ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPNs on the market. It’s popular because it’s one of the best. There are very few other VPNs that can compete with it. It’s got thousands of servers around the world, and its ability to unblock geo-locked content on streaming sites is unmatched. But is ExpressVPN legit and safe to use?
By the end of this article, you’ll know whether or not you should spend your hard-earned cash on this VPN service.
What is ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN is a VPN that allows you to browse the internet without compromising your privacy. Companies big and small are always tracking you and collecting information about what websites you visit.
With ExpressVPN, you're not just signing up for a service; you're embracing the liberty of the free internet the way it was meant to be. Access the web without borders, where you can stream, download, torrent, and browse at lightning-fast speeds, while staying anonymous and securing your online privacy.
They use this information to display your targeted advertising. The amount of data these companies have about you grows over time. If you use Facebook a lot, they probably know what you do and where you like to go eat every Saturday evening.
ExpressVPN allows you to take back your privacy. When you connect your device to ExpressVPN’s network, all your network requests are routed through the VPN servers that are spread around the world.
This way, there’s no way for an advertiser to build a profile on you by collecting data about your web browsing activity.
If you care about your privacy, you need a VPN! And in our research, we haven’t yet found a VPN that is better than ExpressVPN. It’s one of the safest and most reliable VPNs.
It’s also incredibly fast, user-friendly, and can unblock geo-locked content on streaming sites.
ExpressVPN Key Features
No Logging Policy
ExpressVPN doesn’t log any of your web browsing activity on its servers. If you want to browse the internet privately without any worry, you want a VPN that doesn’t log any of your browsing data.
Most other VPNs that claim to have a no-logging policy don’t. They might brag about it on their website but they don’t have the spine to uphold it. Their knees get weak as soon as the government knocks on their doors.
ExpressVPN’s no-logging policy has stood the test of time. It’s been independently verified by a team of auditors.
Because ExpressVPN’s parent company is registered in the British Virgin Islands, they can’t be forced by foreign governments to reveal any data about you. The BVI is like what Switzerland used to be for banking but for privacy.
Foreign governments can ask BVI to look into the matter but can’t force their hand into doing anything. And even if BVI finally asks ExpressVPN to share data with a foreign government, they won’t be able to because they don’t keep any data about you.
Unblocks Streaming Sites Reliably Without Buffering
ExpressVPN can unblock geo-locked content on most of the popular streaming sites including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, Crunchyroll, Britbox, and many others.
The best part about using this VPN is that it’s able to reliably unblocks geo-locked content almost every time. This isn’t true for most other VPNs. It’s also rare to see any buffering on most streaming sites when you’re using ExpressVPN unless your internet connection itself is slow.
If you want a VPN so you can stream shows and movies that aren’t available in your country, ExpressVPN is one of the best options. It’s fast and works every time!
Apps For All Desktop Devices, All Mobile Devices, and Some Routers
ExpressVPN keeps you safe no matter what device you use. It has apps for iOS and Android. It also has apps for macOS, Linux, and Windows. You can also install its browser extensions. And if you don’t want to use one of ExpressVPN’s apps, you can always configure OpenVPN to work with it.
ExpressVPN has firmware software for a lot of popular routers. Once you install the firmware on your router, all devices connected to the router can browse the internet safely.
I like this option because this way you don’t need the app on all your devices, and you don’t have to ask other members of your family to install it either.
ExpressVPN Pros and Cons
Here are some pros and cons of ExpressVPN to help you decide whether or not its worth your time:
Pros
- 30-day money-back guarantee: If you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason, you can cancel and get a full refund from ExpressVPN within the first 30 days.
- Can unblock geo-locked content on most streaming services: ExpressVPN is one of the best when it comes to unlocking geo-locked content on streaming services. It works with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Go, and many others.
- No Logging: ExpressVPN doesn’t keep a log of your web browsing activity on their servers. This is the most important feature that you should look for if you want your VPN to hide and protect your privacy. Most other VPNs on the market might say that they don’t log your browsing activity, but they do it behind the scenes without your knowledge. ExpressVPN doesn’t.
- Supports Tor Network: You can use ExpressVPN together with the Tor network. Your internet connection will probably get a little slow because of Tor. But if you want complete privacy, you can connect to both the VPN and the Tor network.
- Apps For All Your Devices: ExpressVPN has apps for all mobile and desktop devices. It even has apps for Kindle devices and your router. It also has extensions for all popular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
- Huge Network of Fast Servers: Its servers are really fast. You’ll seldom see any buffering if you have a fast internet connection. It also has over 3,000 servers spread around the world.
Cons
- A little more expensive than other VPNs: But it has sales coming up year-round where the 2-year plan gets cheap. Also, it’s better than most other VPN providers.
- Check out my list of the best ExpressVPN competitors here.
If you still aren’t convinced that ExpressVPN is worth a try, read my detailed review of ExpressVPN where we go over the ins and outs of the service.
Is ExpressVPN Safe To Use?
ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption to encrypt all the data that is sent from your device to its servers. This way, your data is never at risk of getting intercepted by your ISP or a hacker.
Your ISP will just see long strings of text and nothing else if they try to read your data mid-transit, and nothing else
There’s no way for hackers or your ISP to crack this encryption mid-transit and read your data. Because of security features like this, it’s trusted by millions of users around the world. It’s one of the safest VPNs and is recommended by IT security professionals.
Does ExpressVPN Protect Your Privacy?
ExpressVPN has a no-logging policy, which means they don’t keep a log of what websites you visit. Most other VPN providers falsely advertise that they don’t keep logs, but in the background, they are always colluding with the governments.
This isn’t true just for small VPN companies; it’s also true for many big VPN companies. ExpressVPN’s no-logging policy has been verified by an independent team of auditors.
Another reason why ExpressVPN is great for your privacy is that it’s based in the British Virgin Islands. Companies that aren’t based in BVI or Panama or similar smaller jurisdictions with little oversight are often pressured by their governments to record your web browsing data. This isn’t the case for ExpressVPN as they are based in BVI.
ExpressVPN comes with a built-in kill switch. It disconnects your internet if the connection between your device and the VPN server breaks at any point while you’re browsing the internet.
This feature is really important because if your VPN connection breaks even for a second, your ISP will find out what websites you are currently using. This is because websites often communicate with their servers in the background. A kill switch is important to prevent any leaks.
Summary – Is ExpressVPN Legit & Safe to Use?
ExpressVPN is one of the safest VPNs on the market. It’s feature-packed and protects your privacy.
If you are looking for a VPN to watch geo-locked content that isn’t available in your country, ExpressVPN might be the best choice. Its ability to reliably unblock and stream geo-locked content on sites like Netflix is unmatched.
The only bad thing about ExpressVPN might be its pricing. It’s a tiny bit more expensive than other VPNs. But that’s not without its benefits. It’s one of the safest VPNs on the market and it has all the features you’d want in a good VPN.
It even has lots of sales year-round where you can get a 2-year subscription at a very cheap price. They have one going right now!
If you are thinking of buying a subscription to ExpressVPN, be sure to check out my guide to ExpressVPN’s pricing and plans. It will help you choose the best plan for your needs.
How We Review VPNs: Our Methodology
In our mission to find and recommend the best VPN services, we follow a detailed and rigorous review process. Here’s what we focus on to ensure we provide the most reliable and relevant insights:
- Features and Unique Qualities: We explore each VPN’s features, asking: What does the provider offer? What sets it apart from others, such as proprietary encryption protocols or ad and malware blocking?
- Unblocking and Global Reach: We assess the VPN’s ability to unblock sites and streaming services and explore its global presence by asking: How many countries does the provider operate in? How many servers does it have?
- Platform Support and User Experience: We examine the supported platforms and the ease of the sign-up and setup process. Questions include: What platforms does the VPN support? How straightforward is the user experience from start to finish?
- Performance Metrics: Speed is key for streaming and torrenting. We check the connection, upload, and download speeds and encourage users to verify these on our VPN speed test page.
- Security and Privacy: We delve into the technical security and privacy policy of each VPN. Questions include: What encryption protocols are used, and how secure are they? Can you trust the provider’s privacy policy?
- Customer Support Evaluation: Understanding the quality of customer service is crucial. We ask: How responsive and knowledgeable is the customer support team? Do they genuinely assist, or just push sales?
- Pricing, Trials, and Value for Money: We consider the cost, available payment options, free plans/trials, and money-back guarantees. We ask: Is the VPN worth its price compared to what’s available in the market?
- Additional Considerations: We also look at self-service options for users, such as knowledge bases and setup guides, and the ease of cancellation.
Learn more about our review methodology.
