Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
ExpressVPN vs NordVPN
ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: the differences
| Compare |  ExpressVPN |  NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $2.99 | €14.99 |
| Long-term plan price | €2.49Lower | €3.49 |
| Devices | 10 to 14Higher | 10 |
| Server countries | 113 | 150Higher |
| No-logs audit | KPMG 2025 | Independent no-logs verification, first in 2018 and verified four more times since; auditor not named on the page |
| Renewal price | €79.95Lower | €139.08 |
| Protocols | Lightway, WireGuard | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, ObfuscationCovers more |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, IPadOS, Android, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Android TV, Smart TVs, Routers, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, TvOS |
| Owner | Kape Technologies | Nord Security |
| Longest plan (months) | 28 monthsHigher | 27 months |
| Jurisdiction | VG | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- ExpressVPN scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Long-term plan price is lower at ExpressVPN: €2.49 vs €3.49.
- Devices is higher at ExpressVPN: 10 to 14 vs 10.
- Server countries is higher at NordVPN: 150 vs 113.
- Renewal price is lower at ExpressVPN: €79.95 vs €139.08.
- Protocols: only ExpressVPN offers Lightway, WireGuard.
- Protocols: only NordVPN offers OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper.
- Features: only NordVPN offers Multi hop, Obfuscation.
- Platforms: only ExpressVPN offers IPadOS, Apple TV, Fire Stick.
- Platforms: only NordVPN offers TvOS.
Our verdict on each
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.
NordVPN
NordVPN suits people who want broad server reach and a no-logs policy under independent audit, and who can commit to a long plan. The catch is entry price: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan, with €139.08 due at renewal.
Score breakdown
| Area | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherThe monthly plan lists $2.99 and the longest plan advertises €2.49, with renewal billing at €79.95 above that opening rate. | 8.7Monthly plan runs at €14.99 and the longest plan at €3.49 a month, with €139.08 billed on renewal. |
| Offer | 9.4Covers 113 countries and 10 to 14 devices, with a 30 day refund window and audited no logs logging. | 9.6HigherCovers 150 server countries, 10 devices and features including kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop. |
| Privacy | 9.1Higher | 9.0 |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term plan price | €2.49 | €3.49 |
| Devices | 10 to 14 | 10 |
| Server countries | 113 | 150 |
| Renewal price | €79.95 | €139.08 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 28 months | 27 months |
A third option
CyberGhost has renewal price at €11.99, against €79.95 for ExpressVPN and €139.08 for NordVPN.
CyberGhost reviewSources behind this comparison
ExpressVPN
- expressvpn.com: 19 facts, checked September 26, 2026
NordVPN
- nordvpn.com: 17 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nordlocker.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 23 of 232 | 1 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 22 of 280 | 1 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 11 of 63 | 1 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 19 of 189 | 1 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, Travel | No logs, Streaming, Travel |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free |
| Legal entity | Express Technologies Ltd. | Nord Security |
| Headquarters | Virgin Islands, British | Lithuania |
| Founded | 2009Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Chat, Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €2.49Lower | €14.99 |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Logging policy | 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 | No logs: VPN servers keep no logs, with independent no-log audits |
| Open source | No | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Private dns, Ad blockerCovers more | Ad blocker |
Password managers
| Fact | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Regular independent third-party security audits; ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 3 |
| Price per TB per year | Not confirmed | €77.88 |
Identity protection
| Fact | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | Not confirmed | 1 |
| Insurance amount | Not confirmed | $2,000,000 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term plan price | €2.49lowest quarter | €3.49below the median | €3.99 |
| Devices | 10 to 14highest quarter | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 113highest quarter | 150highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | €79.95above the median | €139.08highest quarter | €69.99 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 28 monthshighest quarter | 27 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
NordVPN
Pros
- Covers 150 server countries, the highest count in the ranking, with 10 devices per account
- Features include kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop alongside the stated no logs, streaming and travel use cases
- Protocol choice covers OpenVPN, NordLynx and NordWhisper
Cons
- Entry price is high: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan puts it near the bottom of the monthly price ranking
- There is no free plan, so the free version comparison starts with nothing to test
- Renewal is charged at €139.08, a jump from the €3.49 monthly rate on the introductory long plan
Who each suits
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.
NordVPN
Who it suits
- People who need coverage across 150 server countries rather than a handful of nearby ones
- Households or small teams that need 10 connected devices on one subscription
- Subscribers comfortable committing to a long plan, since €3.49 is only reached on the longest term
Who should look elsewhere
- People wanting a free tier, since there is no free plan to start on
- Anyone who needs to pay month to month on a small budget, as €14.99 a month is the priciest end of the monthly ranking
- Readers who need phone support, since the listed channels are email, chat and help centre
Current offers
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
NordVPN
Current offer
Discount code
75% off + 3 months extra: 75% off
Intro offer on the 2-year plan (first 27 months), VAT may apply, savings versus renewal price
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
+ 3 EXTRA months on 2-year plans: 3 extra months
Offer terms apply, additional terms apply to Ultra plan, VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free trial for new users on Android: 3 days free
New users, Android app via Google Play; not available in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Korea
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | No | Yes |
| Aland Islands | No | Yes |
| Albania | No | Yes |
| Algeria | No | Yes |
| American Samoa | No | Yes |
| Andorra | No | Yes |
| Angola | No | Yes |
| Anguilla | No | Yes |
8 of 250 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
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.
NordVPN
How much does NordVPN cost to start with?+
The monthly plan is priced at €14.99. Committing to the longest term, 27 months, brings the monthly figure down to €3.49. That lower rate is introductory, and the 30 money back window still applies if the subscription is not a fit.
What do I pay when the plan renews?+
Renewal is charged at €139.08 for the long term, against the €3.49 monthly rate that applies at the start. Budget for the renewal figure rather than the headline monthly number, since the per month rate is the part that is promotional. The two prices together tell the full cost of staying.
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