Short answer: No — speed matters more than money. For most people, NordVPN is better value.
Worth it for: Speed-focused users, streaming enthusiasts Skip if: Budget-conscious users, anyone who doesn't need top-tier speeds Better alternative: N/A Here's what most reviews won't say: ExpressVPN has the biggest marketing budget in the VPN industry. Those YouTube sponsorships cost money — your money. The product is good, but you're paying for brand recognition.
When It IS Worth It
Speed is genuinely critical. Competitive gaming, large file transfers, 4K streaming with no buffering — if every Mbps matters, ExpressVPN delivers.
You've tried cheaper VPNs and weren't satisfied. If NordVPN or Surfshark felt slow or unreliable, ExpressVPN is the upgrade that might fix it.
You value polish. ExpressVPN's apps are the most refined in the industry. If UX matters to you, it shows.
You're in a restrictive country. ExpressVPN's obfuscation is excellent for getting around censorship.
When It Is NOT Worth It
:
Budget matters to you. NordVPN is 40-50% cheaper with similar features. That's $40-50/year saved.
You won't notice the speed difference. 85 Mbps vs. 75 Mbps doesn't matter for Netflix or web browsing. Only heavy downloads and gaming care.
You're buying based on marketing. ExpressVPN sponsors everyone. That's marketing budget, not product superiority.
NordVPN or Surfshark works fine for you. Don't fix what isn't broken.
Who Should NOT Buy This
- Budget-conscious users — NordVPN is cheaper with similar features
- Casual users — The speed premium is wasted on light browsing
- Those who don't stream or game heavily — Speed matters less for regular use
- People who assume expensive = better — You're paying for marketing
- Anyone without specific ExpressVPN needs — Start with cheaper options
What ExpressVPN Actually Costs
ExpressVPN costs more than every major competitor:
| VPN | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | $100/yr |
| NordVPN | $60/yr (first term) |
| Surfshark | $48/yr (first term) |
You're paying a 40-100% premium. The question: is the speed worth it?
Speed Benchmarks (Honest Numbers)
On a 100 Mbps connection:
- ExpressVPN: ~85-90 Mbps
- NordVPN: ~75-85 Mbps
- Surfshark: ~70-80 Mbps
The reality: All three are fast enough for streaming and browsing. The 10-15% ExpressVPN advantage only matters for large downloads or competitive gaming.
ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN
The real comparison:
| Feature | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fastest | Very fast | ExpressVPN |
| Price | $100/yr | $60/yr | NordVPN |
| Servers | 3,000+ | 5,500+ | NordVPN |
| Streaming | Excellent | Excellent | Tie |
| Apps | Most polished | Good | ExpressVPN |
| Devices | 5 | 6 | NordVPN |
Bottom line: NordVPN wins on value. ExpressVPN wins on speed and polish. Most people should choose NordVPN.
What Annoys Me About ExpressVPN
- The price. It's 40-50% more expensive with marginal improvements. You're paying a premium for brand recognition, not a premium product. The speed difference is real but marginal — and shrinking every year as competitors catch up.
- Marketing everywhere. Every podcast, every YouTuber. You're funding that. When you pay $100/year for ExpressVPN, a significant chunk goes to the sponsorship deal that convinced you to buy it. It's a marketing machine that happens to sell a VPN, not the other way around.
- Only 5 devices. Competitors offer 6 or unlimited. In a household with phones, laptops, tablets, and a smart TV, 5 slots run out fast. Surfshark gives you unlimited connections for half the price.
- Owned by Kape Technologies. A company with a controversial past in adware distribution. They also own CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and ZenMate — meaning many "independent" VPN reviews are comparing products owned by the same parent company. The review industry around VPNs is compromised, and Kape is a major reason why.
- Premium price, not premium features. No split tunneling on iOS, no ad blocker, no multi-hop connections by default. NordVPN includes all of these at a lower price. You're paying more and getting fewer features — just faster ones.
- Renewal pricing is brutal. The "deal" you see advertised is introductory pricing. When your plan renews, the price jumps significantly. That $6.67/month becomes $13/month without warning unless you read the fine print.
Cheaper or Better Alternatives
- N/A
| Alternative | Price | My Take |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $3-4/month | Faster servers, cheaper long-term plans, similar privacy. Better value. Full review |
| Surfshark | $2-3/month | Unlimited devices, fraction of the cost. Good enough for streaming and basic privacy |
| Mullvad VPN | €5/month | No account needed, no logs, privacy-first. The VPN for people who actually care about privacy |
| Proton VPN | Free / $5/month | Free tier with no data limits. Swiss jurisdiction. Slower but trustworthy |
Check out our 1Password review for comparison. Check out our Bitwarden review for comparison.
Final Verdict
depends — speed is critical and budget isn't. ExpressVPN is the fastest consumer VPN. The apps are polished. It works reliably.
Skip if value matters. NordVPN gives you 90% of the experience at 60% of the price. For most people, that's the better choice.
My advice: try NordVPN first. If you're unsatisfied with speed after actually using it, then consider ExpressVPN. Don't start with the expensive option.
FAQ
Is ExpressVPN faster than NordVPN?
Yes, typically 10-20% faster in benchmarks. In practice, both are fast enough for streaming and normal use. The difference mainly matters for large downloads.
Why is ExpressVPN so expensive?
Marketing. ExpressVPN spends heavily on sponsorships and advertising. Part of your subscription funds those YouTuber sponsorships, not product development.
Is ExpressVPN safe?
Yes. Strong encryption, no-logs policy (audited), and headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. No known security issues.
Should I get ExpressVPN or NordVPN?
NordVPN for most people — better value. ExpressVPN only if you've tried NordVPN and specifically need faster speeds.