ExpressVPN vs NordVPN : The 2023 VPN Showdown

Choosing between ExpressVPN and NordVPN can be a challenge. They are both highly regarded. However, there are significant differences that might sway your decision. In this head-to-head comparison, we’ve thoroughly tested both VPNs and broken them down by price, security features, speed, and customer support to provide you with everything you need to know.

We’ve extensively tested NordVPN and ExpressVPN to compare these services accurately. Here’s a summary table of what we’ve found:

Summary: ExpressVPN vs NordVPN

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: VPN price comparison

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. We have tested these and can testify that both providers honor this pledge without asking you to provide a reason or prove why the service doesn’t work for you.

ExpressVPN gives you three months extra free with a one-year term, making it a better deal if you want an annual plan. NordVPN offers steep discounts on longer subscriptions, too. You can cut the cost to just $3.99 per month if you’re willing to commit to two years of service upfront.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Features

ExpressVPN and NordVPN are two of the few VPN services to offer command-line utilities for easy installation on Linux. Both providers offer native apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire devices.

When it comes to router installation, ExpressVPN beats NordVPN because it has its own easy-to-use custom firmware that greatly simplifies the setup process. ExpressVPN just launched its Aircove router with a built-in VPN, which works with an ExpressVPN subscription. That said, NordVPN can also be manually installed on a wide range of routers. It even provides an extensive library of tutorials explaining how to install the VPN on various firmware.

NordVPN allows one more simultaneous connection than ExpressVPN (six versus five). It’s worth noting that installing the VPN on a router counts as just one connection from your allowance.

NordVPN has an ad-blocker and malware-protection system called CyberSec. This helps keep you safe while browsing and bridges the gap slightly between your VPN and desktop antivirus program. Each service also comes with a Smart DNS service: these allow you to access a handful of streaming services on devices that don’t normally support VPN apps (like games consoles or older Smart TVs).

Streaming & Netflix comparison

When it comes to streaming, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are certainly up to the challenge. There aren’t many streaming platforms you can’t securely access with either service, although ExpressVPN has been less consistent with BBC iPlayer recently.

Both of these providers work very well with changing Netflix region, and in NordVPN’s case, every server we’ve tested works. However, if your chosen server can’t access a specific library, it automatically redirects you to the US Netflix library.

If you have a Kodi box, you can use either of these VPNs to get around regional restrictions on TV services. Neither ExpressVPN nor NordVPN has an app that can be installed on a Kodi box. However, they do have setup guides for sharing the VPN connection from a PC or a VPN router.

NordVPN also fully integrates SmartPlay – its Smart DNS feature into the VPN. This makes it much more straightforward to stream online services without running into issues.

ExpressVPN and NordVPN are open about their support for torrents, so you don’t need to be coy about your activities if you contact customer support with questions about optimizing your setup for P2P traffic.

China

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN perform well in China. The Chinese government actually blocks the main ExpressVPN website, but the company provides an alternative address for users in China. Just be sure to ask for the address before you leave.

ExpressVPN is aware of the challenges of keeping its service available in China. Although the service works in the People’s Republic, service outages sometimes occur. However, both of these services have a solid record for getting around newly introduced blocks from the Chinese government.

Setup and interface

The ExpressVPN app is small and keeps mobile-friendly proportions even when it is used on a PC or Mac. Everything is neatly organized, with the settings and servers each having its own screen. We liked that your most-recently-used server was easily accessible from the main page, too, since this saves the hassle of trying to remember, for instance, which server was able to access a particular Netflix library.

The NordVPN main screen shows a world map with a marker in each country where the company operates servers. There’s also a list view on the left (or at the bottom of the screen on mobile devices). The server list separates general-purpose servers from those designed for P2P traffic or Tor over VPN connections, so it’s always easy to find exactly what you need.

ExpressVPN and NordVPN use shared address systems. In this scenario, all of your outgoing traffic is labeled with the VPN server’s IP address. Every other user connected to that server at the same time also gets represented by the same IP address. Anyone trying to trace activity from the target website back to the originator will arrive at the VPN server and cannot tell which VPN customer originated that request.

Shared IP address systems are managed by “port address mapping” (PAT). You may have read about the protection some VPNs offer with a NAT firewall. This is actually PAT. The address translation system makes it impossible to identify an IP address behind the gateway, automatically creating a firewall. NordVPN uses a NAT firewall, while ExpressVPN uses a port-blocking method to provide similar protection.

In some circumstances, you may need your own private IP address. This is particularly important if you want to accept incoming connections. In this instance, the NAT firewall will not apply to your connection. You would need a private or ‘static,’ IP address to set up your own server. This might be for your website, for a gaming server, or to create your own cloud data storage system.

You can’t get a static IP address from ExpressVPN. However, NordVPN offers these for an extra $70 USD per year. You can choose to have an IP address from the UK, the USA, the Netherlands, France, or Germany. It doesn’t matter where you live or where you actually are.

Servers and performance

Although ExpressVPN has servers in more countries, NordVPN has a larger network overall. It currently has around 5,000 servers in 60 countries worldwide, whereas ExpressVPN has roughly 1,500 servers in 94 countries. Server count, however, isn’t always the best measure of a service. ExpressVPN offers fewer but more powerful servers. ExpressVPN claims that their next-gen 10-Gbps servers increase connection speed. They are taking a quality-over-quantity approach, so we’ll see how that plays out.

NordVPN has a server feature that ExpressVPN doesn’t offer: VPN chaining (also known as multi-hop VPN or double-hop VPN). This routes your traffic through two servers, encrypting packets twice over. This is an interesting security feature, but it will slow down your connection somewhat. Alternatively, NordVPN allows you to route your data through its servers before passing it through the Tor network.

Here are the countries in which NordVPN and ExpressVPN have servers:

Our latest speed test results show that ExpressVPN and NordVPN are among the top ten fastest providers. ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol gave it an average download speed of 475 Mbps. NordVPN was a little slower but still fast at 369 Mbps thanks to its speedy new NordLynx protocol.

Security comparison

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer multiple VPN protocols to secure your internet traffic. ExpressVPN allows OpenVPN and IKEv2 connections, plus it has its proprietary protocol, Lightway, that blends speed and security. It’s also more lightweight, meaning it should be less taxing on your device’s battery, and has been specially optimized for mobile devices.

NordVPN, too has its own protocol. It’s named NordLynx and is based on WireGuard, considered by many the next big thing in digital security. NordLynx is easier to audit than OpenVPN and boasts higher speeds, especially if your chosen server is a long distance away.

Both companies use AES encryption with a 256-bit key. This provides cast-iron online security because the cipher is uncrackable. ExpressVPN has a slight advantage in the security that it offers for the control channel. This cipher is used for session establishment and to protect the distribution of AES keys. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN use RSA encryption for this channel, but ExpressVPN uses a longer key — 4,096 bits against the 2,048-bit key used by NordVPN.

DNS calls are unencrypted, so if a VPN lets your computer carry on using the default DNS service nominated by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), then all of the websites that you visit could be logged by your ISP, hackers, or government spooks tapping the line. Fortunately, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN force all DNS references to travel down their encrypted tunnels, preventing any outsiders from seeing your activity on the web.

Both apps include a kill switch option. This prevents you from accidentally browsing with the VPN disconnected. NordVPN allows you to either use a regular kill switch or one that only affects specific apps. ExpressVPN doesn’t have that per-app option, but it does offer split tunneling across all of its apps. This allows you to nominate apps to bypass the VPN and keep all others protected.

Additionally, You can instruct both apps to start when the operating system boots up, which means that you can set them to run on your computer all of the time. Both companies also scramble the encrypted content of packets to prevent any repeated data creating patterns in the encrypted transmission.

ExpressVPN has recently added two new tools. These are a threat manager, which prevents your other apps from communicating with known tracker sites, and a parallel connections feature that works in the background to get you connected as quickly as possible.

Privacy

Most VPNs say they don’t keep any logs. However, when you dig a little deeper, what they often mean is that they don’t keep any activity logs. An activity log would record every action performed by the user, including websites visited and data downloads. Unfortunately, by tracing a connection from its destination back through to its originator, prosecutors and law enforcement agencies can track you to your door. A VPN makes this more difficult, but if your provider hands over detailed connection logs, it really hasn’t provided you any protection at all.

ExpressVPN stores some aggregated connection logs, but goes out of its way to avoid storing any data that could identify you. Its logs include your account ID, the date (not time) of connections, the location connected to and from, and the total amount of data transferred. The fact that the company does not record your real IP address should make it near-impossible to trace you

NordVPN doesn’t keep any VPN usage logs or connection logs that would identify what the user does while connected however it does collect advertising IDs on mobile for its own use. These can quickly and easily be reset, though, and aren’t a deal-breaker.

This brings up the question of whether it is possible to open an account anonymously. After all, if you need a credit card to open an account, it’s easy to trace you. Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN allow you to pay with cryptocurrencies or a variety of prepaid cards, making it effectively impossible to link your account to you.

Customer service

ExpressVPN and NordVPN are industry leaders in customer support. Both have a live chat facility on their websites staffed with knowledgeable experts. There’s also a searchable knowledge base, ticket systems, and a dedicated support email address.

So how responsive are these providers? ExpressVPN and NordVPN both replied to emails quickly. ExpressVPN did fumble a bit on one seemingly straightforward question about DNS leaks by providing a lot of information about the topic without actually answering our question. However, upon follow-up, the question was answered promptly.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Our winner

ExpressVPN is a fantastically versatile service that outperforms most of its rivals when it comes to speed and accessing regional Netflix libraries. It’s strong on privacy too, and we still think it’s an excellent choice for those who don’t mind spending a little more each month.

But we still believe NordVPN is the better option. It’s almost as fast, has more servers to choose from, and provides more control over your security setup than ExpressVPN does. It’s just as good, if not better, for streaming too, thanks to its strong unblocking ability and dedicated IP address option.

Pound for pound, NordVPN offers more features, great speeds and smarter streaming capabilities, all at a significantly better price point.

The 30-day money-back guarantee both services offer gives you a chance to try out ExpressVPN and NordVPN for yourself. Whichever of these VPN services you choose, you will be in safe hands.

Comparing ExpressVPN and NordVPN: our methodology

As two of our top-ranking VPNs, ExpressVPN and NordVPN both have plenty to offer. However, in order to help you make a decision, we had to compare and contrast these two services in multiple areas. Below, you can read a little more about the methodology we used:

• Server networks: One of the first things we look at is a VPN’s server network. ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer thousands of servers that are spread across dozens of countries. The larger the server network, the more content you’ll be able to access and the more likely you’ll find a server close to your physical location.
• Speed: We know that you may wish to use your VPN for streaming and torrenting. With this in mind, we carry out a speed test on VPN servers across various locations. This provides us with a better picture of a VPN’s speeds. In the case of ExpressVPN and NordVPN, they’re among the fastest VPNs we’ve tested.
• Unblocking: Not all VPNs are adept at bypassing restrictions. To assess the unblocking abilities of ExpressVPN and NordVPN, we test them against a wide range of websites and services. This includes popular streaming services including Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.
• Security: It’s only by using a VPN for ourselves that we can get a good sense of the kind of security it provides (this must include high-end encryption!). This hands-on experience combined with DNS and IP leak tests ensures we only recommend those VPNs which will keep you safe online.
• Privacy: Any reputable VPN provider will operate a strict no-logs policy to protect your privacy. This is certainly the case for ExpressVPN and NordVPN. Having looked at over 140 VPN logging policies, we know how they compare. We also look for other privacy features such as the option to pay in Bitcoin.
• Ease of use: We have reviewed dozens of VPNs and tested their apps for ourselves. The good news is that ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer particularly user-friendly apps for a wide range of operating systems. Our tests even include contacting live chat and email support to measure response times and quality of replies.
• Value for money: It’s important to take all of the above into consideration when looking at a VPN’s subscription plans and pricing. There should be a money-back guarantee of at least 30 days (we test this for ourselves to ensure it’s truly risk-free). Last but not least, discount coupons are provided so you can save a little extra.

If you’d like to know more about the specific tests we run on VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, take a look at our VPN testing methodology which goes into further detail.

Want to know how some other leading providers compare to ExpressVPN and NordVPN? Check out some other comparisons below:

• ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost
• NordVPN vs Surfshark
• NordVPN vs IPVanish
• ExpressVPN vs IPVanish

NordVPN or ExpressVPN FAQs