ExpressVPN offers faster speeds (20-30% faster on average) and stronger privacy guarantees with its RAM-only infrastructure, while NordVPN is significantly cheaper at $3.99/month vs $6.67/month and includes advanced features like Meshnet and threat protection.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium VPN service with 6,500+ servers in 111 countries and advanced security features.
High-speed premium VPN with 100% RAM-only servers, 3,000+ servers across 94 countries, and industry-leading encryption.
Monthly Subscription Cost. Average Download Speed. Server Count. Server Locations. Infrastructure Type. Simultaneous Connections. Money-Back Guarantee
Choose NordVPN if you prioritize budget savings, need more simultaneous connections, want a larger server network, and value features like Meshnet and built-in threat protection. Choose ExpressVPN if speed is critical, you need access to more country locations, you require the strongest privacy assurances with full RAM-only infrastructure, and you're willing to pay a premium for consistently reliable performance.
NordVPN: 950+ Mbps | ExpressVPN: 898 Mbps
NordVPN: 111 countries | ExpressVPN: 94 countries
NordVPN: 10+ | ExpressVPN: 13+ (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Paramount+)
NordVPN: Limited | ExpressVPN: Full support
NordVPN: NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | ExpressVPN: Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2
NordVPN: Strict no-logs | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Yes (app-level) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 5.20% decrease | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 4+ (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max verified) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: None - 30-day money back only | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Panama (5/9/14 Eyes) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: AES-256 (NordLynx) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 950 Mbps | ExpressVPN: 898 Mbps
NordVPN: NordLynx (WireGuard-based) | ExpressVPN: Lightway (Proprietary)
NordVPN: Yes (Standard) | ExpressVPN: Yes, All Platforms
NordVPN: 110+ countries | ExpressVPN: 94 countries
NordVPN: None available | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: AES-256 | ExpressVPN: 256-bit AES Military-Grade
NordVPN: From $69/year | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Yes, regular audits | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Yes, on all platforms | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Faster globally | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Yes - Threat Protection Pro | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Excellent - Panama | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 10+ | ExpressVPN: 8 connections
NordVPN: Full support for major platforms | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Fast (20-50 Mbps typical) | ExpressVPN: 50+ Mbps
NordVPN: Verified no-logs | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Crypto, card, PayPal | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: $69.99/year (2-year plan) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Not applicable | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 0 (Premium only) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 6 simultaneous connections | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 7 major browser extensions | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Yes (All Plans) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: $47.88/year | ExpressVPN: $6.67/month
NordVPN: 6 devices | ExpressVPN: 8 devices
NordVPN: Partial (selected components) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Proprietary/Closed-source | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Partial components only | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Yes, all platforms | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 2 (PwC & Deloitte 2024) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: $3.99/month | ExpressVPN: $6.67/month
NordVPN: 111 countries | ExpressVPN: 105
NordVPN: AES-256 | ExpressVPN: 256-bit AES (Lightway protocol)
NordVPN: 6,500+ servers | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 12+ (major platforms only) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Yes (PwC audit 2024) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: $3.99/month | ExpressVPN: $6.67
NordVPN: 6,200+ servers | ExpressVPN: 3,000+
NordVPN: WireGuard with ChaCha20 | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 111 countries | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 8% slower (NordLynx/WireGuard) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 89% success rate (tested 13 regions) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: OpenVPN, WireGuard, ChaCha20, NordLynx | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Yes (Threat Protection included) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Panama (outside 5/9/14-Eyes) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Yes (automatic) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 420 Mbps | ExpressVPN: 510 Mbps
NordVPN: No (proprietary) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: AES-256 Double VPN (dual layer) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Yes (multiple 2022-2024) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: IKEv2/IPSec or WireGuard | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Strict no-logs policy | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: $11.99 | ExpressVPN: $12.95/month (billed monthly)
Average Download Speed (500Mbps connection)
NordVPN: Proprietary (audited) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 24/7 live chat and email | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Deloitte (2024) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: 60+ countries | ExpressVPN: 94 countries
NordVPN: Mix of disk and RAM | ExpressVPN: 100% RAM-only
NordVPN: Not available | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: Annual (1x/year) | ExpressVPN: N/A
NordVPN: N/A | ExpressVPN: 24/7 live chat
NordVPN: N/A | ExpressVPN: Native support
NordVPN: N/A | ExpressVPN: British Virgin Islands
NordVPN: N/A | ExpressVPN: $2.79/month (2-year)
NordVPN: N/A | ExpressVPN: Not available
NordVPN: N/A | ExpressVPN: Available (slower)
NordVPN: N/A | ExpressVPN: 105 countries
NordVPN: N/A | ExpressVPN: Third-party audited only
NordVPN: N/A | ExpressVPN: 2 (Lightway, IKEv2)
NordVPN: N/A | ExpressVPN: Proprietary/Closed
NordVPN: N/A | ExpressVPN: Mandatory (email-based)
How to choose between NordVPN and ExpressVPN
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for NordVPN vs ExpressVPN. Contains 170 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for NordVPN vs ExpressVPN.
Which VPN is fastest for streaming and downloading?
ExpressVPN delivers 510 Mbps average speeds compared to NordVPN's 420 Mbps, making it approximately 20-30% faster. ExpressVPN's proprietary TrustedServer technology and optimized network infrastructure prioritize speed, while NordVPN offers adequate speeds for most uses but sacrifices raw performance for lower pricing.
Is NordVPN or ExpressVPN more private and secure?
Both use AES-256 encryption and zero-logging policies, but ExpressVPN has a privacy advantage: 100% RAM-only servers ensure no data persists after reboot, making forensic recovery impossible. NordVPN uses a mix of disk and RAM servers. However, both passed independent security audits. ExpressVPN's infrastructure provides theoretical privacy superiority, while NordVPN adds practical security features like malware blocking and threat protection.
Why is ExpressVPN so much more expensive than NordVPN?
ExpressVPN charges 67% more ($6.67 vs $3.99/month) due to higher operational costs: proprietary TrustedServer OS, 100% RAM infrastructure requiring regular hardware replacement, faster average speeds, and 94-country coverage. NordVPN achieves lower costs through larger server density (5,800+ vs 3,000), some disk-based storage, and a leaner feature set focused on core VPN functionality plus threat protection.
Which VPN supports more devices simultaneously?
NordVPN supports 10 simultaneous connections while ExpressVPN allows 8. If you need to protect multiple family devices or work equipment simultaneously, NordVPN offers a 25% advantage in device count, making it better for households with 8+ internet-connected devices.
Can I access servers in more countries with either VPN?
ExpressVPN covers 94 countries versus NordVPN's 60, providing 57% more geographic reach. This means ExpressVPN can unblock content in more regions and offers better access for international travelers. However, NordVPN's 5,800 servers provide better redundancy and server diversity within covered regions.
How to Choose Between NordVPN and ExpressVPN
Monthly Subscription Cost: NordVPN has $3.99/month (2-year plan), while ExpressVPN has $6.67/month (1-year plan).
Average Download Speed: NordVPN has 420 Mbps, while ExpressVPN has 510 Mbps.
Server Count: NordVPN has 5,800+ servers, while ExpressVPN has 3,000+ servers.
Server Locations: NordVPN has 60+ countries, while ExpressVPN has 94 countries.
Infrastructure Type: NordVPN has Mix of disk-based and RAM servers, while ExpressVPN has 100% RAM-only infrastructure.
Simultaneous Connections: NordVPN has 10 devices, while ExpressVPN has 8 devices.
Money-Back Guarantee: NordVPN has 30 days, while ExpressVPN has 30 days.