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ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: which VPN should you choose?

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In this article, we have compared ExpressVPN vs NordVPN – the largest premium VPN services. Each of them can be called the best in certain areas, but which one has the edge overall? We’ve found a lot of differences between ExpressVPN and NordVPN and invite you to consider them before making the final decision.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: head-to-head

The table below is an overview of key features that each VPN must possess. This includes security, privacy, speed, and streaming, among others. While NordVPN is the overall winner, we encourage you to read on and learn more about what ExpressVPN has to offer.

Comparison by category

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are excellent VPN services. They have a strong technical base and millions of satisfied customers. Usually, that means that each provider attracts users with certain preferences, such as security, speed, or removing geo-restrictions.

I will compare NordVPN and ExpressVPN in seven categories – the same that we use for regular VPN reviews. Performing well in each of them is crucial for the top-notch services these VPNs aim to be. Therefore, I will determine the winner of each category and the one with the most points will win the whole comparison.

CategoryNordVPNExpressVPN
Servers and speed
Streaming
Torrenting
Pricing
Apps and devices
Security and privacy
Customer support
Total wins
6 out of 7
4 out of 7

Servers and speed

All VPNs slow down your connection due to encryption. However, the impact can range from barely noticeable to debilitating. Luckily, you won't have performance issues either with NordVPN or with ExpressVPN, but there are some noticeable speed differences, as seen from the tables below.

Download speed

CountryNordVPNExpressVPN
United States
120-240110-220
Canada120-230120-200
Germany160-260150-240
Australia90-16070-150
Japan80-15080-150

Upload speed

CountryNordVPNExpressVPN
United States
60-11080-150
Canada60-10060-120
Germany110-200120-240
Australia50-17060-170
Japan60-15050-130

While ExpressVPN showed better results in upload, NordVPN was faster at downloading. However, this should be noticeable only when downloading large files with a quality internet connection. Both providers use in-house tunneling protocols and seem to have made a good investment.

Servers

ExpressVPN and NordVPN have truly global server fleets and are equally matched. On one hand, NordVPN has nearly twice the number of servers (5600+ vs 3000+). On the other, ExpressVPN's country list is 37% longer (59 vs 94).

However, both VPNs have solid presence in most popular destinations, such as United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Japan, or Australia.

What countries does ExpressVPN offer that NordVPN does not?

  • Algeria
  • Andorra
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahamas
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Bhutan
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cambodia
  • Colombia

  • Ecuador
  • Guatemala
  • Isle of Man
  • Jersey
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Liechtenstein
  • Macau
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Myanmanr
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Phillippines
  • Sri Lanka
  • Urugay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Venezuela

Also, NordVPN doesn't offer any exclusive countries on its server list.

What's more, some of ExpressVPN's servers are virtual, meaning they aren't physically located in that particular country. NordVPN uses only bare-metal options and also owns some of them. Both providers actively implement RAM-only technology which means no data is stored permanently.

NordVPN is much more convenient in choosing a specific server. You can choose a VPN server on the locations menu. Each server has its number. Therefore, if you choose not just a location but a specific server, next time you will be connected to it.

NordVPN server selection<br>

Besides, it is not necessary to choose a server. You can choose just a country or city.

Moreover, NordVPN offers Dedicated IP servers. This means that you will always have the same IP, which is convenient when trying to unblock streaming or avoid blacklisting.

NordVPN dedicated servers<br>

Overall, I'd say that NordVPN fares better in the server department. While it offers fewer countries, their lack should be a problem only to a small percentage of users. Other than that, you get way more servers and none of them are virtual.

Netflix and other streaming services

This category was the hardest to determine the winner in. The thing is, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are, based on my test results, great for streaming, but only the former is among the top services for unblocking Netflix. They both consistently support almost all Netflix regions and errors are extremely rare. You'll also be able to watch Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+, and other content platforms.

Streaming platform
NordVPNExpressVPN
Netflix✅ Yes✅ Yes
Amazon Prime Video
✅ Yes✅ Yes
HBO Max
✅ Yes✅ Yes
Disney+✅ Yes✅ Yes
BBC iPlayer
✅ Yes✅ Yes

The speeds should be more than enough for 4K (UHD) video quality. There's low risk of experiencing buffering, unless you have poor internet conenction.

What's more, both providers include the Smart DNS feature for unblocking your favorite movies and shows on devices without VPN apps. These include smart TVs, Roku, and game consoles. The difference is that ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer offers only unblocking and NordVPN's SmartPlay adds encryption for traffic protection.

Torrenting: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN

Both providers allow torrenting, are fast, and have a similarly high level of hiding this activity from the ISP. However, there are some important differences to discuss.

To start with, ExpressVPN allows P2P on all servers. In the meantime, NordVPN has torrenting-optimized hardware in over 40 countries. However, thanks to the NordLynx tunneling protocol, download speeds should dwindle if you connect to the nearest available location.

When talking about features, ExpressVPN lacks a SOCKS5 proxy. On the other hand, it allows split tunneling on all devices while NordVPN supports Windows and Android only. In the end, it's up to you to decide which of these pros and cons are more important to you.

Plans and pricing

NordVPN is much cheaper than ExpressVPN. Besides, it offers a 2-year plan, which is a good option knowing that VPN prices tend to rise every year. Of course, a lot depends on the NordVPN plan that you choose.


NordVPNExpressVPN
One month$11.95/month$12.99/month
Six months
-$9.99/month
One year
$4.99/month$8.32/month
Two years
$3.29/month-

Actually, NordVPN has two more plans – Plus and Complete. The former adds a NordPass password manager ($3.99/month) and the latter tops everything up with 1 TB of NordLocker secure cloud storage ($5.29/month). Even if you take the shorter yearly Plus or Complete subscription, NordVPN will cost you less than ExpressVPN while adding two essential tools for online protection.

While none of the providers offer a free version, there's a 7-day NordVPN free trial. It requires an Android but once activated, it works on all devices. However, you'll need to enter payment details.

Last but not least comes the money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer 30 days risk-free, which is an industry standard.

Apps and devices

NordVPN and ExpressVPN are available on a wide range of platforms. Even if a particulate device doesn't support VPNs, you can still protect it with the help of a router connection.

NordVPNExpressVPN
Apps for popular platforms
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux
Apps for other platforms
Android TV, Fire TV Stick
Android TV, Fire TV Stick, Routers
Browser extensions
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave
Supported platforms
Routers, NASChromecast, Roku, nVidia Shield
Allowed connections
65

As the table shows, the options are pretty similar. While NordVPN allows more simultaneous connections, the difference is marginal. Besides, you can always connect unlimited devices if you use a router.

In fact, ExpressVPN has a dedicated router app, which makes everything much simpler. NordVPN offer manual setup and how-to guides, but this can still prove daunting to less experienced users.

Both VPNs have nicely designed and easy to use apps, but some might like the NordVPN's approach with a clickable world map better. There's also an alphabetical list of countries you can connect to.

Security and privacy

Once again, the contestants are matched pretty evenly. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer solid protection based on military-grade encryption. However, there are some concerns with the latter that I'll discuss later in this section.

NordVPNExpressVPN
Tunneling protocols
NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP, PPTP
Kill switch
Connection level & app-level
Unavailable on iOS
No-logs policy
Independently-auditedCourt-proven and independently audited
JurisdictionPanamaBritish Virgin Islands
Anonymous payments
Cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin
FeaturesDouble VPN, Onion over VPN, Threat Protection, Obfuscated servers, split tunneling, SOCKS5 proxy, Dark Web Monitor, Meshnet
Threat Manager, Obfuscated servers, split tunneling, port forwarding

First of all, ExpressVPN for iOS doesn't have a kill switch. This is a pretty common problem among VPNs but nevertheless, it poses an increased risk. If your VPN connection suddenly drops and you don't have a kill switch or it's turned off, your real IP address will be exposed.

Secondly, ExpressVPN offers fewer features. It lacks NordVPN's Double VPN (multi-hop), SOCKS5 proxy, and Dark Web Monitor (breach scanner). However, its split tunneling is available on all platforms and port forwarding can be a godsend for torrenters if you're behind a firewall.

Privacy-wise, ExpressVPN would seem to be a winner with its court-proven and audited no-logs policy. Yet its reputation has suffered after Kape Technologies acquired ExpressVPN in 2021. The new owner has been known for previously injecting devices with malware hidden in software installs.

Moreover, Daniel Gerricke, now CIO of ExpressVPN, illegally worked in UAE as a hacker, creating cyber-espionage software. He also has a Deferred Prosecution Agreement which requires him to cooperate with the US authorities. And while all these facts didn't seem to have an impact on the quality ExpressVPN's services, those working with sensitive information should think twice before choosing this VPN.

Customer support of NordVPN and ExpressVPN

In short, both NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer exceptional customer support. This applies to every type of available help options.

Customer support
NordVPNExpressVPN
24/7 live chat
Email
Phone

Users should expect responsive and friendly 24/7 live chat. I never had to wait longer than a couple of minutes before the agent contacted me. The email communication was also swift – I always got answers the same day.

Even though neither NordVPN nor ExpressVPN have a phone line, this isn't a common option in VPN industry. Only a couple of premium providers offer it and just one of them has a 24/7 line.

Then there are substantial knowledgebases to dig into. Those include FAQs and how-to guides, among other things. And if English is not you first language, you will find most of the articles translated to more than 10 languages.

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN comparison video

Learn all the key differences between NordVPN and Express VPN in our dedicated video comparison.

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN on Reddit

While I'm not giving score to VPNs that have better reputation on Reddit, it's still worth check it out what users have to say about ExpressVPN and NordVPN. After all, Reddit has a strong community where useful comments get upvoted fast and spammy slurs are quickly buried.

For this article, I’ve analyzed the opinions of the Reddit community members who are experienced with using both VPN providers. As I expected, opinions were divided.

ExpressVPN is mostly praised for speed, and NordVPN for price and usability:

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN on Reddit

There is a lot of feedback about the low price of NordVPN:

NordVPN is cheaper than ExpressVPN
NordVPN costs less than ExpressVPN

There are also reviews on NordVPN's technical superiority:

NordVPN is technically superior

I have presented only a small part of the reviews I found. Users’ opinions depend on the scope of a VPN, the users’ location, their experience, and the type of device used.

Therefore, it is impossible to determine a true leader by reviews. This is not surprising – two of the best VPN services are compared. One thing is for sure – both services are popular among Reddit users.

Conclusion: which VPN is the better?

Well, I have compared two awesome VPN services. At the same time, I have tried to fully cover their non-obvious details, analyze the technical part, delve into the reviews of the users who are experienced in both services, and took into account my personal many years’ experience.

I was so scrupulous about comparing ExpressVPN and NordVPN because I was choosing a VPN service for personal use.

Today, NordVPN is a faster and more technologically advanced provider. It also has a better price-to-value ratio, which puts it above ExpressVPN in 2022.



FAQ

Comments

Dave
prefix 5 years ago
As for me, NordVPN is better!
Ilya
prefix 5 years ago
NordVPN is not the best choice IMHO. I downloaded it and it reduced my speed significantly. The default speed was about 100 mbps, but with Nord it is only 32 mbps!! Huge drop! I think I will use their 30 day money back guarantee. If compare ExpressVPN vs nordVPN, I’d prefer the first one. It is definitely the winner!
H.
prefix 5 years ago
Hey, this NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison lacks speed section. Why you haven’t highlighted it? Is there any difference?
Dean Chester
prefix 5 years ago
H, both providers are fast. A lot depends on the country you choose. NordVPN wins on some locations while ExpressVPN on others.

El Grando Smokio
prefix 5 years ago
When it comes to Nord vs Express the main difference is $$$ Nord is cheaper so I guess it’s the winner!
Duke
prefix 5 years ago
Well done guys! Your review is exactly what I was looking for. Keep up the good work. I would like to share my personal experience of trying both vpn. I’ve been using nord since 2014 and there were no troubles with it but some time ago I began to ask myself “is nordvpn the best?”. I’ve read some reviews and decided that expressvpn is the next vpn I want to try out. I paid for the subscription but I did not see the same servers speed when it comes to torrents and Netflix as my time-honored nord had demonstrated. I canceled my subscription and got the money back (thanks expressVPN for being fast). Having read your review I understood that the decision I made was the right one and the bug with KillSwitch you have told about… uh… I hope they’ve fixed it already… otherwise, it is not good for their reputation

Dean Chester
prefix 5 years ago
Thank you. We are happy that the work we are doing is useful for people

Arley Green
prefix 5 years ago
NordVPN 6.25 Error Do I turn off the update ?

Justice
prefix 5 years ago
I asked NordVPN:




The update was released on November 6th.




As of November 12, the website still has an older version :)




NordVPN 6.25 (latest)




NordVPN 6.24




NordVPN's answer:




Thank you for your letter. The recent update version 6.25 seems to have some functionality issues for some of our users, that is why we are currently working on a fix pack for this update, which should be available relatively soon. This is the reason we do not update our website with the most recent version of our application and are offering version 6.24. Let us know if you have any other questions. Best Regards, Customer Success Team

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