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.
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 ibVPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.9/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 7.5/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Managing Editor

    Note: ibVPN joined forces with StrongVPN, so we'll be referring to it as StrongVPN in this comparison.

    Acquiring multiple VPNs and merging them into its services, StrongVPN has made some moves in recent years, indicating it wants to be a major player in the VPN scene. Now, it’s coming up against one of the industry leaders, ExpressVPN. Can it hold up against one of the big boys, or does it still have a long way to go to be on this level? On paper, StrongVPN has a robust offering with apps for all major platforms, military-grade encryption, and a global server network. However, it’s in the details where some differences start to emerge.

    ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPNs for a good reason. It packs all the features you expect of a top-tier VPN in user-friendly apps for a wide range of devices. Another thing that makes ExpressVPN unique is its proprietary Lightway protocol, optimized for both speed and security. Lightway is based on wolfSSL — a modern cryptographic library vetted by third parties and provides military-grade AES 256-bit encryption. It’s also clear that ExpressVPN takes its users’ privacy seriously, being headquartered in the British Virgin Islands and sticking to a strict-no logs policy. However, it even goes further than the majority of other VPN providers by having its services independently audited by companies like Cure53, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), KPMG, and more.

    Our Score

    Features 9.9/10
    Pricing 9.4/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 7.5/10
    Pricing 7.8/10
    Ease of Use 8.4/10
    Reliability & Support 8.2/10

    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 Doris Muthuri
    Doris Muthuri

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 7.5/10

    Update: Recently, ibVPN merged with StrongVPN. We did indepth testing on StrongVPN, and you can find all the details in our review. ibVPN is a relatively small VPN, with a network of 180+ servers in 50+ countries. The name stands for "invisible browsing" VPN, and true to its name, ibVPN has a strong focus on security and privacy. This provider claims to be a great VPN for many different purposes, ...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    A
    Anonymously
    10.0/10
    Very stable, full option, the top if you look for a good privacy protection option!

    I am using ibVPN for about 5 years, and I never had an issue. It perfectly works with many protocols a... llowing me to use the VPN at home (with my DD-WRT router) and in many public places, like airports, even when some port usage is restricted --> Just switching the protocol! The 24h free trial is perfect for checking if the service fits your needs. I highly recommended it!More

    Latest negative user review
    D
    Daltonic
    6.0/10
    Some great features but a lot of drops

    I'm a customer since almost 2 years, paying 2.41$ / month. Choose them for the price, no-log policy a... nd because they support upnp/port forwarding (no NAT firewall + dynamic IP on 4 servers in the Netherlands). I always had a big problem with their server: connection drops.. If I use too much bandwidth, I loose the connection and the VPN client is not able to reconnect to the server by itself (I need to reconnect it manually). Same thing happens always with torrent clients and Socks proxy: tried with different clients but after some days or a week (if I'm lucky) their servers kick me out, and a restart of the torrent client is not enough. No!! I need to change manually the server to re-start to torrenting! No problem if we are slow, for that price I'm more than happy.. but all these disconnections are very, very boring. I will stay with them till I will not find something suitable for my needs, but there's too much work from my side to stay with them forever.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 $4.95/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 15 Days
    Number of devices per license 25 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    ExpressVPN is always one of our top VPN picks, regardless of what you need a VPN for, so we weren’t surprised that it won this battle with ease. During our testing, ExpressVPN always delivers fast and reliable speeds as well as low latency. This makes it the ideal choice for torrenting, buffer-free UHD streaming, gaming, or just browsing the web with instantly loading pages. With excellent apps on all major platforms, you don’t have to make any serious compromises if you mostly use a VPN on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, or even some smart TVs.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Although both VPNs support P2P on all their servers, ExpressVPN is our top pick for torrenting, thanks to having a much larger and faster server network spread across more locations in the world. This gives you a better chance of being able to connect to a server near you for faster speeds. Also, ExpressVPN is based in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands as opposed to StrongVPN, which is based in the US (a part of the 5 Eyes Alliance).

    Best VPN for Windows

    ExpressVPN easily has one of the best VPN apps for Windows. It comes with safe protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and the proprietary Lightway. You can also take advantage of all of ExpressVPN’s Windows features, including a kill switch, split tunneling, Shortcuts for your most-used websites, Smart Location, and many more. If you prefer a browser extension, ExpressVPN is available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and even Brave.

    Best VPN for Android

    ExpressVPN feels like it was built for mobile, and it clearly shows in its Android app. The design is straightforward and highly intuitive, allowing you to connect to the fastest server in just a single tap. Although it comes with all the same features as the Windows app, the only thing it lacks is support for the IKEv2 protocol. The only advantage StrongVPN has on Android is IKEv2 support, but it lacks a kill switch which is a bummer.

    Best VPN for Mac

    As an almost direct copy of the Windows version, ExpressVPN’s app for Mac is hard to beat. It has support for the exact same features and protocols as the Windows app with the same trademark UI that’s so widely loved, as well as a browser extension for Safari.

    Best VPN for iOS

    If you want a sleek and minimal VPN app for your iPhone or iPad, then look no further than ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN’s iOS app supports Lightway, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 as opposed to WireGuard, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec supported by StrongVPN. Unfortunately, as is usual with all iOS VPN apps, both of these don't support split tunneling.

    Best VPN for USA

    With 24 US server locations, ExpressVPN offers coast-to-coast coverage for users in the country. And, with over 3,000 servers worldwide in 105 countries, US citizens can find one in just about any other country to access international streaming, gaming servers, or online services.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    StrongVPN’s services are impressive for a smaller player, with 24/7 live chat support, globally-positioned servers, and all the essential privacy and security features. However, it still has some ways to go until it can compete with the likes of ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN also offers 24/7 live chat support but has roughly triple the number of servers and server locations around the world. With faster speeds and native apps for a wider range of devices, it has tangible advantages over StrongVPN. Plus, thanks to ExpressVPN having completed multiple security audits and being based in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands, you can rest assured that your data is safe and private to only you.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

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

    FAQ

    Is ExpressVPN better than ibVPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is better overall than ibVPN. 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 ibVPN?

    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 ibVPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is faster than ibVPN. 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 ibVPN offer any deals?

    Both ExpressVPN and ibVPN 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

    Kristina Perunicic is a former editor for vpnMentor. She’s a cybersecurity expert with an interest in VPNs and their importance in the digital privacy landscape.