The two most popular premium VPNs go head-to-head. Which one deserves your money?
Updated March 2026 • Based on publicly available data
| Category | NordVPN | ExpressVPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (2yr plan) | $3.09/mo | $8.32/mo | NordVPN |
| Download Speed | 952 Mbps | 908 Mbps | NordVPN |
| Server Count | 6,400+ | 3,000+ | NordVPN |
| Countries | 111 | 105 | Tie |
| Simultaneous Devices | 6 | 5 | NordVPN |
| Protocol Innovation | NordLynx (WG) | Lightway (proprietary) | Tie |
| App Design & UX | Very Good | Excellent | ExpressVPN |
| Router Support | Good | Excellent | ExpressVPN |
| Ad/Malware Blocker | Yes (Threat Protection) | No | NordVPN |
| Double VPN | Yes | No | NordVPN |
| No-Log Audit | Deloitte 2022 | KPMG 2022 | Tie |
| Netflix Unblocking | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Smart DNS | SmartPlay | MediaStreamer | Tie |
| Money-Back | 30 days | 30 days | Tie |
| 24/7 Live Chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Based on publicly available benchmarks on 1 Gbps fiber connections, NordVPN delivers up to 952 Mbps and ExpressVPN up to 908 Mbps. Both are exceptional — you won't notice a difference in real-world use. But NordVPN's NordLynx protocol edges out ExpressVPN's Lightway in raw throughput.
NordVPN at $3.09/month is nearly 3x cheaper than ExpressVPN at $8.32/month on the equivalent annual plan. For most users, there is no justification for the ExpressVPN price premium — the performance difference is negligible, and NordVPN actually has more features (Threat Protection, Double VPN, Meshnet).
ExpressVPN is worth the premium if:
For most users: NordVPN is the clear winner
Faster, cheaper, more servers, more features. The price difference alone — $3.09 vs $8.32/mo — is reason enough for 95% of users to choose NordVPN. You're not giving anything up.
Get NordVPN at 74% Off — $3.09/mo