ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN Review

If there are two VPN clients that have risen in the ranks in terms of popularity, it is NordVPN and ExpressVPN. These clients show up at the top in app stores, when you do a Google search, and they are installed on countless phones and laptops.

Overall, NordVPN is the better VPN. In analyzing both products, it became clear that they are equals in terms of a clean interface, popular appeal, and even specific features. You can install both on multiple devices like laptops, smartphones, and your Wi-Fi router. Only by looking closely at a few details will one leader emerge—and even then, it is not by much.

To say any product that costs over $10 per month is “affordable” might be a stretch. The Hulu app and even the basic Adobe packages cost less or about the same. Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN tend to be the best options overall compared to other VPN clients, both offering over 3,000 servers and over 50 countries to choose from. However, NordVPN technically wins out on price at about $1 cheaper per month.

NordVPN also wins by a nose when it comes to annual pricing plans. You can pay for the entire year and the monthly fee is more than $1 per month less than ExpressVPN. The only caveat is that, while both products rated five stars, ExpressVPN has a better interface in terms of branding and slightly more intuitive features. For VPN services that won't break the bank, check out our review of the cheapest VPNs.

With almost 5,000 servers at your disposal, NordVPN makes it easier to find a connection and experiment with how you connect (to test the speed) than ExpressVPN (which has just over 3,000 servers).

Will you actually use the extra 2,000 servers or so? That’s debatable, but you can at least use them if you need to and if you happen to travel to another country where the faster connection is available.

The number of countries available determines not just how you connect but from where. If you travel, it means you have more options. If you are trying to circumvent any country restrictions (say, connecting to the BBC service from the US), then you have that option. A VPN can protect and secure your connection no matter where you are. ExpressVPN has 94 countries available, which is almost twice that of most VPNs.

Having access from just one extra device is not exactly a major win. It only helps if you happen to have one extra phone in your household or happen to own multiple smartphones. NordVPN does get the nod here, though: you can connect from six devices instead of ExpressVPN’s five devices.

Drum roll please. The winner of the head-to-head between ExpressVPN and NordVPN is almost too close to call. NordVPN barely sneaks into the top spot based purely on specs.

• Pricing: NordVPN. Cheaper for both monthly and annual plans.
• Number of servers: NordVPN. With almost 5,000 servers, it is the frontrunner.
• Number of countries: ExpressVPN. You can connect in up to 94 countries.
• Number of devices: NordVPN. Six devices available compared to five.

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