ExpressVPN has been one of the best VPNs on the market for a long time, and it always ranks among the best services in the world. But in 2025, with a lot of competition and changing security needs, does this long-time provider still deserve its high price? After a lot of testing and analysis, here is our full review of what ExpressVPN has to offer in 2025.
A Quick Look at Key Strengths
ExpressVPN is still the best choice for users who want reliable privacy protection in many important areas. The service keeps its main promises with impressive consistency, which makes it a great choice for both beginners and advanced users who care more about performance and security than cost.
Speed and Performance
ExpressVPN is still known for providing fast connections all over the world. The service’s proprietary Lightway protocol has come a long way since it was first introduced. It offers great performance while keeping security standards high. When connected, users can expect very little speed loss, which makes it good for activities that use a lot of bandwidth, like downloading big files and streaming 4K video.
Features for safety
The security foundation is still strong, with military-grade 256-bit AES encryption protecting data. ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology makes sure that all servers only run on RAM, which means that all data is erased every time the server is restarted. This design makes it impossible for data to stay on server hard drives, which adds another layer of privacy protection.
Network of Global Servers
ExpressVPN has servers in many countries, so users who need to access content from different regions or need specific server locations for privacy reasons will have no problem doing so. The network has been reliable, with very little downtime reported during testing periods.
The Lightway Protocol’s Benefits
One of the most important technical achievements of ExpressVPN is its own Lightway protocol. Lightway is based on the wolfSSL cryptographic library instead of WireGuard. It uses a combination of TCP and AES encryption to keep data safe and is much faster than older protocols.
For traffic encryption, the protocol uses AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20/Poly1305 ciphers, as well as D/TLS 1.2 for server authentication. This is the highest level of encryption that is currently thought to be unbreakable. The implementation also has perfect forward secrecy, which means that the encryption keys change all the time and are deleted and made new again.
Lightway stands out because it strikes a good balance between security and performance. The protocol cuts down on connection overhead, makes it easier to change encryption keys quickly, and keeps data exposure to a minimum while still giving ExpressVPN users the fast connection speeds they expect.
Policy on Privacy and No Logs
ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy, which means that the company doesn’t keep any data about users’ activities, connections, or browsing history. This policy has been checked by an outside party several times, which makes it clear how the company handles data. The no-logs policy and TrustedServer technology work together to make a privacy framework that is better than what most companies do.
The service has built-in leak protection to stop DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks that could reveal a user’s identity or browsing history. Users don’t have to set up these features manually; they work automatically in the background.
Access to Streaming and Content
ExpressVPN still works well for getting to geo-restricted content on the biggest streaming sites. The service has dedicated servers that are optimized for streaming, which helps users reliably access international content libraries. But because VPN providers and streaming services are always trying to outsmart each other, performance can change, and some servers may sometimes be blocked, which means you have to switch to a different location.
How the user feels
The ExpressVPN apps are still easy to use on all of the platforms they support. The design of the interface puts ease of use first without sacrificing functionality, so anyone can use it, no matter how tech-savvy they are. Setting up a connection is usually quick, and the automatic server selection feature helps users find the best performance without having to test each one by hand.
Customer service is still a strong point. There is live chat support available 24/7, and knowledgeable representatives can help with both basic setup questions and more complicated problems.
A Reality Check on Prices
Many people who might want to use ExpressVPN are worried about how much it costs. The two-year package from ExpressVPN costs about $5 a month, which is the lowest price. On the other hand, there are many great options like Private Internet Access that protect you for as little as $2.19 a month. Because of this higher price, ExpressVPN is definitely in the high-end group of VPN services.
This price can be hard to justify for people on a budget, especially when a lot of competitors offer the same basic features for a lot less money. However, the high price is justified by the wide range of features, reliable performance, and strong infrastructure that ExpressVPN offers.
Choices for Hardware
If you want VPN protection at the network level, ExpressVPN has the Aircove router. At $189 (not including an ExpressVPN subscription), it’s about three times more expensive than a router from a third party that comes with free VPN firmware. The high price is in line with ExpressVPN’s overall cost structure, even though some users may like the convenience.
- Who Should Think About Using ExpressVPN
- If you care more about reliability, performance, and security than saving money, ExpressVPN is the best choice for you. It’s especially good for:
- Business users who need VPN access that is always there and works
- People who travel a lot and need strong global server coverage
- People who value customer service and ease of use
- People who want the extra security that TrustedServer technology gives them
- Streamers who need reliable access to content that is only available in certain countries
Things that need to get better
ExpressVPN has some good points, but it also has some problems. The main problem is still the price, which makes it too expensive for many people who just want basic VPN features. Also, even though the service works well overall, some users may find that other providers offer better deals for certain situations.
The company could also use more frequent independent security audits and more openness about where its servers are located and who it works with on infrastructure.
The Verdict: In 2025, ExpressVPN is still one of the best VPN services. It has great security, super fast speeds, and easy-to-use apps. The service always keeps its promises, so it’s a good choice for people who can afford the higher price.
But the cost is still a big deal. For people who just want basic privacy protection and access to content, a number of competitors offer similar core features at much lower prices. ExpressVPN is worth the extra money for people who need the extra features, consistent performance, and premium support that come with it.
The 30-day money-back guarantee lets you try out ExpressVPN’s premium features without any risk to see if they fit your needs and how you use them. For people who care more about reliability, security, and consistent performance than price, ExpressVPN is still one of the best options on the market.
4.2 out of 5
ExpressVPN gets high marks for security, performance, and user experience, but its high price keeps it from getting a perfect score for overall value. It is still a great option for people who care more about quality than price, but people who are on a tight budget may be able to find better deals in the crowded VPN market.
