ExpressVPN Review | Macmonde

During our VPN review this year, we found that ExpressVPN was also blocked in the community. As one of the biggest names in gaming, alongside NordVPN, we were always going to review it, but could it really be that much more impressive than so many of its rivals to earn such a glowing reputation?

In this case, the answer is yes. While ExpressVPN isn’t without its quirks, as so many VPNs are, it’s remarkably easy to use, lacking any extra features on Mac to boil down to the easiest way to connect to servers in over a hundred of country.

But to back up, why would you want a Virtual Private Network? The reasons to use a VPN are threefold at the lowest level. On the one hand, you can bypass geoblocking, allowing you to watch everything on Netflix in the UK while sitting comfortably on your couch in California, for example.

It’s also a great way to protect your data when browsing the web from a public or unknown network. Are you going to the cafe? A VPN can encrypt your connection to minimize the risk of prying eyes.

Finally, even when you’re browsing at home, they can minimize the chances of your Internet provider or just about anyone else seeing what you’re doing. What I like about ExpressVPN is that you can do pretty much all of this in two or three clicks maximum.

It even helps mitigate some of the speed lost when transferring your data to faraway countries, reducing download speeds by less than 13% in our tests. Combine that with a relatively decent price for a year’s subscription and you have an ideal first stop for VPN newcomers.

ExpressVPN features in our roundup of the best VPNs for Mac. It is also included in our Best VPN for iPhone and Best VPN for iPad articles.

Features and applications

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As you’d expect from a household name, ExpressVPN offers native apps on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Android, Windows, and just about everything else.

If you have a smart device, chances are ExpressVPN can work on it, and this is managed via an account-specific activation code that’s easy to set up. You can use it on eight devices at once, which is a step up from the five it previously offered – although, unfortunately, you won’t be able to get unlimited devices like something like Surfshark.

It’s worth noting that aside from encrypting your connection to minimize the presence of “bad actors,” no malware protection is offered here, although you can install a password manager called ExpressVPN Keys. ExpressVPN and its password manager also support browser plugins, so you can use them from the browser of your choice.

Other than that, ExpressVPN is refreshingly simple. There are no subscription tiers, no convoluted add-ons, and you can open the app or use the menu bar item on a Mac to browse securely in seconds.

That said, if you want this type of safety net against malware, something like NordVPN might be worth a look. Or take a look at our roundup of the best antiviruses for Mac.

ExpressVPN’s opening is much faster than some competitors we’ve tested, with a smooth animation when you press the “on” button to connect to the server of your choice.

It will also add a series of shortcuts to the apps and sites you use often, allowing you to quickly access them when you’re logged in, and there are also advanced protection features – more on these in a moment.

I’ve also had great experiences with 24-hour live chat. Within minutes, I can be connected to a real human (no chatbots, hooray!) and be able to discuss any issue.

Performance

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To set expectations – NordVPN remains faster than ExpressVPN. Its ~12% loss in download speed is pretty hard to beat, but 13% from ExpressVPN is still better than a lot. VPNs will always experience some speed loss simply because you’re routing your traffic to a server in another country.

ExpressVPN offers no fewer than six different protocol choices (including the automatic option). Lightway, the company’s own option, is fast. This will give you the best speeds, but for compatibility reasons you can upgrade to another version of Lightway or OpenVPN – although we lost 24% speed using the latter.

It should be noted that advanced protection features will disable OpenVPN and IKEv2. The tradeoff is that these features can block trackers, malicious sites, ads, and adult sites. This is ideal for families who use Express for all their boating activities, giving them added peace of mind.

In my testing, I didn’t find much that Lightway couldn’t handle either, so it may be much simpler to just leave the automatic setting on.

You can also run in-app speed tests on multiple server locations to get an idea of ​​what to expect when connecting, which is handy for countries with multiple server locations.

Privacy and Security

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Bypassing geoblocks is a good thing, but it doesn’t mean much if your VPN doesn’t offer some degree of privacy.

The company is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, meaning it falls outside the jurisdiction of the majority of intelligence-sharing agencies, while also operating a no-logs policy. It doesn’t have anything like PureVPN’s “always on” audit process, but it does undergo regular audits every year.

There is a large section of the ExpressVPN site focused on security, transparency, audits and more called the Trust Center. The company also runs a bug bounty program to reward anyone who can find vulnerabilities in its applications, servers, website, or otherwise.

It’s worth noting, however, that using something like the IP Address Checker or DNS Leak Test in the app takes you to a separate web page, which is a shame – but maybe that’s the price to pay for a faster native macOS experience.

Rates and packages

ExpressVPN’s pricing is something of a double-edged sword. For one thing, it’s more expensive than many of its contemporaries and doesn’t allow access from an unlimited number of devices like some do.

On the other hand, you get a solid, fast connection with minimal hassle and optional extras, and you don’t need to strike a two-year deal to get the best value. This last point is important because VPN legislation can change regularly depending on which way the wind blows, although at least you tend to lock in prices for the duration of your plan.

Still, the 12-month option here is probably enough for many, although it will cost more than comparable alternatives.

Verdict

ExpressVPN is a fast and easy-to-use VPN service offering great protection against prying eyes and questionable cafe Wi-Fi, plus almost unlimited potential for enjoying streaming services on any of its servers in 105 country.

Even with a fairly high price, it is very easy to recommend for its pragmatic approach to VPN.