Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
AdGuard vs ExpressVPN
AdGuard
Higher score in this comparison
ExpressVPN
AdGuard vs ExpressVPN: the differences
| Compare | AdGuardReviewVisitVisit | ExpressVPNReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, IPadOS, Android, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Android TV, Smart TVs, Routers, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave |
| Protocols | Doh, Dot, Doq, Dnscrypt | Lightway, WireGuard |
| Logging policy | Traffic filtered locally on device; AdGuard does not know which sites you visit | No activity or connection logs: browsing history, traffic destination, data content, DNS queries and user-linked IP addresses are not collected; RAM-only TrustedServer infrastructure, independently audited |
| Jurisdiction | CY | VG |
| Open source | YesHas it | No |
| Price from | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Free plan limits | Free AdGuard DNS Starter plan by default; AdGuard Content Blocker free but with features limited compared to AdGuard for Android | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Privacy tool type (Ad blocker, Private dns).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- AdGuard scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Free plan: only AdGuard.
- Platforms: only AdGuard offers Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser.
- Platforms: only ExpressVPN offers IPadOS, Apple TV, Fire Stick.
- Protocols: only AdGuard offers Doh, Dot, Doq.
- Protocols: only ExpressVPN offers Lightway, WireGuard.
- Support channels: only AdGuard offers Community.
- Support channels: only ExpressVPN offers Chat.
- Open source: only AdGuard.
Our verdict on each
AdGuard
AdGuard fits readers who want ad blocking and DNS protection in the same place, with a free plan for the basics and an open source VPN alongside it. A paid AdGuard plan covers 10 devices, and the longest subscription term is 24 with a money back window of 30 days.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN suits readers who want an audited no-logs VPN with broad server coverage, but its monthly plan and renewal terms sit above the field. The long-term plan lands at €2.49 a month, with servers in 113 countries and a subscription covering 10 to 14 devices.
Score breakdown
| Area | AdGuard | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | 9.3HigherThe monthly plan lists $2.99 and the longest plan advertises €2.49, with renewal billing at €79.95 above that opening rate. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.4Covers 113 countries and 10 to 14 devices, with a 30 day refund window and audited no logs logging. |
| Privacy | 9.4Higher | 9.1 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | AdGuard | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 18 of 232 | 20 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 17 of 281 | 20 of 281 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 9 of 63 | 10 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 14 of 189 | 16 of 189 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | AdGuard | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Virgin Islands, British |
Sources behind this comparison
AdGuard
- adguard.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- adguard-dns.io: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
ExpressVPN
- expressvpn.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AdGuard | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED | Express Technologies Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Virgin Islands, British |
| Founded | 2009 | 2009 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Chat, Email, Help centre |
VPN
| Fact | AdGuard | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $2.99 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Devices | 10 | 10 to 14Higher |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | 113 |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | KPMG 2025 |
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | €79.95 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Features | Split tunnelling, Obfuscation | Kill switch, Split tunnelling |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Kape Technologies |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 28 monthsHigher |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AdGuard | ExpressVPN | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | €2.49lowest quarter | €7.50 |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
AdGuard
Pros
- Traffic is filtered locally on device, so AdGuard does not know which sites you visit, and the software is open source.
- The free plan is the default and covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app.
- Apps and extensions cover Windows, macOS and Linux, keeping one set of rules across phones, desktops and browsers.
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so most questions end up in the help centre or the community.
- The free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app, so phone users may end up paying for it.
ExpressVPN
Pros
- The logging policy rules out activity and connection logs, and the audit behind it is KPMG 2025.
- Lightway and WireGuard protocols, with a kill switch and split tunnelling in the same subscription.
- Apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, covering desktop, mobile, TV and browsers.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so any test of the service costs money from the start.
- Renewal billing of €79.95 sits far above the €2.49 monthly rate on the longest plan.
- The long-term plan price ranks 24 of 112 among the brands compared on price, so buyers on the tightest budget have cheaper options.
Who each suits
AdGuard
Who it suits
- Readers who want an ad blocker, private DNS and a VPN from a single company.
- People who want filtering to happen on device on open source software.
- Households with several devices to cover, since the VPN plan covers 10.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, whose aliases are free with an Apple Account, when the email address is the only thing to hide.
- EasyOptOuts, which has no free plan, when a free tier to try first matters.
ExpressVPN
Who it suits
- Business users who need an audited no-logs policy and RAM only servers.
- People who travel or stream and need broad country coverage in a single subscription.
- Households that want the same account across desktops, phones, TVs and browsers.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers shopping for a cheaper privacy entry point, where Apple Inc. charges $0.99 a month.
- Houses that want antivirus coverage alongside device protection, where ESET Brasil plans cover 3 to 25.
- Anyone who actually wants a password manager rather than a VPN, where Sinew Software Systems charges $1.99 a month.
Current offers
AdGuard
Current offer
Free trial
AdGuard for Windows 14-day trial period: 14 days
Included with the AdGuard for Windows v8.0 download
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Try Premium free for 7 days in AdGuard for iOS: 7 days
In-app offer before purchasing an iOS subscription; no payment taken during the trial
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
AdGuard DNS Personal plan free for AdGuard VPN customers: Free AdGuard DNS Personal subscription
Requires an active AdGuard VPN subscription; activated from the AdGuard account
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Free AdGuard license for contributors and developers: Free license key
For community contributors (translations, beta testing, filters, knowledge base) and developers requesting a developer license
Source, checked September 26, 2026
ExpressVPN
Current offer
Discount code
Fall sports offer: Save 80%
Limited-time offer on 2-year plans; amounts shown in EUR, sales tax applied at checkout where applicable
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Basic plan, 2 Years + 4 Months: €2.49/mo, Save 80% (EUR 69.72 billed for the first 28 months)
Then autorenews at EUR 79.95 annually; 30-day money-back guarantee for new users
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
AdGuard
Is there a free AdGuard plan?+
Yes, and the free plan is the default. It covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app. The starter apps already run on Windows, macOS and Linux, so you can try blocking on a phone, a desktop or a browser before paying.
What does the paid VPN plan include?+
The paid AdGuard VPN plan covers 10 devices at a time, and the longest subscription term runs 24. Its feature set includes no logs and streaming and split tunnelling and obfuscation, and a money back window of 30 days sits behind the purchase if the fit is wrong.
ExpressVPN
How much does ExpressVPN cost at the start?+
The monthly plan lists $2.99 a month, and the longest plan advertises €2.49 a month across 28 months. Renewal billing is quoted separately at €79.95, which is the figure to budget for later. The advertised opening rate is the number most readers see first, and it is not the ongoing cost.
Does ExpressVPN have a free plan?+
There is no free plan, so there is no way to try the service without paying. The refund window is the practical substitute: 30 days from purchase to decide. Anything past that point carries the full subscription cost, so the timing of a trial matters.
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