ExpressVPN Pricing: Plans, Costs & Best Deals
Compare ExpressVPN plans and pricing. Intro vs renewal rates, seasonal discounts, and which plan offers the best value for your needs.
title: “ExpressVPN Pricing: Plans, Costs, and Renewal Rates Explained” description: “Complete breakdown of ExpressVPN pricing across all plans and billing periods, including renewal costs, seasonal discounts, and competitor comparisons.” lastmod: 2025-01-15
How Much Does ExpressVPN Cost?
ExpressVPN costs $12.99 to $19.99 per month on monthly billing. The 2-year plan drops costs to $3.26/month for Basic and $6.99/month for Pro. All three tiers (Basic, Advanced, Pro) include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Longer commitments unlock discounts up to 78%.
ExpressVPN Plans and Pricing Breakdown
ExpressVPN splits its service into three tiers: Basic, Advanced, and Pro. Each tier offers monthly, 1-year, and 2-year billing cycles.
Basic covers the core VPN with no extras. Monthly billing runs $12.99. The 1-year plan costs $59.88 total ($4.99/month), saving 69%. The 2-year plan costs $78.18 total ($3.26/month), saving 78%.
Advanced adds identity protection tools like a data breach monitor and password manager. Monthly billing costs $13.99. The 1-year plan runs $71.88 ($5.99/month) at 65% off. The 2-year plan totals $100.58 ($4.19/month) at 74% off.
Pro bundles the VPN with identity theft insurance and credit monitoring. Monthly billing hits $19.99. The 1-year plan costs $107.88 ($8.99/month) at 64% off. The 2-year plan totals $167.78 ($6.99/month) at 70% off.
Intro vs. Renewal Pricing: What You Actually Pay
The discounted rates shown above apply to your first billing cycle only. This is the detail most buyers miss. ExpressVPN renewal rates climb back toward standard pricing after year one or two.
Renewal pricing typically matches or sits close to monthly rates annualized. A Basic 1-year plan at $59.88 the first year could renew near $99 to $120. ExpressVPN does not prominently advertise renewal rates on its pricing page.
Check your account settings 2 weeks before renewal to confirm exact charges. You can cancel auto-renewal and re-subscribe during a promotional period to recapture introductory pricing. This strategy saves 30% to 50% compared to passive renewal.
Best Plan for Each User Type
Casual Users
Pick the Basic 2-year plan at $3.26/month. You get the full VPN with 3,000+ servers across 105 countries. Casual browsing, streaming, and public Wi-Fi protection require nothing beyond the core VPN.
Power Users
The Advanced 1-year plan at $5.99/month fits frequent travelers and security-conscious professionals. You get password management and breach alerts alongside the VPN. The 1-year commitment lets you reassess competitors annually without a 2-year lock-in.
Families and High-Risk Users
The Pro 2-year plan at $6.99/month makes sense for households needing identity theft insurance. Credit monitoring adds tangible value when multiple family members share the account. ExpressVPN allows up to 8 simultaneous device connections across all tiers.
Payment Methods Available
ExpressVPN accepts a wider range of payment methods than most competitors. Credit and debit cards include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.
Digital wallets like PayPal are supported for recurring billing. Cryptocurrency payments through Bitcoin provide an anonymous option but limit refund flexibility. Regional options include UnionPay, iDeal, Sofort, and other localized processors depending on your country.
Prepaid gift cards from retailers can also fund your account in some cases. Choose PayPal or credit card if you want the simplest refund path through the 30-day guarantee.
Seasonal Discount Patterns
ExpressVPN runs its deepest promotions during 4 predictable windows each year. Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November consistently deliver the lowest published prices. Holiday sales in late December through early January offer similar markdowns.
Back-to-school promotions appear in August and September with moderate discounts. Occasional flash sales surface during spring, typically lasting 48 to 72 hours. The 2-year plan discounts during Black Friday have historically matched or beaten 78% off.
Set a price alert or bookmark the pricing page in October to catch the best window. Signing up mid-cycle on a monthly plan and switching during a sale wastes money.
ExpressVPN vs. Competitor Pricing
ExpressVPN sits at the premium end of the VPN market. Here is how its lowest effective rate compares to competitors on their cheapest long-term plans.
| Provider | Cheapest Monthly Rate | Billing Period | Servers |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN Basic | $3.26/mo | 2-year | 3,000+ |
| NordVPN Basic | $2.99/mo | 2-year | 6,400+ |
| Surfshark Starter | $2.19/mo | 2-year | 3,200+ |
| Private Internet Access | $2.03/mo | 3-year | 35,000+ |
| Proton VPN Plus | $4.49/mo | 2-year | 4,800+ |
ExpressVPN costs 9% to 60% more than budget competitors at the lowest tier. The premium buys you consistently fast speeds, a proven no-logs audit history, and reliable streaming unblocking. Users prioritizing raw cost savings should consider Surfshark or PIA instead.
Money-Back Guarantee and Refund Process
All ExpressVPN plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee with no usage restrictions. You can use the full service for 30 days and still receive a complete refund. There are no data caps or feature limitations during the trial window.
To request a refund, contact ExpressVPN support through 24/7 live chat. State that you want to cancel and receive your refund. Representatives process most requests within 5 to 10 minutes without aggressive retention tactics.
Refunds typically land back in your account within 5 to 7 business days for credit cards. PayPal refunds arrive within 3 days. Bitcoin payments cannot be refunded to the original wallet, so the company issues account credit or alternative payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does ExpressVPN Cost?
ExpressVPN costs between $3.26 and $19.99 per month depending on your plan tier and billing period. The cheapest option is the Basic 2-year plan at $78.18 total. The most expensive is the Pro monthly plan at $19.99 per month. All plans include 30-day refund protection.
Is ExpressVPN Worth It?
ExpressVPN justifies its premium pricing for users who prioritize speed and reliability. Independent speed tests consistently rank it in the top 3 fastest VPNs globally. It unblocks Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and 15+ other streaming platforms reliably. Budget-focused users get comparable security from NordVPN or Surfshark at lower cost.
Does ExpressVPN Have a Student Discount?
ExpressVPN does not offer a dedicated student discount program. Unlike Spotify or GitHub, there is no .edu email verification system for reduced pricing. Students should use the 2-year Basic plan for the lowest rate or wait for Black Friday promotions. Surfshark and NordVPN occasionally run student-specific deals that undercut ExpressVPN significantly.
Can I Share My ExpressVPN Account?
Every ExpressVPN plan supports up to 8 simultaneous connections on different devices. A household of 4 people can each connect 2 devices at once. Installing ExpressVPN on a router counts as 1 connection but covers every device on that network.
Does ExpressVPN Offer Free Trials?
ExpressVPN does not provide a traditional free trial on desktop or web. Mobile users on iOS and Android may see a 7-day free trial through their app stores. The 30-day money-back guarantee effectively serves as a risk-free trial for all platforms.