Express VPN Deals & Pricing Guide: What You Need to Know in 2025

Q: How does the 78% discount actually work?

Express VPN normally charges around $13.64 per month for the Advanced tier on a two-year plan (totaling $382). The current promotion reduces this to $101 for 28 months, which is a 78% discount from that two-year price. This translates to approximately $3.59 per month during the promotional period, but once your 28 months expire, renewal will revert to the standard monthly rate of around $13.64. The discount is real but applies only to the initial commitment period.

Right now, Express VPN is running one of its biggest sales of the year. The two-year plans are sitting at up to 78 percent off, which means you're looking at roughly

3.59 per month for the Advanced tier instead of the usual

13.67 per month. On the surface, that's a pretty compelling offer. But before you pull the trigger on a multi-year commitment, let's dig deeper into what you're actually getting, whether this deal makes sense compared to alternatives, and how VPN pricing works in the first place.

The truth about VPN deals is that they're everywhere. Every major provider runs aggressive promotions because the VPN market is crowded and customer acquisition costs keep climbing. Express VPN isn't different in that regard, but it has earned a solid reputation over the years for speed, reliability, and ease of use. The question isn't whether the service is good—it mostly is. The question is whether locking in a two-year contract at any price makes financial sense when the VPN landscape is shifting faster than it has in years.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know about the current Express VPN sale, how it stacks against competitors, what each pricing tier actually includes, and the honest trade-offs of committing to a multi-year plan. We'll also break down the math so you understand exactly what you're paying and whether you're actually saving money or just paying less upfront.

TL; DR

Current Deal: Advanced tier is $101 for 28 months** (normally **$
382), roughly $3.59/month
Other Tiers: Basic at $78 for 28 months** (78% off); Pro at **$
168 for 28 months (70% off)
Money-Back Guarantee: All new users get a 30-day risk-free trial to test the service
Key Consideration: Multi-year plans lock you in; month-to-month options exist but cost more
Bottom Line: Express VPN is fast and reliable, but compare the per-month cost against competitors before committing

ExpressVPN Pricing and Features Comparison

The Advanced tier offers the best value during the promotional period at $3.59/month, with 12 simultaneous devices and a password manager included. Estimated data for Basic and Pro tiers.

Understanding Express VPN's Pricing Structure in 2025

Express VPN shifted its pricing strategy recently by introducing three distinct tiers instead of a single plan. This is actually a smart move because it lets different customer segments pay for what they actually use rather than forcing everyone into one box. Let's break down what changed and why it matters.

The Basic tier is the entry point. It's the cheapest option and handles the fundamentals: VPN protection, access to Express VPN's global server network, and basic device support. Right now, you can grab 28 months (two years plus four bonus months) for

78. That breaks down to

2.79 per month during the promo period, down from the regular $12.96 per month rate. For someone who just wants encrypted browsing and doesn't need extra features, this tier works fine.

The Advanced tier sits in the middle. This is where the sweet spot usually lands because you get the password manager—which honestly is worth money on its own—plus support for 12 simultaneous devices. That matters if you're protecting multiple laptops, phones, and tablets in your household. The current deal has Advanced at

101 for 28 months (around

3.59 monthly), marked down from

382. If you do the math, that's a

281 savings, which looks massive.

QUICK TIP: The password manager included with Advanced and Pro tiers is **identical functionality** to what you'd pay $2.99/month for separately. Factor this into your value calculation—it often justifies upgrading from Basic.

The Pro tier is the premium option. It adds support for 14 simultaneous devices and bumps some backend performance features. During this sale, Pro runs

168 for 28 months, down from

560—that's 70 percent off, or about $6 per month. The question you should ask yourself: do you really need 14 simultaneous devices? Most households cap out at 4-6 actively used connections. Unless you're running a shared household with extended family or you're paranoid about coverage, Advanced usually does the job.

Here's the thing that matters: these prices are promotional. Once your 28-month term ends, renewal happens at the normal rates. If you lock in at

3.59 per month for 28 months and then forget about it, your renewal bill hits around

13.67 monthly. That's a 280% jump. Express VPN's software doesn't send aggressive renewal reminders, which means some people accidentally get charged the full price before they realize their promo ended. Set a calendar notification for month 27.

DID YOU KNOW: VPN providers often count "simultaneous device connections" differently. Express VPN allows 12 or 14 concurrent connections, meaning multiple devices can be protected at the same time. However, most users with 5-8 total devices never hit this limit because not all devices are online simultaneously.

Understanding Express VPN's Pricing Structure in 2025 - visual representation

ExpressVPN's new tiered pricing offers significant savings during promotional periods, with the Advanced tier providing the highest dollar savings of $281 over 28 months.

The Math Behind These Discounts: Are They Real?

When a company claims "78 percent off," the natural instinct is skepticism. And that's justified. Let's work through the numbers so you see exactly what's happening.

Express VPN sets a regular monthly price of around

12.96 for Basic. They also set a full-year price (around

7 per month when you buy all 12 months upfront). Then they set a multi-year price that's somewhere in between the full-year and monthly rates. When they run a sale, they're discounting from that multi-year baseline, not from the monthly rate.

So when they say "78 percent off," they're comparing the discounted two-year price against the regular two-year price, which is actually a legitimate calculation. The discount is real—it's just not as dramatic as 78% off the per-month price would be.

Let's use the Advanced tier as an example:

Regular two-year price (without discount): $382 total
Promotional two-year price (with 78% off): $101 total
Discount amount: $281
Discount percentage: (
$281 /$
382) × 100 = 73.5% (rounding gets you to 78%)
Per-month cost during promo:
$101 / 28 months =$
3.61 per month
Regular per-month cost:
$382 / 28 months =$
13.64 per month
Actual monthly savings:
$13.64 -$
3.61 = $10.03 per month

This is genuinely a good deal if you compare it to Express VPN's normal pricing. But context matters. That

3.61 monthly rate only applies during the promo period. After 28 months, assuming you renew (and assuming you remember to check), you'd pay roughly

13.64 monthly again.

Multi-Year Promotional Pricing: VPN companies offer discounted rates for long-term commitments (12, 24, or 36 months) as an incentive to lock in customers. The "discount" is usually calculated by comparing the promo rate to the regular multi-year rate, not the monthly rate. This makes the percentage discount sound larger than it actually is in per-month terms.

If you're the type who will actually cancel before renewal or will shop around for a better deal by month 28, this is a smart move. You save money on a service you'll use for two years and then you're free to switch if something better emerges. If you're the type who sets it and forgets it, the renewal shock might be painful.

The Math Behind These Discounts: Are They Real? - contextual illustration

Comparing Express VPN's Deal to Competitor Pricing

Express VPN's discount is good, but it's not unique. The VPN market has become incredibly competitive over the past two years, and other providers are running equally aggressive sales.

Surfshark typically offers similar two-year deals in the $2-3 per month range. The real difference is that Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections—Express VPN caps you at 12 or 14 depending on tier. For shared households or people managing multiple devices, Surfshark's unlimited connections can be a meaningful advantage. Surfshark also includes a password manager and ad blocker in its base plan, while Express VPN reserves the password manager for Advanced and Pro tiers.

Nord VPN runs regular two-year promotions that land around $3-4 monthly. Nord VPN's main selling point is its specialized features: Smart Play for unblocking streaming services, and a kill switch that's considered industry-leading. If your primary use case is unblocking geo-restricted content, Nord VPN might give you better results than Express VPN in some situations.

Private Internet Access (PIA) is the budget player. You can regularly find two-year deals under $2.50 monthly. The trade-off is that PIA's app interface feels less polished than Express VPN, and the company has a simpler server network. But for someone who just needs basic VPN protection and doesn't care about bells and whistles, PIA is genuinely a good value.

Mullvad takes a different approach entirely. It doesn't require account creation, prioritizes anonymity above all else, and charges a flat rate (around $5-6 monthly). There's no long-term commitment discount because Mullvad doesn't believe in lock-in contracts. If privacy and anonymity are your primary concerns and you don't need unblocking features, Mullvad is an interesting alternative to the mainstream commercial VPN providers.

Here's the honest assessment: Express VPN's pricing isn't the cheapest anymore, but it's not the most expensive either. What you're paying for is the combination of speed, ease of use, and reliability. The service actually works well—it unblocks Netflix, loads quickly, and the mobile apps are intuitive. You're not saving money compared to budget providers, but you're paying a reasonable price for better performance.

QUICK TIP: Before committing to any VPN plan, **test the free tier or trial first**. Express VPN offers a **30-day money-back guarantee**, which means you can test the full service and get a refund if it doesn't work for your use case. This is essentially a free trial—just remember to request the refund before day 31.

ExpressVPN is not the cheapest option, with competitors like Surfshark and PIA offering lower monthly rates. Mullvad, while more expensive, focuses on privacy without long-term commitments. (Estimated data)

What Each Tier Actually Includes: Feature Breakdown

Now let's talk specifics about what you're getting at each price point, because the feature differences actually matter.

Basic Tier Features:

VPN encryption for all traffic
Access to 3,000+ servers across 100+ countries
Desktop apps (Windows, Mac, Linux) and mobile apps (i OS, Android)
Split tunneling (choose which apps use VPN, which use regular connection)
Automatic kill switch (stops internet if VPN connection drops)
30-day money-back guarantee
Support for up to 8 devices (though only 1 simultaneous connection)

The Basic tier handles 99% of what most people need from a VPN. The only notable absence is the password manager. If you already use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1 Password, Basic is sufficient.

Advanced Tier Features:

Everything from Basic, plus:
Password manager with encrypted storage
Support for 12 simultaneous device connections
Threat Manager (blocks malware domains)
Dedicated IP option (available as add-on)
Priority support

The password manager is the main unlock here. Express VPN's password manager is solid—it auto-fills passwords, securely stores them with AES-256 encryption, and syncs across devices. This alone is worth $2-3 monthly if you were buying it separately. The 12 simultaneous connections also matter if you have multiple devices in your household that might be online at the same time.

Pro Tier Features:

Everything from Advanced, plus:
Support for 14 simultaneous device connections (2 more than Advanced)
Lightway protocol (Express VPN's custom protocol, slightly faster than Open VPN)
Priority support queue
Advanced analytics dashboard
Some backend performance optimizations

The jump from Advanced to Pro is smaller than from Basic to Advanced. The extra 2 device slots rarely matter. The Lightway protocol is nice but not revolutionary—most people won't notice the speed difference. This tier is really for people who want to squeeze out every last bit of performance or who want premium customer support responsiveness.

DID YOU KNOW: Express VPN's Lightway protocol is **open-source**, meaning independent security researchers can audit the code. This is more transparent than some competitors' proprietary protocols, but Lightway is also relatively new (launched in 2020), so it has less historical security testing than established protocols like Open VPN.

What Each Tier Actually Includes: Feature Breakdown - visual representation

Should You Lock Into a Multi-Year Plan?

This is the real question. Yes, the price is good. But is locking in for 28 months actually smart?

The argument for multi-year plans: You get the lowest per-month rate, you don't have to think about the subscription for two years, and if you know you'll use the VPN regularly, you're saving money compared to month-to-month pricing. Express VPN's month-to-month subscription runs around

12.95, so over 28 months, that would cost

362. The promotional 28-month plan at $101 is obviously cheaper.

The argument against: VPN technology and the broader privacy landscape could shift significantly in two years. New providers might emerge. Express VPN might introduce controversial policies (which happened to other VPN companies in the past). You're betting that the service you're buying today will still be what you want in 24 months. Plus, if you forget about the renewal, you'll suddenly be charged $13.64 monthly without warning.

Here's my honest take: If you're a new VPN user, go with the 28-month plan. You get two years of protection at a great rate, and the 30-day money-back guarantee means you're not risking anything. If you already use Express VPN and you're happy with it, renewing on the two-year plan makes sense. If you're switching from another provider, test it first on the one-month plan, then if you like it, cancel and rebuy on the longer plan (Express VPN allows this).

The risky scenario is if you're price-sensitive and you're planning to switch to a cheaper VPN in a year. In that case, a month-to-month plan at $12.95 for one year, then switching to a budget provider, might actually cost you less overall. Do the math based on your specific situation.

QUICK TIP: Set a **calendar reminder for month 26** of your subscription, before auto-renewal hits. Use this time to either confirm Express VPN is still the best option for you, or switch to a competitor before the renewal charges. Most people forget this step and end up paying the full monthly rate.

Should You Lock Into a Multi-Year Plan? - visual representation

The Advanced tier offers significant enhancements over Basic, notably adding a password manager and more device support. Pro tier adds minor improvements, including enhanced support and analytics.

Speed and Performance: What to Expect

When Express VPN claims to be fast, what does that actually mean? The company tests this extensively, and the numbers are legitimately impressive.

In independent testing, Express VPN users experience around 7-10% speed reduction on downloads and 2-5% on uploads when connected to nearby servers. This is actually better than many competitors. For context, some VPN services cause 30-50% slowdowns. The difference comes down to Express VPN's infrastructure investment and their custom Lightway protocol, which is optimized for speed.

What does this feel like in practice? If your internet connection is 100 Mbps, Express VPN will give you roughly 90-93 Mbps on downloads. For video streaming, web browsing, and most work tasks, you won't notice the difference. For online gaming or large file transfers, the impact is minimal. The only scenario where it becomes noticeable is if you're doing massive downloads (like torrenting multi-gigabyte files regularly) on an already slow connection.

Speed also depends on server distance. Connecting to a VPN server in your home country will be faster than connecting to one on the other side of the world. Express VPN has 3,000+ servers across 100+ countries, which means you have plenty of nearby options in most parts of the world.

Real-world speed breakdown:

Same country server: ~5-7% slowdown
Neighboring country: ~10-15% slowdown
Intercontinental: ~25-40% slowdown

This is normal for all VPNs because your traffic is traveling farther and being encrypted/decrypted at each hop.

Speed and Performance: What to Expect - visual representation

Unblocking Streaming Services: What Actually Works

One of the most common reasons people use VPNs is to access geo-blocked content on Netflix, Disney+, BBC i Player, and other streaming services. Express VPN has a strong track record here, but it's worth understanding the reality.

Express VPN actively works to unblock major streaming platforms. The company publishes a list of which services work with which servers. Netflix often blocks VPNs, but Express VPN typically maintains access by rotating IP addresses and updating server infrastructure regularly. BBC i Player, Disney+, and most other mainstream services generally work without issues.

The catch: streaming service blocking is an ongoing arms race. Netflix especially invests heavily in VPN detection. Express VPN will unblock it today, then Netflix blocks the IP addresses, then Express VPN adds new addresses. This cycle repeats continuously. If you absolutely must watch specific geo-blocked content and can't tolerate periodic outages, no VPN company can guarantee 100% uptime for that service.

For most use cases—accessing your home country's content while traveling abroad—Express VPN works reliably. If you're trying to use a European Netflix account from Southeast Asia, you'll have good results most of the time.

Geo-Blocking: Streaming services restrict access to content based on your geographic location, usually due to licensing agreements that differ by region. A VPN routes your traffic through a server in a different country, making it appear as though you're accessing the service from that location. Streaming platforms actively detect and block VPN traffic to enforce geo-restrictions.

Unblocking Streaming Services: What Actually Works - visual representation

The promotional two-year price offers a significant discount compared to the regular price, reducing the monthly cost from

13.64 to

3.61 during the promo period.

Security and Privacy: The Honest Assessment

Express VPN uses strong encryption (AES-256, which is military-grade) and supports multiple protocols including their custom Lightway protocol and the industry-standard Open VPN. The security architecture is solid—the company publishes security audits regularly and responds to vulnerabilities appropriately.

Here's where you need to be careful with VPN marketing: using a VPN doesn't make you anonymous. It encrypts your traffic between your device and Express VPN's servers, which protects you from your ISP seeing what you're doing. But Express VPN can see your traffic. The company has a no-logs policy, meaning they claim not to store records of your browsing history or IP address assignments. But this is ultimately a trust statement—you're taking the company's word for it.

Has Express VPN been compromised before? Yes. In 2017, the company's Turkish servers were seized by authorities, but because Express VPN runs RAM-only systems (no hard drives), there was no data to extract. This actually proved their no-logs claim in real time, which is reassuring.

For privacy-conscious users, Express VPN is more transparent than many competitors. But if you're looking for true anonymity, purely privacy-focused services like Mullvad or Whonix are better choices. Express VPN is a privacy tool for everyday protection, not a solution for bypassing serious surveillance.

DID YOU KNOW: Express VPN is owned by Kape Technologies, a company that also owns Cyber Ghost and Private Internet Access. This isn't necessarily a red flag, but it's worth knowing that you're not buying from a completely independent organization. Some privacy advocates prefer VPN companies that are privately held.

Security and Privacy: The Honest Assessment - visual representation

Device Support and Compatibility

Express VPN covers all the major platforms: Windows, mac OS, Linux, i OS, and Android. The apps are well-designed and consistently updated. Desktop apps sync settings across devices, so if you change your preferences on your laptop, they carry over to your phone automatically.

The advanced tiers (Advanced and Pro) support 12 and 14 simultaneous connections respectively, which means you can protect multiple devices at once. The way this works: if you're logged into Express VPN on your laptop, i Phone, and i Pad at the same time, all three devices are actively using the VPN and that counts toward your simultaneous connection limit.

One often-overlooked detail: Express VPN also offers browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. These are helpful for selectively routing certain websites through the VPN while leaving others on your regular connection. This is called split tunneling, and it's available on all tiers.

Router support is available through custom firmware (like DD-WRT) or by installing Express VPN directly on certain supported routers. This is useful if you want to protect all devices on your home network automatically, but it requires a bit more technical knowledge to set up.

Device Support and Compatibility - visual representation

The 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Your Real Trial Period

Express VPN's 30-day money-back guarantee is essentially a free trial without the marketing spin. You buy the plan, use it for up to 30 days, and if you're not satisfied, you request a refund with no questions asked. The company will actually refund you.

Here's why this matters: it eliminates the risk of the purchase. You're not betting blind on whether Express VPN will work for your specific use case. You can test the service, try unblocking Netflix, check the speed, and decide if it's worth keeping. If it's not, you get your money back.

The catch (and there's always a catch): the 30 days starts from purchase, not from when you first install the app. So if you buy the plan and don't actually use it for two weeks, you only have 16 days left to test. Once you request a refund, the company processes it, but there can be a wait depending on your payment method (credit card refunds take longer than digital wallet refunds).

QUICK TIP: Install and test Express VPN **immediately after purchase**. Don't wait a week to get around to it. Use the full 30 days to verify that it unblocks the streaming services you care about and doesn't slow your connection unacceptably. Then decide if you want to keep it or request the refund.

The 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Your Real Trial Period - visual representation

Common Issues and How to Solve Them

No service is perfect. Here are the most common Express VPN issues and how to handle them:

Netflix Blocking: If Netflix stops working through Express VPN, the simplest fix is to try a different server (Express VPN maintains a list of "working" servers for Netflix). If all servers stop working, a newer version of the app may have been released. Update to the latest version and try again.

Slow Speeds: If you're experiencing unexpected slowdowns, try switching to a different server. Also check whether you're using the Lightway protocol (faster) or Open VPN (more compatible but slower). Switching protocols can make a difference. Additionally, your local internet speed might be slower at certain times of day, so that's worth testing without the VPN first.

App Crashes: Express VPN's mobile apps are generally stable, but crashes can happen. The solution is usually to reinstall the app. Delete it completely, restart your phone, and reinstall from the app store. This fixes 90% of crashes.

Can't Connect to Any Server: This usually indicates a problem with your internet connection or your ISP blocking VPN connections. Restart your router, wait 30 seconds, and try again. If that doesn't work, try switching between protocols (Lightway vs. Open VPN) in the settings.

Automatic Kill Switch Not Working: Express VPN has a kill switch feature that stops your internet if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. If it's not working, make sure it's enabled in settings (it's not on by default). Also ensure your antivirus isn't interfering with the VPN app's network functions.

Common Issues and How to Solve Them - visual representation

When to Upgrade, Downgrade, or Cancel

You don't have to stick with the same tier forever. Express VPN allows you to change your plan at any time.

Upgrade if you: Have more than 8 devices you want to protect simultaneously, want the password manager, or need priority support. The jump from Basic to Advanced is usually worth it because of the password manager.

Downgrade if you: Realize you're not using the password manager or never hit more than 8 simultaneous connections. Switching to Basic saves you about $1-2 per month during the promotional period, which adds up.

Cancel if you: No longer need VPN protection, find a better alternative, or decide the cost isn't worth it. Remember to do this before your renewal date to avoid unexpected charges.

Express VPN's customer support is actually responsive if you need help making changes, so don't hesitate to reach out with questions.

When to Upgrade, Downgrade, or Cancel - visual representation

The Bottom Line: Is This Deal Worth It?

Express VPN's current 78% discount gets Advanced tier down to $3.59 per month for 28 months. That's a good price for a reliable VPN service that actually performs well. The password manager alone justifies the Advanced tier upgrade over Basic.

But here's the honest take: this deal is good, not unique. Other VPN providers are offering similarly aggressive discounts right now. Surfshark, Nord VPN, and others are running parallel sales. What matters is which service actually works best for your specific needs.

If you've been on the fence about getting a VPN and you trust Express VPN based on reviews you've read, the promotional price makes it a low-risk try. The 30-day money-back guarantee protects you. If you already use a VPN and you're happy with it, switching might not be worth the hassle even with the discount.

The biggest risk is forgetting about the renewal. Set that calendar reminder for month 26 so you can make an informed decision about whether to renew or switch before you're automatically charged the full monthly rate.

The Bottom Line: Is This Deal Worth It? - visual representation

FAQ

What is Express VPN and who should use it?

Express VPN is a commercial VPN service that encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through servers in different countries. This protects your browsing from your ISP, hides your real IP address, and allows you to access geo-blocked content. Anyone concerned about privacy on public Wi Fi, travelers who want to access home content abroad, and people in restricted internet environments should consider it. It's particularly useful for protecting yourself on unsecured networks like coffee shop Wi Fi.

How does the 78% discount actually work?

Express VPN normally charges around

13.64 per month for the Advanced tier on a two-year plan (totaling

382). The current promotion reduces this to

101 for 28 months, which is a 78% discount from that two-year price. This translates to approximately

3.59 per month during the promotional period, but once your 28 months expire, renewal will revert to the standard monthly rate of around $13.64. The discount is real but applies only to the initial commitment period.

What's the difference between Basic, Advanced, and Pro tiers?

Basic includes VPN protection and access to the server network but no password manager. Advanced adds a password manager and increases simultaneous device support from 8 to 12. Pro includes all Advanced features plus support for 14 simultaneous devices and some backend optimizations. For most users, Advanced represents the best value since the password manager is included. Pro offers minimal additional benefits unless you're protecting more than 12 devices simultaneously.

Is the 30-day money-back guarantee really no questions asked?

Yes, Express VPN genuinely honors the 30-day money-back guarantee without questions. You can test the service for up to 30 days from purchase, and if you're unsatisfied, simply request a refund through your account dashboard. The company will refund your payment, though processing times vary depending on your original payment method (credit cards take longer than digital wallets). This makes it essentially a free trial, which eliminates the risk of committing to a multi-year plan without testing first.

Will Express VPN unblock Netflix and other streaming services?

Express VPN has a strong track record unblocking Netflix, Disney+, BBC i Player, and most major streaming services. However, Netflix actively blocks VPN traffic, so this is an ongoing arms race. Express VPN maintains a list of servers that work with Netflix, and the company regularly updates them as Netflix discovers and blocks IP addresses. Expect reliable access most of the time, but occasional brief outages are possible. For casual use, it works well. For critical professional applications, the uncertainty might be a concern.

What happens when my 28-month promotional period ends?

When your promotional period expires, Express VPN will automatically renew your subscription unless you cancel beforehand. You'll be charged at the regular rate, which is approximately

13.64 monthly for Advanced tier (depending on current pricing). This is a significant jump from the promotional

3.59 monthly rate. Setting a calendar reminder for month 26 is essential so you can decide whether to renew at the standard rate or switch to a competitor before the automatic renewal charges.

How secure is Express VPN and what about privacy?

Express VPN uses strong AES-256 encryption and maintains a stated no-logs policy, meaning the company claims not to store records of your browsing activity. The company publishes regular security audits and has demonstrated good security practices. However, using a VPN provides privacy from your ISP but not anonymity from the VPN provider itself. You're trusting that Express VPN doesn't log your data. For serious anonymity needs, dedicated anonymity services like Mullvad might be better choices. For everyday privacy protection, Express VPN is solid.

Can I use Express VPN on multiple devices at the same time?

Yes, but the number of simultaneous connections depends on your tier. Basic allows 8 simultaneous connections (meaning 8 devices can be actively protected at once). Advanced allows 12 simultaneous connections, and Pro allows 14. This is different from the total number of devices you can install the app on (you can install on unlimited devices)—the simultaneous connection limit only matters when multiple devices are actively using the VPN at the same time.

Should I lock into a multi-year plan or go month-to-month?

If you're new to VPN services, the 28-month promotional plan is a smart choice because you get a significant discount and the 30-day money-back guarantee eliminates risk. If you're already a satisfied Express VPN user, renewing on the longer plan saves money. However, if you're likely to switch providers within a year or two, consider testing on a shorter plan first. The month-to-month rate is more expensive ($12.95 monthly) but provides flexibility. Do the math based on your specific situation—sometimes paying more upfront for commitment actually costs less overall if you stay longer.

What You Should Do Next

If Express VPN's current deal interests you, here's the roadmap:

Review the basics: Understand that the promotional price (
$3.59 monthly) only applies for 28 months, after which it jumps to ~$
13.64 monthly on renewal.
Test before committing: Take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee. Buy the plan, install it immediately, and test whether it meets your needs (speed, streaming unblocking, ease of use).
Compare alternatives: Quickly check what Surfshark, Nord VPN, and Private Internet Access are offering at the same time. The VPN market moves fast and competitor deals shift weekly.
Set a reminder: Calendar alert for month 26 of your subscription so you remember to reassess before auto-renewal.
Decide based on your needs: If you need VPN protection and you're happy with Express VPN's performance during the trial period, keep it. If you find a better option or decide you don't need it, cancel before the renewal hits.

The deal is good, but it's not urgent. VPN providers run aggressive promotions regularly, so if you miss this one, another will be along within weeks. Buy when it aligns with your actual needs, not just because the discount is large.

What You Should Do Next - visual representation

Key Takeaways

ExpressVPN Advanced tier is
$101 for 28 months (approximately$
3.59/month) during current promotion, down from regular $382
Three tiers exist: Basic (
$2.79/month promo), Advanced ($
3.59/month promo), and Pro ($6/month promo) with different device support and features
Password manager included in Advanced and Pro tiers justifies the upgrade from Basic in most cases
Multi-year plan discount is real but only applies to promotional period; renewals jump to ~$13.64/month without reminder
ExpressVPN is competitively priced but not cheapest; Surfshark and PIA offer similar or better value in some scenarios
30-day money-back guarantee eliminates risk of committing to two-year plan without testing first
Speed impact is minimal (7-10% download reduction) and unblocking performance for streaming is reliable
Set calendar reminder for month 26 to reassess subscription before automatic renewal at full price