Reviewed by the VPNStreamer Team · Last updated: July 2026 · How we compare VPNs
ExpressVPN has been one of the biggest names in the VPN space since 2009, and it’s our #4 pick overall on our full best VPN for Australia list — behind NordVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN, but still one of the most trusted names in the industry on pure security credentials. This review covers what it actually offers in 2026, and who it’s genuinely the right fit for.
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Quick Guide to ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN runs 3,000+ servers across 105 countries, based out of the British Virgin Islands — well outside the Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances. Depending on which of its three tiers you choose, you get 10, 12, or 14 simultaneous device connections, with unlimited coverage if you install it on a compatible router.
Pros
- 27 independent security audits and four ISO certifications (as of mid-2026)
- Published transparency report — zero user data disclosed across 1.38 million legal requests, H2 2025
- Lightway protocol, now with post-quantum encryption (ML-KEM) added in January 2026
- 24/7 live chat support
- Native apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux
- No activity or connection logs
Cons
- No dedicated IP option on the Basic tier (Pro tier only)
- No built-in ad-blocker
- Pricier than NordVPN or Surfshark at the same term length
ExpressVPN Pricing
ExpressVPN now runs three tiers — Basic, Advanced, and Pro — rather than one flat plan.
| Plan | Devices | Price/mo (2-Year) | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 10 | $3.49 | Full VPN, Lightway protocol, 24/7 support |
| Advanced | 12 | $4.49 | Everything in Basic + password manager (ExpressVPN Keys) + broader tracker blocking |
| Pro | 14 | ~$6-7 (varies by promotion) | Everything in Advanced + dedicated IP option + identity monitoring |
Get ExpressVPN Basic — most people only need this tier; Advanced and Pro are worth it specifically if you want the bundled password manager or dedicated IP.
Every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked (support may ask why, but won’t withhold the refund over it). ExpressVPN accepts credit card, PayPal, and Bitcoin.
Key Features
Protocol Support
ExpressVPN’s own Lightway protocol is the default — faster and more battery-efficient than older protocols like OpenVPN, and as of January 2026, it includes ML-KEM, a NIST-standardized post-quantum encryption method, ahead of most competitors on this front. Lightway is available across Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and routers.
DNS Service
Every server runs ExpressVPN’s own DNS, reducing the risk of DNS leaks regardless of your activity.
Platforms Supported
Native apps cover Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. Devices without native support — Apple TV, Kindle Fire, game consoles — can be covered via the MediaStreamer utility or a router-level install.
Ad-Blocking
ExpressVPN still doesn’t include a built-in ad-blocker, unlike Surfshark’s CleanWeb or NordVPN’s Threat Protection.
Privacy and Security
ExpressVPN backs up its no-logs claim more thoroughly than almost anything else on the market: 27 independent security audits as of mid-2026 (conducted by Cure53, KPMG, and Praetorian across different parts of the service — protocol, apps, browser extensions, and privacy policy claims), plus four ISO certifications (27001 for information security, 9001 for quality management, and 18295-1/18295-2 for customer support standards).
Its published transparency report for the second half of 2025 shows over 1.38 million legal requests received — and zero user data disclosed, since there’s simply nothing logged to hand over.
Servers run on TrustedServer technology — RAM-only, so nothing is written to disk and everything is wiped on every reboot. Encryption is AES-256, paired with a 4096-bit RSA key and SHA-512 HMAC authentication, refreshed via Perfect Forward Secrecy on every new session.
Leak Protection
ExpressVPN includes a built-in DNS leak test, though it’s worth double-checking independently at a site like ipleak.net after connecting.
Tor Over VPN
ExpressVPN supports routing through Tor for additional anonymity — a rarer feature among mainstream VPNs, at the cost of noticeably slower speeds due to the extra routing hops.
Ownership
ExpressVPN has been owned by Kape Technologies since 2021 — the same parent company as CyberGhost and Private Internet Access. See our full ownership breakdown for more on what that means.
Ease of Use
Sign-Up
Sign-up is quick — choose a plan, create your account, and you’re taken straight to device-specific install instructions. The whole process takes a few minutes.
Setup and User Interface
The apps are clean and distraction-free. Smart Location connects you to the fastest nearby server with one click, or you can pick a specific location manually. Settings — protocol selection, speed test, split tunnelling, kill switch — are all one tap away via the app menu.
Advanced Features
Kill Switch
ExpressVPN’s Network Lock kill switch blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops, preventing any accidental exposure. Available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and routers; on Android it appears as a network protection setting. iOS doesn’t support a true kill switch — this is a platform restriction from Apple, not something ExpressVPN has chosen to omit.
Split Tunnelling
Lets you route some traffic through the VPN and the rest through your normal connection. Useful for keeping local network access (like a printer) working while everything else is encrypted — just remember anything routed outside the VPN won’t get its protection or unblocking benefits.
Browser Extensions
Available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, offering WebRTC blocking and HTTPS Everywhere. These require the desktop app to be installed to function — they’re not a fully standalone option for someone else’s device.
Performance and Servers
ExpressVPN consistently ranks among the faster VPNs in independent, third-party speed testing, with Lightway protocol speeds commonly benchmarked around 489 Mbps in recent tests — solid, though typically a step behind NordVPN’s NordLynx in head-to-head comparisons. We haven’t run our own lab-based speed tests on this specific connection (see our methodology), so treat this as a reflection of current third-party benchmarks rather than an in-house result.
With 3,000+ servers across 105 countries, coverage skews toward the US and Europe, as with most providers, but Asia-Pacific and Australia are reasonably represented too.
Streaming and Torrenting
ExpressVPN reliably unblocks Netflix (across most regional libraries), Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and a long list of others. Torrenting is supported on all servers with no data caps — though note ExpressVPN no longer supports port forwarding, which matters more to serious seeders than casual downloaders (see our Best VPN for Torrents section for the current pick on that front).
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Customer Service
24/7 live chat is available, backed by an extensive FAQ and setup-guide library. No phone support, but chat response times are consistently fast regardless of time zone, and support in 16 languages covers most users comfortably.
FAQ
Is ExpressVPN legit?
Yes — it backs this up with more independent audits and certifications than almost any other VPN on the market, plus a published transparency report showing zero data disclosed against 1.38 million legal requests.
Is ExpressVPN legal in Australia?
Yes. What determines legality is what you do with it — activities like torrenting copyrighted content remain illegal regardless of whether you’re using a VPN.
How much does ExpressVPN cost?
The Basic plan starts at $3.49/month on the 2-year term (10 devices), $4.99/month on the 1-year term, or $12.99/month billed monthly.
Is ExpressVPN free to use?
There’s no ongoing free plan, but iOS and Android users get a 3-day free trial with the full feature set and no card required — plus every plan includes a 30-day money-back guarantee on top of that.
Can I watch Netflix with ExpressVPN?
Yes — it’s one of the more consistent options for unblocking Netflix libraries, alongside a long list of other streaming platforms.
Which is better, ExpressVPN or NordVPN?
Both are excellent, but they’re not interchangeable picks. On our full best VPN for Australia list, NordVPN is our #1 overall pick — faster in most tests, more Australian-specific server infrastructure, and better value at the same price point. ExpressVPN is our #4 pick, and the stronger choice specifically if independent audit history and certification depth matter most to you, or if you want ExpressVPN’s particular ease-of-use and simplicity.
Does ExpressVPN hide your IP address?
Yes — combined with its no-logs policy, nothing is tying your traffic back to your real IP address.
Does ExpressVPN slow down the internet?
Some slowdown is unavoidable with any VPN due to encryption overhead, but ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol keeps this minimal in most third-party speed tests.
Is ExpressVPN Right for You?
ExpressVPN costs more than NordVPN or Surfshark at the same term length, and it’s not our #1 overall pick — but it earns its place in our top 5 on trust signals alone: more independent audits and certifications than nearly any competitor, a genuinely transparent track record, and an interface simple enough that a first-time VPN user won’t get lost in settings. If audit history and simplicity matter more to you than squeezing out the lowest possible price or the single fastest speed test result, ExpressVPN is a safe, well-earned choice.
