BEST VPN SERVICES
ExpressVPN Review 2023: Summary
Using a virtual private network (VPN) is a great way to fight against the growing trend of “surveillance capitalism” and reclaim your personal space online.
VPNs safeguard you by encrypting all of your online traffic before sending it to a remote server.
It prevents hackers from tracing your online activities and protecting your private information.
The company claims that if you’re looking for a VPN service that can safeguard your data and has a global presence, look no further than ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN’s apps have been given a facelift, and the company has increased its popularity.
However, the service is still pricey and lacks the depth of functionality offered by lesser or equally priced rivals.
This ExpressVPN review aims to examine the service according to a set of criteria that are important to paying clients.
A number of requirements must be fulfilled, including security, privacy, speed, effectiveness, affordability, accessibility, and support.
ExpressVPN Review 2023: In-depth
The company state that ExpressVPN’s enormous number of server locations, software for routers, and device flexibility make it one of the most sought-after VPN services.
The company is privately owned and operated out of the British Virgin Islands, known for being privacy-friendly due to its lack of data-sharing contracts with other countries.
The company claims that ExpressVPN has a single package with unlimited bandwidth, access to all supported apps, and a dedicated support team available around the clock.
Monthly pricing starts at $12.95, with discounts available for prepaying for six or twelve months at $9.99 or $8.32, respectively.
Customers can try out ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days.
As an added bonus, you can pick the server with the best speeds from the company’s over 3,000 servers in more than 150 countries.
Speed: Is ExpressVPN Fast?
ExpressVPN’s it is not the quickest VPN we’ve reviewed. NordVPN is faster than ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN developed its own VPN protocol in contrast to the many VPNs that simply adopted Wireguard.
Lightway is freely available and offers increased throughput, seamless handoffs between wireless and cellular networks, and robust safety measures.
We did a battery of speed tests across multiple geographically dispersed servers in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
ExpressVPN’s download speed averaged 475 Mbps among all locations and testing windows. It’s quicker than CyberGhost and IPVanish but slower than NordVPN.
Although your wired internet speed is far higher than 300 Mbps, you probably won’t notice any significant slowdown when using ExpressVPN.
Check out the average transfer rates for servers worldwide below:
- The closest region is North America, which has a speed of 472 Mbps.
- 453 Mbps in Asia
- Speeds of 500 Mbps in Europe
Privacy
The company claims ExpressVPN uses a military-grade encryption protocol to safeguard user data.
Thanks to Diffie-Helman mutual authentication, you can safely connect to the remote server; your data will be protected from even the most sophisticated attacker due to AES-256-GCM, and you’ll be safe from any alterations made in real time because of robust HMAC authentication.
Having DNS support is also a plus. If you’re concerned about your online activity streaming out of the VPN tunnel, ExpressVPN has you covered with both DNS leak security and a unique private, zero-knowledge, 256-bit secured DNS on all nodes.
It is a significant benefit over less reliable providers, some of which might even divert your DNS traffic to OpenDNS or another third-party service if something goes wrong.
Utilizing unencrypted DNS exposes you to various risks, including logging at the DNS server and interception, filtering, blocking, and modifying your requests by attackers.
The company professes that these risks are mitigated to a considerable extent by ExpressVPN’s technique.
VPN Protocols
Since VPNs are an established technology, numerous methods exist for setting one up.
As OpenVPN is freely available and has been scrutinized for security flaws by someone with interest, it has been our go-to for a long time.
In terms of open-source VPNs, WireGuard is the clear successor to OpenVPN, with faster speeds and more advanced encryption technology, according to the developers.
Unfortunately, its relative novelty means that not all VPN services support it.
Instead of providing WireGuard, ExpressVPN has focused on OpenVPN and its native protocol, Lightway.
It is prudent that this protocol makes use of the publicly available wolfSSL cryptography library, as developing novel cryptographic systems is risky business.
ExpressVPN’s apps for Android, Linux, Mac, and Windows all support Lightway and OpenVPN. These features are also accessible on routers set up to use ExpressVPN.
There are now only two protocols—OpenVPN and IKEv1/2—supported by the ExpressVPN iOS app.
Even though L2TP isn’t the most secure protocol, it is nonetheless supported by the macOS and Windows apps as a historical feature.
ExpressVPN has added IKEv2 support to its Windows client software.
Is Expressvpn Good And Safe For Torrenting?
If you’re looking for a VPN that works well with torrenting, ExpressVPN is a normal option, but if you are searching for a great opportunity, then NordVPN is highly recommended.
ExpressVPN is a good torrenting VPN because all of its servers support P2P connections, the speeds are decent, and plenty of advanced security options keep you safe.
In our tests, we saw that it took a while for download speeds to increase, but once they did, they hovered between 6 and 15 MB/s (48-120 Mbps).
The speed also varied irregularly. If you aren’t looking for lightning-fast download and upload speeds, NordVPN is a great option for torrenting.
In contrast, we recommend NordVPN if you only need a VPN for torrenting because it is cheaper and faster.
Torrenting tests have yielded excellent results from each provider, although ExpressVPN has not fared as well.
Kill Switch
Connection drops are possible with any VPN service. The leakage of your true IP can occur after just two seconds of lag. It is why a kill switch is a standard feature in VPNs today.
This failsafe prevents any data from leaving your network until your VPN is back online.
ExpressVPN has an integrated kill switch that works on routers, Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows.
It’s important to remember that the “Network Lock” is really just a kill switch disguised with a fancy moniker.
Disabling it is possible on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux; however, we don’t advise doing so.
Even though it isn’t called Network Lock, a comparable option is available in the ExpressVPN Android app.
When your VPN connection drops or drops again, you can use this to prevent access to the internet.
Moreover, it has comprehensive leak-proofing, which constantly blocks any traffic that is not coming from the VPN.
Some VPN functionality, such as split tunneling, will be disabled as a result.
Encryption
ExpressVPN, like any good VPN service, places a premium on security.
AES-256 is utilized for encryption, which is also employed by the United States government and many other top-tier security organizations worldwide.
Having it as part of a bundled solution with Lightway will alleviate many of your concerns about data protection.
As an alternative to the more commonplace HTTPS over TLS, the Lightway protocol establishes connections using the TLS-based D/TLS 1.2, which offers increased security against DDoS and Man in the Middle attacks.
Does ExpressVPN Keep Logs?
ExpressVPN’s carefully designed apps and servers erase any private data.
ExpressVPN does not and will not keep any logs of its users’ Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, web activity, target IP addresses, traffic statistics, or DNS lookup queries.
It does maintain logs of connections and activities.
Please be aware that ExpressVPN will keep track of the apps and app types you effectively activate, the dates you link to the VPN, the VPN server location you choose, and the maximum weekly data transfer quantity in MBs.
However, ExpressVPN and other people will not be able to correlate your online system activities and behavior based on these parameters.
ExpressVPN only collects this information for troubleshooting, providing technical help, and identifying and fixing network issues.
How Easy Is It To Install ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN has successfully removed the hassle associated with setting up a VPN, which may be a daunting task for some users.
The company claims that ExpressVPN is unlike other VPN services in that you must create an account before downloading.
Once you get beyond that stumbling block, everything will move along quickly and easily.
On the webpage, ExpressVPN automatically identifies your operating system and points you to the version it believes you require; in our opinion, this is always the exact thing.
You may also download a special performance from the menu bar at the top of the page.
Smart Location
With ExpressVPN, the Smart Location function chooses the fastest server for you. It’s especially useful in regions with limited accessibility, such as Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
The same holds if you happen to be in China or any other country that imposes stringent regulations on online activity.
A large VPN On button makes using the feature a breeze.
The ExpressVPN router app will instantaneously link you to Smart Location. Of course, you’re free to choose wherever you choose.
The Threat Manager at ExpressVPN
You can further protect your online anonymity using ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager tool.
ExpressVPN keeps track of servers that get data from third-party trackers and prevents your connection from communicating with them.
It adds to the security afforded by the VPN, making it even more difficult for marketers to correlate your online activity with your IP address.
Even though they’re labeled “advanced,” the features there aren’t particularly cutting-edge.
We were relieved to learn that the option to send ExpressVPN performance reports is unchecked by default.
Supported Platforms
ExpressVPN has desktop software for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems.
Smartphone devices for ExpressVPN are compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Apps are also available for various smart television platforms, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, and Chromecast.
The only smart TV that doesn’t support a VPN is Samsung TV, which instead offers the inferior MediaStreamer smart DNS streaming app.
Pricing
- There is a regular $12.95 monthly fee.
- The typical yearly fee is $99.95 ($8.32/month).
ExpressVPN has monthly plans for $12.95, 6-month plans for $59.95, and yearly plans for $99.95, with no discounts. A 30-day money-back guarantee backs all purchases.
Using the Paymentwall service, you can settle bills using various methods, including major credit cards, bitcoin, PayPal, and more.
ExpressVPN is available as a chrome extension and as a router add-on for devices that support it.
ExpressVPN does not provide a dedicated IP address, as they believe frequently changing users’ IP addresses is more secure and private.
Although ExpressVPN does not come with a password manager, the company has partnered with SAASPASS, a password and identity authentication app.
Customer Support And Refund Policy
With larger VPN services, customer assistance is hit-or-miss, but ExpressVPN seems to be succeeding with its live chat feature.
To write this comprehensive ExpressVPN review, Most of the reviewers used their help system extensively. Customer service was always quick to respond, informative, and cordial in my experience.
The bottom right of their website is where you may reach live chat assistance any time of day.
If you have any trouble configuring the VPN on your gadgets or have any queries that aren’t addressed on the website, having access to live chat assistance is a huge benefit.
In Summary, the best VPNs in 2023 are;
| Rating | VPN Service | Get Offer |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Top Rated#1 | NordVPN - #1 VPN in the industry | FREE Trial |
| #2 Top Rated#2 | Surfshark - top budget VPN | Start Now |
| #3 Top Rated#3 | Atlas VPN - best free VPN | Start Now |
Review Verdict
This ExpressVPN review aims to enlighten you on everything from the service’s key benefits and installation procedures to any drawbacks it may have.
Although ExpressVPN is pricier than competitors, NordVPN is a great alternative if you want to enjoy a similar performance on a tighter budget.
Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN are top-tier services that will satisfy the requirements of the vast majority of customers.
If you’re willing to commit to a yearly plan, NordVPN offers the best value.
More servers are available on its network, and advanced users will appreciate the availability of dedicated IP addresses.
These VPN services have kill switches, split tunneling, security against DNS leaks, and excellent media streaming and file sharing speed.
Yet, NordVPN is marginally superior, especially when considering the cost of subscriptions with a longer duration.
ExpressVPN Review 2023: Is It Legit? Is It a Scam? - EarthWeb
In this article, we will give a solid ExpressVPN review and cover all the aspects, including its features, pros and cons, benefits, installation, operation, and much more.
Price: 12.95
Price Currency: USD
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Android & iOS
Application Category: VPN
4
Pros
- A sizable number of servers located in various places
- Security and privacy measures that are rock solid
- Using a technique called “split tunneling.”
- Elegant user interface
Cons
- Expensive
- There are no multi-hop connections allowed.
- Costs that are significantly higher than usual
- Extensions for ExpressVPN’s browser app are not supported.
- Streaming hosts lack clear identification.
- Varying speeds
- Few if any supplementary options
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Written by Trevor Cooke
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