Still the fastest VPN and best for streaming, now competing in a market where the gaps are closing considerably. If you stream a lot, ExpressVPN might be your priority choice.
| PureVPN | PIA | Surfshark | CyberGhost | IPVanish | NordVPN | Proton VPN | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1.33/mo | £1.49/mo | £1.69/mo | £1.99/mo | £2.49/mo | £2.99/mo | £3.19/mo | from £3.99/mo |
ExpressVPN starts from £3.99/mo on the Basic plan (15 months). Advanced and Pro plans add extra features. NordVPN and Proton VPN offer comparable quality for less if you only need a VPN.
ExpressVPN pioneered many features that are now considered the gold standard in the VPN industry. Split tunnelling and a kill switch among them. The app gained an exceptional reputation for speed and performance over many years and remains excellent in 2026 but the competition is tough and other VPN providers are improving, which makes it harder to choose for many users.
If you watch content across multiple countries, ExpressVPN unblocks many streaming platforms and remains the most reliable option. It has a polished and user friendly app that offers a lot of advanced settings.
"ExpressVPN's streaming performance is unmatched. It unlocked every platform we tested. Language is your only barrier to watching films from around the world." TopVPNTested
ExpressVPN is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction with no mandatory data retention laws. There is no direct obligation to cooperate with US or EU authorities. The no logs policy was independently audited by PwC and KPMG, and was put to a real test in 2017 when Turkish authorities seized an ExpressVPN server and were unable to recover any usable data. All connections use AES-256 encryption, the same standard used by security agencies worldwide.
However, there is a slight concern. ExpressVPN was acquired by Kape Technologies, which has a controversial history, in 2021. The acquisition has not visibly affected ExpressVPN's operations but users for whom ownership transparency is critical might lean towards ProtonVPN.
That said, in our testing ExpressVPN remains one of the top performers. Its proprietary Lightway protocol delivers fast speeds and the app is open source, which is a positive step toward transparency.
ExpressVPN is fast on UK servers using Lightway. Its speed never dropped by more than 3% from our real 75 Mbps connection. It does not match NordVPN's NordLynx peak speeds but the differences are not meaningful for everyday use. For streaming and browsing, ExpressVPN feels almost identical to an unprotected connection. The MediaStreamer smart DNS feature can be configured on devices that do not support VPN apps natively, such as smart TVs and gaming consoles. This is an advantage over many competitors.
ExpressVPN supports multiple protocols. Lightway is the default and it delivers the best balance of speed and security. OpenVPN and IKEv2 are also available for users who prefer established standards or need compatibility with specific setups. For most users Lightway is the right choice and the app selects it automatically.
This is where ExpressVPN leads. In our testing it successfully unblocked Netflix in 15 or more countries, along with BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, ITVX, Channel 4 and many other regional platforms. No other VPN matched this as consistently. If you travel frequently and do not want to miss your favourite shows, or want to access content from other countries, ExpressVPN is a reliable choice. It simply works, every time.
ExpressVPN set the standard for VPN interfaces. It is fast, clean and for Windows users in particular it is very intuitive. It does not require any configuration but for experienced users it offers a lot of advanced settings in very intuitive tabs. The menu includes descriptions of what each setting does so you actually know what you are turning on or off. With a large connect button you can connect instantly or choose from servers across 105 countries in a dropdown menu. The setup is straightforward for users of any experience.
ExpressVPN includes a kill switch which basically cuts your internet connection instantly if the VPN drops. This ensures your real IP is never exposed to the sites you are visiting. The split tunnelling feature lets you choose which apps use the VPN and which use your regular connection. This is useful for example if you are gaming on Steam and simultaneously looking at guides available only in certain countries. DNS leak protection ensures your browsing requests never travel outside the encrypted tunnel and stay secure against interception.
All plans are billed for the first 15 months (12 months plus 3 months free). ExpressVPN offers 24 hour live chat support which is responsive and available every day of the year.
If you only need a VPN, the Basic plan at £3.99 covers everything. Advanced and Pro add useful extras but the core VPN protection is identical across all three plans.
If you need help, ExpressVPN offers 24 hour live chat support which is responsive and available every day of the year.
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs available, if not the best. Its streaming performance is outstanding and the app is the most polished in the industry. The speeds are stable and excellent. The price is slightly higher but that is what champions always come with. For most users NordVPN or ProtonVPN deliver similar performance for less. But when you need the widest possible secure streaming access, ExpressVPN is the most reliable choice. When it matters, it delivers and earns your trust over time.
Get ExpressVPN →ExpressVPN is ideal for frequent travellers who need reliable access to streaming content from multiple countries, users who want the simplest possible VPN experience, and anyone for whom streaming breadth is the primary requirement.
Consider alternatives if budget matters. NordVPN at £2.99/month offers comparable speeds and nearly as good streaming. If privacy credentials are paramount, Proton VPN open source transparency is harder to match.
Answers to the questions people ask most about ExpressVPN.
It depends on your priorities. ExpressVPN starts from £3.99 per month on the Basic plan, billed for 15 months. It justifies the price if streaming breadth is your main need. No VPN unblocks a wider range of platforms. For general privacy and speed use, NordVPN offers comparable quality at a lower price.
Yes. ExpressVPN has the best Netflix unblocking of any VPN we tested, working with Netflix in 15 or more countries including the US, UK, Japan, and Australia. It also reliably unblocks BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and numerous other regional services.
Yes. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, outside US and EU jurisdiction. Its no logs policy has been audited by both PwC and KPMG, and a server seized by Turkish authorities in 2017 yielded no usable data. The main concern is its 2021 acquisition by Kape Technologies, which has a controversial history in the adware industry.
Lightway is ExpressVPN's proprietary VPN protocol, designed for fast connection times and reliable speeds. It is open source and the code is publicly available for inspection on GitHub. In our testing on a real 75 Mbps connection, Lightway never dropped speeds by more than 3% on UK servers.
ExpressVPN allows 8 simultaneous device connections on a single subscription. This covers all major platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers via a dedicated router app.
Minimally. In our testing on a real 75 Mbps connection, ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol never dropped speeds by more than 3% on UK servers. The difference is negligible for streaming, browsing, and downloading. It is one of the fastest VPNs we reviewed, second only to NordVPN.