If you are into the world of VPN, then you might be searching for the answer, Which is better; ExpressVPN or NordVPN? In this article, we will jot down several points which will help in finding the answer to this question
If we write down a list of inventions or services which have revolutionized computer usage, then VPN would surely be in that list. It has become an essential tool for everyone who browses the internet to a great extent. But what exactly are VPNs..
Virtual private networks or VPN enables one to create a secure and solid connection to another network on the internet. So basically it connects your device to a server present on the internet and you can browse the internet using that computer (server’s) internet connection. If the server is in another country, then it will appear as if you are using the internet from that country.
Benefits of VPN
It has several uses and some of them are mentioned below-
#1 Geographic Advantage
There are several websites and services which are banned in your country or there may be some geographical restraints in accessing that website or service. In such cases having a good VPN would bypass such restrictions. So a content which is not available for the Chinese audience could be accessed by VPN. Furthermore, there are several websites which are accessed by people through VPN only.
#2 Protection
Hackers steal information through public Wi-Fi, so if you log into one then there are chances that it may be detrimental for you. Starbucks, etc are deemed safe, however, such risks are not worth taking. In such situations, it is better to use the internet while having a VPN. Through VPN you can use Public Wi-Fi and avoid risks at the same time.
#3 Anonymity
You may want to stay anonymous while accessing some websites. There are several of them such as torrents, etc. It is better to access these websites through VPN as anonymity is essential while browsing them. You may lend into some sort of trouble if the information goes into the public. This is why there has been a large increase in the number of people using VPN in recent times.
#4 Access Home Network
Suppose you are at some foreign location or out of your town. VPN would be useful in such cases as it would allow you to access your own network while traveling. You can do things such as accessing a windows remote desktop, play games over the internet, use local file shares, among other things.
How does VPN work?
When you connect PC to a VPN, it would act as if it’s on the same network as the VPN. That means your traffic is sent through a secure and safe connection to the VPN. Now you would be able to use your PC as if you are present at the location of the VPN.
For example, if you are living in India and access a USA based VPN, then the website you are accessing would treat as if you are located in the USA.
ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: Comparision
We have talked about VPN, its benefits and other things. Now we will talk about ExpressVPN and NordVPN and compare both of them.
Our detailed comparison will show you whatever you wish to know.
Cost
ExpressVPN offers 3 plans for their services, howevr Nord offers 4. All the plans have the exact same feature, the only thing which varies is timing or duration of the plan.
For example, 1 Year plan of Nord comes at $6.99 for 1 month, 3 Year plan comes at $2.99 for one month and so on.
On the other hand, ExpressVPN 6 month plan costs $9.99 per month and 3 years plan comes at $6.67 per month.
So if you buy a plan of long duration, the per month charge would reduce.
In the present case, NordVPN is 55% cheaper than Express when it comes to 3 year plan. Along with that, both come with a 30 Days money back guarantee.
Speed Test
Speed is an important factor to consider while choosing a VPN. As more people buy Nord due to cheap prices, it is said that it has comparatively slow speed. There are multiple tests conducted in this regard which show the same. As speed test may be influenced by several factors such as own internet connection, type of PC, etc. We suggest you to independently check their speed too.
Netflix Test
This is an important test to be conducted before buying a VPN service. Users state that they could access Netflix 24*7 through Express with fast streaming speed. Even if some server is blocked, they easily connect with another server.
Nord also does good with Netflix, however, it is not at par with Express. The server is more prone to getting blocked and however just as Express, they have many servers to connect again. The streaming speed suffers a bit while using Netflix, as Nord is a tad bit slower than Express.
Torrent Test
Many people opt for VON just to enjoy Torrenting. There are several VPNs which have expressly blocked Torrenting. However both Express and Nord allow it and there are no restrictions whatsoever.
There are several tests conducted online, which state that NordVPN is around 8% faster than Express for Torrenting. However some other contend that Express is better.
ExpressVPN further gets an edge as it has advanced leak protection. It is crucial since media companies aggressively monitor torrent usage of people. So overall, anonymity is a crucial factor while Torrenting and this is why ExpressVPN wins in this race.
Logging Policies
Both of them are verified no Log providers. NordVPN states that they do not store any timestamps, session information, used bandwidth, IP addresses, among other things. This was verified by a third party auditor and found to be true.
ExpressVPN also has a clear no-log policy and it was also tested by authorities in Turley. However, they were not able to obtain any data from ExpressVPN as express didn’t have any logs to hand over.
This is why both of them are good in this regard and we believe there is a tie between them.
Global Server Coverage
A comprehensive global coverage makes sure that you get access to all movies, games, TV shows, etc that are not available in your area.
ExpressVPN does a great job and provides access to 3000+ servers present in 94 countries.
On the other hand, NordVPN has a humongous network of 5000+ servers present in 61 countries.
Platform Support
Express supports up to 8 platforms such as Windows, Linux, Kindle Fire, Blackberry, etc. On the other hand, Nord supports 7 platforms.
Furthermore there is 3 browser extension available with Express and 2 with Nord. So here ExpressVPN is a clear winner.
Customer Support
There are articles, blogs, etc provided for the purpose of solving queries. However sometimes you may need to seek service of customer service representatives.
Express provides support through 4 means such as 24*7 online chat, trouble ticket submission form, searchable knowledge base, etc.
Nord on the other hand provides help through 3 means.
So ExpressVPN is a clear winner here.
Setup and Interface
As you would have to use these services regularly, it becomes important that they have a nice interface too.
Express VPN is small and has a mobile-friendly design structure. NordVPN has a more attractive, bigger design which may isn’t space friendly, however it still serves the purpose intended.
Both of them have kept the main screen uncluttered by keeping details in a separate page. However, overall NordVPN clearly has a better UI and UX which gives it an edge.
Security and Privacy (Jurisdiction)
NordVPN is based in Panama. The country is not a member of 5/9/14 Eyes surveillance groups and is safe from US or European influence.
ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands and is not a member of 5/9/14 surveillance group as well.
So both of them have strong privacy protection assured. This is why you won’t face any troubles while availing their services.
Features
There are a lot of features provided by both of them. Some of the features are Built in a kill switch, strict no-logging policy, Torrenting, and P2P allowed, OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSEC protocols, 256-bit AES encryption, among other things.
However, NordVPN has the following features that Express doesn’t have. These are Double VPN encryption, CyberSec features, up to 6 simultaneous connection, etc.
On the other hand, these are the features that Express has but Nord doesn’t; Split tunneling, Payment using PAYPAL, servers in 94 countries, etc.
So both of them give a tough competition to each other.
Gaming Test
Both of the VPNs worked good in this regard. However, Nord has a better average ping of 31.8 m/s whereas Express has the average ping of 41 m/s. So Nord is slightly better in this regard.
The tests were conducted while playing League of Legend. Both Express and Nord have good usability, sleek apps, and high functionality.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, Express is faster, works better in terms of unblocking Geo blocked content, etc. However, on the other side, Nord does things at a cheaper price although at a tad bit lesser speed, etc.
So we think that you must make the decision based upon your priorities and choose what’s best for you.
- Do read about NordVPN vs PureVPN.
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