ExpressVPN For Mac

In the VPN world, ExpressVPN seems to have become one of the most trusted options, with many touting it as the best. It certainly has a lot going for it, but it isn't perfect either.

The company offers apps for pretty much every platform out there, including Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS/iPadOS, Apple TV, Xbox, and Playstation. It is also available for Chromium-based browsers and Firefox.

This is the most important factor for most users, and ExpressVPN does not disappoint. Its headquarters are located in the British Virgin Islands, which lack data retention laws. Any foreign government requesting records from the company must petition the BVI High Court — a very laborious process.

The service stores no traffic logs and collects very little info, none that could be used to identify users. Should a server in another country be seized, the company uses RAM-only servers, which are wiped whenever the device is powered off.

You can route traffic through a network of servers distributed between an impressive number of countries. However, while they are widespread, the service doesn't offer quite as many servers as some of its competitors.

ExpressVPN is consistently in the running for the fastest VPN, but you need to make sure a server is available near your location if you're after the best possible speed and lowest latency.

Aside from the ever-present OpenVPN, the service also supports L2TP, IKEv2, and the company's own Lightway protocol, which is still in Beta but shows promise. However, while you can choose your preferred protocol, the encryption settings cannot be customized.

If you don't want every app to connect to the internet via VPN, you can add exceptions that will access the internet normally even if you are currently connected to a location. Alternatively, you can specify which applications should use the VPN while ignoring all other traffic.

The app is easy to use and can be managed from either the Dock or menu bar. Finding servers and establishing connections is very straightforward. However, the main UI looks a bit out of date and lacks a Dark mode.

Apps are also available for almost every device you can think of, and you can have 5 active connections at a time. Some services offer more than that, but it's certainly not an issue for most users.

While you can install ExpressVPN extensions for Chromium browsers and Firefox, they are only designed to let you manage the desktop app from your browser. You cannot, for instance, use the extension without installing the app, or connect to different locations from separate browsers.

When we get to its pricing, ExpressVPN becomes more difficult to recommend. Even if you go for a long-term subscription, you'll be paying quite a bit more than you would for most other VPNs. If you're not sure, you can try it out safely, as the company offers a rock-solid 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN certainly has its issues, and it costs an arm and a leg, but it gives you quite a bit for your money: great privacy, no logging, very little data collection, support for numerous platforms, widespread server network, split tunneling, and great transfer speed.

On the downside, the browser extensions can't be used separately, the Mac app offers limited customization options, and servers are rather thinly spread out despite being available in so many countries.