CactusVPN and ExpressVPN represent two meaningfully different approaches to the VPN market, and understanding their differences requires looking closely at where each one performs well and where each one falls short. CactusVPN earns an overall score of 60%, while ExpressVPN scores 68%, but the gap between them is more nuanced than those headline numbers suggest.
On the privacy and security front, CactusVPN holds a notable advantage in ethics, scoring a perfect 100% compared to ExpressVPN's 67%. CactusVPN is based in Moldova, a jurisdiction generally considered favorable for user privacy due to its lack of mandatory data retention laws. ExpressVPN operates out of the British Virgin Islands, which has historically been regarded as a privacy-friendly location, though the company's ethics score suggests some concerns that may be relevant to privacy-conscious users. When it comes to independent verification, however, CactusVPN scores 62% on privacy audits while ExpressVPN scores considerably lower at just 23%, meaning CactusVPN has somewhat more independently validated privacy claims despite ExpressVPN's stronger brand recognition. ExpressVPN does include a Bug Bounty Program among its features, which CactusVPN lacks, adding one additional layer of security accountability.
Performance is where these two providers diverge most dramatically. ExpressVPN achieves a perfect 100% speed score, making it one of the faster options available on the market. CactusVPN, by contrast, scores just 25% for speeds, which is a significant limitation for users who prioritize connection performance. Both providers support WireGuard, the modern tunneling protocol known for its efficiency, yet the real-world speed results clearly favor ExpressVPN. Both services score equally well on streaming at 100%, meaning subscribers of either provider should find consistent access to popular streaming platforms.
In terms of application experience, ExpressVPN scores 73% to CactusVPN's 47%, and the graphical interface scores follow a similar pattern with ExpressVPN at 90% and CactusVPN at 60%. ExpressVPN also includes Split Tunneling, a feature CactusVPN does not offer, giving users more granular control over which traffic passes through the VPN. Customer support is another category where ExpressVPN excels with a perfect 100%, while CactusVPN scores 50%, indicating a more limited support experience. Where CactusVPN gains ground is in pricing, scoring 82% compared to ExpressVPN's 55%, suggesting it offers stronger value relative to what it charges.
Ultimately, ExpressVPN is the stronger choice for users who need reliable speed, polished applications, and responsive customer support. CactusVPN may appeal to users who place greater emphasis on ethical standing and pricing value, and who can accept slower connection speeds in exchange for those priorities.