Everyone wants to know how fast ExpressVPN is – so we went to work to answer this question. To get a good representation of the speeds, we used servers from around the world. The app uses a built-in speed tester to show you which servers have the fastest download times. While it offers download speeds and latency for each location, it does take some time to finish. In addition, we found that the result could vary widely from one test to the next.
ExpressVPN was one of the fastest we’ve ever tested which is why they can charge a premium price. After running through several tests during the day, the most accurate results indicated that the speeds weren’t much different than our normal ISP speeds.
Naturally, when we connected to local servers, the speeds were better. With that said, even when we connected overseas, we didn’t lose that much in the way of download speed. In fact, no matter where we tried it from, streaming from Netflix and Hulu was never an issue.
If you end up on a server that is slow, you might want to reconnect to another server. Sometimes a server might become overburdened, but a simple switch to another server easily remedied that issue.
Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.
The purchase of ExpressVPN was simple and took only a few seconds.
The download was straightforward; just a few clicks and they provide you with a code to enter on your devices. Once that’s done, you’re ready to go.
We had one of our researchers review the user experience in detail, as you can see in the video.
We were able to stream our favorite shows on Netflix and Hulu without any issue. There was never any buffering, and we even did a little binge-watching!
We tested out our IP address in numerous countries without a problem and found the interface easy enough for a beginner to use. If you are worried about getting around China’s firewall, there is a solution to that. First, you must download ExpressVPN prior to your arrival. It can be installed on an Android device or laptop, but not the iPhone.
With this connection, you can still visit your favorite sites and protect your information from authorities. Don’t forget that ExpressVPN also changes your IP address, so nothing is traceable back to you.
We had to test out the support to see if all the hype about this company was indeed real. For the price being asked, we figured the support better be above and beyond anything we’ve ever experienced. Here’s what we found.
ExpressVPN offers 24/7 live chat support and we wanted to put them to the test and see how quickly they answer our questions.
At first, the support seemed helpful and knowledgeable about our questions, until we asked something a little more complicated. That’s when they responded with pricing information which seemed a little strange. We still couldn’t wholeheartedly conclude that we were talking with humans, but overall, we got the help we were looking for.
If you would prefer not to discuss your matters with a human or machine over chat, there are some other options available. They have a contact form and email address provided as well. Unfortunately, you won’t get to talk with a human, because there is no support phone number provided.
The company does offer a 30-day money back guarantee for the service. This is helpful if you plan to go out of the country but still need access to your favorite websites for a short period or if you find that their service just isn’t for you.
We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.
As stated earlier, ExpressVPN is one of the more expensive options on the market, but hopefully, you’ll see, as we did, that it’s worth it. Currently, they offer three basic payment plans. The yearly plan will get you the most value for the cost. Regardless of which plan you choose you can still take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee. There are numerous payment options which makes it easy to customize your experience. You can pay with credit card, Paypal, Bitcoin, and various other methods that you might prefer.
While the price is on the more expensive side you receive fast speeds, privacy that gives you peace of mind, and exceptional customer service. A trifecta that is hard to beat.
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