ExpressVPN Review 2026: Is It Still Worth the Premium Price?
We put ExpressVPN through speed tests, streaming trials, and privacy checks. It's a solid VPN — but at nearly double the price of competitors, is it still worth it in 2026?
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Our Verdict: Good, But Overpriced
8.3/10ExpressVPN is a well-built, genuinely fast VPN with a strong track record. But in 2026, it's hard to justify the price. At £8–12/month on a yearly plan, you're paying roughly 3× more than NordVPN for similar — sometimes slower — performance. It's excellent software trapped in a premium-pricing model that no longer matches the competition.
✓ What's good
- ✓ Lightway protocol is fast and battery-efficient
- ✓ Excellent router support (best of any major VPN)
- ✓ Unblocks Netflix US, Hulu, Disney+ reliably
- ✓ Very polished, beginner-friendly apps
- ✓ TrustedServer technology (RAM-only servers)
- ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee, reliably honoured
✗ The problems
- ✗ Significantly more expensive than NordVPN (2–3×)
- ✗ Smaller server network than NordVPN (3,000 vs 9,000)
- ✗ Owned by Kape Technologies — privacy purists should know
- ✗ No ad/tracker blocking (NordVPN has Threat Protection)
- ✗ Slower on long-distance servers vs NordLynx
- ✗ No Double VPN feature
Speed Testing: ExpressVPN in 2026
ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol is genuinely quick — especially on nearby servers. In our May 2026 tests across UK, US, and EU connections:
These are solid numbers — but NordVPN's NordLynx protocol consistently edges it out, hitting 540 Mbps on nearby servers and 480 Mbps cross-continent. For everyday use you won't notice the difference, but if raw speed matters, NordVPN wins.
ExpressVPN Pricing 2026 — The Core Problem
This is where ExpressVPN struggles most in 2026. Here's how it stacks up:
| VPN | Monthly | Best Annual Price | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | ~£12.95/mo | ~£6.67/mo (12-mo) | 8 |
| NordVPN ✓ Winner | ~£11.99/mo | ~£2.99/mo (2-yr) | 6 |
| Surfshark | ~£10.99/mo | ~£2.19/mo (2-yr) | Unlimited |
At £6.67/month on its best plan, ExpressVPN costs more than double NordVPN's 2-year price. For the same privacy features, faster speeds, and a larger server network — NordVPN is simply the better value in 2026.
Privacy & Security
ExpressVPN operates from the British Virgin Islands and uses TrustedServer technology — all servers run on RAM only, so nothing persists after a reboot. That's a genuine privacy plus.
- → TrustedServer: RAM-only servers — no data stored after reboot
- → No-logs policy: independently audited by PwC
- → AES-256 encryption on all connections
- → Network Lock: kill switch available on desktop and mobile
- → Split tunnelling: available on Windows and Android
One concern worth noting: ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies, which also owns Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and Zenmate. Privacy purists who want a fully independent provider may prefer NordVPN (owned by Nord Security, focused solely on security products) or Mullvad.
Streaming Performance
ExpressVPN has a strong streaming reputation and it holds up in 2026 testing. It reliably unblocked:
Streaming performance is genuinely one of ExpressVPN's strongest suits. NordVPN matches it on all major platforms, but if streaming is your only use case, either works well.
Who Should Consider ExpressVPN?
- ✓ Router power users — ExpressVPN has the best router firmware and setup of any major VPN. If you want whole-home protection, it's the top pick.
- ✓ People who want the simplest possible app — the UI is extremely clean and beginner-friendly.
- ✓ Frequent travellers — its Lightway protocol reconnects quickly on mobile networks.
Who Should Use NordVPN Instead?
- → Anyone comparing prices — NordVPN's 2-year plan is ~£2.99/month vs ExpressVPN's ~£6.67/month.
- → Speed-focused users — NordLynx consistently outperforms Lightway on long-distance connections.
- → Privacy power users — NordVPN has Threat Protection (ad/malware blocking), Double VPN, and Onion over VPN. ExpressVPN has none of these.
- → Most users, honestly — NordVPN does everything ExpressVPN does, faster, at a fraction of the price.
Our Recommended Alternative
NordVPN — Better Value Than ExpressVPN
~£2.99/month on 2-year plan vs £6.67/month for ExpressVPN. Faster speeds. More servers. Threat Protection included.
Final Score: ExpressVPN 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ExpressVPN safe to use in 2026?
Yes. ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption, TrustedServer RAM-only architecture, and has an independently audited no-logs policy. It's safe. The main concern is its Kape Technologies ownership — not a security flaw, but worth knowing.
Is ExpressVPN worth the money?
Not in 2026, for most people. At £6.67/month on its annual plan, it costs more than double NordVPN's 2-year rate of £2.99/month — for comparable or slightly worse performance. The main exception: if you need top-tier router VPN support, ExpressVPN is uniquely good at that.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN — which should I pick?
NordVPN for almost everyone. Faster speeds, more servers (9,000+ vs 3,000), built-in ad/malware blocking, and dramatically cheaper. See our full head-to-head comparison →
Does ExpressVPN work in China?
ExpressVPN has historically been one of the best VPNs for bypassing the Great Firewall, though this changes frequently. NordVPN's obfuscated servers also work in China, at a much lower price.
Related VPN Reviews
Bottom line
ExpressVPN is a polished, trustworthy VPN that works well. But at 2–3× the price of NordVPN with no meaningful performance advantage, it's difficult to recommend for most people in 2026. Save the money — NordVPN gives you more for less.
Get NordVPN — Up to 72% Off