ExpressVPN vs NordVPN 2023: Which Is Better?

When it comes to the best of the best VPNs, ExpressVPN and NordVPN are always among the top choices.

But, ExpressVPN vs NordVPN, which is better? Here are some detailed comparisons between these two top-notch VPN services in terms of basic aspects like speeds, security and privacy, pricing, compatibility, and more; simply read along to find out now!

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: Major specs and features

First of all, let’s spend a minute glancing at the primary specs and features of both NordVPN and ExpressVPN:

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: Which is better?

After glancing at basic differences in major specs and features of these two VPN services, it’s now time to dive into detailed comparisons between them.

Plans and pricing

As price is alway a key factor that affects the choices of almost every user, we think it’s a good idea to look at the “plans and pricing” aspect first.

Both ExpressVPN vs NordVPN offer three different plans. However, ExpressVPN has 3 options of 1 Month plan, 12-Months plan, and 6-months plan, while NordVPN provides users with 3 other offers, including: Monthly plan, 1-year plan, and 2-year plan.

Looking at the costs, NordVPN is the more affordable option unless you pick a monthly subscription. Well, if you choose the monthly plan, ExpressVPN seems to be an optimal choice, as it costs $12.99, while NordVPN costs a little bit more.

However, when it comes to longer subscriptions, NordVPN does have the edge with its great deals. Its year-long plan and especially its two-year plan only start at $4.99 per month and $3.49 per month, respectively.

Additionally, NordVPN supports a maximum of six device connections at once, while ExpressVPN only covers up to five.

One more thing is that these two VPN services have a 30-day money-back guarantee and offer several payment options.

Which is more secure?

Without any doubt, ExpressVPN vs NordVPN are both famous for their top-notch security and privacy. But if you're wondering "Which is a more secure option?," then here are some additional details to take into consideration.

Both feature strong AES-256 data encryption together with powerful tunneling protocols like IKEv2 and OpenVPN. Besides, ExpressVPN has its own updated tunneling protocol, Lightway, while NordVPN also provides NordLynx. Furthermore, ExpressVPN vs NordVPN both claim to block DNS leaks.

Of course, it’s totally true that both providers are really secure, but NordVPN seems to hold a bit of an advantage thanks to its extra features such as Onion Over VPN, CyberSe, and Double VPN.

In terms of privacy, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN have a strict no-logging policy that is independently audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Besides, while NordVPN is registered in Panama, ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands.

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: Servers and performance comparison

You may have heard that using a VPN could slow down your internet connection, right? So, are ExpressVPN and NordVPN really fast? Do they slow down your connection?

Connection speed and performance of a VPN service depend on different factors, including what tunneling protocols are implemented, the number of servers, and more.

And as stated recently, along with industry-standard tunneling protocols like IKEv2 and OpenVPN, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN feature their own updated high-speed tunneling protocols, which are Lightway and NordLynx. These proprietary protocols (Lightway and NordLynx) are not only more secure but also faster than other VPN protocols.

Regarding the number of servers offered by each provider, NordVPN has more than 5,700 servers in 60 countries worldwide, while ExpressVPN offers more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries across the planet.

As the top-rated VPN services on the market these days, both Nord and Express perform admirably.

According to techradar.com, as compared to Express's Lightway, NordVPN's NordLynx seems to have the edge, particularly speaking of the US server connections, since they recorded the fastest speed of 760 Mbps download speed, while ExpressVPN’s speed was 630 Mbps.

Also, in Cybernews’ tests, NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol also featured better performance as compared to ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol.

However, as per techradar.com, though both providers did well when connecting to farther server locations, ExpressVPN seems to have slightly better performance.

(Please note that when connecting to very far away servers, the connection is very likely to slow down dramatically.)

Which is better for streaming?

If you are a big fan of Netflix and other video streaming platforms, then "ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: Which is better for streaming?" is definitely your big concern.

On ExpressVPN’s official website, this provider stated that "Content from anywhere" is one of its service’s basic features. That means it lets users listen, watch, and stream content from blocked and censored websites worldwide. In terms of streaming services, ExpressVPN can access and unblock Netflix (in the most popular country libraries), Disney+, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, and more.

Similarly, NordVPN can also access many popular streaming platforms, including Netflix (in the most popular country libraries), Hulu, Disney +, BBC iPlayer, and more.

In a nutshell, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are excellent choices for streaming.

RELATED: Free VPN For Netflix: Top Best Choices

Compatibility and ease of use

Both providers are compatible with a wide range of operating systems, browsers, and other software and devices.

As you can see, both NordVPN and ExpressVPN have VPN apps for all major platforms as well as browser extensions (Edge, Firefox, and Chrome). However, ExpressVPN does offer a router applet, while ExpressVPN doesn’t.

Of course, you can manually configure NordVPN to work with many router brands, but we can’t deny that it’s super fast and convenient to just download and install ExpressVPN service instantly on the router thanks to its router applet.

Well, once again, it’s also worth noting that while NordVPN supports up to six simultaneous connections, ExpressVPN supports just five.

Supports

Having an excellent support service really matters when it comes to considering a good VPN service. For many users, an effective support service can even determine whether they will be loyal customers or never use the service again.

Luckily, both ExpressVPN vs NordVPN deliver excellent support with 24/7 live chat, FAQs, and email.

In terms of live chat, both providers are swift to respond. Their customer support via email is also comprehensive and reliable.

But, when it comes to troubleshooting guides and help articles listed on the websites, ExpressVPN’s list seems to be easier to navigate. On the other hand, NordVPN’s help articles are, of course, helpful and well-presented, but honestly speaking, they are somewhat confusing to approach.

Final verdict

Definitely, it’s difficult to say which is better between ExpressVPN and NordVPN. Each has its own unique pros and cons as well as exclusive features. For example, while NordVPN seems to be a more affordable choice, ExpressVPN offers a great router applet that lets users set up and use the service easily on their router.

It’s also important to note that this article has just compared basic things like pricing, speeds and performance, server counts, security and privacy, etc. There are still many other factors that we haven’t mentioned here.

So simply put, "ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: Which is better?" depends on what you expect from a VPN service. To conclude, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are extremely excellent VPN services. Picking any one of them is absolutely great. And in order to find out which is better, you should first figure out what you want from the best VPN; then you will have your own answer.

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