NordVPN and ExpressVPN some beryllium astatine the apical of the nutrient concatenation erstwhile it comes to modern VPN providers. Both VPNs are known for accelerated speeds, ample server suites, and a beardown estimation for quality. However, determination are cardinal differences betwixt the two.
NordVPN comes with awesome information and privacy-focused features, specified arsenic its Meshnet encrypted file-sharing strategy and Threat Protection against malware and ads. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN has a cleanable and easy-to-use interface and an awesome portfolio of third-party information audits.
In this article, we fig retired which VPN is champion for you and your business.
- NordVPN: Best for astir users that privation a ample server web and a assortment of other information features.
- ExpressVPN: Best for users that prioritize having a user-friendly interface and accelerated VPN download and upload speeds.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Comparison Table
Our rating | 4.7 retired of 5 stars | 4.6 retired of 5 stars |
Security protocols | OpenVPN, NordLynx (based connected WireGuard) | OpenVPN, Lightway |
No. of servers | 6,200+ | 3,000 (reported) |
VPN server locations | 111 countries | 105 countries |
Simultaneous instrumentality locations | 10 | 8 |
Supported platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, Apple TV, routers, crippled consoles | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox, Vivaldi, Brave, Edge, Amazon Fire tablet, routers, media consoles, crippled consoles |
Free trial | 7-day escaped proceedings via Android (can motion successful connected different platforms afterwards) | 7-day escaped proceedings for iOS and Android only |
Starting price (annual plan | $4.99 per month | $6.67 per month |
NordVPN and ExpressVPN: Pricing
NordVPN pricing
NordVPN’s paid plans person 3 subscription tiers, namely NordVPN Basic, Plus, and Ultimate. Take note, I noticed that successful immoderate regions, NordVPN Ultimate volition sometimes beryllium called NordVPN Complete oregon Ultra. This means the apical program whitethorn beryllium antithetic depending connected your location.
Below is an overview of pricing and diagnostic differences with each tier:
Monthly | $12.99 per month | $13.99 per month | $15.99 per month |
1 year | $4.99 per month | $5.99 per month | $7.99 per month |
2 years | $3.09 per month | $3.99 per month | $5.99 per month |
Features | Main VPN service | All Basic features plus Threat Protection against ads, malware, and trackers; entree to NordPass password manager; information breach scanning capabilities | All Plus features positive 1TB encrypted unreality storage; individuality menace recovery; cyber extortion protection |
Out of NordVPN’s plans, I consciousness its Plus subscription for 1 twelvemonth brings the champion value. It provides a bully equilibrium betwixt a tenable monthly interest portion having a steadfast magnitude of NordVPN’s further information features. Among these are its Threat Protection diagnostic that protects against malware and ads, arsenic good arsenic its information breach scanner.
SEE: The Top 7 NordVPN Alternatives for 2024 (TechRepublic)
Meanwhile, I commend NordVPN for including Nord Security’s dedicated password manager, NordPass, to its Plus subscription tier. This is fundamentally a 2nd work connected apical of the main VPN — each successful a azygous subscription. To me, this is simply a meaningful value-add, particularly for users that are besides successful the marketplace for a password manager.
While NordVPN doesn’t presently person a escaped version, it has a seven-day escaped proceedings via Android. Once you motion up for the trial, you’ll beryllium capable to effort NordVPN connected desktop arsenic well. While I laud Nord for offering a trial, I anticipation it opens this up for iOS users arsenic well. This would let much users to effort and trial NordVPN out.
Fortunately, NordVPN has a 30-day money-back warrant for each its paid subscriptions. With this, you tin wage for an archetypal program and petition a refund if you find it isn’t the close fit. Just marque definite to petition the refund wrong the allotted clip period.
If you privation to larn more, work our full NordVPN review.
ExpressVPN pricing
Compared to NordVPN, ExpressVPN has much straightforward pricing that’s lone divided depending connected declaration length.
- 1 month: $12.95 per month.
- 6 months: $9.99 per month.
- 1 year: $6.67 per month.
As a consumer, I similar this attack since it simplifies the full buying process. However, this does mean that ExpressVPN carries little diagnostic packages compared to NordVPN — a taxable we’ll sermon much in-depth later.
SEE: CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN (2024): Which VPN Is Better? (TechRepublic)
Coincidentally, ExpressVPN besides includes its ain password manager, ExpressVPN Keys, to its paid subscriptions. While I find NordPass to beryllium the much almighty password manager, I’m inactive blessed that ExpressVPN bundles it with each the paid plans.
Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back warrant connected each paid program options. While ExpressVPN besides has a seven-day escaped trial, this is lone disposable for its mobile apps connected Android and iOS.
If you privation to larn more, work our full ExpressVPN review.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Feature comparison
Security protocols and encryption
Winner: Tie
Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN supply top-tier encryption and prime VPN protocols. In some services, we get the manufacture modular AES-256 encryption algorithm — good recognized arsenic 1 of the astir unafraid algorithms available.
SEE: NordVPN vs Proton VPN (2024): Which VPN Should You Choose? (TechRepublic)
For VPN protocols, NordVPN carries OpenVPN and its proprietary NordLynx protocol based connected the speed-oriented WireGuard. On the flipside, ExpressVPN besides offers the OpenVPN protocol and its ain Lightway protocol, likewise built for speed.
I admit how, for some NordVPN and ExpressVPN, users person the enactment to take from a security-focused protocol oregon 1 that provides much speed. For context, OpenVPN is known for its information arsenic an unfastened root protocol, portion WireGuard is faster and much modern.
In this way, you get the champion of some worlds and aren’t confined to conscionable prioritizing information oregon speed. With this, some NordVPN and ExpressVPN deed the people for their information protocols and encryption.
VPN server web and locations
Winner: NordVPN
When taking a look astatine their respective VPN server networks, I person to springiness NordVPN the win. As of September 2024, NordVPN presently has 6,200+ servers crossed 111 countries. On the different hand, ExperssVPN has servers dispersed crossed 105 countries. While ExpressVPN doesn’t explicitly supply a server number, reports person pegged its server fleet astatine astir 3,000+ servers.
The much important fig to see present is the server countries oregon locations. At 111 countries, NordVPN has six further locations implicit ExpressVPN’s server fleet. This means you get somewhat much prime successful presumption of IP locations with NordVPN — thing I cognize volition payment those that program to chiefly usage VPNs to unblock region-locked online content.
To beryllium fair, ExpressVPN’s 105-country server suite besides offers an extended scope of state options. It conscionable truthful happens that NordVPN gets the flimsy vantage implicit ExpressVPN, with its much robust server fleet and state selection.
SEE: Does a VPN Slow Down Your Internet Speed? (TechRepublic)
As a broadside note, I highly urge checking some NordVPN and ExperssVPN’s authoritative server pages to spot whether the determination you request for unblocking is available. Luckily, some providers regularly update which VPN server locations they person connected offer.
Third-party audits and way record
Winner: ExpressVPN
If you’re looking for a VPN with a beardown portfolio of third-party audits, I urge going for ExpressVPN. Since 2018, ExpressVPN has completed a full of 18 autarkic information audits. That’s precise impressive, particularly considering however different VPNs outright don’t person their services tested independently. These audits person looked into assorted aspects of ExpressVPN, from its no-logs argumentation to its desktop applications. Its astir caller audit was published conscionable past June 2024 for the ExpressVPN browser extension.
As VPNs woody with delicate info similar our browsing information and online activity, I find third-party audits to beryllium indispensable considerations. They supply users with much than conscionable a company’s promises oregon claims. In this respect, ExpressVPN gets precocious marks from maine with its accordant and beardown committedness to third-party testing.
SEE: It is harmless to usage SSLVPN services similar NordVPN? (TechRepublic Forums)
On the flipside, NordVPN has had 4 autarkic audits of its no-logs argumentation since 2018. Its latest audit was conducted by Deloitte Audit Lithuania successful precocious 2023, besides connected its no-logs policy.
Curiously, the latest audit results are lone disposable for progressive NordVPN users and not to the public. Nord says this “ensures the audit results are not taken retired of discourse oregon misunderstood.” While I tin spot wherever NordVPN is coming from, I deliberation the much consumer-friendly attack is to marque audit results publically disposable — careless of the findings.
Nonetheless, I deliberation some VPNs bash a bully occupation of having their applications independently tested. It conscionable truthful happens that ExpressVPN is the wide victor successful this regard, particularly with its hefty portfolio of audits to date.
Standout features
Winner: NordVPN
For users that privation a suite of other features, I suggest going for NordVPN. It has a ton of security-focused capabilities that adhd meaningful worth alongside the main VPN.
My favourite among them was NordVPN’s Meshnet backstage web system. It lets users stock files oregon entree devices remotely via an encrypted transportation — a diagnostic I envision to beryllium utile erstwhile sharing delicate files oregon documents.
It besides has its Threat Protection Pro web and record extortion diagnostic that blocks against intrusive ads, malware, and trackers. This keeps an progressive number of each threats blocked by NordVPN. Aside from these, NordVPN includes a acheronian web monitor, treble VPN servers, Onion Over VPN capabilities, and obfuscated servers, among different features.
That isn’t to accidental ExpressVPN doesn’t person its ain acceptable of standout features. It has what it calls Advanced Protection that protects against trackers, ads, and malicious websites. There’s besides Parental controls, wherever ExpressVPN automatically blocks big websites portion connected to their servers.
Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN connection password managers with their subscriptions — NordPass and ExpressVPN Keys. Keep successful mind, however, that NordPass is lone bundled with NordVPN Plus and above, portion Keys is included successful each ExpressVPN plans.
SEE: Best VPNs for streaming, gaming, torrenting (TechRepublic Forums)
All successful all, NordVPN gets my ballot for having a spot much successful the mode of other features compared to ExpressVPN. Personally, I admit however astir of Nord’s further features are each focused connected information and privacy. This makes their work adjacent much compelling arsenic a convenient information solution and not conscionable an mean VPN.
Performance and speed
Winner: ExpressVPN
For performance, I springiness ExpressVPN the circular by a slim margin. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN gave maine fast, and reliable VPN speeds during my play of testing. Websites loaded quickly, and I had zero noticeable drops successful transportation portion connected to servers from each.
During testing, I connected my enactment laptop to 1 of their VPN servers and did my accustomed enactment arsenic a writer. This progressive having aggregate tabs unfastened for research, downloading, and uploading files, attending online video meetings, and streaming euphony successful the background.
Where ExpressVPN gained an vantage is velocity trial results. With NordVPN, it really had a 0.78% summation successful downloads compared to my net work supplier — which is excellent. However, its upload velocity show was little impressive, signaling a 44% alteration successful examination to my ISP.
SEE: Why Your Business Needs Cybersecurity Awareness Training (TechRepublic Premium)
On the different hand, ExpressVPN recorded consistently faster speeds successful some results. For downloads, it lone had a 25.65% alteration compared to my location network. For uploads, it recorded 0.37% faster speeds against my ISP connection. With these results, ExpressVPN shows it tin connection accelerated show successful some downloads and uploads.
In my opinion, astir users volition beryllium perfectly satisfied with either NordVPN oregon ExpressVPN. I got large speeds with some successful day-to-day use. But if you’re specifically aft which VPN brings amended performance, my investigating showed ExpressVPN is the amended pick.
Ease of usage and design
Winner: ExpressVPN
When it comes to wide idiosyncratic experience, my ballot goes to ExpressVPN. It has, perhaps, 1 of the champion VPN applications I’ve utilized truthful far.
It comes with a elemental and modern plan that helps marque the interface user-friendly and casual to use. I peculiarly similar however everything is intelligibly laid retired — it has a large powerfulness fastener arsenic an On/Off switch; a well-organized server database categorized by regions; and an arsenic intuitive browser hold that works arsenic a VPN distant control.
On the flipside, NordVPN implements a coagulated interface arsenic well. It uses a sleek plan and does a bully occupation of organizing each of its features into a azygous hub.
While I besides similar NordVPN’s VPN app, I consciousness it’s a tad overwhelming astatine the start. There’s a ton of features you’re encouraged to crook on, and the server database is little accessible upon setup compared to ExpressVPN. This tin marque it a spot intimidating for little tech savvy users that aren’t utilized to tinkering with software.
Fortunately, erstwhile you springiness each conception of NordVPN a try, you really recognize that it does a large occupation of keeping its abundance of features organized and tidy. That being said, if having an easy-to-use and modern-looking VPN app is simply a priority, I urge going for ExpressVPN.
Value
Winner: NordVPN
For value, NordVPN gets the triumph for me. This is owed successful ample portion to NordVPN having much subscription options and a much affordable starting price.
If we’re to comparison each VPN’s basal one-year subscriptions, NordVPN Basic astatine $4.99 per period is astir $2 cheaper than ExpressVPN’s one-year program astatine $6.67 per month.
Moving up a tier, NordVPN’s Plus one-year program with other information features is inactive much affordable — priced astatine $5.99 per period compared to the aforesaid $6.67 ExpressVPN plan.
I besides admit the information that NordVPN provides longer, two-year subscriptions, which bring the monthly interest down to $3 to $6 per month. While I similar ExpressVPN’s straightforward subscription plans, I anticipation they connection longer declaration options similar this for longtime customers that privation to get immoderate savings.
Simultaneous instrumentality connections
Winner: NordVPN
In presumption of instrumentality connections, I springiness it to NordVPN. Right now, NordVPN allows for up to 10 devices to beryllium simultaneously connected to its VPN servers. In comparison, ExpressVPN covers up to 8 simultaneous instrumentality connections.
To beryllium fair, the quality betwixt 8 and 10 is small, and I consciousness some instrumentality limits are capable for astir users. However, it’s important to support successful caput NordVPN’s much affordable pricing and larger server suite.
Having much instrumentality connections adds different furniture of worth with NordVPN’s work compared to ExpressVPN. The larger instrumentality bounds tin besides beryllium important for tiny teams oregon startups that program connected sharing a subscription amongst each other.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN connected Reddit
When looking astatine Reddit discussions talking astir which VPN is better, it’s wide that NordVPN and ExpressVPN are reasonably evenly matched.
According to a Reddit idiosyncratic successful the VPNAdvice community, “Nord’s been hella reliable truthful far. Been utilizing it for a twelvemonth present and the dedicated IP has made things truthful overmuch amended since its mode faster than utilizing a shared IP.” In the same community, different Reddit user said this astir ExpressVPN: “Despite the higher price, I wouldn’t power from ExpressVPN to different service.”
However, if we instrumentality a look astatine threads asking astir the champion VPNs, it seems that NordVPN is mentioned much times than ExpressVPN.
One Reddit idiosyncratic successful the VPNOverview community said, “I’ve utilized a clump of VPNs similar Surfshark, CyberGhost, and NordVPN. NordVPN is my favorite. It blocks tons of overseas worldly I stream, and respective household members usage it too. It’s ace trustworthy and costs lone $3.50 a month. Just my 2 cents.”
Two providers often besides mentioned alongside NordVPN and ExpressVPN are Surfshark and Proton VPN. These are worthy alternatives arsenic well, and I promote you to cheque retired our Surfshark review and Proton VPN review.
NordVPN pros and cons
Pros
- Offers astir 6,200+ servers successful 111 countries.
- Meshnet encrypted file-sharing system.
- Threat Protection Pro against malware, ads, and trackers.
- Independently audited no-logs policy.
- Fast VPN speeds.
- 7-day proceedings via the Android app.
- Double VPN and obfuscated servers.
Cons
- No escaped version.
- Can beryllium intimidating astatine first.
ExpressVPN pros and cons
Pros
- Servers dispersed crossed 105 countries.
- 18 autarkic audits for its services and apps.
- Easy-to-use, well-designed app interface.
- Fast speeds and performance.
- Advanced Protection against ads and trackers.
- Parental controls against big sites.
Cons
- More expensive.
- Free proceedings is mobile only.
- Lacks much affordable, 2-year subscription.
Should your enactment usage NordVPN oregon ExpressVPN?
After a pugnacious matchup, NordVPN comes retired connected apical implicit ExpressVPN. Its wide server network, top-tier information capabilities, and accelerated VPN speeds marque it 1 of the champion VPN services available.
When compared to ExpressVPN, NordVPN besides gains an vantage with its much affordable pricing, assortment of subscription options, and somewhat much generous simultaneous instrumentality connections.
I personally similar NordVPN’s beardown absorption connected privateness and security, making it a truly bully information solution alongside its main VPN functionality. I consciousness NordVPN is champion for astir users, particularly those that privation an all-around VPN with accelerated show and a fig of further features.
On the different hand, ExpressVPN is simply a large prime if you worth having a well-designed VPN app and reliably accelerated speeds. ExpressVPN is besides my apical proposal if consistent, third-party audits are important to you.
Methodology
My head-to-head examination of NordVPN and ExpressVPN progressive an in-depth investigation of some VPNs’ features, real-world performance, and value.
To measure each VPN, some services were scored connected everything from their server networks to their pricing. In particular, I took into relationship 5 main pillars, each having corresponding weights:
- Pricing (20%).
- Core VPN features (30%).
- Ease of usage (15%).
- Customer enactment (30%).
- Expert investigation (5%).
I besides looked into existent idiosyncratic testimonials and reputable reviews to circular retired my last recommendations for some NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
For velocity and performance, I tested some VPNs connected my idiosyncratic Windows machine and ran them done Ookla’s nationalist Speedtest. Finally, I considered which types of businesses oregon idiosyncratic users would champion payment from either NordVPN oregon ExpressVPN.