Alternatives to ExpressVPN
Commercial VPN with RAM-only servers and its own Lightway protocol. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
ExpressVPN
Commercial VPN with RAM-only servers and its own Lightway protocol.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as ExpressVPN.
NordVPN
Large commercial VPN with the WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol.
NordVPN offers a very large server network, the WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol, threat protection and meshnet, but its infrastructure is closed and renewal prices rise after the first term.
Surfshark
VPN with unlimited simultaneous devices on one subscription.
Surfshark also runs RAM-only servers and adds multi-hop and unlimited simultaneous devices, but it is merged with Nord Security and renewal pricing is far higher.
Proton VPN
A VPN from the Proton Mail company with a free tier that has no data cap, and open source clients.
Proton VPN adds a free tier with no data cap and open source audited clients from a Swiss company, though streaming and peer-to-peer need a paid plan.
Mullvad VPN
A flat-rate VPN service with anonymous account numbers instead of usernames, and open source apps.
Mullvad VPN charges a flat €5 a month with anonymous account numbers and open source GPL-3.0 apps, but has no free tier and limits WireGuard keys to five.
Private Internet Access
Long-running VPN with fully open-source apps and port forwarding.
Private Internet Access has fully open-source apps, port forwarding and a browser extension, but is also owned by Kape Technologies and operates under United States jurisdiction.
IVPN
Gibraltar-based VPN with multi-hop routing and anonymous signup.
IVPN allows signup without an email, cash or Monero payment and multi-hop routing with open-source apps, but costs more than budget providers and has no free tier.
Windscribe
Canadian VPN with built-in ad blocking and a usable free tier.
Windscribe adds a free tier with a monthly allowance plus built-in ad and tracker blocking and open-source apps, but is based in Five Eyes member Canada.
Mozilla VPN
A paid WireGuard-based VPN service from Mozilla that runs on Mullvad's server network.
Mozilla VPN runs WireGuard on Mullvad's server network under one subscription for up to five devices, with a 30-day refund, but has a smaller server network.
Also worth comparing
These listings name ExpressVPN as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
AirVPN
Activist-run VPN with OpenVPN, WireGuard and detailed server statistics.
ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers, its own Lightway protocol and router firmware, but its apps are closed source and it is among the most expensive consumer VPNs.
Astrill VPN
A commercial VPN service with a proprietary StealthVPN protocol for restrictive networks.
ExpressVPN offers RAM-only servers, the Lightway protocol and router firmware with published audits, but it is among the most expensive consumer VPNs and lacks StealthVPN.
Avast SecureLine VPN
A subscription VPN app from Avast for encrypting internet traffic on desktop and mobile devices.
ExpressVPN adds Linux apps, router firmware, RAM-only servers and the Lightway protocol with published audits, but it is among the most expensive consumer VPNs.
Cloudflare WARP
A free WireGuard-based tunnel to Cloudflare that encrypts your traffic without pretending to be a privacy VPN.
ExpressVPN is a paid service with RAM-only servers and its Lightway protocol, but it is among the most expensive consumer VPNs and its apps are closed source.
CyberGhost VPN
A commercial VPN service with apps for desktops, phones, TVs, routers and web browsers.
ExpressVPN brings RAM-only servers, the Lightway protocol and router firmware with published audits, but it is among the most expensive consumer VPNs.
F-Secure VPN
A paid commercial VPN service from F-Secure that encrypts your connection and hides your IP address.
ExpressVPN adds Linux apps, router firmware, RAM-only servers and the Lightway protocol with published audits, at a higher price than most consumer VPNs.
HMA VPN
A commercial VPN service, formerly Hide My Ass, with servers in more than 65 countries.
ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers and its Lightway protocol with published audits and router firmware, but is among the most expensive consumer VPNs.
IPVanish
A commercial VPN service with apps for common devices and a verified no-traffic-logs policy.
ExpressVPN adds RAM-only servers, the Lightway protocol, router firmware and a Linux app, but it is among the most expensive consumer VPNs.
Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection
A commercial VPN app from Kaspersky that encrypts your internet traffic on public and home networks.
ExpressVPN adds Linux apps, router firmware, RAM-only servers and the Lightway protocol with published audits, but it is among the most expensive consumer VPNs.
Mysterium VPN
A paid decentralized VPN that routes traffic through residential IP addresses in over 100 countries.
ExpressVPN runs RAM-only servers with its Lightway protocol, published audits and a Linux app, instead of routing through other people's residential connections, at a high price.
OVPN
A Swedish paid VPN service with a no-logging policy and diskless servers on hardware it owns.
ExpressVPN also uses RAM-only servers with published audits and adds its Lightway protocol and a Linux app, but costs more and is owned by Kape Technologies.
PrivateVPN
A Swedish commercial VPN service with apps for desktop, mobile and routers.
ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers and its Lightway protocol with published audits and router firmware, at a higher price than most consumer VPNs.
PureVPN
A commercial VPN service with apps for desktop, mobile and TV devices and a large server network.
ExpressVPN adds RAM-only servers, the Lightway protocol with published audits and router firmware, at one of the highest prices among consumer VPNs.
StrongVPN
A long-running commercial VPN service with WireGuard support, SmartDNS and eSIM data in one plan.
ExpressVPN runs RAM-only servers with its own Lightway protocol and published audits, adds Linux and router firmware, but is among the most expensive consumer VPNs.
TorGuard
A commercial VPN and proxy service with stealth connection options and client apps, including Android.
ExpressVPN runs RAM-only servers and the Lightway protocol with published audits, and covers desktop, mobile and routers at a higher price.
VeePN
A commercial VPN service with desktop apps and browser extensions for hiding your IP address.
ExpressVPN offers RAM-only servers, the Lightway protocol and published audits across desktop, mobile and routers, at a price among the highest for consumer VPNs.
VPN.ac
A commercial VPN service with WireGuard, OpenVPN and obfuscated protocols and servers in many countries.
ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers and its own Lightway protocol with published audits, adds router firmware, and is among the most expensive consumer VPNs.
VyprVPN
A commercial no-log VPN service with apps for computers, phones and TV devices.
ExpressVPN runs RAM-only servers with its audited Lightway protocol and router firmware, at one of the highest prices among consumer VPNs.
X-VPN
A commercial VPN service with a free tier and apps for desktop, mobile, TV and browsers.
ExpressVPN is paid only, with RAM-only servers, the Lightway protocol, published audits and router firmware, at a price among the highest for consumer VPNs.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
DD-WRT
Third-party open-source router firmware that adds VPN, QoS and advanced routing to consumer routers.
WireGuard
A small, fast VPN protocol and set of official clients that connect two machines by exchanging public keys.
DNS Leak Test
A web test that shows which DNS servers your connection is actually using.
Norton 360
A paid security suite combining antivirus, a VPN, identity protection and scam detection.
