Choosing the Right VPN Service: NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN Compared

Like you, I’ve lost count of how many VPNs exist right now. The fact that many of them offer similar features, plans, and benefits makes choosing the right VPN even harder. If you need to choose between NordVPN vs ExpressVPN, this article will save you a lot of time (and possibly money).

ExpressVPN is faster and offers a more enjoyable internet experience than NordVPN. However, NordVPN provides better security, privacy, and pricing.

So, if you need a high-end VPN for your streaming and gaming, sign up and try the ExpressVPN service.

If you want maximum security and privacy, with more affordable subscription plans, sign up and try NordVPN.

Main Features – Speed, Server Locations, and More

Don’t have time to read through it all? Here’s a quick summary to help you make a decision right away:

	NordVPN	ExpressVPN
Speed	Download: 38mbps – 45mbps Upload: 5mbps – 6mbps Ping: 5ms – 40ms	Download: 54mbps – 65mbps Upload: 4mbps – 6mbps Ping: 7ms – 70ms
Stability	stable	Slightly less stable
Compatibility	Apps for: Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android Extensions for: Chrome,  Edge, Firefox	Apps for: Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, routers, Chromebook, Amazon Fire Extensions for: Chrome,  Edge, Firefox Limited services for: ●  smart TVs (Apple, Android, Chromecast, Firestick, Roku) ●  gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo)
Connectivity	Max. of 6 devices	Max. of 5 devices
Data Caps	Unlimited	Unlimited
No. of Locations	60 countries	94 countries
User Interface	Easy to use	Extremely easy to use

After spending time with both NordVPN and ExpressVPN, I took note of how their key features performed.

NordVPN

Speed

Because every device’s internet speed is slower with an active VPN connection than without one, you can only hope that your chosen VPN doesn’t ruin your browsing experience.

So, I tested NordVPN for speed. Thankfully, I only noticed a slight drop when I connected to the VPN server. To be sure, I ran more tests using different servers, locations, and protocols. Here’re the results:

●  Download speed: 38mbps – 45mbps

●  Upload speed: 5mbps – 6mbps

●  Ping speed: 5ms – 40ms

Download speed is a big deal for me and most avid internet users, hence, I was pleased to see that NordVPN allowed me to play high-end games and stream 4k videos with almost no hitch. The speed of uploading wasn’t bad either.

Although I don’t own many IoT devices, I found that NordVPN’s download and upload speeds were more than suitable to run IoT devices in a smart home.

From experience, I know that when it comes to ping, the lower, the better. And anything below 50ms is great. Throughout my tests with NordVPN, my ping never went higher than 40ms.

Stability

Stability in VPNs indicates how well the service maintains connections on single or multiple devices without dropping. It also represents the ability of the VPN to maintain its highest speed throughout a session.

I did a little research before I tried NordVPN, just to see potential problems users were experiencing. Stability was one of the major issues, apparently. However, my tests showed that the developers have fixed the issues plaguing their software’s stability.

There were a few drops in speed here and there, but nothing too severe, and I enjoyed a stable connection every time I used the software on any of my devices.

Compatibility

NordVPN has apps that worked with my iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play Store), and macOS devices. From the company’s website, you can find apps compatible with Windows and Linux.

For browsers, NordVPN currently provides extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. With all these supported devices, I believe the service has good compatibility with common gadgets, but doesn’t go the extra mile like ExpressVPN.

Overall, both VPNs offer apps for a variety of operating systems and have browser extensions as well. NordVPN also has the advantage of offering access to RAM servers, which are even more secure than regular servers, and this made the connection timestamps and server speeds significantly faster.

Connectivity

I always say that paid VPN options shouldn’t restrict how many devices subscribers can use on their accounts. Unfortunately, the reality is that many VPN providers do. NordVPN is one of them, and it only allows subscribers to connect a maximum of 6 devices per account.

Data Caps

Of course, I also believe paying subscribers shouldn’t have a limit to how much data they can consume under the protection of their VPNs. Thankfully, the majority of VPNs agree with me, including NordVPN. There are no data limitations to your account during your subscription period.

Server Locations

Having a VPN with obfuscated servers in dozens of locations gives you access to content that would otherwise be unavailable to you. The number of servers per location also affects speed, stability, and user experience.

NordVPN’s server count is impressive, with over 5,000 servers in more than 50 countries, including numerous locations in the United States.

NordVPN has 3200+ VPN servers in 65+ countries, which is pretty decent.

Interface

The apps and extensions are well-designed and everything seems to be in place. Although I’m tech-savvy, regular software users should have no problems as NordVPN is easy to use.

ExpressVPN

Speed

NordVPN has built a reputation of being one of the fastest in the industry. Hence, I was pleasantly surprised to find that ExpressVPN goes toe-to-toe with it in this aspect, even surpassing it.

Here’s the summary of the data I got from my ExpressVPN speed tests:

●  Download Speed: 54mbps – 65mbps

●  Upload Speed: 4mbps – 6mbps

●  Ping: 7ms – 70ms

The best part of these results is the download speed. I seamlessly played the most demanding online games and streamed 4k videos.

It didn’t work too well when I tried to use it for live streaming, though. I wasn’t too surprised because the speed of upload is less than the recommended 10mps.

As for ping, ExpressVPN could do much better to reduce the upper limit of their current range.

A quick tip: If you want to reach the best speed on ExpressVPN, run the Lightway VPN protocol. You’ll thank me later.

Stability

After several days of testing, I realized that ExpressVPN is slightly less stable than NordVPN. The speed hardly fluctuated but the VPN server connection did drop a few times, particularly when I put my laptop on sleep mode.

Compatibility

After doing some research on the ExpressVPN website, I found that their apps are downloadable on a wide variety of systems. There is an ExpressVPN app for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. Also, they have software that you can install directly on your router, Chromebook, and Amazon Fire.

Having dedicated firmware for my router was a breath of fresh air. I didn’t have to go through a complicated setup to connect my router to ExpressVPN.

I did try the MediaStreamer option on my Android smartTV. With it, I was able to unlock Netflix content on my smartTV even without connecting directly to the VPN. Unfortunately, doing this increased the number of connected devices on my account.

You can also use MediaStreamer on your gaming consoles.

Connectivity

If I was annoyed at NordVPN for restricting accounts to 6 devices max., ExpressVPN did not help matters. The service only allows a maximum of 5 devices per account.

Data Caps

There are no data limitations with ExpressVPN. You can use unlimited bandwidth and data on any subscription plan.

Server Locations

ExpressVPN has 3000+ VPN servers in 94 countries. Although I’ve seen VPNs on a larger server network, very few offer as many as 94 countries to choose from – not even NordVPN.

Overall, both VPN providers have servers in multiple locations worldwide, giving users plenty of options for accessing content and protecting their online activity.

However, ExpressVPN does have some unique server features, such as a server list that displays the current number of users connected to each server, providing useful information for users looking for the fastest connection speeds.

All in all, both NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer solid options for their users in terms of server and connection speed.

Interface

The interface was spectacularly simple. Anyone can navigate it. I found nearly all the ExpressVPN apps extremely easy to use.

🏆 Winner is: ExpressVPN

With faster speed, more locations, better compatibility, and an easier interface, ExpressVPN beats NordVPN soundly in this round.

Security & Privacy – Encryption of VPN Servers, VPN Industry Policies, and More

When it comes to VPN features and protocols, both NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer a variety of advanced options to ensure maximum security for their users. NordVPN features include a split tunneling feature and a kill switch, as well as a variety of tunneling protocols and P2P servers for faster and more efficient file sharing.

	NordVPN	ExpressVPN
Encryption Technology	AES standard – Double Encryption Protocols: IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN, NordLynx	AES standard – Traffic Mixing Protocols: Lightway, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and IKEv2
No-Log Policy	Nearly 100%	Not 100% – logs the following:  Personal Data: email address, payment info, and order history Anonymous Data: App versions used, server locations used, connection dates, amount of data used, crash reports, and connection diagnostics
IP Masking	Yes	Yes
Kill Switch	System-wide and selective	System-wide
Ad-blocker	Browsers only	None
Malware Protection	Websites and files	None

ExpressVPN offers similarly robust security features, such as a built-in kill switch and DNS leak protection, as well as smart DNS for easy access to content from various regions. Additionally, both VPN providers offer high-end encryption standards and secure server networks to keep online activity private and safe.

Overall, NordVPN and ExpressVPN are clearly dedicated to keeping their users’ data safe and secure.

Security and privacy in a VPN are just as important as any other benefit. People like me download such apps to feel more secure about their data and internet connection.

NordVPN

Encryption Technology

Before I reveal details of NordVPN’s encryption, let’s see the basic VPN encryption roadmap:

●  You connect your VPN

●  The software creates an encrypted tunnel

●  Your data goes through this tunnel

●  Only your VPN servers can make sense of the encryption, and no other party (even your internet service provider)

NordVPN has AES 256-bit standard encryption technology, which is the highest level of internet security. It is also military-grade encryption. They took this a step further by offering a feature called Double VPN. It reroutes your traffic to a second specialized server before sending it to its original destination. Hence, a NordVPN server gives you twice the encryption.

Minor issue:

The Double VPN option was only automatically available to me on the Android app. For iOS, I had to switch to the OpenVPN protocol to see it.

No-Log Policy

With VPNs, no logs policies are tricky. They say they don’t keep logs of personal data, but that’s easier said than done. Usually, carefully reading their privacy policies will reveal that they indeed log some of your data.

It’s impossible for us to test no-log policies directly, and VPN platforms know this. The sincere ones submit to third-party security and privacy audits regularly.

I did some deep research into NordVPN and found that their nearly 100% log-less claim has some truth to it. They are a Panama-based company, and as such, don’t have the same strict data retention laws as other VPNs (such as ExpressVPN in British Virgin Island).

Also, they have submitted two audits by PricewaterhouseCoopers AG (PwC) – both coming out favorable.

So, my verdict is that they truly do NOT log user information except email and username.

IP Masking

IP masking is a basic VPN feature that you should be entitled to when you pay. NordVPN hides the real IP address for all connected users.

Kill Switch

In case you don’t know, it is a VPN option that cuts off internet activity when your VPN connection drops. This feature keeps your devices from having risky moments of vulnerability.

NordVPN has a kill switch that offers both system-wide and selective options. Choosing the system-wide switch will cut off your entire device and its apps from internet access.

But with selection, you can choose which apps maintain access to the internet when your device loses a connection of VPN. The selective switch helped me keep my mobile bank app running, even when I lost my connection.

Threat Protection

NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature is an ad and malware blocker. I tried it on my browsers and didn’t receive ads while it was on, which was a refreshing change for me.

To test its malware protection, I intentionally visited some sketchy sites and tried to download their content (yes, I did this for you, but I don’t recommend it). Threat Protection kicked in with a crucial warning both times.

ExpressVPN

Encryption Technology

ExpressVPN also has AES 256-bit standard encryption tech. As an extra layer of security, they mix your traffic with that of other users in their specialty servers so even the VPN providers can’t tell which data is yours.

No-Log Policy

Based in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN says they don’t keep logs of sensitive user information. I did some digging to see if their claims were true. It turns out they’re pretty open about what they log into their privacy policy.

They keep:

●  Personal Data: email, payment info, and order history

●  Anonymous Data: App versions used, server locations used, connection dates, amount of data used, crash reports, and connection diagnostics

According to Techradar, ExpressVPN recently underwent an audit by PwC. So, you can trust their claims.

IP Masking

ExpressVPN help to hide the IP address of all subscribers when connected.

Kill Switch

The service offers Network Lock, which is a system-wide kill switch. The few times my VPN connection flickered, I couldn’t access the internet until it was back on.

Ad-blocker and Malware Protection

ExpressVPN does not have an ad blocker. I tried to find one in their software, but couldn’t. Also, they have no malware protection feature.

🏆 Winner is: NordVPN

NordVPN is a clear winner in this round, all thanks to their nearly 100% no logs policy, selective kill switch, and ad/malware blockers.

Plans & Pricing

	NordVPN	ExpressVPN
Free Plan	No	No
Subscription Durations	One Month, One Year, Two Years	One Month, Six Months, One Year
Cheapest Plan	$3.59/month	$6.67/month
Most Expensive Monthly Plan	$12.99/month	$12.95/month
Best Deal	$107.73 for TWO years (51% savings)	$99.84 for ONE year (save 35%)
Best Discounts	15% student, apprentice, 18 to 26-year-old discounts	12-Month Paid Plan + 3 Free Months
Refund Policy	30 days	30 days

Next, I’ll let you know how much I spent on both ExpressVPN and NordVPN.

NordVPN

They have three pricing plans:

• 1 Month at $12.99/month
• 12 Months at $4.99/month
• 24 Months at $3.59/month

I chose to save 51% by purchasing the 24-month plan. NordVPN also has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For discounts, I found only one. It was a 15% discount strictly for students, apprentices, and 18 to 26-year-olds.

ExpressVPN

The service also offers three pricing plans:

• 1 Month at $12.95/month
• 12 Months at $6.67/month
• 24 Months at $8.32/month

I would have picked the 12-month plan directly from their pricing page to save 35%. But thankfully, I checked for discounts first…

My search uncovered one discount offer. They offered a coupon that gave me an extra 3 free months when I purchased the 12-month plan. It was a limited offer, but you can check the ExpressVPN coupons page to see if it’s still on.

🏆 Winner is: NordVPN

Despite the coupon, ExpressVPN is way more expensive than NordVPN. Hence, NordVPN wins the affordability round.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Customer Support

	NordVPN	ExpressVPN
Live Chat	Available	Available
Email	Available	Available
Phone Support	None	None
FAQ	Available	Available
Tutorials	Available	Available
Support Team Quality	Good	Excellent

I’ll relay my personal experience with both VPNs’ support facilities, along with the experience of others.

NordVPN

The NordVPN site offers 24/7 live chat support and email assistance, which I found very helpful when navigating my router settings. The live agents responded within 30 minutes and 24 hours respectively.

However, I can’t take my experience as typical. So, I went over to Trustpilot to see NordVPN’s latest customer service and support reviews. Of 20 reviews, I found 5 bad, 1 average, and 14 excellent. From this, I can tell that generally, NordVPN’s customer support is good but not excellent.

I also found several helpful FAQs and tutorials on the site, but no phone support.

ExpressVPN

The ExpressVPN website also offered 24/7 live chat support and email assistance, and their agents had about the same response times as NordVPN. The site also had FAQ sections and VPN tutorials, but no phone support.

When I checked their customer support reviews on Trustpilot, I discovered something fascinating. Of 20 reviews, 19 were excellent and 1 was average – not a single bad review. It’s safe to say ExpressVPN offers excellent customer support.

🏆 Winner is: ExpressVPN

From public sentiments, they clearly have a better support team.

Freebies & Extras

	NordVPN	ExpressVPN
Split Tunneling	Yes	Yes
Connected Devices	Router	Router app and MediaStreamer
Unlockable Streaming Platforms	20+ services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu	20+ services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu
Dedicated IP	Yes (paid option)	No

These are premium VPN services, so it’s only fair that they come with some extra perks. Here’s how they performed in this aspect.

NordVPN

Sometimes you need certain apps (e.g bank apps, workspace apps, etc.) to function without VPN protection, even when connected. This is where split tunneling comes into play. NordVPN offers split tunneling for every device.

The service also unlocks streaming services. I used it on 20+ platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu.

Also, I connected the VPN to my router using this NordVPN post. I was able to use my Playstation with a VPN thanks to this feature.

NordVPN also offers an extra service called Dedicated IP, which gives you your own IP address in any country. If your worksite only allows you to use a specific IP, then you should try it. Although it costs an extra $70/year to get, I like that such an option is available to subscribers who need it.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN also offers split tunneling.  I tried it on 20+ streaming sites, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu. They all worked seamlessly.

You can connect devices through the router app or MediaStreamer. Both are easy to set up, but the app was much better because it allowed me to connect an unlimited number of devices to my router’s VPN and bypass the 5 max. rule.

🏆 Winner is: NordVPN

Split tunneling is nice, but having a dedicated IP address can be priceless in the right situation. Hence, NordVPN offers a better add-on.

Still confused? you can check our Nordvpn and Expressvpn alternative guides to choose a better option.

Our Verdict ⭐

Although both VPNs are fantastic, for the sake of the ExpressVPN vs NordVPN debate, you need to know which is better. Well, NordVPN is a better VPN in my opinion. It surpasses ExpressVPN in terms of security and privacy.

Equally important are the affordable plans that NordVPN offers because ExpressVPN is a lot more expensive (nearly $100 per year). However, I can’t deny that ExpressVPN has unrivaled performance.

If you’re looking for a cheap and highly-secure VPN with great performance features, try NordVPN. And if you don’t mind the cost because you need a VPN that’s ideal for gaming and streaming, you should try ExpressVPN.

Both services offer 30-day money-back guarantees, so you have nothing to lose!

Recent Improvements & Updates

ExpressVPN and NordVPN constantly update their VPN with additional, better, and more secure features to help users maintain their online privacy and internet security. Here are some of the most recent improvements (as of October 2024):

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:

1. 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?
2. 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?
3. 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?
4. 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.
5. 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?
6. 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?
7. 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?
8. 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.