ExpressVPN's new subscription plans – 5 key takeaways

Image credit: Pixabay (Image credit: ExpressVPN)

ExpressVPN has just launched three new subscription tiers: Basic, Advanced, and Pro. This is the first time in the company's 16-year history that it offers its users any choice besides subscription length.

The new tiers vary by pricing, features, and the number of devices you can connect with at once. The cheapest tier starts at $3.49 per month, and while it gives you something extra compared to the previous option, it also takes something away at the same time.

Here are five key takeaways on the new ExpressVPN subscription plans. We'll help you figure out how they compare to some of the best VPN services after these changes.

1. ExpressVPN expands into three new subscription tiers

ExpressVPN's 2-year membership tiers — (Image credit: ExpressVPN)

ExpressVPN now offers Basic, Advanced, and Pro plans instead of using a one-size-fits-all subscription. Previously, going all the way back to 2009, ExpressVPN only offered one subscription tier. The only thing that varied was pricing, which was entirely based on the length of your commitment. The two-year plan was the most cost-effective, and that still remains true now, even with three plans to choose from.

Each tier comes with different features and pricing. The Basic plan is, unsurprisingly, the cheapest, followed by the Advanced plan, which adds more features, and the Pro plan for more demanding users.

This structure resembles the current TechRadar's top-rated service, NordVPN, which also offers three membership tiers (Basic, Plus, and Ultimate) – these become four if you're based in the US (Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime).

2. Basic protection gets cheaper

The ExpressVPN Basic plan is kind of unprecedented, because instead of introducing a price hike, it's actually cheaper than what the VPN provider previously offered.

Prior to this change, the cheapest plan was priced at the equivalent of $4.99 a month, assuming that you subscribed for two years at a time. Now, the Basic plan comes in at $3.49 a month with a two-year commitment. It includes the core VPN plus DNS-level ad and tracker blocking for up to 10 devices. However, it strips out extras like eSIM data, password protection, and identity monitoring.

That said, ExpressVPN is still far from being the cheapest VPN out there. Surfshark maintains the crown, clocking its best price at the equivalent of $1.99 a month for its two-year plan. Private Internet Access (PIA) follows with $2.03, then NordVPN with $3.09.

3. Protection for more devices at once

ExpressVPN app on all devices — (Image credit: ExpressVPN)

ExpressVPN seems to be aware of the fact that many people need protection on more than one device these days. As a result, it boosted device limits across all tiers.

Previously, ExpressVPN offered coverage for eight devices at a time. Now, the Basic plan protects up to 10, the Advanced up to 12, and the Pro up to 14.

In comparison, NordVPN caps out at 10 devices across all its membership tiers, same goes for Proton VPN premium plans. Yet, there are a few providers, including Surfshark, Windscribe, and PIA, that are even more generous than ExpressVPN, offering unlimited device connections.

4. ExpressVPN Keys isn’t included with Basic anymore

ExpressVPN Keys, the provider's built-in password manager, was once bundled with all plans. That is not the case anymore: it's now only available on Advanced and Pro tiers, starting at $4.99/month.

That means that users on the Basic plan will need to either upgrade or try out one of the best password managers as an alternative. Proton Pass is a great option if you don't want to pay for another subscription, as it comes with a free plan, too.

That said, ExpressVPN still remains one of the very few providers offering an integrated password manager service. Besides Proton VPN, NordVPN also includes its NordPass tool, but only on its top-tier plan. Therefore, compared with NordVPN, ExpressVPN still gets you password protection at a cheaper rate.

5. No changes for existing users

If you're already subscribed to ExpressVPN, you don't have to worry about any of these changes. You'll keep your current features, pricing, and device limits just the same as before.

This is mostly good news – especially if you want to keep using Keys as a free basic add-on – although if you need the extra device coverage and other top-tier perks, you might want to switch plans.

The new pricing and features only apply to new users and renewals. The next time you renew your subscription, you'll have to pick one of the new tiers instead.

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Monica is a tech journalist with over a decade of experience. She writes about the latest developments in computing, which means anything from computer chips made out of paper to cutting-edge desktop processors.

GPUs are her main area of interest, and nothing thrills her quite like that time every couple of years when new graphics cards hit the market.

She built her first PC nearly 20 years ago, and dozens of builds later, she’s always planning out her next build (or helping her friends with theirs). During her career, Monica has written for many tech-centric outlets, including Digital Trends, SlashGear, WePC, and Tom’s Hardware.

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