What is the difference between ExpressVPN and WireGuard?

ExpressVPN is best for Users wanting a reliable, fast VPN across all devices, while WireGuard is best for Technical users wanting a fast, modern VPN protocol. ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/mo and WireGuard starts at Free.

Is ExpressVPN or WireGuard cheaper?

ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/mo. WireGuard starts at Free and is free.

Is there a free alternative to ExpressVPN?

Yes, WireGuard offers a free tier.

ExpressVPN vs WireGuard

ExpressVPN is Premium VPN known for speed, reliability, and wide device support, while WireGuard is Modern VPN protocol that aims to be simpler and faster than IPSec and OpenVPN. The biggest difference up front: WireGuard is free, while ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/mo. ExpressVPN is built for users wanting a reliable, fast vpn across all devices, whereas WireGuard targets technical users wanting a fast, modern vpn protocol.

At a glance

	ExpressVPN	WireGuard
Best for	Users wanting a reliable, fast VPN across all devices	Technical users wanting a fast, modern VPN protocol
Starting price	$6.67/mo	Free
Free tier	—	✓
Open source	—	✓
Free tier available	—	✓
Open source	—	✓
94 Countries	✓	—
Fast	—	✓
Fast Speeds	✓	—
MediaStreamer	✓	—
Modern Crypto	—	✓
Open Source	—	✓
Simple	—	✓
Split Tunneling	✓	—

ExpressVPN

Strengths

Includes Fast Speeds as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Includes 94 Countries as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Affordable at $6.67/mo — one of the lower-priced options in the vpn category
Established product with 17+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

No free plan — you need to pay $6.67/mo from day one to use it
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in vpn
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try ExpressVPN → Full review

WireGuard

Strengths

Open source and transparent
Open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development
Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
The core product is free with no paywalled essentials

Weaknesses

May lack some advanced features
Self-hosting is free but requires server maintenance and DevOps knowledge
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in vpn

Try WireGuard → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: WireGuard is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/mo. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.

Feature gaps: ExpressVPN offers 94 Countries, Fast Speeds and MediaStreamer that WireGuard lacks. WireGuard brings Fast, Modern Crypto and Open Source that ExpressVPN does not have.

Team fit: Both tools target individuals teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.

Open source: WireGuard is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. ExpressVPN is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.

Where each tool shines: ExpressVPN's biggest strengths are: includes fast speeds as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows. includes 94 countries as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows. WireGuard's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development.

Watch out for: With ExpressVPN, users commonly note that no free plan — you need to pay $6.67/mo from day one to use it. With WireGuard, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.

Choose ExpressVPN if...

You need a tool built for users wanting a reliable, fast vpn across all devices
You specifically need 94 Countries and Fast Speeds
You care about includes 94 countries as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows

Choose WireGuard if...

You need a tool built for technical users wanting a fast, modern vpn protocol
Budget is a hard constraint — WireGuard is free, ExpressVPN is not
You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
You specifically need Fast and Modern Crypto
You care about open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development