ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN 2023: Who Will Win?

Do you ever connect to public WiFi networks? Run out of things to watch on platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video? Or maybe you're tired of websites and Internet service providers (ISPs) collecting data about you, bombarding you with ads, and following your activities. Whatever the case, VPNs are important for anyone who types their name on a computer or device. But which is the best?

In EXPERTE.com's comprehensive review, we tested 27 of the most well-known providers, with NordVPN and ExpressVPN emerging at the top of our list. Across every category we measured, both performed exceptionally, surpassing all other contenders, but how do they stack up against one another?

Our head-to-head begins with a tie: ExpressVPN and NordVPN split the points for their user-friendly and feature-laden apps. We couldn't choose between ExpressVPN's no-nonsense approach and NordVPN's world map, which visualizes server locations for desktop and smartphone users.

In terms of functionality, both apps include a kill switch, split tunneling, and most of the other features we expect from a VPN. With split tunneling, you'll be able to select which apps use the VPN tunnel you've created. This is particularly handy if you're streaming video content from Europe while downloading a file from North America.

Despite our split decision, there are some differences between the two: ExpressVPN has a better browser extension, which not only creates a proxy connection but also acts like a remote control for the software's main desktop client, making high-quality VPN connections possible.

NordVPN compensates for this with its "Specialty Servers", which are optimized for certain activities: P2P servers are for peer-to-peer platforms like BitTorrent, whereas "Onion Over VPN" offers enhanced anonymity by establishing a connection to Tor network.

Depending on how important (or unimportant) either feature is for you, as well as which user interface you prefer, you might favor one service over the other. We can't pick a clear winner though.

Winner: Draw

Unlike the first category, we do have concrete figures for each provider in this second: As of August 2023, NordVPN offers more than 5,000 servers across 59 countries, whereby ExpressVPN provides access to more than 3,000 servers spread across 160 locations in 94 countries. NordVPN has more server power, but ExpressVPN's global presence is better.

Thanks to its facilities in Africa (Kenya, South Africa, Algeria, and Egypt), ExpressVPN stands out from the North American/European-dominated server portfolios of its competitors.

Again, both providers are miles ahead of their competitors, but neck and neck with one another. Similar to the first category, you might prefer one over the other, depending on your needs. Should server power be more important, NordVPN will be your best bet, however, if the geographical spread of servers is more critical, go with ExpressVPN.

Winner: Draw

For day-to-day usage, NordVPN and ExpressVPN performed excellently, offering reliable, stable, and fast connections over which we could view foreign content on four streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and the BBC's iPlayer). In addition, we could establish connections from China with both services.

Even though they performed just as well as one another for regular usage, we also measured the average speeds of each over an extended period of time. To do this, we used a server in Europe with a 1 GB/s connection, randomly connecting to NordVPN and ExpressVPN servers in the US and Germany at different times of the day.

Both providers received perfect scores, however, with slightly higher download speeds (and a nearly equal upload speed) NordVPN edged out ExpressVPN.

Winner: NordVPN

Which provider is safer? First, we checked where each is headquartered and registered since this impacts their privacy policies. Laws in some countries require Internet providers to save certain data and user logs for a specific period of time. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, and NordVPN calls Panama home, which translates into equally good scores: Both countries are known for non-compliance with foreign data requests.

The second aspect is the variety of VPN protocols on offer: NordVPN uses NordLynx, a protocol based on WireGuard, however, it is possible to switch to OpenVPN. ExpressVPN offers OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPsec, alongside its proprietary Lightway protocol. Both providers utilize AES-256, which is the global standard for encryption.

Similarly, both providers passed our VPN leak tests (DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6) with flying colors.

Both providers promise not to log user activity, regularly submitting to (and passing) independent security audits. This means that we don't have to take their word(s) for it and can actually trust in their "No-Logs" guarantees.

In terms of security and privacy, we award a point to both.

Winner: Draw

Both providers offer extensive help sections loaded with FAQs as well as guides for features and known issues. NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer direct support via live chat and email, whereas ExpressVPN's app includes an integrated contact form. This makes it convenient to pose questions when and where an issue appears, with support staffers sending answers directly to the email account you provide them with.

In terms of response times, we waited slightly longer to receive an answer from ExpressVPN, with NordVPN replying within 12 hours compared to ExpressVPN's 20. When testing the respective live chats of either service, we were connected to staffers in a matter of seconds.

Once again, there's almost nothing separating the two providers, however, with a faster response time, the point goes to NordVPN.

Winner: NordVPN

Monthly subscribers will pay a pretty penny for ExpressVPN or NordVPN, however, the latter is a bit more affordable. This difference grows the longer your contract is: A 2-year NordVPN subscription costs less than half as much (per month) as ExpressVPN's cheapest package (12 months). In other words, NordVPN offers more than twice as much bang for your buck, making it a clear winner, at least for those interested in inking long-term VPN deals.

Winner: NordVPN

A detailed price list for both providers can be found here:

If you read reviews before making a purchase, we're happy to note that both providers enjoy good reputations: NordVPN and ExpressVPN are seen as user-friendly offering high-quality applications and plenty of flexibility. Nevertheless, there are some who complain about support and other problems.

Overall, both providers had equally high customer ratings as of the time of writing.

Winner: Draw

In our head-to-head battle between NordVPN and ExpressVPN, the former took three rounds, while the others were draws. NordVPN might have edged out ExpressVPN in terms of performance and support, but only by a narrow margin.

With that said, NordVPN did excel in one category that might be the most important for a majority of customers: Price. For less than the cost of 12 months with ExpressVPN, you can have 24 months of NordVPN. If paying monthly, both services will set you back the same.

Thanks to its better price-performance ratio, NordVPN, our overall winner, also triumphs over ExpressVPN in a direct contest.

Of course, this doesn't mean that NordVPN is the best service or perfect for your needs. With that in mind, we encourage you to check out our full reviews of both services as well as 25 others in our comprehensive VPN evaluation.