Why ExpressVPN is the best VPN solution

Choosing the best VPN is important, and not all virtual private networks (VPNs) are created equal. Read on to find out how ExpressVPN stacks up against other VPNs and why it’s my top pick.

Promises of speed fulfilled

When a VPN claims to offer super fast speeds, there’s a catch. All of it has to go through your internet service provider (ISP) before it reaches the VPN servers. This limits the fastest speeds the VPN can give you. No matter what, the VPN will lose some of your ISP’s speed. The less that loss, the better.

While NordVPN is the safest and fastest VPN, the best VPN should provide consistent speeds, and in this I always find ExpressVPN with a slight edge. To double check this, I tested my average ISP speed with Speedtest – it has a download speed of 28.2 Mbps and an upload speed of 11.07 Mbps.

The speed of a VPN depends on the protocol it uses. Many VPNs use WireGuard, which is noticeably missing from ExpressVPN. Instead, it has its own “Lightway” protocol, which is more streamlined, with just 2,000 lines of code compared to WireGuard’s 4,000. This makes it more efficient and easier to audit.

This means you don’t have to worry about how close or far away a server is. The Lightway protocol ensures that you won’t notice much of a difference. For example, when I connected to a server on the US West Coast from Asia, my average download speed only dropped to 24.16 Mbps, a 14.3% loss compared to my ISP speed.

However, upload speeds dropped to 3.51 Mbps, a loss of 68%. This is a common problem for all VPNs as they have to work harder to transfer data.

Another reason ExpressVPN has more consistent speeds is that the majority of its global servers are in the 10 Gbps category, with estimates as high as 80%. NordVPN is a distant second with over 20% of its servers. With ExpressVPN, you get access to their Smart location feature when there are many fast servers nearby.

In my case, the average speed at one of these locations was 33.59 Mbps, which is almost 20 percent faster than my ISP. You might wonder how that’s even possible, but sometimes a good VPN server can be faster than your ISP because it removes ISP throttling, the biggest bottleneck in network speeds.

Good to know:ExpressVPN isn’t alone in taking user security seriously. NordVPN has a number of solid security features of its own.

Maximum user security

Over the years, ExpressVPN has built a solid reputation as a safe VPN provider. Many users trust it when they connect to the internet via its servers. While all VPNs claim to have a no-logs policy, ExpressVPN can back that claim up. It’s all about how they store and process your data.

For example, ExpressVPN’s servers are really good at blocking any attempts by websites to fingerprint your browser. You can check the ExpressVPN homepage for WebRTC or DNS leaks in real time. Plus, your encrypted data lives in volatile RAM in the British Virgin Islands, not on hard drives at the “Fourteen Eyes” server locations. Every time a server restarts, all your VPN activity disappears.

However, not all of ExpressVPN’s security features are better than other VPNs. The Lightway protocol uses AES-256 security, while NordVPN uses the stronger 4096-RSA. However, the overall security setup of ExpressVPN is still excellent and leaves nothing to be desired.

Sites don’t like it when you use a VPN. I didn’t encounter any CAPTCHA or page-loading issues when unblocking my favorite sites with ExpressVPN because it uses high-quality “masked connections” that mask your VPN traffic as regular traffic, helping you stay undetected.

Unblocks streaming everywhere, wherever you are

Streaming sites are becoming more stringent about blocking users from regions that don’t qualify as their market. In addition to Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video, there are free streaming platforms like Crackle and Pluto TV that also restrict content based on your geographic location. Many of them now require two-factor authentication to log in.

Accessing these services is a big problem for those living or traveling abroad. This is where ExpressVPN stands out as one of the best VPN providers. It can unblock any content you want to watch from anywhere. I’ve personally tested ExpressVPN to be quite good at unblocking streaming on all the devices I normally use: Windows, Android, and smart TVs. It works just as well on iOS and Mac.

Censorship-proof

ExpressVPN has Diagnostic information a feature that tracks the live routes of all VPN connections. It’s visible only to you, and you can easily tell if any ISP is trying to disrupt your VPN connection. All route changes are visible at a glance, helping you stay ahead of any outside attempts to block your VPN.

Beating your local ISP is one thing. But to test your VPN’s ability to bypass censorship, consider doing the “China test” if you plan on traveling there. The Great Firewall of China blocks many VPNs, social media sites, and even Google. However, many users have reported on various websites and forums that ExpressVPN is simply the best at unblocking anything in China.

I’ve been to the UAE a few times, which also has very strict VPN restrictions. I was able to easily unblock the stuff they wouldn’t let me watch using ExpressVPN. The key is to have your favorite VPN software installed on all your devices before you travel there.

Good to know:check out numerous ways to unblock any website.

Competent customer service

One thing you might like about ExpressVPN that not many people know about is their customer service. In my opinion, they have the best chat support team, not just for VPNs, but for any software. I’ve been talking to them for years and they always come up with creative solutions. Visit their website, enter your subscription email address, and they’ll listen patiently.

They also offer live chat support over the phone and a ticketing system, but so far I’ve been extremely happy with what you get in the chat box. Whether it’s your VPN app that’s stopped working or you can’t unblock a streamer, they have test scenarios for many of these real-world cases.

To read:In addition to a VPN, consider using Tor and its alternatives to unblock content.

What I Don’t Like About ExpressVPN

While there are many reasons why I consider ExpressVPN to be the best VPN solution, I have to mention that it does have a few drawbacks. First, the subscription is almost two or three times more expensive than most other VPN providers. But at $6.67/month for the annual plan, it seems to have come down recently.

The ExpressVPN app is also pretty stingy with free trials, although you can opt for a 30-day money-back guarantee. But that’s not the same. There is one way out, though. You can get a 7-day free trial of ExpressVPN on iOS/Android devices, but you’ll need to provide payment details up front.

Finally, ExpressVPN has yet to introduce a dedicated IP service, which is really helpful if you want to work remotely. This is a feature available on Surfshark, whose dedicated IP is the cheapest among many providers. It also connects to all devices, and Surfshark supports unlimited connections.

Image Source: Pixabay. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.