Surfshark vs. NordVPN: Differences, pros and cons in 2024
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Updated 4:00 p.m. UTC April 2, 2024
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Pros
- Several specialty servers.
- Supports zero-trust user provisioning.
- Second fastest average upload speed.
Cons
- Business plans cost more than its rivals.
- Doesn’t offer unlimited device connections with its plans.
Pros
- Automatically detects restrictive regions.
- Servers in over 100 countries.
- Unlimited simultaneous connections.
Cons
- No split tunneling feature on iOS.
- Does not have business or team plans.
- Server speed varies greatly among locations.
Looking for a reputable VPN provider to help protect your business against cyber threats? Both NordVPN and Surfshark are good options, but they shine in different areas. Here’s a closer look at the similarities and differences to help you decide which is a better fit for your business’ needs.
NordVPN vs. Surfshark: Cost
| ANONYMOUS BROWSING | DEDICATED IP | KILL SWITCH | SPLIT TUNNELING | MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NordVPN
| $12.99
| $4.59
| $15.99
| $7.49
| Yes: Google Play Store
|
Surfshark
| $15.45
| Varies
| $17.95
| Varies
| Yes: Google Play Store and Apple App Store
|
Surfshark offers three VPN plans.
- Its Starter plan is $15.45 per month when you pay monthly.
- Its other two plans are $15.95 and $17.95 per month when paid monthly. These plans also drop substantially in price when you commit to longer-term plans. Higher-tiered plans add security features such as virus protection, webcam protection, real-time breach alerts and data removal from company databases.
NordVPN offers three VPN plans.
- Monthly subscriptions range from $12.99 to $15.99 per month.
- 12-month contracts (plus three free months) range from $68.85 to $112.35 for the first year.
- 24-month subscriptions (plus three free months) range from $83.43 to $161.73 before renewal.
When comparing the monthly starter plans between the two providers, there’s only a negligible difference. As for risk-free trials, both offer 30-day money-back guarantees and seven-day free trials through their mobile apps, though NordVPN’s trial is only available for Android.
Featured VPN service offers
NordVPN
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$12.99
Download speed (average)
235 Mbps
Surfshark
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$15.45
Download speed (average)
263 Mbps
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$11.95
Download speed (average)
124 Mbps
NordVPN vs. Surfshark: Features
| ANONYMOUS BROWSING | DEDICATED IP | KILL SWITCH | SPLIT TUNNELING | MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NordVPN
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes: Android, Android TV, and Windows mobile devices
| Yes
|
Surfshark
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes: Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 and Android apps
| Yes
|
NordVPN and Surfshark offer many of the same features, including:
- Anonymous browsing.
- Dedicated IP add-ons.
- Kill switches.
- Split tunneling for Windows and Android devices.
- Multi-factor authentication.
- No-log policies.
- Ad, tracking and malware blockers.
But how do they differ? One notable way is the number of devices you can connect to each VPN. Surfshark allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices, which is a standout feature in the market, while NordVPN limits you to 10 simultaneous connections. If your office is small with a limited number of devices, NordVPN may suffice, but if you have a mid-sized or growing office, Surfshark may be a better fit.
However, that doesn’t mean that Surfshark has the better feature set. NordVPN offers two higher-tier plans with advanced security features. The mid-tier plans come with a cross-platform password manager and data breach scanner, and the high-tier plans come with 1 TB of cloud storage and next-generation file encryption. If you’re looking for a VPN along with additional cybersecurity services, NordVPN will likely be the better fit.
Both companies also offer Incogni as an add-on product. Incogni is a service that prevents the collection and use of your personal information. NordVPN offers it in several different plans, starting at $7.99 per month (billed annually). Surfshark lists it on its menu but directs you to the Incogni website, where the plan is $12.98 per month. So, if you’re interested in Incogni, NordVPN offers a better deal.
Surfshark’s other offerings include subscriptions for antivirus protection, search protection, data leak alerts and Surfshark One — which ties all of the offerings together. NordVPN is just one of a suite of security solutions offered by Nord Security, which includes NordLayer (a VPN solution designed for businesses), NordPass, NordPass Business and NordLocker.
NordVPN vs. Surfshark: Servers
| NUMBER OF CONTINENTS WITH SERVERS | TOTAL NUMBER OF SERVERS | NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WITH SERVERS | |
|---|---|---|---|
NordVPN
| 6 | 6,200+
| 110+
|
Surfshark
| 6 | 3,200+
| 100+
|
NordVPN and Surfshark both have respectable server networks that span the globe, excluding the north and south poles. NordVPN has a larger number of servers and a larger number of server locations. Both factors are important to ensure fast connection speeds, limited congestion and the ability to connect to a VPN in your preferred location.
Featured VPN service offers
NordVPN
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$12.99
Download speed (average)
235 Mbps
Surfshark
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$15.45
Download speed (average)
263 Mbps
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$11.95
Download speed (average)
124 Mbps
NordVPN vs. Surfshark: Speed
| DOWNLOAD SPEED (AVERAGE) | UPLOAD SPEED (AVERAGE) | DOWNLOAD SPEED (MIN TO MAX) | UPLOAD SPEED (MIN TO MAX) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NordVPN
| 235 | 186 | 90-97 Mbps
| 26-98 Mbps
|
Surfshark
| 263 | 170 | 1 – 10 Gbps
| 51-67 Mbps
|
While both companies are high-performers in the industry, NordVPN tends to outperform Surfshark when it comes to average upload speeds, and Surfshark beats NordVPN for download speeds. The differences in average speeds are minor, and either VPN will offer plenty of speed for most users’ needs.
NordVPN vs. Surfshark: Customer support
| 24/7 CUSTOMER SUPPORT | PHONE SUPPORT | LIVE CHAT | KNOWLEDGE BASE HELP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NordVPN
| Yes
| No
| Yes
| Yes
|
Surfshark
| Yes
| No
| Yes
| Yes
|
NordVPN and Surfshark both offer 24/7 support via live chat, helpful online knowledge bases and email support addresses. However, neither offers a phone support line — although that tends to be the norm for VPN service providers.
We tested the live chat channels of both companies and received prompt and friendly service. One notable difference between the two was that NordVPN’s bot insists on trying to help you before transferring you to an agent. We requested an agent, and it responded with, “I see you’d like to speak with a live agent. However, could we try resolving your inquiry together first?” It couldn’t answer the question and offered irrelevant answers before agreeing to get an agent. Surfshark brought on an agent immediately.
When it comes to customer reviews, NordVPN has a 4.2 average rating on Trustpilot after over 31,000 reviews. Surfshark also fares well with a 4.4-star average Trustpilot rating after over 21,000 reviews. The strengths and weaknesses of the companies were similar as customers applauded both for their supportive and helpful representatives, but some complained about payment practices that feel deceptive, such as auto-renewals.
Which VPN is right for your business?
Deciding between NordVPN and Surfshark can be challenging as they are both reputable VPN providers with rave reviews, impressive server networks and good performance. However, there are a few notable differences.
NordVPN may be the better fit for you if you’re looking for extra features like Incogni, cross-platform password management or encrypted cloud storage. That said, it’s not the cheapest option, especially if you’re looking into a one- or two-year plan.
Surfshark may be better if you’re just looking for a VPN and no other services. It offers more affordable pricing and the unique benefit of letting you connect an unlimited amount of devices at the same time. Additionally, the speeds are great and the provider has servers in more than 100 countries, which can be helpful for frequent travelers.
Both of these companies have been named among the best VPNs. If you’d like to learn more, check out the full list to see how they compare to other top picks.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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