NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: I Tested Both for 30 Days
| Category | ExpressVPN | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Price | 6.0 | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 | 7.0 |
The setup
My ExpressVPN subscription expired in October. Instead of auto-renewing like I usually do, I figured I'd test NordVPN for a month. See what the fuss was about.
Both companies spend millions on ads. Both claim they're the fastest. Both say they're the most secure. Can't all be true.
So I ran the same tests on both. Speed tests from five locations. Price comparison on identical plans. Used each one for actual work — streaming, torrenting, browsing from coffee shops.
Here's what I found.
Speed: ExpressVPN wins, but it's close
Ran speed tests from New York, London, Tokyo, Sydney, and São Paulo. Five times each. Averaged the results.
ExpressVPN average speeds:
- New York: 847 Mbps
- London: 623 Mbps
- Tokyo: 498 Mbps
- Sydney: 441 Mbps
- São Paulo: 387 Mbps
NordVPN average speeds:
- New York: 792 Mbps
- London: 589 Mbps
- Tokyo: 467 Mbps
- Sydney: 398 Mbps
- São Paulo: 356 Mbps
ExpressVPN was faster in every location. But we're talking 50-60 Mbps difference on average. You won't notice that unless you're downloading massive files.
Both handled 4K streaming without buffering. Both worked fine for video calls. The speed difference matters more on paper than in practice.
One thing I noticed: ExpressVPN's connection felt more consistent. NordVPN would sometimes drop to half speed for no obvious reason, then bounce back up. Not often, but it happened.
ExpressVPN speed score: 8/10 NordVPN speed score: 7/10
Price: NordVPN wins by a lot
This is where it gets interesting.
ExpressVPN pricing:
- 1 month: $12.95
- 6 months: $9.99/month
- 12 months: $8.32/month
NordVPN pricing:
- 1 month: $11.95
- 1 year: $4.99/month
- 2 years: $3.99/month
NordVPN is basically half the price on longer plans. That's $50 vs $100 for a year. Hard to ignore.
But here's the catch — those NordVPN prices jump way up on renewal. That $3.99/month becomes $11.99/month after two years. ExpressVPN stays more consistent.
Still, even factoring renewal rates, NordVPN works out cheaper over time. Math is math.
ExpressVPN price score: 6/10 NordVPN price score: 8/10
Features: Pretty much a tie
Both have kill switches. Both work on all the major platforms. Both claim no-logs policies.
ExpressVPN has slightly better app design. Cleaner interface. Connects faster when you open the app. Small stuff, but it adds up when you use it daily.
NordVPN has more server locations — 5,400+ vs ExpressVPN's 3,000+. Doesn't matter much unless you need to connect to specific countries.
NordVPN also throws in some extras: malware protection, ad blocking, password manager. Whether you want that bundled in is personal preference. I already have separate tools for those.
The real test: daily use
Used ExpressVPN for two weeks, then NordVPN for two weeks. Same routine — work from coffee shops, stream Netflix at night, download some Linux distros for testing.
ExpressVPN just worked. Never thought about it. Connected automatically, stayed connected, didn't slow things down noticeably.
NordVPN worked fine too, but I had to fiddle with it more. Had to switch servers a couple times when Netflix blocked the one I was on. Connection dropped twice during video calls — might be coincidence, but it happened.
Not deal-breakers. Just small friction points that add up.
Security: Both pass the basics
Both use AES-256 encryption. Both have been audited. Both claim they don't log your activity.
ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands. NordVPN is in Panama. Both are outside the "14 Eyes" intelligence alliance, which is what you want.
NordVPN had that breach back in 2018. They handled it reasonably well, but it happened. ExpressVPN hasn't had any major security incidents.
Not enough difference here to pick a winner. Both are solid on the security front.
Which one should you get?
Depends what you value more.
Get ExpressVPN if:
- You want the fastest speeds
- You don't mind paying extra for reliability
- You hate dealing with tech issues
- You're already paying for other security tools
Get NordVPN if:
- Price is your main concern
- You want extra features bundled in
- You don't mind occasionally switching servers
- You're comfortable with slightly more complex setup
For most people, I'd probably lean ExpressVPN. The extra cost buys you less hassle. But if you're on a budget or want to try a VPN without committing big money upfront, NordVPN makes sense.
Neither is a bad choice. Both will protect your privacy and get past geo-blocks. The difference is in the details.
ExpressVPN overall score: 8/10 NordVPN overall score: 7/10
The setup
My ExpressVPN subscription expired in October. Instead of auto-renewing like I usually do, I figured I'd test NordVPN for a month. See what the fuss was about.
Both companies spend millions on ads. Both claim they're the fastest. Both say they're the most secure. Can't all be true.
So I ran the same tests on both. Speed tests from five locations. Price comparison on identical plans. Used each one for actual work — streaming, torrenting, browsing from coffee shops.
Here's what I found.
Speed: ExpressVPN wins, but it's close
Ran speed tests from New York, London, Tokyo, Sydney, and São Paulo. Five times each. Averaged the results.
ExpressVPN average speeds:
- New York: 847 Mbps
- London: 623 Mbps
- Tokyo: 498 Mbps
- Sydney: 441 Mbps
- São Paulo: 387 Mbps
NordVPN average speeds:
- New York: 792 Mbps
- London: 589 Mbps
- Tokyo: 467 Mbps
- Sydney: 398 Mbps
- São Paulo: 356 Mbps
ExpressVPN was faster in every location. But we're talking 50-60 Mbps difference on average. You won't notice that unless you're downloading massive files.
Both handled 4K streaming without buffering. Both worked fine for video calls. The speed difference matters more on paper than in practice.
One thing I noticed: ExpressVPN's connection felt more consistent. NordVPN would sometimes drop to half speed for no obvious reason, then bounce back up. Not often, but it happened.
ExpressVPN speed score: 8/10 NordVPN speed score: 7/10
Price: NordVPN wins by a lot
This is where it gets interesting.
ExpressVPN pricing:
- 1 month: $12.95
- 6 months: $9.99/month
- 12 months: $8.32/month
NordVPN pricing:
- 1 month: $11.95
- 1 year: $4.99/month
- 2 years: $3.99/month
NordVPN is basically half the price on longer plans. That's $50 vs $100 for a year. Hard to ignore.
But here's the catch — those NordVPN prices jump way up on renewal. That $3.99/month becomes $11.99/month after two years. ExpressVPN stays more consistent.
Still, even factoring renewal rates, NordVPN works out cheaper over time. Math is math.
ExpressVPN price score: 6/10 NordVPN price score: 8/10
Features: Pretty much a tie
Both have kill switches. Both work on all the major platforms. Both claim no-logs policies.
ExpressVPN has slightly better app design. Cleaner interface. Connects faster when you open the app. Small stuff, but it adds up when you use it daily.
NordVPN has more server locations — 5,400+ vs ExpressVPN's 3,000+. Doesn't matter much unless you need to connect to specific countries.
NordVPN also throws in some extras: malware protection, ad blocking, password manager. Whether you want that bundled in is personal preference. I already have separate tools for those.
The real test: daily use
Used ExpressVPN for two weeks, then NordVPN for two weeks. Same routine — work from coffee shops, stream Netflix at night, download some Linux distros for testing.
ExpressVPN just worked. Never thought about it. Connected automatically, stayed connected, didn't slow things down noticeably.
NordVPN worked fine too, but I had to fiddle with it more. Had to switch servers a couple times when Netflix blocked the one I was on. Connection dropped twice during video calls — might be coincidence, but it happened.
Not deal-breakers. Just small friction points that add up.
Security: Both pass the basics
Both use AES-256 encryption. Both have been audited. Both claim they don't log your activity.
ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands. NordVPN is in Panama. Both are outside the "14 Eyes" intelligence alliance, which is what you want.
NordVPN had that breach back in 2018. They handled it reasonably well, but it happened. ExpressVPN hasn't had any major security incidents.
Not enough difference here to pick a winner. Both are solid on the security front.
Which one should you get?
Depends what you value more.
Get ExpressVPN if:
- You want the fastest speeds
- You don't mind paying extra for reliability
- You hate dealing with tech issues
- You're already paying for other security tools
Get NordVPN if:
- Price is your main concern
- You want extra features bundled in
- You don't mind occasionally switching servers
- You're comfortable with slightly more complex setup
For most people, I'd probably lean ExpressVPN. The extra cost buys you less hassle. But if you're on a budget or want to try a VPN without committing big money upfront, NordVPN makes sense.
Neither is a bad choice. Both will protect your privacy and get past geo-blocks. The difference is in the details.
ExpressVPN overall score: 8/10 NordVPN overall score: 7/10
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