Is ExpressVPN good in 2026?
ExpressVPN is one of the most polished VPNs you can buy. It runs its own Lightway protocol with post quantum protection, uses RAM only TrustedServer hardware, and covers 105 countries with servers in all 50 US states. It is based in the British Virgin Islands and has been independently audited more than 20 times, most recently by Cure53 in February 2026.
In 2026 it moved to three tiers, Basic, Advanced and Pro, with 10, 12 or 14 devices. Long plans are now much cheaper than before, but renewals are steep and it still lacks multi hop and port forwarding. To see how it ranks overall, check our best VPN list, or compare it directly with our NordVPN review.
Speed and performance
ExpressVPN is fast and, above all, consistent. Lightway is built to reconnect quickly when you switch networks, and its core is open source on GitHub. On Windows there is also a Lightway Turbo mode for weak connections.
Download and upload speeds
In PCMag testing ExpressVPN cut download speed by 15.48 percent and upload speed by 13 percent, which is better than average but behind NordVPN. Cybernews tested from Vilnius on a 930 Mbps line and saw strong results on nearby servers, with a clear drop on long routes.
| Test | Result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| PCMag, 2026 | 15.48 percent download loss, 13 percent upload loss | Above average, not the fastest |
| Cybernews United Kingdom | 87.6 percent download, 91.5 percent upload kept, 62 ms | Excellent on nearby servers |
| Cybernews United States | 70.7 percent download, 17.2 percent upload kept, 326 ms | Good downloads, weak uploads |
| Cybernews Japan | 55.1 percent download, 1.8 percent upload kept, 474 ms | Long distance slows it down |
| Cybernews Australia | 51.6 percent download, 16.8 percent upload kept, 515 ms | The weakest result |
Even the slower results leave enough bandwidth for HD streaming on a fast line. If your base speed is low, NordVPN or Surfshark keep more of it.
Latency and gaming performance
PCMag measured a 109.4 percent latency increase, which is higher than the fastest rivals. ExpressVPN has no gaming servers, but Lightway holds a stable connection, and the Aircove router can protect consoles that cannot run a VPN app.
- Use Smart Location or pick a server near the game server
- Stay on Lightway UDP for the lowest ping
- Turn on split tunneling so voice chat and launchers bypass the VPN if needed
- Use the built in speed test to compare locations before you play
For shooters where every millisecond counts, see our best VPN for Warzone picks.
Does ExpressVPN work with streaming services?
Yes. Cybernews unblocked Netflix US, UK, Australia and Japan, plus BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Paramount+, Hotstar, DAZN and ESPN+. PCMag reached Netflix in the US, UK, Australia and Canada, but was blocked in Japan, so results can change from day to day.
| Service | Works with ExpressVPN | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix US, UK, Australia | Yes | Worked for both PCMag and Cybernews |
| Netflix Canada | Yes | Open in PCMag testing |
| Netflix Japan | Mixed | Worked for Cybernews, blocked for PCMag |
| Netflix France, Germany, Spain | No | Not unblocked by Cybernews |
| BBC iPlayer | Yes | Worked in Cybernews testing |
| Disney+ and Paramount+ | Yes | Worked in Cybernews testing |
Netflix asks for about 15 Mbps for 4K in its internet speed guide, which ExpressVPN clears on nearby servers. If a service shows a proxy error, our guide on how to fix the HBO Max VPN error walks through the usual fixes. ExpressVPN has apps for Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV and Apple TV, and it was the most reliable option on older boxes in our best VPN for onn 4K Pro guide.
Security and encryption
ExpressVPN encrypts traffic with AES 256, or ChaCha20 on Lightway, and Lightway connections include post quantum protection. Cybernews ran IP and DNS leak tests and found no leaks.
Key security tools include:
- Network Lock kill switch, with a basic and an advanced mode on iOS
- TrustedServer RAM only servers that wipe all data on every reboot
- Automatic obfuscation when you connect from a restricted network
- Threat Manager to block ads and malicious sites, with tracker blocking on Advanced and Pro
- Split tunneling on Windows, Android, macOS 11 and later and iOS 15 and later
The gaps are clear. There is no multi hop, no port forwarding and no Tor over VPN, and PCMag found the ad blocker unreliable on YouTube, Netflix and Twitch. The CISA guide to strong passwords is a reminder that a VPN is only one part of staying safe online.
Privacy, logging and audits
ExpressVPN does not log your browsing activity, original IP, assigned VPN IP, session length or connection times. It does keep the date you last connected, the country you connected to and the total data you used, which is common among large providers. Its transparency report lists 374 requests from authorities and more than one million DMCA notices, with no user data disclosed.
| Year | Auditor | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Cure53 | Latest security audit, February 2026 |
| Earlier | KPMG | No logs policy assessment |
| Earlier | PwC | No logs policy and TrustedServer audits |
| Earlier | Cure53 | TrustedServer and app audits |
The no logs claim also held up in the real world in 2017, when Turkish authorities seized an ExpressVPN server and found nothing that identified users. The one concern is ownership: ExpressVPN belongs to Kape Technologies, which also owns CyberGhost and PIA and has a past in adware. If that bothers you, Proton VPN is independent and Swiss based. The EFF guide to choosing a VPN explains why audits and ownership matter.
Apps and devices
ExpressVPN redesigned its apps in 2026, and they look almost the same on every platform, which makes it one of the easiest VPNs to use. You get 10, 12 or 14 devices depending on the plan, though Surfshark allows unlimited devices.
| Platform | Protocols | Standout features |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Lightway, Lightway Turbo, OpenVPN | Dashboard with map, split tunneling, speed test |
| macOS | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Split tunneling on macOS 11 and later |
| iOS | Lightway, IKEv2 | Two level kill switch, split tunneling on iOS 15 and later |
| Android | Lightway, WireGuard, OpenVPN | Split tunneling, light and dark themes |
| Linux | Lightway, OpenVPN | Graphical app |
| Routers | Aircove built in | App for other routers ended March 31, 2026 |
There are also browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox that control the desktop app. If Windows is your main device, compare it in our best VPN for PC guide.
Plans and extras
ExpressVPN now sells three tiers. Basic covers the VPN, ad and malware blocking and 10 devices. Advanced adds tracker blocking, the ExpressKeys password manager, Identity Defender alerts and 12 devices. Pro adds a dedicated IP, fuller identity protection and 14 devices.
- Dedicated IP add on for Basic and Advanced, from $3.99 to $8.99 a month
- eSIM data for travel, 3 days on Advanced and 5 days on Pro, on unlocked iPhones only
- Aircove router at $189 and Aircove GO at $169, each with six months of Basic
- 3 day free trial through the App Store and Google Play
You can pay by card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay or bitcoin. Watch the renewal: Basic renews at $99.95 a year after the first 28 months.
Torrenting and P2P
ExpressVPN allows torrenting on every server, so you do not have to hunt for a P2P location. Cybernews downloaded a 5.31 GB Ubuntu image in 2 minutes and 13 seconds, averaging 39 Mbps, while NordVPN and Proton VPN did it in under a minute. There is no port forwarding, so heavy seeders should look at Proton VPN or PureVPN instead.
Using ExpressVPN for travel and remote work
Travel is where ExpressVPN shines. It covers 105 countries, including hard to reach regions in Africa and South America, and its automatic obfuscation helps on hotel and airport Wi-Fi that blocks VPNs. Some locations use virtual servers, which ExpressVPN lists openly on its website.
For remote work, these features help the most:
- Lightway reconnects fast when you move between Wi-Fi and mobile data
- Dedicated IP on Pro, or as an add on, for tools that allowlist IPs
- Split tunneling keeps video calls and local printers outside the tunnel
- eSIM data on Advanced and Pro gets you online the moment you land
Always check local laws before you travel. For a trip to Japan, see our best VPN for Japan guide, and for labelled streaming servers at a lower price, read our CyberGhost review.
Customer support
ExpressVPN has 24/7 live chat, email and a detailed help center with setup guides for almost every device. Chat starts with an AI assistant, and Cybernews reached a human agent in about 3 minutes. There is no phone line. The 30 day money back guarantee works, but you must ask support, and PCMag's agent pushed hard to keep the account before processing the refund within minutes.
