NordVPN and ExpressVPN are two of the biggest names in the world of private networking. It’s no wonder both of these services are so widely-known — not just because of their marketing, but because of their quality and reliability. However, since both of these services are among the first names people will hear, it’s hard to tell which one to go with first. One place where consumers can look for guidance is pricing. Among NordVPN prices and ExpressVPN prices, it’s important to figure out which service offers the better deal.
Disclaimer: This article includes links to NordVPN and ExpressVPN. You won’t be charged anything extra for clicking on links to these services, but purchases made through these links will support the writer.
NordVPN Prices vs. ExpressVPN Prices
Both of these services offer different pricing based on the level of commitment consumers dedicate themselves to. For the sake of fairness, this article will consider every plan and package to take into consideration.
ExpressVPN Plans and Packages
ExpressVPN doesn’t have any additional packages outside its basic VPN package. It offers plans based on a 12-month, 6-month, or single-month subscription. This determines how often you’ll be billed for the service, though you’ll be able to get a money-back guarantee within 30 days of purchase.
These are the subscription costs for each plan:
- 12 Months: $8.32 per month ($99.95 total)
- Note: The link on this article has a bonus discount reducing the price to $6.67 per month, also including an extra three months for free!
- 6 Months: $9.99 per month ($59.95 total)
- 1 Month: $12.95 per month
To put things into perspective, a 6-month plan will cost around $20 more than a 12-month plan if you decide to stick with both for the full year. The single-month plan will be around $50 more, making it a poor deal unless you decide to simply try it out for three or four months at most. This price won’t increase as time goes on unless the plans themselves increase, but if you want to stick with the service for a long time, a full 12-month commitment is probably best.
NordVPN Plans and Packages
Unlike its rival, NordVPN offers a couple of extra packages at different prices. The Plus package comes with a cross-platform password manager and a scanner that alerts you to data breaches. The Complete package includes these extras plus 1 terabyte of cloud storage and file encryption. It also allows users to purchase 2-year, 1-year, or 1-month subscriptions, once again determining total cost. Like ExpressVPN, a 30-day money-back guarantee is in effect no matter which plan you go with.
Here are all of NordVPN’s prices for each package and plan:
- 2 Years
- Standard: $3.29 per month ($88.83 total)
- Plus: $4.49 per month ($121.23 total)
- Complete: $5.99 per month ($161.73 total)
- 1 Year
- Standard: $4.59 per month ($68.85 total)
- Plus: $5.79 per month ($86.85 total)
- Complete: $7.29 per month ($109.35 total)
- 1 Month
- Standard: $12.99 per month
- Plus: $14.19 per month
- Complete: $15.69 per month
Additionally, NordVPN offers optional purchases for extra features. These features are:
- Dedicated IP (Allows users to get their own unique IP address)
- 2 Years: $3.89 per month ($105.03 total)
- 1 Year: $5.39 per month ($80.85 total)
- 1 Month: $8.99 per month
- Incogni data removal tool (Assists users in removing personal information from online databases)
- 2 Years: $3.79 per month ($102.33 total)
- 1 Year: $3.69 per month ($80.85 total)
- 1 Month: $3.99 per month
Put simply, there are many different options for NordVPN users to look into. A two-year plan with every extra feature will cost around $300 up front. However, there is something else users should be aware of. If you purchase a 2-year plan, it will be automatically renewed at a rate of a 1-year plan. In other words, you’ll need to pay more later down the line if you stick with the service for longer than two years.
NordVPN and ExpressVPN Price Comparisons
NordVPN has the benefit of offering a much cheaper rate for a 2-year plan. When going for its Standard package, you’ll effectively get double the time for $10 less. Keep in mind that this only applies for the first two years, but the standard annual subscription is still around $30 cheaper than ExpressVPN’s. The Plus package is also somewhat cheaper, though this trend ends with the 1-year Complete option. From here, and when counting the monthly subscriptions, NordVPN is notably more costly than its competitor.
It’s possible to purchase a subscription for ExpressVPN through PayPal, Bitcoin, credit cards, or payment methods that support PaymentWall. NordVPN doesn’t seem to accept PaymentWall, but it does accept AmazonPay, Google Pay, ACH Transfer, and other cryptocurrencies supported by CoinGate. If you’re purchasing a VPN, you’re likely aiming for full privacy, so a wider selection of cryptocurrencies is favorable.
The lack of extra features in ExpressVPN might seem like a downside, but it does make purchases quite simple. With NordVPN, the extras like cloud storage and a dedicated IP address might not actually be necessary for most users. ExpressVPN also has a password manager built into the service at all prices whereas NordVPN requires the Plus or Complete package to access it. As VPNs and nothing more, both services are highly competitive, offering great speeds and a wide range of locations.
Final Verdict: Which is the Better Deal?
If you want a long-term VPN with a cheap price, or if you want as many extra features and tools as possible, NordVPN is the way to go. If you only need the service for a couple of months at most, or if you simply want to be more certain about the overall price, you should get ExpressVPN instead.
Simply put, the choice you make depends mostly on the level of commitment you’re willing to go with. NordVPN is great for the long-term and those willing to pay top dollar for everything they can get, while ExpressVPN is a perfect choice for short-term, inexpensive simplicity. Either way, if this is your first time purchasing a VPN, you’re unlikely to be dissatisfied with either one!