ExpressVPN secured itself a spot in TechRadar's best VPN rankings yet again following our latest round of testing.
Despite launching a cheaper two-year plan recently, ExpressVPN isn't exactly a budget-friendly option. This is the main reason why it fails to rise above my top picks, NordVPN and Surfshark, even if it remains the best secure VPN on the market.
That said, the provider seriously slashed its pricing with this year's Black Friday VPN deal meaning that now is the best time to bag yourself a subscription. Keep reading, and I'll walk you through the best deals available right now, and explain how opting for a long-term plan can save you some extra cash.
Recent updates
There's been a disturbance in the world of ExpressVPN, as it has finally reduced its prices! Coming in the form of a new 2-year plan, ExpressVPN, while still more expensive than the likes of NordVPN and Surfshark, is now a much more comparable cost, and may even be a dealmaker for those keen to secure themselves as much as possible. Even better, the provider has further reduced its pricing for Black Friday – but it's a time-limited deal.
ExpressVPN is an exceptionally quick service (thanks to its very own Lightway protocol), comfortably keeping up with data-intensive tasks like HD streaming, online gaming, and torrenting without breaking a sweat.
Speaking of streaming, my most recent testing showed ExpressVPN was able to access all of today's most popular services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and more without encountering any blocks.
Below there's everything you need to know about ExpressVPN's pricing plans and how TechRadar readers, like your good self, can save a little extra.
How much does ExpressVPN cost?
ExpressVPN has recently changed to running a more traditional layout of plans, these being 1-month, 12-month, and 24-month, rather than the previous 6-month offering which stood in place of the new, longer plan.
ExpressVPN's new plan pricing therefore looks like:
- 1-month: $14.99 per month
- 1-year: $6.67 per month (billed upfront)
- 2-year: $5.32 per month (billed upfront)
As with most VPN subscriptions, the value improves exponentially as you commit to a longer subscription – you'll get the equivalent of virtually half off if you grab an annual sub compared to a series of one-month periods.
And don't forget...the one-year and two-year prices are actually 15 or 27 months of the service thanks to ExpressVPN's current 'three months free' promotion.
And it keeps improving, as ExpressVPN has agreed to give TechRadar readers a year of free cloud storage from Backblaze ("comprehensive, no-limits, secure backup" as our ExpressVPN review says). That's a whole year of absolutely unlimited secure storage for all your files, photos, tunes, videos, and more.
If you're ready to commit for two years, you'll also get ExpressVPN's newly launched Identity Defender, a security bundle to protect you against ID theft. This is available for new US-based users only at the time of writing, but more availability is expected to follow.
Still unsure? ExpressVPN offers one of the best VPN free trials, which you can use to put it truly to the test, which you can read about more in our complete guide. It's also worth looking at the ExpressVPN promo codes currently available.
What is today's best deal?
How good is ExpressVPN?
As I explain in my ExpressVPN review this VPN is seriously impressive and, spoiler alert, it scored a whopping four and a half stars out of five.
The main concern of a VPN should always be the security of its users, and ExpressVPN goes the extra mile with security credentials that are second to none. The service has a battle-tested no-logs policy and regularly invites third-party auditors to inspect it – so you can rest assured that your privacy remains intact.
You can choose between four VPN protocols and even enjoy a solid kill switch that ensures you don't accidentally leak personal data. Plus, if you need a helping hand, 24/7 customer support is available via live chat.
If you were weighing up VPNs for streaming, my latest round of testing showed Express VPN successfully unlocks services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video content when overseas relatively painlessly. Its Chrome extension and apps for Android and iOS are also as excellent as the primary Windows and Mac clients.
One way in which ExpressVPN is set apart from its competition is its simplicity. Its apps provide an effective balance between basic use for inexperienced users and added features for people who want that bit extra from their VPN.
How do ExpressVPN prices compare to the competition?
ExpressVPN is reassuringly expensive compared to the other big services out there – it makes complete sense that the undisputed best service out there is also the least affordable – and so it doesn't make it into our list of best cheap VPN providers guide. Although those extra three months free still certainly make it competitive.
If cost is your greatest concern, then you're probably better off looking at Surfshark. It's still a top-quality VPN, but can be obtained for a lower cost if you're comfortable signing up for a full two years. In fact, the effective monthly cost comes in at less than $2.29.
And if you've heard of NordVPN and want to know how that compares, it again is cheaper than ExpressVPN – as long as you're happy to commit for a while. The one-month and one-year plans are pretty similar, but Nord really starts looking attractive if you sign up for multiple years – right now the effective monthly cost is less than $3.50 if you subscribe for three years.
Check out our up-to-the-minute VPN deals guide to see what offers all our favorite providers are currently running.
Disclaimer
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
