NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Which is Better? Tested 2025

NordVPN and ExpressVPN are industry-leading VPNs, making it hard to decide which one to get. Both boast extensive server networks, reliable security, responsive support, and excellent streaming performance. To learn which is the superior option, I extensively tested NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN across various categories.

Throughout my tests, I compared both apps’ connection speeds, streaming performance, security, extra features, support, and more. NordVPN stands out in some cases, like additional features, while ExpressVPN is better at tasks like streaming.

While it was a close call, ExpressVPN stands out as the better option. It outperformed or matched NordVPN in 11 out of 13 categories, making it one of the best VPNs currently available. The comparison below has a detailed breakdown of how I arrived at this conclusion. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

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13 Categories of Comparison for ExpressVPN vs NordVPN

I used the following criteria to compare ExpressVPN against NordVPN and determine which of these is the better VPN:

1. Pricing — I compared the subscription cost, price at renewal, and overall value for money of both apps.
2. Streaming — I checked which of these VPNs works with more streaming sites, like Netflix, Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime Video, and others.
3. Servers — I compared the server networks provided by both apps, including checking whether there are any specialty servers.
4. Speed — I conducted local and long-distance speed tests with multiple servers in both VPNs’ networks.
5. Security — I analyzed the encryption standards and other additional features to determine which app delivers better safety.
6. Torrenting — I downloaded public domain content to determine which VPN is better for downloading torrents quickly.
7. China — I asked colleagues in China to test each of the VPNs to see which one works better despite the national firewall.
8. Gaming — I evaluated each VPN’s ability to maintain low latency to ensure a smooth gaming performance.
9. Device Compatibility — I examined which VPN works on a wider variety of platforms and tested their ease of use on various devices.
10. Company Jurisdiction — I investigated where each VPN is headquartered and whether they’re subject to intelligence-sharing practices.
11. Privacy Policy — I closely examined each VPN’s logging policies to learn whether they store user data.
12. Payment and Refunds — I reviewed the payment methods available for both providers and tested how easy it is to get a refund.
13. Customer Support — I tested the response speeds and knowledgeability of customer service teams as well as the support channels available.

1. Pricing — NordVPN Costs Less Initially, While ExpressVPN’s Prices Don’t Increase on Renewal

NordVPN’s subscriptions are initially more affordable, especially the 2-year + 3 months option. However, the price jumps by over 50% in most cases when renewing. With ExpressVPN, you won’t be charged more than the initial price upon renewal. Here’s a comparison of the key plan details:

Every ExpressVPN plan includes all of the app’s features, but NordVPN’s features vary based on the plan. NordVPN’s cheapest “Basic” plan has VPN and Threat Protection features. The costlier Plus, Complete, and Prime plans add tools like advanced browsing protection, encrypted storage, a password manager, and ID theft monitoring.

When compared to NordVPN’s 1-year Standard Plan, ExpressVPN proves more economical at renewal time. Its price stays at $$4.994.99 per month, while NordVPN increases significantly in the second year without adding benefits.

All things considered, both apps are tied here, as NordVPN has better upfront value, while ExpressVPN costs less while renewing.

2. Streaming — ExpressVPN Works With More Streaming Platforms

While both these VPNs are effective for streaming, I found that ExpressVPN works with more streaming platforms and Netflix libraries. My team and I did a thorough comparison of both apps’ capabilities. The following table shows which platforms and Netflix libraries you can expect them to work with:

Both VPNs offer a smart DNS option to stream on VPN-incompatible devices like smart TVs and gaming consoles. ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer is easy to set up and works reliably with Netflix US, Hulu, and other US platforms during tests. However, you should note that MediaStreamer doesn’t encrypt your connection.

NordVPN offers integrated SmartPlay, allowing smart DNS functionality with VPN encryption as well as manual Smart DNS setup. During tests, this configuration worked with popular streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+, and Peacock TV, but not Netflix.

Either VPN is effective for streaming, but ExpressVPN reliably works with most streaming platforms. Plus, if you’re subscribed to Netflix, ExpressVPN might be the only working option, depending on your location.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

3. Servers — Both VPNs Have Extensive Global Server Networks

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN provide global server networks covering many countries. The following table shows how many servers these apps offer and how many countries they each cover:

While NordVPN has a larger network of servers, I found in my tests that both apps have an equally well-performing server network. The wide variety of locations ensures that you never experience congestion or overcrowding, even during peak hours.

Some of the servers in these apps’ networks are virtual, like the ones in India or countries where VPN usage is banned. Virtual servers aren’t physically located in the country, but they’re usually nearby and assign you the country’s IP address, ensuring a smooth connection and access to local platforms.

NordVPN has specialty servers for obfuscation, torrenting, double encryption, and Onion over VPN connections. While this might sound like a significant strength over ExpressVPN, this isn’t actually the case because all of ExpressVPN’s servers have obfuscation, P2P support, and allow Onion over VPN connections. The only thing missing is double encryption.

Both apps have impressive server networks with worldwide coverage that ensure uninterrupted connections without crowding or congestion, making it a tie here.

4. Speed — ExpressVPN Is Faster Than NordVPN on Distant Servers

I ran speed tests on multiple servers near and far, using a variety of protocols offered by both providers. Like ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol, NordVPN has a proprietary protocol called NordLynx. These are the best-performing protocols in each app, so I used them throughout my speed tests.

Note that factors like internet speed, location, type of device, and other variables can affect results, so your experience might vary. To keep the results as accurate as possible, I ran all tests on a Windows laptop from the UK, where I have an average baseline download speed of 250Mbps.

Speed Test Results

NordVPN was slightly faster on local connections. However, both VPNs are effective on nearby connections because there’s only a marginal loss of speed — less than 10% compared to baseline values.

It takes longer for your data to travel on distant VPN servers, so I expected my speeds to reduce on distant connections. The test results reflect that slowdown, although it’s clear from the table that ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol preserved my baseline speeds better than NordLynx on long-distance connections.

Having said that, both VPNs still provide excellent speeds for streaming and torrenting without lags. I didn’t notice a difference in YouTube video quality, even when connected to servers 9,000 miles away. Still, ExpressVPN does a much better job of minimizing speed loss, especially if you’re connecting to servers far away.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

5. Security — NordVPN Wins With Double VPN Servers and Other Additional Features

NordVPN and ExpressVPN provide all the top security features required to keep your connections secure and private. They also offer advanced tools that many other VPNs don’t. The table below summarizes the key safety features of both VPNs:

Encryption Standard, Protocol, and Server Security

NordVPN and ExpressVPN use AES 256-bit encryption to secure your data, which is the same standard used by the US government military. AES-256 is considered virtually unbreakable with today’s technology, as current brute-force attacks would take billions of years.

Both VPNs also have secure proprietary protocols. Lightway’s Post-Quantum Protection prevents hackers from collecting and decoding your encrypted data in the future with quantum computers. NordLynx, on the other hand, uses Double NAT to establish a secure connection without storing any identifiable data on its servers.

For added protection, ExpressVPN uses TrustedServer technology to prevent browsing activities from being saved to hard drives. Data is only temporarily written to RAM and erased during server reboots. This system was proven to work when Turkish authorities seized an ExpressVPN server for a criminal investigation and recovered zero user data.

NordVPN also uses a diskless, or RAM-based, server infrastructure so that none of your data can be written to NordVPN’s servers. When there’s nothing stored, there’s nothing to hack, share, or leak.

Leak Protection Tests

When testing the VPNs, I didn’t experience any DNS, IPv4, WebRTC, or IPv6 leaks. I tested each VPN by connecting to servers in Germany, Australia, and more — both VPNs successfully masked my true location and prevented leaks.

Both apps include a kill switch to prevent your data from being exposed if your device disconnects. If your VPN is interrupted or the internet connection fails, your actual IP address, identity, and browsing history will still stay hidden.

Ad and Malware Blocking

ExpressVPN has Advanced Protection with blockers for ads, trackers, and malicious sites. You can also block adult sites to keep your children safe on shared devices. NordVPN has a similar Threat Protection feature, but it doesn’t block adult sites.

Additional Features

Besides the standard and advanced security features above, NordVPN also offers a few other bonuses, like:

• Dark Web Monitor — get an alert when your registered email address is compromised and found on the dark web.
• Dedicated IP — provides an exclusive IP address in the US, UK, Germany, and various other countries.
• Meshnet — lets you create a private, encrypted network for file transfers, hosting local gaming servers, or routing your traffic through other devices.
• NordPass (for Plus subscriptions and up) — saves complex passwords and auto-fills logins and online forms for convenient access and safe storage.
• Cyber Insurance (for Ultimate subscriptions) — reimburses when you suffer financial losses from a cyber scam, but you can only buy it if you’re in the US or UK.

Of these, ExpressVPN only offers a password manager called ExpressVPN Keys. It comes with all subscription plans, so you don’t have to pay extra.

While both apps effectively keep your online activity secure, NordVPN wins here by providing extra tools for online safety.

6. Torrenting — ExpressVPN Downloads Files Faster on Every Server

Both VPNs fully support P2P traffic and work with popular torrent clients like BitTorrent and Deluge. Plus, they don’t restrict downloads according to file size or type. ExpressVPN’s entire network supports P2P traffic, but you should note that some NordVPN locations, like Albania and North Macedonia, don’t allow it.

I downloaded the same public domain movie (1.41GB) to test torrenting speeds on both VPNs. ExpressVPN was considerably faster, as downloading only took about 6 minutes. On the other hand, NordVPN took almost 10 minutes.

Both VPNs offer something to improve torrent download speeds. ExpressVPN supports port forwarding with router installation. This feature opens your device to more incoming connections for faster downloads, but it’s at the cost of security, as hackers could access your network through the open ports.

NordVPN doesn’t support port forwarding, but it has SOCKS5 proxy servers in 11 locations, including the US and the Netherlands. Proxies don’t encrypt your traffic, so they’re not the safest either, but the lack of encryption overhead leads to faster download speeds.

Overall, ExpressVPN is better for torrenting because of its faster download speeds. While NordVPN has specific torrenting servers, they were slower than ExpressVPN.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

7. China — ExpressVPN is Among the Few VPNs That Work in China

There are very few VPNs that work in China. Despite having obfuscated servers, even top choices like NordVPN struggle against China’s network restrictions. According to tests conducted by colleagues in the country, ExpressVPN is one of the few services that work consistently in China.

ExpressVPN also has fast speeds for smooth streaming in China. Its servers in Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea accessed YouTube videos with just 3-4 seconds of buffer time.

Make sure you install ExpressVPN before heading to China, as the ExpressVPN website is blocked inside the country. This means it’s also tough to access customer support, but you can still send emails to support@expressvpn.zendesk.com — I had an email response in less than 30 minutes.

Given how it’s the only option that reliably works in China, ExpressVPN wins here.

8. Gaming — NordVPN and ExpressVPN are Great for Gaming on Local Servers

A good gaming VPN keeps latency low to ensure smooth gameplay. Latency measures how quickly the game responds to your commands in milliseconds. The smaller the number, the faster the response time is. A latency of 50ms or less is ideal; 50-100ms is still playable for most games, but anything over 100ms can cause noticeable lag.

My baseline latency figure averaged 12ms, which was perfect for lag-free gaming. I tested again after connecting each app to a local VPN server. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN proved to be effective VPNs for playing Call of Duty: Warzone and other fast-paced online games. There was an increase, but my latency on nearby servers stayed within the 50ms mark.

Latency will increase on long-distance connections regardless of your VPN. When I tried playing Rocket League using long-distance servers in Japan or the US, I experienced noticeable delays that hindered my performance. It’s always best to connect to a server nearby.

Both VPNs effectively prevent DDoS attacks, where a disgruntled opponent overloads your network with a large traffic volume to force you to go offline. These VPNs prevent attackers from launching DDoS attacks on your network by masking your IP address and online activity. With all this in mind, it’s a tie in this category.

9. Device Compatibility — ExpressVPN Works on More Platforms and Is Easier to Use

Although you’ll find NordVPN support for all major devices, I found that ExpressVPN works on more platforms and is easier to use. The following table shows some key differences between both apps:

I like ExpressVPN’s intuitive interface, with a huge power button on all its apps. It’s also one of the few VPNs available with a GUI on Linux. In contrast, NordVPN’s map-based design is harder to navigate, and its connect button is small and less accessible. Additionally, I had delays connecting to NordVPN servers several times, while ExpressVPN always connected in seconds.

Sometimes, VPN features are missing on certain platforms due to the operating system or other factors. For example, NordVPN’s split tunneling feature is only available on Windows and Android devices. However, ExpressVPN somehow retains this feature in the router configuration option as well.

ExpressVPN also has a kill switch for routers, while NordVPN doesn’t. This is helpful if you use a VPN-enabled router for gaming, downloading torrents, or other activities where staying safe is important.

Overall, ExpressVPN is the winner of this category, as its apps are easier to use and work on a wider array of platforms.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

10. Company Jurisdiction — Both VPNs Are Headquartered in Privacy-Friendly Countries

NordVPN is based in Panama, while ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands. Both nations are outside any intelligence-sharing agency’s jurisdictions and aren’t subject to agreements like the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act).

NordVPN and ExpressVPN also provide transparency reports. These reports are regularly updated and show government requests, DMCA requests, gag orders, or similar requests made to the company.

Since both VPNs are located in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction and are transparent about user-data requests, this category is a tie.

11. Privacy Policy — NordVPN and ExpressVPN Have Audited and Proven Policies

Neither VPN records your IP address, DNS queries, browsing history, traffic destination, or file downloads and uploads. However, they still need to collect some of your information to provide service and maintain service standards. The following table shows:

Both VPNs store some basic information about you, like your email address, name, and payment method. These allow you to auto-renew your subscription and prevent service interruptions, but none of the stored data can be linked back to what you do online.

To date, NordVPN has undergone 5 audits to verify its no-logs claim, while ExpressVPN has undergone more than 10, covering its apps, Lightway protocol, no-logs policy, and TrustedServer technology.

NordVPN and ExpressVPN have audited privacy policies and RAM-based servers, so this category is a tie.

12. Payments and Refunds — NordVPN Offers More Private Payment Methods, Including Cash

You can buy either VPN easily with multiple payment options, including private methods. Besides the usual credit card, PayPal, and Google Pay options, you can also subscribe using several cryptocurrencies. NordVPN even includes popular local wallets like GrabPay for users in Malaysia.

To buy privately, you can use a fake email address and pay for the VPNs with a prepaid card or cryptocurrency. What impressed me is that NordVPN allows you to buy with cash in retail stores across the US, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and Ireland. ExpressVPN doesn’t have this option.

Both VPNs offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you time to try them without commitment. If you’re unsatisfied, you can contact either app’s support team and ask for a refund. Note that the refund process is longer if you purchase either VPN through an app store, meaning it’s best to subscribe directly through the official website. Additionally, ExpressVPN’s money-back guarantee is only available to first-time users.

Getting a direct refund from ExpressVPN and NordVPN is easy. Both VPNs’ live chat support processed my refund request within minutes, and getting the money back in my account didn’t take much longer afterward. NordVPN’s live chat agent tried upselling me before confirming the cancellation, while ExpressVPN’s support confirmed it immediately.

Despite the various options both VPNs offer, NordVPN is the winner here because it lets you purchase a subscription with cash — the most private payment method.

13. Customer Support — Both VPNs Have Responsive and Knowledgeable Support Teams

Both providers have multiple support channels and deliver near-instant responses via 24/7 live chat. I’ve contacted both services at different times of day and never had to wait more than 2 minutes for a representative to respond. The following table provides a detailed breakdown of these VPNs’ available support options:

ExpressVPN’s live chat agent gave me a thorough response to the various questions I had. After my initial question, the agent responded quickly, taking less than a minute to type a detailed reply. I then asked another question, which the agent had to check for me — in less than 2 minutes, I had another informative response.

NordVPN’s live chat support is equally as helpful. It takes a bit longer to connect with an agent, but you’ll get helpful answers once you’re in touch with one.

With helpful support staff on both providers’ teams, it’s a tie in this category.

And the Winner Is… ExpressVPN

Per my tests, ExpressVPN is the overall winner and the best VPN in 2025. It won in 5 categories, while NordVPN only won in 2. However, both VPNs were tied in the remaining 6 categories, making NordVPN a close second. The following were the final results:

• Pricing: Tie
• Streaming: ExpressVPN
• Servers: Tie
• Speed: ExpressVPN
• Security: NordVPN
• Torrenting: ExpressVPN
• China: ExpressVPN
• Gaming: Tie
• Device Compatibility: ExpressVPN
• Company Jurisdiction: Tie
• Privacy Policy: Tie
• Payment and Refunds: NordVPN
• Customer Support: Tie

After extensive testing, it’s clear why both VPNs are so popular. NordVPN delivers reliable performance, affordable initial pricing, and a wider variety of features. Some of its noteworthy tools include double VPN servers, dedicated IPs, and the innovative Meshnet tool.

However, despite NordVPN’s strengths, ExpressVPN is the better overall option. Its connection speeds are consistently fast, even on long-distance servers. Plus, it is easier to use, works with more streaming platforms, and costs the same when renewing. It’s also among the few VPNs available that reliably work in China.

You don’t have to take my word for it, though, as you can try ExpressVPN without risk. The app comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, letting you request a full refund if unsatisfied. The same applies to NordVPN as well, giving you plenty of time to try either VPN to see which one suits you better.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

FAQs: ExpressVPN vs NordVPN

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Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.