ExpressVPN - VPN for Android

Pros

• High server count. 160 servers and counting.
• Robust features. You're getting more more than foreign streaming and firewall escapes here.
• No free version. ExpressVPN is paid with a free trial.

Cons

• Logging. Any logs at all is bad, but it's hard to prove that a VPN doesn't log.
• Logs. Express VPN logs ExpressVPN collects apps and app versions successfully activated, dates (but not times) of connections to VPN, VPN server choice, and amount of data (in MB) transferred per day.

What Does ExpressVPN Do?

There are a lot of VPN services out there, and having a mobile app is standard these days. What's so good about ExpressVPN that makes it a decent choice over literally anything else?

Aside from the swath of VPNs that are barely proxy servers, Express has a a good track record of privacy. If you haven't dealt with VPN drama, let's go over that later. Long story short, they're up front about their systems.

That's mostly a good thing, but you need to know what your options are and whether ExpressVPN is for you or not.

For now, here are ExpressVPN's core services:

• 160 server locations in 94 countries. This list is growing and changing, and although any list of VPN/proxy connections will have some closures, Express has a fairly solid grouping.
• Auto-Connect for Untrusted Wi-Fi connections. Whether it's a cafe, a rest stop, or a restaurant, there are a lot of free and public Wi-Fi hotspots. Not all of them are configured properly, and some may be malicious or hijacked. To defend your data and devices, ExpressVPN can switch on if you connect to a network that isn't flagged as safe by you.
• Split Tunneling. VPN access is blocked or may not be the best choice for some connections. However, most users juggle multiple tasks with internet access. You can choose which apps to use through the VPN, and leave some apps out of the VPN as needed.
• Kill Switch. Carelessness can cost you, and connecting a device that shouldn't touch the net without protection is risky. ExpressVPN features an optional kill switch that stops all traffic if the VPN can't connect.
• Multilingual interface. You don't need to use the app in English if you don't want to. While a lot of the internet is centered on English or Chinese, you can enjoy a robust understanding in 12 languages on Android.

Understanding the VPN Logging Debate

Not everyone uses a VPN for the same reasons. The biggest VPN use in the world is for business, since VPNs can make it harder for hackers to penetrate and listen in on their data systems.

In this new age of everyone using a VPN, you can protect yourself from ads, hijacked personal information, and view region-restricted content such as US, UK, or Japan only streaming and games.

However, some people rely on VPNs for their personal security. They need to be anonymous, and being seen on the internet can mean losing their job, freedom, or even life.

Even for people who need to protect their lives, a VPN that does the basic job of hiding access is good enough. The problem is that as enforcement agencies learn more about technology, they stop trying to hack you personally and instead demand access.

Most nations have the power to subpoena a VPN company for access. While many companies want your trust and will say that they won't give in to pressure, don't bother with that debate. It's a pointless discussion.

Instead, people with secure lives on the line need to make sure that they can't be betrayed. Some VPNs log certain details about access, and there's a debate about how much logging matters.

Some VPNs made the mistake of logging deep details about where users connected from, along with many other details that can help law enforcement or other parties put together a picture of how to find and press charges against a user.

The VPN community lost a lot of respect when some VPNs claiming a no-logs policy were pressed by authorities to produce logs. Some VPN services produced no logs when pressed, but there's no way to prove a true no-logs policy.

ExpressVPN plainly states the types of information it logs, which can help people figure out if Express is the choice for them.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• High server count. 160 servers and counting.
• Robust features. You're getting more more than foreign streaming and firewall escapes here.
• No free version. ExpressVPN is paid with a free trial.

Cons

• Logging. Any logs at all is bad, but it's hard to prove that a VPN doesn't log.
• Logs. Express VPN logs ExpressVPN collects apps and app versions successfully activated, dates (but not times) of connections to VPN, VPN server choice, and amount of data (in MB) transferred per day.