VS
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: The Ultimate Showdown
The two giants of the VPN world. Both are excellent — but one is a better fit for most people. Let's break it down.
🏆 Quick Verdict
WINNER
NordVPN
Better value, faster speeds, more features. The clear choice for most users.
RUNNER-UP
ExpressVPN
Premium experience, great apps, but 2x the price with fewer features.
📊 Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | NordVPN | ExpressVPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promo Price | $2.99/mo | $6.67/mo | NordVPN |
| Renewal Price | $14.99/mo | $12.95/mo | ExpressVPN |
| Download Speed | 891 Mbps | 843 Mbps | NordVPN |
| Servers | 6,800+ | 3,000+ | NordVPN |
| Countries | 111 | 105 | Tie |
| Devices | 10 | 8 | NordVPN |
| Netflix Regions | 30+ | 20+ | NordVPN |
| Ad Blocker | ✅ Threat Protection | ❌ | NordVPN |
| Split Tunneling | ✅ | ✅ | Tie |
| Jurisdiction | Panama | BVI | Tie |
Speed tests December 2025. NordVPN wins 6 categories, ExpressVPN wins 1, 3 ties.
💰 Price Comparison
NordVPN
2-year plan:$2.99/mo
1-year plan:$4.99/mo
Monthly:$12.99/mo
Renewal:$14.99/mo
5-year cost:$611
ExpressVPN
1-year plan:$6.67/mo
6-month plan:$9.99/mo
Monthly:$12.95/mo
Renewal:$12.95/mo
5-year cost:$658
The takeaway: NordVPN is 55% cheaper upfront. ExpressVPN has a smaller renewal jump, but you'll still pay more overall. NordVPN wins on value.
⚡ Speed Comparison
NordVPN891 Mbps
ExpressVPN843 Mbps
Base speed: 1 Gbps. Both are excellent — the difference is barely noticeable in real use.
🎯 Who Should Choose Each?
Choose NordVPN if you want:
- ✓ Best value for money
- ✓ Fastest speeds available
- ✓ Built-in ad/malware blocking
- ✓ More server options
- ✓ Meshnet for private networking
- ✓ 10 devices instead of 8
Choose ExpressVPN if you want:
- ✓ Most polished app experience
- ✓ Smaller renewal price jump
- ✓ Router app included
- ✓ Excellent customer support
- ✓ Works great in China
📌 The Bottom Line
NordVPN wins for most people. It's faster, cheaper, and has more features. The only reason to choose ExpressVPN is if you prioritize app polish over value, or need better China access.
Both are genuinely excellent VPNs. You can't go wrong either way — but your wallet will thank you for choosing NordVPN.