ExpressVPN Review: The Overpriced King That Still Wins (Sometimes)
A deep dive into ExpressVPN.
Let's cut the crap: most VPN reviews are written by affiliates who've never actually used the damn thing for more than five minutes. I've been testing VPNs since the days when "secure tunnel" sounded like a subway safety feature, and here's the hard truth: ExpressVPN is the Apple of VPNs—you pay a premium for polish, but you're definitely funding their marketing budget.
The Meat: Where ExpressVPN Actually Matters
First, the speed. ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol is a legit beast. I ran tests on a 1 Gbps connection in New York, and it consistently hit 450-500 Mbps. NordVPN's NordLynx? Maybe 400 Mbps on a good day. Surfshark? Don't get me started—their "WireGuard" implementation felt like dial-up during peak hours. But here's the catch: ExpressVPN's speed comes at a cost. Their app is so bloated with "features" I don't need that it sometimes lags on startup. I timed it: 8 seconds to fully load on a MacBook M2. For a tool that's supposed to be about instant privacy, that's embarrassing.
Second, the server network. ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries, which sounds impressive until you realize half of them are virtual locations. I tried connecting to their "South Africa" server from London, and my latency was 180ms. Turns out, it was actually a server in the Netherlands with a South African IP. This isn't necessarily bad for streaming, but if you need real geographic presence, it's a rip-off. NordVPN is more transparent here—their 6400+ servers are mostly physical.
💡 Pro Tip: If you're using ExpressVPN for streaming, manually select servers in smaller countries (like Luxembourg or Singapore). They're less crowded, and I've consistently gotten better 4K playback there without buffering. Avoid the "Recommended" server—it's often the most overloaded.
Third, the pricing. ExpressVPN costs $12.95/month on the monthly plan. That's trash-tier value compared to Surfshark at $2.29/month or even NordVPN at $3.99/month on their two-year deal. But here's my personal anecdote: I was in China last year for a client project, and ExpressVPN was the only one that reliably worked behind the Great Firewall. NordVPN kept dropping, and Surfshark was completely blocked. I almost lost access to critical files because I cheaped out initially. Sometimes, you get what you pay for.
The Data: Raw Numbers Don't Lie
| Feature | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Monthly) | $12.95 | $12.99 | $15.45 |
| Price (1-Year Plan) | $8.32/month | $4.99/month | $3.99/month |
| Servers | ~3,000 in 105 countries | ~6,400 in 111 countries | ~3,200 in 100 countries |
| Max Devices | 8 | 10 | Unlimited |
| Speed (Avg. Mbps) | 450 | 400 | 350 |
| Streaming Support | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer | Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime | Netflix, Disney+, YouTube |
| Kill Switch | Yes (always on) | Yes (configurable) | Yes (sometimes buggy) |
The Verdict: Who Should Actually Buy This?
Buy ExpressVPN if you're a frequent traveler to restrictive countries like China or Iran, or if you need rock-solid reliability for high-stakes work. The speed and unblocking ability are worth the premium. Otherwise, avoid it. For everyone else, NordVPN offers 90% of the performance at half the price, and Surfshark is a budget killer if you just need basic privacy. Don't fall for the shiny marketing—your wallet will thank you.
