VPNs will be a useful instrument for anybody who usually makes use of the web. Not solely do they assist preserve your on-line actions non-public, however they’ll additionally get round area blocks to stream your favourite content material. When looking for a great VPN supplier, two names are certain to come back up: Surfshark and NordVPN.
Both VPNs are top-quality providers which have made it on to my record of finest VPNs on account of their wonderful characteristic units. Each has its personal distinctive method of optimizing your privateness and safety. Below I’ll examine every of those two trade titans and present which one wins in a standoff between Surfshark vs. NordVPN.
If you’re searching for all of my prime picks for VPNs make sure you try my best VPNs article for extra nice choices.
Surfshark vs. NordVPN: Overview
Surfshark is cheaper within the long-term, with limitless simultaneous machine connections and good extra options, nevertheless it’s very costly within the short-term. NordVPN however is a little more costly within the long-term, however comes with extra servers, higher speeds, and it’s primarily based in a privacy-neutral nation.
| Surfshark | NordVPN | |
| Server community | 3,200+ servers, 100+ nation places | 7,000+ servers, 118 nation places |
| Simultaneous connections | Unlimited | 10 |
| Average speeds | 61% of base obtain, 70% of base add | 72% of base obtain, 80% of base add |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard (NordLynx), NordWhisper, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
| Available platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV, Linux, Browsers, Routers | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV, Linux, Browsers, Routers |
| Business location | Netherlands | Panama |
| Cost | $17.95 per thirty days, $50.85 for the primary 12 months, or $67.23 for the primary two years | $13.99 per thirty days, $71.88 for the primary 12 months, or $107.73 for the primary two years |
Speed: NordVPN
While Surfshark isn’t any slouch on the subject of pace and efficiency, NordVPN comfortably wins right here. NordVPN has the most effective obtain and add speeds of any VPN I’ve ever examined, simply garnering the highest spot in my record of fastest VPNs.
During my testing, Surfshark carried out admirably with a mean obtain pace of 61 % of my base and 70 % of my base add pace. That’s fairly good, however Nord blows by it with a mean obtain pace of 72 % of the bottom and a completely spectacular 80 % of the bottom add pace. Simply put, NordVPN can’t be matched on the subject of VPN pace.
Cost: Surfshark
Determining the winner with regard to value requires a bit extra of a nuanced method. Both providers include totally different subscription tiers offering totally different options and extras. Both VPNs additionally include month-to-month, yearly, and bi-yearly subscriptions plans. In order to most carefully examine apples to apples, I’ll stick to evaluating the prices for NordVPN’s Plus plan and Surfshark’s One plan tiers.
NordVPN’s Plus plan will set you again $13.99 month-to-month, $71.88 for the primary 12 months, or $107.73 for the primary two years. Both NordVPN’s Plus 1-year and 2-year plans rise to $179.88 yearly after their respective renewal durations.
Further studying: ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN
On the opposite hand, Surfshark’s One plan goes for a steep $15.95 month-to-month, $47.85 for the primary 12 months, or $72.63 for the primary two years. Similarly, Surfshark’s 1- and 2-year plans rise to about $99 per 12 months after their renewal durations.
While Surfshark’s expensive month-to-month plan is greater, should you go for a longer-term subscription plan, you’ll find yourself saving a big amount of cash–about half the value of NordVPN. For this cause, Surfshark takes the win for value—except you need to pay by the month, then go for NordVPN.
Privacy and safety: NordVPN
Privacy is the last word aim of a VPN consumer and never many do it higher than NordVPN. Not solely does it usually undergo impartial safety audits of its servers to make sure no consumer knowledge is logged or saved, nevertheless it’s additionally primarily based out of privacy-friendly Panama.
Surfshark isn’t too far behind although. It additionally goes by common impartial safety audits and sticks to a no-logs coverage. However, it’s primarily based within the Netherlands, which is at present a member nation of the 14 Eyes data-sharing alliance. The Netherlands itself is a privacy-friendly nation, however as a member, firms within the nation may very well be required to expose consumer knowledge. Surfshark, for its half, guarantees to not preserve any consumer knowledge logs so theoretically there can be nothing to share in any case.
Both providers present top-notch safety features together with military-grade AES-256 encryption and entry to probably the most safe protocols comparable to WireGuard and OpenVPN. They each additionally supply ad- and tracker-blocking plus built-in antivirus (with sure subscription tiers).
NordVPN’s safety features are a bit extra customizable, however you’ll have to go for its mid- or upper-tier plans. Surfshark’s safety features are efficient, however restricted to a easy toggle-on change. Still, Surfshark does supply the safety features with all plans, even the essential plan, so it’s a little bit of a toss-up right here.
This class is shut, however the truth that NordVPN is positioned in a privacy-friendly nation that isn’t a member of a data-sharing alliance provides it the slight nod right here.
Streaming: Tie
While deciding on a tie for any class appears like a little bit of a cop-out, I’ll admit that each providers have virtually the identical capabilities. In my testing, there was no discernable distinction between the 2. Both providers had been capable of unblock all main streaming providers comparable to Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer. Every server I examined with Surfshark and NordVPN, throughout a number of nations all over the world, labored with no hitch. Therefore, I can’t rightly say that one is best than the opposite on this class. Both can be nice choices if streaming with a VPN is what you’re after.
Bottom line
Surfshark and NordVPN are each wonderful VPNs general. Surfshark wins out on the subject of worth on account of its extraordinarily reasonably priced long-term plans. However, NordVPN snags wins in pace the place it’s noticeably quicker, and privateness on account of the truth that it’s headquartered in privacy-friendly Panama. Streaming capabilities had been a draw as each providers simply unblocked each main streaming web site.
Ultimately, which VPN you decide will rely by yourself private wants. If you need to lower your expenses then go along with Surfshark. If pace and server community are your greatest issues, then it is best to go for NordVPN. Either method, the variations between them are minor and possibly received’t make a distinction for the typical consumer. Both of those are stellar VPN providers, however within the options that matter most, NordVPN narrowly edges out the win.