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Full Review · March 2026

ExpressVPN Review 2026

Premium Choice · RAM-Only Servers. 490 Mbps average speed. Score: 9.0/10.

9.0/10
Overall Score
490 Mbps
Avg Speed
105
Countries
$6.67/mo
Best Price
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Last tested: · Reviewed by Marcus Veld

Overview

ExpressVPN is the premium choice for users who want the most polished VPN experience available. Its proprietary Lightway protocol delivers 490 Mbps average download speeds with near-instant connections, while TrustedServer technology ensures every server runs entirely on RAM — all data is wiped on every reboot. This is the gold standard for server security.

The app design is the best in the industry: one-tap connect, split tunneling on all platforms, and a built-in speed test. ExpressVPN is also the most reliable VPN for use in China and other censored regions. The trade-off is price — at $6.67/mo it is the most expensive VPN we tested, but you get what you pay for.

Speed Test Results

ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol delivered the second-fastest speeds in our test, with remarkably consistent performance across all three global test locations. Connection times were the fastest of any VPN tested.

Download Speed
490 Mbps
Upload Speed
45 Mbps
Latency (Nearby)
11 ms
Latency (Long-distance)
82 ms

Privacy & Security

ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction with no data retention laws. The TrustedServer RAM-only infrastructure has been independently audited by PwC and Cure53. The no-logs policy was verified when Turkish authorities seized a server in 2017 and found zero user data.

Streaming Performance

We tested ExpressVPN against 8 major streaming platforms from multiple server locations.

Platform Status Quality
Netflix (US, UK, JP, AU)✓ Works4K UHD
Disney+✓ Works4K UHD
BBC iPlayer✓ Works1080p
HBO Max✓ Works4K UHD
Amazon Prime Video✓ Works4K UHD
Hulu✓ Works1080p
Peacock✓ Works1080p
DAZN✓ Works1080p

Server Network

ExpressVPN operates 3,000+ servers across 105 countries. Every server runs on the TrustedServer RAM-only infrastructure, which is the most secure server technology in the VPN industry. The network includes servers optimized for streaming and gaming.

Pricing

ExpressVPN Plans
Monthly
$12.95/mo
No commitment
Full features
Visit ExpressVPN →
6 Months
$9.99/mo
Billed $59.95/6mo
23% savings
Visit ExpressVPN →

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

  • Lightway protocol — near-instant connections
  • TrustedServer RAM-only infrastructure
  • Works reliably in China & censored regions
  • Best-in-class app design on all platforms
  • Unblocks all 8 streaming platforms tested
  • BVI jurisdiction — no data retention laws
  • Verified no-logs (Turkish seizure proof)

Weaknesses

  • Most expensive VPN tested ($6.67/mo)
  • Only 8 simultaneous connections
  • Owned by Kape Technologies
  • No ad/tracker blocker included

Verdict

ExpressVPN is the premium VPN for users who want the absolute best in app quality, server security, and censorship circumvention. The TrustedServer RAM-only infrastructure and Lightway protocol are industry-leading. The higher price is justified if you prioritize reliability, especially in restricted regions like China.

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Compare with other VPNs: NordVPN Review · Surfshark Review · CyberGhost Review · PIA Review · Back to Full Comparison →