting up the firmware yourself.
$ 189.90$ 132.90Save $ 57.00 (30 %)

ExpressVPN Keys

ExpressVPN Keys is a password manager you can download for free with an ExpressVPN subscription. Like any password manager, Keys can generate strong passwords and recall them on command. However, similar to the VPN service, it’s a bit short on advanced features. 

ExpressVPN Keys Save Password
ExpressVPN Keys can autofill generated passwords in web fields.

We’ve got a full ExpressVPN Keys review with more details. You can also read our best password managers guide for alternatives.

ExpressVPN Features Overview

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Review
General
Payment methodsPayPal, Credit card, Bitcoin, UnionPay, iDeal, Sofort, Giropay, Pixpay, Sepa Direct Debit
Accepts cryptocurrency
Simultaneous connections 8
Supports split tunnelingWindows & macOS 10 (or below)
Unlimited bandwidth
Free trial availableiOS & Android, 7 days
Refund period30 days
Worldwide server amount164 locations in 105 countries
Desktop OSesWindows, MacOS, Linux
Mobile OSesAndroid, iOS
Browser extensionsChrome, Firefox, Edge
Can be installed on routers
Streaming
Can access Netflix US
Can access BBC iPlayer
Can access Hulu
Can access Amazon Prime Video
Security
Encryption types256-AES, ChaCha20, Camellia
VPN protocols availableOpenVPN, IKEv2, Lightway
Enabled at device startup
Allows torrenting
No-logging policy
Passed DNS leak test
Killswitch available
Malware/ad blocker included
Support
Live Chat24/7
Email support24/7
Phone support
User forum
Knowledgebase

User-Friendliness & Hands-On Testing

95 % – Excellent

ExpressVPN banks hard on its user-friendly experience, and it’s without a doubt one of the easiest VPNs to use. In this section, we’ll explain the straightforward setup process and discuss how it feels to use ExpressVPN on different platforms.

How to Install ExpressVPN

Here’s how to download ExpressVPN on any device.

  1. Create an Account

    Go to expressvpn.com and click “get ExpressVPN.” Choose a pricing plan, add a payment method, enter an email address and check out. Copy the activation code you receive.

    expressvpn email and payment
  2. Download a VPN App

    If you’re on Windows, macOS or Linux, download the VPN app from ExpressVPN’s website. For mobile users, go through your respective app store. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

    expressvpn download
  3. Enter Your Activation Code

    After installing and opening the app, enter the activation code you received in step one. This will give you access to the VPN. Once inside, create a new password.

    expressvpn activation code

How to Set Up & Use ExpressVPN

  1. Activate the Kill Switch

    Click the three lines at the top-left corner and open the “preferences” menu. On the “general” tab, decide whether you want to activate the Network Lock kill switch. Here, you can also choose whether ExpressVPN will automatically boot and connect when your computer starts.

    expressvpn general features
  2. Toggle the Advanced Protection Features

    Choose whether you want to block malware sites, trackers, ads or adult content. We recommend keeping at least the Threat Manager features switched on at all times.

    expressvpn threat manager
  3. Choose a VPN Protocol

    Go to the “protocol” tab and choose how you want ExpressVPN to get online. You can pick between Lightway (TCP or UDP), OpenVPN (TCP or UDP) and IKEv2. You can also let ExpressVPN choose a protocol automatically. Note that if you’re using any “advanced protection” features, you’ll have to use the Lightway protocol.

    expressvpn protocols
  4. Find the Right Server

    Finally, check the server menu to determine what locations you’ll want to use regularly. You can find the server menu by clicking the three dots beside the server location name on the main UI. Click the star next to a location on the menu to save it as a favorite, and click the location itself to connect to a VPN server there.

    router vpn 1 expressvpn locations

ExpressVPN on Desktop: macOS & Windows Apps

You’ll operate the ExpressVPN Windows and macOS apps mainly by using the one-click buttons and checkboxes. Everything is easy to find, and each setting comes with quick explanations. The server menu stands out as it has a “quick search” bar and intuitive favoriting. In addition, connections complete very quickly with minimal wait times.

ExpressVPN on Mobile: Android & iOS Apps

Due to ExpressVPN’s simple overall design, very little gets lost when transitioning from desktop to mobile. In the iOS and Android apps, everything is organized in the same way, and tapping will allow for smooth interactions. The server list is easy to scroll through, and you’re never more than two clicks away from taking action.

ExpressVPN Device Compatibility & Simultaneous Connections

You can use a single ExpressVPN subscription on eight devices simultaneously. While you can install it on unlimited devices, only eight can be connected at once. Just download the app on a new device, paste in your universal activation code, and you’re good to go.

ExpressVPN is compatible with almost anything that can get online, and you can still protect any unsupported platforms through a router. It works with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chromebook, Amazon Fire Tablet, Apple TV, Android TV and Samsung TV. The service also has browser extensions for Chrome, Edge and Firefox.

ExpressVPN Pricing: How Much Does ExpressVPN Cost?

80 % – Good

Pricing is a downside for ExpressVPN. It’s undeniably a great service, but some may find that it charges too much for what you get. However, the pricing is simple, and it always honors its money-back guarantee.

Pricing Plan Breakdown

There’s only one type of ExpressVPN subscription; the main difference between the three options available is their length. Longer plans grant a steeper monthly discount. ExpressVPN costs $12.95 for one month, $9.99 per month for six months ($59.94 total) and $6.25 per month for 15 months ($99.95 total).

ExpressVPN Free Plan & Money-Back Guarantee

ExpressVPN doesn’t have a free plan. What it does have is a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscriptions that asks no questions — you can use ExpressVPN every day for 30 days and then get a refund by messaging customer support. It’s a free trial in all but name.

If you want an actual free trial, you can get seven days on either iOS or Android without entering a payment method. You just have to download ExpressVPN from the device’s app store and start using it without creating an account. When you first open the app, you’ll see instructions for claiming your free trial. 

ExpressVPN Speed

85 % – Very Good

ExpressVPN is one of the seven VPNs that we test its speeds every day, and we report the results in our VPN speed comparison. Its worldwide average tends to be somewhere in the top three each day, though it’s rarely the fastest VPN. Although there are dips, ExpressVPN never falls below an average of 60% of our unprotected speeds.

ExpressVPN Speed Test Results

Download Speed (Higher is better)
Upload Speed (Higher is better)
Latency (Lower is better)
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 11/06/24 to 12/04/24

Notes From the Lab: Our Detailed Speed Analysis

A VPN server tends to slow down the farther it is from your device, and ExpressVPN is no different. Its worst download speeds came from Australia, South Africa and Singapore, all of which are very far from our testing location in the United States. However, it performed significantly better on nearby servers, delivering average or faster latencies worldwide.

Security: Is ExpressVPN Safe? (90/100)

90 % – Excellent

ExpressVPN has never been hacked by a malicious actor, but it has suffered a security leak. In February 2024, ExpressVPN announced that version 12 of its Windows app occasionally leaked DNS requests when split tunneling was active, potentially revealing user activity. It removed split tunneling in response but restored it after patching the flaw.

The fact that ExpressVPN announced the bug on its own and immediately took action to fix it reflects positively on its commitment to security. The service uses VPN protocols with secure encryption that are known to work. It also regularly subjects various aspects of its infrastructure to independent audits and publishes the results.

ExpressVPN Security Features

ExpressVPN’s security features include three VPN protocols, which we’ll discuss below. It uses a fully private DNS that resolves all website requests within the VPN tunnel, reducing the chances of a leak. It also offers IPv6 leak protection to automatically block all IPv6 traffic — IPv6 addresses can cause leaks if the VPN was prepared for IPv4.

Notes From the Lab: VPN & Encryption Protocols

Protocol:EncryptionPlatforms
Lightway*ChaCha20, AES-256All
OpenVPN*AES-256


IKEv2AES-256, Camellia
*TCP and UDP

Lightway is the only protocol available on all devices. iOS users don’t get OpenVPN, while IKEv2 is offered solely on iOS and macOS. This may be a little annoying, but Lightway is open-source and has passed two audits. All of ExpressVPN’s available protocols are secure. The TCP options are more stable, while UDP is often faster.

Notes From the Lab: DNS Leak Test Results

vpn capture step3
ExpressVPN exposes no readable information, even on
websites that aren’t otherwise secured.

WireShark is a software that shows what data your computer is sending to the internet. We use it to test whether a VPN’s encryption is working. While we were connected to an ExpressVPN server, our data resembled what is displayed in the window above. This is the result of plaintext being successfully and consistently converted into unreadable ciphertext.

expressvpn dns leak test
IPLeak.net shows that ExpressVPN doesn’t leak DNS requests
or let information slip through WebRTC.

We also used IPLeak.net to test for DNS leaks and WebRTC leaks, a bug that sometimes exposes information through real-time communication methods. After checking several servers, we found them all to be completely airtight.

Privacy: Is ExpressVPN Private?

95 % – Excellent

ExpressVPN is private — it has no history of logging or selling user information, and there’s plenty of evidence supporting the claim that it never does those things. Even if you don’t trust its privacy policy (which we never do on principle), you can trust the 2017 incident where Turkish police seized two of its servers and found nothing whatsoever.

Privacy Policy: Does ExpressVPN Keep Logs?

No, at least according to its no-logs policy. It stores neither activity logs — specific records of what you do online while connected — nor connection logs, which are data that can be pieced together to uncover a record of your activity.

Because ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers, known as its “TrustedServer technology,” all saved activity is wiped out during each server’s hourly reboots. This provides the basis for ExpressVPN’s claim that it can’t share what it doesn’t have, as stated in its privacy policy.

Independent Audits

Further evidence comes from the fact that ExpressVPN may be one of the most audited VPNs — it commissions several voluntary investigations per year on various aspects of its service. Most recently, it passed a KPMG audit in May 2024; you can download the report here.

ExpressVPN Streaming Performance & Unblocking Ability

95 % – Excellent

ExpressVPN is an unblocking machine. We tested six different streaming services on six continents each, and ExpressVPN never failed to unblock a single one. No matter how fast your unprotected connection is, this service will likely be fast enough to stream in good quality. More than anything else, it’s the main reason we recommend this VPN.

Streaming Service:Status

Can ExpressVPN Unblock Netflix?

Yes, ExpressVPN can unblock Netflix. In the unlikely event that you do get the proxy error, just disconnect and reconnect to the server, and you’ll be enjoying foreign content in no time. If the video is too slow, try MediaStreamer, which changes your IP address without encrypting your traffic.

Other Major Streaming Platforms

We didn’t test every streaming platform — there are a lot of them these days — but the chart above shows how ExpressVPN did on the six illustrative services we tried. It’s also got servers in 105 countries, so you can use it to explore up to 105 different libraries on each site.

ExpressVPN Torrenting Capability

ExpressVPN allows the use of torrenting clients on every server. There are no servers specifically optimized for P2P file sharing, but it works well on all of them. That convenience makes ExpressVPN one of the best VPNs for torrenting. Its upload speeds are also reliably fast, so you shouldn’t have any trouble seeding.

ExpressVPN VPN Server Locations

90 % – Excellent

ExpressVPN has servers in 164 locations across 105 countries. Offering a high number of servers is important for two reasons. First, having many users on one server can form a bottleneck, so more servers means better speeds.

expressvpn server selection
ExpressVPN divides its servers up into four regions, with plenty to choose from in each one.

Second, having servers in more countries increases the chance that any user can find a location within about 1,000 miles. As we saw in the “speed” section, you get better performance closer to a server, so a larger network improves performance in more parts of the world.

Global Distribution of VPN Servers

Region:CountriesLocations
North America1442
South America1010
Europe4765
Asia2431
Africa66
Oceania39
Middle East22

It’s not enough to have a lot of servers; a VPN must also build its locations into a worldwide network that doesn’t leave gaps. ExpressVPN has more servers in Africa than most competitors, and it’s no slouch in South America or Central Asia, either. 

Some are virtual servers where it’s unsafe to have physical servers (which is why it’s still a good VPN for India), but 97% of them are located where they claim to be.

Does ExpressVPN Work in China?

ExpressVPN sometimes works in China, but there’s a specific reason we don’t recommend taking it there. As one of the best-known VPNs, ExpressVPN is a popular tool for evading Chinese censorship, which means the Chinese government often targets it directly.

As hard as ExpressVPN tries to stay ahead of the Great Firewall, we can’t guarantee it will safely get you online in China. Read our ExpressVPN in China guide for more information, or go straight to our best VPN for China guide to get alternative recommendations.

ExpressVPN Customer Support

90 % – Excellent

ExpressVPN provides three tools for getting help. You can search the written knowledgebase, start a live chat conversation or send an email support ticket. These are all quick ways to access trustworthy, expert support. You can access all three from within the VPN app — just go to the three-line menu and mouse over “help & support.”

expressvpn help and support
Choosing “support website” opens the online FAQ in your default browser, while selecting “contact support” takes you to the email ticket page

The knowledgebase itself looks great. You’ll find it’s easy to navigate and locate the specific troubleshooting help you need. However, if you have as many unique technical problems as we do, it’s nice to use the live chat to talk to a real person.

Live Chat Support Speed & Quality

ExpressVPN scores top marks for customer support by having no chatbots whatsoever. It’s refreshing to not have to wade through an automated menu to chat with a real person. It also doesn’t tangibly increase wait times, so you can get a simple answer in minutes or less. For thornier problems, it’s never taken us more than a day to get an email reply.

ExpressVPN vs Other VPN Services

ExpressVPN is very close to its rivals in both quality and value, but it doesn’t quite pull ahead. For example, NordVPN has more features and is frequently faster, all while costing less than ExpressVPN for most subscriptions. However, its interface is a bit less intuitive. Learn more from our ExpressVPN vs NordVPN matchup.

NordVPN Pro & Cons:

Pros

  • Extensive security features
  • User-friendly desktop UI
  • Fast download speeds

Cons

  • macOS lacks split tunneling
  • Few servers in Africa
  • High latency on distant servers

The story is very similar with Surfshark, which is also faster than ExpressVPN in most of our tests. It’s more likely to work in China since it’s slightly more under the radar, and it has lots of interesting features, like an IP rotator. It’s also a great budget VPN, offering unlimited simultaneous connections. That said, its higher latencies may make ExpressVPN better for gamers and torrenting. Our Surfshark vs ExpressVPN article has more details.

Surfshark Pro & Cons:

Pros

  • Strong security suite options
  • Solid security
  • Excellent speeds

Cons

  • Site may collect your real IP
  • High latency on close servers
  • No Mac/iOS split tunneling

Community Feedback: ExpressVPN Reviews on Reddit & Social Media

Our users on Cloudwards generally agree with our positive opinions of ExpressVPN. One said, “It’s fantastic, I have no issues whatsoever,” while another noted only a slight hit to download speeds. However, another user had trouble unblocking Amazon Prime Video.

On Reddit, one illustrative review described ExpressVPN in the following way: “pretty easy to use, good customer support, easy to install on a variety of routers … about 10 percent faster than my previous VPN.” This user did mention the increased expense but considered it worthwhile.

The Verdict: Is ExpressVPN a Good VPN Service?

ExpressVPN is a very good VPN service. We strongly recommend it if you’re new to VPNs, need a VPN primarily for streaming, or want the ability to torrent on any server location. You can sign up for ExpressVPN with a (for Black Friday) 70% (plus 4 months free) discount and use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind. However, if you’re on a budget, prioritizing speed or prefer having a lot of special features, look to NordVPN or Surfshark.

What’s your experience with ExpressVPN? How did it compare to ours? What sort of speeds did it give you, and what did you use it for? Tell us in the comments, and thanks for reading.

FAQ: Is ExpressVPN Legit? 

  • Yes — ignoring the hype, ExpressVPN is quite good on its own. It’s fast, works smoothly and comes with IP addresses in over 100 countries.

  • No, ExpressVPN has proved itself safe and private in several ways. In 2024, when it learned that its split tunneling was leaking IP addresses, it immediately shut the feature down until it could address the problem.

  • It’s close, but NordVPN is the better service. It’s faster, more affordable and richer in features.

  • No. Since ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers, it doesn’t save anything about your browsing session for longer than an hour.

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