ExpressVPN Review: Pros, Cons, and Real-World Performance

ExpressVPN has been around since 2009 and built a reputation as one of the most reliable and user-friendly VPNs on the market. With over 4 million users across 100+ countries, it’s often the go-to for digital nomads, remote workers, and anyone serious about online privacy.

But is it really worth the hype, and the price tag? I decided to give it a proper spin. Not just for work, but for everyday travel life: video calls, Netflix, torrenting, banking, even testing how well it handles those annoying geo-restrictions.

In this guide, I’ll share my honest take on how fast and secure ExpressVPN really is, how it performs for streaming and torrenting, and whether the slightly higher price is still justified in 2025.

ExpressVPN: Pros and Cons

Speed and Performance

One of the first things I tested with ExpressVPN was how it would hold up under real-world, heavy usage.

I used it during long video calls, multiple 4K streams running in the background, and large downloads while traveling. In most cases, I could stream, upload files, and browse without that annoying “VPN lag” feeling. Even across continents, ExpressVPN managed to retain around 90–95% of my base speed, which is impressive for a VPN.

A big part of that performance comes from their custom protocol, Lightway, which is designed to keep connections fast, stable, and seamless even when switching networks.

Here’s how it performed in different regions:

Of course, your results will vary depending on your location, local internet quality, and how many devices are connected. But overall, ExpressVPN’s performance has been very solid in my day-to-day nomadic workflow.

Recently, ExpressVPN also rolled out something called Lightway Turbo, a faster, upgraded version of their core protocol. They claim it can make downloads and uploads up to 3x faster in some scenarios. And in my own tests, I did notice snappier performance, especially during file transfers and heavy streaming. That said, it’s only available on Windows and doesn’t work on macOS or mobile yet.

Unblocking Streaming Services

This is the part I was really curious about: can ExpressVPN handle the real demands of streaming and peer‑to‑peer traffic? In my own testing, the answer was: yes, with few caveats.

I tested ExpressVPN across multiple streaming services, like Netflix (US, UK, Japan), Disney+, Hulu, and in most cases it worked great. Occasionally, Netflix would throw up a proxy error, which meant I had to switch servers, but that only took a minute or two. On the whole, the experience was smooth: HD and 4K content streamed without long buffering, even when I was halfway across the world.

One thing it helps with is MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) which lets you unblock content on devices that don’t support VPN apps natively (like some smart TVs). That’s a helpful fallback when using TVs or consoles.

Torrenting and P2P

When it comes to torrenting, ExpressVPN also held up really well in my tests. I used it with qBittorrent and downloaded several large files while traveling with no interruptions nor speed throttling.

What I appreciated most is that P2P is allowed on all servers. Unlike some VPNs that restrict torrenting to specific locations, ExpressVPN gives you the freedom to choose the closest or fastest server without worrying about functionality. That’s a big plus if you’re traveling between countries or want to avoid overcrowded “torrent-only” servers.

Is ExpressVPN Safe and Private?

Short answer: Yes. And in my time using it while traveling full-time, that’s exactly what stood out most. Here’s why I trust it with my data:

Privacy‑friendly jurisdiction

ExpressVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), which is outside the major surveillance alliances like the 14 Eyes, and doesn’t enforce data retention laws on VPN providers. That means even if a government agency requests logs, ExpressVPN is under no legal obligation to hand over user activity.

Strict no‑logs policy, backed by audits

They claim they don’t store browsing history, traffic content, IP addresses, or DNS queries, and it’s not just marketing. Independent firms like KPMG have audited their “TrustedServer” architecture and privacy practices, finding that they align with their no-logs claims.

RAM‑only / TrustedServer infrastructure

ExpressVPN’s servers run entirely on RAM (volatile memory) and they never write to hard drives. This means that whenever a server is restarted, all data is wiped clean automatically. So even in an extreme scenario, like a server seizure, there’s nothing stored that could expose user activities.

Kill switch (Network Lock)

In my tests, when the VPN connection dropped unexpectedly, ExpressVPN’s Network Lock feature immediately cut off my internet traffic. That ensures my real IP or browsing doesn’t leak until the VPN reconnects.

Leak protection (DNS, WebRTC, IPv6, etc.)

Throughout multiple leak tests on different servers, I never had my actual IP or DNS requests exposed. ExpressVPN has built-in protections against common leak vectors like DNS leaks and WebRTC leaks.

Supported Devices and Ease of Use

With ExpressVPN, you can secure your laptop, phone, tablet, router, smart TV, streaming stick, or gaming console... Basically your entire digital setup. It supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Kindle, routers, and even major streaming and gaming consoles like PS5 and Xbox.

After using it across different platforms, here’s what stood out to me:

• Simultaneous connections / device limits: With my Advanced plan, I could connect up to 10 devices at the same time. That’s more than enough for most people, and you can install ExpressVPN on more than 10 devices, as long as only 10 are active at once.
• Browser extensions: ExpressVPN has browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, which I found super handy for quickly toggling the VPN on or off without opening the full app.
• Smart Location (automatic server pick): ExpressVPN quietly picks the fastest, most stable server based on your location, latency, and download speed. Most of the time, I didn’t have to think about which one to choose and it just connected me to something that worked. That said, if I needed to unblock a specific region (like Netflix Japan), I’d manually override it.
• Ease of use & cross-platform consistency: The ExpressVPN app is clean, simple, and works the same whether you're on macOS, Windows, Android, or iOS. I really appreciated that consistency when switching between devices.

Pricing and Plans

With ExpressVPN, you can choose between three pricing tiers: Basic, Advanced, and Pro. So you can now choose the level of protection and extras that fits your needs (and budget).

Here’s a breakdown of what each plan includes:

Basic still gets you everything you need for day-to-day VPN use: strong encryption, access to all servers, and solid speeds. But if you want added privacy features like ExpressVPN Keys (their built-in password manager) or tracker blocking, you’ll need to step up to Advanced or Pro.

If you’re willing to commit to the long haul, you’ll get the best savings. Here’s how the pricing looks:

All plans include a 30‑day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free. And if you’re on mobile (Android or iOS), you can take advantage of a 7‑day free trial to test it out before committing.

Personally, the Advanced plan hits the sweet spot as it gives me everything I need for streaming, torrenting, and daily browsing without paying for tools I won’t use.

Customer Support

I usually dread dealing with customer service bots, but with ExpressVPN, I was pleasantly surprised. Their 24/7 live chatbot was intuitive and quick, and in my case, it solved my issue before I even asked to talk to a human. Still, I insisted on a live agent and got one in just a few minutes.

If you prefer DIY, their support library is top-tier. They offer detailed setup guides and tutorials for routers, streaming boxes, consoles, all clearly broken down by brand with accompanying video walkthroughs. I’ve used their guides more than once when I needed to configure VPNs on unusual devices; they’ve always been very complete and easy to follow.

Is ExpressVPN Worth It in 2025?

If you’re looking for a VPN that’s fast, secure, and just works... Yeah, ExpressVPN is still worth it in 2025.

It’s definitely not the cheapest option out there, but after using it daily for streaming, remote work, and even the occasional torrent download, I can say it’s one of the few VPNs that consistently does what it promises.

The Basic plan already covers most use cases. If you want extras like a password manager or tracker blocker, the Advanced plan gives you more without going overboard. I wouldn’t personally go for the Pro plan unless you really need a dedicated IP or some of the identity tools (which are more useful if you're in the U.S.).

It’s not perfect since the price is higher than competitors, and some features (like port forwarding) are missing. But between the solid speeds, strong privacy features, and friendly support, it’s one of the most reliable VPNs I’ve tried.

And with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a free mobile trial, you can easily test it out yourself before committing.

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