Leading Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider ExpressVPN has just launched its own router, Aircove, as the company enters the hardware market for the very first time.
If you use your laptop to browse privately, VPN browser extensions are a safe bet. However, if you connect multiple devices to your Wi-Fi at one time, it generally makes more sense to invest in a VPN router.
But is ExpressVPN’s new Wi-Fi router a cut above its competition? Or are security-conscious browsers better off relying on tried and tested models to conceal their identities online? Read on to discover more about ExpressVPN’s flagship hardware product, and to see how the provider weighs up against its competitors.
ExpressVPN Releases Aircove, Its First Ever Wi-Fi Router
With the average US home connecting an average of 25 devices to their Wi-Fi network, downloading VPN software separately can be a time and cost-intensive process.
Alternatively, by using VPN routers to encrypt the connection of all household gadgets at once, users can spend less time installing fiddly add-ons, benefit from long-term protection, and usually, achieve greater security overall. With demands for VPN routers rising year on year, it was only a matter of time before ExpressVPN joined the ranks of other companies by releasing its own.
Aircove uses ExpressVPNs patented technology to encrypt user data just like its browser add-on, but it’s also the first ever router of its kind to be built on Wi-Fi 6 technology. This allows it to cover homes up to 1,600 square feet with internet speeds of up to 1,200 Mbps, which is generally regarded to be an excellent speed.
Aircove also includes a unique “Device Groups” feature, which allows users to drag and drop their devices into groups with their own VPN location. This allows different members of the household to browse the web from different locations around the globe.
With a launch price of $169, Aircove is a decent choice for families or businesses looking for a secure, high-speed browsing experience. But if you’re just using one device, is ExpressVPN the best provider to go with?
Is ExpressVPN the Best Tool to Browse in Private?
At Tech.co, we take digital privacy and security seriously. So much so that we’ve researched the top VPN providers to help you make the best decision for your business.
After comparing the top players against a number of different criteria including price, features, support options, dedication to privacy, and ease of use, we’ve decided that NordVPN is the best option on the market. Not only are its encryption tools military grade, but it also costs a fraction less than many of its competitors including ExpressVPN.
However, if you’re after powerful features or a rock-bottom starting price, IPVanish and PureVPN are both also stellar options. For a more detailed overview of our top picks, you can refer to our table below.
| Test Score Our scoring is based on independent tests and assessments of features, privacy settings, ease of use and value. | Price From Lowest price for single month subscription to cheapest paid tier. Other plans are available. | Verdict | Free Trial | Try Click to find the latest offers, deals and discounts from the VPN provider | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEST ON TEST  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 3.5 |
|
| $2.99/month | $2.03/month | $9.99/month | $3.00/month min. ($1 per location) | ~$4.87 per month | $2.19/month | $8.32/month | ~$2.20 (3-day plan) | ||
| Super fast and easy to use, NordVPN is among the best we’ve tested. Advanced features like Onion-Over-VPN make it stand out from the crowd. | An excellent price for a powerful VPN tool with an adblocker, malware detector and no limit on the number of devices you can use it on. | A fast VPN that performed well on our speed tests, and also owns a lot of its own server infrastructure. | Affordably priced ultra-secure VPN that has great privacy features but is a little slow. | A reliable, widely-used VPN that has decent privacy controls, but it performed very poorly on our speed tests. | A safe, easy-to-use and relatively robust VPN app that performed really well on our 2024 unblocking tests. | A decently-priced VPN that does all the basics well, but has an incredibly small server network compared to PureVPN and Co. | A decent option for seasoned torrenters, but a little pricier than PureVPN and Private Internet Access. | A user-friendly VPN based in Romania with servers optimized for streaming, but no obfuscation technology. | A highly reliable VPN with servers in more than 100 countries – but it comes with one of the heftiest price tags on the market. | A powerful tool for expert users |
| 30-day money-back guarantee | | Yes (iOS and Android) | | | 7 days | | | | 30-day money-back guarantee | |
| See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals |
