{
  "slug": "expressvpn",
  "category": "vpns",
  "name": "ExpressVPN",
  "description": "Commercial VPN service run by Express Technologies Ltd. in the British Virgin Islands, a subsidiary of Kape Technologies. It uses its own open-source Lightway protocol.",
  "website": "https://www.expressvpn.com",
  "source": "https://github.com/expressvpn/lightway",
  "license": "AGPL-3.0",
  "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "macos",
    "linux",
    "android",
    "ios"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "VG",
    "name": "British Virgin Islands",
    "eyes": null,
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": null
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "D",
  "score": 56,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "ExpressVPN scores 56 out of 100 (grade D) on the VPN providers criteria. It meets 6 of 12 criteria: no ads or data sales, independent audit, transparency report, TLS configuration, audited no-logs policy and modern protocols. It partly meets security headers and anonymous payment. It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry, tells users about requests and open-source apps. It is based in the British Virgin Islands: Not in the Five, Nine or Fourteen Eyes. Automated tests: SSL Labs grade A+ and Mozilla HTTP Observatory grade B.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/vpns/expressvpn/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/vpns/expressvpn/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/expressvpn/lightway/main/LICENSE",
      "note": "The apps and servers are closed source. Only the Lightway protocol implementation is published under AGPL-3.0."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://www.expressvpn.com/privacy-policy",
      "note": "The privacy policy lists Google Analytics and AppsFlyer, and the Android app includes AppsFlyer and Google Firebase Analytics."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.expressvpn.com/privacy-policy",
      "note": "Funded by paid subscriptions. The policy states personal data is not sold."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://cure53.de/pentest-report_expressvpn-lightway_2024.pdf",
      "note": "Full reports are published, including Cure53 on the Lightway protocol and KPMG on the no-logs policy."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.expressvpn.com/trust",
      "note": "Twice-yearly counts of government requests, warrants and DMCA requests are published."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No published policy on notifying users about data requests."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/analyze.html?d=www.expressvpn.com&hideResults=on",
      "note": "Grade A+"
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/observatory/analyze?host=www.expressvpn.com",
      "note": "Grade B (70/100+)"
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "pending",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Not tested yet."
    },
    "no_logs_audited": {
      "title": "Audited no-logs policy",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.expressvpn.com/security-audit-reports/kpmg-privacy-policy-2025",
      "note": "KPMG assessed that the TrustedServer design prevents activity and connection logging. The full report is public after accepting KPMG terms."
    },
    "anonymous_payment": {
      "title": "Anonymous payment",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.expressvpn.com/privacy-policy",
      "note": "Bitcoin is accepted, but an email address is needed for the account."
    },
    "open_source_clients": {
      "title": "Open-source apps",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "The apps are closed source."
    },
    "modern_protocols": {
      "title": "Modern protocols",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.expressvpn.com/lightway",
      "note": "The Lightway protocol, audited by Cure53 and Praetorian, is the default."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": "A+",
    "observatory": "B",
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [
      {
        "name": "Google Fonts",
        "host": "fonts.gstatic.com",
        "effect": "none"
      },
      {
        "name": "Google Tag Manager",
        "host": "www.googletagmanager.com",
        "effect": "no"
      }
    ],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T06:38:25.254Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T06:56:31Z"
}