NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN 2024: Which Is Best for You?

NordVPN

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Price

Starting at $83.43 for the first 2 years

Connections

Up to 6

ExpressVPN

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Price

Starting at $99.95 for first 15 months

Connections

Up to 8

Expert Take

ExpressVPN and NordVPN are among the top VPN solutions on the market, but neither is perfect for every user. ExpressVPN focuses on streamlining the VPN experience by baking certain features into all of its servers—such as obfuscation. NordVPN gives users many more options and features to play with, and its servers are separated by the jobs they’re designed to do. Neither is necessarily better than the other, but ExpressVPN is a more beginner-friendly solution, while NordVPN provides a more hands-on solution.

NordVPN

NordVPN is a Panama-based VPN solution that offers fast speeds and reliable streaming capabilities. It boasts a large server count of over 6,000 servers in 91 countries. NordVPN offers competitive pricing (specifically with its two-year subscription) and a generous suite of useful features.

Pros

• Promotional first-time pricing is very competitive
• Large server numbers (6,000+ in 91 countries)
• Extra features include Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, encrypted cloud storage and more
• Dedicated IP option (at additional charge)
• Threat manager scans files for malware and removes them—similar to antivirus

Cons

• Features like the password manager, encrypted cloud storage and Data Breach Scanner require upgrades to the more expensive Plus or Ultimate plans.
• Torrenting and obfuscation not provided on all servers
• The price jumps considerably after first-time promotional pricing runs out

ExpressVPN

Based in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN is widely known as one of the best VPNs for streaming due to its ability to unblock content and bypass VPN firewalls through its complete obfuscation server technology. ExpressVPN allows torrenting on all of its servers and even includes a password manager.

Pros

• Obfuscation is built into all servers
• Torrenting is allowed on all servers
• The password manager comes free
• Shortcuts feature 
• Great at unblocking content and bypassing VPN firewalls

Cons

• Expensive
• No dedicated IP
• Relatively light in the features department

Vault’s Viewpoint on NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN

NordVPN and ExpressVPN both include essential privacy and security features that are standard for premium VPNs. They both offer kill switches and full leak protection and employ encrypted algorithms in their protocols. They include ad and tracker blockers and prevent your devices from entering malicious websites. Each solution’s no-logs policy has been audited by third parties and proven to be valid. 

Both companies are headquartered in countries without mandatory data retention laws. They’re also outside the jurisdiction of the Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes Alliances—meaning certain intelligence agencies can’t force either ExpressVPN or NordVPN to release user data. Even if an agency did seize a server, there would be no data to access because both companies use RAM-only servers which wipe data at every server reboot.

Despite these similarities, each solution is distinct in specific ways. When using ExpressVPN, users don’t need to make many decisions—such as what type of server to connect to for streaming or torrenting. Since all of ExpressVPN’s servers are obfuscated and allow torrenting, users simply choose the location of the server they want to connect to. ExpressVPN’s complete obfuscation technology enables it to reliably unblock content and circumvent VPN firewalls—making it a great option for beginners and streaming enthusiasts. It can also be a lifeline for users who live in heavily censored and restrictive regions of the world where VPNs are forbidden.

NordVPN provides many additional features and tools that give its users more granular control over how their VPN functions. For instance, if you want to increase your speeds and don’t care about encryption, you could temporarily use SOCKS5 proxy servers which will provide faster speeds at the cost of encryption (while still masking your IP address). If you don’t care about speed but need supreme privacy for a while, use the Double VPN feature. This will route your traffic through two VPN servers and encrypt your data twice, however it will slow your speeds considerably. 

If you’re looking for a product that has an out-of-the-box, “just works” feel to it, ExpressVPN is the way to go. It also comes with a password manager that helps justify its higher price (you have to pay more with NordVPN to access its password manager). If you prefer having more agency over your VPN solution, or if you want a good deal on a reliable and versatile product, you should choose NordVPN.

NordVPN Highlights

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Is NordVPN Worth It?

Before choosing NordVPN, consider whether you will make use of all the additional features it offers. On paper, NordVPN has more features than ExpressVPN and is cheaper up front. Once the promotional pricing ends, however, the prices get closer to each other. Adding a password manager to your VPN protection narrows the price gap even further. If you think you’ll maximize NordVPN’s additional features and versatility, however, it’s absolutely worth the price.

NordVPN Product Perks

Some of the top reasons to choose NordVPN include:

• A money-back guarantee that is good for 30 days (almost like a month-long free trial)
• High server count which makes it easier to find servers that aren’t congested with too many users
• When you need extra security, you can route your traffic through two VPN servers with the Double VPN feature—encrypting your data twice and masking your activity behind two servers
• Onion Over VPN feature automatically routes your data through the Tor network, allowing you to use regular browsers while on Tor
• SOCKS5 proxy servers drop encryption but increase your speeds considerably (and still keep your IP masked)
• Ability to scan downloads for malware and remove them before they can do any damage with Threat Protection—which works whether or not you’re connected to a VPN
• Can detect risky applications and block malicious websites, web trackers and annoying ads
• Uses obfuscated servers to camouflage your VPN activity from restrictive governments and internet service providers (ISPs)
• Some plans allow you to store your sensitive files—up to 1 TB—in secure, encrypted cloud storage
• Ultimate and Plus plans offer use of the Data Breach Scanner to scan the dark web for your compromised personal data—like email addresses, credit card details or passwords—and provides you with advice on what to do
• Generate varied and secure passwords and passphrases, view your password health and safely store autofill information with the NordPass password manager
• NordVPN is headquartered outside of the jurisdiction of the Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes Alliances, which prevents certain government intelligence organizations from surveilling or accessing NordVPN customer data

ExpressVPN Highlights

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Is ExpressVPN Worth It?

If you want to spend minimal time adjusting settings or choosing the right servers, ExpressVPN is worth it. While ExpressVPN is more expensive than NordVPN up front, it comes with a password manager—increasing its monthly value. You’ll also be able to access blocked, regional content and bypass VPN firewalls without any extra effort.

ExpressVPN Product Perks

ExpressVPN comes with these perks:

• A 30-day money-back guarantee that allows you to try ExpressVPN risk-free
• A broad server network that makes it easy to find servers in the regions you need them most
• Obfuscation is built into all of ExpressVPN’s servers, making it easier than ever to bypass VPN firewalls from restrictive governments and mask your VPN activity from your ISP
• Torrenting is allowed on all servers, so all you need to do is choose the server closest to your location for the best speeds
• Launch your favorite programs and apps right after connecting to a VPN with the Shortcuts feature
• Easily install ExpressVPN on most routers with the router app and cover all devices connected to your router—your router will only count as one simultaneous connection
• Port forwarding with the router app allows you to connect to more peers to increase your P2P speeds
• Generate and safely store strong passwords for autofill and identify any weak passwords with ExpressVPN Keys
• Block any part of your device from communicating with malicious third parties that use trackers or engage in sketchy behavior with Threat Manager
• ExpressVPN is headquartered outside of the jurisdiction of the Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes Alliances which prevents certain government intelligence organizations from surveilling or accessing its customer data

Who Is NordVPN Best For?

NordVPN is a solid VPN solution, and it’s a great choice for anyone who wants a reliable VPN with extra features. However, NordVPN is best for users who will actually get value out of its versatility by making use of its additional tools. If you’re excited about choosing the perfect server that is optimized for special jobs, or if creating your own virtual LAN party with the Meshnet feature interests you, then NordVPN is resoundingly for you.

Who Is ExpressVPN Best For?

It’s easier to recommend ExpressVPN for a broader audience than NordVPN because it is more straightforward to get started. ExpressVPN’s strengths lie in its ability to simply do its job well with minimal user intervention. If you’re looking for a capable VPN solution that makes torrenting, streaming blocked content and bypassing VPN firewalls easy—while also including some extras, like a password manager—ExpressVPN is best for you.

NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN Differences

Who Should Consider an Alternative?

When shopping for a VPN, it’s important to consider how many devices you’ll need to connect simultaneously. Keep in mind that many VPNs only support a specific number of connected devices at a time—NordVPN allows six, and ExpressVPN allows eight. You can stretch this number out by installing either of these VPNs onto a router. In this case, the router counts as one simultaneous connection but protects every device connected to it. This step takes some extra work, and you may need to buy a special VPN-compatible router.

If you need to cover more devices but don’t want to go through the trouble of setting up a VPN router, consider investing in a VPN that supports unlimited devices. VPN solutions like Private Internet Access (commonly referred to as PIA) and Surfshark allow unlimited simultaneous connections and are also among some of the best VPNs available.