If you can’t decide between ExpressVPN and NordVPN, this video is for you.
Our team has spent countless hours reviewing and ranking the best VPN services out there.
ExpressVPN and NordVPN are two of the best VPN providers around. In this video, we will compare
them in terms of key aspects like features, security, privacy, server network, and pricing.
Also, we will also show you how to get exclusive discounts on top VPN services,
including a special 81 percent discount on our highest-rated VPN service. So watch this
video till the end and don’t go anywhere. On a related note, we have hidden this
object somewhere in this video. Find it, take a screenshot, and send it to this email address.
One lucky winner will get a 2-year license of Surfshark VPN, completely free. It could
be you, so try your luck! Now, let’s get started.
In the first round, we will look at the features of the two providers.
Impressively, both VPN providers offer the most basic features we usually expect decent
providers to offer. For example, both of them come with a kill switch, which is designed to
protect your anonymity in the event of network interruptions. Each one also automatically
connects on startup, which is super handy. Of course, there are more bells and whistles.
CyberSec, for instance, is another excellent feature you will find on both ExpressVPN
and NordVPN. It protects you from phishing, malware, and other digital threats. The way it
does this is quite straightforward – it blocks the websites that are known for this type of content.
A unique extra feature you will find on both VPNs is split tunnelling. This excellent feature allows
you to choose which of your apps or programs you need under the umbrella of your VPN connection.
This means you could be using a VPN to access Twitter from a repressive country like Nigeria
where VPN is banned, while running your other apps via your regular connection.
However, ExpressVPN provides a superior browser extension, which, apart from
creating a proxy connection, also doubles as a remote control for the desktop client.
This increases the quality of your VPN connections. NordVPN’s browser extension
doesn’t work this way, but the provider offers “Specialty Servers” to make up for it.
As you have probably guessed, the speciality servers are optimized for the same purpose.
For instance, P2P servers are made for P2P platforms such as BitTorrent,
while Onion Over VPN connects to the Tor Network, thereby improving anonymity.
Depending on how much you prioritize features, you might prefer one provider to the other.
However, in our opinion, there is no clear winner in the features category.
Both VPNs are exceptional. Next, let’s look at the
security offered by both providers. In order to protect the identity of their users,
VPN providers must use the most solid encryption. Thankfully, ExpressVPN and NordVPN understand this
perfectly, as both providers use the safest VPN protocol in the industry – OpenVPN. Not only that,
but they also use solid encryptions like AES 256-bit encryption and IKEv2.
NordVPN introduced the highly-valued WireGuard protocol before ExpressVPN,
and that’s commendable. However, it still can’t match ExpressVPN’s incredible automatic protocol
selection feature and a wider range of options. Of course, both VPN services offer a range
of vital security features, including leak protection, first-party DNS, and perfect forward
secrecy. Like we mentioned previously, both VPNs also provide a kill switch, but each one comes
with its downside. For instance, ExpressVPN’s kill switch is not compatible with the iOS client.
On the other hand, NordVPN doesn’t offer a kill switch for Amazon Fire TV Stick and Android.
But what are their primary differences when it comes to security?
Well, NordVPN offers an excellent Double VPN feature, allowing you to route your traffic
via two VPN servers for an additional layer of security. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN offers proprietary
“TrustedServer” technology that ensures that each server runs the most recent software.
In addition, the provider provides an impressive automatic protocol selection feature.
It’s also worth noting that NordVPN had a security breach a few years ago. While the company has
taken worthwhile steps to ensure there’s never a reoccurrence, some users are still struggling to
trust them completely, and we can’t blame them. In the end, we believe both services are very
secure, with each one using the most secure encryption, protocols, and cutting-edge security
features. However, ExpressVPN wins this round because of its unique TrustedServer technology,
automatic protocol selection tool, and most importantly, NordVPN’s security breach.
Now, let’s see which VPN service is better when it comes to privacy.
Well, this one is hard to determine. Both VPN providers have had their
books audited by external auditors to verify their no-logging claims.
In ExpressVPN’s logging policy, the company states that they are committed to guarding your privacy.
They want users to know the data they collect and the bits they don’t.
Not only that, but they also want users to know how they collect the data, utilize, and store it.
The company also reassures you that they don’t collect logs of your online activity,
including traffic destination, data content, DNS queries, or browsing history. So you can rest
assured that data like your IP address, connection timestamp, session duration,
or outgoing VPN IP address won’t be stored. NordVPN’s logging policy also contains similar
promises. The company guarantees users that they maintain a strict no-logging policy, so you can be
sure that your activities are not tracked, logged, stored, recorded, or sent to third parties.
Later in the policy, the company also states that they don’t store used bandwidth,
IP addresses, session information, or time stamps. As soon as a user activates NordVPN VPN, all
their data is encrypted. NordVPN also assures users that they maintain a strict no-logging
policy, and since they are based in Panama, they are not required to store data under their law.
Of course, none of the statements cover the entire picture.
While each company retains some data, the scope and nature of the collected data is different.
NordVPN stores a user’s username and timestamp of every connection,
but this is only done to restrict the number of connections from a specific user.
The service then deletes this data within 15 minutes after you have disconnected.
ExpressVPN, on the other hand, collects slightly more information, and it’s not completely
transparent about the duration for which the collected information is kept. Due to this fact,
we regard NordVPN as a true no-logs VPN provider. However, the same can’t be said of ExpressVPN.
But it should be noted that none of the data collected by both providers can be directly
linked to the user. Besides, ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands, while
NordVPN is based in Panama. Both locations are renowned for their extreme respect for privacy.
Since NordVPN retains less data about a user and deletes all data logged automatically within 15
minutes of disconnection, we believe it’s a better option for privacy. NordVPN takes this round.
Next, we will look at the server network of each provider.
Both providers offer a remarkable number of servers across several locations.
It is NordVPN that provides the biggest server network, though, offering 5,286
servers across 59 countries around the world. However, ExpressVPN covers more countries,
with their over 3,000 servers distributed across 94 countries around the world. ExpressVPN also
covers more than 160 locations, which almost doubles the number of NordVPN’s 83 plus locations.
As for precise server locations, your decision will depend on what you need.
If you are looking to access specific locations, then you should look at both
providers’ server lists before making a decision. This round is very close but NordVPN has a slight
edge over its rival in this category. While ExpressVPN covers more locations,
the stark contrast in the number of servers managed by each can’t be ignored.
Finally, let’s look at the pricing structure of each VPN service.
ExpressVPN’s monthly plan costs $12.95 per month, which is pretty expensive compared to
NordVPN’s monthly plan, which costs $11.95 per month. Additionally, NordVPN’s cheapest
plan is their two-year plan, which works out at $3.67 per month, charged upfront.
ExpressVPN doesn’t offer a two-year plan, but their 12-month plan is not as cheap,
costing $6.67 per month. If you have no problem committing to a VPN provider for that long,
then NordVPN provides the best value. The good news is, The Cyber Lab viewers can
get an exclusive 69 percent discount on NordVPN as well as a 30 percent discount on ExpressVPN.
All you have to do is, click the official links we have added down below,
and these discounts will be automatically applied. Overall, NordVPN wins this round,
mainly due to their money-saving two-year plan. To sum up, ExpressVPN and NordVPN are the biggest
names in the world of VPNs today. While there are lesser-known VPNs that are always trying to knock
the two services off their perch, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are also not resting on their laurels.
While ExpressVPN is a solid competitor, NordVPN just offers something more special.
It’s the best VPN provider in the world, in our opinion, and the gaps are getting wider.
If you’re on a budget, we highly recommend Surfshark VPN. It strikes a perfect balance
between cost and performance. Plus, you can get a special 81 percent discount on
Surfshark using our links provided below. Whichever product you choose, don’t forget
to buy it through the official links we've added in the description box down below.
These links have special discounts already applied to them, so you’ll end up saving a lot .
With that, we have reached the end of the video. But now,
it’s over to you. We’d like to know your feedback. Which VPN service do you use and why? Let us know
your thoughts in the comments section down below. Do you agree with all the points we have made?
Or is there any you disagree with? Go ahead, let us know.
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