ExpressVPN vs NordVPN Comparison

ExpressVPN and NordVPN are two of the biggest VPN services in the industry, with millions of users. Even though both are great choices, only one came out on top in this head-to-head comparison.

In this ExpressVPN vs NordVPN guide, we’ll closely examine and test each VPN in twelve different categories. If you’ve been on the fence about which VPN to choose, this comparison will answer all your questions.

One clear winner: As you will see in the test results and analysis below, there was a clear winner in this comparison of NordVPN and ExpressVPN. One of these VPNs won nine categories, and was the overall winner by a huge margin.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this NordVPN vs ExpressVPN report:

1. Speeds
2. Reliability
3. VPN Apps
4. Features
5. Security
6. Logging Policies
7. Jurisdiction
8. Torrenting
9. Netflix and Streaming
10. Price
11. Payments and Refunds
12. Value

Lastly, we will also wrap up this comparison with some FAQs and our conclusion and recommendation.

Now let’s get into the in-depth test results for this comparison guide. First up are the speed tests.

1. ExpressVPN vs NordVPN speeds

Based on all of the speed tests we ran for this comparison, NordVPN is faster than ExpressVPN – by a huge margin.

Testing variables – I ran all tests for this NordVPN vs ExpressVPN speed comparison on a 500 Mbps connection, using the same test machine. I used the official VPN app for each service, along with the best protocols for speed and security:

• ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol – This is a new protocol that was released by ExpressVPN, which promises to be faster and more secure than OpenVPN. Unfortunately, the Lightway protocol is closed source, unlike WireGuard.
• NordVPN’s WireGuard protocol – The WireGuard VPN protocol is gaining popularity with VPN services around the world because it is faster and more secure than legacy protocols. And unlike Lightway, WireGuard is open source. NordVPN’s implementation of the WireGuard VPN protocol is called NordLynx.

First up were speed tests with servers in the United States. Now let’s examine the test results.

Server speeds in the United States

ExpressVPN server in Seattle: 136 Mbps

This is not a great test result, especially when you consider my baseline speed of 500 Mbps and the close distance (23 ms ping). And keep in mind that this is with ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol. We found ExpressVPN speeds with OpenVPN to be significantly slower as well. Can NordVPN do better?

NordVPN server in Seattle: 445 Mbps

This is the fastest VPN speed test we have ever clocked, approaching 450 Mbps. We can see that NordVPN is significantly faster than ExpressVPN, by about 309 Mbps. It’s already clear that the WireGuard VPN protocol gives NordVPN a big edge.

Next I tested servers in Los Angeles, California.

ExpressVPN server in Los Angeles: 209 Mbps

NordVPN server in Los Angeles: 304 Mbps

Once again, NordVPN outperformed ExpressVPN in this server location by a large margin. NordVPN was about 95 Mbps faster than ExpressVPN.

I then ran tests for servers in New York, with similar test results.

ExpressVPN server in New York: 214 Mbps

We can still see here that ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol simply cannot achieve the speeds we are are getting with NordVPN’s WireGuard (NordLynx) protocol.

NordVPN server in New York: 280 Mbps

This was actually the slowest VPN speed tests I got with NordVPN — and it was still significantly faster than ExpressVPN by about 66 Mbps.

Long-distance speed tests in the UK

I also ran a few long-distance speed tests with servers in the UK. The results were similar to before, with NordVPN coming out on top.

ExpressVPN server in the UK: 235 Mbps

This was actually the fastest VPN speed test result I was able to get with ExpressVPN. But as you will see below, NordVPN was still much faster.

NordVPN server in the UK: 295 Mbps

Here again we see that NordVPN is about 60 Mbps faster than ExpressVPN for the UK server location. Even with the long distances, I was still able to achieve nearly 300 Mbps with NordVPN.

We can see that NordVPN offers serious performance advantages, which is a big reason we rated it as the best VPN for gaming, where ping and speeds are important.

ExpressVPN’s slow OpenVPN speeds

While all of the ExpressVPN speed tests above were conducted with the Lightway protocol, we also need to discuss OpenVPN speeds.

In years past, I could normally get around 150 Mbps or more with ExpressVPN and the OpenVPN protocol. Unfortunately, in all of my recent OpenVPN speed tests, ExpressVPN was significantly slower than NordVPN.

ExpressVPN speeds with OpenVPN: 35 to 60 Mbps

This is pretty slow in comparison to NordVPN’s speeds with the OpenVPN protocol.

NordVPN speeds with OpenVPN: 190 to 270 Mbps

For those who want to stick with the OpenVPN protocol, NordVPN offers a big performance advantage over ExpressVPN in this area as well. Even with double-VPN servers, where traffic is encrypted over two separate hops, NordVPN was still faster than ExpressVPN’s OpenVPN speeds. Here is the NordVPN double-VPN server configuration (US – Canada) coming in at 214 Mbps.

Note: ExpressVPN does not provide any double-VPN server configurations or specialty servers like we find with NordVPN.

Conclusion on speeds: NordVPN is significantly faster than ExpressVPN in all the server locations we tested. NordVPN beats ExpressVPN with both the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols with all server locations.

Winner for speed: NordVPN

2. NordVPN vs ExpressVPN reliability

In terms of reliability, both NordVPN and ExpressVPN are great options.

First we will take a look at NordVPN.

NordVPN reliability

With the latest round of tests for the NordVPN review, I found everything to work very well. NordVPN offers excellent reliability in the following areas.

• Applications: The apps work great without any bugs or crashes.
• Servers: The servers were reliable and fast with no issues to report.
• Connections: Connections were stable and fast to connect.

In terms of reliability, we found no problems with NordVPN. It is a reliable VPN.

ExpressVPN reliability

Similar to NordVPN, ExpressVPN also does well in terms of reliability. But it’s not quite on par with NordVPN.

• Applications: Smooth and easy to use with no crashes, bugs, or issues.
• Servers: Unlike with NordVPN, there is definitely more variability in speed with ExpressVPN, especially if you are using the OpenVPN protocol.
• Connections: ExpressVPN has stable connections, although OpenVPN takes a while to connect.

One big issue with ExpressVPN in terms of reliability is accessing streaming content. We’ve noted over the past year that ExpressVPN is not reliable with unblocking some streaming sites, such as BBC iPlayer, but we’ll cover this more below.

NordVPN wins this category.

Reliability Winner: NordVPN

3. VPN Apps: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN

For this category, we are mainly looking at the design and usability of the VPN apps (user experience).

First we’ll examine the ExpressVPN apps. As you can see below, the ExpressVPN client is very clean and minimal, as I pointed out in the ExpressVPN review.

To access more features and settings, you will need to click the three lines in the top-left corner, which will open up a second window. This can be a bit confusing, but it also keeps the main app screen less cluttered.

Similarly, when you want to switch servers with ExpressVPN, you will need to either click one of the two options at the bottom of the app, or click the active server to open up a second window of server locations. While NordVPN keeps everything in the main app screen, ExpressVPN relies on a second screen popup for more options.

NordVPN apps

In contrast to ExpressVPN, NordVPN apps are larger and include more options. You can see on the left side of the NordVPN client the specialty servers and country locations. You can also quickly select a server location with only one click from the global map, as you can see below:

In comparison to ExpressVPN, the NordVPN Windows app is larger, but it also gives you easier access to features, server locations, and specialty servers, without having to open up second windows. This is a big advantage, and one reason we ranked it as one of the best VPNs for PC users.

Ultimately, this all comes down to user preference. Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer good VPN apps.

Winner for VPN apps: Tie

4. Features: NordVPN compared to ExpressVPN

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer some good features for different types of users. But again, there is a big distinction in this category.

ExpressVPN is limited on features

ExpressVPN is a pretty basic VPN service. As we noted above, it offers basic and user-friendly VPN apps, simply because there are not a lot of features to showcase, unlike with NordVPN.

One of the main features with ExpressVPN is the split-tunneling option. This lets you route certain apps through the encrypted VPN, while routing other apps over your regular (unencrypted) internet connection. This is not a very unique feature and we also find it with NordVPN and ProtonVPN.

Overall, I don’t see much use for a split tunneling feature. Additionally, NordVPN also offers a split tunneling feature with mobile apps.

Lightway – We already discussed Lightway above in the speed tests section, where we saw that it was nowhere near as fast as WireGuard with NordVPN. Aside from the performance drawbacks, there are some other problems I found with the Lightway protocol (feature):

• Not open source (but WireGuard is open source)
• Limited adoption (WireGuard is being adopted by many other VPNs)

While there are other noteworthy aspects of ExpressVPN’s service, such as running all servers in RAM-disk mode, these are not really features. So let’s move on to NordVPN, where things get a little more exciting.

NordVPN features

The features category is a big distinction between NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

First we will look at NordVPN’s specialty servers, which are servers for different use cases. Unlike with NordVPN, ExpressVPN does not offer any of these specialty servers. Here’s what you get with NordVPN:

• Double-VPN servers, that encrypt traffic over two separate hops. This adds an additional layer of encryption and security, without sacrificing on speed.
• Tor-over-VPN servers that encrypt traffic with the Tor Network, in addition to the VPN server. While there is a performance tradeoff here due to the Tor network, this is another useful feature.
• P2P servers that are optimized for torrenting traffic, with excellent speeds.
• Obfuscated servers that conceal VPN traffic to look like regular HTTPS encryption. This is a great feature to use if you need a VPN for China, or any other restricted network situation where VPNs may be blocked.

I found the double-VPN servers to perform well in my testing. This is a feature we see with both NordVPN and Surfshark. The P2P servers also worked great with fast speeds and no connection issues.

Aside from the specialty servers, NordVPN also offers a useful security feature called CyberSec. The CyberSec feature blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing domains from infecting your device. It is easily enabled directly in the VPN app, as you can see below:

If you need a VPN with ad blocking, then NordVPN would be a great choice. One big advantage you get with CyberSec is that it works for your entire operating system when the VPN is on, rather than just in the browser.

ExpressVPN does not offer any type of feature like NordVPN’s CyberSec.

WireGuard – NordVPN’s implementation of the WireGuard protocol (NordLynx) is another great feature. While we already covered the great speed tests results above, here are some other benefits of WireGuard with NordVPN:

• Instant connection times (can establish a connection in less than one second)
• Seamless transition between networks, such as when switching from WiFi to 4G
• Better battery life with mobile devices
• More reliability and fewer dropped connections.

NordVPN is the clear winner in the features category.

Features winner: NordVPN

5. Security and encryption: ExpressVPN vs NordVPN

In the security category, both NordVPN and ExpressVPN do very well. However, there is only one winner in this area.

Encryption comparison

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN utilize strong encryption standards.

• ExpressVPN: Data is encrypted with an AES-256 cipher, SHA-512 hash authentication, and a 4096-bit RSA key exchange.
• NordVPN: Data is encrypted with an AES-256 cipher, SHA-256 hash authentication, and a 4096-bit RSA key exchange.

NordVPN and ExpressVPN basically offer the same levels of encryption and both are secure. The slight difference in hash authentication is rather trivial as both offer a high level of security that is considered unbreakable by today’s standards.

VPN protocols

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN support all of the main VPN protocols.

• ExpressVPN: OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, IPSec/IKEv2, IPSec/L2TP, and Lightway protocol (currently in BETA and closed source)
• NordVPN: OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, IPSec/IKEv2, IPSec/L2TP, and WireGuard

The big difference here is that NordVPN is using a widely-accepted, open-source protocol with WireGuard. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN has opted for a closed-source, self-developed Lightway protocol that is not being used by anyone else. Another problem with Lightway is that it is not integrated into the kernel, like WireGuard is with Linux.

With VPN protocols, NordVPN has an advantage over ExpressVPN.

Server security

In terms of server security, both of these VPNs have some similarities and differences.

Here are some noteworthy aspects of ExpressVPN’s server network:

• All servers running in RAM-disk mode. This offers a higher level of security and also ensures no server can physically store any data.
• Uses some virtual server locations. This is a drawback with ExpressVPN that you will not find with NordVPN.
• Does not use colocated servers, but instead rents servers from third parties.

Now let’s examine NordVPN:

• All servers running in RAM-disk mode (just like with ExpressVPN).
• Does not use any virtual server locations. Instead, all servers are running on dedicated physical hardware in secure data centers (another advantage over ExpressVPN.
• Is rolling out colocated (self-owned) servers throughout the network. NordVPN has already implemented colocated servers in a few locations, and the entire network will consist of colocated servers in the coming months. This means no more rental servers from third parties, as we see with ExpressVPN.

NordVPN comes out on top in the server security category.

Leak protection

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN do very well in terms of leak protection. With the NordVPN and ExpressVPN desktop clients, they both offer:

• IP address leak protection (for both IPv4 and IPv6)
• DNS leak protection
• Kill switch to block traffic if the VPN connection drops

I thoroughly tested all leak protection features in each of the respective reviews using these VPN test procedures. The results were great: (no leaks) for either VPN service. This third sub-category is a tie.

Overall Security winner: NordVPN

6. Logs and Privacy: ExpressVPN compared to NordVPN

When it comes to privacy and logs, NordVPN and ExpressVPN are great options. Both of these VPNs are verified no logs VPNs. We’ll examine both.

NordVPN logging policy

NordVPN is a no logs VPN provider, as explained on its website:

We do not store connection timestamps, session information, used bandwidth, traffic data, IP addresses, or other data. Nothing to store – nothing to share with anyone.

Verification: NordVPN’s logging claims were verified when they voluntarily subjected their servers, VPN infrastructure, and staff to a third-party audit to verify their logging policies. The audit was completed by PWC AG in Zurich, Switzerland.

NordVPN has undergone two separate no-logs audits conducted by PWC AG.

ExpressVPN logging policy

Fortunately, ExpressVPN also has a straightforward no logs policy:

ExpressVPN stores no activity logs and no connection logs from our users. Here’s what that means:

No activity logs. ExpressVPN does not see or record which websites you visit. We never log the destination or contents of your traffic, and we run our own private, zero-knowledge DNS on every VPN server for added privacy and anonymity.

No connection logs. ExpressVPN never logs connection timestamps, session duration, your source IP address, or the ExpressVPN IP address that your computer assumes when connected to the VPN.

Verification: Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN has also undergone a third-party no logs audit. This audit was also performed by PWC and verified the no-logs policy and privacy protection measures are in place.

Unlike NordVPN, however, ExpressVPN has not undergone a second no-logs audit for 2020.

Logs and privacy winner: NordVPN

7. ExpressVPN and NordVPN jurisdictions

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are based in good privacy jurisdictions.

NordVPN in Panama – Panama is not a member of the 14 Eyes countries and it is generally considered to be a good offshore jurisdiction, safe from US and European influence.

ExpressVPN in British Virgin Islands – The British Virgin Islands are also considered a good jurisdiction. The BVI is not a member of 5/9/14 Eyes surveillance groups and it is a free and independent country, with its own legal and judicial system, despite the historical ties to Britain. Some of the newer VPNs, such as Surfshark, are incorporating in the BVI for this reason.

Both Panama and the British Virgin Islands have strong privacy protections in place, making them popular locations for banking and other businesses that demand high levels of privacy.

Jurisdiction winner: Tie

8. ExpressVPN vs NordVPN torrenting tests

Once again, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are good options for torrenting. But again there is a difference in this category.

When looking for the best VPN for torrenting , there are two things to consider:

1. Speeds: NordVPN was the big winner in all of our speed tests. It offers the fastest speeds for torrenting over ExpressVPN.
2. Leak protection: ExpressVPN and NordVPN both offer great leak protection. Each incorporates a kill switch into the VPN apps to protect your traffic. This will keep your IP address and location secure when torrenting files. If the VPN connection drops, you will still be protected if you have the kill switch activated.

While both ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer secure VPN apps with built-in leak protection, the big difference is in speeds, where NordVPN comes out on top. If you want to torrent with your VPN, NordVPN’s speeds will give you an edge over ExpressVPN.

Torrenting winner: NordVPN

9. ExpressVPN vs NordVPN with Netflix and streaming

As someone who enjoys streaming American Netflix, I’ve tested many services to find the best VPNs that work with Netflix. Fortunately, both NordVPN and ExpressVPN work well for accessing Netflix.

ExpressVPN Netflix – ExpressVPN offers 24/7 access to Netflix, but only for a select few regions. While it is generally a good VPN for Netflix, it comes with a few drawbacks:

• Fewer Netflix regions supported. The main regions supported by ExpressVPN are USA, Japan, and UK, but a few other regions may also work.
• Slower speeds (but you should still have plenty of speed to stream Netflix in HD with ExpressVPN).

In comparison to ExpressVPN, NordVPN simply works better For Netflix and streaming in general.

NordVPN Netflix – NordVPN currently supports a larger number of Netflix libraries. Officially, NordVPN supports 14 different Netflix libraries, including: US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Australia, India, Brazil, South Korea, and Finland. This is far more Netflix regions than you will find with ExpressVPN.

In addition to having more access to different Netflix libraries, NordVPN also gives you better speeds for streaming, as we covered above. Below I’m testing out NordVPN with Netflix; everything worked well:

NordVPN is the clear winner when it comes to streaming Netflix. But what about other streaming services?

Other streaming services

ExpressVPN – Generally speaking, ExpressVPN does well with streaming. However, it has suffered from outages over the past year and continues to get blocked by BBC iPlayer. I’ve seen ExpressVPN users commenting here on Restore Privacy about it getting blocked by various services, without any kind of solution.

We have also tested this and found ExpressVPN to be getting blocked by some popular streaming sites, such as BBC iPlayer:

Note: We also observed ExpressVPN’s problems with streaming in our tests for the Surfshark vs ExpressVPN comparison.

NordVPN – Just like with access to a larger selection of Netflix libraries, NordVPN also provides access to a larger number of streaming services. And unlike with ExpressVPN, NordVPN works with BBC iPlayer and is not getting blocked. We posted screenshots of this in our guide on the best VPN for BBC iPlayer.

NordVPN also consistently works with Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and others. It is one of the best all-around VPNs for streaming on the market.

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer dedicated apps in the Amazon Store if you need a VPN for Firestick or Fire TV.

Netflix and streaming winner: NordVPN

10. ExpressVPN vs NordVPN price comparison

In terms of price, NordVPN is the winner with the cheapest rates.

Here is a brief breakdown of the pricing with both ExpressVPN and NordVPN:

It’s clear that NordVPN offers the cheapest price with the two-year discounted rate at $3.71 per month. There is, however, more risk involved in signing up with a VPN for two years, but that is the tradeoff for the lower price. NordVPN is currently the best cheap VPN, offering a high-quality service at under $4 per month.

ExpressVPN does not offer any free trial, nor do they offer two-year plans. The discounted 15-month rate does offer some good savings (below the standard price of $8.32/month without the coupon). Regarding temporary sales, ExpressVPN remains consistent on their pricing, as explained in my ExpressVPN coupons guide.

Price winner: NordVPN

11. Payments options and refunds: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN

Now we’ll examine payment options and refunds for both ExpressVPN and NordVPN.

ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN supports a wide range of payment options, including all major credit cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, as well as other payment processors.

You only need to enter a valid email address and your payment details with ExpressVPN.

NordVPN – NordVPN also supports many payment options, but there is one big difference: no PayPal. For unknown reasons, PayPal has not been an option with NordVPN since January 2019. This is indeed a drawback, since PayPal is a popular payment option.

While NordVPN no longer supports PayPal (in the US), all other major payment options are available, including cryptocurrencies. Additionally, NordVPN accepts more cryptocurrencies than ExpressVPN, which only takes Bitcoin.

Note: NordVPN occasionally offers discounts and special packages, such as around the holidays. This is explained on my NordVPN coupon page, tracking the latest deals.

Refunds – Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer a 30 day money-back guarantee.

This category is clearly a tie. ExpressVPN accepts PayPal, NordVPN accepts more cryptocurrencies, and both offer a 30 day money-back guarantee.

Payment options and refunds winner: Tie

12. Is ExpressVPN or NordVPN the best value?

Last, but not least, is the question of value.

Which VPN offers the best value for your money?

In comparison to ExpressVPN, NordVPN simply offers more bang for your buck:

• Faster speeds
• More privacy and security features
• Better performance with streaming and torrenting
• Cheaper prices

Considering all this, NordVPN is the clear winner in the value category.

Value winner: NordVPN

Which is better NordVPN or ExpressVPN?

Based on all of our test results and research, we must conclude that NordVPN is better than ExpressVPN. NordVPN was the winner in nine categories.

To summarize our findings in this NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison, here are the winners for each category:

1. Speeds – NordVPN
2. Reliability – NordVPN
3. VPN Apps – Tie
4. Features – NordVPN
5. Security – NordVPN
6. Logs and Privacy – NordVPN
7. Jurisdiction – Tie
8. Torrenting – NordVPN
9. Netflix and Streaming – NordVPN
10. Price – NordVPN
11. Payments and Refunds – Tie
12. Value – NordVPN

Overall winner: NordVPN

While we like and recommend both of these VPN services, NordVPN has made massive progress over the last year. It has overtaken ExpressVPN in most categories, especially in the areas of performance, features, and streaming.

It is for all of these reasons and more that we consider NordVPN to be the best all-around VPN service and give it our top recommendation.

At the end of the day, either of these two VPNs may be the best service for you. It all depends on your needs and uses for the VPN. Whichever service you decide to go for, be sure to get the best price via the discounts below:

And now for ExpressVPN.

This is the best deal you can get on ExpressVPN, but it’s still a lot more money than NordVPN.

If you are really still on the fence, keep in mind that ExpressVPN and NordVPN both offer a 30 day money-back guarantee. Therefore you could purchase both VPNs, test each service for a few weeks, and then cancel the one you don’t want for a full refund.

Last updated on February 16, 2021 with new info.