Comparisons VPN Comparison 2026
NordVPN vs Surfshark: which VPN is better?
Two VPN providers side by side. They differ in 13 of 26 criteria. Here you can see where, and which one suits whom.
- Updated October 2026
- Compare all 9 providers
At a glance
NordVPN
Best for: Anyone looking for a fast, versatile VPN for streaming, travel and many countries.
- Servers in over 170 countries
- Fast NordLynx protocol
- No-logs policy audited multiple times
Price: from €3.49 (2 years)
Visit NordVPNSurfshark
Best for: Families and households with many devices who want to spend little.
- Unlimited simultaneous devices
- Very cheap with a long term
- Based in the EU (Netherlands)
Better than NordVPN at: Ad and tracker blocker
Price: from €2.49 (2 years)
Visit SurfsharkAll criteria compared
Highlighted rows show where the two differ.
| Criterion | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Lowest monthly price | from €3.49 (2 years) | from €2.49 (2 years) |
| Price with monthly billing | n/a | €16.45 |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
| Provider & privacy | ||
| Headquarters | Panama | Netherlands (EU) |
| Owned by | Nord Security (also Surfshark) | Nord Security (also NordVPN) |
| No-logs policy independently audited | Yes, multiple times (incl. Deloitte) | Yes, most recently 2025 (Deloitte) |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Known incidents | 2018: one server at a data centre provider compromised | None known |
| Account without email address | No | No |
| Anonymous payment (cash, crypto) | Crypto | Crypto |
| Technology | ||
| Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2, NordWhisper | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| RAM-only servers | Yes | Yes |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunneling | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-hop (via two servers) | Yes (Double VPN) | Yes |
| Ad and tracker blocker | From the Complete plan | Yes (CleanWeb) |
| Obfuscation for restricted networks | Yes (NordWhisper, obfuscated servers) | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Simultaneous devices | 10 | unlimited |
| Server countries | over 170 | 100 |
| File sharing (P2P) allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming officially supported | Yes | Yes |
| Extras | Meshnet, antivirus and password manager in bigger plans | Rotating IP address, Alternative ID |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android, iPhone | Yes | Yes |
| TVs and routers | Yes | Yes |
Strengths and weaknesses
NordVPN
One of the largest VPN providers, with a huge number of locations, a fast in-house protocol and add-on bundles up to antivirus.
- + Servers in over 170 countries
- + Fast NordLynx protocol
- + No-logs policy audited multiple times
- + RAM-only servers
- – Ad blocker only from the pricier Complete plan
- – Much more expensive renewal after the first term
- – In 2018, one server at a data centre provider was compromised
Surfshark
Affordable VPN based in the Netherlands, with unlimited devices and many extras even on the basic plan.
- + Unlimited simultaneous devices
- + Very cheap with a long term
- + Based in the EU (Netherlands)
- + Ad blocker and multi-hop included
- – Not open source
- – Renewal much more expensive than the introductory price
Our verdict
Both are a good choice, but for different needs. NordVPN is best for: anyone looking for a fast, versatile VPN for streaming, travel and many countries. Surfshark is best for: families and households with many devices who want to spend little.
All information comes from the providers’ websites and the sources listed in the full comparison, as of October 2026. Links marked “Ad” are affiliate links.