ExpressVPN operates in 113 countries and supports from 10 to 14 connections depending on the plan. But there's no permanent Free plan, and some competitors offer unlimited connections, a lower price, more countries or VPN port forwarding. Below are five alternatives for these scenarios.
In short: what to choose instead of ExpressVPN
Surfshark — for a lower price and unlimited connections.
Proton VPN — if you need a permanent Free plan with no traffic limit.
NordVPN — for broader server geography.
PIA — for VPN port forwarding and unlimited connections.
CyberGhost — for a no-card trial on Windows and macOS.
ExpressVPN and the alternatives by the numbers
| VPN | Key difference | Price | Devices | Free / trial | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | The original service | Basic — $2.99/mo for the first 28 months. | Basic — 10; higher plans — up to 14 | 3 days on iOS/Android with a payment method | 113 countries, 214 locations |
| Surfshark | Unlimited connections | $2.49/mo for 27 months | No limit | 7 days, up to 3 devices | 4500+ servers, 100 countries |
| Proton VPN | Permanent Free | Free; Plus from $2.99/mo on the 2-year plan | Free — 1; Plus — up to 10 | Permanent Free | 20,000+ servers, 140+ countries |
| NordVPN | Broader geography | $3.49/mo for 27 months | Up to 10 | Android via Google Play | 8400+ servers, 167+ countries |
| PIA | Port forwarding | $2.03/mo for 39 months | No limit | 7 days with the annual plan | 91 countries, 154 locations |
| CyberGhost | No-card trial on desktop | $2.19/mo for 26 months | Up to 7 | 24h Windows/macOS; 3 days Android; 7 days iOS | 100 countries, 125 locations |
Data and prices were verified in September 2026 against the services' official websites and may change.
5 best ExpressVPN alternatives
1. Surfshark — for unlimited connections and a lower price
Surfshark is a good fit if price and the number of devices matter: the service doesn't limit the number of simultaneous connections, whereas ExpressVPN offers from 10 to 14. The long-term Starter plan is also cheaper — $2.49 versus $2.99 for ExpressVPN Basic. The trade-off is 100 countries versus ExpressVPN's 113.
Learn more: Surfshark vs ExpressVPN.
2. Proton VPN — if you need a permanent Free plan
Proton VPN is a good fit if you need permanent free access: the Free plan works with no traffic limit and no bank card, but supports one connection. Plus offers up to 10 devices and 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries. ExpressVPN has no permanent Free plan.
Learn more: Proton VPN vs ExpressVPN.
3. NordVPN — for broader server geography
NordVPN is appealing for its broader geography: 8400+ servers in 167+ countries versus ExpressVPN's 113 countries. Basic supports up to 10 devices and costs $3.49 per month for the first 27 months — more expensive than the current ExpressVPN Basic.
Learn more: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN.
4. PIA — for VPN port forwarding and unlimited connections
PIA supports VPN port forwarding on selected servers and doesn't limit the number of simultaneous connections. The price is also lower — $2.03 versus $2.99 for ExpressVPN Basic. PIA operates in 91 countries, and both services are part of Kape Technologies.
Learn more: PIA vs ExpressVPN.
5. CyberGhost — for a no-card trial on desktop
CyberGhost offers a 24-hour trial without a bank card on Windows and macOS, 3 days on Android and 7 days on iOS. The long-term price is lower — $2.19 versus $2.99 for ExpressVPN Basic, but you can connect up to 7 devices at once. CyberGhost, like ExpressVPN, is owned by Kape Technologies.
Learn more: ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost.
How to choose an ExpressVPN alternative
If price and unlimited connections matter, look at Surfshark or PIA; for a permanent Free plan, Proton VPN; for broader geography, NordVPN; for a no-card trial, CyberGhost. If your reason for switching is about changing corporate group, keep in mind that ExpressVPN, PIA and CyberGhost belong to Kape Technologies.
Need a more affordable ExpressVPN alternative?
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See also: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN · NordVPN vs Proton VPN · Proton VPN vs ExpressVPN · NordVPN vs CyberGhost · NordVPN vs Surfshark · Surfshark vs ExpressVPN · Surfshark vs Proton VPN · Surfshark vs CyberGhost