VPN – Virtual Private Network, the helmet to your internet data which masks the face of it and saves your data from being public. Better the VPN, more the security. But how to find an ideal one? We have come up with two popular names today– NordVPN and ExpressVPN. Let’s compare the two and find out the better one to protect your network from internet threats.
What is a VPN?
VPN, A Virtual Private Network, commonly referred to as an internet mask is a service that offers you a protected network connection while using public networks. VPN disguises your online identity and encrypts your internet traffic being a mask to your internet presence. This saves your data and prevents you from being tracked by third party websites online.
What does a Good VPN do?
These are the functions of a good VPN
- Encrypts your IP address
- Instant termination of programs when sudden activity detected
- Two factor (password & otp) authentication login
- Encrypts your Protocols, internet history, search history and cookies.
Now let us begin with the actual topic of discussion and the reason for your confusion. How to choose the better between the two best and biggest players of the industry namely NordVPN and ExpressVPN is the actual question!
4K Streamers and Gamers love NordVPN for its unmatched speed whereas the Normal VPN users and VPN beginners love ExpressVPN for its intrinsic app design, this must have increased your confusion even more, let us sort everything out for you, stay connected!
Basis of Today’s Comparison
We will now compare the two on the basis of the following factors that will decide which among the two is a better VPN option for you or whether they land parallel to each other in usefulness and advantages
- Pricing
- Average% Loss in Speed
- Number of Server Networks across Locations
- Privacy and Security
- Compatibility with Different Platforms
Pricing
NordVPN
The subscription model at NordVPN is very systematic and customer friendly where you get monthly and annual subscription to the NordVPN service at discounted rates where you can access the service with a $13 monthly payment and by paying annually you can access the services at $140 annually after paying just $60 for the first year of using NordVPN.
ExpressVPN
Very Similar to NordVPN, the pricing model at ExpressVPN is also pocket friendly for its users and offers discounted rates over monthly and annual subscriptions. For monthly access, make a $13 payment and enjoy your monthly subscription. If you could pay annually to avoid payment hassles, then the marked price is $150/year after paying $100 for the first year.
The Pricing of both the VPN services are very similar, competitive and pocket friendly for their users hence if pricing is the concern, you can go with either of them.
Average % Losses in Speed
NordVPN
Speed is something at which Nord can never be outperformed, NordVPN is considered as the Speed Winner among all the other VPNs where the latest tests performed and concluded in 2024 state that there is only an average of 11% dip in the internet speed when Nord is in use, which is very less as compared to the other VPN services, this inturn makes Nord the speed king for 4K Streamers and the Gamers.
ExpressVPN
Speed is an area where ExpressVPN lags a bit behind Nord, but cannot be considered bad with an average Speed% loss of 25% which is fine enough if the other players of the market are concerned which even fall to 40% average loss of speed when in use. Moreover if you are an user looking for complete transparency, ease of use and access-comfort over other factors then ExpressVPN is the option for you.
If you are a 4K Streamer on YouTube or other streaming platforms and are looking for a VPN which is a bit more streaming and gaming oriented and offers excellent speed option, then you should go with NordVPN service but if you are someone who wants to use VPN for privacy, ease of use and complete transparency with a fine speed parameter, go with ExpressVPN, the VPN service for the beginners.
Number Of Server Networks
NordVPN
NordVPN being a super VPN option for one and all offers a surprising number 6700 plus servers across 111 different countries which makes it the VPN Service with the largest Server network option covering the largest portion of the globe which makes NordVPN the option for 4K gamers across the globe.
ExpressVPN
The VPN for all and especially the beginners also offers a large number of 3000 plus Server networks across 105 different Countries across the globe. Numbers clearly state that Express provides a lesser number of server networks as compared to Nord.
But this is the catch, Express covers almost the same amount of countries as Nord does which further proves that the ExpressVPN software is more organised with enough efficient options especially for the beginners and covers the same number of countries with these efficient and proven options.
Privacy & Security
NordVPN & ExpressVPN
The reason behind discussing the two VPNs together is that both offer unmatched and unparalleled security and privacy features to their users. The common privacy features offered by the two are as follows
- Each of them offers a strict no-logging policy which keeps your data safe from unwanted access and exploitation
- Each of them offers you AES 256-bit encryption or ChaCha20 which depends upon the VPN Protocols
- Both of the VPN services use RAM-only servers for increased data privacy which further means every single time that you reboot, your data gets wiped out with this excellent feature.
- Both offer the instant termination of programs when sudden activity is detected, the excellent feature is called Kill Switch offered by both.
But if we talk about total transparency in particular, this is a race where ExpressVPN is totally unbeatable. Incidents that prove the statement
- ExpressVPN went under 12 security audits in the year 2022 which were independent in nature to prove its claim.
- ExpressVPN also got its no-logs policy audited in the year 2023 building the trust of the users even more.
- In 2024 ExpressVPN also got its browser tested to support the transparency policy of the Service even more.
- A DNS leak bug was once found in a test performed for ExpressVPN, but in April 2024, Nettitude did the famous penetration test and the test concluded that the DNS leak bug marked earlier has now been totally fixed hence making Express the most transparent VPN option.
Platform Compatibility
NordVPN & ExpressVPN
Another factor/feature where the two VPNs seem like twins, both of them are completely compatible with Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS/iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV, Browsers, Routers making both the VPNs a suitable option for all sorts of users.
Conclusion
We’ve now arrived at the end of this article where I very clearly and completely explained and compared the features and benefits of the two leading VPN services. Now let some selection tips lead the end of such an important and informative discussion, let’s have a look:
- If you are looking for Speed over everything else and want to access comfortable and suitable features accordingly go for NordVPN, that is the best option for you.
- If you are someone beginning with VPNs and are unaware of the technicalities and complexities of the Service, go with ExpressVPN with excellent features.
- Remember if privacy and security is the concern, both the VPN’s are excellently capable of protecting your internet identity and hence the data with the unmatched security features they offer, but yes if Transparency is your main issue and you are someone who trusts tests, go with ExpressVPN.
Hope we have now helped you enough, make the best choice based upon the comparison and reason for selecting the option that suits your needs the best and get your data protected while using public internet providers.