NordVPN vs ExpressVPN 2023

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Head-to-Head

They're both great VPNs, but it's NordVPN that takes the lead when the two are put side by side. It offers excellent speeds – faster than those achieved by ExpressVPN in our tests – which is important to heavy downloaders. It also has a wide range of servers at the user's disposal, making it easy to find the best one for your needs, and excellent security features.

However, it's worth pointing out that ExpressVPN is a strong contender, thanks to its superb suite of features and excellent security. The main blocker with ExpressVPN is that the price is quite noticeably higher than NordVPN's, (plus, right now, NordVPN has New Year's offer). Arguably, however, this is justified by the generous features on offer from ExpressVPN.

Whether you opt for NordVPN or ExpressVPN, you can rest assured that you've picked a secure and safe VPN.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN Unblocking Netflix

In the grand scheme of things, whether or not your VPN can unlock Netflix access might be a small issue. But, as streaming services continue to thrive, it’s a popular VPN question to ask. If you want to check out other regions of Netflix content, then you'll need to pick a VPN that can do this for you.

And we have bad news for you – on our latest test, ExpressVPN failed to access Netflix. NordVPN, on the other hand, was able to access the streaming platform.

However, take this result with a grain of salt. Netflix is constantly playing whack-a-mole with VPNs, evolving to detect their efforts to get around its VPN detections. So, the fact that it has blocked ExpressVPN on this occasion isn't such a surprise. ExpressVPN has a huge server network and has been shown consistently on other tests that it does unblock Netflix (as they claim confidently on their website) so, despite our test results, we think you'd be fine unblocking websites like Netflix with either provider.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Connection Speed

Speed is a major consideration when picking a VPN, especially if you're someone who does a lot of data-intensive downloading or streaming. As VPNs reroute your traffic through their servers to render your IP address untraceable, they're adding another link in the chain, which can affect internet speeds. All VPNs will have some effect on the speed you would usually expect from your ISP, but some are better than others.

In our testing, we found that the typical speed hit when using ExpressVPN was around a quarter. NordVPN on the other hand was capable of achieving speeds that weren't too adversely affected, making it the best choice of the two. This is a matter of milliseconds though, in most cases, so you're unlikely to be severely affected using either.

Our connection speed decreased by 13% when using NordVPN, which was pretty unnoticeable. ExpressVPN, however, made our connection speed 23.1% slower, so NordVPN wins the sprint.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN Torrenting Tests

ExpressVPN and NordVPN are both great VPNs for torrenting.

This is due to three factors that both VPN providers excel at. First, they both have no-logging policies. Second, they’re both fast, offering few to no torrenting interruptions (though NordVPN’s speedier download times give it the edge here). Finally, they both offer strong DNS leak protection, ensuring your torrenting stays encrypted.

Now, as for the elephant in the room – is it legal to torrent over a VPN? The answer is yes, and no, depending on what it is you're torrenting. The process of sharing files over peer-to-peer torrenting systems certainly isn't illegal. But, you'd be breaking the law if you were to torrent copyrighted material. And yes, that means almost all of the music, movies, and TV shows you probably watch.

More on this – Are VPNs Legal? Your Rights When Using a VPN Explained

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Gaming Test

Security-conscious gamers need a speedy VPN to keep up with their peers – even a split second of lag can be the difference between life and virtual death.

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN should work great in this area, however. Tests show that both VPN services can give gamers all the speed and bandwidth capability needed to play online MMOs in Full HD. In fact, in some cases, VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN can even reduce ping time by connecting you to a server that's geographically closer to you.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Reliability

The world of VPN providers isn’t always reliable. With 1.2 billion people now estimated to use VPNs around the world, there are naturally going to be a lot of shady providers looking to make a quick buck, particularly when the industry is set to be worth $87.1 billion by 2027.

Unfortunately, a lot of companies make a lot of big claims, only to drop the ball with technical failures, dropped connections, or poor security practices.

NordVPN and ExpressVPN, however, are both well-respected for their steadfast and reliable service. Using both services, you can expect your internet data to successfully reach its destination at a reasonable speed with a minimum of errors.

NordVPN reliability

NordVPN is available on a broad range of platforms, and also offers a large number of VPN protocols. By keeping options open, NordVPN stays relevant and useful to a varied user base with different needs.

Some types of connections may be more reliable, while others are faster. NordVPN recommends TCP for reliability, and UDP (a connection that skips unique identifiers or sequence numbers) for speed. Still, any standard protocol and connection should be suitably reliable for the typical user.

ExpressVPN reliability

ExpressVPN’s dependable service comes with strong encryption and additional security features for extra protection. Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN supports TCP and UDP connections, giving users options for a type of service that meets their needs.

The Android and iOS iterations of ExpressVPN offer full functionality and ensure the service can be used by users on the go. Overall, ExpressVPN and NordVPN are top of the VPN class when it comes to reliability.

VPN App Usability: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN

VPNs can be a difficult piece of software to understand. But this can be remedied with a clear, intimidating, and well-planned-out interface. Not all VPNs offer this, but NordVPN and ExpressVPN do.

How does this ease of use break down on the specific apps? The short answer is that both vendors cover all the major platforms you’re likely to use. These are two modern, well-funded VPN brands, and each has invested cannily in their app interfaces. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN impress with their simple, intuitive apps that make it easy to get started.

Both VPNs are simple to set up yet still have extensive details of how to do so on their website. ExpressVPN has some rich features for more confident users, and NordVPN also has its share of technical settings, as well as a world map with which you can choose the location of the server you'd like to connect to. Newbies needn't delve into these if they don't need to, but for more experienced VPN users, the apps have the depth of settings you'd need.

Here’s a complete breakdown of each VPN provider’s app selection and the multi-platform support it offers.

VPN Features Compared

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are fully loaded VPN suites that offer a full package worthy of the subscription price. While some packages are scant when it comes to additional features, NordVPN and ExpressVPN both offer a large number of tools to assist you in getting the most from the software.

ExpressVPN features

ExpressVPN has all the basics covered – a stringent no-logs policy, and servers that will mask your IP address from the websites you visit. The TrustedServer technology that underpins ExpressVPN's global server infrastructure is RAM-only and nothing is ever written to hard drives by the provider. However, diskless servers are now commonplace in the VPN industry and are also something provided by NordVPN and other providers like Surfshark. ExpressVPN is secured by AES-256-bit encryption (for more on this scroll down to our encryption section).

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer a killswitch, which can be a great defense against unintentionally making your online habits visible. A killswitch kicks in if your VPN loses its connection, stopping your activity dead, rather than defaulting to your ISP, which is less secure and could reveal your actions. Other highlights include the ExpressVPN Threat Manager, which is great for steering users away from shady websites with its malicious site blacklist.

In terms of advanced features, ExpressVPN offers split tunneling, a method that allows for your traffic on a specific app or service to be allocated to the VPN or your regular internet service provider connection. This means that you can route all your traffic for torrenting, for example, through the VPN, while relying on your standard connection for daily browsing. There's also a private DNS service for faster, safer connections, and the provider's own Lightway protocol is designed to provide speed without a cost to security.

NordVPN features

NordVPN offers a robust suite of features as well, from the aforementioned killswitch to a “double VPN” functionality, which sends your traffic through two servers rather than just one. This adds an additional layer of security to the data you’re trying to protect.

The provider also offers split-tunneling like ExpressVPN, as well as Onion-Over-VPN, which uses a similar architecture to the super-anonymous TOR browser. There's also automatic wifi protection, which will auto-connect your VPN when you log into unsecured wifi networks you may find in train stations, hotel lobbies, and airports.

Also worth mentioning is NordVPN’s “CyberSec” feature, which can be turned on from within the Settings page. Once enabled, CyberSec will auto-block websites known for malware or phishing attempts, keeping users safe from bad actors while online. It serves as an ad-blocker as well, though Google policy restricts this function from working in NordVPN’s Android-specific app.

New features are being brought out by NordVPN all the time – just recently NordVPN updated their Windows client to give users a security score – expressed as a percentage – to show just how many features you're taking advantage of. Another new feature is a scanner that will crawl the dark web for mentions of the email address you used to sign up to NordVPN – so you know quickly whether you've been affected in a data breach. Now, macOS, mobile, and Windows users all have access.

Security and Encryption: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN

Keeping your personal data secure is essential for any VPN. ExpressVPN and NordVPN both bring an array of security practices and features to ensure they keep your data safe.

Here’s a quick look at their top security features, from military-grade encryption to no-logging policies.

Encryption comparison

NordVPN and ExpressVPN both use the same encryption standard – the Advanced Encryption Standard with 256-bit keys, also known as “AES-256.”

That 256 number refers to the number of combinations that are possible: 2 to the 256th power. It’s an astronomically high number that makes the encryption impossible to crack with a brute-force attack. It’s the NSA-recommended standard used by US government agencies and security experts alike, so you should be fine with it.

VPN protocols

A VPN protocol is the process through which a VPN tunnel (the thing that protects your data) is formed. Different protocols are best for different needs, and may offer varying levels of security or speed depending on how they're built.

NordVPN offers the OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard protocols, while ExpressVPN offers the OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and L2TP/IPSec protocols. Both services offer the dependable OpenVPN protocol as their default.

NordVPN retired the relatively insecure L2TP/IPSec protocol a few years ago and, while ExpressVPN still offers it, the provider warns users that it’s not recommended. What ExpressVPN does recommend using is the provider's Lightway protocol, which was designed by ExpressVPN to improve on present server speeds.

More on this – What is OpenVPN?

Server security

In March 2018, NordVPN suffered a security breach while using a third-party server center. That’s a tough blow to recover from, but NordVPN’s no-logging policy saved any personal data from being compromised, and NordVPN has taken several steps to ensure security moving forward, and is now one of the safest brands you can opt for.

US cybersecurity consulting firm VerSprite vetted NordVPN’s security for vulnerabilities, with a third-party independent security audit scheduled for the near future. NordVPN is also building a network of collocated servers fully owned by their company to avoid third-party vulnerabilities.

ExpressVPN’s aforementioned TrustedServer security is also independently audited, and their servers run on RAM only, with all data wiped with every reboot and the entire software stack reinstalled at startup. NordVPN is making the switch to RAM servers as well.

Leak protection

Even when most of your traffic is safe within a VPN tunnel, your device’s DNS queries may sometimes “leak” out, leaving data like website visits or app use vulnerable. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN automatically use their own DNS servers. This limits the chances of damage due to leaks since their servers are faster, the traffic is encrypted, and neither service keeps connection logs.

Threat protection

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN go beyond their remit as VPN providers, providing extra security features to keep you safe. Both VPNs, for instance, now have Threat Protection tools for you to use, which we've already discussed briefly earlier on in this article.

NordVPN's advanced Threat Protection feature will scan websites for malicious content before you click on them, as well as scanning files that you download. There's also protection against malicious adverts and trackers that reveal your browsing behaviors to advertisers, social media companies, and web pages.

ExpressVPN, conversely, has a tool called Threat Manager, which is effectively a DNS-based traffic blocker. This tool will prevent your device from communicating with servers used by malicious sites and trackers; they will appear on the provider's blocklist, which is updated regularly.

More on this – Are VPNs Safe? See our Expert Guide

Logs and Privacy

For many people, privacy is the main reason to invest in a VPN. By masking your online activity, a VPN can protect you from prying eyes, whether they belong to hackers, colleagues or governments. Some VPNs, typically the free ones, will even keep logs of your data, meaning that there is a record of the sites you've visited and the files you have downloaded. Others allow users to piggyback off your connection, potentially exposing you to illegal activity that is out of your hands.

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN do a fantastic job of protecting your privacy. It's the reason you're paying them, after all, and the brands know that their reputations are built on this sort of trust.

Neither service keeps logs of your activity or connection history, meaning that the sites you visit, the files you download, and the messages you exchange aren't saved anywhere for future reference.

In testing, we also found both services to be robust and leak-free. It's not a claim that many VPNs can make, but our checks for holes in the security protocols came up negative, which is reassuring news.

Global Server Coverage

NordVPN currently has over 5,400 servers in 59 countries around the world, and 1,600 servers in the US alone. ExpressVPN boasts more than 3,000 servers globally across 160 locations and 94 countries. How comprehensive is this coverage? In layman's terms, “very.”

You'll be hard pushed to find a country that will unblock websites in more countries than ExpressVPN, for example, and you'll find few that can unblock content only available in the US than NordVPN. Both providers offer better global coverage than most VPN services overall.

Do NordVPN and ExpressVPN work in China?

You can use both NordVPN and ExpressVPN in China, which doesn't take too kindly to its citizens using VPNs to access blocked websites. In fact, the ExpressVPN website is blocked in the country – but the company works to keep its service available there. If you're traveling to China and want to use a VPN, then downloading it prior to your trip is strongly recommended.

NordVPN offers a server feature called “obfuscation” which protects against DPI (Deep Packet Inspection). If you aren't routing your connection through obfuscated servers, then someone observing your traffic would be able to see you're using a VPN (although they wouldn't be able to see what you're searching for). Obfuscation masks the fact you're even using the technology and makes your traffic appear normal. This is essential for VPN usage in China.

ExpressVPN's apps, however, don't have an area where you can choose to “turn on” this feature or deliberately connect to an obfuscated server, nor is there information about this on the company's website. Instead, the company says this feature is turned on when ExpressVPN detects DPI.

For more information on where VPNs are legal and illegal, check out our guide.

Simultaneous Connections

When it comes to using VPNs on multiple devices at the same time, NordVPN and ExpressVPN have different approaches.

ExpressVPN is straightforward. Users can connect up to five devices simultaneously, although the service can be installed on even more devices.

NordVPN is a little more complicated. It lets users connect up to six devices simultaneously, but there’s one catch. If you’re connecting more than one device to the same server, you’ll need to pick a different protocol. Different protocols offer different levels of encryption, so you may lose a little security by adding a second device to the same server, but practically speaking, this won’t be an issue for the typical user.

Multi-platform support

Full VPN access is available across any platform supported by either service, so users can use their smartphones, tablets, and laptops to securely and simultaneously access the internet across Macs, PCs, iOS, Android, and more.

Both services cover all the major platforms across desktop and mobile devices. We’ve included a more comprehensive list of these platforms up in our section on VPN apps, so scroll back up if you need the full details.

Payments options and refunds: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN

Both services accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover), as well as PayPal and Bitcoin.

In addition, both NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer the same refund deal – a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Customer Support

NordVPN's customer support includes:

• NordVPN help center: This is NordVPN's collection of articles that detail everything you need to know about their VPN. This includes guides, how-to's, and instructions on how to use the different features included in its VPN package.
• Video tutorials: NordVPN provides a number of instructional videos that will help you solve VPN issues.
• Live chat: If you need immediate support, you can use NordVPN's live chat function through the provider's website.
• Email: NordVPN can be contacted via email, through which the provider will assist you with various VPN troubleshooting issues. Remember to provide sufficient detail on your issue to get the best results.

ExpressVPN offers a similar set of customer support options, including:

• ExpressVPN support center: This is the area of ExpressVPN's website where you'll find a variety of assorted articles covering all the common issues you might experience when using their service. There are detailed setup instructions too.
• 24/7 live support: If you need quickly available support, then ExpressVPN has a live chat function you can type your email address into, and it'll connect you to a “Live Chat Agent”.
• Email: Like NordVPN, if you feel as if you can't solve the problem yourself, you can always email the provider to get on-hand support from ExpressVPN staff.

Tech.co tested the supper/help center pages provided by these two VPNs and found NordVPN makes it slightly easier for you to troubleshoot issues than ExpressVPN, returning more relevant information for a variety of different common VPN issues.

NordVPN's support center will provide prompts after you put your query in, and return the most relevant information you need to solve it. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, brought up what it considered to be the most ExpressVPN served us the most relevant articles, although it took longer to find instruction-based answers than it did when we typed the same queries into NordVPN.

That being said, ExpressVPN does handily have the 10 common questions (e.g. “cancel your ExpressVPN subscription”; “how many devices can I connect simultaneously?”) and their corresponding answers attached to the support center homepage.

FAQs