Due to the current method of testing each VPN in turn, all today it’s finally ExpressVPN’s turn to be tested. Today I’d like to run a test of ExpressVPN on a Macbook/MacOS. If there’s time I’ll include a quick test in IOS/iPhone (only the results will be published), and if you’re an Android user you can leave a comment to let me know how you’re using it. Since it’s already the 26th of today and it’s almost October, hopefully the flip-flop restrictions will be looser this October. Well, let’s start testing!
Note: There will be a major firewall upgrade blocking operation at the end of September – beginning of October, so be aware!
Barry’s nag: I’ve been hoping to convey a message to my readers that the firewall will be around for the foreseeable future; with it, using any VPN or other tool in China is a dynamic process and there’s no one-and-done solution. That’s why I keep updating the [Daily Test] section. The purpose of the test is to tell you the real usage of the changed VPN at the moment, whether it is available or not, and I will tell you so. In order to speed up the testing, I will be running only SpeedTest tests on it as it is only a reference for the speed test.
Local Device and Network: Macbook/200M带/WiFi;
Speedtest Ping: 11ms; Download: 230Mbps; Upload: 16.7Mbps;
ExpressVPN Last 6 test reports: [See More]
Checking out multiple test reports can help you understand more effectively how this VPN works in the long run.
- ExpressVPN 3 Protocol Win10 Test in China - On February 5, 2021, a VPN China test will be conducted on Windows 10 for the three protocol options of ExpressVPN (Automatic, IKEv2, and Lightway). servers for testing. Since ExpressVPN's big update on January 18, official news from the official version of Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android already support Lightway, while the official version of Lightway for IOS is under development. We hope that this includes three protocols for testing, which can provide reference for more users in mainland China to use and choose.
- ExpressVPN Lightway achieved 95.2% in China! - Since the ExpressVPN update on the 18th, I've received feedback from several readers that Lightway's connection success rate has improved considerably across servers, and I've felt this way a bit myself in my use. Today I would like to test all servers through the Lightway protocol after the major update to ExpressVPN in Mac to see what kind of server connection success rate it is currently in. This time, I will be mapping out all of its servers again in the default order of ExpressVPN servers. Because of the large number of servers, I will publish the server connection test results directly without speed tests and screenshots of successful connections.
- ExpressVPN New Release 3 Device Test in China - Yesterday ExpressVPN made a series of upgrades to its website and app, using the latest generation of VI. The latest versions of the app also appeared, especially the Windows version, which was updated twice yesterday and today. Today's task is to test ExpressVPN's officially recommended method "Auto+6 servers" on Windows, Macbook and IOS. I have also recently launched the [Micro Test] section, so you can check it out, I will keep updating it, and you can leave me any suggestions. If you have any questions in using it, you can read this article "ExpressVPN can't connect solution (zh)", all connection methods, problems and solutions are updated in this article.
- ExpressVPN Win10 Test in China-20210109 - Nine days have passed since the last test, and this test is considered the first time in 2021 that ExpressVPN has been tested live in mainland China. In 2020 this site's [ExpressVPN Daily Speed Test] has been closely observing and testing it, that although it was a year of many disasters, ExpressVPN provided a very good service for users in mainland China. It has opened the door to the world's free Internet for Internet users in mainland China. Although it is paid, the security, convenience and stability it provides for everyone is not simply something that can be measured in terms of money. I don't want to say something nice for Ex, I just want to tell you the most real test results, objectively and neutrally!
- ExpressVPN Macbook 3 Protocol Test in China - Last time I tested ExpressVPN on Window platform using its latest protocol Lightway - UDP, I tested all the servers and found 9 successful connections in the test. In order to get a more comprehensive understanding of ExpressVPN's connectivity in China, today I will use a Macbook device as the test platform to test its "officially recommended 6 servers + Auto", IKEv2, and the previous one in Windows using Lightway - UDP protocol connection in Windows to create 9 servers to test. Let's see how it performs in the Macbook!
- ExpressVPN Lightway all server test in china - I have been observing ExpressVPN for a long time for testing. Based on the results of previous tests, there are currently two main ways to connect to help users in mainland China to climb the wall. The first is, of course, the "Automatic" protocol option that ExpressVPN officially recommends, and then connect to the officially recommended servers, which are usually 4-6. In addition, the test also found that Windows, Mac and IOS devices can connect to the wall through the IKEv2 protocol, mainly servers in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. You can find out through the [ExpressVPN Daily Test] section...
ExpressVPN – MacOS Test in China:
Starting Time: Sep 26, 2020, 1:52 PM
The following servers from official recommend;
Protocol: Auto;
Hong Kong – 4: First success. (Time efficiency: 55s)
Speedtest Ping: 225ms; Download: 7.2Mbps; Upload: 1.71Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 2.4Mbps;
Japan – Yokohama: First success. (Time efficiency: 4s)
Speedtest Ping: 156ms; Download: 5Mbps; Upload: 1.55Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 1.6Mbps;
Singapore – Marina Bay: First success. (Time efficiency: 36s)
Speedtest Ping: 210ms; Download: 4.84Mbps; Upload: 2.28Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 2.7Mbps;
USA – Los Angeles – 5: First success. (Time efficiency: 2分18s)
Speedtest Ping: 163ms; Download: 9.27Mbps; Upload: 3.26Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 2.7Mbps;
Summary: The above test of the officially recommended method: “Auto protocol + 4 servers”, can successfully connect to the wall. The speed is not very fast, but it is not a problem for normal users. It is worth noting that the time efficiency of “USA – Los Angeles – 5” is quite long, taking more than 2 minutes. Next I will test the IKEv2 protocol.
The following server is random;
Protocol: IKEv2;
USA – Santa Monica: Failed. (Try once)
USA – New York: First success. (Time efficiency: 9s)
Speedtest Ping: 252ms; Download: 2.19Mbps; Upload: 2.05Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 400Kbps;
USA – San Francisco: First success. (Time efficiency: 45s)
Speedtest Ping: 259ms; Download: 3.93Mbps; Upload: 2.23Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 400Kbps;
USA – Chicago: First success. (Time efficiency: 10s)
Speedtest Ping: 203ms; Download: 3.8Mbps; Upload: 2.5Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 22Kbps;
USA – Washington DC: First success. (Time efficiency: 11s)
Speedtest Ping: 217ms; Download: 8.35Mbps; Upload: 1.98Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 1.9Mbps;
USA – Dallas: First success. (Time efficiency: 10s)
Speedtest Ping: 211ms; Download: 5.46Mbps; Upload: 2.98Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 1.3Mbps;
USA – Miami: First success. (Time efficiency: 73s)
Speedtest Ping: 226ms; Download: 3.79Mbps; Upload: 2.41Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 42Kbps;
USA – Los Angeles – 3: Failed. (Try once)
USA – New Jersey – 1: First success. (Time efficiency: 12s)
Speedtest Ping: 275ms; Download: 1.74Mbps; Upload: 2.53Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 130Kbps;
USA – Los Angeles – 1: First success. (Time efficiency: 78s)
Speedtest Ping: 154ms; Download: 3.21Mbps; Upload: 3.53Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 4.1Mbps;
USA – Los Angeles: First success. (Time efficiency: 5s)
Speedtest Ping: 214ms; Download: 18.1Mbps; Upload: 2.89Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 1.1Mbps;
Canada – Toronto – 2: First success. (Time efficiency: 2分23s)
Speedtest Ping: 235ms; Download: 10.3Mbps; Upload: 2.37Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 1.3Mbps;
Canada – Toronto: First success. (Time efficiency: 45s)
Speedtest Ping: 217ms; Download: 9.55Mbps; Upload: 2.91Mbps;
Netflix Fast: 60Kbps;
Canada – Vancouver: Failed. (Try once)
Canada – Montreal: Failed. (Try once)
Japan – Tokyo – 2: First success. (Time efficiency: 8s)
Speedtest Ping: 217ms; Download: 9.55Mbps; Upload: 2.91Mbps;
Netflix Fast: Can’t use the tool, But can open google and youtube;
Summary: Today I tested ExpressVPN’s IKEv2 protocol on a Macbook, and although the success rate was quite high, I personally felt that it took a bit longer than the previous tests with Time efficiency, and the speed seemed to be a bit less than before. I don’t know if this has anything to do with the big blockade in October. But on the whole, IKEv2 protocol still works fine in mainland China for connectivity over the wall. I’ll keep watching its actual usage as well.
ExpressVPN MacOS Version: 7.11.4 (4); Protocol: Auto/IKEv2
Today’s Test Score: ★ ★ ★ ★
ExpressVPN – IOS/iPhone Test in China:
Due to time constraints, the following tests on IOS/iPhone are intended to test the server connection success rate, not the speed, so that you can test as many servers as possible. This is done in the hope of understanding its current use of the wall over the various IOS servers.
Device: iPhone/IOS
Starting Time: Sep 26, 2020, 4:03 PM
Network: 200M/4G
The following servers from official recommend; Protocol: Auto
Hong Kong – 4: First success. (Time efficiency: 58s)
Japan – Yokohama: First success. (Time efficiency: 33s)
Singapore – Marina Bay: First success. (Time efficiency: 83s)
USA – Los Angeles – 5: First success. (Time efficiency: 70s)
The following servers is random; Protocol: IKEv2
USA – Santa Monica: Failed. (Try once)
USA – New York: First success. (Time efficiency: 5s)
USA – San Francisco: First success. (Time efficiency: 21s)
USA – Chicago: First success. (Time efficiency: 3s)
USA – Washington DC: Failed. (Try once)
USA – Dallas: First success. (Time efficiency: 12s)
USA – Miami: First success. (Time efficiency: 72s)
USA – Los Angeles – 3: Failed. (Try once)
USA – New Jersey – 1: First success. (Time efficiency: 3s)
USA – Los Angeles – 2: First success. (Time efficiency: 5s)
USA – New Jersey – 3: First success. (Time efficiency: 20s)
USA – Seattle: Failed. (Try once)
USA – Miami – 2: First success. (Time efficiency: 25s)
USA – Denver: Failed. (Try once)
USA – Salt Lake City: Failed. (Try once)
USA – Tampa – 1: Failed. (Try once)
USA – Los Angeles – 1: First success. (Time efficiency: 70s)
USA – New York – 2: Failed. (Try once)
USA – Hollywood: Failed. (Try once)
USA – Dallas – 2: Failed. (Try once)
USA – Los Angeles: First success. (Time efficiency: 6s)
USA – Atlanta: Failed. (Try once)
Canada – Toronto – 2: First success. (Time efficiency: 43s)
Canada – Toronto: First success. (Time efficiency: 29s)
Canada – Vancouver: Failed. (Try once)
Canada – Montreal: Failed. (Try once)
Hong Kong – 2: Failed. (Try once)
Japan – Tokyo – 2: Failed. (Try once)
Japan – Tokyo: Failed. (Try once)
Singapore – Jurong: Failed. (Try once)
Singapore – CBD: Failed. (Try once)
Australia – Sydney: First success. (Time efficiency: 67s)
Australia – Melbourne: Failed. (Try once)
Australia – Perth: Failed. (Try once)
Australia – Brisbane: Failed. (Try once)
Australia – Sydney – 2: Failed. (Try once)
Summary: These are the tests of ExpressVPN in IOS/iPhone. I tested it on servers in the US, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia, all major regions. From these tests, you can get a general idea of how the IKEv2 protocol works in this device. However, it should be noted that due to the constant upgrades and changes in firewalls in China, the number of servers that can be connected will change accordingly. Therefore, the above tests should only be used for immediate reference. In the meantime, the officially recommended method is currently available.
ExpressVPN IOS/iPhone Version: 8.3.5(13231)；Protocol: Auto/IKEv2
Today’s Test Score: ★ ★ ★
