ExpressVPN Promo Code LOCALS Brings Basic to US$2.99 a Month, With Servers in 113 Countries

ExpressVPN is the VPN people tend to have heard of, with tidy apps, servers in 113 countries and a long paper trail of independent audits. The two-year deal makes it cheaper than its reputation suggests, but the renewal bill deserves a careful read.

ExpressVPN Promo Code: up to 80% off the 2-year plan
Promo Code: LOCALS
Who qualifies: new customers buying a 2-year plan (Basic, Advanced or Pro) on the ExpressVPN website
Key terms: Basic costs US$2.99 a month (£2.24 / €2.66), billed as US$83.72 (£62.82 / €74.56) for the first 28 months (two years plus four bonus months). It then renews at US$99.95 a year (£69.95 / €79.95). The discount is applied automatically on the official pricing page; enter LOCALS at checkout. 30-day money-back guarantee for first-time users, not available on App Store purchases.

Offer detail	What you get
Promo Code	LOCALS
Welcome offer	Up to 80% off the 2-year plan, with four bonus months
Who qualifies	New customers buying a 2-year Basic, Advanced or Pro plan on the ExpressVPN website
Key terms	Basic US$2.99 a month (£2.24 / €2.66), billed US$83.72 (£62.82 / €74.56) for 28 months, then US$99.95 a year (£69.95 / €79.95); 30-day money-back for first-time users, not App Store purchases
How to claim	Pick a 2-year plan on the pricing page, enter LOCALS at checkout and pay

Get the ExpressVPN offer

ExpressVPN at a glance

• Price from: US$2.99 a month (£2.24 / €2.66) on the 2-year Basic plan
• Renewal price: US$99.95 a year (£69.95 / €79.95) on Basic; US$199.95 (£149.95 / €179.95) on Pro
• Money-back guarantee: 30 days, first-time users only
• Free plan or trial: no free plan; any mobile trial is offered through the app stores
• Devices: 10 (Basic), 12 (Advanced), 14 (Pro) at the same time
• Servers: 214 server locations in 113 countries, including all 50 US states
• Streaming: official setup guides for Netflix, BBC iPlayer and YouTube TV
• Audited no-logs: yes, most recently by KPMG (2025, third no-logs audit)
• Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands; owned by Kape Technologies
• Trustpilot: 4.4/5 from 29,442 reviews

Our verdict
ExpressVPN is easy to recommend to anyone who wants a VPN that simply works on a laptop, a phone and a hotel television without fuss. The Basic plan on a two-year term is now genuinely competitive on price. The catch arrives in year three, when the annual renewal is more than the whole introductory term cost, and Surfshark is cheaper still if you need to cover a large household.

Pros

• Up to 80% off the 2-year plan, with four bonus months included
• Servers in 113 countries, among the widest spreads of any major VPN
• RAM-only servers and a long list of published audits from KPMG, Cure53 and others
• Polished apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, Apple TV and routers
• Refunds within 30 days, requested through 24-hour live chat

Cons

• No free plan, and the money-back guarantee excludes App Store subscriptions
• Renewal at US$99.95 a year (£69.95 / €79.95) on Basic is steep next to the intro price
• Device limit of 10 on Basic, against unlimited on Surfshark
• The best extras (password manager, identity alerts, dedicated IP) sit on pricier tiers
• Some Trustpilot reviewers complain that support starts with an AI assistant

ExpressVPN promo codes, coupons and discounts: what actually works

The headline offer is on ExpressVPN’s own pricing page: up to 80% off a two-year plan, plus four extra months. No code is needed to reach that price, because the saving is built into the 2-year rate. Locals Insider readers are pointed to Promo Code LOCALS, which you type into the checkout box.

You will also find codes circulating on coupon sites, usually promising the same headline figure. We could not verify any of them on the official site, so treat them with caution. If a code fails, the 80% saving should still show on the pricing page.

A worked example: take the Basic plan. The pricing page’s reference price for 28 months is US$419.72 (£314.96 / €373.80). On the 2-year deal you pay US$83.72 (£62.82 / €74.56), which works out at US$2.99 a month (£2.24 / €2.66) and saves US$336.00 (£252.13 / €299.24).

The renewal is where the arithmetic changes. After 28 months, Basic renews at US$99.95 a year (£69.95 / €79.95), more than the entire first term. Set a calendar reminder a few weeks before, and check whether a fresh new-customer deal on a rival is better value.

The same structure applies higher up. Advanced is US$4.49 a month (£3.37 / €4.00), billed at US$125.72 (£94.34 / €111.97), and Pro is US$7.49 a month (£5.62 / €6.67), billed at US$209.72 (£157.37 / €186.78).

Is there an ExpressVPN free trial? Plus how the refund works

ExpressVPN has no free plan. Its own position is that the 30-day money-back guarantee does the job of a trial, without the single-device, time-limited restrictions most demos carry. You still pay up front, and the money comes back if you ask for it.

Mobile users have historically been offered a short trial through the app stores, and the offer and its length can change, so check the listing when you install. If you start one, cancel through your Apple or Google account before it ends, or the subscription will be charged.

The guarantee runs for exactly 30 days from the moment you order, so an 8am purchase on 1 July can be claimed until 8am on 31 July. It covers the full order amount and is open to first-time customers only.

How to claim a refund:

1. Sign in to your ExpressVPN account so you have your order details to hand.
2. Open live chat on the ExpressVPN website, or email support (both are staffed around the clock).
3. Say you would like to cancel and receive a refund under the 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. Wait for the refund to land on your original payment method.

One important exception: subscriptions bought as an in-app purchase through Apple’s App Store are not covered. Those refunds are up to Apple, at its discretion. If the guarantee matters to you, buy on the ExpressVPN website.

ExpressVPN prices and plans, from Basic to Pro

ExpressVPN sells three tiers. Basic is the VPN plus a light ad and malware blocker. Advanced adds tracker blocking, the ExpressKeys password manager and Identity Defender alerts (with US identity theft insurance). Pro adds a dedicated IP address and the ExpressAI assistant.

Plan	2-year price a month	Billed for first 28 months	Renews at (yearly)	Monthly plan	Devices
Basic	US$2.99 (£2.24 / €2.66)	US$83.72 (£62.82 / €74.56)	US$99.95 (£69.95 / €79.95)	US$12.99 (£9.99 / €11.49)	10
Advanced	US$4.49 (£3.37 / €4.00)	US$125.72 (£94.34 / €111.97)	US$119.95 (£89.95 / €109.95)	US$13.99 (£10.99 / €12.49)	12
Pro	US$7.49 (£5.62 / €6.67)	US$209.72 (£157.37 / €186.78)	US$199.95 (£149.95 / €179.95)	US$19.99 (£14.99 / €17.49)	14

The renewal and monthly prices in pounds and euros are ExpressVPN’s own local prices. The 2-year figures are converted from US dollars at the mid-market rate. A one-year plan (12 months plus three bonus months) also exists, though the order page currently leads with the 2-year plans. Sales tax or VAT is added at checkout where it applies.

Payment is by credit or debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Cryptocurrency does not appear on ExpressVPN’s list of accepted payment methods.

ExpressVPN servers, countries and streaming

ExpressVPN lists 214 server locations in 113 countries, with servers in every US state. A small number are “virtual” locations, where the IP address belongs to the country you pick but the hardware sits elsewhere. Turkey is one: the server is in the Netherlands.

Key locations for DailyStoke readers include the UK (seven of them: London, East London, Docklands, Tottenham, Wembley, the Midlands and Manchester), the US, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and Australia. Malta is on the list too, as a virtual location.

On streaming, ExpressVPN publishes support guides for Netflix, BBC iPlayer and YouTube TV. For iPlayer it suggests trying UK East London, Docklands, London, Wembley and Midlands in that order if a stream refuses to start. It does not publish a list of Netflix regions, and its own terms bar using the service to get around content providers’ geographic restrictions.

For devices that cannot run a VPN app, such as some games consoles and smart TVs, there is MediaStreamer, a DNS feature that is not encrypted but helps with streaming. ExpressVPN quotes “up to 40Gbps” VPN speeds on its pricing page. That is a figure for its network, not a promise about what your home broadband will deliver.

Is ExpressVPN safe? Privacy, audits and the record so far

ExpressVPN is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, which has no mandatory data retention laws for VPN providers. Since 2021 it has been owned by Kape Technologies, the group behind several other privacy brands.

Its servers run on TrustedServer, a system that runs entirely in RAM and wipes data on every reboot. KPMG audited its no-logs claims for a third time in 2025, giving “reasonable assurance” that the servers collect no activity or connection logs. Cure53, Praetorian and PwC Switzerland have audited the apps, the in-house Lightway protocol and the server setup over the years. Lightway and WireGuard both now carry post-quantum protection.

The record is not spotless. In 2017 Turkish investigators seized an ExpressVPN server during the inquiry into the assassination of the Russian ambassador, Andrei Karlov, and found no logs that could identify a user. In 2021 the company’s chief information officer, Daniel Gericke, paid a US$335,000 fine over earlier hacking work for the UAE government carried out without a valid US export licence. In February 2024 ExpressVPN fixed a Windows bug that, for nearly two years, could expose the domains users visited when split tunnelling was switched on.

What ExpressVPN users say

On Trustpilot ExpressVPN scores 4.4 out of 5 from 29,442 reviews, and 79% of them are five stars. The App Store listing shows 4.7 from around 420,000 ratings.

The praise is consistent: quick installation, fast connections and apps that behave on phones, laptops and TVs. Greg, from the US, wrote that “Instalation [sic] was pretty easy and it only took a few minutes”.

The complaints cluster around dropped connections at busy times, overlapping subscription charges and router setup. Support draws fire too. Andrew, from the UK, gave one star: “The customer support is mainly AI - it takes hours to be handed to a human, even when asked directly”.

How to sign up for ExpressVPN and use it

1. Go to the ExpressVPN pricing page and choose Basic, Advanced or Pro on the 2-year term.
2. Enter Promo Code LOCALS at checkout, add your email and pay by card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
3. Download the app for your device: Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and iPad, Android, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, or the Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions.
4. Open the app and sign in with your ExpressVPN account details.
5. Press the large connect button for the recommended server, or choose a country from the list.

A real-world example. You are in a Lisbon hotel on a Champions League night, the room Wi-Fi is shared with 200 other guests and your banking app is grumbling. Connect to a nearby Portuguese server for a stable, encrypted line, then switch to a UK server if you want to open the streaming apps you already pay for at home (subject to their own terms).

The same goes for the airport on the way back. Open the app before you join the free Wi-Fi at the gate, and checking a balance or paying a credit card bill no longer travels unencrypted across a network anyone can sit on.

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN vs Surfshark

All three sell their best prices on two-year terms, so we compare each brand’s entry-level 2-year plan, as listed on its own website in October 2026.

	ExpressVPN Basic	NordVPN Basic	Surfshark Starter
2-year price a month	US$2.99 (£2.24 / €2.66)	US$3.49 (£2.62 / €3.11)	US$2.49 (£1.87 / €2.22)
Billed for first term	US$83.72 (£62.82 / €74.56), 28 months	US$94.23 (£70.71 / €83.92), 27 months	US$67.23 (£50.45 / €59.88), 27 months
Renewal	US$99.95 a year (£69.95 / €79.95)	US$139.08 a year (£104.37 / €123.86)	US$79 a year (£59.28 / €70.36)
Devices	10	10	Unlimited
Countries	113	167+	100
Free option	No free plan	No free plan	7-day free trial (mobile)
Money-back	30 days	30 days	30 days

Surfshark is the cheapest of the three to start and the only one with no device cap, which makes it the obvious choice for a family with a houseful of tablets. Locals Insider also lists Surfshark Promo Codes SHARKGIFT and SHARKSECURE.

NordVPN costs a little more up front and the most at renewal, but its higher tiers bundle antivirus and identity tools. ExpressVPN sits in the middle on price, has the broadest country list here and the lowest renewal of the two that publish one, which makes it the pick for frequent travellers who value simple apps over extras.

ExpressVPN FAQs

Does ExpressVPN have a promo code?
Yes. Locals Insider readers can use Promo Code LOCALS at checkout. The main discount, up to 80% off the 2-year plan, is already applied on ExpressVPN’s own pricing page.

Is there an ExpressVPN free trial?
There is no free plan. The 30-day money-back guarantee works as a trial on desktop and most devices, as long as you buy on the ExpressVPN website rather than through the App Store.

How do I get a refund from ExpressVPN?
Contact support by live chat or email within 30 days of ordering and ask for a refund under the money-back guarantee. The money goes back to your original payment method.

Is ExpressVPN safe to use?
It runs RAM-only servers, has had its no-logs claims audited by KPMG three times and is based in the British Virgin Islands. A 2017 server seizure in Turkey turned up no user logs. Like any service, it has had bugs, including a Windows DNS issue fixed in 2024.

How many devices can I use with ExpressVPN?
Ten at once on Basic, 12 on Advanced and 14 on Pro.

Does ExpressVPN work with BBC iPlayer and Netflix?
ExpressVPN publishes setup guides for both and recommends specific UK servers for iPlayer. Streaming services actively block VPNs, so results can vary from day to day.

How much does ExpressVPN cost after the first term?
Basic renews at US$99.95 a year (£69.95 / €79.95), Advanced at US$119.95 (£89.95 / €109.95) and Pro at US$199.95 (£149.95 / €179.95). ExpressVPN says it will email you before any price change.

Is ExpressVPN better than NordVPN?
ExpressVPN is cheaper on the entry 2-year plan, renews for less and covers more countries. NordVPN bundles more security extras on its upper tiers. For most travellers the difference comes down to price and which app you prefer.

VPNs are legal in the UK. Using one to get around a streaming service’s terms can lead to that service restricting your account.

Visit ExpressVPN

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