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Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team

AdGuard vs Surfshark

AdGuard scores 9.4 and Surfshark 9.4 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
AdGuard

AdGuard

Higher score in this comparison

9.4/10
Visit
Surfshark

Surfshark

9.4/10
Visit

Where AdGuard and Surfshark differ

AdGuard vs Surfshark
CompareAdGuardAdGuardReviewVisitVisitSurfsharkSurfsharkReviewVisitVisit
Free planYesHas itNo
Free plan limitsFree AdGuard DNS Starter plan by default; AdGuard Content Blocker free but with features limited compared to AdGuard for Android7-day free trial, 3 devices
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex BrowserWindows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Routers
ProtocolsDoh, Dot, Doq, DnscryptWireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos
Logging policyTraffic filtered locally on device; AdGuard does not know which sites you visitNo-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network
JurisdictionCYNL
Privacy tool typeAd blocker, Private dnsPrivate dns, Ad blocker, SearchCovers more
Open sourceYesNot confirmed

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • Free plan: only AdGuard.
  • Platforms: only AdGuard offers Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser.
  • Platforms: only Surfshark offers Apple TV, Fire TV, Routers.
  • Protocols: only AdGuard offers Doh, Dot, Doq.
  • Protocols: only Surfshark offers WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2.
  • Support channels: only AdGuard offers Community.
  • Support channels: only Surfshark offers Chat.
  • Founded is lower at AdGuard: 2009 vs 2018.
  • Pricing model: only AdGuard offers Free.
  • Pricing model: only Surfshark offers Budget.

Our verdict on each

AdGuard

AdGuard fits readers who want ad blocking and DNS protection in the same place, with a free plan for the basics and an open source VPN alongside it. A paid AdGuard plan covers 10 devices, and the longest subscription term is 24 with a money back window of 30 days.

Read the full AdGuard review

Surfshark

Surfshark suits households and small teams that want a wide network at a modest rate, and it reaches further than most rivals at this price. Its long-term plan price is €2.49, under the site median for long-term plans, €3.97, and every purchase carries a 30 money-back window.

Read the full Surfshark review

Score breakdown

AdGuard vs Surfshark
AreaAdGuardSurfshark
Cost9.19.6HigherSurfshark's long-term plan price of €2.49 undercuts the site median €3.97, while the monthly plan at €2.49 keeps entry low.
Offer9.6Higher9.5The plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window.
Privacy9.4Higher8.7

Where these facts come from

AdGuard

  • adguard.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • adguard-dns.io: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026

Surfshark

  • surfshark.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026

How they place

AdGuard vs Surfshark
RankingAdGuardSurfshark
VPNs18 of 23212 of 232
Privacy tools17 of 2817 of 281
Ad blockers and private DNS9 of 636 of 63

Every fact side by side

AdGuard vs Surfshark
FactAdGuardSurfshark
Pricing modelFreeBudget
Legal entityADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITEDSurfshark B.V.
HeadquartersCyprusNetherlands
Founded2009Lower2018
Support channelsEmail, Help centre, CommunityEmail, Chat, Help centre

VPN

AdGuard vs Surfshark
FactAdGuardSurfshark
Monthly priceNot confirmed€2.49
Long-term plan priceNot confirmed€2.49
Devices10Not confirmed
Server countriesNot confirmed100
No-logs auditNot confirmedDeloitte 2025
FeaturesNo logs, StreamingNo logs, Streaming
AudienceNot confirmedBusiness
Money-back period30 days30 days
FeaturesSplit tunnelling, ObfuscationKill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop
OwnerNot confirmedNord Security
Longest plan (months)24 months27 monthsHigher

Parental controls

AdGuard vs Surfshark
FactAdGuardSurfshark
Yearly priceNot confirmed€121.23

Identity protection

AdGuard vs Surfshark
FactAdGuardSurfshark
Insurance amountNot confirmed$1,000,000
Free trial lengthNot confirmed7 days

Data removal

AdGuard vs Surfshark
FactAdGuardSurfshark
Countries coveredNot confirmedUnited States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland

Pros and cons

AdGuard

Pros

  • Traffic is filtered locally on device, so AdGuard does not know which sites you visit, and the software is open source.
  • The free plan is the default and covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app.
  • Apps and extensions cover Windows, macOS and Linux, keeping one set of rules across phones, desktops and browsers.

Cons

  • Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so most questions end up in the help centre or the community.
  • The free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app, so phone users may end up paying for it.

Surfshark

Pros

  • Servers in 100 countries, ranking 7 on coverage among 62 brands compared.
  • The no-logs policy is independently verified by Deloitte, with the current audit listed as Deloitte 2025.
  • A single subscription covers Windows, macOS and Linux.

Cons

  • There is no free plan, so the 7-day free trial, 3 devices is the only way to try Surfshark before paying.
  • Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line for urgent problems.
  • Price-first readers have cheaper options: MEGA lists $1.67 and Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99 for a long-term plan.

Who each suits

AdGuard

Who it suits

  • Readers who want an ad blocker, private DNS and a VPN from a single company.
  • People who want filtering to happen on device on open source software.
  • Households with several devices to cover, since the VPN plan covers 10.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Apple Hide My Email, whose aliases are free with an Apple Account, when the email address is the only thing to hide.
  • EasyOptOuts, which has no free plan, when a free tier to try first matters.

Surfshark

Who it suits

  • Households covering several device types, with apps across Windows, macOS and Linux.
  • Small teams priced for business, with 100 server countries and privacy extras of private dns, ad blocker and search in one subscription.
  • Readers who put audit evidence first, since the no-logs policy is verified by Deloitte and the current audit is Deloitte 2025.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Readers chasing the lowest long-term rate, where MEGA at $1.67 and Sinew Software Systems at $1.99 sit lower.
  • Buyers looking for antivirus rather than a network, where ESET Brasil is the comparison to read, with 40 to 70 server countries in its coverage.

Current offers

AdGuard

Current offer

  • Free trial

    AdGuard for Windows 14-day trial period: 14 days

    Included with the AdGuard for Windows v8.0 download

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • Free trial

    Try Premium free for 7 days in AdGuard for iOS: 7 days

    In-app offer before purchasing an iOS subscription; no payment taken during the trial

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • Bonus

    AdGuard DNS Personal plan free for AdGuard VPN customers: Free AdGuard DNS Personal subscription

    Requires an active AdGuard VPN subscription; activated from the AdGuard account

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • Bonus

    Free AdGuard license for contributors and developers: Free license key

    For community contributors (translations, beta testing, filters, knowledge base) and developers requesting a developer license

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Surfshark

Current offer

  • Bonus

    +3 EXTRA months, Save 85% on Surfshark Starter: Starter EUR 2.49/mo., sale price EUR 67.23 for the first 27 months (old price EUR 444.15)

    24-month plans, VAT may apply, 30-day money-back guarantee

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • Free trial

    7-day free trial: 7 days free on 3 devices

    Available on all 12-month and 24-month plans; payment by credit card, Apple Pay or PayPal

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Country by country

AdGuard vs Surfshark
CountryAdGuardSurfshark
AfghanistanNoYes
Aland IslandsNoYes
AlbaniaNoYes
AlgeriaNoYes
American SamoaNoYes
AndorraNoYes
AngolaNoYes
AnguillaNoYes

8 of 250 countries where either is available.

Questions about each

AdGuard

Is there a free AdGuard plan?+

Yes, and the free plan is the default. It covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app. The starter apps already run on Windows, macOS and Linux, so you can try blocking on a phone, a desktop or a browser before paying.

What does the paid VPN plan include?+

The paid AdGuard VPN plan covers 10 devices at a time, and the longest subscription term runs 24. Its feature set includes no logs and streaming and split tunnelling and obfuscation, and a money back window of 30 days sits behind the purchase if the fit is wrong.

Surfshark

What does Surfshark cost month to month and on a long commitment?+

Surfshark's monthly plan is listed at €2.49 and the yearly plan at €121.23. The longest plan runs 27 months, which brings the monthly rate to €2.49, below the site median for long-term plans, €3.97. A 30 money-back window sits behind the longer commitments.

Is there a free plan, or only a trial?+

The free plan is no, so nothing runs indefinitely at no cost. What is offered is a 7 trial, and the stated free plan limits read 7-day free trial, 3 devices. After that trial ends, the 30 money-back window is the route to a full refund if the service does not fit your setup.

Other options to compare

AdGuard

Visit

Surfshark

Visit