ExpressVPN for Canada: Features, Speeds, & Test Results

Canada is a member of the Five Eyes Alliance, which doesn’t bode well for its citizens in terms of privacy. If you want to protect your online identity and hide it from prying eyes or simply want to access geo-restricted content, a VPN is an essential piece of software.

The problem is – choosing a reliable VPN can take time and effort.

This is a real conundrum as there are too many providers to choose from, each claiming they’re the best. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered, and we’re happy to tell you that one of the oldest and most established names in the industry will work well for all the privacy needs of Canuck citizens.

ExpressVPN for Canada is a fitting choice, offering a wide server network in North America, steady connections, and dependable security features. 

Join us as we put ExpressVPN through its paces regarding performance, essential functionalities, price, and speed tests – the whole nine yards!

Key Takeaways

• ExpressVPN is recommended for Canada due to its high speeds, unlimited bandwidth, strong unblocking capabilities, and hundreds of servers located on the territory. 
• Its user-friendly app is consistent across various platforms and allows users to protect up to eight simultaneous devices. 
• Features like AES 256-bit encryption, Network Lock (kill switch), DNS leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy, in addition to successful independent security audits, guarantee your safety when accessing the internet.
• While a bit pricey, ExpressVPN does provide a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can save extra cash by using this 49% off coupon.

Learn how different VPNs stack against one another in our best VPN for Canada guide. 

ExpressVPN: An overview

You’ll receive a full list of reasons later, but for the time being, here’s just a taste of what makes ExpressVPN a fine choice for Canada:

• Fast and reliable connections
• Hundreds of 10Gbps servers in three major cities 
• Up to eight simultaneous devices on a single subscription
• Advanced features such as Threat Manager, no-logs policy, split tunneling, and more.
• Excellent router support

Server locations in Canada

To ensure coverage of the entire area, ExpressVPN currently has servers in the following cities:

• Vancouver
• Toronto 
• Montreal

As you can see in our Surfshark for Canada and NordVPN for Canada guides, these locations are essential for VPN use in Canada. If you’re residing near, you’ll have no problems establishing consistently fast connections as server proximity is a key factor in connection quality. Since all these cities span the entirety of Canada, they’re enough to serve you well regardless of where you’re located.

This is also good news for those living elsewhere as they’ll have plenty of server choices to gain access to online media available only in Canada. 

To find the server you need, refer to the screenshot below. 

Simply click on the ‘Selected Location’ box and another window will pop up where you can use the search function to look up Canada. 

Benefits of using ExpressVPN for Canada

When accessing the internet, you should ALWAYS hide your identity. Even if you have nothing to hide, one of the biggest benefits of using a VPN is that it will effectively keep your data out of the hands of the advertisers. 

ExpressVPN uses a secure (and fast) Lightway Protocol that cuts off the opportunity for your ISP to track your online activity, which may alleviate you from the annoying ISP throttling. Here’s a comparison of major VPN protocols if you want to deepen your knowledge on the subject. 

Installing ExpressVPN also gives you military-grade encryption, thus strengthening your security during those online shopping sessions none of us can resist – even on public networks. 

Apart from accessing geo-blocked and restricted content, ExpressVPN can give you a shiny new online identity you can use to exploit additional perks. Connect to a server located in another area and you’ll receive a different IP address, meaning you can access better prices, qualify for multiple discounts, and avoid falling victim to price discrimination. 

Connections on ExpressVPN are famous for their reliability and you’ll always be able to achieve a stable connection despite network conditions. 

While it is more expensive than its competitors, ExpressVPN has continually found its place on the list of best VPNs since 2009 (no easy feat). It’s also registered in the British Virgin Islands – a place known for its favorable privacy laws.

All of that makes the price justifiable, which you can knock down a bit by using the coupon below:

ExpressVPN Canada speed test results

Time for the main course – speed!

We tested ExpressVPN in our Pacific Northwest US lab via a 1,000 Mbps connection. What results show is a mixed bag when you factor in cheaper alternatives leaving this (for all intents and purposes) premium VPN biting the dust in some locations. 

Note: ExpressVPN generally offers three locations in Canada. Unfortunately, we couldn't access the Vancouver server during our testing. Some of our overseas staff report they have no issues with Vancouver, which means the issue may be geographic. 

Let’s get into it. 

ExpressVPN Toronto speed test results

In Toronto, things are slightly different (?). While its competitors closely sit in the ballpark of 600 Mbps, ExpressVPN’s server in the same location delivers only 456 Mbps, as the screenshot demonstrates:

Make no mistakes, this is solid and will serve well for low-bandwidth online activities and some streaming, but it’s disappointing nonetheless. Do note that your proximity to the server plays a huge role in your connection, so you may get better results if you’re closer to Toronto than us. 

ExpressVPN Montreal speed test

In an unexpected twist, ExpressVPN actually outpaces Surfshark (second fastest VPN for Canada) in Montreal. Surfshark provided us with 577 Mbps, while Express VPN pulled a surprising 604 Mbps:

Considering NordVPN had 641 Mbps (and is hailed as the go-to solution for Canadian citizens), this is nothing short of impressive. 

To run the risk of sounding like a broken record, our Pacific Northwest lab is located over 2000 from Montreal. If you live closer, you’ll get even better results. This makes ExpressVPN a good option for gaming and other bandwidth-heavy activities – check out our ExpressVPN gaming guide for more.

This speed test shows that ExpressVPN is more than capable of fast stable connections, but you will have to accept it will generally be much slower than some of its other competitors, at least when stacked up against Surfshark and NordVPN.

However, ExpressVPN outperforms most other apps on the market, as is evident in some of our other comparisons:

• ExpressVPN vs ProtonVPN
• ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost
• ExpressVPN vs Mulvad

User experience

Even as a total beginner, you’ll quickly learn the ropes with ExpressVPN. 

Modern consumers may perceive the design as a bit barren, but in reality, its UI is a masterclass in user-friendliness and intuitiveness. One button is everything you need to quickly establish a VPN connection, and the color changing from red to green when you’re connected is a neat touch. 

The rectangular window is also something we should mention. Apart from performing routinely well on all devices (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS), ExpressVPN also looks identical through the sheer simplicity of the design. 

ExpressVPN – Advanced features

By encrypting your data and hiding your IP address, ExpressVPN effectively provides you with a new online identity, keeping your activities away from prying eyes. 

To strengthen your overall security and get you a step further, this provider implemented all sorts of features. Here’s just a part of what you can expect:

• Obfuscated: With advanced obfuscation, your online traffic will be masked and you will also be able to hide your VPN usage. This is rather useful if you’re looking to circumvent censorship and VPN blocks, which is why ExpressVPN is often recommended as a suitable VPN for China or VPN for UAE and Dubai.
• P2P: Most ExpressVPN servers are P2P friendly, placing the company on the list of best VPNs for torrenting
• DNS: Regardless of the server you’re connected to, ExpressVPN protects all DNS requests by default.

Security enhancements

You’ll be well safeguarded out of the box, but you can enhance your security by leveraging the following features:

• Threat manager: This intricate VPN ad blocker eliminates ads, trackers, and malicious websites. It’s only active if you’re connected to a VPN server, so don’t expect 24/7 protection.
• Advanced encryption: All top-level encryption ciphers are available within the app, including AES-256, AES-256-GCM, and ChaCha20. 
• Multiple VPN protocols: ExpressVPN provides you with a choice of Lightway (their proprietary protocol similar to WireGuard), OpenVPN, and IKEv2.
• Network Lock (kill switch): blocks all traffic if the VPN connection cuts off, ensuring data packets remain encrypted and eliminating the possibility of your IP address leaking. 
• Split tunneling: allows you to choose which websites and apps go through the VPN connection and which bypass the VPN to use your regular internet connection. Learn more in our dedicated guide to the best VPNs with split tunneling.

See all ExpressVPN security features here >

Dedicated VPN router app

ExpressVPN provides a dedicated VPN router app that works on various router models (contact support to check if your router is compatible with the app). Even if your router’s firmware is incompatible, you may be able to manually install the app on select devices, such as ASUS routers.

Installing a VPN app straight to the router is an amazing way to unlock an unlimited number of connections because technically, you’ll be using only one connection.

Thus, each device you connect to your router will be protected. 

Streaming with ExpressVPN in Canada

Expect free access to the entirety of the internet – including geo-blocked content on streaming platforms. Most implement some form of geo-blocks and bar VPNs from access, which is a non-issue for ExpressVPN. 

This means restricted content available outside Canada is “free” for the taking.

Check out individual guides for ExpressVPN in relation to different streaming platforms, such as:

• ExpressVPN for Netflix
• ExpressVPN for BBC iPlayer

We particularly recommend the second guide in the list as the BBC iPlayer offers a treasure trove of free content and ExpressVPN still works to unblock it, as you can see in the best VPNs for BBC iPlayer.

Torrenting support

Canada’s stance on torrenting is very confusing. While it’s not illegal per se, sharing copyrighted material is. To erase any doubts, only download files through a VPN. 

Luckily, ExpressVPN offers P2P-optimized servers, making sure you can download files without the fear of getting caught in the back of your mind. 

ExpressVPN pricing and plans for Canada

Make no mistake, ExpressVPN is powerful software when standing on its own. As soon as you start making comparisons to competing VPN providers, it loses its charm. 

This is especially true when you take into account the overall price.

The lowest price you can get without a coupon is $8.32 per month ($99.95 per year). This might not seem steep at first glance, but when compared to Surfshark which costs $2.49 per month and comes with pretty much the same features, choosing ExpressVPN may be a tough choice.

Yet, ExpressVPN is a provider with a rich history that has protected users effectively for over a decade and maintained a spotless record at the same time. It’s also a true no-logs VPN that uses RAM-only servers (we’ll explain that a bit later) that you can always count on. 

ExpressVPN pricing plans

In contrast to most VPN providers who offer varying subscription tiers, ExpressVPN grants users identical features for all its pricing plans, so you don’t need to worry if you’re ever missing out. 

There are currently three plans to choose from:

• One year – $8.32
• Six-month – $9.99
• One-month – $12.95

Naturally, choosing the longest subscription will give you the lowest per-month price, which you can also drive down to $6.67 by applying a coupon:

Customer support experience and refund policy

ExpressVPN’s overall professionalism and quality extends to its customer service – and we’re speaking from experience. 

During our comprehensive ExpressVPN review, we also tested how helpful the support team is. We found they were polite and prompt, demonstrating a well-needed level of expertise. 

No need to call anyone as you can access the 24/7 live chat support on their website. There’s minimal waiting time and expect to connect to a rep in under a minute. 

As a bonus, ExpressVPN offers a lengthy 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with the app’s performance, you can cancel even on day 30 and still receive a full refund – a stress-free purchasing experience if there ever was one.

Privacy and security for Canadians

Canadian citizens will benefit from ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy and sophisticated security functionalities. The fact that the company is based in the British Virgin Islands is a good sign on its own, and when coupled with security policies and overall pedigree, you’ll get peace of mind about your online activities as soon as you install the app. 

No-logs policy

A no-log policy makes certain the VPN provider won’t store your online activity. However, while many claim they uphold this policy, they’ve been proven demonstrably false. For instance, PureVPN happily provided their logs to criminal investigation services – proving they weren’t a true no-logs VPN. Read more about it in our detailed PureVPN review.

You’ll be happy to learn ExpressVPN is one of the rare true no-logs VPNs. They don’t collect DNS queries, browsing history, data content, and other information like session duration. 

Plus, ExpressVPN has been audited by many external experts for each of their apps. A company called F-secure conducted penetration testing on the provider’s Windows app, and they held up like a champ!

ExpressVPN also runs all servers in RAM-disk mode, which ensures any data is flushed after each VPN session. 

ExpressVPN alternatives for Canada

The benefits are certainly there – but you should go an extra step and familiarize yourself with the best two alternatives available to Canadians. 

NordVPN comparison

NordVPN is the most reliable VPN on the market with fast and secure servers that outperform competition, including ExpressVPN. 

With this VPN, you gain access to 480 fast and secure servers in three cities (only two in some areas) and robust security features such as Onion over VPN, malware protection, split tunneling, double VPN, etc. 

The good news is that NordVPN is significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN, costing as little as $2.99 per month. 

Get into the nitty-gritty of this service in our detailed ExpressVPN vs NordVPN comparison. See also our guide on NordVPN for Canada for more info.

Surfshark comparison

Surfshark is the most affordable option, offering a two-year plan you can get for just $2.29 per month. While you may think that this price is a red flag, Surfshark doesn’t sacrifice security. 

With unlimited simultaneous connections and security options such as double VPN, Surfshark is an excellent choice to restore your privacy (see what we did there) on a tighter budget. 

Learn how Surfshark stacks up against the titular VPN in a head-to-head ExpressVPN vs Surfshark comparison. You can also check out our Surfshark Canada article for more info.

Summary – The old reliable still packs a punch

When you ignore the higher price of admission, ExpressVPN is a trustworthy VPN for Canada due to its sturdy servers, no-logs policy, a slew of security features, and powerful unblocking capabilities. You get unlimited bandwidth and a user-friendly app on all devices, making it a solid choice for a wide range of purposes. 

ExpressVPN especially shines in the security features department, offering AES 256-bit encryption and Lightway Protocol, ensuring your protection always remains at a high enough level. 

Other perks such as 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee are just icing on the top of this classic, yet capable cake – if that makes sense. 

In conclusion – it’s tough to beat 15 years of history and quality service. 

Other Canada VPN guides:

• Best VPN for Canada
• NordVPN for Canada
• Surfshark for Canada
• Proton VPN for Canada
• Top 5 Cheapest VPNs for Canada
• How to get a Canadian IP Address
• Best VPNs for Toronto
• Best VPNs for Vancouver
• Best VPNs for Montreal

Frequently Asked Questions

How many devices can I use with ExpressVPN simultaneously?

ExpressVPN supports up to eight simultaneous devices under a single subscription. You can circumvent this limit by installing the app directly to the router. 

Does ExpressVPN work on public Wi-Fi networks?

Absolutely! ExpressVPN masks your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic even on unsecured networks. 

What is ExpressVPN's no-logs policy?

ExpressVPN's no-logs policy ensures the service doesn’t collect or store browsing history, connection logs, or metadata, providing an added layer of privacy to users.

Does ExpressVPN offer a money-back guarantee?

Yes. If you want to test the service, you can use ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee on all its plans.

This article on using ExpressVPN for Canada was last updated on July 31, 2024.