ExpressVPN and NordVPN are the two biggest names in the VPN industry. Both are excellent services, but they take different approaches to privacy, speed, and features. In this head-to-head comparison, we'll help you decide which one is right for you.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price (annual) | $6.67/mo | $3.39/mo |
| Servers | 3,000+ | 5,800+ |
| Countries | 94 | 60 |
| Simultaneous devices | 8 | 6 |
| Protocol | Lightway | WireGuard (NordLynx) |
| No-logs audit | Yes (PwC) | Yes (PwC, Deloitte) |
| Headquarters | British Virgin Islands | Panama |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Speed Comparison
Both VPNs are fast, but they use different protocols to achieve their speeds. ExpressVPN uses its proprietary Lightway protocol, while NordVPN uses NordLynx (their WireGuard implementation).
In our testing on a 1 Gbps connection:
- ExpressVPN: Averaged 460 Mbps on nearby servers, 340 Mbps internationally
- NordVPN: Averaged 440 Mbps on nearby servers, 360 Mbps internationally
The speeds are very close, with ExpressVPN having a slight edge on nearby servers and NordVPN performing marginally better on long-distance connections. Both are fast enough for 4K streaming, gaming, and large downloads.
Security Features
Both VPNs offer AES-256 encryption, kill switches, and DNS leak protection. However, NordVPN has more advanced security features:
- Double VPN: NordVPN routes traffic through two servers for double encryption (ExpressVPN doesn't offer this)
- Onion Over VPN: NordVPN combines VPN with Tor routing (ExpressVPN requires separate Tor browser)
- Threat Protection: NordVPN blocks ads, trackers, and malware (ExpressVPN offers similar via split tunneling)
- TrustedServer: ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers that wipe all data on reboot (NordVPN also offers RAM-only servers)
Streaming Performance
Both VPNs excel at unblocking streaming services. In our tests:
| Service | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix US | ✅ | ✅ |
| Netflix UK | ✅ | ✅ |
| Hulu | ✅ | ✅ |
| Disney+ | ✅ | ✅ |
| BBC iPlayer | ✅ | ✅ |
| Amazon Prime | ✅ | ✅ |
Both services reliably unblocked all major streaming platforms. ExpressVPN has a slight edge in consistency, but NordVPN's SmartPlay technology is also very reliable.
Privacy & Jurisdiction
Both VPNs have independently audited no-logs policies. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, while NordVPN is based in Panama. Both jurisdictions are privacy-friendly with no mandatory data retention laws.
NordVPN has undergone more audits (PwC and Deloitte), while ExpressVPN has been audited by PwC. ExpressVPN's parent company, Kape Technologies, has raised some concerns in the privacy community, though no concrete issues have been found.
Price & Value
This is where NordVPN has a clear advantage:
- NordVPN: $3.39/month (annual plan) — nearly half the price of ExpressVPN
- ExpressVPN: $6.67/month (annual plan) — premium pricing for premium service
For most users, NordVPN offers better value. However, ExpressVPN's superior server coverage (94 countries vs 60) and slightly faster nearby speeds may justify the premium for some users.
Verdict
Both are excellent VPNs, and you can't go wrong with either. Here's our recommendation:
- Choose NordVPN if: You want the best value, advanced security features, and don't need servers in as many countries
- Choose ExpressVPN if: You need the widest server coverage, prefer a simpler interface, and don't mind paying more
However, if you want the best overall value, consider InterServer VPN — it matches both in speed and security at just $2.99/month.
Want Better Value?
InterServer VPN delivers comparable speeds and security to both ExpressVPN and NordVPN at less than half the price.
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