ExpressVPN Review (2026): Audits, Ownership and Euro Prices, Research-Based
A research-based ExpressVPN review for European users: KPMG and Cure53 audits, TrustedServer, Lightway, British Virgin Islands jurisdiction and Kape ownership, the 2017 and 2021 episodes, devices, euro intro and renewal prices. Sources included.
Disclosure: NetNinjaVPN is reader-supported. Links marked /go/ may earn us a commission in future at no extra cost to you. This is a research-based review: we summarise ExpressVPN’s published documentation, prices and independent audits, with sources. We haven’t run our own lab tests. How we judge
On this page
Last checked: 30 October 2026 · NetNinjaVPN Research Desk
Verdict
ExpressVPN is the “pay a bit more, worry less” option: a deep audit record, a clear renewal price and a big network, with an offshore jurisdiction and a complicated ownership story. For European users it isn’t the cheapest choice, and its EU offer on 30 October 2026 was a 15-month plan rather than a 2-year one. But few providers publish as many independent reports, and ExpressVPN shows you what you’ll pay at renewal before you buy, which we value.
| Best for | Users who want a long, varied audit record and predictable pricing |
| Company | Express Technologies Ltd., British Virgin Islands; owned by Kape Technologies since 2021 |
| Audits | Third KPMG assessment (as of 28 Feb 2025); many Cure53 and other reports on its Trust Center |
| Protocol | Lightway (its own, built on wolfSSL), with post-quantum protection |
| Servers | TrustedServer: RAM-only; 113 countries, 214 locations (provider claim) |
| Devices | 10 (Basic) / 12 (Advanced) / 14 (Express Pro) |
| Price (EU) | Basic €4.49/mo: €67.35 for 15 months, renews €79.95/yr |
| Refund | 30-day money-back guarantee for new users (website purchases) |
See ExpressVPN’s current price →
Privacy and audits
ExpressVPN’s privacy policy says it doesn’t log browsing activity, traffic destinations, DNS queries or the VPN IP address you were assigned. The strength of the case rests on audits:
- KPMG: ExpressVPN’s third KPMG assessment examined its TrustedServer technology and privacy controls as of 28 February 2025 and found no issues with its safeguards against activity logging.
- Trust Center: ExpressVPN publishes a long list of further third-party audits and penetration tests, including Cure53 assessments of its apps, Lightway and infrastructure.
TrustedServer means every server runs from RAM rather than hard drives and is wiped on each reboot, so data can’t accumulate on disk.
Our read: among the big providers, only NordVPN rivals this record in length, and ExpressVPN’s covers more parts of its stack. See NordVPN vs ExpressVPN.
Jurisdiction and ownership
ExpressVPN operates under British Virgin Islands law, outside both the EU and the US. For EU users, that means GDPR obligations apply when it serves you, but there’s no EU establishment for direct supervision as with Surfshark (Netherlands).
Since 2021 ExpressVPN has belonged to Kape Technologies, which also owns CyberGhost and Private Internet Access. ExpressVPN has said it continues to run independently. Ownership concentration doesn’t prove anything about privacy, but if you want to diversify away from one group, it’s worth knowing.
Track record
Two episodes come up in every discussion of ExpressVPN:
- 2017, Turkey: Turkish authorities seized an ExpressVPN server while investigating the assassination of the Russian ambassador. ExpressVPN said investigators found no logs identifying the user, a rare real-world test of a no-logs claim.
- 2021, Daniel Gericke: ExpressVPN’s then chief information officer was one of three former US intelligence operatives in a US Department of Justice deferred prosecution agreement over hacking work for the UAE (“Project Raven”). ExpressVPN said it knew his history when it hired him and didn’t condone the activity, and it pointed to its independent audits.
Neither episode shows evidence of user logging. Readers weigh the second one differently; we report both.
Security features
- Lightway: ExpressVPN’s own protocol, built on the wolfSSL library and published as open source, designed for fast reconnection on mobile.
- Post-quantum protection, which ExpressVPN advertises on its order page.
- Network Lock (kill switch), private DNS on every server and automatic obfuscation, according to ExpressVPN’s documentation.
- Desktop and mobile apps for all major platforms, plus router apps.
Network and EU coverage
ExpressVPN says it has servers in 113 countries and 214 locations, including all three Baltic states and several German cities. That’s broader than Surfshark’s 100 countries, though NordVPN’s public server API lists more (150 countries on 30 October 2026). Provider claims, not our measurements.
Prices in euros (checked 30 October 2026)
| Plan | Intro | Paid up front | Months | Renews at | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | €4.49/mo | €67.35 | 15 | €79.95/yr | 10 |
| Advanced | €5.49/mo | €82.35 | 15 | €109.95/yr | 12 |
| Express Pro | €7.99/mo | €119.85 | 15 | €179.95/yr | 14 |
Sales tax added at checkout where applicable.
When ExpressVPN’s page displayed US dollars, it offered a 2-year + 4 months Basic plan at $2.99/month ($83.72 for 28 months, renewing at $99.95/year). Our EU connection saw only the 12-month plans. Offers vary by country, so check what appears at your checkout.
Three-year cost (our calculation, EUR, Basic): €67.35 + €79.95 + €79.95 = €227.25 for 39 months, before tax. That’s more than Surfshark’s or Proton’s first terms, but ExpressVPN publishes its renewal price where Surfshark doesn’t. For current offers, see ExpressVPN deals.
Refunds and trial
- 30-day money-back guarantee for new, first-time users who buy on the website.
- 3-day trial on the iOS App Store and Google Play (payment method required; cancel at least 24 hours before it ends).
- App-store purchases are refunded by Apple or Google, not ExpressVPN.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Long, varied public audit record (KPMG, Cure53 and more)
- RAM-only TrustedServer across the network
- Renewal price shown next to the deal
- Broad country coverage, including the Baltics
- Lightway protocol published as open source
Cons
- Not cheap in euros; EU offer was a 15-month plan
- Offshore jurisdiction (BVI), not EU
- Kape ownership concentrates three big VPN brands in one group
- Device limits (10–14) below Surfshark’s and PIA’s unlimited
Who should choose ExpressVPN?
| You… | ExpressVPN? |
|---|---|
| Want the broadest independent audit record | Yes |
| Want to know your renewal price up front | Yes |
| Travel widely outside Europe | Yes (113 countries) |
| Want the lowest price in euros | Consider best cheap VPNs |
| Want an EU-based operator | Consider Surfshark |
| Have more than 10 devices on a budget | Consider Surfshark |
| Want Swiss jurisdiction and a free tier | Consider Proton VPN |
Related
Sources (checked 30 October 2026)
- ExpressVPN order page (EUR prices, devices, post-quantum): https://www.expressvpn.com/order
- ExpressVPN privacy policy: https://www.expressvpn.com/privacy-policy
- ExpressVPN third KPMG audit: https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/kpmg-2025-no-logs-policy-audit/
- ExpressVPN Trust Center (audit list): https://www.expressvpn.com/trust
- ExpressVPN server locations: https://www.expressvpn.com/support/knowledge-hub/how-many-server-locations-does-expressvpn-have/
- ExpressVPN joining Kape (FAQ): https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/expressvpn-joining-kape-faq/
- ExpressVPN statement on Daniel Gericke: https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/daniel-gericke-expressvpn/
- Turkey server seizure (Comparitech): https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/expressvpn-server-seized-in-turkey-verifyies-no-logs-claim/
- ExpressVPN refund policy: https://www.expressvpn.com/support/manage-account/what-is-expressvpns-refund-policy/
- ExpressVPN trial: https://www.expressvpn.com/features/vpn-trial
Frequently asked questions
Is ExpressVPN safe?
ExpressVPN has one of the deepest public audit records: its third KPMG assessment covered TrustedServer and its privacy controls as of 28 February 2025, and its Trust Center lists many other third-party audits, including Cure53 reports. In 2017 Turkish authorities seized one of its servers and, by ExpressVPN's account, found no logs identifying the user.
Who owns ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN is operated by Express Technologies Ltd. under British Virgin Islands law and has been owned by Kape Technologies since 2021. Kape also owns CyberGhost and Private Internet Access.
How much is ExpressVPN in euros?
On 30 October 2026 ExpressVPN's order page showed EU visitors Basic at EUR 4.49 a month for 15 months (EUR 67.35), renewing at EUR 79.95 a year; Advanced EUR 82.35 renewing at EUR 109.95; Express Pro EUR 119.85 renewing at EUR 179.95. Sales tax added at checkout where applicable.
How many devices can I use with ExpressVPN?
10 on Basic, 12 on Advanced and 14 on Express Pro, according to ExpressVPN's order page.
Does ExpressVPN have a free trial?
A 3-day trial through the iOS App Store and Google Play, which needs a payment method. Website purchases get a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users.