ExpressVPN Review – Privacy HQ

The ExpressVPN application supports a wide range of target devices and operating systems. The iOS application is straightforward to install, but configuration options are limited. The features available vary significantly by host OS. For example, important functions like split tunneling are only available on a small subset of supported OS.

Applications are available for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, Chromebook, and KindleFire. Browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Applications are also available for smart TVs and streaming devices, popular gaming consoles, and some routers. For this review, the iOS app was installed on an iPad and evaluated.

The interface takes minimalism to the extreme, with connectivity status indicated with the screen color with a small box showing the connected VPN server. There is no world map or any other useful status information.

Switching to a different server was straightforward. A list showing recommended servers or all servers can be pulled up to choose an alternate server. The main display also lists the last servers used and the recommended server. The specific criteria for how the recommended server is determined is not provided.

Not all servers support all the available VPN protocols, so care will need to be taken if a specific protocol is required. The support pages include details of which servers support which protocols.

While the service supports a global network, the focus is on the US. The application offers connections through servers located in 94 countries and has options for 24 different locations in the US, 5 in Australia, 4 in the UK, and 4 in Canada. There are options for major European countries and 4 options for Africa. There is good support for Asia, including a server within China. The service does use virtual servers for some countries, and these are listed on the support pages.

For some platforms, the VPN service includes an automatic Kill Switch function if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, blocking the internet connection to prevent a data leak. This feature was not available for the iOS app evaluated.

A limited number of supported platforms include a split tunnelling function that allows users to choose which specific applications or websites do not connect via the VPN, connecting directly via the ISP server. The network traffic encryption uses AES-256, not configurable by the user.

ExpressVPN does not include support for anonymous static IP addresses or include any add-on services to the standard product subscription.