NordVPN vs ExpressVPN - Which should I choose Reddit?

VPN
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For the past few weeks I’ve been trying to decide between ExpressVPN and NordVPN. Both are quite popular and recommended on various websites. My use case is gaining privacy (I don’t want my ISP collecting and selling all my browsing history) and I also want to access streaming content (Netflix and BBC iPlayer). I’ve decided to compile my findings and test results in this NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison.

At the end of the day, however, I’m looking for feedback here on Reddit. I have 30 days to test out both of these VPNs, and then cancel the one I don’t want. My mind isn’t made up yet, so which one should I choose?

Right away when looking at the prices, I could see that NordVPN and ExpressVPN were different. Here’s a comparison table that outlines the prices and refund policies for NordVPN and ExpressVPN:

Feature NordVPN ExpressVPN
Price (Monthly Plan) $11.99/month $12.95/month
Price (1-Year Plan) $4.99/month (billed $59.88 annually) $8.32/month (billed $99.84 annually)
Price (2-Year Plan) $3.39/month (billed $81.36 every 2 years) $6.67/month (billed $159.95)
Money-Back Guarantee 30-day money-back guarantee 30-day money-back guarantee
Best Deal: 70% Off Coupon > n/a

NordVPN offers the best value when you use their Reddit coupon here: https://nordvpn.com/reddit-coupon

  • NordVPN offers competitive pricing, especially for its 2-year plans, which tend to be cheaper than ExpressVPN’s long-term plans.
  • ExpressVPN clearly is more expensive for both monthly plans, and also long-term plans.

While they both ExpressVPN and NordVPN to have many similar features, there are also some key differences.

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN speed tests

In nearly all of the tests I’ve ran over the past few weeks, NordVPN has been faster than ExpressVPN. Below is one such speed test result. I selected San Francisco, USA as the server location for each VPN and then hit the speed test website. You can see that NordVPN was significantly faster than ExpressVPN for this server location.

NordVPN speed test with the San Francisco server: 894 Mbps download speeds

NordVPN was consistently faster than ExpressVPN on the servers I tested. (This was the San Francisco server.)

Below you can see the speed test with ExpressVPN using the San Francisco server location. Speeds with ExpressVPN were slower than NordVPN: 681 Mbps download speeds.

While ExpressVPN was decently fast, it was not as fast as NordVPN with servers I tested in the US.

Ok now let’s take a look at features with ExpressVPN and NordVPN.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN feature comparison

Feature NordVPN ExpressVPN
Jurisdiction Panama British Virgin Islands
Server Network 7,100+ servers in 118 countries 3,000+ servers in 105 countries
Simultaneous Connections Up to 10 devices Up to 8 devices
Protocols Supported OpenVPN - NordLynx (WireGuard) - IKEv2/IPsec Lightway - OpenVPN - IKEv2/IPsec - L2TP/IPsec
Streaming Services Access Unlocks Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney+, ESPN+, and more Supports Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+
Security Features AES-256 encryption - Kill switch - Split tunneling AES-256 encryption - Kill switch - Split tunneling
Server Types Double VPN - Obfuscated - Onion-over-VPN - P2P - Dedicated IP servers Standard (single-hop)
No-Logs Policy Yes (audited) Yes (audited)
RAM Servers Yes Yes
Platform Compatibility Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, Apple TV, Firestick, and more Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Firestick and more
Ad Blocking Threat Protection Pro feature that blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing Basic ad blocker
Customer Support 24/7 live chat, email support, knowledge base 24/7 live chat, email support, knowledge base

Here’s what stood out to me in comparing the features of NordVPN vs ExpressVPN:

  • NordVPN has more security features than ExpressVPN: double-VPN servers, Onion-over-VPN servers, Dedicated IP servers, Obfuscated servers, Threat Protection Pro to block ads, trackers, and malware…
  • From everything I’ve seen and tested, NordVPN offers better support for streaming services (not only with streaming devices, but also with the platforms it unblocks)
  • NordVPN gives you more connections (10) compared to 8 with ExpressVPN
  • NordVPN’s server network is larger than ExpressVPN’s server network (but I’m not sure this makes a huge difference)

Security difference: You can see that NordVPN offers some security features you don’t get with ExpressVPN: https://nordvpn.com/security-features

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN encryption and servers

NordVPN and ExpressVPN both use AES-256 encryption, which is a gold standard in the world of VPNs. It will ensure that your outgoing traffic remains encrypted, meaning that nobody will have access to your sensitive data. While both VPNs excel in security, they also have their own unique strengths.

NordVPN’s big strength is its variety of server types. Its Double-VPN servers allow you to pass your traffic through two servers for enhanced encryption. For even more security, you will want to use Onion-Over-VPN servers, which combine VPN with the Tor network. I also really like NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro feature to protect yourself from ads, trackers, and malware. As the last line of defense, a kill switch will prevent your information from leaking if your connection suddenly drops.

ExpressVPN offers RAM-only servers to ensure no data is stored – but NordVPN also has this feature with all servers. ExpressVPN’s Network Lock acts as a kill switch, safeguarding data during connection drops. However, some people are still reserved about it, as ExpressVPN was bought by KAPE - a company known for its problematic history.

Audits - I’m happy to see that both VPNs have passed independent third-party audits that confirm security and privacy protections. In the case of NordVPN, it has passed 4 different no-logs audits, as well as numerous security audits.

Overall though, in terms of security features, it seems that NordVPN has ExpressVPN beat.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN servers and streaming performance

NordVPN has 7,100+ servers in 118 countries, which gave me more than enough options. Its NordLynx protocol provides excellent speeds and consistent connection, as you can see in the test results above.

With NordVPN, I was able to easily unlock popular platforms like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Hulu to stream shows in the highest quality available. Even while watching shows in 4K, I haven’t experienced any buffering.

ExpressVPN has a smaller network, but it should still be more than enough for most users. However, I found that its Lightway protocol, while secure, simply wasn’t as fast as NordLynx (WireGuard). The speed difference was particularly obvious on remote servers.

ExpressVPN gave me reliable access to Netflix, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer, though occasional issues arise in restricted regions. There were a few times when I was forced to switch servers until I found some that weren’t blacklisted. While I managed to do so, this process was definitely a bit annoying.

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN conclusion

Although both VPNs seem like a good option, I would give an advantage to NordVPN. Aside from being more affordable and faster, it also has more servers, better coverage, and more security features. I haven’t encountered any blacklisted servers while using NordVPN, but I cannot say the same about ExpressVPN. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a solid VPN with excellent security features, but its performance should definitely be a bit better.

Reddit, would you choose ExpressVPN or NordVPN? And why?

Ok I’m probably missing some crucial details here and could use some feedback from the Reddit community. Would you choose ExpressVPN or NordVPN, and why?

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In my experience NordVPN is significantly faster than ExpressVPN, regardless of which tunneling protocol you are using. And then when you consider the extra security features you get with NordVPN, it’s a done deal. I do like the ExpressVPN as it is simple and minimal, but overall ExpressVPN is not worth the inflated price imo.

Also, NordVPN is now offering a 30 day trial that you can use on any subscription plan. This allows you to test yourself risk-free: https://nordvpn.com/30-day-trial

3

While they’re both great in their own right if I had to choose, I’d go with NordVPN. Unfortunately, I’m on Linux and both of these don’t have a GUI on there, so it’s a moot point.

4

Ok, I got ExpressVPN six months ago, and I’m pretty satisfied. Sure, it’s a bit more expensive, but it is also one of the most audited VPNs on the market. Haven’t tried NordVPN yet, so I am not sure how it compares.

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If you decide to go with NordVPN, make sure to get at least a Plus plan. This will give you access to the Threat Protection Pro, which is an ad blocker that will also remove trackers and malware. It is super useful.

6

Just go with NordVPN. ExpressVPN may be slightly more intuitive and easier to configure on routers, but that’s about it.

7

It seems that NordVPN is a clear winner. Could you compare it to other VPNs like Surfshark or ProtonVPN? It would be interesting to see these results.

8

ExpressVPN managed to successfully complete over 20 independent audits. I think this is a huge testament to how secure it really is. While, I would agree that it’s a bit slower than NordVPN, this is something I’m willing to trade to improve my safety.

9

I had a similar dilemma and ultimately chose NordVPN. I use it for gaming, as NordLynx protocol is much faster than Lightway. Plus, NordVPN has a much bigger server network and is more affordable. For me, it was an obvious choice.

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Honestly, I went with ExpressVPN, since their Lightway protocol is more secure and getting their Aircove router made it easier to set up on the go.

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I guess some people think ExpressVPN is more secure as it completed more independent audits. Even if that was the case, it’s still inferior in many other aspects.

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I personally use NordVPN. It is great for gaming, torrenting, and streaming since it always gives me a reliable connection. I’ve installed it directly on my router, which is convenient if you want to protect more devices at the same time.

13

Is there any point in choosing ExpressVPN? Nord just seems to outclass it in every single way.

14

Thank you for the NordVPN coupon and this very sober analysis. It does seem like a much better option between the two.

15

You should also consider what part of the world you are living in. If you are living in a country/region that is very restrictive and tries to control VPN use, then I think it’s better to get NordVPN, as it provides more obfuscated servers that you can use to hide your VPN usage.

NordVPN is also about to release a new protocol (NordWhisper), which supposedly works even better at bypassing geo-blocking algorithms.

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I really need a VPN with many server locations around the world, which is why I use NordVPN. There are just much more options to connect to. Plus, the app runs smoothly across all my devices.

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So besides having their own protocol, ExpressVPN doesn’t have anything going for it. How do they maintain a user base when they’re so much more expensive?

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I tried both on Linux, and NordVPN seems to be better. I had a problem with using ExpressVPNs kill switch; for some reason, it didn’t work at all. Nord is also significantly cheaper, so I’m glad that I could save some money while getting a better performance.

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I’ve read that ExpressVPN recently released Lightway in Rust. Can anyone here tell me if they noticed a significant improvement in performance?

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How come ExpressVPN and other services have a much smaller network than NordVPN? Can’t they afford to make an upgrade?