ExpressVPN markets speed as a headline feature, and its proprietary Lightway protocol is the engine. The reality is nuanced: the service delivers strong, stable speeds, yet several 2026 tests show it trailing the fastest WireGuard-based rivals on raw throughput.
What the labs found
| US server | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 718 Mbps | 903 Mbps |
| Los Angeles | 444 Mbps | 868 Mbps |
| New York | 612 Mbps | 825 Mbps |
Source: CyberInsider’s 2026 comparison on a 1,000 Mbps connection.
The Los Angeles gap is the one to notice. A drop to 444 Mbps shows Lightway can be less consistent between servers, even when its best result looks respectable. A separate comparison reports ExpressVPN holding about 77% of baseline speed versus roughly 90% for NordVPN.
ExpressVPN Speed Review 2026
The counter-evidence
Not every lab agrees. One 2026 comparison says Lightway edges ahead on distant servers and mobile, and an overall Gizmodo ranking in September 2026 tied ExpressVPN with NordVPN. A tech-insider comparison lists standard Lightway at about 808 Mbps in lab conditions. Consistency over distance appears to be ExpressVPN’s strength; peak speed on a nearby server is where it concedes ground.
Choose ExpressVPN for polished apps and steady long-distance performance, not to win a benchmark. If you are on Windows and want the maximum, test Lightway Turbo on your own line.
Pricing
Cybernews lists ExpressVPN from about $3.49 per month on its longest plan in 2026. Check renewal terms; heavy first-term discounts are common in this market.
Is Lightway Turbo available on every device?
Reports describe it as Windows-only for now. Other platforms use standard Lightway.
Is it fast enough for 4K streaming?
Yes. Even the lowest figure above is many times what 4K video requires.
Goliry Team analysis of third-party tests from CyberInsider, Gizmodo, Cybernews and other publishers. We did not run these measurements ourselves.
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