ExpressVPN is consistently one of the fastest VPNs we've tested from the UK, with excellent streaming unblocking and a genuinely no-logs policy backed by independent audits. The Lightway protocol is impressive. But at £6.26/month, it's 2-3× the price of competitors that deliver 90% of the same experience. If money's no object, ExpressVPN is excellent. If you want value, NordVPN or Surfshark are better picks.
Tested on a 900 Mbps BT FTTP connection from South London, March 2026. All tests use the Lightway (UDP) protocol.
| Server | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 London (Docklands) | 781 Mbps | 420 Mbps | 5ms |
| 🇬🇧 London (East) | 764 Mbps | 398 Mbps | 6ms |
| 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | 712 Mbps | 356 Mbps | 14ms |
| 🇺🇸 New York | 589 Mbps | 210 Mbps | 78ms |
| 🇺🇸 Los Angeles | 521 Mbps | 178 Mbps | 142ms |
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo | 412 Mbps | 135 Mbps | 238ms |
| 🇦🇺 Sydney | 378 Mbps | 112 Mbps | 276ms |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 445 Mbps | 148 Mbps | 168ms |
Summary: ExpressVPN's UK speeds are excellent — we retained 87% of our base speed on London servers. The Lightway protocol connects in under 1 second and maintains consistent throughput. Long-distance connections hold up well, rarely dropping below 400 Mbps even to Asia-Pacific.
We tested ExpressVPN with 12 UK and international streaming services:
| Service | Works? | Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix UK | ✅ Yes | 4K UHD | All UK servers work |
| BBC iPlayer | ✅ Yes | HD | London servers recommended |
| Disney+ | ✅ Yes | 4K UHD | No issues |
| Amazon Prime Video | ✅ Yes | 4K UHD | Reliable |
| ITV Hub / ITVX | ✅ Yes | HD | Works on all UK servers |
| Channel 4 | ✅ Yes | HD | No issues |
| Netflix US | ✅ Yes | 4K UHD | New York / LA servers |
| Hulu | ✅ Yes | HD | US servers only |
| HBO Max | ✅ Yes | 4K | Reliable |
| DAZN | ✅ Yes | HD | Sports streaming works |
| Sky Go | ⚠️ Partial | HD | Some servers blocked |
| BT Sport | ✅ Yes | HD | London servers |
Verdict: ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for streaming. 11 out of 12 services work perfectly, with only Sky Go being inconsistent. The MediaStreamer DNS feature also lets you unblock content on devices that don't support VPN apps (smart TVs, consoles).
ExpressVPN has a verified no-logs policy, independently audited by PwC and Cure53. In 2017, Turkish authorities seized an ExpressVPN server during an investigation — no user data was found. This is the gold standard real-world test of a no-logs claim.
Based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), outside the 14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. BVI has no data retention laws. This is one of the best jurisdictions for a privacy-focused VPN.
Our take: ExpressVPN's security credentials are among the best in the industry. The Turkish server seizure incident and multiple independent audits give real confidence. TrustedServer (RAM-only) means even physical seizure yields nothing.
ExpressVPN's custom protocol, Lightway, is genuinely impressive. It connects in under a second, uses less battery than OpenVPN, and maintains speeds comparable to WireGuard. It's open-source and has been audited by Cure53. On mobile, the difference is noticeable — connections are almost instant.
3,000+ servers across 105 countries. That's fewer servers than NordVPN (6,400+) but more countries. Coverage is excellent, with multiple UK city options (London, Manchester, Docklands, East London, Berkshire).
Smart DNS feature for devices that can't run VPN apps. Useful for Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and older smart TVs. Doesn't encrypt traffic but unblocks streaming content.
8 simultaneous connections (recently increased from 5). Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, routers, and more. The router app (Aircove) is particularly good — install ExpressVPN on your router and every device in the house is protected.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Total | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | £10.92/mo | £10.92 | — |
| 6 months | £8.32/mo | £49.92 | 24% |
| 1 year + 3 months free | £6.26/mo | £93.90 | 43% |
Value assessment: Even on the best plan, ExpressVPN is significantly more expensive than NordVPN (£2.99/mo) and Surfshark (£1.99/mo). You get a premium product, but the price gap is harder to justify when competitors offer 90% of the same features for 50-70% less.
All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee. No free trial.
| Feature | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Speed | 781 Mbps | 820 Mbps | 740 Mbps |
| Price (best) | £6.26/mo | £2.99/mo | £1.99/mo |
| Servers | 3,000+ | 6,400+ | 3,200+ |
| Countries | 105 | 111 | 100 |
| Devices | 8 | 6 | Unlimited |
| Netflix UK | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| iPlayer | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Double VPN | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Ad Blocker | Basic | ✅ Threat Protection | ✅ CleanWeb |
| Audited | ✅ PwC + Cure53 | ✅ Deloitte | ✅ Deloitte |
| Kill Switch | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Money-Back | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
Bottom line: ExpressVPN is marginally faster on some routes and has the best streaming track record, but NordVPN beats it on price, features, and server count. Surfshark offers unlimited devices at a fraction of the cost.
30-day money-back guarantee. If speed and streaming are your priorities, ExpressVPN delivers.
Visit ExpressVPN →It depends on your priorities. ExpressVPN is genuinely excellent for speed and streaming unblocking. But at £6.26/month, it's 2-3× the price of NordVPN and Surfshark, which offer 90% of the same experience. If you value the Lightway protocol and absolute best streaming compatibility, yes. If you want good value, probably not.
Yes. We tested multiple UK servers and all successfully unblocked BBC iPlayer. London servers gave the most reliable results. ExpressVPN has one of the best track records for iPlayer access.
Absolutely. VPNs are legal in the UK. ExpressVPN's no-logs policy has been proven in court (Turkish server seizure), independently audited by PwC and Cure53, and the BVI jurisdiction provides strong privacy protection.
You get 8 simultaneous connections. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, and routers. For unlimited devices, install it on your router via the Aircove firmware.
Yes. Kape Technologies acquired ExpressVPN in 2021 for $936M. Kape also owns CyberGhost and Private Internet Access. Some privacy advocates have concerns about Kape's history (formerly Crossrider, linked to ad-injection software). However, ExpressVPN maintains independent operations and continues to pass independent audits.
For most UK users, NordVPN is the better choice. It's faster (820 Mbps vs 781 Mbps UK), cheaper (£2.99 vs £6.26/mo), has more servers, and includes features ExpressVPN lacks (double VPN, Meshnet, Threat Protection). ExpressVPN wins on streaming reliability and the Lightway protocol, but NordVPN's NordLynx (WireGuard) is comparably fast.