'Who came up with this idea?' Express VPN continues to drop its 30-day money-back guarantee in favour of raffles — and users aren't happy about it | Tech Radar
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'Who came up with this idea?' Express VPN continues to drop its 30-day money-back guarantee in favour of raffles — and users aren't happy about it
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Express VPN has kept its 30-day money-back guarantee on pause after launching a new promotion to follow its previous World Cup promotion.
The Express VPN Summer Tech Competition / Sweepstakes will see the company give away 30 new i Phone 17 Pros, with the caveat that users are not covered by Express VPN’s usual 30-day money-back guarantee.
The promotion runs from 11 July 2026 to 11:59 pm BST on 9 August 2026, directly following the Express VPN FIFA World Cup 2026 Ticket Giveaway event, which ran from 10 June 2026 to 11 July 2026.
During the promotion, each new sign-up gains 10 entries into the i Phone 17 Pro raffle, with the caveat that all sales are final during this period.
This means that Express VPN will not have offered its usual 30-day money-back guarantee for 60 days by the time the Summer Tech Sweepstakes promotion concludes.
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As one of the best VPNs, Express VPN is available on a variety of platforms (Image credit: Express VPN)
On the surface, it might seem like Express VPN’s decision to remove the money-back guarantee during these promotional periods is logical.
After all, if the option for a refund were still available after entering a raffle for World Cup tickets or a new i Phone, users might attempt to game the system by entering the contest and then cancelling their Express VPN plan if they win.
However, Express VPN electing to deny users a money-back guarantee for two consecutive months has worried some users, representing a break from industry-standard practice.
Feedback to the decision has been mixed at best, with multiple commenters in the r/Express_VPN speaking out. User Queen Be 12 warned others to “be careful” while user rockyyguy called the move “predatory business”, asking "who came up with this idea?"
new scamy tactics: Express VPN does not offer money back guarantee/ no refunds but offers you to enter the raffle to win an i Phone from r/Express_VPN
In a statement given to Tech Radar, Express VPN said: "Express VPN sometimes runs optional, limited-time promotions — such as the current prize draw — which customers can choose to join.
Following England from home? Win tickets to the World Cup Final with this giveaway — save $1000s and see the trophy lifted live!
Express VPN becomes an official supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in biggest sports deal yet — and gives away over 50 premium tickets
Express VPN review 2026 – packed with security and notably quick, if at a cost
These promotional plans are clearly identified and disclosed at the point of purchase, including that they offer additional benefits, such as prize-draw entry, in place of the 30-day money-back guarantee. This allows customers to make an informed choice about which option best suits them before they subscribe.
Whether a money-back guarantee is offered or not, customers' statutory rights are unaffected. Anyone on a promotional plan can also contact Express VPN Support to request a refund, and each request is considered on its merits."
Why are money-back guarantees important for VPNs?
A money-back guarantee gives you the chance to test out a VPN before committing to it long-term. (Image credit: Express VPN)
Like most software services, VPNs can be paid for as monthly subscriptions – but almost all VPNs offer huge discounts for signing up to one- or two-year-long plans.
In the case of Express VPN, a two-year plan offers an 84 per cent discount versus renewing monthly, and you get four extra months free of charge.
As such, when we talk about VPN pricing here at Tech Radar, we’re usually referring to the price of one of these extended plans. It’s typically the most economical choice for most users.
These guarantees are offered by many of the best VPNs, and many smaller and mid-tier brands will provide them as well. Nord VPN and Surfshark VPN both offer 30 days; Cyber Ghost bumps this up to 45 days, and Norton VPN gives users a full 60 days.
This is all to say that Express VPN removing its money-back guarantee, even for a promotion, is a pretty big deal and a genuine reason to consider avoiding a longer plan until the promotional period concludes.
So, if you’re still keen on picking up Express VPN, consider picking up a monthly plan or waiting until 10 August for a longer plan, and be sure to check out our Express VPN review for an in-depth breakdown of its features and performance.
Jamie is freelance journalist who has written for Tech Radar and Music Radar as well as various specialist news outlets and music blogs. A lifelong tech-obsessive, Jamie began his writing career as a music blogger before studying journalism at Goldsmiths College, and worked at Tech Radar between 2024 and 2026. He thinks the i Phone 5S is the greatest phone of all time, but is currently an Android user.
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