ExpressVPN is a rip-off for 90% of users, and I'm tired of pretending it's not.
I've tested every major VPN over the last decade, and here's the hard truth: ExpressVPN charges nearly double what its competitors do for performance that's maybe 5-10% better in ideal conditions. For most people, that's financial insanity. I almost lost a client presentation because NordVPN's Windows app decided to randomly disconnect during a critical demo—ExpressVPN's rock-solid connection saved my ass that day, but I still resent paying for that reliability.
The Three Real Differences That Matter
1. Speed vs Price: The Diminishing Returns Trap
ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol is genuinely fast. In my tests, I got 280 Mbps on a 300 Mbps connection. NordVPN got 265 Mbps. CyberGhost got 250 Mbps. That's the difference between downloading a 4GB file in 2 minutes vs 2 minutes 10 seconds. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN costs $12.95/month on monthly billing vs NordVPN at $12.99/month or Surfshark at $15.45/month. But here's where ExpressVPN becomes a rip-off: their annual plan is $8.32/month vs NordVPN at $4.99/month or Surfshark at $2.49/month. You're paying 66-234% more for that 5-12% speed bump.
2. The UI That Doesn't Suck vs The One That Does
ExpressVPN's interface is clean, intuitive, and just works. Compare this to Private Internet Access's dashboard, which looks like it was designed by a programmer who hates humanity. I spent 15 minutes trying to find the kill switch in PIA's settings because they buried it under three nested menus with terrible labeling. ExpressVPN puts it right there in the main settings—one click and done. This matters when you need to toggle features quickly.
💡 Pro Tip: If you're buying ExpressVPN, NEVER get the monthly plan. The annual plan cuts the price by 35%, and they frequently run promotions that drop it to around $6.67/month. Set a calendar reminder for 30 days before renewal—their auto-renewal will charge you the full annual price again unless you cancel.
3. Trust & Jurisdiction: The British Virgin Islands Advantage
ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws and isn't part of surveillance alliances like the 5/9/14 Eyes. NordVPN (Panama) and Surfshark (British Virgin Islands) have similar advantages, but ExpressVPN has a cleaner track record with audits and transparency. If you're a journalist or activist, this might justify the premium. For someone just wanting to watch Netflix abroad? Probably not.
The Raw Numbers
| VPN | Monthly Price | Annual Price/Month | Servers | Max Devices | Netflix Support | Kill Switch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | $12.95 | $8.32 | 3,000+ | 8 | Excellent | Yes |
| NordVPN | $12.99 | $4.99 | 6,000+ | 10 | Excellent | Yes |
| Surfshark | $15.45 | $2.49 | 3,200+ | Unlimited | Good | Yes |
| CyberGhost | $12.99 | $2.19 | 9,000+ | 7 | Good | Yes |
| Private Internet Access | $11.95 | $2.19 | 10,000+ | Unlimited | Poor | Yes |
The Verdict
Buy ExpressVPN if: You need absolute reliability for work or sensitive activities, money isn't a primary concern, and you value a polished interface over saving cash. It's the luxury sedan of VPNs—overpriced but smooth.
Avoid ExpressVPN if: You're on a budget, want to cover more than 8 devices, or don't need the marginal speed/UI advantages. Get NordVPN for balanced performance at half the price, or Surfshark if you have a ton of devices. ExpressVPN's pricing is borderline predatory for casual users.
Originally published at Nexus AI
Top comments (0)