The ExpressVPN Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about ExpressVPN in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
ExpressVPN
The Insider’s Guide
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among VPNs, read from ExpressVPN’s own pages.
Made by ExpressVPN · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from ExpressVPN’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on ExpressVPN’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 6 of the 16 other VPNs we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about ExpressVPN, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
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.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
- 3
You can try it first
3-day free trial when you subscribe in the iOS or Android app
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Lightway protocol
ExpressVPN's own VPN protocol, with post-quantum protection, plus an internet kill switch and split tunneling in the apps.
- 6
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.
- 7
Ad and threat blocking
Basic blocks ads, malicious sites and adult sites; Advanced and Express Pro also block trackers.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 6 of 16
That is against the other VPNs we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
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.
ExpressVPN at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 3-day free trial when you subscribe in the iOS or Android app
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- ExpressVPN, since 2009
- Category
- VPNs
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 419,520 ratings
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8.33
A month to start, paid by the year
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.
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).
Trying it first
3-day free trial when you subscribe in the iOS or Android app
Read from expressvpn.com on Oct 17, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
First 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
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: vPN, ad and tracker blocking.
Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and browser extensions, with apps for routers and TVs too.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
ExpressVPN is made by ExpressVPN, and has been around since 2009.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
6/16
Other VPNs it is graded above
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
- DFree plan and trialAbove 6 of 16
- BFeaturesAbove 5 of 16
- BEase of useAbove 6 of 16
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 16
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 16 VPNs. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. ExpressVPN is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost
The 5 tools ExpressVPN is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
NordVPN
Free trial · from $139.08/yr
Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links.
- 2.8GPA
Surfshark
Free trial · from $79/yr
VPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles.
- 2.8GPA
Proton VPN
Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap.
- 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.
- 2.2GPA
Private Internet Access
From $47.88/yr
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states.
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
CyberGhost
Free trial · from $56.94/yr
VPN for seven devices with a 45-day money-back window on long plans.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Could I make my own version of ExpressVPN?
To replace ExpressVPN you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from ExpressVPN’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by ExpressVPN. Prices change, so check expressvpn.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,858
Tools graded, in 46 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,858
tools graded
46
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- ExpressVPN, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/expressvpn
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "ExpressVPN: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/expressvpn
Know someone choosing between VPNs?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/expressvpn/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded VPNs after ExpressVPN, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- VPNs Insider's GuideEvery one of the 17 VPNs we grade, compared
- hide.me Insider's GuideMalaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices3.0 GPA
- PrivadoVPN Insider's GuideVPN with a 10GB free plan and ad blocking on paid plans2.8 GPA
- Proton VPN Insider's GuideOpen-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what ExpressVPN’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. ExpressVPN is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ExpressVPN. Prices and plans change: check expressvpn.com before you buy.