# ExpressVPN > VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers 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. - **Category:** VPNs - **Made by:** ExpressVPN (since 2009) - **Website:** https://www.expressvpn.com - **Runs on:** macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension - **Facts last checked:** Oct 17, 2026 ## Pricing 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. - **Pricing model:** Free trial - **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 | $99.95 per 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 | $119.95 per 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 | $199.95 per 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 https://www.expressvpn.com/pricing on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with ExpressVPN before buying. ## Ways to pay less - **First 15 months of a 12-month plan from $74.85** (Other savings): 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. Source: https://www.expressvpn.com/pricing ## 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. ## 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. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.4 out of 4**, graded Oct 17, 2026. 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. - **Value for money: C.** Over 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. - **Free plan and trial: D.** Only 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. - **Features: B.** Lightway 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. - **Ease of use: B.** 4.68 from about 420,000 App Store ratings, a whisker under the 4.7 an A needs. Pick a location and connect. - **Platforms and integrations: B.** Mac, 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. These are ToolGPA's own grades. 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. ## Where it 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. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/vpn ## Keep it, 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. - You could make: Ad and tracker blocking: an app builder makes this well. - You could not: Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. - You could not: Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other. - You could not: The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. ## What people say - **App Store rating of the iPhone and iPad app:** 4.7 out of 5 from 419,520 ratings in the United States, read Oct 17, 2026. This is the store's rating of the app, not a score from ToolGPA. Source: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id886492891 **Tags:** VPN, Ad and tracker blocking ## Alternatives - [NordVPN](https://toolgpa.com/tools/nordvpn): Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/expressvpn-vs-nordvpn) - [Surfshark](https://toolgpa.com/tools/surfshark): VPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/expressvpn-vs-surfshark) - [Proton VPN](https://toolgpa.com/tools/proton-vpn): Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/expressvpn-vs-proton-vpn) - [Private Internet Access](https://toolgpa.com/tools/private-internet-access): Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/expressvpn-vs-private-internet-access) - [CyberGhost](https://toolgpa.com/tools/cyberghost): VPN for seven devices with a 45-day money-back window on long plans. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cyberghost-vs-expressvpn) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 17, 2026: - https://www.expressvpn.com/pricing - https://www.expressvpn.com/features/vpn-trial - https://www.expressvpn.com/about-us - https://www.expressvpn.com/support/ - https://www.expressvpn.com/support/manage-account/renew-expressvpn-account/ - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/expressvpn-secure-fast-vpn/id886492891 Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/expressvpn Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).