ExpressVPN has established itself as a well-known VPN provider, gaining popularity through mainstream advertisements on platforms like YouTube. In a recent roundup of the top VPN providers, ExpressVPN ranked highly for its ability to unblock streaming services, accommodate frequent travelers, and cater to gamers. However, it fell short in areas such as security and user friendliness.
VPN usage typically revolves around three main purposes: overcoming geoblocking restrictions, accessing streaming content, and enhancing gaming experiences. To test ExpressVPN’s capabilities, the reviewer attempted to watch the movie Shrek on Canadian Netflix using a VPN from their US-based home office, where the film was unavailable. While signing up for, downloading, and using ExpressVPN was straightforward, it didn’t particularly stand out compared to other services in terms of convenience. Competitors like ProtonVPN presented easier ways to sign in across different platforms. However, ExpressVPN subscriptions do offer a password manager feature for secure account management across various websites, which is a valuable asset in today’s world where complex passwords are essential.
One interesting aspect of ExpressVPN is that it did not impact internet speeds negatively during testing, unlike most other VPNs that would typically slow down connection speeds. This suggests that ExpressVPN can effectively bypass traffic shaping by the internet service provider or perform unusually well due to other factors. The service also successfully masked the user’s IP address and passed the privacy measures in DNS and WebRTC leak tests. In terms of streaming, ExpressVPN provided easy access to geo-blocked content with minimal buffering. While there were minor loading delays while streaming news on YouTube, no significant lag was experienced thereafter. The service also passed the gaming test by avoiding lag and maintaining normal loading times while playing the online game Slither.io with international users.
Surfing the web with ExpressVPN felt as seamless as being online without a VPN. However, a ping test revealed that data took longer to travel from the computer to the server and back when using ExpressVPN compared to when no VPN was active. Despite this slight delay, ExpressVPN’s biggest advantage is its ability to support up to five devices simultaneously without compromising connection speed. This makes it ideal for families or individuals who engage in multiple online activities, such as gaming, streaming, and browsing on different devices simultaneously. Furthermore, ExpressVPN offers a wide range of servers in 94 countries and provides clear instructions for configuration on any device.
In terms of security, ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, a location that the company highlights as lacking foreign intelligence operations and not participating in intelligence-sharing agreements like the 14 Eyes. However, ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies, which also owns a competing VPN service called CyberGhost and has a history that includes spreading malware. In addition, in 2021, the CIO of ExpressVPN, Daniel Gericke, was charged by the Department of Justice for engaging in cyberspying activities on behalf of the UAE. ExpressVPN publicly supported Gericke but has also shared security audits of its mobile apps, protocol, and desktop apps, demonstrating its commitment to transparency. However, a 2021 study conducted by Consumer Reports revealed that ExpressVPN did not support multifactor authentication, failed in certain brute force mitigation checks, and retained some data even after an account was terminated. Although ExpressVPN excelled in certain areas of security, it fell short in others.
Overall, ExpressVPN is recommended as the top choice for gamers, frequent travelers, and heavy users of streaming services due to its ability to provide fast and uninterrupted connections across a variety of devices and locations. It offers options for direct configuration to routers and gaming consoles, making it an excellent choice for individuals who rely heavily on their internet service providers. However, there are other VPN providers that offer stronger security features or more affordable pricing options. With 2,000 servers in 160 cities worldwide and a successful performance in geoblocking, streaming, and gaming tests, ExpressVPN remains a solid option for those seeking a versatile and high-performing VPN solution.
