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.
Advertising Disclosure

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 BTGuard VPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.9/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 7.9/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, Cyberghost and Expressvpn are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    ExpressVPN and BTGuard are two P2P-friendly VPN services. They utilize leading 256-bit AES encryption, don’t throttle or cap your bandwidth, and give you strong guides to help the installation process as well as other troubleshooting needs. However, some significant differences occur once we look deeper. ExpressVPN is a robust service with more than 3,000 servers, the ability to bypass almost all geo-restrictions, and live 24/7 support. It is located in the British Virgin Islands, outside of the Five-Eyes Alliance jurisdiction. BTGuard, on the other hand, only lists three server locations and struggles with some content unlocking, such as Netflix’ US content. Its support is lacking with a sometimes unresponsive ticket system and is based in Canada, meaning it is within the Five-Eyes Alliance. Keep reading to see which of these two VPNs best matches your needs.

    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 6.0/10
    Ease of Use 8.6/10
    Reliability & Support 8.5/10

    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

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Anneke van Aswegen
    Anneke van Aswegen

    Managing Editor

    Our Score: 7.9/10

    BitTorrentGuard — aka BTGuard — is a VPN and BitTorrent proxy provider. It is specifically designed for P2P fans at a time when most tiptoe around the subject of torrenting. You can use it on as many computers as you like without worrying about bandwidth, which is great for file sharing. Another significant aspect of the VPN is that its speeds are consistent. However, it does have some drawba...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    A
    Anonymously
    10.0/10
    Works for me for years

    Not sure why seen so much bad feedback here. Using BTGuard for more than 8 years. I ran into problems ... about 3 times. Figured out it was a software upgrade. Following their setup instructions for PCs/Linux phones works.More

    Latest negative user review
    R
    Raymond Stevens
    2.0/10
    Terrible customer service

    I used them for several years without too many problems beyond when I actually had a question I needed...  to be answered by this outfit they never bothered to respond to my emails. One day, while connected to BTGuard, my IP was leaked to my ISP and I received a notice from Cox that I was in violation of their user agreement. I questioned BTGuard about this and I was immediately suspended and my account was closed. What the hell kind of treatment is this? And of course, they didn't bother to respond to my question as to why on earth I was suspended. At this point, I moved to TorGuard and never looked back. I've used TorGuard for 7 years. They offer a reasonable price and excellent service and outstanding customer support. I see BTGuard is still in business despite their lousy customer service and their limited functionality as discussed by the author of this article and there don't care attitude about their customers. Makes me wonder how they have any.More

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $6.67/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 8 devices
    Starting price $7.5/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 0 Days
    Number of devices per license 1 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    BTGuard has just three server locations and lacks native software so that you won’t get advanced features like a kill switch. In its favor, BTGuard allows you to pay with credit cards, PayPal, and Bitcoin, users say installation in easy, and there are no torrenting restrictions on its service. ExpressVPN gives you access to more than 3,000 servers, a kill switch, and multiple payment options, including cryptocurrency. You can torrent on all of its servers without traffic limits.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    BTGuard’s primary focus is torrenting based on its website and support content, as well as the BitTorrent Proxy service it offers. You can torrent on any of its servers with no throttling or speed caps, but note it does keep partial logs and the only two things it says explicitly it will not collect are your IP address and specific usage. ExpressVPN is also a torrent-friendly service allowing P2P on all of its 3,000+ servers with no traffic or speed limits and a strict no-logs policy.

    Best VPN for Windows

    BTGuard does not have dedicated software for any platform, but says it does work with Windows XP through Windows 10 by using the OpenVPN software or adjusting the PPTP settings on your device. This is a straightforward process and gives you 256-bit AES encryption on your connection. ExpressVPN has its own Windows clients for XP to 10, and also provides 256-bit AES encryption. We didn’t find any DNS leaks, logs, or other common security issues.

    Best VPN for Android

    You can get BTGuard support for your Android phone by using the OpenVPN app or adjusting the device’s PPTP settings. Customers note that its customer service and its mobile connections are not very reliable. ExpressVPN offers its own Android app that automatically configures and connects to the fastest server for you. Users say it provides a high-quality experience, fast servers, and secure data even on public wi-fi networks.

    Best VPN for Mac

    BTGuard requires the Tunnelblick app or adjusting the PPTP settings on your computer. Please note that macOS Sierra users cannot use PPTP settings anymore. Once online, you’ll get unlimited bandwidth, no speed caps, and no throttling. ExpressVPN has its own Mac client that supports OSX 10 and newer, has no speed or bandwidth caps, no throttling, and helpful 24/7 support.

    Best VPN for iOS

    You can get access to the full BTGuard service on your iOS device using the OpenVPN app, but the company says connecting by adjusting PPTP settings is no longer working on iOS. The connection protocols used by the OpenVPN app should keep you safe on public wi-fi networks. ExpressVPN offers its own iOS app that users say is reliable. It’ll keep your data secure on a variety of connection types and makes it easy to stream thanks to thousands of servers.

    Best VPN for USA

    Users report that BTGuard does not consistently unblock Netflix US services, and it may struggle with other US content because it only has servers in Canada, Europe, and Asia. ExpressVPN is a top streaming performer for US content, allowing you to access HBO GO, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and more. Users around the world report the ability to access to US content.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    ExpressVPN is a high-quality VPN service that has clear advantages compared to the BTGuard VPN. The two services both offer 256-bit AES encryption, no bandwidth limits, and a simple setup. ExpressVPN sets itself apart, however, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, more than 3,000 servers, native apps and clients for every major platform, automatic kill switches, and a rigorous no-logs policy. BTGuard gives you high-quality encryption, unlimited downloads, but just three server locations. It also doesn’t offer you a kill switch, no free trial, and struggles with streaming US content. We couldn’t find any money-back guarantee information from the company, plus it’s pricey given the number of servers offered, and its support system says the typical response time to an issue is one to three days. ExpressVPN comes away as a pretty clear winner and should be able to fulfill your VPN needs.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with ExpressVPN
    Go with BTGuard VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is ExpressVPN better than BTGuard VPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is better overall than BTGuard 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 BTGuard 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 BTGuard VPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is faster than BTGuard 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 BTGuard VPN offer any deals?

    Both ExpressVPN and BTGuard 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.