ExpressVPN is still one of the easiest VPNs to live with. Its apps come down to one large connect button, its Lightway protocol is fast, and it now runs post-quantum WireGuard as well. Our ExpressVPN review scores it 8.8/10.
The friction starts at renewal. After the promotional term, the Basic plan jumps to $99.95 a year and covers 10 devices. It also has no Double VPN, no Tor-over-VPN servers and no email-free sign-up. NordVPN is our top alternative because it matches ExpressVPN on security and speed while adding Double VPN, obfuscated servers and dedicated P2P servers.
We measured each VPN's speeds and checked which streaming services it could access. We even went through an ExpressVPN refund to see how painful switching is. The section on how we picked these alternatives explains the full process.
Quick Picks: The Best ExpressVPN Alternatives at a Glance
Every score below matches our full review of that VPN, so you can compare them directly with ExpressVPN's 8.8.
Why Look for an ExpressVPN Alternative?
ExpressVPN earns its reputation. Lightway uses ML-KEM post-quantum protection by default, and a KPMG assessment backed its no-logs claims in 2025. Its network now covers 113 countries plus all 50 US states. In our testing, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video and Hulu unblocked across many regions.
People look elsewhere for practical reasons:
- Price after renewal. The 2-year Basic plan starts from about $3 a month, but it renews at $99.95 a year. Advanced renews at $119.95.
- Device limit. Basic covers 10 devices, Advanced 12 and Pro 14. Two of our picks beat that with unlimited connections on every plan.
- Missing power-user features. There's no Double VPN or other multi-hop mode, no Tor-over-VPN, and no dedicated obfuscated or P2P server categories.
- Anonymous sign-up. ExpressVPN accepts Bitcoin, but you still need an email address to create an account.
- Speed on slower lines. On a slower home connection, our downloads dropped by roughly 37 to 39 percent on nearby servers. That's a bigger hit than we saw from NordVPN or Proton VPN.
To be fair, ExpressVPN does include a blocker for ads and malicious sites. Its fuller blocking, with tracker protection, sits on the pricier tiers.
ExpressVPN Alternatives Compared
The table lists each provider's lowest long-term price, with ExpressVPN in the last row as the baseline. Four picks cost the same as ExpressVPN's promotional rate or less. NordVPN and Mullvad cost a little more, so they earn their place on features and privacy rather than price.
| Product | Starting price | Devices | Servers / countries | Audited no-logs | Free plan | Streaming | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
$3.49/mo (2-year) | 10 | About 9,000 / 129-149 | Yes (PwC, Deloitte) | No | Strong | Check price → |
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$2.99/mo (2-year) | 10 (1 on free) | 20,000+ / 140+ | Yes (Securitum) | Yes | Strong (paid only) | Check price |
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$2.49/mo (2-year) | Unlimited | 4,500+ / 100 | Yes (Deloitte) | No | Strong | Check price |
 |
EUR 5/mo (flat) | 5 | 566 / 50 | Infrastructure audits only | No | Weak | Check price |
 |
$2.19/mo (26 months) | 7 | About 9,900 / 100+ | Yes (Deloitte) | No | Strong | Check price |
 |
$2.03/mo (3 years + 3 months) | Unlimited | Unverified / 91 | Yes (Deloitte) | No | Mixed | Check price |
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From about $3/mo (2-year) | 10 | Unverified / 113 | Yes (KPMG) | No | Strong |
The Best ExpressVPN Alternatives, Ranked
Each entry below covers what the VPN does better than ExpressVPN, what it costs by comparison and what you give up.
1. NordVPN: Best ExpressVPN Alternative Overall
NordVPN is the best all-round replacement if you want more features without losing speed. Our NordVPN review scores it 9.0/10, just above ExpressVPN's 8.8.
It closes the gaps ExpressVPN leaves open. You get Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, obfuscated servers and dedicated P2P servers in one app. NordLynx, its WireGuard-based protocol, has carried post-quantum encryption across every app since 2025, and NordWhisper disguises VPN traffic as ordinary web traffic.
On nearby servers, NordVPN barely dented our speeds. We streamed 4K video and sat through video calls with no buffering. Regular servers unblocked Netflix, Max, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer without any special streaming servers. Double VPN was the trade-off: switching it on cut our throughput to around half on a fast line.
NordVPN doesn't undercut ExpressVPN on price. The 2-year Basic plan is $3.49 a month against ExpressVPN's rate of about $3, and the 1-year plan is $5.49 a month. Both cover 10 devices. NordVPN is based in Panama, and its no-logs policy has passed a sixth independent no-logs assurance by Deloitte, published in February 2026.
Pros
- Double VPN, Onion Over VPN and obfuscated servers
- Streams from regular servers, no special servers needed
- Threat Protection Pro blocks ads, trackers and malware
Cons
- Costs slightly more than ExpressVPN on the 2-year plan
- Map-based interface feels clunky on smaller screens
- Renewal price jumps well above the promotional rate
2. Proton VPN: Best Privacy-Focused Alternative (With a Free Plan)
Proton VPN is the one to choose if privacy comes first, and it's the only VPN here with a free plan. Our Proton VPN review scores it 9.0/10.
ExpressVPN is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. Proton AG is based in Switzerland and majority-owned by the nonprofit Proton Foundation. Securitum has audited its no-logs policy every year from 2022 to 2026. Secure Core adds the multi-hop routing ExpressVPN lacks.
Paid servers cut our download speed by no more than about 8 percent, and VPN Accelerator helped on distant servers. Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and HBO Max all unblocked consistently. Secure Core was the slow spot, running about 35 percent below a standard connection.
VPN Plus costs $2.99 a month on the 2-year plan, which ties ExpressVPN's promotional rate. It covers 10 devices and more than 20,000 servers in 140+ countries.
Pros
- Free plan with no data cap and no ads
- Secure Core multi-hop and Tor over VPN
- NetShield ad and malware blocker
- Open-source apps that explain each setting in plain language
Cons
- Live chat isn't 24/7 and isn't open to free users
- Streaming and torrenting need a paid plan
- Secure Core costs noticeable speed
3. Surfshark: Best Budget Alternative With Unlimited Devices
Surfshark is the budget pick for households that have outgrown ExpressVPN's device cap. Our Surfshark review scores it 8.6/10, a little below ExpressVPN, but it stands out on value for money.
The headline difference is unlimited simultaneous connections on every plan, compared with 10 on ExpressVPN Basic. Starter costs $2.49 a month on the 2-year plan and renews at $79 a year, about $21 less than ExpressVPN's renewal. Surfshark also offers MultiHop, the Double VPN-style routing ExpressVPN skips, plus the CleanWeb ad and tracker blocker.
Speeds held up well: downloads slowed by only about 10 percent even on a transatlantic server, and a 4GB torrent with Camouflage Mode on ran just 5 percent slower. The macOS app performed better than the Windows app, where ping spiked on some servers.
Surfshark runs 4,500+ servers in 100 countries from its base in the Netherlands. Deloitte verified its no-logs policy in 2023 and again in 2025.
Pros
- Native Android TV, Apple TV and Fire TV apps
- Netflix works reliably across several regions
- WireGuard is post-quantum by default, plus the in-house Dausos protocol on macOS
Cons
- Month-to-month plan is among the priciest in the category
- Ping spikes on some servers in the Windows app
- MultiHop slows connections significantly
4. Mullvad: Best for Anonymous Sign-Up
Mullvad is for readers who want to leave no personal trail at signup. Our Mullvad review scores it 8.5/10.
Signup took us seconds. Mullvad issued a random 16-digit account number and asked for no email or name. You can pay in cash, crypto or with a voucher. ExpressVPN takes Bitcoin but still ties the account to an email address.
Mullvad costs a flat EUR 5 a month with no tiers and no multi-year discount, so it isn't cheaper than ExpressVPN's 2-year deal. The upside is that the price never jumps at renewal. It covers 5 devices on 566 servers across 50 countries, runs WireGuard only, and adds DAITA traffic-analysis defense and multihop. Cure53 completed its fourth infrastructure audit in June 2024, though these audits check the infrastructure rather than issue a formal no-logs opinion.
The trade-offs showed up quickly: Netflix US and BBC iPlayer returned proxy errors, and access that worked in one session failed minutes later. Websites threw CAPTCHA challenges often, and speeds varied a lot from server to server.
Pros
- No email or name needed to sign up
- Cash, crypto and voucher payments
- Flat price that never rises at renewal
Cons
- Weak for streaming
- Only 5 devices per account
- 14-day refund window, with no refunds on cash payments
- Email-only support, so answers can take a while
5. CyberGhost: Best for Streaming and Torrenting
CyberGhost is the streaming and torrenting specialist of the group. Our CyberGhost review scores it 8.4/10.
Its servers are labelled by platform, which removes the guesswork ExpressVPN leaves to you. On first launch the app connected us to a nearby server in under ten seconds. Dedicated servers for Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Prime Video then loaded on the first try without any server-hopping. Long-distance connections were the weak spot: downloads dropped more than 55 percent on Australia and South Africa servers, against about 20 percent nearby.
The 26-month plan costs $2.19 a month. The first renewal roughly doubles the effective rate to about $4.75 a month, and the auto-renew toggle is easy to miss. CyberGhost covers 7 devices across 100+ countries, and Deloitte has audited its no-logs policy three times.
One honest caveat: Kape Technologies, ExpressVPN's parent company, has owned CyberGhost since 2017. If ownership is your reason for leaving, look at NordVPN, Proton VPN or Mullvad instead.
Pros
- Streaming servers labelled per platform
- Dedicated torrenting servers
- 45-day money-back guarantee on longer plans
- 24/7 live chat
Cons
- 7-device cap fills up quickly in a busy household
- Streaming servers trigger CAPTCHA checks fairly often
- Same parent company as ExpressVPN
6. Private Internet Access: Most Customizable Budget Alternative
Private Internet Access is the budget option for people who like to tune their VPN. Our Private Internet Access review scores it 8.4/10.
PIA is the cheapest pick here at $2.03 a month on the 3-year plus 3-month plan, billed $79. It also allows unlimited devices, and the 1-year plan is $3.99 a month. It runs servers in 91 countries, and Deloitte audited its no-logs policy in 2022 and 2024. The claim has also held up in US court cases.
The apps expose kill switch levels, protocol choice and encryption strength, which suits tinkerers more than beginners. Speeds were inconsistent in our runs. Some US and UK servers lost around three quarters of a gigabit line, while others lost closer to 12 percent. Netflix US streamed on the first attempt. HBO Max blocked a standard US server but played in 4K once we moved to a streaming-optimized server.
Like CyberGhost, PIA belongs to Kape Technologies, and it's based in the United States.
Pros
- Port forwarding and configurable encryption
- Open-source apps
- MACE ad and tracker blocker
- Live chat answers quickly and knowledgeably
Cons
- Speeds vary widely between servers
- The number of settings can overwhelm beginners
- US jurisdiction and the same parent company as ExpressVPN
What to Look For in an ExpressVPN Alternative
A lower price tag only helps if the replacement does the job ExpressVPN did for you. These are the criteria we weighed:
- Price after renewal. Check what the plan renews at, not just the first-term promo.
- Audited no-logs policy. Look for a named auditor and a recent date. An infrastructure audit, like Mullvad's, is not the same as a no-logs assurance.
- Jurisdiction and ownership. These matter most if privacy is why you're switching.
- Server coverage. The countries you need matter more than a raw server count.
- Device limit. Count every phone, laptop, TV stick and tablet in your home first.
- Streaming access. Unblocking varies by platform and region, so check the services you actually watch.
- Speeds. A VPN that's fast on a gigabit line can still slow down noticeably on a modest home connection.
Buy the replacement before you cancel ExpressVPN. Use the new VPN's money-back window to test your streaming services and your slowest device, and only then request your ExpressVPN refund.
Best ExpressVPN Alternative by Use Case
- You want Double VPN and obfuscation: NordVPN, because it covers all of ExpressVPN's missing power-user servers in one app.
- You want a Swiss, nonprofit-owned provider: Proton VPN, whose owner and yearly audits give the strongest privacy story here.
- You protect a lot of devices: Surfshark for easy TV apps, or PIA if you'd rather control every setting. Both are unlimited.
- You don't want to share any identity: Mullvad, since an account number and cash payment leave nothing to link back to you.
- You stream from abroad: CyberGhost, because its labelled servers save you from hunting for one that works.
- You're leaving because of Kape ownership: NordVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark or Mullvad, not CyberGhost or PIA.
How We Picked These Alternatives
We started with the reasons people leave ExpressVPN. Then we scored each alternative on price after renewal, device limits, audited no-logs policies and the features ExpressVPN lacks.
Next, we used each service the way a subscriber would. We measured download speeds on nearby and distant servers, including runs on a gigabit line and on a slower home connection. We tried the major streaming services on every VPN. We also checked that ExpressVPN's Network Lock kill switch fired correctly when a server timed out or the network changed. Finally, we asked ExpressVPN's live chat for a refund to see how easy leaving really is.
The final order follows each VPN's score in its full HTS review, so every rating on this page matches the review it links to.
Can a Free VPN Replace ExpressVPN?
For most people, no. Proton VPN's free plan is the only free option we'd trust as a stand-in. It's generous in some ways, with no data cap and no ads. It covers 1 device at medium speed, though, with servers in 10 countries. The app also picks the server for you, so you can't choose a country, and it doesn't support streaming or torrenting.
That makes it good for securing public Wi-Fi or everyday browsing, but not for replacing ExpressVPN's streaming access. If you're weighing other no-cost services, our guide to the best free VPNs covers which ones protect your data and which ones don't.
When ExpressVPN Still Makes Sense
ExpressVPN is still the right choice for some people. If you want an app you never have to configure, its one-button design and Smart Location recommendation are hard to beat. It also has servers in all 50 US states, and MediaStreamer Smart DNS for devices that can't run a VPN app.
Router users get dedicated router apps and the Aircove routers. Support is strong too: live chat answered us in under a minute, though email can take close to two days. If none of the friction points above bother you, our full ExpressVPN review explains what you'd be keeping.
FAQ
Is there a better VPN than ExpressVPN?
Is there a free alternative to ExpressVPN?
What is cheaper than ExpressVPN month to month?
Is NordVPN better than ExpressVPN?
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Is ExpressVPN owned by China?
Final Verdict
Proton VPN is the choice for privacy and a free starting point. Surfshark stretches a smaller budget across every device you own, and Mullvad lets you pay without an identity. For most people leaving ExpressVPN, though, one alternative comes first.
