Here's something that might surprise you: ExpressVPN used to be the undisputed king of streaming VPNs — the one every reviewer recommended without hesitation. That's no longer true. NordVPN quietly closed the gap, then in several areas overtook it. And yet ExpressVPN still charges more. So which one should you actually pay for? We tested both, properly, so you don't have to guess.
Quick Verdict
NordVPN wins this head-to-head. It's quicker, cheaper, and handles streaming with fewer headaches than it used to. We'd score it 8.5/10. ExpressVPN earns a respectable 7.5/10 — it's not bad, it's just no longer worth the premium for the majority of users. If you're a normal person who wants to watch something that isn't available in your country without thinking too hard about it, NordVPN is where we'd point you.
What We Tested and How
We ran both VPNs through three weeks of real-world testing — not synthetic benchmarks in a lab, but actual use across multiple countries. Our testing covered the US, UK, Australia, and Germany, using both Windows and macOS desktops plus iOS and Android phones.
We tested streaming platforms by connecting through each VPN's recommended servers and trying to actually watch content — not just checking whether a homepage loaded. We recorded speeds at different times of day using the same base connection (a 500 Mbps UK fibre line). And we checked privacy policies, audits, and leak protection manually, because there's a lot of marketing fluff in this space that doesn't hold up under scrutiny.
Neither company paid us, gave us review accounts, or saw this article before publication. We bought our own subscriptions.
Streaming Performance
This is probably why you're here. You want to watch something you can't watch where you are, and you need to know which VPN will actually do that reliably.
NordVPN: What It Unblocks
NordVPN handled every major streaming service we threw at it. Netflix US, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan — all worked. BBC iPlayer unblocked consistently, which has historically been a problem for a lot of VPNs. Disney+ USA worked without issues. HBO Max (now just Max) unblocked fine on US servers. ESPN+ for US sports worked. DAZN for sports fans abroad connected without a fight.
We also tested some trickier targets. Peacock — often picky — worked. Hulu worked. Channel 4 in the UK worked. The only real stumble was with some regional sports blackouts, but that's a broadcasting rights issue, not a VPN issue. No VPN fixes that.
ExpressVPN: What It Unblocks
ExpressVPN's track record here is still solid. Netflix US, UK, and most regions worked. BBC iPlayer connected. Disney+ USA and Amazon Prime Video for various regions all came through. It has a well-earned reputation for being good at this.
But we noticed it was more hit-and-miss with Hulu, requiring a server switch once before it clicked. And DAZN gave us a couple of error messages before finally working. Nothing catastrophic — but NordVPN was more consistent on these harder targets.
The honest comparison
Both unblock the big stuff. NordVPN has an edge on reliability for the trickier platforms. If streaming is your main reason for getting a VPN, NordVPN is the safer bet right now.
Speed and Reliability
Speed matters more than people think. A VPN that drops your 200 Mbps connection to 40 Mbps is going to give you buffering problems on 4K content. And nothing is more annoying than a VPN that keeps disconnecting mid-episode.
NordVPN runs on a protocol called NordLynx, which is built on WireGuard — currently the fastest VPN protocol available. On our UK test connection, NordVPN averaged around 420–460 Mbps on nearby servers. Even connecting to US servers from the UK, we were seeing 200–280 Mbps. That's genuinely fast. Latency was low, connections were stable, and we didn't experience a single unexpected drop during three weeks of testing.
ExpressVPN uses its own protocol called Lightway, which is also fast — faster than OpenVPN or IKEv2 — but it didn't quite match NordLynx in our tests. We averaged around 320–380 Mbps on nearby servers, and US connections from the UK sat around 150–200 Mbps. Still more than fast enough for streaming in 4K, but the gap is real.
Reliability-wise, both were solid. But NordVPN's kill switch (which cuts your internet if the VPN drops, protecting your real IP) is more aggressive and reliable than ExpressVPN's in our testing. Small thing, but worth knowing.
Privacy and Security
Here's where things get genuinely interesting — and where ExpressVPN has a bit of a reputation problem it's never fully shaken.
In 2021, one of ExpressVPN's key executives was revealed to have previously worked for a UAE government hacking operation. ExpressVPN stood by him, which made a lot of privacy advocates uncomfortable. The company has since been acquired by Kape Technologies, a firm with its own complicated history. None of this means ExpressVPN is actively unsafe to use — but if privacy is a serious concern for you, these aren't footnotes.
NordVPN isn't perfect either. It had a server breach in 2018 — a single server in Finland was accessed without authorisation. The company didn't disclose it quickly enough, which was a legitimate criticism. But since then, they've undergone multiple independent security audits (by Deloitte and others), implemented a verified no-logs policy, and moved to RAM-only servers that don't store anything permanently.
Both now operate verified no-logs policies. Both have passed independent audits. Both have solid leak protection. But NordVPN's current ownership structure (a private company based in Panama) and its more transparent audit history give it the edge for anyone who takes privacy seriously.
And if you want an extra layer, NordVPN includes Double VPN (routing through two servers) and Onion over VPN in its standard subscription. ExpressVPN doesn't have an equivalent feature at the same price.
Apps and Ease of Use
This matters. A VPN you can't figure out is a VPN you won't use.
ExpressVPN has historically had the better app design — cleaner, simpler, one big button to connect. It still looks great. The server list is easy to search, and there's a useful "recommended" section that takes the guesswork out of which server to pick for streaming. Setup on a new device takes about three minutes.
NordVPN's apps have improved a lot. They used to feel cluttered. The current versions are genuinely user-friendly — the map interface is intuitive, the Specialty Servers section makes it obvious which servers are optimised for streaming, and the Threat Protection feature (which blocks trackers and malware) is a nice bonus that just runs quietly in the background.
One area where ExpressVPN genuinely wins: router support. If you want to protect your whole home network — including smart TVs and games consoles that can't run a VPN app — ExpressVPN's router app is far better. It works with more router models and is considerably easier to set up than NordVPN's equivalent. If that's important to you, it's a real differentiator.
Both support Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and browser extensions. Both allow multiple simultaneous connections — ExpressVPN gives you 8 devices, NordVPN gives you 6. Not a dealbreaker either way.
Pricing and Value
This is where NordVPN really pulls ahead.
NordVPN's best deal is a two-year plan at around $3.39/month (about £2.70 / €3.10) when you catch a promotion, though the standard two-year rate sits around $4.99/month (about £3.95 / €4.60). Monthly plans cost $12.99/month (about £10.30 / €12) if you need flexibility. There's a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked.
ExpressVPN is noticeably pricier. Their best long-term deal is a 12-month plan at $8.32/month (about £6.60 / €7.70). Monthly goes up to $12.95/month (about £10.25 / €11.95). They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
So you're paying roughly twice as much for ExpressVPN on an annual basis. For most people, that's hard to justify when NordVPN outperforms it on speed and matches or beats it on streaming. The only real exception is if you need that router app, or if you've tried NordVPN and had specific issues with it that ExpressVPN solves.
Who It's Best For (and Who Should Look Elsewhere)
Choose NordVPN if…
- You want to unblock streaming services reliably — Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, sports platforms abroad
- Speed matters to you (4K streaming, gaming, large downloads)
- You want strong privacy without paying extra for it
- You're price-conscious — the long-term plans are genuinely good value
- You want extras like Threat Protection and Double VPN included
Choose ExpressVPN if…
- You want to install a VPN on your home router to cover smart TVs and consoles — their router app is genuinely better
- You live in or travel to countries with heavy censorship (China, UAE, Russia) — ExpressVPN has a stronger track record for bypassing deep packet inspection
- You've used NordVPN and had problems connecting to specific services
- You want the simplest possible app experience and are willing to pay for it
Who should look elsewhere entirely?
If your only goal is unblocking a specific streaming service from one country and you're not worried about privacy, a cheaper dedicated streaming unblocking tool (like a Smart DNS service) might do the job for less money. And if you're dealing with serious censorship in a high-risk environment, you should be looking at something like Mullvad or ProtonVPN, which have stronger privacy credentials than either of these.
Final Verdict
NordVPN wins. It's faster, cheaper, unblocks more content reliably, and has cleaned up its act on privacy with audits and RAM-only servers. We'd give it 8.5/10.
ExpressVPN is still a good VPN — genuinely — and if you need router support or you're regularly in countries that censor the internet aggressively, it earns its higher price. We'd score it 7.5/10.
But if you came here asking which one to buy and you just want to watch what you want, wherever you are? Get NordVPN on a two-year plan, use the 30-day money-back guarantee if it doesn't work for your specific use case, and don't overthink it. That's what we'd do.
→ Get NordVPN at the best current price
→ Try ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days
