ExpressVPN
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers
ExpressVPN report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 17, 2026
Best for a VPN with apps for routers and TVs too
ExpressVPN runs on its own Lightway protocol, reaches 113 countries and has apps for routers and TVs as well as computers and phones. The first 15 months of Basic cost $74.85, but then it renews at $99.95 a year, near the top of what VPNs charge. There's no real free way in, either: just a 3-day trial through the phone apps.
Who ExpressVPN is for
- Great if you want the VPN on your router so every device at home is covered
- Handy when you'd like a password manager and ID alerts on the same bill
- Good for teams of five or more through ExpressVPN for Teams
Who ExpressVPN is not for
- Pricey if you stay after the first 15 months, as Basic renews at $99.95 a year
- Skip it if you want to try it on a computer first, as the free trial is phone-only and lasts 3 days
- Tight if your household has more than 10 devices on the Basic plan
Why ExpressVPN gets a 2.4
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyOver two years Basic costs $174.80: $74.85 for the first 15 months, then $99.95 for the next year. That's about $7.30 a month, between the middle and the dearer end of VPN prices. Advanced renews at $119.95 and Express Pro at $199.95.
- DFree plan and trialOnly a 3-day free trial, and only when you subscribe in the iPhone or Android app. The 30-day money-back guarantee is for first-time customers and isn't a trial.
- BFeaturesLightway with post-quantum protection, a kill switch, split tunneling, servers in 113 countries, ad and threat blocking, an email alias relay, and from Advanced a password manager and ID theft cover. It covers the whole job.
- BEase of use4.68 from about 420,000 App Store ratings, a whisker under the 4.7 an A needs. Pick a location and connect.
- BPlatforms and integrationsMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and browser extensions, with apps for routers and TVs too. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ExpressVPN's own pages on 17 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make ExpressVPN? Put this grade on your site
Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/expressvpn#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/expressvpn.svg" alt="ExpressVPN: 2.4 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where ExpressVPN stands among VPNs
ExpressVPN's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 6 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 3.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 6 of 16) and worst on free plan and trial (D, above 6).
Its paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 13 of the 15 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 17 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. ExpressVPN’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 1 of 16, level with 9
- DFree plan and trialAbove 6 of 16, level with 4
- BFeaturesAbove 5 of 16, level with 11
- BEase of useAbove 6 of 16, level with 8
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 16, level with 16
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 16 VPNs. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep ExpressVPN, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace ExpressVPN you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $99.95 a year.
What you could make
- Ad and tracker blocking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. ExpressVPN’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN is a subscription VPN that runs on its own Lightway protocol, with servers in 113 countries and apps for desktop, mobile, TVs and routers. Its three tiers add more devices and more of the company's other tools: an email alias relay, the ExpressKeys password manager, identity theft monitoring and, on Express Pro, a dedicated IP.
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. See every plan
Good for
- People who want a VPN with apps for routers and TVs as well as computers
- Buyers who want a password manager and ID monitoring on one bill
- Small teams of five or more, through ExpressVPN for Teams
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- Lightway protocol
- ExpressVPN's own VPN protocol, with post-quantum protection, plus an internet kill switch and split tunneling in the apps.
- Servers in 113 countries
- Every plan reaches the same network of servers in 113 countries, with speeds of up to 40Gbps quoted on the pricing page.
- Ad and threat blocking
- Basic blocks ads, malicious sites and adult sites; Advanced and Express Pro also block trackers.
- ExpressMailGuard
- A private email relay that hides your address behind aliases. The monthly relay allowance and number of aliases and custom domains grow with the plan.
- ExpressKeys and Identity Defender
- From Advanced, a password manager with a 2FA authenticator, plus ID alerts, automated data removal and up to $3 million ($5 million on Pro) of identity theft insurance.
- Dedicated IP
- A fixed IP address of your own: included with Express Pro and an add-on for Basic and Advanced.
ExpressVPN pricing
- Starts at
- $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- 3-day free trial when you subscribe in the iOS or Android app
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic, 12 months | $99.95per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months | 10 devices and blocking of ads, malicious and adult sites. The first 15 months cost $74.85 ($4.99 a month), shown against $224.85. |
| Advanced, 12 months | $119.95per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months | 12 devices, tracker blocking, ExpressKeys and Identity Defender. The first 15 months cost $89.85 ($5.99 a month). |
| Express Pro, 12 months | $199.95per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months | 14 devices, a dedicated IP and ExpressAI, with more ID alerts and insurance. The first 15 months cost $134.85 ($8.99 a month). |
Read from expressvpn.com on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with ExpressVPN before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Other savingsFirst 15 months of a 12-month plan from $74.85
A 12-month plan comes with 3 extra months for a first payment of $74.85 (Basic), $89.85 (Advanced) or $134.85 (Express Pro), then renews yearly at the full price.
Stated on expressvpn.com
How people rate the ExpressVPN app
4.7
out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app
- 5 stars85%
- 4 stars8%
- 3 stars3%
- 2 stars1%
- 1 star3%
419,520 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Oct 17, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing
ExpressVPN alternatives
- ExpressVPN vs NordVPN
Free trial · from $139.08/yr
- ExpressVPN vs Surfshark
Free trial · from $79/yr
- ExpressVPN vs Proton VPN
Free plan · from $83.88/yr
- ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access
From $47.88/yr
- ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost
Free trial · from $56.94/yr
Common questions
Is ExpressVPN free?
No, ExpressVPN is a paid product, but you can try it first. 3-day free trial when you subscribe in the iOS or Android app.
How much does ExpressVPN cost?
ExpressVPN lists 3 plans. Basic, 12 months: $99.95 per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months. Advanced, 12 months: $119.95 per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months. Express Pro, 12 months: $199.95 per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months. Prices were read from expressvpn.com on Oct 17, 2026.
What platforms does ExpressVPN work on?
ExpressVPN is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does ExpressVPN offer any discounts?
ExpressVPN publicly lists the following: First 15 months of a 12-month plan from $74.85.
How is ExpressVPN rated?
ExpressVPN's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 419,520 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 17, 2026. That is the store's rating of the app, not a score from us.
Is ExpressVPN open source?
ExpressVPN is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Who makes ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN is made by ExpressVPN. It dates from 2009.
What are the alternatives to ExpressVPN?
The closest alternatives to ExpressVPN in our directory are NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with ExpressVPN.
How does ExpressVPN compare with other VPNs?
ExpressVPN's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 6 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 3. It stands best on ease of use (B, above 6 of 16) and worst on free plan and trial (D, above 6).
Is ExpressVPN good value for money?
ToolGPA grades ExpressVPN C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 13 of the 15 others that charge start lower. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Could I make my own version of ExpressVPN?
To replace ExpressVPN you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one. It costs $99.95 a year. What you could not make: Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other. The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job. This is a judgement from its listing. We have not built one.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 17, 2026. What people say is linked where it appears.