Alternatives · VPNs
ExpressVPN alternatives
ExpressVPN compared with 6 alternatives: NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and 1 more.
ExpressVPN is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85. 2 of the 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPNThis tool | Free trial · from $99.95/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| NordVPN | Free trial · from $139.08/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Surfshark | Free trial · from $79/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Proton VPN | Free plan · from $83.88/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Private Internet Access | From $47.88/yr | No | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| CyberGhost | Free trial · from $56.94/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Hotspot Shield | Free plan · from $95.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
Price against what you get
ExpressVPN starts at $8.33 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 6 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: Surfshark.
NordVPN scores higher without starting lower. Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield start lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from ExpressVPN
- Free trial · from $139.08/yr
NordVPN
Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links
- NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan). ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
Suits: Households covering up to 10 devices on one account
- Free trial · from $79/yr
Surfshark
VPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles
- Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23. ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Proton VPN
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap
- Proton VPN starts at $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88. ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
- Proton VPN has a free plan. ExpressVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Trying a VPN for free without a data cap
- From $47.88/yr
Private Internet Access
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states
- Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal). ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Free trial · from $56.94/yr
CyberGhost
VPN for seven devices with a 45-day money-back window on long plans
- CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94. ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
Suits: Trying a VPN on a computer for a day without entering a card
- Free plan · from $95.99/yr
Hotspot Shield
VPN with a free Basic tier and its own Hydra protocol
- Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29. ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
- Hotspot Shield has a free plan. ExpressVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ExpressVPN lists a Linux app.
- Hotspot Shield also covers malware protection.
- ExpressVPN also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Occasional users who want a free VPN on one device
Limits worth knowing in ExpressVPN
- The advertised $4.99 a month covers only the first 15 months of Basic; it then renews yearly at $99.95, or $119.95 and $199.95 on the higher tiers.
- The US pricing page offers only 12-month plans, and devices are capped at 10, 12 or 14 depending on the tier.
- The 30-day money-back guarantee is for first-time customers; App Store and Google Play purchases are refunded at Apple's or Google's discretion.
- ExpressVPN for Teams has a minimum of five licenses.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to ExpressVPN?
The alternatives to ExpressVPN in this directory are NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with ExpressVPN.
Is there a free alternative to ExpressVPN?
Yes. Proton VPN and Hotspot Shield have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Is there an open-source alternative to ExpressVPN?
Proton VPN and Private Internet Access are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.