Surfshark vs NordVPN (2024): Which VPN Ought to You Select?

For those who search for the perfect VPNs accessible at the moment, likelihood is each Surfshark and NordVPN high the listing. As two standard suppliers, each providers deliver high quality VPN efficiency with their very own standout options.

Surfshark brings a ton of worth with its reasonably priced pricing throughout its plans and the power to attach an infinite variety of gadgets on the identical time. Alternatively, NordVPN brings persistently quick VPN speeds and an enormous 111-country server community.

On this article, we assist you determine which of the 2 VPNs is greatest for you and your group.

• Surfshark: Greatest for budget-conscious customers that desire a high quality VPN that may accommodate an infinite variety of gadgets
• NordVPN: Greatest for many companies in search of an all-around VPN, with quick efficiency, further security measures, and a refined person expertise

Surfshark vs NordVPN: Comparability desk

Whereas each Surfshark and NordVPN have broad platform help, they’ve key variations when it comes to their pricing and server community.

Surfshark and NordVPN: Pricing

Each Surfshark and NordVPN have three subscription tiers, with various characteristic inclusions in every plan. As well as, each provide month-to-month, one-year, and two-year plan choices for every subscription tier.

SEE: The way to Run a Cybersecurity Threat Evaluation in 5 Steps (TechRepublic Premium)

Surfshark VPN pricing

Surfshark has three subscription tiers: Surfshark Starter, Surfshark One, and Surfshark One+. Starter contains the principle VPN service, whereas One+ bundles in essentially the most quantity of further options.

Beneath is a abstract of pricing and have variations with every tier:

Personally, I believe the Surfshark One subscription for one 12 months brings the perfect steadiness of worth and have set. At $3.39 monthly, it’s considerably extra reasonably priced than NordVPN’s equal plan however nonetheless contains nifty extras like antivirus and breach alert capabilities as nicely.

SEE: Surfshark vs CyberGhost (2024): Which VPN Is Higher? (TechRepublic)

Whereas I’d have liked it if Surfshark supplied a free model, it luckily has a seven-day free trial through iOS, Android, and macOS. It additionally has a 30-day money-back assure for all its subscription plans, providing you with an opportunity to refund your preliminary subscription in case you really feel it isn’t match.

If you wish to study extra, learn our full Surfshark VPN evaluation.

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN’s paid plans have three subscription tiers, particularly NordVPN Fundamental, Plus, and Full. Like Surfshark, all three NordVPN plans have a month-to-month, a yearly, and a two-year plan.

Beneath is an summary of pricing and have variations with every tier:

For NordVPN, its one-year Plus subscription is what appeals to me essentially the most. Even when it’s not as reasonably priced as Surfshark’s One plan, I really feel like NordVPN Plus at $5.99 monthly nonetheless brings good worth contemplating it contains the total VPN and a full-fledged password supervisor bundled in. This may be splendid for people who desire a suite of safety instruments from a single software program supplier.

SEE: Personal Web Entry (PIA) vs NordVPN: Which VPN Is Higher? (TechRepublic)

Fortunately, NordVPN additionally has a seven-day free trial and a 30-day money-back assure for all its plans, enabling refunds after an preliminary buy. Sadly, the free trial is barely accessible through Android. To me, the best scenario is to no less than have the free trial accessible to each iOS and Android customers, in order that entry is honest no matter which smartphone ecosystem you utilize.

Fortunately, it’s pretty straightforward to check NordVPN on desktop after accessing the free trial on Android — which is how I examined one in all NordVPN’s premium subscriptions.

If you wish to study extra, learn our full NordVPN evaluation.

Surfshark vs NordVPN: Function comparability

Right here’s a side-by-side comparability of NordVPN and Surfshark, specializing in seven key options:

Safety protocols and encryption

Winner: Tie

Each NordVPN and Surfshark embrace a stable mixture of VPN protocols that cowl each safety and pace. To me, a high quality VPN ought to no less than have the security-centric OpenVPN protocol and the speed-oriented WireGuard protocol. All the pieces else is an additional.

Fortuitously, NordVPN comes with OpenVPN and its proprietary NordLynx protocol that’s primarily based on WireGuard. On the flipside, Surfshark carries OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 VPN protocols.

SEE: Surfshark vs IPVanish (2024): Which VPN Ought to You Select? (TechRepublic)

When it comes to encryption, each providers make the most of the trade customary AES-256 encryption algorithm. That is essential, as AES 256 is well known as probably the most safe encryption algorithms at the moment, a lot in order that it’s utilized by some United States authorities entities to safe delicate knowledge in opposition to prying eyes.

With this, our first spherical is a transparent tie, with each NordVPN and Surfshark hitting the mark with regards to safety protocols and encryption.

VPN server community and areas

Winner: NordVPN

NordVPN will get the win with regards to server networks and VPN areas. As of August 2024, NordVPN has 6,400+ servers unfold throughout 111 international locations. In distinction, Surfshark VPN at the moment has 3,200+ servers in 100 international locations inside its community.

Whereas NordVPN’s lead when it comes to precise server depend is critical, I place extra weight on Nord having extra server/nation areas in comparison with Surfshark. Even when having 11 extra international locations doesn’t seem to be a lot, it nonetheless means NordVPN supplies a bit extra nation choices to its customers than Surfshark.

That isn’t to say that Surfshark’s 100-country server fleet isn’t stable. It’s — it simply so occurs NordVPN at the moment has a slight benefit country-wise. Given how one of many foremost functions of a VPN is to unblock geo-restricted content material by altering IP areas, NordVPN’s 111-country server suite is a particular plus.

SEE: PureVPN vs NordVPN (2024): Which VPN Ought to You Select? (TechRepublic)

For companies which have unblocking as their foremost precedence with a VPN, NordVPN is the higher alternative.

Third-party audits and observe report

Winner: Surfshark

So far as third-party testing and total observe report go, I give the win to Surfshark. Whereas NordVPN technically has extra impartial audits than Surfshark — having 4 in comparison with three — I respect Surfshark giving the general public an precise abstract of their audit outcomes and entry to the total report.

Surfshark’s most up-to-date impartial audit was printed in 2023, the place Deloitte confirmed that Surfshark’s “IT systems and management of the supporting IT operations is properly prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with Surfshark’s description of its no-logs policy.”

In distinction, NordVPN has accomplished a formidable 4 impartial audits of its no-logs coverage as of January 2024. Nonetheless, if we take a look at its most up-to-date audit, additionally performed by Deloitte, the outcomes are solely accessible for folks with a NordVPN account.

In line with NordVPN, this was completed “[d]ue to the extensive nature of the audit, excerpts from the report cannot be shared directly. This measure ensures the audit results are not taken out of context or misunderstood.”

Whereas I perceive the dangers of publishing a full audit report and the way findings might be blown out of proportion, I respect Surfshark’s extra accessible method to sharing its audit outcomes with the general public. That is particularly impactful in case you’re a potential person who doesn’t essentially have an current account in both service but.

SEE: The 5 Greatest VPNs with Free Trials in 2024 (TechRepublic)

Regardless of giving the win to Surfshark, I do commend each VPNs for exhibiting full dedication to having their providers independently examined and evaluated.

Standout options

Winner: NordVPN

Trying into standout options, I give the purpose to NordVPN. On high of its VPN service, Nord features a ton of safety and privateness options that make for a formidable package deal. It features a devoted malware and advert blocker, a darkish internet monitor, and even an possibility for encrypted cloud storage.

It additionally has a cool Meshnet characteristic that lets customers create their very own privateness encrypted networks, which they’ll use to share recordsdata or entry gadgets extra securely.

My private favourite is the truth that a NordVPN Plus subscription truly offers customers a NordPass account — Nord Safety’s personal password supervisor. That will get you each a VPN and a password administration service with one subscription. If you wish to study extra, take a look at our full NordPass evaluation right here.

In the meantime, Surfshark has noteworthy options of its personal. It has a built-in antivirus service with its Surfshark One plan, a masked electronic mail generator, and its CleanWeb advert blocker for a cleaner on-line shopping expertise.

We get double VPN and cut up tunneling performance from each NordVPN and Surfshark, in addition to RAM-only servers of their respective server fleets.

Total, I believe NordVPN supplies a barely extra well-rounded characteristic suite, with the addition of the NordPass password supervisor being a specific spotlight for me.

Efficiency and pace

Winner: NordVPN

For VPN pace and efficiency, NordVPN takes the cake. In my expertise, each Surfshark VPN and NordVPN are in a position to present dependable and quick speeds for on a regular basis duties.

Throughout testing, I used each VPNs for my traditional workflow as a author. This concerned going by way of a number of web sites for analysis, attending on-line video conferences, and streaming the occasional 1080p video on YouTube. Qualitatively, I had zero bother utilizing each VPNs speed-wise and might confidently suggest each in case you’re in search of a fast-performing VPN.

Nonetheless, pace testing is the place NordVPN takes the benefit over Surfshark. As VPNs add one other step to your visitors, it’s anticipated that we see a lower in total pace in comparison with your web service supplier.

Per my testing, NordVPN recorded glorious speeds — having solely a 5.8% lower in obtain pace and a 16.2% lower in add in comparison with my ISP. In distinction, Surfshark had a 3.34% lower in obtain pace and a extra important 72.1% drop in uploads.

With this, if your enterprise is strictly in search of the quicker VPN service, my testing confirmed that NordVPN is the higher alternative.

Ease of use and design

Winner: Tie

With ease of use, person expertise, and design, I discovered each Surfshark and NordVPN had polished and intuitive functions.

Taking every utility one-by-one, we see that NordVPN brings a minimalist person interface that I discovered nice to make use of and navigate. Even with its breath of options, all the things was neatly organized, and I had no bother utilizing its options and establishing a VPN connection.

The identical was true with Surfshark’s desktop app. It comes with an identical, light-themed UI that’s well-organized and straightforward on the eyes. I notably like how Surfshark offers customers a transparent board of stats on the correct of its foremost interface, exhibiting connection time, connection standing, and which VPN protocol you’re utilizing (see under).

Each VPN apps additionally carried out fairly nicely, with no main points when it comes to activating options or establishing VPN connections. For me, ease of use and design are the place NordVPN and Surfshark present their polish in comparison with the competitors.

Whether or not you select Surfshark or NordVPN, you’ll get entry to a refined VPN person expertise that received’t go away you irritated or confused.

Simultaneous system connections

Winner: Surfshark

For system connections, Surfshark takes the clear win. Surfshark permits customers to connect with an infinite variety of gadgets all on the identical time. This implies you’ll be able to have a handful of smartphones, laptops, computer systems, and different gadgets linked to a VPN server with out worrying a few system restrict.

Alternatively, NordVPN at the moment permits a most of 10 simultaneous system connections. To be honest, 10 will probably be sufficient for many particular person customers. Nonetheless, in case you’re a small enterprise that requires quite a few workforce members to attach their gadgets to a VPN, Surfshark’s limitless connections is your greatest wager.

Personally, I discover Surfshark’s limitless simultaneous connections provides unimaginable worth to the VPN’s already reasonably priced subscriptions. That is very true after we take into account that NordVPN, even with its abundance of additional options, continues to be a bit costlier than Surfshark.

Surfshark professionals and cons

Execs

• Limitless simultaneous system connections.
• Simple-to-use and well-designed interface.
• CleanWeb characteristic that blocks advertisements, trackers, and malware.
• Inexpensive subscription choices.
• Extra accessible third-party audit outcomes.

Cons

• Smaller server fleet in comparison with NordVPN.
• Much less constant pace check outcomes.

NordVPN professionals and cons

Execs

• 111-country server fleet; 6,400+ servers.
• Polished desktop utility.
• Quick and constant VPN speeds.
• Meshnet encrypted file sharing characteristic.
• NordVPN Plus subscription contains NordPass password supervisor.

Cons

• Barely costlier in comparison with Surfshark.
• Solely permits for 10 simultaneous system connections.
• Third-party audit outcomes require a NordVPN account.

Ought to your group use Surfshark or NordVPN?

After a troublesome match-up, I give NordVPN the win as my suggestion for many companies and people. It gives an enormous server fleet with 6,400+ servers throughout 111 international locations, features a bunch of additional security measures, and supplies persistently quick and dependable VPN speeds.

I notably respect NordVPN’s all-around high quality of service with its VPN, because it doesn’t skimp out on in-app expertise, safety capabilities, and VPN efficiency.

This isn’t to discredit Surfshark, nonetheless. Surfshark’s refined person expertise, stable 100-country server suite, and limitless simultaneous connections make it a terrific alternative for extra budget-conscious customers or organizations.

To me, you actually can’t go incorrect with both Surfshark or NordVPN, as they’re two of the perfect VPN providers accessible at the moment.

Methodology

My head-to-head comparability of Surfshark and NordVPN concerned an in-depth analysis of each VPNs’ options, real-world efficiency, and worth.

To evaluate every VPN, each providers have been scored on all the things from their server networks to their pricing. Particularly, I took under consideration 5 foremost pillars, every having corresponding weights:

• Pricing (20%).
• Core VPN options (30%).
• Ease of use (15%).
• Buyer help (30%).
• Skilled evaluation (5%).

I additionally seemed into actual person testimonials and respected critiques to spherical out my closing suggestions for each Surfshark VPN and NordVPN.

For pace and efficiency, I examined each VPNs on my private Home windows pc and ran them by way of Ookla’s public Speedtest. Lastly, I thought of which varieties of companies or particular person customers would greatest profit from both Surfshark or NordVPN.