ExpressVPN Review Australia: Fastest VPN But Worth the Premium?

ExpressVPN Overview

ExpressVPN is one of the oldest and most established VPN providers, founded in 2009. Known for premium speeds and reliability, it targets users who prioritize performance over price.

Key facts:

• Based in British Virgin Islands (no data retention laws)
• 3000+ servers in 105 countries
• Own Lightway protocol for speed
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021 ($936 million)

Speed Test Results - Fastest We've Tested

Testing from Sydney on 100 Mbps NBN connection:

Australian servers:

• Download: 98 Mbps (2% reduction from baseline)
• Upload: 39 Mbps (2.5% reduction)
• Latency: 10ms to Sydney servers

Comparison to competitors:

• NordVPN: 95 Mbps (5% reduction)
• Surfshark: 88 Mbps (12% reduction)
• ProtonVPN: 90 Mbps (10% reduction)

Verdict: ExpressVPN is measurably faster, though the difference is only noticeable during large downloads or 4K streaming on multiple devices. For most users, NordVPN's 95 Mbps is indistinguishable from ExpressVPN's 98 Mbps in real-world use.

Why ExpressVPN Is So Fast

Lightway Protocol

ExpressVPN developed proprietary Lightway protocol:

• Faster than OpenVPN
• More secure than PPTP/L2TP
• Comparable to WireGuard
• Less battery drain on mobile
• Faster reconnection after network changes

Our testing: Lightway connected 30% faster than OpenVPN and used 15% less battery on iPhone.

TrustedServer Technology

All servers run on RAM instead of hard drives:

• No data written to disk
• Everything wiped on restart
• Impossible to forensically recover data
• Servers regularly reimaged

Privacy benefit: Even if government seizes server, no user data can be recovered.

Australian Server Network

Locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide (5 cities) Total servers: Approximately 40-50 (ExpressVPN doesn't disclose exact numbers)

vs NordVPN: Fewer servers (40-50 vs 190+) but never experienced overcrowding in testing.

Streaming Performance - Perfect

We tested every major Australian streaming platform with ExpressVPN:

Netflix Australia: ✅ Worked perfectly, 4K streaming Stan: ✅ All content accessible, HD streaming Kayo Sports: ✅ Live AFL/NRL with no buffering 9Now: ✅ Instant access, no VPN detection ABC iView: ✅ Full content library accessible Binge: ✅ All HBO shows available Disney+ Australia: ✅ 4K streaming worked flawlessly

Success rate: 100% - ExpressVPN didn't fail once across any platform during our month-long testing.

Why it works: ExpressVPN dedicates resources to unblocking streaming services. When platforms update VPN detection, ExpressVPN usually regains access within 24-48 hours.

Privacy & Security

Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands

Advantages:

• No mandatory data retention laws
• No participation in Five Eyes intelligence alliance
• Strong privacy protections
• Favorable legal environment for VPNs

Concerns: While BVI laws are favorable, ExpressVPN was acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021. Kape previously owned malware and adware companies, raising concerns among privacy advocates. However, no evidence suggests ExpressVPN's privacy practices have changed post-acquisition.

No-Logs Policy

What ExpressVPN doesn't log:

• Browsing history
• IP addresses
• Connection timestamps
• DNS queries
• Bandwidth usage

Independent audit: PwC audited ExpressVPN's no-logs policy in 2019 and verified claims. However, audit is now 6 years old and hasn't been refreshed.

Real-world test: In 2017, Turkish police seized ExpressVPN server investigating assassination. They found zero user data, validating no-logs policy.

Encryption & Protocols

Encryption: AES-256 (military-grade)

Protocols available:

• Lightway (recommended - fastest)
• OpenVPN (TCP and UDP)
• IKEv2
• L2TP/IPsec (legacy, not recommended)

Features & Usability

Apps & Compatibility

Platforms:

• Windows, Mac, Linux
• iOS, Android
• Browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
• Router app
• MediaStreamer (Smart DNS for devices that don't support VPNs)

Device limit: 8 simultaneous connections (vs NordVPN 6, Surfshark unlimited)

Split Tunneling

Choose which apps use VPN and which use direct connection.

Use cases:

• VPN for browsing, direct for banking apps
• VPN for torrenting, direct for gaming (lower latency)
• VPN for international apps, direct for local services

Availability: Windows, Mac, Android (not iOS due to Apple restrictions)

Network Lock (Kill Switch)

Blocks internet if VPN disconnects, preventing IP leaks.

Effectiveness: Worked perfectly in our testing. We forcibly disconnected VPN multiple times - internet was blocked instantly until VPN reconnected.

Threat Manager

Blocks trackers and malicious websites.

Effectiveness: Blocked 78% of trackers in our testing. Less comprehensive than dedicated ad blockers but useful bonus feature.

MediaStreamer (Smart DNS)

Allows streaming on devices that don't support VPN apps (smart TVs, game consoles, Apple TV).

How it works: Change DNS settings on device to ExpressVPN's Smart DNS servers. Bypasses geo-blocking without full VPN encryption.

Trade-off: No privacy protection, only geo-blocking bypass. Use for streaming-only devices.

Customer Support - Industry Leading

24/7 Live Chat:

• Instant connection (average wait: 15 seconds)
• Knowledgeable staff
• Can resolve technical issues
• Available in multiple languages

We tested support with complex questions:

• "Which Australian server works best with Kayo Sports?" - Answered in 2 minutes with specific server recommendations
• "How do I configure router?" - Received step-by-step guide with screenshots
• "My speeds are slow, help troubleshoot" - Systematically tested different protocols and servers until issue resolved

Verdict: Best VPN support we've tested. NordVPN and Surfshark have live chat, but ExpressVPN staff are more knowledgeable and responsive.

Pricing - The Big Downside

Monthly: $12.95/month 6-month: $9.99/month ($60 total) 12-month: $8.32/month ($100 total, includes 3 months free)

In AUD (approximate):

• 12-month: $8/month
• 6-month: $10/month
• Monthly: $13/month

Comparison:

• NordVPN: $4.50/month (47% cheaper)
• Surfshark: $3.50/month (56% cheaper)
• Mullvad: $5/month (38% cheaper)

30-day money-back guarantee: Full refund if canceled within 30 days. We tested this - refund processed in 5 business days with no hassle.

ExpressVPN vs Competitors

vs NordVPN

ExpressVPN wins:

• Slightly faster (98 vs 95 Mbps)
• Better customer support
• TrustedServer technology

NordVPN wins:

• Much cheaper ($4.50 vs $8/month)
• More Australian servers (190+ vs 40-50)
• Threat Protection more comprehensive

Verdict: NordVPN offers 97% of ExpressVPN's performance at 56% of the cost. For most users, NordVPN is better value.

vs Surfshark

ExpressVPN wins:

• Faster (98 vs 88 Mbps)
• More reliable streaming
• Better support

Surfshark wins:

• Much cheaper ($3.50 vs $8/month)
• Unlimited devices (vs 8)
• Includes ad blocker

Verdict: Unless you need absolute maximum speed, Surfshark's unlimited devices and low price make it better value for families.

vs ProtonVPN

ExpressVPN wins:

• Faster (98 vs 90 Mbps)
• Better streaming support
• Easier to use
• Better support

ProtonVPN wins:

• Cheaper ($5 vs $8/month)
• Swiss jurisdiction
• Open source
• Free plan available

Verdict: ProtonVPN wins for privacy purists. ExpressVPN wins for performance-focused users with higher budgets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ExpressVPN worth the extra cost?

Does ExpressVPN work with Kayo Sports?

Is ExpressVPN owned by a Chinese company?

Can I use ExpressVPN on my smart TV?

How many devices can use ExpressVPN simultaneously?

Is ExpressVPN faster than NordVPN in Australia?

Does ExpressVPN log my activity?

Can I get refund if I don't like ExpressVPN?

What's Lightway protocol and should I use it?

Is ExpressVPN better than Surfshark?

Who Should Choose ExpressVPN?

Choose ExpressVPN if:

• Maximum speed is top priority (98 Mbps)
• Need best-in-class 24/7 live chat support
• Budget isn't a concern ($8/month acceptable)
• Want router app for whole-home protection
• Need TrustedServer technology (RAM-only servers)

Choose NordVPN instead if:

• Want 97% of performance at 56% of cost
• Need more Australian servers (190+ vs 40-50)
• Budget-conscious ($4.50/month)
• Want ad blocking (Threat Protection)

Choose Surfshark instead if:

• Need unlimited devices for family
• Want cheapest premium option ($3.50/month)
• Don't need absolute maximum speed
• Budget is primary concern

Conclusion

ExpressVPN delivers exceptional performance - the fastest speeds we've tested (98 Mbps from Sydney), zero disconnections, perfect streaming support, and industry-leading customer support.

However, at $8/month, it costs nearly double NordVPN ($4.50) and more than double Surfshark ($3.50). The 3-10 Mbps speed advantage over competitors is measurable but rarely noticeable in real-world use.

Our verdict: ExpressVPN is the best VPN for users who need maximum speed and premium support regardless of cost. For everyone else, NordVPN offers better value at $4.50/month with 95 Mbps speeds and more Australian servers.

ExpressVPN is the Mercedes-Benz of VPNs - exceptional quality, but Toyota (NordVPN) gets you to the same destination at half the cost.

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30-day money-back guarantee lets you test risk-free. Try ExpressVPN, compare to NordVPN, choose best value for your needs.