In this ExpressVPN vs. TorGuard comparison review, we have sampled the two VPN providers, assessing all the essential factors to determine which is the best VPN in 2022. So if you are not sure which one should be on top of your wish list, you are at the right place.
ExpressVPN and TorGuard are two household names in the VPN industry. The two brands share quite a lot in common. They offer state-of-the-art online security and privacy, are reliable, and offer excellent value for money. But then, from an in-depth perspective, there are some differences between the two. So, what makes ExpressVPN different from TorGuard?
ExpressVPN supports a maximum of 5 simultaneous connections, while TorGuard supports 9 or 12, depending on the plan. Another crucial difference is that ExpressVPN is based in a country that is not part of any surveillance alliance, while TorGuard is based in a country that is part of the 5-Eyes alliance. In terms of performance, ExpressVPN offers fast speeds and is the best VPN for China. On the other hand, TorGuard is the best VPN for torrenting and P2P sharing.
ExpressVPN is among the most trusted VPN brands. It is a favorite to over 3 million users from over 180 countries.
ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies, a renowned VPN company that owns Zenmate, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access (PIA), not the CIA, as some rumors suggest. Established in 2009, the company has become one of the biggest VPN brands. ExpressVPN has partnered with some of the top tech companies, including HP, Acer, and Philips.
We scoured the internet to find out what users are saying, and we are glad to report that it has some good reviews, despite a few complaints from some users. On Trustpilot, ExpressVPN has a trust score of 4.7/5 after over 13,059 reviews at the time of writing.
TorGuard is also a renowned VPN brand established in 2012. TorGuard is owned by VPNetworks LLC, a company that has been at the forefront in enabling internet users to take charge of their online security and privacy.
TorGuard has been praised by security experts and has been featured in top publications, including Wired, Forbes, The Guardian, and Lifehacker. The company has four main products: TorGuard Anonymous, Torguard Anonymous Pro, Torguard Business, and TorGuard Email.
We also checked on cybersecurity platforms and forums to find out what consumers think of this VPN, and we are happy to report that it has positive reviews, though there are a few complaints here and there. At the time of writing, TorGuard has a trust score of 4.4/5 after over 2,000 reviews.
ExpressVPN is an excellent choice if you want all-round protection. It is compatible with all Windows, macOS, and Linux PCs and has browser extensions for Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. It’s also a good mobile VPN as it works with Android and iOS mobile devices.
Other devices that this VPN works with include routers, Android TVs, Amazon Fire Sticks, PlayStation, xBox, Raspberry Pi, Roku, Kodi, etc.
The only shortcoming is that ExpressVPN can support a maximum of 5 devices at a go. That limits you if you have many devices.
TorGuard is also a great deal when it comes to the types of devices it works with. You can use it to protect Windows, macOS, and Linux PCs. It also has browser extensions for Google’s Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. TorGuard is also compatible with mobile devices (iOS and Android).
In addition to PCs and mobile devices, TorGuard also works with routers, gaming consoles, smart TVs, TV sticks, etc. While it equals ExpressVPN in terms of supported devices, TorGuard has the upper hand when it comes to the number of simultaneous connections.
TorGuard Standard allows users to connect up to 9 devices, while TorGuard Pro supports up to 12 simultaneous connections.
ExpressVPN is reasonably easy to use. It boasts an intuitive dashboard with pretty clear instructions on getting started. If you have decided to go with ExpressVPN, the first step is to click the ‘Get Started’ button on your browser.
You will then be redirected to the order section where you need to select a plan, your preferred payment method, and then checkout. The next step is to download ExpressVPN software, depending on your device.
You will then be required to sign in using your email or use the verification to log in, and that’s it. You are ready to select a server and enjoy online protection and privacy. On our usability scale, ExpressVPN scores 4.5/5.
Getting started with TorGuard is also pretty easy. But unlike with ExpressVPN, the first step is to download TorGuard software, depending on the device.
After downloading the software, click the ‘Sign Up’ option, and the system will redirect you to the order page where you will choose a plan, the billing cycle, payment options, and then checkout. Now, you are good to go.
The last step will be logging in, and selecting a server, and you are protected. In our usability scale, TorGuard scores 4.3/5.
ExpressVPN, as a modern VPN, uses AES-256 bit encryption to secure your online activity. You can also opt for the AES-128 bit if you want speed over security.
AES 256-bit uses cipher-block chaining and RSA-4096 as the cloaking technology and handshake options, respectively.
TorGuard is also an adopter of the industry’s encryption standard, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit.
It also allows users to switch to AES-128 bit, which is less secure but faster. The only shortcoming is that it uses RSA-2048 as the cloaking technology.
ExpressVPN is the best choice here as it supports 8 protocols. These are PPTP, L2TP, WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN, IPSec, SSTP, and Lightway.
All the other seven protocols are industry standards, but Lightway is ExpressVPN’s proprietary tunneling method based on WireGuard. It offers faster speeds and lowers power consumption.
TorGuard is also a great deal when it comes to the supported protocols. It has been engineered to support seven protocols; OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, IPsec, SSTP, Wireguard, and IKEv2.
For the record, Android supports OpenVPN and WireGuard only, unlike iOS, which also supports IPSec and IKEv2.
One of the best security extras that ExpressVPN tags along with is the network lock switch that prevents your traffic from leaking if the connection drops. This VPN also features WebRTC and DNS leak protection, so you can be sure that you are always secure.
Split tunneling, a critical feature that enables users to channel specific traffic only through the VPN, is also available.
With ExpressVPN, DNS requests are not susceptible to leakages as the VPN has encrypted private DNS on every server. Unfortunately, there is no dedicated IP, but all the same, it rotates IPs, thus enhancing anonymity.
TorGuard also has a number of security extras. First is the kill switch that works the same way as ExpressVPN’s network lock switch, so you are not exposed when the VPN connection drops.
The VPN also supports split tunneling, but this feature is not available on Android. Like most VPNs, TorGuard has WebRTC and DNS leak protection, so your protection is always guaranteed.
Other features worth mentioning include Static DNS, dedicated IP addresses, and proxy connections.
ExpressVPN is the best choice if you want to safeguard your online privacy and confidentiality. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), which is not part of any surveillance alliances.
On the other hand, TorGuard is a US VPN based in Florida. That means it is under the federal laws of the United States, which is a member of the 5-Eyes. This means that TorGuard can be forced to share your information when the authorities come knocking.
ExpressVPN is a VPN with a strict no-logging policy. According to the company, the VPN doesn’t store logs of your activity, connection, IP address, browsing history, or any other data that can identify or be used to profile you.
To prove this, when the servers of ExpressVPN were raided following an assassination case of the Turkish ambassadors, no information was found proving that, indeed, it keeps zero logs.
TorGuard also markets itself as a VPN that keeps no logs at all. It doesn’t collect any information except the information required when you buy its products.
While this is such a great thing, the fact that it is in a 5-Eyes country and collects your information when you buy its products should make you wary of your privacy and confidentiality.
ExpressVPN boasts over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. The servers are at 160 locations in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania.
One of the standout features of ExpressVPN’s servers is TrustedServer, a feature that deploys RAM-only servers. For starters, RAM-only servers guarantee reliability and are the only surety that no logs are collected.
TorGuard also has over 3000 servers in 50 countries. The servers are at over 68 VPN locations in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and Asia.
While the distribution may not match ExpressVPN, we are glad that these are specialized Gigabit and 10 Gigabit servers.
ExpressVPN is the best option for those who are into streaming. We tested the VPN on different servers. It managed to unblock a handful of Netflix libraries and other streaming sites such as Amazon Prime US, Hulu, CBS, ITV, and BBC iPlayer without a problem.
In the next stage, we tested whether it could support torrenting and P2P file sharing, and we are glad it performed quite well. We shared several huge files, the speeds were good, and the bandwidths remained the same. Last, ExpressVPN is a good VPN for gaming as it is secure enough to shield gamers from DDoS attacks.
Besides, gamers can access content that is not yet available in their region or enjoy discounts that are restricted to specific countries.
Unfortunately for TorGuard, with the normal plan, unblocking Netflix is an exercise in futility. It couldn’t unblock several Netflix libraries, but the results were different when we added dedicated IP servers, of course, at a fee. TorGuard could now unblock Netflix and several other streaming sites with geo-blocked content.
Regardless, TorGuard is a good VPN for torrenting and P2P sharing and even has a free “Check My Torrent IP” tool. Its security allows users to torrent and share huge files while remaining undetected.
Some of the apps it’s compatible with include uTorrent, Vuze, and qBittorrent. Lastly, you can rely on TorGuard to prevent DDoS attacks in gaming. It also allows gamers to access geo-restricted content and enjoy discounts specific to specific regions.
ExpressVPN, as discussed earlier, has excellent usability. Besides, it boasts a robust customer support infrastructure. The best is the 24/7 live chat support that offers users immediate feedback.
The company has also provided an email address, alongside a detailed knowledgebase with many of the questions asked by users answered.
TorGuard has reliable customer support though its usability is complex because of the cluttered interface. Support is available via 24/7 live chat and also offers immediate feedback.
Besides, there is an email address, an FAQ section, and a knowledgebase. Interestingly, users can also get help from the TorGuard community.
ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPNs around, and worse enough, there is no free version or free trial. Fortunately, there is a 30-day moneyback guarantee.
ExpressVPN has three plans: 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months. The 1-month plan starts at $8.32. Payment methods include credit cards, eWallets, and even bitcoin.
TorGuard is also an expensive VPN and lacks a free version or free trial. But you can take advantage of the 7-day moneyback guarantee. For the Anonymous VPN Service, there are two plans.
The Standard Plan starts at $9.99 monthly, while the Pro plan starts at $12.99 monthly. The available payment methods include credit cards, eWallets, and bitcoin.
There you have it, folks, an ExpressVPN vs. TorGuard comparison review. So, which one is best for you? Well, it all boils down to your needs. ExpressVPN is the best choice if you are looking for fast speeds and a VPN that can reliably unblock Netflix and other streaming sites. It’s also the best VPN for China.
On the other hand, if you are looking for the best VPN for torrenting, TorGuard is a great choice. All said and done, ExpressVPN is the best choice overall now that it offers all the core features of TorGuard and has extras.