Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
ExpressVPN vs IVPN
IVPN takes it by 8.5 points, 82.5 against 74.0. That margin is worth reading past — ExpressVPN wins 2 of the seven criteria outright.
ExpressVPN
74.0Polished software and a genuine router firmware, at a price the rest of the market has moved away from.
- From
- $4.99/mo
- Based in
- British Virgin Islands
- Devices
- 8
- Audits
- 2
We earn nothing from ExpressVPN. This link is included because the ranking says it belongs here.
IVPN
82.5A deliberately small, transparent operation that costs more than the market and makes no attempt to hide it.
- From
- $6.00/mo
- Based in
- Gibraltar
- Devices
- 7
- Audits
- 1
We earn nothing from IVPN. This link is included because the ranking says it belongs here.
Criterion by criterion
ExpressVPN wins 2, IVPN wins 3, 2 tied. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.
| Criterion | Weight | ExpressVPN | IVPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 9/10 (18.0) | 8/10 (16.0) | ExpressVPN |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 7/10 (10.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | IVPN |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 7/10 (10.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | IVPN |
| Leak protection | 15 | 9/10 (13.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Tied |
| Transparency | 15 | 5/10 (7.5) | 10/10 (15.0) | IVPN |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 5/10 (5.0) | 5/10 (5.0) | Tied |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 9/10 (9.0) | 6/10 (6.0) | ExpressVPN |
| Total | 100 | 74.0 | 82.5 | IVPN |
Where each one actually wins
ExpressVPN is ahead on
- Independent audit. KPMG assured the no-logs claim and Cure53 audited the Lightway protocol source, both with public summaries.
- Platform coverage. Apps across all major platforms plus purpose-built router firmware, with 8 simultaneous connections.
IVPN is ahead on
- Jurisdiction and ownership. Gibraltar sits outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement and the operating company is named publicly.
- Protocol and crypto stack. WireGuard and OpenVPN only, with no proprietary protocol.
- Transparency. Open-source apps, anonymous account IDs, cash accepted, and the affiliate programme was closed to remove reviewer incentives.
Choose ExpressVPN if
Readers who want a router-level install with vendor-supported firmware.
Choose IVPN if
Readers who value published reasoning and anonymous signup over network size.
Reasons to pick neither
Skip ExpressVPN if: You are price-sensitive, or you want your provider to be independent of a group that owns several apparent competitors.
Skip IVPN if: You want a large server network or the lowest possible price. IVPN is explicitly not competing on either.
Questions
- Is ExpressVPN or IVPN better?
- IVPN scores higher overall, 82.5 against 74.0, a gap of 8.5 points out of 100. A deliberately small, transparent operation that costs more than the market and makes no attempt to hide it.
- Which is cheaper, ExpressVPN or IVPN?
- ExpressVPN, at $4.99/mo against $6.00/mo. Both rates require committing to the provider’s longest term; the monthly rates are considerably higher.
- Which one has been audited more recently?
- ExpressVPN, most recently in 2023 against IVPN’s 2022.
- Does jurisdiction differ between them?
- Yes. ExpressVPN operates from British Virgin Islands and IVPN from Gibraltar. Both sit in the same position relative to the Fourteen Eyes agreement.
Related comparisons
Comparison generated from the same dataset as the ranking. Emphasis criterion definitions are on the rubric page. Criterion labels: Independent audit, Jurisdiction and ownership, Protocol and crypto stack, Leak protection, Transparency, Price and refund terms, Platform coverage.