Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Aura vs Surfshark
Where Aura and Surfshark differ
| Compare |  Aura |  Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $12 | €2.49 |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000Higher | $1,000,000 |
| Free trial length | 14 daysHigher | 7 days |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Credit bureaus monitored | 3 | Not confirmed |
| Family plan price | $32 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Surfshark scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Insurance amount is higher at Aura: $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 vs $1,000,000.
- Free trial length is higher at Aura: 14 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only Aura offers Phone.
- Money-back period is higher at Aura: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Founded is lower at Aura: 2014 vs 2018.
- Surfshark is available in 248 more countries.
Our verdict on each
Aura
Aura suits households that want identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls under a single subscription. The trade-off is cost: the monthly plan sits at $12 and the family plan at $32, above the site median of €7.89.
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.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Monthly plan price of $12 sits above the site median of €7.89, and first-year price of $120 clears €49.95. | 9.6HigherSurfshark's long-term plan price of €2.49 undercuts the site median €3.97, while the monthly plan at €2.49 keeps entry low. |
| Offer | 9.5Bundles VPN, password manager and parental controls on one subscription, with a family plan at $32 covering adults, kids and devices. | 9.5The plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 8.7 | 8.7 |
By the numbers
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Free trial length | 14 days | 7 days |
| Money-back period | 60 days | 30 days |
Licences and countries
| Country | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
Available in 2 countries for both. Additional countries for Surfshark: 248.
Where these facts come from
Aura
- aura.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Surfshark
- surfshark.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 33 of 232 | 12 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 20 of 117 | 7 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 97 of 280 | 7 of 280 |
| Data removal services | 6 of 41 | 2 of 41 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Budget | Budget |
| Legal entity | Aura Sub, LLC | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2014Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Chat, Help centre |
VPN
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term plan price | $12 | €2.49 |
| Devices | from 10 | Not confirmed |
| Server countries | 100 | 100 |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Deloitte 2025 |
| Features | Streaming | No logs, StreamingCovers more |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Renewal price | $120 | Not confirmed |
| Jurisdiction | Not confirmed | NL |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop |
| Streaming services | Netflix, YouTube | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Browsers | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Routers |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Nord Security |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | 27 monthsHigher |
Password managers
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Family plan | 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices | Not confirmed |
| Security audit | ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type II third-party audited | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | 256-AES | Not confirmed |
Antivirus
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | $120 | Not confirmed |
| Free version | No | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN, Password manager, Parental controls | Not confirmed |
Parental controls
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $120 | €121.23 |
Data removal
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Data brokers covered | from 425 | Not confirmed |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | 7-day free trial, 3 devices |
| Logging policy | Not confirmed | No-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network |
| Privacy tool type | Not confirmed | Private dns, Ad blocker, Search |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 3at the median | Not confirmed | 3 |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000highest quarter | $1,000,000at the median | $1,000,000 |
| Family plan price | $32above the median | Not confirmed | $29.99 |
| Free trial length | 14 daysat the median | 7 daysbelow the median | 14 days |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 49 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Aura
Pros
- A single subscription covers identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls, with parental tools for screen time and web filtering.
- Monitoring runs across 3 credit bureaus, which matches the 3 site median and the 30 brands ranked on it.
- The family plan covers 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices at $32 per month.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so you start on a paid subscription with a trial of 14 days.
- The monthly plan price of $12 sits above the site median of €7.89, and the first-year price of $120 is higher still.
- Identity insurance of $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 looks generous, but Aura ranks at 10 of 45 on that measure.
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
Aura
Who it suits
- Households that want a single subscription covering identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls
- Families covering several adults and unlimited kids who value the family plan of 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices at $32
- Readers who want a 60 day money back window and a 14 day trial before deciding
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a free plan or free version to sample, which Aura does not offer
- Buyers who will not stretch past the $12 monthly plan or the $120 first-year price
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
Aura
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial on all Aura plans: 14 days free
Free trial offer can only be redeemed once per customer; full access to plan features depends on identity verification and credit eligibility
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
60-day money-back guarantee on all annual plans: 60 days
Only for annual plans purchased through Aura websites (excludes Amazon) or via the Customer Support team
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
| Country | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | No | Yes |
| Aland Islands | No | Yes |
| Albania | No | Yes |
| Algeria | No | Yes |
| American Samoa | No | Yes |
| Andorra | No | Yes |
| Angola | No | Yes |
| Anguilla | No | Yes |
8 of 250 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Aura
What does Aura cost per month, and what happens at renewal?+
The monthly plan is $12 and the family plan is $32, covering 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices. The first-year price is $120 and the renewal price is $120, so the figure after a year stays where it is. A long term plan price of $12 runs 12 months.
Is there a free version of Aura to try first?+
There is no free plan and no free version, so a paid subscription is the only way in. A free trial of 14 days and a money back period of 60 days soften that. Across the site most brands do ship a free version, so Aura is the exception here.
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
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