ExpressVPN vs. TorGuard 2024: ExpressVPN Speeds Past TorGuard

ExpressVPN vs TorGuard in 2024: Which VPN Comes Out on Top?

When it comes to protecting your online privacy and security, few tools are as essential as a reliable VPN. But with so many services to choose from, it can be a challenge to determine which provider offers the best combination of performance, features, and value.

Two of the top contenders often compared are ExpressVPN and TorGuard. Both are well-established services with strong reputations, but how do they stack up head-to-head? In this in-depth comparison, I‘ll be pitting ExpressVPN vs TorGuard to help you decide which is the better choice for your needs in 2024.

Pricing & Plans
First, let‘s take a look at what you can expect to pay. ExpressVPN offers three simple plans – $12.95 month-to-month, $9.99 per month for a 6-month plan, or $6.67/mo if you sign up for a full year. While it‘s not the cheapest VPN out there, it‘s reasonably priced for a premium service.

TorGuard, on the other hand, has a slightly more complex pricing structure. The monthly plan is $11.99, but paying quarterly drops that to $10.99/mo. Going for the 6-month plan brings it to $12.99/mo, while the annual plan costs $9.99 per month. Notably, TorGuard does not seem to offer any discounts on long-term plans compared to the monthly price.

This makes ExpressVPN the more affordable option if you‘re willing to commit to a 1-year plan. But if you prefer to pay monthly or quarterly, TorGuard can save you a few bucks.

Winner: ExpressVPN

Performance
Of course, a VPN is only as good as its performance. To see how these two stack up, I ran some real-world speed tests from servers in the US, EU, and Asia/Pacific regions using a 100Mbps connection.

On average, ExpressVPN delivered faster download speeds across the board, with a smaller drop-off compared to my baseline speed. Upload speeds were also a bit snappier with less variance.

TorGuard wasn‘t far behind in the US, but transatlantic and transpacific connections had more substantial slowdowns. I also noticed higher latency on average, which can impact things like voice/video calls and gaming.

Quantified Results
US Server
ExpressVPN: -14% download, -15% upload, +15ms ping
TorGuard: -20% download, -14% upload, +44ms ping

EU Server
ExpressVPN: -38% download, -17% upload, +88ms ping
TorGuard: -48% download, -32% upload, +102ms ping

Asia/Pacific Server
ExpressVPN: -55% download, -28% upload, +118ms ping
TorGuard: -62% download, -41% upload, +91ms ping

Keep in mind that speeds can vary based on your location, time of day, server loads and other factors. But in my experience, ExpressVPN consistently outperformed TorGuard.

Winner: ExpressVPN

Server Coverage
Having more server locations to choose from provides added flexibility if you need an IP address in a specific country. It can also help reduce latency by connecting you to a geographically closer server.

As of 2024, ExpressVPN has over 3000 servers spread across 94 countries, with a presence on every continent except Antarctica. In addition to North America and Europe, they offer extensive coverage in South America, Africa, and the Asia/Pacific region.

TorGuard also boasts a network of 3000+ servers, but they are located in just 50+ countries. While their European and North American coverage is robust, the options are more limited in other parts of the world.

If you frequently travel internationally or need to access content from a wide range of regions, ExpressVPN provides more global server coverage. But for users who mainly need servers in the US and Europe, TorGuard likely has you covered.

Winner: ExpressVPN

Features & Security
A VPN is only as secure as the technology behind it. Fortunately, both ExpressVPN and TorGuard use industry-standard AES-256 encryption, which is virtually uncrackable. They also protect against IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.

For added peace of mind, both providers have a built-in kill switch that blocks all internet traffic if your VPN connection suddenly drops. This ensures your real IP address is never exposed.

When it comes to connection protocols, both support OpenVPN and WireGuard. But ExpressVPN has also developed its own proprietary protocol called Lightway, which is designed to be faster, more secure, and more reliable than standard protocols.

Another important consideration for the privacy-conscious is logging. ExpressVPN and TorGuard both claim to keep no logs of your online activity, but there is a key difference.

ExpressVPN‘s no-log policy has been independently audited and verified by PwC, a reputable third-party. I was unable to find any evidence of TorGuard undergoing a similar outside audit, so you have to take their word for it.

Other useful features available with both VPNs include split tunneling, private DNS, and obfuscation/stealth modes. But one nice extra with ExpressVPN is the Threat Manager, which blocks trackers, malware, and phishing attempts at the network level.

Winner: ExpressVPN

Streaming & Torrenting
Many people use VPNs to access streaming services in other countries or to torrent safely. On paper, both ExpressVPN and TorGuard allow torrenting on all servers and claim to unblock a variety of region-locked content.

However, in practice, I‘ve found ExpressVPN to be much more reliable in this regard. I had no issues watching US Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer with several of their server locations. The streams were stable and started playing almost instantly.

Your mileage may vary, but I encountered more frequent proxy errors and buffering with TorGuard, especially with Netflix and Hulu. Sometimes switching to a different server resolved the issue, but it was hit-and-miss.

Critically, TorGuard only unblocks streaming services with their Pro and Premium plans. If you opt for the cheaper Standard plan, you‘re out of luck. ExpressVPN doesn‘t require any extra fee or specific plan for streaming.

Both are solid choices for torrenting thanks to their fast speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and kill switches. But ExpressVPN gets the nod here for its better streaming performance across a wider range of services.

Winner: ExpressVPN

Compatibility & Ease of Use
A VPN isn‘t very useful if you can‘t install it on your devices. Fortunately, both ExpressVPN and TorGuard offer native apps for all the major platforms:

• Windows
• Mac
• Android
• iOS
• Linux

They can also be manually configured on select routers, gaming consoles, and streaming devices. And if you need to protect your entire network, both providers sell pre-configured VPN routers (at an added cost).

When it comes to simultaneous connections, TorGuard is the clear winner. All of their plans allow unlimited devices to be connected with just one subscription, while ExpressVPN limits you to five.

In terms of user friendliness, both are pretty straightforward, but I found ExpressVPN‘s apps to be a bit more intuitive and polished. They have a simple, one-click interface for instant connections. Server locations are also helpfully listed by country and region.

TorGuard‘s apps get the job done but feel a little more cluttered and less beginner-friendly at first glance. The settings menus are also more complex, which could be a plus or minus depending on your experience level.

Overall, while tech-savvy users likely won‘t have any issues with either VPN, ExpressVPN is the more accessible choice for VPN newbies. But TorGuard allowing unlimited devices per account will appeal to users with many gadgets.

Winner: Tie

Customer Support
Even the most reliable VPN can experience the occasional hiccup. When you need help troubleshooting an issue or have a billing question, quality customer support is crucial.

Both ExpressVPN and TorGuard offer 24/7 live chat staffed by knowledgeable representatives who can quickly assist with most problems. Email tickets are also an option if you have a less urgent request.

Neither provider has phone support, which could be a drawback for some users who prefer to speak with a human. But in my experience, the live chat agents have been responsive, friendly, and helpful.

In addition to direct support, both VPNs have extensive knowledge bases with setup guides, FAQs, and troubleshooting articles. I found ExpressVPN‘s support site to be better organized and easier to navigate, but TorGuard‘s is still quite comprehensive.

One extra support avenue for TorGuard is their forums, where you can get peer-to-peer assistance from other users. This could come in handy for more technical questions or niche use cases not covered in the official documentation.

All things considered, it‘s a fairly even split. Both VPNs provide quality customer support in case you run into any issues.

Winner: Tie

Final Thoughts
After weighing all the factors, it‘s a close call, but ExpressVPN has a slight edge over TorGuard in 2024. While both are feature-rich services with excellent security and capable customer support, ExpressVPN pulled ahead in some key areas:

• Faster speeds and lower latency on average
• Wider global server coverage with 90+ countries
• More reliable access to streaming services
• Independently audited no-log policy
• Slightly more user-friendly apps
• More affordable long-term pricing

That‘s not to say TorGuard is a bad choice by any means. It remains a powerful, trusted VPN that excels in its own ways, like offering unlimited simultaneous connections. And if your primary use case is torrenting or you only need US/EU servers, TorGuard could easily meet your needs.

Ultimately, the "best" VPN comes down to your unique requirements and preferences. But if you want the most well-rounded combination of performance, unblocking capabilities, and privacy protections, ExpressVPN is my top pick.

Of course, don‘t just take my word for it. Thanks to the generous 30-day money-back guarantees offered by both providers, you can try ExpressVPN and TorGuard for yourself risk-free. Test them out, see how they perform in your environment, and keep whichever one works best for you.