ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: Which Should You Get?

Last updated: September 2026

ExpressVPN and NordVPN have been the industry's two flagship VPNs for years, and TechRadar still rates them its top two overall. This comparison is built on TechRadar's head-to-head breakdown and VPN testing, plus Tom's Guide's published test results — not on tests we ran ourselves. Where the sources' data was gathered at different times, we say so.

The verdict, up front

TechRadar's current position: NordVPN is the clear leader — the better complete package, and its #1 overall VPN. ExpressVPN was TechRadar's top pick for years, but the gap in price and included features — plus concerns about its new ownership — tipped the scales. ExpressVPN remains TechRadar's #1 pick for beginners thanks to its streamlined apps, and Tom's Guide rates its ease of use a full five stars (TechRadar; Tom's Guide).

Spec comparison

Specs from TechRadar's 2026 head-to-head. Prices and server counts change; check the provider's site before buying.

Pricing

NordVPN is the clear price winner. Its monthly plan runs $12.99–$15.99 depending on tier, but the 1-year plans drop to $4.59–$7.49/mo and the 2-year plans to $3.09–$5.99/mo — the most expensive NordVPN 2-year tier still costs less than ExpressVPN's cheapest. ExpressVPN charges $12.95/mo monthly, $9.99/mo on 6 months, and $6.67/mo on the 1-year plan (TechRadar). Note also that NordVPN's higher tiers bundle extras — malware protection, a data breach scanner, a tracker/ad blocker, a password manager, secure cloud storage, and up to $1M in cyber insurance at $5.99/mo — while ExpressVPN offers a single tier that includes a password manager (free even after cancellation), an ad blocker, and a tracker blocker (Tom's Guide; TechRadar).

Security

Broadly similar cores: both use AES-256 encryption and Perfect Forward Secrecy (which rotates keys so a compromised session doesn't expose the next one), both claim to block IP and DNS leaks, and both run their own encrypted DNS on all servers (TechRadar).

Where they differ is the extras. NordVPN packs in Onion over VPN, Double VPN, a data breach scanner, 1 TB of cloud storage, and cyber insurance — "the better complete package," in TechRadar's words. ExpressVPN's suite is slimmer: ad blocker, password manager, and its proprietary Lightway protocol.

Both have checkered histories, and the sources are candid about them:

• NordVPN: suffered a data breach in 2018, then brought in PricewaterhouseCoopers to verify its no-logging policy and hardened its infrastructure (TechRadar).
• ExpressVPN: is now owned by Kape Technologies (formerly Crossrider), a company TechRadar notes has "a somewhat checkered past involving ad-injectors and malware in web browsers"; its CIO was implicated in a spying probe; and CNET discovered ExpressVPN leaking DNS requests through its split-tunneling feature — fixed quickly, but it may have gone unnoticed for years. Kape has also laid off around 200 staff, which leaves TechRadar with "concerns about the level of quality at the company."

On trust basics: both have verified audited no-logs policies and both log only minimal operational data (connection day, server/locations chosen — nothing that traces back to a user) (TechRadar).

Performance

In TechRadar's most recent round of speed tests, NordVPN was the clear winner: over 950 Mbps on WireGuard-class protocols (NordLynx) versus ~410 Mbps for ExpressVPN. Even on older OpenVPN both were more than fast enough for daily use — there, ExpressVPN actually came out ahead at ~210 Mbps vs NordVPN's ~110 Mbps — but in real-world scenarios TechRadar says you'll rarely notice that difference. Tom's Guide's tests also rate NordVPN's performance five stars ("one of the fastest with an average speed of 950 Mbps") and ExpressVPN's four ("reliable and very fast, although some others deliver higher peak speeds"). Context: Netflix recommends just 25 Mbps for 4K streaming, so either is plenty (TechRadar; Tom's Guide).

Streaming

Difficult to separate. Both reliably unblock the services TechRadar tested. NordVPN unlocked overseas catalogs of the major streaming services plus niche ones (Australian services 9Now and 10 Play), and Tom's Guide rates it five stars for unblocking ("effortlessly unblocks most content streaming platforms"). ExpressVPN reliably unblocked Disney+, YouTube, and BBC iPlayer in TechRadar's tests, and Tom's Guide rates it five stars for unblocking too ("servers in 160 locations and 90 countries ensure limitless content") — see our best VPN for streaming guide for the wider field.

Torrenting

Both are strong. ExpressVPN supports P2P on all servers with no bandwidth restrictions and no data cap — "a refreshingly hassle-free experience" (TechRadar). NordVPN also supports P2P on all servers, adds servers specifically optimized for P2P, and has a kill switch to protect you if the connection drops; note it doesn't offer port forwarding, which some torrenters use to improve speeds (TechRadar; Tom's Guide). Either way, pair torrenting with a kill switch and ideally bind your client to the VPN interface — see best VPN for torrenting.

Mobile apps

Both are among the best Android VPN apps around, and both are certified by the ioXt Alliance cybersecurity watchdog (TechRadar). Tom's Guide rates ExpressVPN's design and ease of use a full five stars each — "simple, navigable," beginner-friendly with little expertise needed — versus four stars for NordVPN on both ("fun interface but might seem a little crowded," and the map-like design "might not work for everyone"). ExpressVPN's minimalist app is its main advantage for newcomers; NordVPN's power comes with a busier interface (Tom's Guide; TechRadar).

Support is a tie: both offer 24/7 live chat and in-depth support databases, with no phone number (TechRadar).

Who should get which?

• Get NordVPN if: you want the fastest speeds, the most features per dollar, more devices (10 vs 8), the bigger server network, and the cheapest long-term plan. It's the default recommendation in TechRadar's current rankings (TechRadar).
• Get ExpressVPN if: you value the simplest possible apps and don't want to fiddle with settings — TechRadar still calls it its #1 beginner pick — and you're comfortable paying a premium for that polish (TechRadar).
• Get neither yet if: you're on a tight budget — see best free VPN for honest free options, or the NordVPN vs Surfshark vs CyberGhost comparison for cheaper long-term alternatives.

One caveat from TechRadar's reporting: ExpressVPN's ownership (Kape Technologies) and the split-tunneling DNS-leak episode are material facts to weigh if privacy is your primary concern.

FAQ

Is ExpressVPN better than NordVPN?

Not in the current rankings. TechRadar rates NordVPN the clear leader overall — faster, cheaper, more features. ExpressVPN holds its own as the best beginner-friendly option (TechRadar).

Is ExpressVPN or NordVPN cheaper?

NordVPN by a wide margin. Its 2-year plans start around $3.09–$3.39/mo versus $6.67/mo for ExpressVPN, and even NordVPN's most expensive tier costs less than ExpressVPN's cheapest (TechRadar).

Which is faster, ExpressVPN or NordVPN?

NordVPN in recent tests: 950+ Mbps on NordLynx versus ~410 Mbps for ExpressVPN on Lightway in TechRadar's latest round. Both are far above what streaming needs (TechRadar).

Which VPN is better for streaming?

They're essentially tied — both reliably unblock the major services in third-party testing (TechRadar; Tom's Guide).

Sources

• TechRadar — ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: Which VPN Should You Get? (specs, pricing, security, performance, streaming, torrenting, verdict; crawled September 2026)
• Tom's Guide — Our Latest VPN Testing Results (per-feature ratings for both: speed, unblocking, security, price, support)
• Tom's Guide — NordVPN Review (Threat Protection Pro malware-test results; tier features; torrenting notes)
• Gizmodo — Best VPN for Travel 2026 (renewal-price warnings for both providers; September 2026)