NordVPN Vs ExpressVPN Comparison – Which is Best VPN 2024

This tutorial is a detailed comparison of NordVPN vs ExpressVPN to help you decide which VPN is the best based on your specific requirements:

One of the major challenges facing the digital world is maintaining privacy. VPNs have always played the role of a shield by ensuring high standards of privacy online. A Virtual Private Network (also called VPN) is a private and secure network on the public internet.

Talking of VPNs, it is imperative to not miss a discussion around the world’s top players, namely NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

In this article on NordVPN VS ExpressVPN, we will not only review the strengths and weaknesses of these primary players but also compare them to help our readers make an apt choice. So, if you have also been struggling to choose one of these VPNs, keep all your thoughts away and read on!

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN – Comparative Study

To get started with the tutorial on NordVPN VS ExpressVPN, let’s begin our discussion with NordVPN.

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Defining NordVPN

NordVPN, the name is synonymous with a mammoth in the VPN industry and has achieved milestones in exceeding customer expectations, who choose both safety and privacy. NordVPN is definitely a VPN market leader, which assures high speed through its popular NordLynx tunneling.

Not only does it offer unbreakable encryption, but also has a no-logs policy which is independently audited to ensure anonymity. Some of the popular features of its app, like Meshnet, make it a popular choice for beginners and other users.

As discussed earlier, features like split tunneling, Tor interface, and NordLynx tunneling provide lightning-fast speed without the user having to compromise on security. NordVPN has over 81 server locations with a presence in 59 countries, which is much higher than most of its competitors.

Let us analyze some of the important features of NordVPN which have contributed to its success.

Features of NordVPN:

• One of the most important features of NordVPN is that users do not need to compromise on speed for choosing a secure network. NordVPN provides the best of both worlds.
• NordVPN provides secured internet and ensures the safety and security of data using next-generation encryption.
• Talking about security, NordVPN has a strict ‘no logs’ policy under which customers’ data is neither tracked nor collected. Isn’t this a big relief?
• NordVPN also provides next-generation encryption on mobile devices, which assures privacy.
• It has a wide range of over 5400 servers in 60 countries which provide limitless and borderless internet.
• If you are a multi-device user, you do not need to worry. NordVPN permits connection to 6 devices from a single account.
• It also allows its users to keep internet traffic and the VPN connection hidden to ensure maximum security.
• If this is not enough, here’s more! NordVPN follows multi-factor authentication for the security of the user’s account.
• The ‘kill switch’ feature of NordVPN ensures zero exposure of data.
• It also has ‘split tunneling’ support that lets the user surf local content and also stream and share with an added cover of VPN protection.
• Some of the other security features of NordVPN include masking of user’s IP address so that the online activities of the user can’t be tracked. The user also has the option to edit the IP address two times to get additional security for web traffic.

So, have you already made a choice? Wait! NordVPN has many competitors in the market. In this article, we will also look at one of the close competitors of NordVPN which is called ExpressVPN. Read on to learn more about ExpressVPN.

Defining ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has also been a top player in the VPN market and offers a variety of features for maintaining the online privacy of its users. It has some great features which give it a competitive edge in the market.

With over 3000 servers in over 94 countries, users can have access to IP addresses in any country of their choice, including restricted countries like China and Iran.

Some features of ExpressVPN are discussed below:

• ExpressVPN offers top-notch security standards like 256-bit AES encryption and kill switch ensuring maximum online security for users.
• ExpressVPN also has a no-log policy which ensures online activities of the users are not tracked.

Some of the additional features of ExpressVPN enabling it to be a tough competitor in the market are:

• Split-tunneling is a great feature that allows the user to segregate apps to use ExpressVPN or local area networks, thereby boosting speed and enabling access to private and public networks at the same time.
• ExpressVPN has a proprietary protocol that gives ultra-high speed and a high standard of security.
• It provides all-round leak protection against DNS, Ipv6, and other such leaks.
• The encryption key with ExpressVPN is changed for every VPN instance, which acts as an additional shield of security.
• ExpressVPN stores data only on RAM, which gets wiped away each time the server is rebooted, thereby giving improved privacy.
• Each ExpressVPN subscription comes along with a secured password manager.
• Due to its presence in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN does not come under the purview of any international surveillance alliances.

Apart from these security features, ExpressVPN has provided the best high-speed streaming, gaming, and torrenting to its users. It is compatible with all the important streaming sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, etc. It is also the first choice of gamers who prefer a stable connection along with protection against DDoS and supports cloud gaming as well.

If you are thinking about NordVPN vs ExpressVPN and wondering which is a better choice, you must not miss the next section of the article.

Comparison of ExpressVPN vs NordVPN

In this section of NordVPN VS ExpressVPN, we will look at some points of comparison between NordVPN and ExpressVPN for our readers.

As you can see that both NordVPN and ExpressVPN have a lot of similarities in their functionality which can be confusing for people to make a choice. Hence, in the following section of this article, we have made a detailed comparison between NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

NordVPN and ExpressVPN: Thorough Comparison

Pricing

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer competitive prices and pricing options, ranging from monthly plans to longer subscriptions. In case of dissatisfaction with services, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee offered by both of them.

However, there are some major differences that must be considered before making a choice. One such point to consider is that ExpressVPN does not offer a test plan for checking the services. It also does not offer any subscription longer than one year.

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN offers multiple price ranges, each better than the other. The lowest one is the standard, which includes only the VPN service, along with one of the following packages:

• $12.99 per month if a monthly plan is chosen
• $4.59 per month is an annual plan is chosen
• $3.29 per month if a two-year plan is chosen

The next category is the Plus tier, which has additions like NordPass password manager as well as a scanner for data breaches. The highest category is the Complete pack, which not only has all the services included in the earlier packs along with 1TB of encrypted cloud storage.

This has been summarized in the table below:

ExpressVPN pricing

ExpressVPN offers just three options for the subscription:

• $12.99 per month if the monthly plan is chosen
• $9.99 per month if a semi-annual plan is chosen
• $6.67 per month if an annual plan is chosen

ExpressVPN neither offers subscription plans for longer than one year nor a trial pack. Apart from this, there are other features included in ExpressVPN, such as a built-in password manager, which makes it cost-effective. After pricing, the next thing we must compare ExpressVPN and NordVPN is streaming efficiency.

Streaming

Here is a list of popular platforms for streaming supported by ExpressVPN and NordVPN.

For streaming across various platforms, NordVPN tops the charts, especially for Netflix. It is comparatively faster and more trustworthy, which allows fine HD-quality of shows. There are over 2500 servers only in the USA, which is far more than those of ExpressVPN.

Along with this, it allows users to unblock not just Netflix in the US but also other libraries in the regions of Japan and the Netherlands. There are not a lot of streaming platforms that are not accessible securely by both service providers.

In the case of a Kodi box, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN can get past the regional restrictions for services on TV.

Both of these service providers do not provide apps to be installed on the Kodi box but set-up guides are available to facilitate sharing of the VPN connection through a PC or a VPN router.

Torrenting and P2P

ExpressVPN and NordVPN have extended support to torrent users. This has largely encouraged users to contact support if they have queries related to optimizing setup to manage P2P traffic. For torrent users, speed, and security are extremely important. P2P is also present in all ExpressVPN and NordVPN nations.

But here is the difference. NordVPN has P2P-optimized servers that meet all torrenting needs. This results in lightning speed for uploads and downloads.

Split tunneling is available in both ExpressVPN and NordVPN. NordVPN also has an added advantage of a free SOCKS5 proxy which is missing in ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN has a port forwarding feature that manages the upload and download ratio.

Compatibility

Both Express VPN and NordVPN support all the leading platforms like Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and Router. Both these companies also offered router support, which helps to tackle network traffic and is counted as one device.

ExpressVPN can be used on devices such as mobile phones and laptops and smart home devices like TV and other streaming devices. NordVPN supports not just platforms such as Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android, but gaming consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch too.

If a user wants to use VPN for streaming, NordVPN has SmartPlay which optimizes performance.

ExpressVPN and NordVPN provide apps for mobile and desktops which are user-friendly. ExpressVPN is known for its simple list-based app, whereas NordVPN’s app displays server locations on a map and appears more visually appealing than ExpressVPN.

Tech Support

ExpressVPN offers 24/7 dedicated support through chat with people and has a comprehensive list of instructions and content for troubleshooting. There is no phone number or email address to contact the ExpressVPN support team.

NordVPN connects the user to a chatbot at the beginning, but users do have the option to chat with a live person in case the chatbot wasn’t helpful. There is also a dedicated email address for support, business sales, and media for NordVPN.

Apart from this, both these companies also have a comprehensive message board for support, which answers most of the questions users may have.

Server Locations

Having a huge number of servers helps the users in many ways. The most important assistance is the prevention of overcrowding, which can adversely affect performance. It is also useful to unblock a variety of foreign content.

NordVPN has over 5500 servers in over 60 countries. While virtual servers have slower speeds, NordVPN does not have that problem. All its hardware runs only on RAM modules, which means no long-term data storage, thereby providing more security.

Although ExpressVPN has lesser connection points, it is more widespread. It has over 3000 servers in over 94 countries, which also includes some virtual servers. In terms of hardware, it runs on Trusted Server technology, which means all the data is erased after rebooting.

Security Features

ExpressVPN and NordVPN are known for excellent security features like kill switches, IP and DNS leak protection, and best of all AES 256 encryption.

The service uses industry-standard AES 256 cipher. As far as the protocol is concerned, NordLynx uses ChaCha20 and Lightway uses ChaCha20 and Poly 1305. Authentication is processed through SHA -512 hash function, which provides high-security levels, by both NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

NordVPN does have an edge over ExpressVPN in terms of security features which offers improved versatility. Some of these advanced features include malware and ad blocker, split tunneling, double encryption, IP leak protection, etc. The security features of ExpressVPN are much less in comparison.

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Privacy

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are extremely privacy-oriented. These companies are registered in countries with strict data retention laws, allowing them to offer no-logs policies to users.

Another must-have feature is that subscribers should be able to make anonymous payments to maintain privacy. ExpressVPN allows users to pay through Bitcoin, while NordVPN allows other cryptocurrencies as well. This makes it impossible to establish any link with the user’s account.

Most of the VPN providers claim that they do not save any logs. However, some in-depth analysis reveals that they mean they do not keep any activity logs. Activity log tracks all the actions of the subscriber as visited webpages and downloaded data.

Law enforcement agencies in the recent past have been able to track users down by tracing a connection between the destination all the way back to the originator. Although, VPNs make this process slightly tough if the service provider does not provide connection logs.

ExpressVPN is known for storing some connection logs but does not store any data that can reveal the actions of the user. But, it surely collects advertising IDs on mobile for its internal use. These are quick and easy to reset.

Speed Comparison

Various tests have been conducted to test the speed of ExpressVPN and NordVPN. One way is to use a high-speed tunneling protocol. These tests show figures for upload and download speed in various countries. The tests prove that the distance from the server location affects the speed.

While NordVPN uses WireGuard, ExpressVPN uses Lightway. These are two distinct protocols. However, it is imperative that we look at a comparison between them. These protocols are based on the latest technology, ensuring high speed, top-notch privacy, and performance.

Because these are in-house protocols, they showcase the best features of each of these two brands. These protocols are better than the traditional OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. Here is a country-wise comparison between NordVPN and ExpressVPN. Important to note that the baseline is 471Mbps download and 486Mbps upload.

This comparison clarifies that NordLynx protocol by NordVPN provides the fastest and better speed for download, however, both the service providers with their respective protocols give each other a tough fight to each other for upload speed but ExpressVPN performs better in many server locations.

If we look at an overall comparison, NordVPN is certainly the winner for upload and download speed.

Setup, Interface, and Ease of Use

ExpressVPN and NordVPN are compatible with apps for every important platform. They also provide browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. However, there are some noteworthy differences between the two. ExpressVPN comes with a Router applet, which is not available with NordVPN.

This feature makes ExpressVPN simpler and easier for users, allowing each user on the same network to use simultaneous VPN connectivity.

Usage in China and Other Restricted Countries

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN can be used in China. In fact, these two players are amongst the most trustworthy names in those countries where internet access is prohibited. The methodology for banning each VPN may differ.

Stealth VPN can’t be turned on with ExpressVPN, however, it is automatically engaged while dealing with DPI. But there is a catch. This can only be done if the tunnelling protocol has been set to automatic. This isn’t the case with NordVPN.

NordVPN uses obfuscated servers. The efficiency of this feature needs no introduction. However, in China, a separate app needs to be installed to make it work.

In this category as well, there is a tie between ExpressVPN and NordVPN. NordVPN has features like Double VPN, where two servers are used to provide additional security. Another remarkable feature is Onion over VPN, which adds Tor relays on the VPN connection, which is encrypted.

ExpressVPN has been more effective in unblocking websites like Facebook, Google, and YouTube. Not only this, there is also an alternative site to use ExpressVPN in China as the main website is blocked. It is advisable to download and install a VPN before landing in China to be on the safer side.

NordVPN needs a manual configuration in China, which may involve a tedious process of contacting customer service for instructions. Therefore, for this category, there is a clear tie between the two players.

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN – Which is a Better Choice for Gaming

ExpressVPN has provided the fastest speed to users while playing games. Subscribers reported a lag-free gaming experience with ExpressVPN. With gaming, the need is to have a low ping, expected to be below 100ms. Even with some fast online gaming experience for users, ExpressVPN emerged victorious.

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN have high ping rates while playing online games if the servers are located far off.

NordVPN did not perform well on UK servers, which led to delays while playing games. ExpressVPN provided a smooth, lag-free experience.

Tips to Choose the Correct Platform

The dilemma of choosing between NordVPN VS ExpressVPN is not an easy one. Most of the time, the choices are influenced by what the VPN is needed for and the personal choice of the users.

Here are some basic categories which must be considered before making this critical choice:

• Going past geographically restricted areas: This feature becomes integral to consider while traveling to foreign locations and accessing one’s favorite subscriptions.
• Speed: Most of the VPNs face speed reduction due to additional encryption and longer distances from the server. It is important to choose a VPN which is quick to fix these delays.
• Server Network: It is important to choose a VPN that has extensive server networks across the world as they provide a solution to restricted geographies and provides faster speed.
• Strong Security Features: Apart from AES-256-bit encryption, a strong VPN must have a kill switch, security protocols that are advanced along with DNS/IP leak protection to provide safe online experiences.
• Privacy: It is also important that while choosing a VPN, users pay attention to a strict no-log policy in place. This will ensure that the user’s data and information aren’t stored and hence can’t be leaked.
• User–friendly: It is a must to ensure that VPN chosen has apps for devices that can be installed easily. In fact, do not miss checking if the security settings are accessible.
• Reliable and money-back guarantee: Apart from pricing and affordable packages, a reliable VPN must also offer a money-back guarantee plan in case the user decides to cancel the subscription.

If you are running short on time, and want a quick snapshot of all the pros and cons of NordVPN VS ExpressVPN that we have discussed in the article, refer to this table.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q #1) Is ExpressVPN better than NordVPN?

Answer: ExpressVPN is comparatively more expensive than NordVPN which is priced at $3.49 monthly. In terms of the number of connections, NordVPN permits 6 connections simultaneously, whereas ExpressVPN permits only 5. However, ExpressVPN has far more server locations than NordVPN.

Q #2) Which VPN is more secure, ExpressVPN or NordVPN?

Answer: When it comes to comparing these two popular VPNs in terms of security, they are neck to neck. Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are loaded with security features like 256-bit encryption, Kill switch, IPv6, and DNS.

Also, both these VPNs follow a ‘no log’ policy, which provides a sigh of relief to users that their data is not tracked. NordVPN offers specially designed obfuscated servers that ensure maximum privacy to users while surfing and thus have a slight edge in terms of security over ExpressVPN.

Q #3) Can I see my browsing history if I use a VPN?

Answer: Internet traffic is encrypted and routed again via a VPN server before it is sent to the destination. Due to this, users’ online activities are hidden and ISP cannot track or control these activities once a VPN connection is established.

Q #4) How much faster is Express VPN than NordVPN?

Answer: With features like unlimited bandwidth under its belt, ExpressVPN certainly has an edge over NordVPN. It is a perfect choice for streaming and gaming. If this is not enough, its entire range of servers is P2P optimized, which tackles situations of slowdown while downloading bulky files.

Q #5) What are the Pros and Cons of NordVPN vs ExpressVPN?

Answer: There are no roses without thorns. NordVPN and ExpressVPN also have their respective pros and cons. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN are leading players in the VPN market and are quite popular for their strong security features, unmatchable speed, and far-stretched global network.

But there are some distinct features that differentiate the two. NordVPN has some features like a dedicated IP and a higher number of simultaneous devices, unlike ExpressVPN. However, ExpressVPN has 160 server locations, which are far more than that of NordVPN.

Q #6) What is the most trusted VPN app?

Answer: Apart from ExpressVPN and NordVPN, there are some other popular names in the industry like Surfshark, Cyber Ghost, and Atlas VPN, which are known for their security features, unlimited device connectivity, and breakthrough IKEv2 protocol loaded with 256- bit encryption.

These names are all synonymous to trust. However, Private Internet Access is one such VPN provider which is most popular and trusted name in the industry. It provides robust security features and no log policy. This is also loaded with high-speed servers, a user-friendly installation process.

Q #7) Which VPN is the strongest and fastest?

Answer: Nord VPN has been rated as the fastest and strongest VPN among the major players in the market. The credit goes to its proprietary protocol called NordLynx which optimally uses the WireGuard features thereby enhancing security.

Apart from NordLynx, NordVPN also has Open VPN, like UDP and TCP, along with IKEv2 protocols. From a security perspective, NordVPN runs on RAM-only servers, which are totally erased after restarting.

If this is not enough, NordVPN also offers some incredible features like an ad blocker which not only blocks ads but also restricts trackers. Split tunneling helps to manage VPN traffic.

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Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the strengths and weaknesses of ExpressVPN and NordVPN. The second section of this article on NordVPN VS ExpressVPN discusses a comparison between these two VPN giants under the heading ExpressVPN vs NordVPN. Here is a short category-wise summary between ExpressVPN and NordVPN for the benefit of our readers.

To sum up the discussion, both these VPN options are suitable secure options for users. In order to make a choice between the two, a few factors must be considered. For instance, Price conscious users must consider NordVPN, as it is comparatively cheaper than ExpressVPN and is available for $59.88 per annum.

If you do not want to compromise on speed, then ExpressVPN is the best choice because it has more server locations. It is also important to consider the country and location in which a VPN connection is needed while making a choice. For business users who need a dedicated IP, NordVPN is an apt choice because ExpressVPN does not provide a dedicated IP.

ExpressVPN may be slightly expensive for short-term use, but it promises fast speed, and reliability along with no logs policy and can manage the strongest geographical restrictions. It also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee which allows the user to try it for free.

NordVPN may be a good option if the need is not long-term. The prices for NordVPN increase threefold after the first two years and it also does not have a very reliable no-logging policy. We hope this article on NordVPN VS ExpressVPN will help you consider the various features, strengths, and weaknesses of these VPNs and make the perfect choice.