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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPN

65
Value score / 100 Worth paying? Depends It depends

ExpressVPN offers fast and reliable connections for general use and streaming, but recent reviews indicate significant issues with connectivity, speed, and customer service, especially in certain regions like China, making its high price questionable for many users.

Free + in-app purchases seen up to $99.99 4.7★ lifetime (417,299) since 2014

ExpressVPN is praised for its fast connections, ease of use, and strong security features by many long-term users, allowing access to streaming services globally and protecting user data. However, a growing number of recent reviews highlight severe problems with dropped connections, slow speeds, inability to access certain content, and a problematic refund policy, particularly for users in China or those experiencing technical difficulties.

Free vs paid

The provided reviews do not distinguish between free and paid tiers, implying that the app's core VPN functionality is a paid service. Complaints about pricing and refunds suggest that users are paying for the service described in the reviews R99R170R216R235.

Value complaints

  • Users report being denied refunds despite a '30-day money-back guarantee', with some receiving partial refunds or no refund at all after same-day cancellations or service failures.R99R170R216R503
  • Some users experienced double charges or unexpected subscription renewals without notification, leading to significant financial loss.R235R421R466
  • The service is considered expensive, especially given its reported ineffectiveness or poor performance for some users, particularly in China.R303R535R570
  • Users complain about difficulty unsubscribing and being forced to receive unwanted notifications for new AI services.R335R336R337

Where it delivers

  • Many users praise ExpressVPN for its fast and reliable connections, with quick server switching.R1R7R8R23
  • The app is considered easy to use and functional, providing seamless security and a good user experience.R5R12R14R17
  • It offers strong data security, user identity protection, and helps block ads and tracking.R5R8R9R26
  • ExpressVPN allows users to access geo-restricted content and maintain streaming services while traveling.R21R45R447
Worth paying if

It may be worth paying for ExpressVPN if you prioritize fast connections and ease of use for general browsing and streaming in regions where it consistently performs well, as many users report excellent speed and reliability R1R7R8R23. It could also be valuable for those who need to access geo-restricted content and stream services, as some users successfully watch UK TV abroad and maintain streaming access while traveling R21R447.

Skip / stay free if

You should skip ExpressVPN if you are in China, as numerous recent reviews state it is ineffective, cuts off frequently, or is near unusable there R131R309R476R503. Users experiencing frequent connection drops, slow speeds, or difficulty logging in should also consider alternatives, as these issues are reported even in other locations R3. Additionally, those concerned about a misleading refund policy or poor customer support should be wary, as several users reported issues getting refunds despite a 'money-back guarantee' R99R170R216R235.

Evidence note: The reviews present a stark contrast between long-term positive experiences and recent, highly negative feedback, particularly regarding connectivity and refund issues. While the lifetime rating is high, many recent reviews are 1-star, suggesting a decline in service quality or specific regional problems.

Frequently asked

Does ExpressVPN work in China?
No, recent reviews overwhelmingly indicate that ExpressVPN does not work effectively in China, with users reporting frequent disconnections, inability to connect, and extremely slow speeds R131R309R476R503.
Is ExpressVPN fast and reliable?
Many users praise ExpressVPN for its fast connections and reliability, with some stating it's the best VPN they've used and doesn't slow down internet speeds R1R7R8R23. However, a significant number of recent reviews report shockingly slow speeds, constant reconnections, and dropped connections, making it unreliable for them R3.
Does ExpressVPN honor its money-back guarantee?
Despite advertising a '30-day money-back guarantee', several users reported being denied refunds or receiving only partial refunds even after cancelling on the same day or within the guaranteed period, citing various reasons like downloading during the World Cup R99R170R216R503.
Can ExpressVPN unblock streaming services like Netflix or YouTube TV?
Some users successfully use ExpressVPN to maintain access to streaming services while traveling and watch UK TV abroad R21R447. However, other users reported that Netflix did not work at all, and YouTube TV stopped working after a short period R231. Additionally, some videos on YouTube are detected as using a VPN and do not work R976.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R99] 1/5 · US Didn’t work for CBS Local News, Only Got Partial Refund on Same-Day Cancellation: I purchased Express VPN for CBS Local News through Paramount Plus, which they claim to support, for my grandmother, but when I tried to cancel after that didn’t work on the same day I purchased it, I received less than half of the cost as a refund. Disappointing. Edit: In response to this review, support contacted
  2. [R170] 1/5 · US Corrupt Money Grabbing Business: I downloaded the app and paid hoping it could help me watch a show while out of the country. It did not work and I never used the service. I cancelled 2 days later. A 30 Day Money Back Guarantee was promoted to me constantly while I looked into which VPN to download. I was not given my money back. They said I was exempt since I downloaded during the World Cup. Yet…
  3. [R216] 1/5 · US Very disappointing experience.: The “30-day money-back guarantee” is misleading. I requested a refund within the promised period, but it was denied. If you advertise a 30-day guarantee, you should honor it. Very disappointing experience. I would not recommend this service.
  4. [R503] 1/5 · CA Ineffective and no refunds: I bought a monthly subscription which i subsequently cancelled as the VPN is currently ineffective in China. I then went onto the page where i’m supposed to receive a refund, and I find out that there is no refund button?! So i contacted the support team and all they did was transfer me to the billing team. Wasted a hour of my day trying to make the VPN work and get a r
  5. [R235] 1/5 · US Double Charged my Accoint: I noticed I was double charged through PayPal for my monthly payment. PayPal responded to ExpressVPN on my complaint. ExpressVPN decided to cancel my subscription but did not refund me.
  6. [R421] 1/5 · GB Over £58 for 5 days: Always used them until I renewed after 5days was told my a/c was up for renewal so I cancelled and tried to reinstall no joy contacted them told all my info had gone and the only option was to renew JOKE please be careful The sssistant was useless and no help nearly three years with Express paying over £70+ a year never again
  7. [R466] 1/5 · GB Steal your money secretly: This app will keep your subscription renewal without any notification and email recipt. It kept charging on me for me for 2 fyears. What a Fraud.
  8. [R303] 1/5 · GB Dont install: Definitely not worth the money
  9. [R535] 1/5 · CA very bad experience: Paid 99.99usd / year, the speed is slow and hard to get connected . “ SUPPORT” and “HELP” are unsupportive and not helpful. Very bad experience .
  10. [R570] 1/5 · CA Near unusable in china: Have to keep turning on and off the vpn to finally get a decent server. Otherwise it’ll randomly disconnect. Even when it works it throttles download at around 100kb / sec. All while being the most expensive vpn I’ve seen.
  11. [R335] 1/5 · GB Unhelpful: Take care if you download this App they use every possible way to make it extremely difficult to unsubscribe.
  12. [R336] 1/5 · GB Keeps forcing AI notifications: I used to love the service but over the last few weeks I’m getting constant notifications to try their new AI service. I have zero interest of use case for this, but there’s no way to turn the notifications off - unless I turn them off completely and lose functions that I actually do want and need.
  13. [R337] 1/5 · GB Stop the spam notifications please: This app has recently started sending self PR spam notifications to my phone. Annoying
  14. [R1] 5/5 · US I’m Amazed: Switching is Fast
  15. [R7] 5/5 · US Best ever: This is the best VPN out there, experience is amazing and does not slow down internet’s speeds. Been using this for a long long time.
  16. [R8] 5/5 · US THE BEST VPN I’VE EVER USED!!!: The BEST VPN: fast connections, encrypted traffic, excellent wide-spread world-wide locations to choose from, plus frequent updates in this dangerous digital world we live in. I feel secure with Express VPN. The BEST VPN I’ve used!! Five Secure Stars!
  17. [R23] 5/5 · US King Jajah: Super fast and lightning speed!
  18. [R5] 4/5 · US Data Security MFWIC: Eazy to use and very functional in keeping data, user identity and site tracking secure.
  19. [R12] 5/5 · US My opinion: The best visual style and accessibility
  20. [R14] 5/5 · US Easy service!: Works GREAT, yo!!!
  21. [R17] 5/5 · US Seamless Security: I’ve used Express VPN all over the globe. Never fails.
  22. [R9] 5/5 · US Love it: I always feel way better with this app running on my phone or computer I feel like my info is better off
  23. [R26] 5/5 · US Love: Does a great job blocking
  24. [R21] 5/5 · US Useful and Simple: We live in Europe and the USA. This VPN allows us to travel and use public WiFi. It also allows us to maintain our stream services wherever we go. It is fast, invisible and simple to use. We love it.
  25. [R45] 3/5 · US Give my Sniffies account Best Connection Guides: Best service on my Sniffies Give me best safety, satisfied perform connection that will Guide all my website browsers and apps… especially My Sniffies.com account website in my google chrome browser is the most main browser that I want to use it to access my sniffles website to protect my account
  26. [R447] 3/5 · GB First Class: We managed to watch UK TV while in Gran Canaria for £3.50 a week.
  27. [R131] 1/5 · US It is terrible for using in Iran: I have used it for 3 years, but in the last year it hasn't worked in Iran. I contacted the support team, but they could not help.
  28. [R309] 1/5 · GB Not working in China: It won’t work if u are planning to use it in China
  29. [R476] 1/5 · GB Non functional: Please avoid this non functional vpn - Despite the plethora of fake reviews, this is not viable for China based users
  30. [R3] 1/5 · US Secure and fast?: Every time I try and go on some app that’s usually blocked, it says it’s blocked. I check the vpn, it says the connection randomly dropped. It’s protected again, ok, I check the app. Blocked. The vpn? Reconnecting. This goes on for multiple minutes, and once I finally get into an app, for example youtube, the SHORT videos, not even full videos, youtube SHORTS, THAT ARE 5 SECONDS
  31. [R231] 1/5 · US Didn’t work as advertised: Netflix didn’t work at all using the VPN. YouTube tv worked for a bit and then stopped working. The help portion of the app offered very few suggestions and when those didn’t work, the answer was pretty much “touch luck”
  32. [R976] 3/5 · AU There’s a problem: There’s a problem, some videos on YouTube are not working because somehow they can detect the vpn, that needs fixing. Can you please fix it

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store