ExpressVPN Review 2024: Fast & Safe, but Is It Still the Best?

Is ExpressVPN Fast? (Yes, It’s Really Fast!)

ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN I’ve tested, so much so that I sometimes forget I’m connected to it. I’ve used ExpressVPN for years to browse online, stream TV shows and movies, play online games, and torrent large files — I have no complaints about its speed. More than 80% of ExpressVPN’s network uses 10Gbps servers, providing fast and reliable connections.

Speed Test Results

I ran speed tests from different locations around the world (with the help of my colleagues) — and I was impressed to see that ExpressVPN’s servers are consistently fast worldwide.

Generally speaking, servers that are further away from your location are slower. Surprisingly, there wasn’t a huge difference between ExpressVPN’s server speeds in nearby France or almost 17,000 km away in Australia.

I also tested ExpressVPN’s Lightway and OpenVPN protocols to see how they compare. Lightway is lightweight, comprising around 2,000 lines of code (compared to OpenVPN’s 70,000). This was especially visible in how fast I could connect to and switch between servers. It’s also great for mobile since it doesn’t drain as much battery.

You can see the results of each protocol below, versus my baseline speed of 520Mbps. Your results will vary, but it gives a good indication of what each protocol is capable of.

Compared to other VPNs, ExpressVPN had the least impact on my baseline speeds (which means it won’t slow you down). To test this, I launched ExpressVPN on my Windows PC and connected to a Melbourne server, which was furthest from my location. My download speed slowed by just 25% — not much at all considering the distance.

For the quickest server connection, I’d suggest using a server that’s close to your physical location. But if you’re traveling or need to connect to a server far away, ExpressVPN offers great connection speeds worldwide so you won’t experience a significant slowdown.

Are ExpressVPN’s Speeds Fast Enough for Gaming? (Yes)

Fast speeds are crucial for gaming, with low latency being the most important factor. Latency, or ping, is the time it takes for data packets to travel between your device and the game server. High latency results in lag during gameplay, negatively affecting in-game reactions and timings — anything below 100ms is suitable for online gameplay.

I tested ExpressVPN with Call of Duty: Warzone and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) on Steam — these competitive online games require fast connections with low latency. ExpressVPN exceeded my expectations, with a ping of roughly 55ms which was ideal for gaming.

Overall, I barely noticed that I was using a VPN — but remember, your own results will vary depending on your distance from the server.

Large Global Server Network (105 Countries)

ExpressVPN has 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, with a wide-ranging selection covering most of the globe. This means you can find a server nearby, whether you live in the US, France, Sri Lanka, or New Zealand. The best coverage is in Europe and North America, but there’s a solid selection in the Middle East, Africa, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

For regions with unstable infrastructure or strict internet laws, ExpressVPN also has virtual servers so you can securely get a local IP there. Less than 5% of servers are virtual, and they’re available in 60 locations.

Obfuscated Servers — Ideal for Staying Hidden From Eavesdroppers

All ExpressVPN servers are obfuscated by default, making it an excellent choice if you’re traveling to countries with restrictions on VPNs. Server obfuscation hides your VPN use, making it easy to get around deep packet inspection (the technology that detects VPN traffic).

ExpressVPN also offers a frequently updated mirror site in case you want to download it while in a censorship-heavy country. Email the support team to get the most up-to-date working link (support@expressvpn.zendesk.com).

TrustedServer Technology — Automatically Erases All Data From Servers

ExpressVPN’s servers operate through RAM disks as opposed to hard drives. RAM disks require constant power to store data, so when servers are rebooted every 1-2 weeks, all information is instantly wiped — erasing any trace of your private data and browsing history.

To demonstrate confidence in its TrustedServer technology, ExpressVPN has a bounty of $100k available for anyone who finds a security-critical bug. This shows me that ExpressVPN doesn’t anticipate anyone finding a flaw in its server security, which makes me feel confident that my data is safe.

Smart Location — Nice Idea With Middling Execution

In theory, the Smart Location feature recommends a nearby server for optimal connectivity. However, it occasionally suggests odd choices, like an Italian server while I was in Poland, or New York while in England.

Though it aims for servers with high speeds and low latency, I generally found that manual selections were more accurate.

Is ExpressVPN Good for Torrenting and P2P? Yes!

All of ExpressVPN’s servers are optimized for P2P activities, supporting popular clients like uTorrent, qBittorrent, and Vuze. With ExpressVPN’s fast speeds, I downloaded a 10GB file in just 3 and a half minutes.

ExpressVPN uses premium security features to keep your torrenting safe and private, like military-grade encryption, IP address rotation, and a kill switch. Plus, ExpressVPN’s jurisdiction in the British Virgin Islands means none of your data or online activity is stored or shared, as there are no mandatory data retention laws.

That being said, using ExpressVPN doesn’t mean you can download any file you want — copyright-protected material is always illegal to torrent.

Can ExpressVPN Be Used in China?

ExpressVPN is one of a handful of VPNs that work in China, using robust encryption and obfuscation to connect to servers abroad. This lets you access sites like Facebook, Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, and Netflix without being blocked. ExpressVPN doesn’t have servers in China, so it’s not subject to local regulations and data logging requirements. However, connections in China can be unstable due to the restrictive government firewall, so take advantage of ExpressVPN’s 30-day money back guarantee to test the service’s availability for yourself.

If you’re traveling to China, I recommend pre-downloading ExpressVPN as the website is blocked there. Alternatively, contact customer support through email (support@expressvpn.zendesk.com) to ask for the most recent mirror link, which should allow you to download the app in China.

Security Features

Cutting-Edge Encryption Standards — Provides Unbreakable Security Layers

ExpressVPN uses the highest standard of encryption available — AES 256-bit encryption combined with a 4096-bit RSA key and SHA-512 HMAC authentication — which is currently considered impossible to break.

The SHA-512 HMAC authentication adds extra security to data transfers. Both the sender and receiver of the sent file use a shared secret key — any changes in the secret key mean the connection has been intercepted, so you’ll know immediately if there’s an intruder.

Additionally, ExpressVPN is now including post-quantum protection with its Lightway protocol. Lightway uses the Kyber encryption algorithm, recognized as the standard for post-quantum encryption. This protects you against quantum technology, which could undermine today’s encryption — essentially, ExpressVPN is future-proofing your security.

Multiple Security Protocols Available on All Devices

ExpressVPN offers Lightway, OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), and IKEv2. ExpressVPN doesn’t make all protocols available on every device, although each OS gives you plenty of options:

You can easily choose a protocol by clicking the “Settings” icon and navigating to “Protocol.” The “Automatic” option is enabled by default, so ExpressVPN will select the best protocol based on your network.

For most users, it’s best to stick with the “Automatic” setting, but if you have any network issues you can quickly switch to a different option.

Automatic Kill Switch — Successfully Secures Internet Traffic During Connection Drops

Network Lock prevents any data or traffic information from leaking if your VPN connection drops. In case of connectivity issues, this kill switch temporarily blocks your internet connection until you reconnect.

This feature is available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and router apps. On Android and iOS, it’s called “Network Protection.” I tested it on my Windows PC and smartphone, and my internet was blocked every time I manually interrupted the VPN. It’s enabled automatically, so you don’t need to worry about switching it on.

You can also allow or disallow access to LAN devices (like a printer or file server) if Network Lock cuts the connection to the internet. Alternatively, Network Lock can completely cut off access to your device on all networks.

Leak Test Results — No Leaks Found

I used ipleak.net to check for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks and found there were zero data leaks when connected to ExpressVPN’s servers.

Only my new IPv4 address was visible (IPv6 was blocked) so there was no risk of leaks exposing my data.

Split Tunneling — For Windows, Mac, Android, and Router Apps (More Than Most Other VPNs)

ExpressVPN offers split tunneling on its Android, Windows, and router apps. Split tunneling lets you choose specific apps to bypass the VPN. For example, by enabling split tunneling you can watch shows on a foreign streaming platform and also do some local online banking.

Unfortunately, Split Tunneling isn’t available on macOS 11 (Big Sur) and above or on iOS.

Advanced Protection — Blocks Ads, Trackers, Malicious Sites, and Provides Parental Controls

ExpressVPN’s Advanced Protection features add extra privacy protection by blocking websites and apps from tracking you, as well as blocking malicious websites, ads, and adult sites. Features are available in the Options menu as Threat Manager, Ad Blocker, and Parental Controls. I didn’t see any targeted ads while using ExpressVPN’s Advanced Protection.

They’re available for use on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux, and they’re only active while you’re connected to the VPN.

ExpressVPN Keys Password Manager

ExpressVPN’s Keys service offers a password manager that can create and store super-strong passwords (and the associated logins). It also auto-fills relevant sites and apps to cut down time spent logging in.

Unlike other free password managers, ExpressVPN lets you store an unlimited number of passwords, and you can also store data like passport numbers, medical information, or credit/debit cards as “secure notes.” Keys will also help identify vulnerable passwords and check if your passwords have been exposed in data breaches.

Dedicated IP Addresses in 29 Locations

ExpressVPN is currently rolling out a dedicated IP address for Windows, Android, and iOS apps. You can choose from 29 different locations to purchase an IP address exclusively for your use, which is a great way to avoid CAPTCHAs and account verification processes.

Privacy Features

Strict No-Logs Policy — Tested and Passed

ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has been verified and proven. In 2017, Turkish authorities sought user logs from ExpressVPN, but there was no data to hand over. Authorities then seized a local server to attempt data retrieval but were ultimately unsuccessful. This went a long way in proving ExpressVPN is trustworthy and your data is secure.

ExpressVPN does give you the option to share data with its technical team for diagnostic purposes. All data is anonymous and can’t be traced back to you, so your privacy is still ensured. As an extra safety precaution, I recommend opting out.

Located in the British Virgin Islands

ExpressVPN is owned by Express VPN International Limited, a privately held company in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Headquarters in the BVI means ExpressVPN is not subject to any mandatory data retention laws, mass surveillance programs, or the 5, 9, and 14 Eyes intelligence-sharing network.

Third-Party Audits — Successfully Passed

I was impressed to find that ExpressVPN has undertaken numerous independent audits to back up its privacy and security promises. Since 2019, ExpressVPN has worked with multiple auditing firms to show that it has nothing to hide and is committed to transparency with its customer base. The full results of these audits are publicly available online.

ExpressVPN provides support in 3 ways — 24/7 live chat, email ticketing, and visiting the support website.

24/7 Live Chat — Best Way to Contact ExpressVPN for Fast and Friendly Help

Live chat is my preferred method of contacting ExpressVPN since it’s so quick and easy. When I tested live chat, it only took a few seconds to connect to a customer support agent.

The agents always provided detailed explanations and answers to my questions, offered solutions, and made sure I was fully satisfied before closing the chat.

Email Support — Only Takes 30 Minutes to Receive a Reply

I sent multiple emails to customer support over 24 hours, from registered and non-registered email addresses — I wanted to see if ExpressVPN would help if I wasn’t a current customer.

I was impressed by the quick turnaround, as I had friendly and helpful responses to my emails within 30 minutes every time.

Tested: Website Troubleshooting Guides and FAQs

ExpressVPN’s website help center is well-organized with many in-depth guides on features, common technical issues, and installation instructions. I especially like the useful video tutorials for more technical topics.

Even if you’re a complete beginner, you can easily follow ExpressVPN’s guides to set up complex configurations.