Get a VPN with advanced protection

Q: Are these advanced protection features free?

Yes, these features are included with any ExpressVPN plan and can be enabled in the app settings. Please find the detailed instructions below.

Q: Do the advanced protection features work without turning the VPN on?

No, the advanced protection features only work when the VPN is turned on, and when the Lightway protocol is in use. Users who wish to use these features without turning the VPN on can do so via Aircove, our unique router product.

Q: Does using an ad blocker affect my web browsing experience?

Certain services or websites may not work correctly if you use the ad blocking feature. If this occurs, you can temporarily disable ad blocking within the advanced protection settings or contact our Support Team for assistance.

Block intrusive display ads, trackers, and harmful sites—all in a single app.

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All new advanced protection features

People love ExpressVPN’s app for the security offered by a VPN. But now, you’ll find that the app does much more—providing a more secure and private online experience.

Block ads, trackers, and harmful sites with ExpressVPN

For a safer online experience

Threat Manager

Protect your online traffic from malicious sites and trackers

Ad blocker

Hide intrusive display ads when browsing the web

Parental controls

generic advanced protection adult site blocker illustration

Block access to explicit or unwanted content

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Advanced protection made easy

Included with ExpressVPN

Get more protection at no extra cost. All ExpressVPN plans include advanced protection features.

All in one app

These advanced protection features are built into ExpressVPN—there’s no need to install extra apps.

Seamless VPN integration

Our VPN and advanced protection features complement each other, delivering the best speeds and performance.

Stay ahead of the latest threats

We regularly review and update our blocklists to protect you against the latest threats.

Take control in one tap

Easily enable these features via toggles in the ExpressVPN app settings.

24/7 world-class support

Like with other ExpressVPN services, help with these features is readily available from our Support Team.

FAQ

Are these advanced protection features free?

How do I activate these advanced protection features?

The full suite of advanced protection features is currently available on Aircove and the ExpressVPN apps for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux. Threat Manager (tracker blocking only) and ad blocking are available on the ExpressVPN app for Apple TV.

On iOS or Android, tap on Options > Settings > Advanced Protection
On Mac, click on the Menu icon > Preferences > Advanced Protection
On Windows, click on the menu icon > Options > Advanced Protection
On Aircove, go to a device group and select the gear icon > Advanced Protection
On Linux, open Terminal and enter the following command:
expressvpn preferences set block_all true

On Apple TV, go to Options > Advanced Protection

Do the advanced protection features work without turning the VPN on?

What devices can I use these advanced protection features on?

Threat Manager, the ad blocker, and parental controls are available on the ExpressVPN apps for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux. Threat Manager (tracker blocker only) and the ad blocker are available for Apple TV. If you have Aircove, our VPN router, all of these advanced protection features are available by default. They can be applied to any device connected to Aircove, even smart TVs or smart home appliances.

How do I know if these advanced protection features are working?

The advanced protection features block apps and websites on your device from communicating with known malware sites, trackers, and adult sites on our blocklists. The blocking occurs locally, and the blocked domains never leave your device. You can verify that the features are working if you cannot access the sites on our blocklists.

How do you determine what counts as ads?

Our ad blocklist is compiled from publicly available and open source lists of known ads. We regularly review and update these blocklists so that you can stay protected against the latest threats.

How do you determine what counts as adult sites?

Our adult site blocklist is compiled from publicly available and open source lists of known ads. We regularly review and update these blocklists so that you can stay protected against the latest threats.

I still see ads with the ad blocker turned on. Why is that?

The ad blocker only blocks ads identified in our blocklists. We update our blocklists weekly, and will continue to improve the range of ads that we block. Users can also report ads to us by contacting our Support Team, and we will look into blocking them.