ExpressVPN review: Unprecedented price shake-up makes this outstanding VPN a better deal than ever before

What is a VPN?

Confused about how VPNs work? Let's break down the basics.

A Virtual Private Network, more commonly referred to as a VPN, builds a secure pathway for all data transferred to and from your device. This pathway kicks-in each time you go online, keeping everything hidden.

If you're concerned by the rise of hacks, password breaches, and cyber frauds (someone in the UK has their identity stolen every two minutes), a dependence on public Wi-Fi networks when travelling, or the boom of streamers like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, HBO Max, there's no shortage of reasons to subscribe to these apps.

The military-grade encryption used by well-respected VPNs, like ExpressVPN, works so well that your broadband supplier won't even be able to see the sites that you're visiting, the frequency that you visit each of these webpages, or the duration you spend on each — information that could be invaluable to advertisers.

If your broadband firm places restrictions on your connection — blocking online gaming, streaming video, or other bandwidth-intensive activities, for example — these won't be applied to anyone running a VPN. That's because there's no way for your internet provider to determine what you're doing online to block specific activities.

Still confused? Think of browsing the internet without a VPN enabled on your machine like sending a postcard. While the message is only intended for the recipient, at every step along the way, others can read the text on the back as it travels through the postal system.

Switch on a VPN, that postcard isn't just in an envelope — it's in a sealed attaché case with a padlock, like a prop from the set of Deal Or No Deal. With that sort of heavy reinforcement, there's no way for anybody other than the intended recipient to check the contents.

Keeping everything beamed to and from your device under lock-and-key with this level of encryption is always prudent, but it becomes even more important when relying on crowded public Wi-Fi networks, commonly found in places like cafés, airports, or shopping malls.

That's because a VPN can defend against eavesdroppers and interception schemes, where someone on the same network snatches data from your connection, dubbed a Man In The Middle-style attack.

Think of a VPN as doing what you'd hope Incognito Mode in Google Chrome did for you (spoiler alert — it doesn't).

As such, VPNs are vital for whistleblowers, helping to uncover wrongdoing without their government keeping detailed notes about their every move online.

But VPNs aren't just for po-faced scenarios about cybersecurity, privacy, or anonymous sources leaking information.

That encrypted pathway that connects your device to the online service you're accessing can be re-routed to any number of server locations around the world, switching the IP address and associated location data.

As far as everyone else is concerned, you're based at whatever location the IP address shows, which is taken from the server location chosen within the VPN app. This unlocks an immense amount of potential for those who want to stream shows, live sports, or access banned services — like WhatsApp in China, for example.

What We Loved

ExpressVPN has been a staple in the ultra-competitive VPN market since its debut in 2009.

That sort of staying power doesn't happen by accident, so it won't be any surprise to learn that ExpressVPN is one of the most reliable, fastest, and intuitively designed VPN services around. With servers located in 105 countries worldwide, spread across 170+ individual locations, there's no shortage of options to spoof your location. All these offer AES-256 protection, the standard used by the US government when shielding classified information.

Whether you're a TV licence fee payer who wants to stream live television via BBC iPlayer while abroad, stream a sports fixture or show from your sofa in the UK that's only available in the United States, or access a social media service that's blocked in your country ...when shopping for the best VPN deals, you'll always want to ensure that your choice has a decent selection of potential VPN locations. Not only that, but you'll want multiple servers at each location, so you won't be scuppered if a particular VPN server gets congested with traffic or goes offline.

If you're hoping to use your VPN subscription to stream shows, films, and sports unavailable in your current location, this is especially useful.

Frequent fliers will already be aware of the overwhelming size of the Netflix catalogue when opening the streamer outside of the UK. With the same login (and subscription cost), you'll find a vast number of new shows and movies that aren't accessible from home.

That's because streaming platforms geographically ring-fence material based on licensing agreements with broadcasters for specific territories.

While original productions financed by the streamer, like Stranger Things, Bridgerton and Squid Game from Netflix for its own service, are always available to stream wherever you are worldwide, the back catalogue of licensed shows and movies will differ by country.

For example, if you want to watch the iconic drama Veronica Mars, which helped to make Kristen Bell a household name, every episode is available to stream on Netflix in the United States... but there's no trace for subscribers living in the UK. With a few taps, ExpressVPN lets you (virtually) relocate without leaving the comfort of your sofa, granting access to a fresh selection of shows — without paying an extra penny for your subscription.

VPNs can also unlock shows that aren't available to stream anywhere in your current location. For example, Tina Fey's award-winning sitcom 30 Rock is available to stream on Peacock in the US, which starts from $7.99 per month. In the UK, it's not included with any streamer, with individual episodes available to purchase from iTunes or Amazon for £2.49 per episode. Ouch.

There isn't anything illegal about opening the Netflix or Disney+ app that's already installed on your smartphone when you're on holiday abroad and watching some of the shows available to stream. However, some of these streamers do prohibit the use of VPNs to do exactly the same thing by manually changing your IP address. It's always worth checking the small print in your favourite app to make sure you're not breaking any rules.

While ExpressVPN does not offer "dedicated Netflix servers" like some of its competitors (CyberGhost markets several servers as "Netflix" within its app to make it easy to access regional libraries from the US, UK, Japan, etc.), in our testing, its servers feel incredibly well optimised for streaming. There's almost no drop in bandwidth, even when re-routing everything you do via a server on the other side of the planet.

Without ExpressVPN, we recorded download speeds of 219Mbps, with an upload speed of 37.3Mbps, and ping of 220ms on our Wi-Fi network. But when connected to ExpressVPN and sending our traffic around the globe, our download speeds did drop (no surprises there) but by a marginal amount.

Our download speed dropped to 202Mbps, with our upload speed hitting 32.9Mbps and ping at 255ms. That's a 17Mbps penalty to encrypt all of the traffic from our device with military-grade protection and unlock an entirely new library of shows, films, and sports fixtures usually only available after a long-haul flight. To put that figure into context, it's the same as someone on your Wi-Fi network watching Netflix in 4K Ultra HD quality.

If you have a slower home broadband connection – and therefore with less overall bandwidth to spare – ExpressVPN is a brilliant choice as you can really maximise what download speeds you have. Some of the best cheap VPNs will compromise with a higher penalty on your speeds.

For expats or vacationing Brits, this can unlock a treasure trove of UK content, like Peep Show, The Inbetweeners, The Great British Bake-Off, Love Island, The Office, Peter Kay's Car Share, and of course, The Traitors. While services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and Channel 4 allow you to download these shows to watch offline before you leave the country, if there are live episodes that you cannot miss, a VPN could be the only way to avoid spoilers.

ExpressVPN is in the midst of overhauling its desktop apps, with new versions coming to Windows and Mac soon. These will bring more functionality to the apps so there's consistency across the whole lineup, the developers have promised. In our time with ExpressVPN, we were impressed with the design and features available in the apps across iPhone, Android, PC, and Fire TV Sticks, to name just a few.

If you're new to VPNs, ExpressVPN's selection of apps are easy to get to grips with. From the moment you launch the app, there's an unmissable power button front and centre that will instantly connect you to one of ExpressVPN's servers. By default, you'll rejoin the last server that you used, so if you've been binge-watching a show that's only available on a US streaming service — a single tap is all you'll need to restart the action.

ExpressVPN offers an auto-connect feature that connects automatically on startup or when joining untrusted networks, providing continuous protection whenever you're online. This is a boon for anyone prone to forgetfulness, and well worth enabling on your most-used gadgets to ensure you're always protected from snopping third-parties.

For more advanced users, there's a slew of useful functionality included with ExpressVPN, like split-tunnelling. If you're unfamiliar with the term, split-tunnelling lets you select certain apps to use the VPN server. Why would you want to re-route your internet traffic to a different corner of the globe? While it might be beneficial for streaming apps, like Netflix, to think you're based in the United States to unlock new shows, it’s not always ideal for navigation apps, like Google Maps, which rely on your exact location for turn-by-turn directions.

Split-tunnelling lets you choose which individual apps will use the VPN connection, and which will bypass it. It's not something everyone is going to use, but plumping for a cheaper VPN subscription could mean that you miss out and are stuck with a one-size-fits-all approach.

There's no need to have everything you do on your laptop, desktop PC, smartphone, or set-top box slowed (even by the minimal 17Mbps we saw in our tests with ExpressVPN...) when there's no need for certain apps or services to be routed to a VPN server on the other side of the globe.

ExpressVPN simplifies split-tunnelling access through its app, allowing you to route traffic per app. However, it’s currently unavailable on iOS and iPadOS, with Android users being the only smartphone owners who can currently use this advanced feature. Mac, Windows, and Linux users can all use split-tunnelling as part of the recently-redesigned desktop apps.

It's worth noting that iOS also lacks the Network Lock emergency cutoff. This vital safeguard blocks IP leaks during sudden VPN drops. Without it, brief exposures can reveal you before reconnection. Network Lock halts all internet access on disconnect, resuming only when the connection has been resumed and assessed as secure. Enabling this feature will probably result in some frustrating disruptions, but it ensures no privacy slips.

Available on Android, desktop computers, and Wi-Fi routers, the advanced functionality performed flawlessly in tests. Still, we'd toggle it sparingly – avoiding dropped calls, halted file transfers, or streaming interruptions outweighs constant use for our money.

ExpressVPN Keys, a password management tool, is no longer free for all users. Once bundled by default, ExpressVPN has decided to withhold its 1Password rival as an incentive for you to plump for its pricier subscription plans. If you missed the news, for the first time since it launched back in 2009, ExpressVPN has ditched its one-size-fits-all approach in favour of three different membership plans.

You can now choose between the following tiers:

• Basic | £1.99
• Advanced | £2.79
• Pro | £4.39

Prices start from £1.99 a month on a two-year subscription. That's roughly 7p per day — or roughly half the cost of what you'd spend on the previous ExpressVPN plan. That's a decent saving for those who only want access to its award-winning VPN service, without the extras.

Even better, that cost provides protection for 10x separate devices, an increase from the previous limit of eight.

So, you'll be getting more devices included with your subscription for less money. Not bad, eh?

It's easily the biggest overhaul to ExpressVPN in its 16-year history.

If you're already subscribed, there won't be any change to this award-winning service for now. Your existing features, device limits, and pricing will remain identical until your current deal expires and it's time to renew. At that point, you'll have the option to choose from one of the new tiers.

Until this overhaul, ExpressVPN was one of the priciest subscriptions in the market. But it justified that cost with its reliable and super-speedy VPN service and the treasure-trove of extras included at no cost — including many services that it's rivals commanded extra for. With this shake-up, ExpressVPN price plans are much closer to what you'll find from the likes of NordVPN, CyberGhost, or Surfshark.

Depending on what you're hoping from your VPN, this could result in some decent savings — or not.

For our money, ExpressVPN Keys is a decent password manager. Subscribing to the pricier Advanced and Pro tiers will also bundle its Advanced Protection to block adverts, trackers on webpages, malicious websites, and more. It's not quite a fully-featured antivirus suite, but it's a decent start.

You'll also be eligible for free eSIM data to use on your next holiday abroad and a 50% discount on ExpressVPN's custom-designed Wi-Fi router.

What We Didn't Love

ExpressVPN offers a pretty comprehensive suite of security services. However, not all of these are available for subscribers in the UK. For example, ExpressVPN offers a service that scours data brokers and people-search sites for your details, producing a list of all the places where your data is available for anyone to see. This process, which takes about 30 seconds, doesn't cost a penny.

But it's currently only accessible in the United States.

Even when features are available worldwide, like the Aircove Wi-Fi 6 router that automatically secures any device that connects to your wireless internet connection at home, prices on the ExpressVPN website are only shown in US dollars. Shipping to the UK is free, but seeing $30 in Taxes at checkout does make the whole thing feel incredibly US-centric.

Thankfully, ExpressVPN does make this product available on Amazon for a more standard checkout process for UK shoppers.

Subscribe to the most affordable Basic plan, and ExpressVPN will let you sign into 10x devices with the same details simultaneously. Of course, you can always change which devices remain logged in with your ExpressVPN account, but it will always be capped.

On paper, that sounds like a lot.

However, if you have Smart TVs in a few rooms of your house, a tablet, smartphone, and a desktop PC ...that limit starts to loom large really quickly.

You can install ExpressVPN on your Wi-Fi router so that all devices connected to your home Wi-Fi network are covered with a single login, but this workaround won't work if you're using the Wi-Fi router supplied for free by your internet provider, since this rarely allow third-party software. Again, you can shell-out $200 (and as mentioned above, it will be sold to you in dollars) on ExpressVPN's Aircove Wi-Fi router to guarantee everything on your home network is on an ultra-secure, encrypted VPN connection, but that's an extra expense.

Compared to the likes of Surfshark, which allows subscribers to login to an unlimited number of phones, tablets, laptops, Fire TV streaming devices, desktop PCs, and more, ExpressVPN seems a little tight-fisted.

Final Verdict

After abandoning its one-size-fits-all approach for the first time in 16 years, ExpressVPN is much more affordable than it ever was.

Crucially, there is no difference to the fundamental VPN service across any of ExpressVPN's subscription plans, something that should be commended, since some rivals place limitations on that experience on lower-cost tiers to incentivise upgrades. But that's not the case with ExpressVPN. As such, if you're just looking to access its incredibly reliable and oh-so speedy VPN service, the Basic plan is perfect.

Granted, it's still not the cheapest option in an (extremely) competitive market. But, in our testing, you definitely get what you pay for.

Compared to budget alternatives, ExpressVPN offers dependable access to servers in a mind-boggling 105 nations worldwide. There's no shortage of choice in many of these countries, so you're unlikely to come up against congested servers. Not only that, but the impact on download speeds was minimal (15-20Mbps dip when routing all internet traffic to the other side of the planet is phenomenal), so those with a decent full-fibre broadband connection at home won't notice any lag when running a VPN full-time.

If you don't have much bandwidth to spare, we'd recommend plumping for ExpressVPN over its rivals to minimise the impact on your speeds.

It's this light touch on available bandwidth, plus its steadfast ability to dodge Netflix's VPN blocks and decent apps for Smart TVs, Apple TV 4K, Fire TV Stick, and other set-top boxes, that makes ExpressVPN ideal for those looking to unlock new streaming opportunities.

Of course, it's not perfect. Expanding Network Lock and split-tunnelling to iOS would be nice, but that is driven by Apple's constraints within iOS, not ExpressVPN's oversight. We'd like to see some US-only features expand to the UK and other markets, too.

Ultimately, ExpressVPN focuses on its core VPN experience — and nails it.

Whether you're hoping to secure your web browsing, bypass restrictions on your Wi-Fi usage, unlock websites that might be banned by your government, or expand Netflix, HBO Max, and Prime Video options... choosing ExpressVPN is a smart move. The Basic plan is the best VPN deal, and offers the same VPN experience as the pricier plans. You're unlikely to miss the trimmings included with other tiers.