Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Aura vs Surfshark
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Aura |  Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $15 | €2.49 |
| Long-term plan price | $12 | €2.49 |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Jurisdiction | US | NL |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hopCovers more |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, RoutersCovers more |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | 27 monthsHigher |
| Devices | 10 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Deloitte 2025 |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos |
| Streaming services | Netflix, YouTube | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Nord Security |
Same on both: Server countries (100).
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Key differences
- Surfshark scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Features: only Surfshark offers Multi hop.
- Platforms: only Surfshark offers Linux, Android TV, Apple TV.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at Surfshark: 27 months vs 12 months.
- Support channels: only Aura offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Surfshark offers Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at Aura: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Founded is lower at Aura: 2017 vs 2018.
- Surfshark is available in 248 more countries.
- Features: only Surfshark offers No logs.
Our verdict on each
Aura
Aura suits households and small businesses who want identity protection and a VPN in one subscription rather than a single-purpose VPN. It scores 4.9 overall, with 8.2 for the offer, while the monthly price of $15 sits well above the €7.89 typical on this site.
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 | 8.3Monthly price of $15 and long-term price of $12 both sit far above the site medians of €7.89 and €3.97. | 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 | 9.1One subscription spans VPN, 3 credit bureaus, from 425 brokers, an ad blocker, 10 devices and 100 server countries. | 9.5HigherThe plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 9.2Higher | 8.7 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
Available in 2 countries for both. Additional countries for Surfshark: 248.
How they place
| Ranking | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 51 of 232 | 12 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 34 of 117 | 7 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 47 of 280 | 7 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 21 of 63 | 6 of 63 |
| Data removal services | 12 of 41 | 2 of 41 |
Where these facts come from
Aura
- aura.com: 17 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Surfshark
- surfshark.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Streaming | No logs, StreamingCovers more |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Pricing model | Budget | Budget |
| Legal entity | Aura Sub, LLC | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2017Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free plan limits | 14-day free trial, once per customer; no free tier | 7-day free trial, 3 devices |
| Logging policy | No VPN activity logging; personal data not sold to third parties | No-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network |
| Open source | No | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Private dns, Ad blocker, SearchCovers more |
Password managers
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Identity protection
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 3 | Not confirmed |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000Higher | $1,000,000 |
| Family plan price | $32 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 14 daysHigher | 7 days |
Parental controls
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $120 to $384 | €121.23 |
Data removal
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Data brokers covered | from 425 | Not confirmed |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aura | Surfshark | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10at the median | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | 100highest quarter | 100highest quarter | 62 |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 monthsat the median | 27 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Aura
Pros
- One subscription covers the VPN, credit monitoring, data broker removal and an ad blocker, priced from $15.
- Annual plan drops to $12, against a site long-term median of €3.97.
- Server reach of 100 countries ranks 7 of 62, above the 48.5 site median.
Cons
- The monthly price of $15 is well above the €7.89 site median and ranks 121 of 133.
- The long-term plan price of $12 ranks 102 of 112, so the saving is smaller than at most rivals.
- Free plan is no, and 14-day free trial, once per customer; no free tier means the only way to test it costs nothing for a limited window.
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 identity monitoring and a VPN from one provider, priced from $15.
- Small businesses, since business is the stated audience.
- People who value no VPN activity logging and a ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type II third-party audited over the cheapest monthly fee.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc. users, whose iCloud Private Relay runs at $0.99 with no identity monitoring attached.
- Anyone set on a free tier, since free plan is no.
- Sinew Software Systems users, who want a password manager at $1.99 instead of a VPN.
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
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
How much does Aura cost at the start and at renewal?+
The single VPN plan lists $15 a month, while the long-term plan price is $12 for 12 months. Yearly billing for the wider bundle runs $120 to $384. Buyers who commit to the long-term plan pay a lower rate per month than the entry monthly price suggests.
Is there a free plan or free trial?+
Free plan is no, so there is no permanent free tier. 14-day free trial, once per customer; no free tier means a 14 day trial is offered once per customer. Anyone unwilling to pay after the trial window has nothing to fall back on.
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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