- ExpressVPN moves to Qt framework for unified cross-platform development
- The Linux app gets a full GUI, dual-mode speed test and dedicated IP support
- macOS beta restores split tunneling and adds WireGuard protocol settings
If you’re a desktop user of ExpressVPN, your experience is about to become much more consistent and potentially much faster. The top-rated provider has announced a major architectural shift, moving its Linux, macOS and Windows apps to a common foundation built on the Qt framework.
To the uninitiated, this may sound like dry technological jargon, but for subscribers to one of the best VPN services on the market, it is a significant upgrade in quality of life. By adopting Qt (pronounced “sweet”), ExpressVPN can now build features once and deploy them across all operating systems simultaneously.
This marks the end of the “platform drift” that often plagues software, where the Windows app gets a shiny new feature while Mac and Linux users wait months for the same tool.
A game-changer for Linux and Mac
The immediate benefits of this rollout are most visible to Linux and Mac VPN users.
For the Linux community, often the most neglected in the VPN world, this update is huge. The new Qt-based app introduces a full graphical user interface (GUI), meaning you no longer have to rely solely on the command line to switch servers or adjust settings. While the CLI remains for power users, the new dashboard makes the service far more accessible.
Linux users also get access to a built-in speed test that measures your internet performance both with and without VPN in a single session, along with the ability to manage dedicated IP extensions right in the app.
On the Mac side, the news is just as good. The new Qt-based beta app brings back split tunneling to modern macOS versions, a feature that has been notoriously difficult to implement on recent Apple Silicon updates. This allows users to route specific apps through the VPN while others maintain their default connection.
In addition, the Mac beta adds WireGuard along with ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway and OpenVPN protocols, giving users more choices for speed and stability.
Why the switch to Qt matters
In a blog post detailing the changes, ExpressVPN explained that the switch is about predictability and speed.
“Qt isn’t something users will notice right away, but it’s reshaping how these apps will evolve over the next few years,” the company said. “Features can be built once instead of multiple times, design choices can travel cross-platform without drift, and updates that used to move unevenly across operating systems can finally be customized.”
Essentially, this streamlines the engineering process. Instead of three separate teams building the same feature for three different OS environments, one team builds it and it propagates everywhere. This should result in faster bug fixes, more frequent loss of features, and a consistent look and feel whether you’re on an Ubuntu desktop, a MacBook Air, or a Windows gaming rig.
How to get the update
The new experience is being rolled out in stages:
- Linux: The new Qt-based app (v3.0+) is available now for distributions based on Debian 11+, Ubuntu 24.04+, Fedora 35+ and others.
- macOS: The Qt version is currently only available via beta channel on the ExpressVPN website. Users should note that the Qt macOS app will not be available in the App Store due to Apple restrictions.
- Windows: A beta version for Windows 10 and 11 is expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
For those interested in testing the latest features, you can download the installers directly from your account dashboard on the ExpressVPN site. As always, keeping your VPN app up-to-date is key to maintaining optimal security and performance.
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