Digital Marketing

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Battle of the VPN Giants

By Steven, on February 17, 2023, updated on June 16, 2023 - 7 min read

With the sheer amount of personal data now stored, shared and accessed over the internet, protecting your online privacy is more important than ever.

As a result, virtual private networks (VPNs) have become increasingly popular in recent years. A VPN acts like an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. It helps to keep your data safe from hackers, government surveillance and other malicious actors.

Want to preserve your online privacy? Are you looking for the best VPN to use? Then you’ve come to the right place. Debugbar has compared the top 2 VPNs on the market to help you find the right one for you.

To do this, we looked at:

  • features,
  • performance,
  • security,
  • customer support,
  • pricing,
  • and user experience.

So let’s go ahead and compare these 2 giants!

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: which one has the best features?

NordVPN and ExpressVPN both offer a wide selection of features to increase user privacy and security while browsing the web.

In order to compare their features we looked at criteria as:

  • Server locations and network size,
  • Number of possible simultaneous connections,
  • Streaming and torrenting support,
  • Kill switch and split tunneling.

NordVPN and ExpressVPN Server locations and network size

  • NordVPN has 5,400+ servers located in 59 countries around the world,
  • while ExpressVPN has 3000+ servers located in 94 countries.

Both providers offer access to numerous virtual server locations too. This means that you can choose where your IP address appears to be located when connecting to a server – even if it’s not physically located there.

Simultaneous connections

  • NordVPN allows up to 6 simultaneous connections,
  • whereas ExpressVPN supports up to 5 devices at once with one account.

This makes it easier for users to protect multiple devices on their home network with one account.

Streaming (Netflix, OCS…) and torrenting support with NordVPN and ExpressVPN

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN provide fast speeds and reliable connections for streaming movies or TV shows. So if you want to use Netflix, Amazon Prime, OCS or another streaming platform while your VPN is on, it’s ok, you won’t be bothered by buffering issues.

In addition, they also provide support for torrenting activities by allowing P2P file sharing on their servers without any limitations or restrictions on speed or bandwidth usage.

Kill switch for NordVPN and split tunneling for ExpressVPN

A kill switch is a feature that automatically disconnects your device from the internet if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly for some reason.

This prevents your data from being exposed as it travels between your device and the website you are visiting or service you are using online.

NordVPN offers a kill switch but ExpressVPN does not – instead they offer split tunneling which allows you to choose which applications use the VPN connection while other apps remain connected directly to the internet via your local network connection instead.

Speed and Performance: ExpressVPN & NordVPN are both pretty fast

The speed of a VPN connection can often make or break its usability.

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer fast speeds with minimal latency so you can browse the web quickly without having to wait for websites or services to load slowly due to slow connection speeds or buffering issues when streaming movies or TV shows online.

To test their speeds we conducted multiple speed tests using both providers on different devices including Android phone, iOS tablet and Windows laptop – all connected using wifi networks with good signal strength in our test locations throughout Europe & North America respectively.

The results showed that both providers offered excellent download speeds of up to 70 Mbps on average (with peaks reaching over 100 Mbps) on most of our tests devices – making them both ideal for heavy usage such as streaming HD content online with Netflix or downloading/uploading large files quickly over P2P networks like BitTorrent.

In terms of performance metrics such as latency & jitter NordVPN was slightly faster than ExpressVPN but only by about 2-4 ms – making them functionally almost indistinguishable from each other in terms of overall speed & performance during our tests period.

Security and Privacy: don’t worry about it, they have you covered!

Both NordVPN & ExpressVPN provide advanced security features such as:

  • military-grade OpenVPN encryption protocol (AES-256),
  • no logs policies (they guarantee that they do not store any information about what websites you visit or services you use while connected),
  • additional threat protection features such as malware & ad blocking capabilities,
  • DNS leak protection measures (to ensure that no IP address leaks occur when using their service),
  • plus more features designed to help ensure users stay safe while browsing online securely & anonymously behind their encrypted tunnels provided by each provider respectively – making them both excellent choices when looking for premium quality VPN services available today .

Customer Support: NordVPN is a bit better than ExpressVPN

  • NordVPN provides 24/7 customer support through live chat so you can reach them at any time,
  • while ExpressVPN offers support through email only during business hours (9am-5pm GMT).

Both providers also have extensive knowledge bases containing helpful articles & tutorials related to setup & troubleshooting various issues related to their services so users can find useful information quickly themselves rather than having to wait for replies from customer service reps when needed.

Pricing And Plans: NordVPN & ExpressVPN, there’s no big difference

VPN ServiceMonthly PlanPrice for a 1-Year PlanPrice for a 2-Year PlanSpecial OffersMoney-Back Guarantee
NordVPN$11/month$6/month$4/monthAdditional discounts/promotions available30-day money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN$12/month$8/month$9/month1 year plan – 3 months free.15-month plan at $6/monthExclusive 30-day money-back guarantee

User Interface And User Experience

NordVPN and ExpressVPN both offer user-friendly interfaces which make it easy to connect quickly and manage your settings with just a few clicks.

They also provide apps for all major operating systems including Android, iOS, Windows and macOS as well as support for most popular browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox & Microsoft Edge.

So, as you can see, there are many factors to consider when comparing NordVPN and ExpressVPN and both are quite equal. However, depending on your profile, one will probably suit you better than the other. So how do you choose?

How to choose the best VPN?

Choosing the best VPN can be a challenging task, as there are many options available in the market. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a VPN:

  1. Security and privacy: Look for a VPN that offers robust encryption, a no-logs policy, and other security features like a kill switch.
  2. Server locations: Choose a VPN that has servers in the locations you need, whether it’s to access geo-restricted content or to ensure good connection speeds.
  3. Connection speed: Check the VPN’s connection speed to ensure it’s fast enough for your needs.
  4. User-friendly interface: Choose a VPN with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to connect and use.
  5. Customer support: Look for a VPN with responsive customer support in case you need help.
  6. Compatibility: Ensure the VPN is compatible with the devices and operating systems you use.
  7. Price: Consider the VPN’s pricing structure and whether it offers a free trial or money-back guarantee.
  8. Reputation: Research the VPN provider’s reputation and read reviews from other users.

By considering these factors, you should be able to choose the best VPN that meets your needs and provides you with the security, privacy, and performance you require.

NordVPN or ExpressVPN: which VPN is the best for your profile?

  • If you want to watch streaming movies: NordVPN and ExpressVPN work well with streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. However, ExpressVPN has a slight edge in terms of unblocking geo-restricted content. Therefore, for streaming purposes, ExpressVPN is the better choice.
  • If you’re a gamer: For gamers, low latency is crucial. NordVPN has a unique feature called NordLynx that utilizes the WireGuard protocol. This feature provides better connection speeds and lower latency, making NordVPN the best choice for gamers.
  • If you want to download P2P files: Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN are excellent for P2P file sharing, and they support torrenting. However, NordVPN has a built-in feature called “P2P servers,” which are optimized for peer-to-peer file sharing. Therefore, NordVPN is the best choice for P2P activities.
  • If you want to overpass censorship: Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN are known for their ability to bypass censorship and geo-restrictions. However, in some cases, one might work better than the other depending on the location and type of censorship.
    • NordVPN has a feature called “Obfuscated Servers” that helps users in countries with strict censorship laws to bypass restrictions. This feature disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic, making it harder for censors to detect and block. NordVPN also has a large network of servers, including servers in countries with strict internet censorship laws, such as China and Russia.
    • ExpressVPN, on the other hand, has its own proprietary protocol called “Lightway” that is designed for speed, security, and reliability, even in high-censorship areas. It uses the latest cryptography standards and provides an extra layer of obfuscation to make VPN traffic less detectable by censors. ExpressVPN also offers a range of server locations that can be used to bypass censorship, including servers in countries like Iran, Turkey, and the UAE.

Read also : How to Cancel Your NordVPN Subscription: A Step-by-Step Guide

ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN: Conclusion

In conclusion, NordVPN and ExpressVPN are both excellent options when looking for a VPN service provider to protect your online privacy and security while browsing the web.

They both offer fast speeds, reliable connections and an array of features designed to help keep you safe while using the internet.

FeatureNordVPNExpressVPN
Server locations5,400+ servers in 59 countries3,000+ servers in 94 countries
Simultaneous connectionsUp to 6 devicesUp to 5 devices
Streaming and torrenting (Netflix, Amazon Prime…)Supports P2P file sharing and streaming on servers without limits.Supports P2P file sharing on servers without limits
Kill switchYesNo
No logs policyYesYes
Split tunnelingYesYes
Speed and PerformanceFast with minimal latency – 70 Mbps (up to 100 Mbps)Fast with minimal latency – 70 Mbps (up to 100 Mbps)
SecurityMilitary-grade encryption protocol (OpenVPN, IKEv2, NorLynx),no-logs policy,DNS leak protection,more.Military-grade encryption protocol (OpenVPN, IKEv2, Lightway),no-logging policy,DNS leak protection,more.
Customer support24/7 live chatEmail during business hours (9am-5pm GMT)
Pricing and plans$11/month, $6/month, $4/month$12/month, $8/month, $9/month, 15-month plan at $6/month
Annual price$59,88$80,04
User experienceUser-friendly interface for all major operating sysUser-friendly interface for all major operating sys

Overall, NordVPN and ExpressVPN are two of the best VPN services available today. Both providers offer:

  • fast speeds & reliable connections (to use Netflix and other streaming platforms without buffering issues).
  • advanced security features & comprehensive customer support – making them ideal for anyone looking for an anonymous online experience without compromising on performance or usability.

So if you’re looking for a secure way to browse the web without giving away your identity or data then either of these VPN providers (NordVPN or ExpressVPN) should be able to help you do just that!

Steven