We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

ExpressVPN vs Encrypt.me VPN 2024

Table of Contents

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    Encrypt.me and ExpressVPN both offer military-grade encryption, leak-free connections, good guides and FAQ resources, 30-day money-back guarantees, and public wi-fi connections. Encrypt.me (formerly known as Cloak VPN) is built to keep you safe from threats and seeks to give you the most straightforward interface possible. You can’t go wrong with getting online or installing this VPN — there are online guides, but it’s doubtful you’ll need them. The main concern is that it is headquartered in Texas, US, and is therefore under the jurisdiction of US laws and the Five-Eyes Alliance. This is bad news for the privacy-conscious because it means it will turn over data if requested. Encrypt.me logs your IP address, source port, generalized data, and total usage, but retains this information for only 16 days. ExpressVPN has native apps on every platform and offers you plenty of help getting started. It provides 3,000+ servers (beating Encrypt.me’s 48+) that are some of the fastest around. It keeps absolutely no logs of your data, and is based in the British Virgin Islands which is outside the 14-Eyes Alliance. You’ll be able to stream your favorite content from around the globe too. Keep reading to find out more about the significant differences between these two VPNs.

    Our Score

    Features 9.9/10
    Pricing 9.4/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 7.9/10
    Pricing 6.4/10
    Ease of Use 8.3/10
    Reliability & Support 8.4/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 9.9/10

    ExpressVPN is one of the most popular and trusted names in the industry. It’s known for being one of the safest, fastest VPNs around, so I wanted to see if it can live up to these claims. It’s not the cheapest VPN, but it often offers discounts that make it a better value for the money. Other decent VPNs offer similar security features for much cheaper. So, do you really need to pay that muc...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    J
    JKJHB
    8.0/10
    jhJ JJ

    I've been an ExpressVPN customer since 2017 and it's been great: quickly connects to a nearby server i... n the Wash DC region, embedded shortcuts to apps I want to use while using VPN, disconnects quickly, has the kill switch feature which is necessary these days, and has a fine mobile app which works well on my Android phones and tablets. However, I was just notified that the annual price is jumping from $99 to $117 upon the next renewal, so it's time to see how the others compare within VPN Mentor.More

    Latest negative user review
    C
    Charli
    6.0/10
    Ok, but expensive

    Seems ok, but I wouldn't say it's worth $20AUD a month. That's steep if you live in a backwater like A... ustralia, where the currency is not valuable. Easy enough to set up - you don't need to be Einstein - but unless you're a tech nerd who can take a look under the bonnet, you'll just have to trust what they say about their product. It frequently drops out without the slightest warning, often when it's the only thing online at the time - despite fast and flawless fiber internet, rendering expression entirely useless UNLESS you have it sitting on your desktop where you can keep an eagle eye on it to actually see it when it drops out so you can kick it back into service again (it doesn't do it by itself), which seems to defeat its purpose, so I'm taking away 2 stars for that. Support is good and they do get back to you as fast as they can.More

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Managing Editor

    Our Score: 7.9/10

    Important: Encrypt.me has joined forces with StrongVPN. You can no longer sign up to Encrypt.me as a new member, but you can check out our StrongVPN review here. Current Encrypt.me customers will still have access to their usual Encrypt.me services. While we wish it offered as many devices as some of our top providers, Encrypt.me (previously Cloak VPN) succeeds in protecting Apple devices connec...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    M
    Mel Snyder
    10.0/10
    Simple for all my iOS/OSX devices

    I travel a lot, US and EU, and use airline club, airport and hotel connections - all of which make me ... nervous, especially because I check my IRAs 2-3 times a day. Cloak is the third VPN I've tried - I don't remember the names of others because I quickly abandoned them when I found them kludgy and hard to set up. Cloak is SO easy, and shows up as a simple iOS setting choice. I see no speed impact, although I suspect there may be one, and so when I'm connecting to a slow service, I may use it only when transmitting or receiving sensitive data. Like seatbelts and life jackets, the easier they are to use, the more likely they are to be used. Cloak is easy.More

    Latest negative user review
    T
    Toby
    6.0/10
    Great VPN when it works

    Easy to setup, easy to "set and forget". But, that's only when the Cloak servers are responding and ru... nning as normal. I have found that often (10% of the time approx) when trying to use wifi the Cloak servers are not responsive/down and that leaves you in the exactly the situation you don't want to be in... either using iOS and OSX on unsecured connections or not using them online at all. Pretty poor outcome for something that you actually pay for.More

    Pricing

    Starting price $6.67/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 8 devices
    Starting price $8.33/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Encrypt.me positions itself as a VPN that will help you make secure use of untrusted and unknown networks and that is where it really shines. The service is very user-friendly and provides military-grade encryption on all 48 servers, but you’re not going to get much support for torrents or streaming. It keeps partial logs and is headquartered in the US, a 5-Eyes country. ExpressVPN offers the same military-grade encryption as Encrypt.me, as well as 3,000+ high-speed, P2P-friendly servers. You can also stream Netflix and other leading US streaming services with ease. It’s based in the British Virgin Islands, and is therefore not subject to data retention laws, and it keeps a strict zero-logs policy.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Encrypt.me allows BitTorrent traffic, but blocks access to other torrent sites and seeders. The company is very transparent about its policies, stating unequivocally that “if you want to download copyrighted content, Encrypt.me is absolutely not the right tool for you.” The provider is headquartered in Texas and keeps partial logs for up to 16 days. ExpressVPN takes a different approach, providing native Tor support and allowing P2P traffic on all of its high-speed servers. You can also relax in the knowledge that ExpressVPN keeps absolutely no logs.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Encrypt.me has a Windows client that looks great, is easy to use, and provides military-grade encryption. ExpressVPN has a smooth and intuitive Windows client with all the essential features, including advanced leak protection, OpenVPN as standard, a kill switch, and split tunneling.

    Best VPN for Android

    Encrypt.me has a native Android app that gets mixed reviews from users because its connections aren’t always stable. However, it keeps you safe online and is reasonably priced. ExpressVPN’s native Android app is liked by users on account of its fast speeds and its support of streaming. It’s not the cheapest VPN on the market but provides good value for money and comes with a built-in kill switch.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Encrypt.me has a slick Mac client. They offer plenty of support to help you install it but it is so user-friendly that you probably won’t need it. Speeds are average, and Encrypt.me does keep partial logs. ExpressVPN supports an extensive line of Mac devices, provides professional 24/7 live chat support, offers you some of the fastest speeds around, and keeps absolutely no logs.

    Best VPN for iOS

    The mobile apps of Encrypt.me showcase an exceptionally stunning design that captivates users. Its Apple clients stand out with their seamless performance, responsiveness, and user-friendly interface. Alongside providing Wi-Fi protection, the app has garnered highly favorable reviews from users due to its impressive speed and robust security measures. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, offers native iOS apps equipped with a range of indispensable features. These include swift connection speeds, top-tier encryption, comprehensive Wi-Fi and cellular security, and extensive streaming capabilities.

    Best VPN for USA

    Encrypt.me has mixed success with streaming sites in the US, with some users bypassing geo-restrictions while others struggle. The provider doesn’t prioritize streaming and even suggests you use a different VPN if you want to “access Netflix or other geoblocked content from another country.” ExpressVPN offers you lightning-fast speeds on its 3,000+ servers, including many in the US. It bypasses most geo-restrictions, including those by US services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, and many more.

    The Bottom Line

    ExpressVPN is the ideal choice if streaming and torrenting are important to you. Both options provide strong security features. Encrypt.me is an attractive option for protecting banking and other sensitive websites, as long as your online activities are lawful. The company explicitly suggests seeking alternative VPNs for circumventing geo-restrictions to access streaming content or engaging in extensive torrenting. Email-based customer service is prompt, but most FAQ entries are outdated. Encrypt.me offers leak-free connections with military-grade encryption on 48 servers. On the other hand, ExpressVPN operates over 3,000 fast, P2P-compatible servers, unblocks well-known streaming services like Netflix, and imposes no restrictions on bandwidth, speed, or other factors. While not inexpensive, it delivers excellent value for money. Furthermore, ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands, exempt from data retention laws, and adheres to a strict no-logs policy.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    FAQ

    Is ExpressVPN better than Encrypt.me VPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is better overall than Encrypt.me VPN. It has 3000 servers in 105 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $6.67 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between ExpressVPN and Encrypt.me VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then ExpressVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is ExpressVPN faster than Encrypt.me VPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is faster than Encrypt.me VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do ExpressVPN or Encrypt.me VPN offer any deals?

    Both ExpressVPN and Encrypt.me VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Technical writer with a passion for online privacy.