Why ExpressVPN stands out

ExpressVPN has been one of the most recognised names in VPN for over a decade, and it's earned that reputation on the back of two things: speed and polish. Where some VPNs feel like tools that need tinkering to get the best out of, ExpressVPN is built for people who just want things to work. Connect, stream, browse. That's the experience it's designed to deliver, and by and large it delivers it.

It sits second in our recommendations rather than first because NordVPN has a larger UK server pool that gives it a reliability edge for iPlayer. But if raw speed matters to you, or you need streaming access on a smart TV or games console without installing anything, ExpressVPN has specific strengths that make it a great choice for certain households.

Streaming performance

ExpressVPN works with all the major UK and international streaming services: BBC iPlayer, Netflix UK and US, Disney+, ITVX, Channel 4, My5, Now TV, Sky Go, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Max, and Peacock. It's one of the more consistent performers across the full list, including the harder services that catch out cheaper providers.

We found iPlayer connected cleanly on the first attempt in most sessions, and we streamed it in HD for a couple of hours without a single buffer or drop. Netflix US came through without any server switching required, and Disney+ and Channel 4 were reliable across multiple checks. Sky Go was the most variable, as it tends to be with any VPN, but we got through on the majority of attempts.

There's no separate streaming mode to switch on. Instead, the app recommends a specific server for each location based on recent performance. In practice this works well: the suggested UK server for iPlayer tends to be one that's currently getting through, so you're not left guessing which one to try.

Speed and reliability

Speed is ExpressVPN's calling card, and the reason is its proprietary Lightway protocol. Developed in-house, Lightway is built to establish connections faster than WireGuard, hold them more stably on mobile networks, and use less battery in the process. Put simply, it's built to stay out of the way and let your internet connection do its thing.

In our tests, the gap between our base connection speed and what we got with ExpressVPN running was among the smallest we've seen from any VPN. Browsing with it active felt no different to browsing without it, even on a mid-range broadband connection. For people on fast full-fibre connections who want to hold onto as much of that speed as possible, ExpressVPN is a strong choice.

Stability held up well throughout our time with it. We ran ExpressVPN continuously across several devices over a number of days without any unexpected drops. When we pulled the connection while streaming to test Network Lock (ExpressVPN's name for the kill switch), it kicked in before anything slipped through. We ran three separate leak tools at the same time and came up clean across all of them.

Privacy and security

Based in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN sits outside the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (the surveillance-sharing arrangement between the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand). The BVI has its own separate legal status from the UK, which means ExpressVPN can't be compelled to hand over user data under UK or US data-retention laws (laws that require companies to keep records of your internet activity).

The no-logs policy has been audited by KPMG, PwC, and Cure53 across multiple rounds. None of those audits found evidence of connection timestamps, IP addresses, DNS queries, or browsing activity being retained. The only data logged is the date of connection (not time or duration), the server country, and total bandwidth used. None of that can identify an individual user or their activity.

TrustedServer is the most impressive privacy feature on the infrastructure side. Every ExpressVPN server runs entirely on RAM, with nothing written to a hard drive. Each time a server starts up, it loads a clean version of its software from scratch. There's nothing persistent to recover even if a server were physically seized, and this applies across the entire server network rather than just a subset.

Apps and usability

The apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, and as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. First-time setup took us under a minute.

The interface is minimal by design: a large connection button, a location selector, and a compact settings menu. Protocol selection, the kill switch, and split tunneling are all a tap or two away and clearly labelled. There's nothing buried.

Network Lock (the kill switch) is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. It's worth enabling before you start browsing. On iOS, Apple's platform restrictions mean a traditional kill switch isn't possible, but ExpressVPN configures the connection to be as persistent as the platform allows.

Split tunneling is available on Windows, macOS, and Android, letting you route specific apps outside the VPN tunnel. Useful if you want a game or video call to connect directly while everything else stays protected.

The browser extensions are worth mentioning too: they're proper extensions that control the full VPN app from within the browser, rather than just routing browser traffic through a proxy. The mobile experience is polished throughout, and the iOS app in particular felt smooth day-to-day. Switching between servers was fast enough that we barely noticed any interruption to what we were watching, and the Smart Location button consistently picked a well-performing server without any input needed.

MediaStreamer: streaming on smart TVs and consoles

MediaStreamer is one of ExpressVPN's biggest practical advantages and is worth knowing about. It's a Smart DNS service included with every subscription. Rather than routing all your traffic through a VPN server, it only handles the specific behind-the-scenes lookups that streaming services use to detect your location. Your actual traffic takes its normal route.

The practical benefit is that MediaStreamer works on any device that lets you change its DNS settings: Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Samsung TV, LG TV, and most others. You don't install anything on the device itself. Change the DNS settings in your network configuration to ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer addresses and geo-restricted content becomes available. We had it running on a TV in about five minutes, and it worked straight away.

One thing to be aware of: MediaStreamer doesn't encrypt your traffic. It handles geo-unblocking only. For privacy on a smart TV you'd still want a router-level VPN. But if you simply want to watch BBC iPlayer or Netflix on a TV that doesn't support VPN apps, it's the most practical solution we've come across.

Getting started with ExpressVPN

Setup is quick. Here's what to do:

  1. Sign up on the ExpressVPN website. Choose your plan and create your account. Longer-term plans offer the best monthly rate. You can get started here.
  2. Grab your activation code. After signing up, you'll see an activation code in your account dashboard. You'll use this to set up the app instead of a password.
  3. Download the app for your device. ExpressVPN has apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and more. Download from your account dashboard or the relevant app store.
  4. Enter your activation code and connect. Open the app, enter your code, and tap Smart Location to connect to the best available server automatically.
  5. Enable Network Lock. Head into Settings and turn on Network Lock before you browse. This makes sure your real IP is never exposed if the connection drops unexpectedly.
  6. For smart TVs or consoles: Follow the MediaStreamer DNS setup guide in your ExpressVPN account. It takes about five minutes and requires no installation on the device itself.

That's everything you need to get started. ExpressVPN's default settings are sensible, and Lightway is already selected as the protocol out of the box.

Pricing and plans

VPN prices shift regularly and deals come and go, so any specific figure we quote here may be out of date by the time you read this. The best approach is to check ExpressVPN's website directly for the current rates. That said, the longest-term plan is consistently the best value, bringing the monthly cost down significantly. The monthly plan is always considerably more expensive and is really only worth it if you need a VPN for a short period.

One subscription covers up to ten simultaneous devices on the Basic plan. The Advanced plan covers 12 and the Pro plan covers 14, which makes ExpressVPN a strong option if you have a lot of devices to cover. The 30-day money-back guarantee applies with no conditions: if it doesn't work for you, a full refund is available within the first 30 days.

Verdict

ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN and one of the best options available. The speed advantage over most alternatives is real, TrustedServer gives it one of the strongest server architectures of any provider we've looked at, and MediaStreamer is a practical feature for smart TV and console users that few others can match. Having used it across a range of devices, it's one of those tools that gets out of your way and just works. If speed, a polished experience, or smart TV access is what you're after, it's well worth considering.