The 10 Best ExpressVPN Alternatives In 2026

ExpressVPN is a solid VPN. But it’s also one of the most expensive ones out there. And for a lot of people, the price simply doesn’t match what they actually need.

So we did the research. We looked at speed, privacy, price, streaming performance, and real-world usability. Here are the ten best alternatives worth switching to in 2026 — and exactly what makes each one worth your time.

Why People Are Actually Looking to Switch

The most common reason is price. According to ExpressVPN’s own pricing page, the monthly plan runs close to $13 on the basic tier — and climbs higher on advanced plans. For a tool you use every day, that adds up fast.

Then there’s the ownership question. ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies — the same company that owns CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and several VPN review websites.

As Restore Privacy’s VPN ownership report points out, that level of consolidation makes a lot of privacy-focused users uncomfortable. And fairly so.

Some people also want features ExpressVPN just doesn’t have. Unlimited device connections. Tor over VPN. Open-source apps. A free tier to test before paying. Whatever your reason, better options exist — and we’ve laid them all out below.

How We Evaluated Each VPN

We didn’t just skim marketing pages. We looked at independent speed tests, third-party privacy audits, streaming hit rates, jurisdiction, ownership, and real pricing — not just the introductory discount rate.

Every VPN here does at least one thing better than ExpressVPN. Some do several things better. We’ve been clear about what that is for each one, so you can match the right tool to what you actually need.

1. NordVPN — The Best Overall ExpressVPN Alternative

If you want one pick and nothing else, NordVPN is it. It’s faster than ExpressVPN in independent testing, has a bigger server network, and costs a lot less — especially on a two-year plan.

In head-to-head speed tests by Tom’s Guide, NordVPN hit 857 Mbps versus ExpressVPN’s 808 Mbps. That gap won’t matter much for most users, but it does confirm NordVPN isn’t trading speed for price. The network covers 9,000+ servers across 130 countries — solid for almost any use case.

Feature-wise, you get a kill switch, split tunnelling, multi-hop routing, Tor over VPN, and an ad and malware blocker. Higher-tier plans add Threat Protection Pro, which scans downloads and blocks malicious sites in real time. All servers are RAM-only — no data ever written to disk.

In January 2026, NordVPN’s official blog confirmed it pushed virtual server locations to 79 — adding nearly 30 new spots aimed at helping users bypass censorship in restrictive regions. A useful update if you travel to or live in countries with heavy internet blocks.

Privacy is strong too. NordVPN is based in Panama, well outside Five Eyes jurisdiction, and holds an independently audited no-logs policy. Streaming hit rates are 100% across Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu in 2026 testing, per TechRadar’s VPN review.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Cost
Standard (2-year)	$3.99/month
Plus (2-year)	$4.99/month
Complete (2-year)	$5.99/month
Monthly	~$12.99/month

Devices: 6 simultaneous connections Money-back guarantee: 30 days

Also read: AudioZ Alternatives: 15 Legal Sites for Free VSTs, Samples, Demos

2. Surfshark — Best If You Have a Lot of Devices

Surfshark does one thing no other major VPN does at this price — unlimited simultaneous connections. One plan covers every device in your house. Phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV, your partner’s phone, your kid’s tablet. All of it.

Speed is also genuinely impressive. In UK-to-UK server tests reported by PCMag, Surfshark topped out at 1,615 Mbps — one of the fastest results recorded in 2026. WireGuard is the default protocol, and it shows.

It also has Camouflage Mode, which hides your VPN traffic when using OpenVPN. Useful in countries that actively try to detect and block VPN connections. And the Alternative ID feature generates temporary contact details so you can sign up to sites without handing over your real email.

In January 2026, Surfshark had its full network infrastructure audited by cybersecurity firm SecuRing. A lot of VPNs claim privacy without proving it. This one has receipts.

Worth knowing: Surfshark is owned by Nord Security — the same company behind NordVPN. They run separately with their own apps and infrastructure, but they share a parent.

Fine for most users. Worth knowing if corporate independence matters to you.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Cost
Starter (2-year)	$1.99/month
One (2-year)	$2.69/month
One+ (2-year)	$4.29/month
Monthly renewal	~$6.60/month

Devices: Unlimited Money-back guarantee: 30 days

3. Proton VPN — Best ExpressVPN Alternative for Privacy-First Users

If privacy is the main reason you want a VPN, Proton VPN is the one to look at hardest. It’s built by the same team behind Proton Mail — a company with a real track record of defending user data under legal pressure.

Proton VPN is based in Switzerland and runs under Swiss privacy law — outside all Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes alliances. As Proton’s own legal transparency report explains, that’s one of the strongest legal setups any VPN can offer.

The feature list is deep. Kill switch, split tunnelling, ad and malware blocking, port forwarding, multi-hop routing, and Tor access through the VPN. All apps are fully open-source — you can inspect the code yourself on Proton VPN’s GitHub and verify exactly what it does. Most VPNs don’t come close to that level of openness.

The network is one of the biggest here — 17,400+ servers in 127 countries. Streaming holds up well too, with solid access to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Max, and Sky TV.

And there’s a genuinely unlimited free plan. No ads, no data caps, no time limits — just fewer server locations and slightly slower peak speeds. If you’re not ready to pay yet, it’s a real option. One account also ties into Proton Mail and Proton Drive at no extra cost.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Cost
Free	$0
VPN Plus (2-year)	$4.99/month
Proton Unlimited (2-year)	$7.99/month
Monthly	~$9.99/month

Devices: Up to 10 simultaneous connections Money-back guarantee: 30 days

Also read: Top 5 Templetoons.com Alternatives [2026 Updated List]

4. CyberGhost — Best for Streaming Beginners

CyberGhost takes a different approach. Instead of making you pick a server and configure a protocol, it organises everything by what you want to do. Pick “For streaming,” “For torrenting,” or “For browsing” — and it handles the rest.

That makes it the most beginner-friendly pick on this list by a wide margin. You don’t need to know what WireGuard is or why server location matters. Just pick your task and hit connect.

The server network is one of the largest here — 11,500+ servers across 100 countries. As CyberGhost’s server page shows, streaming servers are labelled by name — Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ — so you always know which one to use. TechRadar’s 2026 tests put streaming hit rates at 100% across major platforms.

CyberGhost also has the longest money-back window here — 45 days. Nearly a month and a half to try it with no risk.

One ownership note worth flagging: CyberGhost is owned by Kape Technologies — the same company that owns ExpressVPN. So if you’re switching away from ExpressVPN specifically because of Kape, this one doesn’t change that.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Cost
2-year plan	$2.19/month
1-year plan	$3.99/month
Monthly	$12.99/month

Devices: 7 simultaneous connections Money-back guarantee: 45 days

Also read: Heroku Reviews: Pros, Cons & Best Alternatives

5. Private Internet Access — Best for Torrenting and Power Users

Private Internet Access — most people just call it PIA — is the VPN for users who want to configure things their own way. It has the biggest server network on this list — 35,000+ servers across 84 countries — and allows P2P traffic on every single one.

Port forwarding support puts it ahead of most rivals for torrent users chasing maximum speeds. Unlimited simultaneous connections means no device juggling. And as shown on PIA’s GitHub, all client apps are fully open-source — publicly verifiable by anyone.

The no-logs policy has been confirmed in court twice. Not just claimed — actually tested under real legal pressure and held up. And that kind of real-world proof is something very few VPNs can point to.

PIA is also Kape Technologies-owned — same parent as ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. So again, if Kape is your concern, PIA won’t fix that. But for raw performance, deep customisation, and serious torrenting? Hard to beat at this price.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Cost
3-year plan	$2.03/month
1-year plan	$3.33/month
Monthly	~$11.95/month

Devices: Unlimited Money-back guarantee: 30 days

6. Mullvad — Best for Maximum Anonymity

Mullvad is the most privacy-extreme VPN on this list. And it earns that honestly.

To sign up, you don’t give an email address. No username either. You get a random account number — and that’s the whole process. Payment can be cash in an envelope or Bitcoin via the Lightning Network. As Mullvad’s sign-up page makes clear, the goal is to leave as little trace as possible. Every design decision reflects that.

All 700+ servers are owned outright by Mullvad — not rented from third-party data centres. All run on RAM only, so nothing ever touches a disk. Quantum-resistant tunnels are already in place. DNS filtering covers ads, trackers, malware, gambling, and adult content.

Pricing is also unusually clean. One flat rate: €5 per month. No long-term discount. No tricks. What you see is what you pay.

Speed is mid-tier — around 310 Mbps nearby and 180 Mbps on distant servers, per Tom’s Guide’s Mullvad review. Fine for most tasks. But streaming is a different story. Mullvad doesn’t try to unblock Netflix, Disney+, or BBC iPlayer — and in testing, none worked.

This is a privacy tool, not a streaming one.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Cost
Any plan (flat rate)	€5/month (~$5.44)

Devices: 5 simultaneous connections Money-back guarantee: 30-day refund available

7. IPVanish — Best for Families and IPTV Users

IPVanish doesn’t get as much press as NordVPN or Surfshark. But for one type of user — someone who needs whole-home VPN coverage and watches IPTV — it’s one of the best fits available.

Unlimited simultaneous connections is the headline. One plan covers every device in the house without caps. For families or shared homes, that’s a real money-saver versus juggling multiple subscriptions.

IPTV support is strong. As IPVanish’s Firestick setup guide shows, it works well with Firestick and similar devices, and the interface is clean enough for anyone to use. You also get split tunnelling, a kill switch, and WireGuard across 2,200+ servers in 75+ locations.

The privacy side is weaker. IPVanish is US-based — Five Eyes territory. If legal privacy protection is your top priority, that’s a real flag. For everyday tasks like securing public Wi-Fi or basic geo-unblocking, it matters less.

Streaming is inconsistent — not as reliable as NordVPN or Surfshark across Netflix regions.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Cost
2-year plan	~$2.19/month
1-year plan	~$3.99/month
Monthly	$10.99/month

Devices: Unlimited Money-back guarantee: 30 days

Also read: Rare Toons India — 10 Working Alternatives In 2025

8. Windscribe — Best Free-to-Paid Upgrade To ExpressVPN

Windscribe sits in a unique spot. It has a genuinely useful free plan — 10GB per month, servers in over a dozen countries, and no payment details needed to start.

For light users, that free tier may be all you ever need. Step up to paid, and it costs $5.75 per month on an annual plan — one of the lowest full-featured rates anywhere. The “Build-a-Plan” option is also worth knowing about. You pay per server location, starting from $1 per location per month. If you only need one or two regions, it can work out very cheap.

The R.O.B.E.R.T. feature is genuinely useful. As Windscribe’s feature page explains, it’s a custom DNS blocker you control — ads, malware, trackers, social networks, adult content — you set the rules. All apps are open-source and available on Windscribe’s GitHub.

One honest caveat though. Windscribe is Canada-based — Five Eyes. And as Privacy Guides notes, the no-logs policy hasn’t been independently audited yet.

You’re trusting their word, not verified proof. Worth knowing before you commit.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Cost
Free	$0 (10GB/month)
Pro (yearly)	$5.75/month
Monthly	$9/month
Build-a-plan	From $1/location/month

Devices: Unlimited (paid); 2 (free) Money-back guarantee: 3 days

9. PrivadoVPN — Best Ultra-Budget Option

If budget is the deciding factor and everything else is secondary, PrivadoVPN is the cheapest credible option here — $1.11 per month on a two-year plan.

It’s Switzerland-based, runs under Swiss privacy law, and sits outside Five Eyes. Zero-logs policy, AES-256 encryption, kill switch, and a SOCKS5 proxy. As PrivadoVPN’s privacy policy states clearly, no browsing logs, connection logs, or IP addresses are ever stored.

The free plan gives you 10GB per month across 12 server locations — fine for occasional use. Paid plans open up 63+ countries and add reliable streaming on Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime.

It’s not competing with NordVPN on features or Mullvad on privacy depth. But for users who want a reliable, affordable VPN that does the basics well without a big upfront commitment?

PrivadoVPN is a solid, underrated pick.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Cost
2-year plan	$1.11/month
1-year plan	$2.50/month
Monthly	$10.99/month

Devices: 10 simultaneous connections Money-back guarantee: 30 days

10. Norton Secure VPN — Best for Existing Norton Users

Norton Secure VPN isn’t built to compete with NordVPN or Mullvad. It’s for one specific person — someone already on Norton’s security suite who wants VPN protection without managing a whole new subscription.

Every plan includes AES-256 encryption, an ad blocker, and a kill switch. The interface is clean. Setup is quick. As Norton’s VPN product page shows, it uses OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec — reliable and stable, if not cutting-edge.

The privacy limits are worth being straight about. As PCMag’s Norton Secure VPN review notes, Norton operates under US jurisdiction — which means the government can legally request user data. For serious privacy needs, that’s a real concern. For basic public Wi-Fi security and standard geo-unblocking, it does the job fine.

Streaming is basic. Works for common tasks but not reliable across all platforms.

Pricing:

Plan	Monthly Cost
1-device (annual)	$3.33/month
5-device (annual)	$4.99/month
10-device (annual)	$7.99/month

Devices: 1–10 depending on plan Money-back guarantee: 60 days

Also read: 10 Best VIPBox/VIPLeague/VIPRow Alternatives For Live Sport

Complete ExpressVPN Alternatives Comparison At A Glance:

VPN	Best For	Starting Price	Devices	Money-Back
NordVPN	Best overall	$3.99/mo	6	30 days
Surfshark	Unlimited devices	$1.99/mo	Unlimited	30 days
Proton VPN	Privacy + free plan	Free / $4.99/mo	10	30 days
CyberGhost	Streaming beginners	$2.19/mo	7	45 days
PIA	Torrenting & power users	$2.03/mo	Unlimited	30 days
Mullvad	Maximum anonymity	€5/mo (flat)	5	30 days
IPVanish	Families & IPTV	$2.19/mo	Unlimited	30 days
Windscribe	Free-to-paid upgrade	Free / $5.75/mo	Unlimited	3 days
PrivadoVPN	Ultra-budget	$1.11/mo	10	30 days
Norton Secure VPN	Existing Norton users	$3.33/mo	1–10	60 days

The Ownership Problem Nobody Talks About Enough

Before you pick a VPN, this is worth knowing. The market is far more consolidated than it looks.

Kape Technologies owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access. It also owns several popular VPN review sites. Nord Security owns both NordVPN and Surfshark. As Wired’s piece on VPN ownership points out, what looks like a wide-open market is really controlled by a handful of corporate groups.

That’s not automatically a problem. But it matters — especially if you’re leaving ExpressVPN because of Kape. CyberGhost and PIA won’t fix that. You’d still be in the same corporate family.

The genuinely independent options here are Proton VPN, Mullvad, and Windscribe. No siblings. No shared parent. If true independence matters to you, those three are the ones to focus on.

So Which ExpressVPN’s Alternate Should You Actually Pick?

Here’s a simple way to cut through it. You don’t need the most expensive or the most loaded VPN. You need the one that fits how you actually use it.

Best all-around replacement — go with NordVPN. Unlimited devices — go with Surfshark. Privacy above all — go with Proton VPN or Mullvad. Serious torrenting — go with PIA. Tightest budget — PrivadoVPN at $1.11 a month is hard to argue with.

Every VPN here offers at least a 30-day money-back guarantee. Most have a free tier or trial. There’s no reason to commit blind — test it, use it for real, and decide from there.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)