Software · head to head
ExpressVPN vs NordVPN
ExpressVPN
Software
High-speed, secure, and anonymous VPN service
- From
- $6.67/month
- Rated
- -
NordVPN
Software
The best online VPN service for speed and security
- From
- $3.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: ExpressVPN the App Store listing (seller Expressco Services, LLC) states subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the billing period, and that any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited on purchase; NordVPN the App Store listing states the app is free to download but is non-functional without purchasing a subscription first; no price figure appears anywhere in the listing itself, only the requirement to buy a plan before VPN access works.
- They diverge on capability: ExpressVPN covers Lightway protocol, NordVPN covers Military-grade encryption.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ExpressVPN and NordVPN actually diverge.
| Attribute | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $6.67/month | $3.99/month |
| Founded | 2009 | 2012 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in ExpressVPN
- Lightway protocol
- TrustedServer technology
- Network Lock kill switch
- No activity logs
- Private DNS
- Speed test
- MediaStreamer
- Smart TV
Only in NordVPN
- Military-grade encryption
- No-logs policy
- Kill Switch
- Double VPN
- Onion over VPN
- Threat Protection
- Meshnet
- NordLynx protocol
Both cover
- Split tunneling
- Chrome extension
- Firefox extension
- Edge extension
- AES-256 encryption
- RAM-only servers
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
ExpressVPN
- Vpn
- Privacy
- Streamingnot NordVPN
NordVPN
- Vpn
- Privacy
- Online Securitynot ExpressVPN
Both are used for vpn, privacy, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
ExpressVPN
- The App Store listing (seller Expressco Services, LLC) states subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the billing period, and that any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited on purchase
- The same listing caps a single ExpressVPN subscription at 14 simultaneous device connections
NordVPN
- The App Store listing states the app is free to download but is non-functional without purchasing a subscription first; no price figure appears anywhere in the listing itself, only the requirement to buy a plan before VPN access works.
Pricing, plan by plan
ExpressVPN
$6.67/month- 1 Month$12.95/month
- 8 devices
- 94 countries
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 12 Months$6.67/month
- All features
- 3 months free
- Best value
- 6 Months$9.99/month
- All features
- 30-day guarantee
NordVPN
$3.99/month- Standard$3.99/month
- 6 devices
- 5,500+ servers
- Threat Protection Lite
- Plus$4.99/month
- All Standard features
- Threat Protection Pro
- NordPass password manager
- Complete$5.99/month
- All Plus features
- NordLocker 1TB encrypted cloud
- Identity theft protection
Which should you pick?
Choose ExpressVPN if
- You need lightway protocol.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api.
- You also want trustedserver technology.
Choose NordVPN if
- You need military-grade encryption.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api.
- You also want no-logs policy.
Questions people ask
- Is ExpressVPN or NordVPN better?
- Neither clearly leads. ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/month and NordVPN at $3.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ExpressVPN or NordVPN?
- ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/month and NordVPN at $3.99/month.
- Does ExpressVPN or NordVPN run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is ExpressVPN best used for?
- ExpressVPN is most often used for vpn, privacy, streaming. Of those, streaming is not what NordVPN is typically brought in for.
- What can ExpressVPN do that NordVPN cannot?
- ExpressVPN covers Lightway protocol, TrustedServer technology, Network Lock kill switch, No activity logs. NordVPN covers Military-grade encryption, No-logs policy, Kill Switch, Double VPN. Both handle Split tunneling, Chrome extension, Firefox extension, Edge extension.