NordVPN vs ExpressVPN 2024 NordVPN and ExpressVPN are both well-liked choices for VPN services. Whether you are using public Wi-Fi, aiming to enhance the security of your online accounts, or seeking improved online security for your business, both NordVPN and ExpressVPN are viable options. They provide high-speed encrypted internet access through a global network of servers. This comparison assesses the disparities between the two companies in terms of pricing, server availability, device compatibility, and customer support, helping you determine the most suitable option for your home or business.
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NordVPN and ExpressVPN stand as major contenders in the VPN industry, well-known among VPN users for their services. Choosing between these two reputable VPN providers can be a challenge, as each has its strengths and features that may cater to specific needs. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN are outside of 14-eyes, and both receive praise from VPN users for their robust security measures, including NordLynx and Lightway tunneling protocols, as well as AES-256 encryption.
When comparing the two, NordVPN emerges as a faster and more cost-effective option than ExpressVPN. However, ExpressVPN provides a router applet, unavailable in NordVPN, and boasts a greater number of server locations. In this comparison, we’ll delve into the key differences and unique attributes of NordVPN and ExpressVPN. We’ve thoroughly analyzed both services, conducting in-house tests, evaluating features and streaming capabilities, assessing speed performance, and other benchmarks.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN 2024 Overview
NordVPN | ExpressVPN | |
⭐ Rating: |
4.9★★★★★
|
4.3★★★★☆
|
🥇 Overall rank: | #1 out of #42 | #4 out of #42 |
🖥️ Servers: | 6,000 + servers in 61 countries | 3,000 + servers in 105 countries |
📖 No logs policy: | No logs | No logs |
💵 Price: | From $3.39/month | From $6.67/month |
🔥 Coupons: | NordVPN coupon 67% OFF | ExpressVPN coupon 49% OFF + 3 months FREE! |
🔒 VPN protocols: | OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, WireGuard (NordLynx) | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
🖥️ Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more |
🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
📥 Simultaneous connections: | 6 | 8 |
💁🏻 Support: | Knowledge base, FAQs, email, 24/7 live chat | Knowledge base, FAQs, email, 24/7 live chat |
NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN: At a Glance
Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN are popular choices, the companies vary in terms of price and features. ExpressVPN is more expensive, but it also offers more server locations. NordVPN is more affordable and comes with the option for a dedicated IP at an additional cost, while ExpressVPN does not. Both companies offer 24/7 customer service and the ability to sign up for a monthly plan or annual plan. NordVPN has an additional option of a two-year plan, and ExpressVPN has an additional option for a six-month plan.
NordVPN
Why We Picked It
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs on the market. It ranked on our list of the top 10 VPNs of 2021. NordVPN can work as an everyday VPN for personal use, but their business offering makes it suitable for teams as well (for an additional cost). NordLayer makes it easy to protect the accounts of everyone on your team. Additionally, while many VPNs do not offer the option of a dedicated IP (DIP), NordVPN does.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- A high number of servers (5,000+)
- Dedicated IP (DIP) add-on available
- 24/7 support
Cons
- More expensive than other VPNs
- Fewer server connections than competitors
- Cost for dedicated IP is higher than some competitors
ExpressVPN
Why We Picked It
ExpressVPN is a popular choice for a high-speed VPN and ranked one of our top 10 VPNs of 2021. Its servers are privately held on the British Virgin Islands, a country that is not required to share its data with other countries and is therefore considered privacy-friendly. ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers in over 160 locations, which ensures you will be able to connect to a location with fast internet speed.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Positive user reviews
- A high number of server locations
- Includes router app that protects all connected devices
Cons
- More expensive than other VPNs
- Limited business usage
- No dedicated IP option
How NordVPN & ExpressVPN Stack Up
NordVPN | ExpressVPN | |
---|---|---|
Annual Price | $59.88 Around INR 4,917.78 per year | $80.04 Around INR 6,567 per year |
Encryption | AES with 256-bit keys | AES with 256-bit keys |
Free trial period | 30 days | 30 days |
OS compatibility | Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android TV | Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux |
Dedicated IP add-on | $5.83 Around INR 478 (monthly) or around INR 5,744 $70 (annually) | Not offered |
Max no. of devices | 6 | 5 |
Server locations | 60+ | 160 |
24/7 support | Yes | Yes |
NordVPN is notably more affordable than ExpressVPN, priced at $59.88 (approximately INR 4,917.78) per year compared to ExpressVPN’s $80.04 (approximately INR 6,567) per year. Both VPNs support Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux, with NordVPN also being compatible with Android TV. Additionally, both companies offer a 30-day trial period. The encryption and length of the free trial are consistent between the two VPNs. NordVPN allows connection for six devices, while ExpressVPN allows five. (Other VPNs may offer service on an unlimited number of devices, so it’s advisable to explore these options if you intend to use the VPN on more than six devices.)
NordVPN has more than 5,000 servers, while ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers. However, ExpressVPN boasts a significantly higher number of server locations with 160, compared to NordVPN’s 60. This could be advantageous depending on the specific countries you intend to connect to with your VPN. NordVPN provides an easy way to check if their server locations align with your needs on their website. Similarly, ExpressVPN simplifies the process of locating its 160 servers online. NordVPN offers a dedicated IP add-on for $5.83 per month (or $70 per year), providing the ability to access IP-restricted networks while maintaining anonymity. Additionally, NordVPN is compatible with businesses and companies through NordLayer, their business-tier subscription option.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN 2024 Plans & Pricing
Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN have 3 different plans to offer, yet, the pricing, the amount you save, and the maximum contract length differ significantly. NordVPN is much cheaper than ExpressVPN, with yearly plans coming down to $53.88 – compared to ExpressVPN’s $80.04. You can try each of them risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantees.
Plan | NordVPN | ExpressVPN |
Free plan | No | No |
Cheapest monthly price | $3.39/month | $6.67/month |
Highest monthly price | $12.99 | $12.95/month |
1-year plan | $4.99/month | $6.67/month |
2-year plan | $3.39/month | – |
Best deal | Get NordVPN, now up to 67% OFF! | Get ExpressVPN, now 49% OFF + 3 months FREE! |
ExpressVPN is the pricier option unless you choose a monthly subscription. In this case, it beats NordVPN with the monthly subscription price starting at $12.95/month. However, the longer plans aren’t that much cheaper. Six-month subscription will cost $9.99/month and the longest one-year-long subscription will be $6.67/month.
In contrast, NordVPN offers some great deals with longer subscriptions. The monthly plan bill would come to $12.99/month, but the year-long plan would be only $4.99/month. The best deal comes with the longest two-year plan which would cost you only $3.39/month.
Additionally, not only is NordVPN way cheaper than ExpressVPN, but you can also claim NordVPN’s 7-day free trial on the Google Play Store. Unfortunately, neither of the providers has a free trial for the desktop apps. Luckily, you can get a free trial using an Android device and share the connection to other devices, too. Further, a NordVPN subscription covers up to 6 simultaneous device connections, while ExpressVPN allows up to 8. While the difference isn’t that major, it’s still a win for the ExpressVPN.
These providers offer several payment options. NordVPN accepts credit cards, PayPal (in particular regions), AmazonPay, Sofort, prepaid cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and cryptocurrencies. ExpressVPN allows payments with a credit card, PayPal, Bitcoin, and other options like UnionPay but doesn’t work with AmazonPay (whereas NordVPN accepts this method).
Features Informations
Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN provide split tunneling, allowing users to select which data goes through the VPN and which goes through the regular internet. This enables easy access to restricted websites, such as online banking, without the need to disconnect the VPN. It’s important to note that not all VPNs include this feature. Additionally, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer the option to set up the VPN directly on your router, providing an added layer of security by ensuring automatic VPN connection when using the router. Both VPNs also feature a kill switch, which immediately cuts off internet access if the device loses connection to the VPN, safeguarding user privacy.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: which one is more secure?
Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer top-notch security and privacy. Neither of them is based in a country that is a part of the 14-Eyes Alliance group. Additionally, both provide AES-256 data encryption and industry-standard tunneling protocols OpenVPN and IKEv2. NordLynx and Lightway, the updated tunneling protocols with implemented XChaCha20 from each of the platforms, should be even more secure than the rest.
NordVPN | ExpressVPN | |
Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256 |
Hash | SHA-512 | SHA-512 |
RAM servers | Yes | Yes |
Outside of the 14-Eyes Alliance | Yes | Yes |
No-logs policy | Audited | Audited |
Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
Ad blocker | Yes | No |
DNS leak protection | Yes | Yes |
Speed comparison is NordVPN faster than ExpressVPN?
NordVPN’s NordLynx and ExpressVPN’s Lightway are two different protocols. They’re both high-speed, next-generation protocols, built for advanced privacy and performance. Developed internally by the providers themselves they perform significantly better than older OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. We compared the speed test results of ExpressVPN and NordVPN using the available high-speed tunneling protocols – NordLynx and Lightway. The numbers below are average download and upload speeds from different countries – the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, France, and Japan. It’s worth mentioning that the distance to the server location has a major impact on the results.
Download retention
|
||
US (NY)
|
53% (508 Mbit/s) | 14% (139 Mbit/s) |
United Kingdom
|
44% (424 Mbit/s) | 16% (154 Mbit/s) |
Upload retention
|
||
US (NY)
|
47% (451 Mbit/s) | 15% (150 Mbit/s) |
United Kingdom
|
41% (395 Mbit/s) | 23% (221 Mbit/s) |
NordVPN (NordLynx) and ExpressVPN (Lightway)
NordVPN (NordLynx) | ExpressVPN (Lightway) | |
The UK | ~ 65 ms | ~ 73 ms |
The US | ~ 202 ms | ~ 213 ms |
Japan | ~ 442 ms | ~ 426 ms |
Bottom Line
ExpressVPN comes at a higher price of $80.04 (approximately INR 6,567) per year compared to NordVPN’s $59.88 (approximately INR 4,917.78) per year. If affordability is your top priority, NordVPN is the better option. However, ExpressVPN provides faster speeds and around 100 more server locations than NordVPN. Depending on your specific location and country preferences, ExpressVPN might be the more suitable choice. Additionally, if you require a dedicated IP or need a VPN for business purposes, NordVPN is the recommended choice as ExpressVPN does not offer these features. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN are excellent choices for streaming. While ExpressVPN offers great streaming capabilities and speeds with loads of servers to select from, NordVPN has a better value being even faster and more secure.
Faqs on NordVPN vs ExpressVPN
How secure are VPNs?
Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN provide military-grade AES 256-bit encryption. This is the same security that governments and armed forces around the world use to protect sensitive information. Both VPNs include a kill switch, which automatically disconnects your internet connection when your device isn’t connected to the VPN. NordVPN offers NordLayer, which provides internet privacy for companies and businesses. And with servers privately held on the British Virgin Islands (a country not required to share its data with other countries), ExpressVPN is considered extra secure.
How do I cancel my NordVPN subscription?
You can cancel your subscription at any time. You can do this through your online account under “billing.”
Are there any VPNs that are less expensive than NordVPN and ExpressVPN?
There are actually some free VPNs available, such as Hotspot Shield, though we recommend choosing a paid solution as free VPNs are less secure and come with many advertisements. If budget is an issue, you can find many cheap VPNs to choose from.
Can I be tracked while using a VPN?
Yes, but it depends on your activity and your awareness. A VPN protects active data transfers while you’re online. If you’ve enabled cookies on websites you visit, advertisers can track your activity (but with a VPN they won’t be able to connect your activity to your IP). Malware is another risk, but a VPN can’t protect you from installing malware.
Why should I use a VPN?
There are plenty of reasons to use a VPN, both at home and at work. In both settings, you may be transmitting sensitive data across the internet (such as financial credentials or client information). You also may be connecting to public Wi-Fi, which can be dangerous if someone else on the network is tech-savvy enough to access your data. A VPN offers an extra layer of security in all of these cases, protecting you and your assets from fraudulent activity.