Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
ExpressVPN vs NordVPN
NordVPN takes it by 10 points, 84.0 against 74.0. That margin is worth reading past — ExpressVPN wins 0 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.
NordVPN
84.0The most complete all-round package here, provided you accept closed-source clients and a renewal price well above the introductory rate.
- From
- $3.39/mo
- Based in
- Panama
- Devices
- 10
- Audits
- 2
We earn a commission if you subscribe through this link. It does not change NordVPN’s score.
Criterion by criterion
ExpressVPN wins 0, NordVPN wins 5, 2 tied. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.
| Criterion | Weight | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 9/10 (18.0) | 9/10 (18.0) | Tied |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 7/10 (10.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | NordVPN |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 7/10 (10.5) | 8/10 (12.0) | NordVPN |
| Leak protection | 15 | 9/10 (13.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Tied |
| Transparency | 15 | 5/10 (7.5) | 6/10 (9.0) | NordVPN |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 5/10 (5.0) | 8/10 (8.0) | NordVPN |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 9/10 (9.0) | 10/10 (10.0) | NordVPN |
| Total | 100 | 74.0 | 84.0 | NordVPN |
Where each one actually wins
ExpressVPN is ahead on
Nothing. ExpressVPN does not lead on any of the seven criteria.
NordVPN is ahead on
- Jurisdiction and ownership. Incorporated in Panama, outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement, with disclosed parent ownership under Nord Security.
- Protocol and crypto stack. OpenVPN plus NordLynx, a WireGuard implementation; the double-NAT layer on top of WireGuard is not open to inspection.
- Transparency. Clients are closed source and signup requires an email, offset by a published transparency report and warrant canary.
- Price and refund terms. Effective $3.39/month on a 2-year term with a full 30-day refund, but the monthly rate is $12.99 and renewals price higher than the intro term.
- Platform coverage. Native apps across desktop, mobile, Apple TV, Android TV and routers, with 10 simultaneous connections.
Choose ExpressVPN if
Readers who want a router-level install with vendor-supported firmware.
Choose NordVPN if
Readers who want one subscription to cover a household of mixed devices.
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 NordVPN if: You need open-source clients or want to pay month to month. At $12.99 monthly it is one of the most expensive short-term options here.
Questions
- Is ExpressVPN or NordVPN better?
- NordVPN scores higher overall, 84.0 against 74.0, a gap of 10 points out of 100. The most complete all-round package here, provided you accept closed-source clients and a renewal price well above the introductory rate.
- Which is cheaper, ExpressVPN or NordVPN?
- NordVPN, at $3.39/mo against $4.99/mo. Both rates require committing to the provider’s longest term; the monthly rates are considerably higher.
- Which one has been audited more recently?
- Both published audits in 2023.
- Does jurisdiction differ between them?
- Yes. ExpressVPN operates from British Virgin Islands and NordVPN from Panama. 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.