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ExpressVPN vs Smart DNS Proxy 2023

Table of Contents
    Rated: 9.9/10
    %s User Reviews
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    Rated: 8.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    ExpressVPN and Smart DNS Proxy highlight two different approaches to keeping your data and browsing safe. Each delivers high-quality security options and premium capabilities. ExpressVPN is a well-known brand due to its military-grade encryption and 3,000+ servers in 94 countries with native apps for every platform. With a paid Smart DNS Proxy account, you get access to both a DNS Proxy and its VPN service. The proxy option is designed to unblock streaming content and works with more than 400 channels, but it doesn’t encrypt your data. Its VPN does encrypt your data, supporting leading protocols, including PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN. Of its 100 listed servers, half support the VPN service and half support P2P. There's no software installation for any of the Smart DNS Proxy services, but its VPN has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. One important note is that the Smart DNS Proxy company calls its VPN service SmartVPN, but this is not the same as the SmartVPN.com service from Anonymous SARL, so we won’t refer to it by that product name in this review. Keep reading to find out which option is right for you.

    Rating

    Features 9.9/10
    Pricing 9.2/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 8.1/10
    Pricing 9.0/10
    Ease of Use 8.0/10
    Reliability & Support 8.2/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    10.0/10

    ExpressVPN is one of the safest, fastest VPNs around, but the one drawback has always been the price. It often offers discounts that make it more affordable, but there are other decent VPNs offering similar security features for much cheaper. So, do you really need to pay so much for a VPN as good as ExpressVPN? To find the answer, I performed extensive tests on desktop and mobile devices run...

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    Latest positive user review
    T
    Trygve
    10.0/10
    Fantastic VPN

    I have just started using ExpressVPN and I must say that I was very impressed by how user-friendly it ... was and how easy it was to set up on the different devices I have at home. I also tested their customer service with chat and they were quick to respond and I got good help. I can recommend this productMore

    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

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    Review by our expert
    Author Image Ivana Sarandeska
    Ivana Sarandeska

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    7.4/10

    Smart DNS Proxy claims to offer a 3-in-1 service that includes a proxy, a VPN, and a SmartVPN. In reality, I found out it really only offers 2 services — the proxy and the VPN. The proxy claims to give you fast access to 400+ sites and services (by rerouting only your traffic to those specific sites), but doesn’t provide any online privacy or the option to change your IP address. The VPN encr...

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    Latest positive user review
    A
    Anonymously
    10.0/10
    Used for at least 3 years without any issues

    Mainly used to access geo-blocked streaming services with DNS. All main UK streaming services work fla... wlessly on my Samsung TVs, IoS, Android, and Windows devices. No issues with Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc. Good value for what I use. Never had reason to use customer services.More

    Latest negative user review
    K
    Kaz
    2.0/10
    Cannot establish OPEN VPN connection - Out of Choice !

    I have faced connection problems with their OPEN VPN for a week and contacted customer service twice. ... Customer Service gave me the advice to change ports, then gone. I tried all ports as per their advice, but could not establish a connection. The chat window was closed when customer service went away and no way to contact them again. do you think it's worth paying for it???More

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    More Info

    Pricing

    Starting price $6.67/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices
    See Plans
    Starting price $2.48/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 14 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices
    See Plans

    Best VPN by category

    Best VPN Overall

    ExpressVPN’s high-speed network of servers, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, and ability to get past even the toughest geoblocks make it a popular option. Smart DNS Proxy provides a fast service for its proxy and VPN, which can be used separately or together, but there are mixed reviews on the reliability of streaming content.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Every one of ExpressVPN’s servers supports torrenting to give you fast access to content, while also keeping you safe behind top security and a kill switch on most platforms. The VPN from Smart DNS Proxy, which comes with any paid account, utilizes PPTP, SSTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN protocols and offers dozens of secure torrent-friendly P2P servers.

    Best VPN for Windows

    ExpressVPN offers a Windows-specific client that gets high marks from users due to its simplicity, good speeds, and safety tools, with no logging. Smart DNS Proxy allows you to stream without any software, but you’ll get a dedicated app for its VPN tool that makes choosing your connection, turning on the kill switch, and auto-reconnecting easy.

    Best VPN for Android

    ExpressVPN gives you access to thousands of servers in 94 countries while employing an AES 256-bit cipher with a 4096-bit RSA key and SHA-512 HMAC authentication on its native Android app. The VPN from Smart DNS Proxy has launched an Android app that some users say is confusing to setup and has led to a number of upset customers. It also doesn’t work in conjunction with some popular apps like Whatsapp.

    Best VPN for Mac

    ExpressVPN’s Mac client provides support all the way back to Snow Leopard (10.6) and uses OpenVPN as standard, split tunneling, and even lets you favorite different services for easy access. Smart DNS Proxy’s VPN and proxy service support all Mac devices and make it easy to stream or browse with minimal logging of your data.

    Best VPN for iOS

    ExpressVPN protects your iOS devices with access to more than 160 VPN server locations. You can get a free 14-day trial on its app that protects you on wi-fi, LTE/4G, 3G, and all mobile data carriers. Smart DNS Proxy’s VPN gives iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices a full complement of encryption and protection with a simple network adjustment.

    Best VPN for USA

    ExpressVPN makes it safe and straightforward to access leading US content, such as Netflix and HBO, with users reporting success and fast speeds from the UAE, Russia, China, and others. Smart DNS Proxy explicitly touts its ability to unblock a wide range of content, but users report inconsistent results, especially for Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

    The Bottom Line

    ExpressVPN has an advantage over Smart DNS Proxy based on the size of its network, automatic kill switch, reliable geoblocking capabilities, and friendly customer service. But, the lower price and software-free nature of Smart DNS Proxy could be a good choice for you now that it includes a true VPN offering with its paid proxy service. You’ll want to look at the devices you use and your comfort around working with or without specific software to help narrow down your selection. Either way, you’ll get fast speeds, safe connections, and short-term free trials from each of these two popular services.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

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

    FAQ

    Is ExpressVPN better than Smart DNS Proxy?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is better overall than Smart DNS Proxy. It has 3000 servers in 94 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 Smart DNS Proxy?

    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 Smart DNS Proxy?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is faster than Smart DNS Proxy. 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 Smart DNS Proxy offer any deals?

    Both ExpressVPN and Smart DNS Proxy 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.