Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are becoming more popular worldwide due to the increasing awareness of online security. And, ExpressVPN and NordVPN are the most reputable VPNs on the market. Both of them are well-established and offer high-quality services that you will base your decision on personal needs.
This is a head to head comparison pitting the two services against each other. We used 14 categories to test ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN to see which is better than the other.
Even though by a little margin, but still, ExpressVPN emerged the winner due to its fast speed and powerful servers for browsing, torrenting, streaming, and gaming. Moreover, it has an obfuscation feature for people living in countries that restrict VPN usage, like China.
NordVPN is also a great choice due to its expansive server network and unblocking capabilities. It is also affordable and offers extra security features such as malware protection and double VPN. Let’s compare these VPN industry giants in detail.
Quick comparison
Are you short of time? Here is a quick summary comparing ExpressVPN and NordVPN on a strict criteria:
ExpressVPN | NordVPN | |
Pricing | The annual-plan is as low as $8.32/month. It comes with a 30-days money-back guarantee. | Two-year-plan is only $2.86/month plus three months free. |
Sever coverage | 3,000 servers in 94 countries spread across 160 locations. | 5,471 servers in 59 countries. |
Unblocking capabilities and performance | Unblocks all major streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ,Amazon Prime Videos and more. | Bypasses all restrictions with the SmartPlay feature. Unblocks Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and others. |
Security | TrustedServer TechnologyAES 256-bit encryption, Network Lock (automatic kill switch), DNS/IPv6 leak protection, split tunneling, OpenVPN UDP/TCP, PPTP, and L2TP/IPsec protocols, Perfect forward secrecy. | AES 2356-bit encryption, automatic kill switch, double VPN, ad and malware blocker, perfect forward secrecy, NordLocker, IKEv2/IPSec protocol. |
Torrenting | P2P sharing across all servers, unlimited bandwidth, and DNS on the servers. | Unlimited bandwidth and data, P2P optimized servers, and SOCKS5 proxies. |
Gaming | Steady and consistent speeds, buffering, and lagging free gaming. | Maintains high speeds in gaming. |
Does it work in China? | Yes. Offers obfuscation feature, has servers in Hong Kong, bypasses the great firewall of China. | Yes. Obfuscated servers, has servers in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand. |
Device compatibility | Native apps for Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Linux. Allows five simultaneous connections. | Compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, AND Linux. Supports six simultaneous devices. |
Privacy | Strict zero-logs policy, based in the British Virgin Islands, independently audited and Tor Over VPN. | No-logs policy, registered in Panama, Cybersec ad, and malware protection. |
Customer support | 24/7 user-friendly live chat, email support, user manuals, FAQ section and setup tutorials. | 24/7 live chat and ticketing system, chatbot, FAQ section, and setup guides. |
ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN: The attribute-by-attribute, detailed, analysis
We think the best way to accurately compare these top VPN services is by analyzing them attribute-by-attribute. We did all the hard work for you, our readers. Here is our full in-depth comparison of ExpressVPN and NordVPN: