NordVPN vs Surfshark (2026): Which Is Better?
NordVPN and Surfshark are both owned by Nord Security and run the same class of audited, RAM-only infrastructure, so this isn't a safe-VPN-versus-risky-one choice — it's a choice inside one family. NordVPN covers 118 countries against Surfshark's 100 and carries the broader feature set (Meshnet, Threat Protection Pro, a dedicated-IP option). Surfshark answers with unlimited devices against NordVPN's ten, a cheaper 2-year rate ($2.49 against $3.49), and the more recent audit — Deloitte 2025 against 2024. We have not measured speed or streaming on either; the 30-day refund window on both is the way to check for yourself.
Who wins each category
- Privacy & securityNordVPNNordVPN 9.5 · Surfshark 8.3
- SpeedTieNordVPN 0.0 · Surfshark 0.0
- StreamingTieNordVPN 0.0 · Surfshark 0.0
- Apps & easeTieNordVPN 9.4 · Surfshark 9.4
- ValueSurfsharkNordVPN 6.5 · Surfshark 9.0
Sub-scores are provisional for NordVPN and Surfshark — published audits, jurisdiction and public record rather than our own measurement; see the review; weights are privacy & security 30%, speed 25%, streaming 15%, apps & ease 15%, value 15%. Methodology
Choose NordVPN if…
- You want the wider server footprint — 118 countries against Surfshark's 100
- You'd rather have Meshnet, Threat Protection Pro and a dedicated-IP option
- You want a jurisdiction outside the major intelligence-sharing alliances — Panama rather than the Netherlands
Choose Surfshark if…
- You need more than 10 devices — Surfshark has no limit
- Price is the deciding factor: $2.49/mo against NordVPN's $3.49 on the long plan
- You want ad blocking and a disposable identity (Alternative ID) bundled in
NordVPN vs Surfshark: the numbers
 NordVPN |  Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.7provisional — not tested by us | 8.8provisional — not tested by us |
| Rank · badge | Not ranked · Widest server network | Not ranked · Unlimited devices |
| 2-year price / mo | $3.49 | $2.49 |
| 1-year price / mo | $5.49 | $3.19 |
| Monthly price | $14.99 | $16.45 |
| Renewal | Billed $94.23 for the first 27 months, then renews at $139.08 a year | Billed $67.23 for the first 27 months, then renews at $79.00 for a 1-year term. Surfshark does not put that figure on its pricing page — it is on a separate terms-of-service page, two clicks away |
| Money-back | 30 days | 30 days |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 | Unlimited |
| Avg download speed | Not tested by us | Not tested by us |
| Jurisdiction | Panama | Netherlands |
| Owner | Nord Security | Nord Security |
| No-logs audit | Deloitte no-logs audit, 2024 | Deloitte no-logs audit, 2025 |
| Servers | 7,400+ in 118 countries | 3,200+ in 100 countries |
| Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, NordWhisper | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
| Torrenting | P2P allowed on dedicated P2P servers | P2P allowed on all servers |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Support | 24/7 live chat, email, help centre | 24/7 live chat, email, help centre |
| Visit NordVPN | Visit Surfshark |
What each one actually costs
The advertised rate covers the first term only. These are the totals once the renewal is counted.
| NordVPN | Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan priced | 24-month plan | 24-month plan |
| Intro rate / mo | $3.49 | $2.49 |
| Then renews at / mo | $11.59 (+232%) | $6.58 (+164%) |
| First term, up front | $83.76 | $59.76 |
| Total over 3 years | $222.84 | $138.72 |
| True cost / mo over 3 years | $6.19 | $3.85 |
| Money-back | 30 days — 30 days, published — we have not claimed one yet | 30 days — 30 days, published — we have not claimed one yet |
| Check NordVPN price | Check Surfshark price |
Surfshark is cheaper both ways — lower to start and $84.12 less across three years once the renewals are counted. Same arithmetic as our price calculator: the first term at the advertised rate, every month after it at the rate the provider publishes for renewals.
Speed by region
Neither VPN has been speed-tested by us yet, so there is nothing to chart here.
NordVPN and Surfshark have not been through our speed rig yet, so there is no region-by-region chart for this pair. Speed figures other people have published are on the NordVPN and Surfshark review, attributed to whoever measured them.
Streaming, service by service
| NordVPN | Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Unblocked | 0 of 0 reported (not tested by us) | 0 of 0 reported (not tested by us) |
| Netflix US | n/r | n/r |
| Netflix UK | n/r | n/r |
| Netflix JP | n/r | n/r |
| Netflix CA | n/r | n/r |
| Netflix AU | n/r | n/r |
| Prime Video | n/r | n/r |
| Disney+ | n/r | n/r |
| Hulu | n/r | n/r |
| Max | n/r | n/r |
| Paramount+ | n/r | n/r |
| Peacock | n/r | n/r |
| BBC iPlayer | n/r | n/r |
| ITVX | n/r | n/r |
| DAZN | n/r | n/r |
| n/r — no published result found | n/r — no published result found |
Security features
| NordVPN | Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | ||
| Split tunnelling | ||
| Obfuscation / stealth | ||
| Port forwarding | ||
| Dedicated IP | ||
| Ad & tracker blocking | ||
| Multi-hop (double VPN) | ||
| RAM-only servers | ||
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, browser extensions, routers | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, browser extensions, routers |
Has the no-logs promise ever been tested?
Every VPN on this page says it keeps no logs. The claim only means something once someone has demanded the data — a police raid, a court order, a subpoena. Here is what happened to each of these two when that came up, and what it means if it never has.
- NordVPNNever tested
No police raid, court order or subpoena against NordVPN has been made public. That is not a mark against it — most providers have never been asked — but it does mean the policy has never had to hold up under pressure.
Audit: Deloitte no-logs audit, 2024 · Panama
- SurfsharkNever tested
No police raid, court order or subpoena against Surfshark has been made public. That is not a mark against it — most providers have never been asked — but it does mean the policy has never had to hold up under pressure.
Audit: Deloitte no-logs audit, 2025 · Netherlands
What each one is our top pick for
One of these scores higher overall, which does not make it the right buy for every job. These are the use cases where each one comes first on its own list.
- NordVPN16 categories
- Surfshark3 categories
Questions
Is Surfshark as good as NordVPN?
Close on paper. Both are audited no-logs providers running RAM-only servers — Surfshark's Deloitte audit, from 2025, is a year more recent than NordVPN's. NordVPN covers more countries and a broader feature list; Surfshark undercuts it on price and has no device limit. We have not run our own speed or streaming tests on either, so judge that part yourself inside the refund window.
Are NordVPN and Surfshark the same company?
Yes — both belong to Nord Security since a 2022 merger. They run as separate products with separate apps, servers and prices.
Which is cheaper, NordVPN or Surfshark?
Surfshark on the 2-year plan — $2.49 a month against $3.49 — and it covers unlimited devices where NordVPN covers ten. Check the renewal before you commit: Surfshark jumps to $6.58 a month, NordVPN to $11.59, the steepest renewal of the two.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. Scores and the winner are decided by the scoring rubric before any commercial consideration. Disclosure