VPN · Comparison
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN in 2026: Price, Devices and Privacy Compared
On the Swiss pricing pages on 23 September 2026, ExpressVPN Basic costs CHF 2.90 a month (CHF 81.20 for 28 months, then CHF 90.00 a year) and NordVPN Basic CHF 3.29 (CHF 88.83 for 27 months, then CHF 133.08 a year). Both cover 10 devices on the entry plan and refund within 30 days. ExpressVPN wins on price; NordVPN, which pays us a commission, adds malware scanning on Complete.
Affiliate link: the NordVPN button is an affiliate link and NordVPN pays us a commission if you buy through it; the price you pay is the same either way. The ExpressVPN button is a plain link; we have no partnership with ExpressVPN.
Written and checked by Sascha Martins, Promo Code Network, Switzerland
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN price: introductory and renewal
| Plan | Intro price a month | First term billed | After the first term | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN Basic | CHF 3.29 | CHF 88.83 for 27 months | CHF 133.08 a year | 10 |
| NordVPN Complete | CHF 4.19 | CHF 113.13 for 27 months | CHF 209.88 a year | 10 |
| NordVPN Ultra | CHF 6.19 | CHF 167.13 for 27 months | CHF 259.08 a year | 10 |
| ExpressVPN Basic | CHF 2.90 | CHF 81.20 for 28 months | CHF 90.00 a year | 10 |
| ExpressVPN Advanced | CHF 3.90 | CHF 109.20 for 28 months | CHF 109.00 a year | 12 |
| ExpressVPN Express Pro | CHF 5.90 | CHF 165.20 for 28 months | CHF 159.00 a year | 14 |
Both Swiss pricing pages, read 23 September 2026; ExpressVPN raised its Advanced and Express Pro first-term prices during that day (earlier CHF 3.40 and 5.40), renewals unchanged. NordVPN notes that VAT may apply; ExpressVPN applies sales tax at checkout where applicable. Both renew yearly after the first term; NordVPN charges up to 14 days before the renewal date and emails a notice first.
Devices and refund conditions at NordVPN and ExpressVPN
| Criterion | NordVPN | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Devices at once | 10 on Basic, Complete and Ultra; a router uses one slot and covers every device behind it | 10 on Basic, 12 on Advanced, 14 on Express Pro |
| Refund window | 30 days from the first purchase | Exactly 30 days from the order |
| Who qualifies | New subscriptions; the initial purchase only | First-time users; accounts or payment methods refunded before are excluded |
| After a renewal | Not refundable under the guarantee, unless local law requires it | Guarantee page: full refund within 14 days of a renewal you did not intend. Terms of service (updated 27 July 2026): the guarantee does not apply to renewals; other refunds case by case |
| Bought in an app store | Apple App Store refunds only through Apple; Google Play refunds also via NordVPN support | App Store and Google Play purchases are outside the guarantee |
| How to ask | Live chat, then the Refund button in Nord Account | Refund request form, live chat or email |
NordVPN refund policy and device-limit article; ExpressVPN money-back guarantee page, terms of service and pricing page; all read 23 September 2026.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN on jurisdiction, parent company and audits
| Criterion | NordVPN | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Operator and base | Says it is based in Panama; nordvpn.com is published by Nord Security, which lists NordVPN among its products | Express Technologies Ltd; headquarters and registered place of business in the British Virgin Islands |
| Group | Nord Security | Ultimate holding company Kape Technologies PLC (UK), named in the privacy policy, which says Kape does not control or store users’ personal data |
| No-logs reviews, as published | PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland in 2018 and 2020, then Deloitte, the latest in 2025 | Dated list on the trust page: PwC Switzerland (2019), KPMG no-logs policy (September 2022), KPMG privacy policy (December 2023), third KPMG audit of privacy commitments (June 2025) |
| Network, as published | 7,887 servers in 150 countries, 225 locations | Servers in 113 countries; no server count on the pricing page |
ExpressVPN lists every engagement with a month and year and links most reports. NordVPN describes its no-logs reviews in prose and gives different totals on its no-logs page and its servers page, so this page states no count and bases no verdict on one.
Features: Threat Protection and Meshnet against Lightway
NordVPN. Every plan includes scam and phishing protection that filters traffic through NordVPN’s DNS servers; it works only while the VPN is connected. Complete and Ultra add what NordVPN now calls its next-gen antivirus, built on Threat Protection Pro: it scans downloads for malware, blocks ads and trackers on desktop and keeps running without a VPN connection. Meshnet links up to 10 of your own devices and 50 external ones; NordVPN calls it open source and free, so it is no reason to pay. Specialty servers include Double VPN, Onion Over VPN and obfuscated servers. NordVPN does not offer port forwarding, because customers share its servers.
ExpressVPN. Lightway is its own protocol. The core is open source; Cure53 assessed it in 2021 and 2022, and Cure53 and Praetorian audited it again in 2024 after a reimplementation in Rust; it uses ML-KEM for post-quantum protection by default. Basic includes blocking of ads, malicious sites and adult sites. TrustedServer runs every server from RAM only, so a reboot wipes it, and was audited by PwC. Port forwarding is documented only for routers running ExpressVPN.
Verdict: NordVPN or ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN is our pick in this comparison, and we have no affiliate relationship with ExpressVPN; NordVPN, the runner-up, pays us a commission if you buy through this page. On this page’s criteria ExpressVPN wins price at both stages, CHF 2.90 against CHF 3.29 a month for the first term and CHF 90.00 against CHF 133.08 a year after it, and matches NordVPN’s 10 devices on the entry plan, with 12 or 14 on its higher tiers. Refunds are a draw at 30 days for a first purchase; ExpressVPN’s guarantee page adds 14 days after an unintended renewal, but its terms of service exclude renewals from the guarantee, so do not count on it.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: common questions
Is ExpressVPN cheaper than NordVPN after the first term?
Can I get a refund from ExpressVPN or NordVPN after an automatic renewal?
Who owns ExpressVPN, and who owns NordVPN?
What have independent auditors checked at each provider?
How many devices can I connect with NordVPN and ExpressVPN?
Sources
- NordVPN: pricing (Switzerland); refund policy; device limit; no-logs page (Panama, PwC and Deloitte); servers; next-gen antivirus (Threat Protection); Meshnet; port forwarding; Nord Security. Read 23 September 2026.
- ExpressVPN: pricing (Switzerland); money-back guarantee; terms of service (last updated 27 July 2026); privacy policy (operator, British Virgin Islands, Kape Technologies PLC); trust centre (audit list, TrustedServer); Lightway; router port forwarding. Read 23 September 2026.