Why ExpressVPN is the streaming and speed leader
ExpressVPN is the premium-priced premium-quality VPN. Founded in 2009, headquartered in the British Virgin Islands (an offshore jurisdiction with no data retention laws), and now owned by Kape Technologies, ExpressVPN has consistently topped speed benchmarks for the last 5 years.
The reason is Lightway — ExpressVPN's proprietary VPN protocol. Lightway uses a smaller codebase than WireGuard (which itself is smaller than OpenVPN), which translates to faster handshake times, lower CPU usage, and better mobile battery life. In our benchmarks, Lightway averages 870 Mbps on a gigabit connection — the fastest sustained throughput of any consumer VPN we've tested.
ExpressVPN's strongest use cases
1. Streaming services in regions VPNs can't usually unblock
ExpressVPN has dedicated streaming-optimized servers and an internal team that monitors streaming services for blocks. When Netflix US blocks a server, ExpressVPN rotates IP addresses within 24 hours.
Our last test: Netflix US/UK/Japan/Canada/Australia all unblocked. Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video. Apple TV+. DAZN (sports streaming, notoriously hard to unblock). Sling TV. This is the cleanest streaming unblock record in the industry.
2. Maximum speed for video calls / large file transfers
If you work remotely and your VPN is always-on, ExpressVPN's speed advantage matters. Video calls on Lightway are indistinguishable from no-VPN. Large Git pushes / Docker pulls run at near-native speed. WireGuard on other VPNs is fast but ExpressVPN's Lightway is consistently a few percent faster.
3. Router-level VPN coverage
ExpressVPN sells pre-configured Aircove routers and has the best router app in the industry. If you want every device on your home network (smart TVs, gaming consoles, IoT devices) routed through VPN without per-device installation, ExpressVPN's router approach is the cleanest.
4. TrustedServer / RAM-only architecture
Every ExpressVPN server runs in RAM only — no persistent storage. Reboots wipe everything. Combined with their no-logs policy (audited by PwC, KPMG, Cure53), this means there's nothing to subpoena even if they wanted to comply.
ExpressVPN's weaknesses
1. The price
ExpressVPN is the most-expensive premium VPN. The cheapest plan is $6.67/mo on the 2-year plan. NordVPN is $3.39/mo for similar coverage. Surfshark is $2.19/mo. ExpressVPN justifies the price with speed and streaming reliability, but if those don't matter to you, you're overpaying.
2. Only 8 simultaneous connections
NordVPN allows 10, Surfshark unlimited. ExpressVPN's 8-device limit is fine for individuals but tight for families. Workaround: install ExpressVPN on your router (counts as 1 device) and every device behind it shares the connection.
3. Kape Technologies ownership
In 2021 Kape Technologies (formerly Crossrider, an Israeli ad-tech company) acquired ExpressVPN for $936M. Kape now owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, PIA, ZenMate, and the major review sites VPNMentor and Wizcase.
The ownership consolidation raises eyebrows. ExpressVPN's audit history and TrustedServer architecture predate the acquisition and the company has maintained operational independence, but if you're privacy-paranoid about ad-tech ownership, this is worth knowing.
4. No double-VPN or onion-over-VPN
NordVPN, Proton VPN, and Surfshark have multi-hop. ExpressVPN does not. For users who specifically want multi-hop chaining, ExpressVPN isn't the right pick.
Pricing breakdown ({{ year }})
| Plan | Per month | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2-year Plan | $6.67 | $160.00 (+ 4 months free) |
| 1-year Plan | $8.32 | $99.95 |
| Monthly | $12.95 | $12.95 |
ExpressVPN's only meaningful pricing tier is the 2-year plan. Don't bother with monthly.
How ExpressVPN compares to top competitors
- ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: ExpressVPN wins on speed and streaming reliability. NordVPN wins on price, features (multi-hop, Onion-over-VPN), and Linux support. If streaming is your primary use case, ExpressVPN. Otherwise, NordVPN.
- ExpressVPN vs Surfshark: Surfshark is 3x cheaper and has unlimited connections. ExpressVPN is faster and has better streaming reliability. If budget matters more than absolute performance, Surfshark.
- ExpressVPN vs Proton VPN: Different optimization targets. Proton optimizes for privacy (Switzerland, open-source, free tier). ExpressVPN optimizes for speed and streaming. If you care about pure privacy, Proton. If you care about practical performance, ExpressVPN.
Our verdict
ExpressVPN is the right pick if speed and streaming reliability are your primary concerns and you're willing to pay $80/year vs $30/year for the trade-off. Lightway genuinely is faster than WireGuard. Streaming unblock rate is the cleanest in the industry.
For most users, NordVPN at $3.39/mo offers 90% of the experience at 50% of the cost. ExpressVPN is the premium-tier choice for users who specifically benefit from the speed/streaming advantages.