Since ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, it counts as a part of the British Overseas Territory. What this essentially means is that the geographical location of this company allows it to glide away from the UK’s strict data retention laws
Pros
Bypass censorship in many countries like China, UAE and Turkey
No logs or records and no IP or DNS leaks found
Safe jurisdiction, located in British Virgin Islands
Excellent 24/7 customer support
30 Day money back guarantee
Cons
Slightly expensive than its competitors
4.6
ExpressVPN
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There are uncountable VPNs out there to choose from, some are free while some are paid services. Does that mean they are all worth it? No. Free VPNs are a big NO-NO, but there are paid VPNs that also siphon off your data and keep logs for later use even after promising that they don’t. Which is why VPNs like ExpressVPN are in such high demand due to the privacy laws they strictly follow.
Originating from the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN happens to be the only one in the industry capable of giving you the complete incognito browsing experience.
We understand the need for privacy in a world that revolves around selling browsing data in order to make a big buck. The only way to get around that is to invest in a quality VPN that isn’t going behind your back by selling your private data to ad agencies. ExpressVPN gives you unlimited bandwidth, peer to peer file sharing, zero data logging policies and much more!
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Highlighted Features and Accessibility
ExpressVPN is one of the few VPN providers in the market capable enough of providing quality services to the users. It is a stable and fast service that to this day, remains unmatched in the feature package it offers. Online streaming has never been easier. ExpressVPN makes it possible for you to bypass the restrictions around Netflix USA, something most VPNs have been unable to do.
If there was any downside to this provider, it would have to be the pricing. Compared to the rest of the VPN providers in the industry, ExpressVPN is slightly on the pricier end of things. It charges you a monthly cost of $8.32 in its annual plan, however, the quality of service it provides makes the money paid so worth it.
For all the windows users, the interface ExpressVPN has to offer is rather uncomplicated. All you have to do is press a cherry shaped button which will automatically configure your VPN and connect it to the server that is most suitable to your needs. You can either choose one yourself or allow the system to choose one for you.
ExpressVPN comes with its own speed test so that you can analyze everything without having to use third-party services. This feature gives you access to log files of your own activity for later use or simply data tracking. This can come in handy if you allow your kids to connect to the VPN so that you can track their online activity regularly.
The kill switch feature by ExpressVPN makes it all that safer to use the internet. What this feature does is automatically disconnect you from the internet if your VPN connection drops due to low speed or lag. This prevents data leakage from your device that might give away your identity through your IP address.
Browser Extensions Available:
- Chrome
- Safari
- Firefox
Router Support Available:
- Asus
- D-Link
- Linksys
- DD-WRT
- Sabai
- Netduma
- TP-Link
- Tomato
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Ease of Use
Setting up ExpressVPN is a piece of cake. After signing up, all you need to do is look up and download the VPN client. When you launch the client for the first time, you will be required to input your activation code which may vary based on the device you use, or how many you use. We recommend you keep the email handy so that it is easier for you to use ExpressVPN on a new device in the future. After initiating the application, you will be able to finally use it. You will be asked if you want to share anonymous connection data to improve user experience, but you can easily opt out of this option.
Next, you will be asked to pick a server location as you can see below.
If you are confused and cannot choose, you can simply select Smart Location and the client will pick the best one based on traffic and speed for you.
Supported OS
- Linux
- Android
- Mac
- iOS
- Windows
Supported Streaming Services
- Apple TV
- PlayStation
- Xbox
- Fire TV
- Smart TV
- Android TV Box
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Pricing Plans and Packages
The matter of prices offered by ExpressVPN happens to be a rather controversial one. Often times, users don’t understand why this provider charges as much as it does. As far as VPNs go in the market, ExpressVPN is the only one capable of delivering on all of its promises. Of course, that comes at a price slightly elevated than most others.
The most expensive package offered by this provider charges you $12.95 per month. If you are looking for a VPN on a budget, we recommend VPNs such as NordVPN or PureVPN for monthly use. But if you are in the market for premium encryption and customer service along with a 30-day money back guarantee, ExpressVPN is the big shark for you.
If you want the best of both worlds, premium services on a budget, keep an eye out for discounts offered by ExpressVPN. During occasions such as Black Friday, ExpressVPN gives out massive discount and annual deals to customers, that reduces the monthly charges down by up to 35 percent!
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What Our Speed Tests Revealed
What makes ExpressVPN so premium are its download and upload speed limits. We ran a couple of our average VPN tests on ExpressVPN. The results we got were anything but average.
The internet speed we tested the VPN on was 100mbps and on that, we were able to score the download speed of 98.71 Mbps with ExpressVPN, as you can see below. This definitely puts ExpressVPN in our top 5 list of the most extensive and worthy VPNs in the market.
Following were the results without a VPN on.
The internet speed we tested the VPN on was 100mbps and on that, we were able to score the download speed of 83.15 Mbps with ExpressVPN, as you can see below. This definitely puts ExpressVPN in our top 5 list of the most extensive and worthy VPNs in the market, as you can see below.
Server | Ping ms | Download Mbps | Upload Mbps |
US New York | 110 | 60.4 | 30.41 |
EU Amsterdam | 40 | 83.15 | 51.81 |
Asia Hong Kong | 292 | 30.2 | 12.46 |
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How Safe is ExpressVPN?
A VPN is only as good as the kind of security it can provide. What is a VPN without anonymity, anyway? While using ExpressVPN, you get a default encryption protocol setting that cannot be changed, however, you can alter the VPN protocol if you are looking for something slightly on the heavier encryption side.
Many VPNs have been dragged through court for illegally keeping user logs. ExpressVPN promises to keep no logs and delivers. It is a service that makes you feel completely safe. The only kind of logs that ExpressVPN keeps are of your connection. This would include what date you have logged on and connected to servers, but above that, not much else. This information is kept to improve ExpressVPN’s services and is mentioned in the terms and conditions. It isn’t treated like a hidden clause. This provider does not store your real IP address or your browsing activity, therefore it cannot be subpoenaed for them by the court of law.
Added Security Features and Servers:
- Kill switch
- P2P servers
- 3 simultaneous connections
- Anonymous IP
Torrenting Feature
Most users out there invest in VPNs for their online torrenting needs which is why it can be disappointing when a VPN promises that it allows torrenting but in truth, does not. A VPN unable to provide a secure pathway for torrenting is not worth spending a dime on. There are VPNs like TunnelBear that are vocal about not supporting torrenting, but most just go on to not issue statements on the matter, like ExpressVPN. However, our tests revealed that you can safely download items from a Torrent site without being tracked.
Encryption Options
ExpressVPN provides you with military grade 256-bit AES Encryption so your browsing activity is never revealed to your ISP. This kind of encryption is also referred to as the Advanced Encryption Standard which ensures there are zero data leaks while you browse online.
This grade of encryption is often utilized by corporations such as the CIA and FBI. So you can only imagine how secure it must be!
If that weren’t enough, ExpressVPN provides you with the safest protocol known as OpenVPN protocol, which happens to be the safest tunnel to use the internet through. Among other protocols offered by this VPN are SSTP, P2TP, and L2TP/IPSec.
If your requirements are more technical and advanced than this, you can always choose a server permanently best suited for your needs when it comes to speed and security and always connect to it when you turn your VPN on.
Home Country (Jurisdiction)
This particular VPN provider originated in tax-free British Islands in the year 2009. This essentially means that ExpressVPN is exempt from all of the United States’ data retention laws. ExpressVPN is so secure that to this day, nobody even knows the name of its creators or employees. Just think about that for a second. A VPN that good at maintaining the identity of its own creators, how good must it be at keeping your browsing activity anonymous?
Customer Support
The VPN industry highly lacks when it comes to VPNs with good customer support and prompt replies. When ExpressVPN started offering prompt customer service with 24-hour live chat support, the market shook. This customer service lasts 24 hours a day, all through the week. The reason for this is the updated contact forms used by ExpressVPN while its competitors use outdated contact forms. This customer support is rated the top all over the world.
Tor Browser Incorporation (Added Security Measure)
There are people out there who believe that a VPN on its own is not an ample amount of security, which is why they looked for added security measures on top of it. ExpressVPN gives you the option to merge Tor browser with your already existing VPN. This browser was designed, free of cost, to provide users with extra security online. Tor network makes it next to impossible for any hacker, government agent or scorned ex to peep into your location or browsing activity.
Though you can use Tor browser without paying for a VPN, we recommend that you use both together for the most enhanced online experience.
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Do You Need ExpressVPN?
Since ExpressVPN originated from the British Virgin Islands, which is a part of the British Overseas Territory, it is safer than most VPNs out there. Due to the geographical location of this VPN, several data retention laws don’t apply, and your browsing can fly under the radar securely. With options to pay through anonymous sources such as Bitcoin, the company is really doing all it can to make users understand exactly how serious it is regarding privacy laws. Do you need ExpressVPN? Absolutely!
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Final Thoughts
It is undeniable that the services offered by ExpressVPN are more premium than most, but we also cannot deny that it is expensive for some users who might not have the stomach to pay such a hefty monthly fee. However, keep in mind that the privacy laws always have loopholes but ExpressVPN is the only VPN clear and upfront about its terms and conditions. We recommend that you wait until the discount deals go live on ExpressVPN and then you purchase an annual subscription, which gives you a reduced monthly rate and added features. All in all, we would like to rate this VPN 9.5 out of 10, reducing points for not having cheaper packages to choose from.
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