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There is no single winner for every subscriber. ExpressVPN may suit you better if you want its Lightway protocol or are buying one month at a time. The comparison below uses ten buyer criteria—not ten tests performed for this article—and distinguishes vendor claims from results reported by other publishers.
1. Price by subscription term
The prices below are starting monthly equivalents listed in a comparison published June 22, 2026. They are vendor-published figures, not guaranteed prices for every country or checkout. Confirm your region, total charge, introductory and renewal rates, and taxes before subscribing.
| Term | ExpressVPN listing | Price edge in this comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Two years | Lowest listed price: $3.49/month; the comparison does not specify this price by term | Not established |
| One year | Lowest listed price: $3.49/month; the comparison does not specify this price by term | Not established |
| One month | $12.99/month | ExpressVPN |
The comparison does not establish the renewal cost or full amount due for each offer. A monthly equivalent can make a multi-year plan look inexpensive while requiring a much larger upfront payment, so compare the checkout total and renewal terms rather than the headline rate alone.
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ExpressVPN’s advertised allowance is up to 14, but the limit depends on plan tier; its device page describes that cap. A July 30, 2026 RTINGS comparison snapshot listed eight for the ExpressVPN variant it evaluated. These figures refer to concurrent connections, not how many devices may have the app installed. Check the allowance attached to the specific ExpressVPN plan before purchase. (RTINGS comparison)
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
3. Protocol options
RTINGS lists ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol. Protocol names alone do not establish which service is faster or safer for your connection. If protocol choice matters, check which options are available in the apps on your devices and whether the app selects a protocol automatically. ExpressVPN describes Lightway and its features on its features page.
4. Privacy reviews and audits
Both providers make no-logs claims and report independent reviews, but an audit covers a defined scope at a point in time; it is not a guarantee against every privacy or security risk.
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
- ExpressVPN: A third-party comparison says KPMG verified ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy and privacy commitments in 2022, 2023, and 2025. It also reports that Cure53 and Praetorian audited Lightway in 2025. These are claims reported on another publisher’s page; review the underlying audit information and its scope when evaluating them.
A no-logs assessment is not the same thing as an audit of a protocol or infrastructure. Neither type of review proves that every future system change, operational decision, or user-side risk is covered.
5. Reported speed results
TechRadar reported testing ExpressVPN at 898 Mbps on Lightway and 176 Mbps on OpenVPN in its comparison published January 12, 2026. Those are TechRadar’s results under its testing conditions, not expected speeds for every customer. (TechRadar’s comparison)
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
Actual performance depends on factors including server distance, internet provider, and server load. For a meaningful personal comparison, run repeated tests from the same internet connection to the same destinations, record protocol and time, and compare download, upload, and latency against an unprotected baseline.
6. Server locations and network reach
The reviewed material does not provide a sufficiently dated count of ExpressVPN server locations. A location count can change and may describe countries, cities, or physical servers differently. If a particular country or city matters, check the provider’s current app or server list for that destination rather than treating an undated total as proof of better coverage.
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
7. Split tunneling
The available comparison material does not establish a current, device-by-device split-tunneling comparison. The feature lets a user route selected apps or traffic through the VPN while other traffic uses the regular connection, but availability can differ by operating system and app version. If you rely on it, verify the setting in the app for your specific device before subscribing.
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8. Blocking and other privacy features
ExpressVPN describes AES-256 encryption, private DNS, and RAM-only servers in its materials. These are provider descriptions, not a promise that a VPN makes you anonymous or stops every form of tracking. A VPN protects traffic routed through its encrypted connection; it does not remove risks from account sign-ins, browser fingerprinting, malware, or traffic outside the tunnel. The reviewed evidence does not establish a complete, current comparison of blocking features, so assess the exact app features you plan to use rather than inferring a winner. (ExpressVPN’s company overview)
Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
9. Supported platforms and setup
The reviewed sources do not provide a complete platform matrix or establish that every feature is available on every operating system. Check the provider’s current app listing and setup instructions for your operating system, router, or other device before choosing. Also verify that features you care about—such as protocol selection or split tunneling—are offered on that platform.
10. Refunds, trials, and support
The available comparison material does not establish current refund terms, trial availability, or support response times on a comparable basis. Read the terms shown for your region and subscription at checkout, including any eligibility window and exclusions. If you need help for a particular device or setup, confirm that the provider’s support documentation covers it before relying on a general support claim.
Which VPN should you choose?
- Choose ExpressVPN if you want to use Lightway or the listed one-month price is attractive for a short subscription. Confirm your plan’s device allowance; ExpressVPN’s advertised maximum depends on tier.
- Decide on speed or privacy by evidence, not branding: TechRadar’s ExpressVPN speed figures are specific to its tests, and audit claims have defined scopes. Neither supports a universal performance or privacy winner.
For one-month pricing and access to Lightway, ExpressVPN has the more relevant advantages. The right choice depends on the plan, region, device limit, and use case—not a single overall score.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
