The best European alternatives to ExpressVPN

Unlimited Ecosystem

Surfshark distinguishes itself from almost every other top-tier VPN by offering unlimited simultaneous connections. While competitors typically cap connections at 5 or 10 devices, a single Surfshark subscription can cover an entire household's devices—laptops, phones, tablets, smart TVs, and gaming consoles—without ever hitting a limit. This makes it an exceptionally high-value option for families.

European Jurisdiction

Formerly based in the British Virgin Islands, Surfshark moved its legal headquarters to the Netherlands. This places it firmly within the EU, providing users with the assurance of GDPR protections while the company maintains a strict no-logs policy. They use RAM-only servers, meaning that no data is ever written to hard drives; if a server is seized or powered off, all data is instantly wiped.

Beyond Just a VPN

Surfshark has expanded into a broader cybersecurity suite. The service includes 'CleanWeb', a powerful ad and malware blocker that works at the DNS level to stop threats before they load. They also offer 'Camouflage Mode' to hide VPN usage from ISPs and 'NoBorders Mode' for use in restrictive regions. The 'Nexus' network innovation rotates your IP address without disconnecting the VPN, adding a layer of privacy dynamic that static IPs cannot match.

Swiss Privacy Engineering

Proton VPN benefits from strong legal protection due to its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Switzerland is outside of the EU and US jurisdiction and is not a member of the 14 Eyes surveillance network. This allows Proton to adhere to a strict no-logs policy that has been verified by independent legal experts and security auditors.

Secure Core Architecture

For users in high-risk environments, Proton VPN offers 'Secure Core' servers. This feature routes user traffic through multiple servers before leaving the Proton network. The entry servers are located in privacy-friendly countries like Iceland, Sweden, and Switzerland, and are housed in high-security data centers owned and operated directly by Proton. This defends against network-based attacks where an adversary might monitor traffic at the VPN server level.

A True Freemium Model

Unlike many competitors that offer limited trials or sell user data to fund free versions, Proton VPN provides a permanently free version with no data caps and no ads. The free tier is subsidized by paid users, ensuring that privacy is accessible to everyone regardless of budget. Paid plans unlock faster speeds (up to 10 Gbps), P2P/BitTorrent support, and access to servers in over 65 countries. All apps are open source, allowing the community to inspect the code for potential vulnerabilities.

A VPN for the Privacy Purist

Mullvad VPN is widely regarded as one of the most private VPN services available today. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, it operates under EU jurisdiction but adheres to a strict philosophy of data minimization. Unlike many competitors that focus on unblocking streaming libraries, Mullvad's primary mission is to protect your identity and online activity from surveillance.

Unique Account System

The most distinct feature of Mullvad is its anonymous signup process. You are not asked for an email address, password, or phone number. Instead, the website generates a random 16-digit account number for you. This number is your only login credential, ensuring that no personal data is ever linked to your account.

Transparent Pricing

Mullvad rejects the industry standard of complex pricing tiers and renewal hikes. It costs a flat €5 per month, regardless of whether you subscribe for one month or a decade. Payment methods include credit cards and PayPal, but for maximum anonymity, they also accept cash (via mail), Bitcoin, Monero, and vouchers.

Technical Security

Mullvad was an early adopter of the WireGuard protocol, which offers superior speeds and security compared to older standards. Their entire server infrastructure runs on RAM-only (diskless) servers, meaning that all data is instantly wiped whenever a server is rebooted or powered down. Furthermore, their app is fully open-source and has been independently audited, allowing the security community to verify their claims.