NordVPN and ExpressVPN each sit down on the height of the meals chain in the case of leading-edge VPN suppliers. Both VPNs are recognized for speedy speeds, huge server suites, and a powerful popularity for high quality. However, there are key variations between the 2.

NordVPN comes with spectacular safety and privacy-focused options, reminiscent of its Meshnet encrypted file-sharing machine and Threat Protection in opposition to malware and advertisements. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN has a blank and easy-to-use interface and an excellent portfolio of third-party safety audits.

In this newsletter, we work out which VPN is right for you and your small business.

• NordVPN: Best for many customers that need a big server community and various further security measures.
• ExpressVPN: Best for customers that prioritize having a user-friendly interface and rapid VPN obtain and add speeds.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Comparison Table

NordVPN and ExpressVPN: Pricing

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN’s paid plans have 3 subscription tiers, particularly NordVPN Basic, Plus, and Ultimate. Take notice, I realized that during some areas, NordVPN Ultimate will every so often be referred to as NordVPN Complete or Ultra. This method the highest plan could also be other relying to your location.

Below is an outline of pricing and have variations with every tier:

Out of NordVPN’s plans, I think its Plus subscription for 12 months brings the most productive cost. It supplies a just right stability between an inexpensive per month charge whilst having a wholesome quantity of NordVPN’s further security measures. Among those are its Threat Protection function that protects in opposition to malware and advertisements, in addition to its information breach scanner.

SEE: The Top 7 NordVPN Alternatives for 2024 (roosho)

Meanwhile, I commend NordVPN for together with Nord Security’s devoted password supervisor, NordGo, to its Plus subscription tier. This is largely a 2nd carrier on height of the primary VPN — all in one subscription. To me, it is a significant value-add, particularly for customers which are additionally available in the market for a password supervisor.

While NordVPN doesn’t recently have a unfastened model, it has a seven-day unfastened trial by way of Android. Once you join the trial, you’ll be ready to take a look at NordVPN on desktop as effectively. While I laud Nord for providing a tribulation, I’m hoping it opens this up for iOS customers as effectively. This would permit extra customers to take a look at and check NordVPN out.

Fortunately, NordVPN has a 30-day money-back ensure for all its paid subscriptions. With this, you’ll pay for an preliminary plan and request a reimbursement should you in finding it isn’t the appropriate have compatibility. Just be sure to request the refund throughout the allocated period of time.

If you need to be informed extra, learn our complete NordVPN overview.

ExpressVPN pricing

Compared to NordVPN, ExpressVPN has easier pricing that’s best divided relying on contract duration.

• 1 month: $12.95 per 30 days.
• 6 months: $9.99 per 30 days.
• 1 12 months: $6.67 per 30 days.

As a client, I love this way because it simplifies the entire purchasing procedure. However, this does imply that ExpressVPN carries much less function programs in comparison to NordVPN — a subject matter we’ll speak about extra in-depth later.

SEE: CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN (2024): Which VPN Is Better? (roosho)

Coincidentally, ExpressVPN additionally contains its personal password supervisor, ExpressVPN Keys, to its paid subscriptions. While I in finding NordGo to be the extra tough password supervisor, I’m nonetheless satisfied that ExpressVPN bundles it with all of the paid plans.

Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN provides a 30-day money-back ensure on all paid plan choices. While ExpressVPN additionally has a seven-day unfastened trial, that is best to be had for its cellular apps on Android and iOS.

If you need to be informed extra, learn our complete ExpressVPN overview.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Feature comparability

Security protocols and encryption

Winner: Tie

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN supply top-tier encryption and high quality VPN protocols. In each products and services, we get the business same old AES-256 encryption set of rules — effectively identified as one of the crucial safe algorithms to be had.

SEE: NordVPN vs Proton VPN (2024): Which VPN Should You Choose? (roosho)

For VPN protocols, NordVPN carries OpenVPN and its proprietary NordLynx protocol in response to the speed-oriented WireGuard. On the flipside, ExpressVPN additionally provides the OpenVPN protocol and its personal Lightway protocol, in a similar way constructed for pace.

I admire how, for each NordVPN and ExpressVPN, customers find a way to choose between a security-focused protocol or one that gives extra pace. For context, OpenVPN is understood for its safety as an open supply protocol, whilst WireGuard is quicker and extra leading-edge.

In this fashion, you get the most productive of each worlds and aren’t confined to simply prioritizing safety or pace. With this, each NordVPN and ExpressVPN hit the mark for his or her safety protocols and encryption.

VPN server community and places

Winner: NordVPN

When having a look at their respective VPN server networks, I’ve to provide NordVPN the win. As of September 2024, NordVPN recently has 6,200+ servers throughout 111 international locations. On the opposite hand, ExperssVPN has servers unfold throughout 105 international locations. While ExpressVPN doesn’t explicitly supply a server quantity, studies have pegged its server fleet at round 3,000+ servers.

The extra necessary quantity to imagine this is the server international locations or places. At 111 international locations, NordVPN has six further places over ExpressVPN’s server fleet. This method you get quite extra selection in relation to IP places with NordVPN — one thing I do know will receive advantages those who plan to essentially use VPNs to unblock region-locked on-line content material.

To be truthful, ExpressVPN’s 105-country server suite additionally provides an intensive vary of nation choices. It in order that occurs that NordVPN will get the slight benefit over ExpressVPN, with its extra powerful server fleet and nation variety.

SEE: Does a VPN Slow Down Your Internet Speed? (roosho)

As a facet notice, I extremely counsel checking each NordVPN and ExperssVPN’s authentic server pages to peer whether or not the positioning you wish to have for unblocking is to be had. Luckily, each suppliers continuously replace which VPN server places they have got on be offering.

Third-party audits and monitor file

Winner: ExpressVPN

If you’re searching for a VPN with a robust portfolio of third-party audits, I like to recommend going for ExpressVPN. Since 2018, ExpressVPN has finished a complete of 18 unbiased safety audits. That’s very spectacular, particularly making an allowance for how different VPNs outright don’t have their products and services examined independently. These audits have seemed into more than a few facets of ExpressVPN, from its no-logs coverage to its desktop packages. Its most up-to-date audit used to be printed simply closing June 2024 for the ExpressVPN browser extension.

As VPNs handle delicate information like our surfing information and on-line task, I in finding third-party audits to be crucial issues. They supply customers with greater than only a corporate’s guarantees or claims. In this appreciate, ExpressVPN will get prime marks from me with its constant and robust dedication to third-party checking out.

SEE: It is protected to make use of SSLVPN products and services like NordVPN? (roosho Forums)

On the flipside, NordVPN has had 4 unbiased audits of its no-logs coverage since 2018. Its newest audit used to be performed through Deloitte Audit Lithuania in past due 2023, additionally on its no-logs coverage.

Curiously, the newest audit effects are best to be had for energetic NordVPN customers and to not the general public. Nord says this “ensures the audit results are not taken out of context or misunderstood.” While I will see the place NordVPN is coming from, I believe the extra consumer-friendly way is to make audit effects publicly to be had — without reference to the findings.

Nonetheless, I believe each VPNs do a just right process of getting their packages independently examined. It in order that occurs that ExpressVPN is the transparent winner on this regard, particularly with its hefty portfolio of audits up to now.

Standout options

Winner: NordVPN

For customers that need a suite of additional options, I counsel going for NordVPN. It has a ton of security-focused features that upload significant cost along the primary VPN.

My favourite amongst them used to be NordVPN’s Meshnet personal community machine. It we could customers percentage information or get right of entry to gadgets remotely by way of an encrypted connection — a function I envision to be helpful when sharing delicate information or paperwork.

It additionally has its Threat Protection Pro internet and dossier coverage function that blocks in opposition to intrusive advertisements, malware, and trackers. This helps to keep an energetic rely of all threats blocked through NordVPN. Aside from those, NordVPN features a darkish internet track, double VPN servers, Onion Over VPN features, and obfuscated servers, amongst different options.

That isn’t to mention ExpressVPN doesn’t have its personal set of standout options. It has what it calls Advanced Protection that protects in opposition to trackers, advertisements, and malicious web pages. There’s additionally Parental controls, the place ExpressVPN mechanically blocks grownup web pages whilst attached to their servers.

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN be offering password managers with their subscriptions — NordGo and ExpressVPN Keys. Keep in thoughts, on the other hand, that NordGo is best bundled with NordVPN Plus and above, whilst Keys is integrated in all ExpressVPN plans.

SEE: Best VPNs for streaming, gaming, torrenting (roosho Forums)

All in all, NordVPN will get my vote for having a little bit extra in the best way of additional options in comparison to ExpressVPN. Personally, I admire how maximum of Nord’s further options are all keen on safety and privateness. This makes their carrier much more compelling as a handy safety answer and no longer simply an unusual VPN.

Performance and pace

Winner: ExpressVPN

For efficiency, I give ExpressVPN the spherical through a slender margin. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN gave me rapid, and dependable VPN speeds all the way through my length of checking out. Websites loaded briefly, and I had 0 noticeable drops in connection whilst attached to servers from every.

During checking out, I attached my paintings pc to considered one of their VPN servers and did my same old paintings as a creator. This concerned having more than one tabs open for analysis, downloading, and importing information, attending on-line video conferences, and streaming track within the background.

Where ExpressVPN won a bonus is pace check effects. With NordVPN, it in truth had a zero.78% building up in downloads in comparison to my web carrier supplier — which is very good. However, its add pace efficiency used to be much less spectacular, recording a 44% lower compared to my ISP.

SEE: Why Your Business Needs Cybersecurity Awareness Training (roosho Premium)

On the opposite hand, ExpressVPN recorded persistently sooner speeds in each effects. For downloads, it best had a 25.65% lower in comparison to my house community. For uploads, it recorded 0.37% sooner speeds in opposition to my ISP connection. With those effects, ExpressVPN presentations it will probably be offering rapid efficiency in each downloads and uploads.

In my opinion, maximum customers shall be completely happy with both NordVPN or ExpressVPN. I were given nice speeds with each in daily use. But should you’re particularly and then VPN brings higher efficiency, my checking out confirmed ExpressVPN is the easier select.

Ease of use and design

Winner: ExpressVPN

When it involves general person enjoy, my vote is going to ExpressVPN. It has, in all probability, one of the most very best VPN packages I’ve used thus far.

It comes with a easy and leading-edge design that is helping make the interface user-friendly and smooth to make use of. I specifically like how the entirety is obviously laid out — it has a large energy button as an On/Off transfer; a well-organized server listing categorised through areas; and an similarly intuitive browser extension that works as a VPN far flung regulate.

On the flipside, NordVPN implements a cast interface as effectively. It makes use of a graceful design and does a just right process of organizing all of its options right into a unmarried hub.

While I additionally like NordVPN’s VPN app, I think it’s a tad overwhelming at first. There’s a ton of options you’re inspired to activate, and the server listing is much less out there upon setup in comparison to ExpressVPN. This could make it a little bit intimidating for much less tech savvy customers that aren’t used to tinkering with instrument.

Fortunately, while you give every phase of NordVPN a take a look at, you in truth notice that it does an excellent process of holding its abundance of options arranged and tidy. That being stated, if having an easy-to-use and modern-looking VPN app is a concern, I like to recommend going for ExpressVPN.

Value

Winner: NordVPN

For cost, NordVPN will get the win for me. This is due largely to NordVPN having extra subscription choices and a extra reasonably priced beginning value.

If we’re to match every VPN’s base one-year subscriptions, NordVPN Basic at $4.99 per 30 days is round $2 less expensive than ExpressVPN’s one-year plan at $6.67 per 30 days.

Moving up a tier, NordVPN’s Plus one-year plan with further security measures remains to be extra reasonably priced — priced at $5.99 per 30 days in comparison to the similar $6.67 ExpressVPN plan.

I additionally admire the truth that NordVPN supplies longer, two-year subscriptions, which convey the per month charge right down to $3 to $6 per 30 days. While I love ExpressVPN’s simple subscription plans, I’m hoping they provide longer contract choices like this for longtime consumers that wish to get some financial savings.

Simultaneous instrument connections

Winner: NordVPN

In phrases of instrument connections, I give it to NordVPN. Right now, NordVPN lets in for as much as 10 gadgets to be concurrently attached to its VPN servers. In comparability, ExpressVPN covers as much as 8 simultaneous instrument connections.

To be truthful, the adaptation between 8 and 10 is small, and I think each instrument limits are sufficient for many customers. However, it’s necessary to remember NordVPN’s extra reasonably priced pricing and bigger server suite.

Having extra instrument connections provides any other layer of cost with NordVPN’s carrier in comparison to ExpressVPN. The greater instrument restrict too can turn out necessary for small groups or startups that plan on sharing a subscription among every different.

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN on Reddit

When searching at Reddit discussions speaking about which VPN is healthier, it’s transparent that NordVPN and ExpressVPN are somewhat lightly matched.

According to a Reddit person within the VPNAdvice neighborhood, “Nord’s been hella reliable so far. Been using it for a year now and the dedicated IP has made things so much better since its way faster than using a shared IP.” In the similar neighborhood, any other Reddit person stated this about ExpressVPN: “Despite the higher price, I wouldn’t switch from ExpressVPN to another service.”

However, if we check out threads asking about the most productive VPNs, it sort of feels that NordVPN is discussed extra instances than ExpressVPN.

One Reddit person within the VPNOverview neighborhood stated, “I’ve used a bunch of VPNs like Surfshark, CyberGhost, and NordVPN. NordVPN is my favorite. It blocks lots of overseas stuff I stream, and several family members use it too. It’s super trustworthy and costs only $3.50 a month. Just my two cents.”

Two suppliers continuously additionally discussed along NordVPN and ExpressVPN are Surfshark and Proton VPN. These are worthy choices as effectively, and I beg you to try our Surfshark overview and Proton VPN overview.

NordVPN professionals and cons

Pros

• Offers round 6,200+ servers in 111 international locations.
• Meshnet encrypted file-sharing machine.
• Threat Protection Pro in opposition to malware, advertisements, and trackers.
• Independently audited no-logs coverage.
• Fast VPN speeds.
• 7-day trial by way of the Android app.
• Double VPN and obfuscated servers.

Cons

• No unfastened model.
• Can be intimidating in the beginning.

ExpressVPN professionals and cons

Pros

• Servers unfold throughout 105 international locations.
• 18 unbiased audits for its products and services and apps.
• Easy-to-use, well-designed app interface.
• Fast speeds and function.
• Advanced Protection in opposition to advertisements and trackers.
• Parental controls in opposition to grownup websites.

Cons

• More pricey.
• Free trial is cellular best.
• Lacks extra reasonably priced, 2-year subscription.

Should your company use NordVPN or ExpressVPN?

After a tricky matchup, NordVPN comes out on height over ExpressVPN. Its huge server community, top-tier safety features, and rapid VPN speeds make it one of the most very best VPN products and services to be had.

When in comparison to ExpressVPN, NordVPN additionally beneficial properties a bonus with its extra reasonably priced pricing, number of subscription choices, and quite extra beneficiant simultaneous instrument connections.

I in my view like NordVPN’s sturdy focal point on privateness and safety, making it a in reality just right safety answer along its primary VPN capability. I think NordVPN is very best for many customers, particularly those who need an all-around VPN with rapid efficiency and numerous further options.

On the opposite hand, ExpressVPN is a smart selection should you cost having a well-designed VPN app and reliably rapid speeds. ExpressVPN may be my height advice if constant, third-party audits are necessary to you.

Methodology

My head-to-head comparability of NordVPN and ExpressVPN concerned an in-depth research of each VPNs’ options, real-world efficiency, and worth.

To assess every VPN, each products and services had been scored on the entirety from their server networks to their pricing. In specific, I took into consideration 5 primary pillars, every having corresponding weights:

• Pricing (20%).
• Core VPN options (30%).
• Ease of use (15%).
• Customer give a boost to (30%).
• Expert research (5%).

I additionally seemed into genuine person testimonials and respected evaluations to spherical out my ultimate suggestions for each NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

For pace and function, I examined each VPNs on my private Windows pc and ran them via Ookla’s public Speedtest. Finally, I regarded as which varieties of companies or person customers would very best take pleasure in both NordVPN or ExpressVPN.