Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
ESET vs Surfshark
What sets them apart
| Compare |  ESET |  Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 40 to 70 | 100Higher |
| Jurisdiction | BR | NL |
| Protocols | WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, Stealth, Wstunnel | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Obfuscation | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, RoutersCovers more |
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Devices | 3 to 25 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Deloitte 2025 |
| Streaming services | Various streaming platforms | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Nord Security |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 27 months |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Surfshark scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Server countries is higher at Surfshark: 100 vs 40 to 70.
- Protocols: only ESET offers OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, Stealth.
- Protocols: only Surfshark offers OpenVPN, Dausos.
- Features: only ESET offers Obfuscation.
- Features: only Surfshark offers Multi hop.
- Platforms: only Surfshark offers Linux, Android TV, Apple TV.
- Support channels: only ESET offers Community, Phone.
- Support channels: only Surfshark offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at ESET: 1992 vs 2018.
Our verdict on each
ESET
ESET suits households that want antivirus, a VPN and parental controls in one plan, with device counts of 3 to 25 on shared subscriptions. Buyers who put server reach first may prefer Namecheap, since ESET's 40 to 70 sits below the wider VPN field.
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 | ESET | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.6Surfshark'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 | 9.0 | 9.5HigherThe plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 9.5HigherCompany is ESET, spol. s r.o., headquartered and registered in BR, founded 1992, with support across email, help centre and community. | 8.7 |
How the counts compare
| Fact | ESET | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 40 to 70 | 100 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | ESET | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Brazil | Netherlands |
Available in 3 countries for both. Additional countries for Surfshark: 247.
If neither fits
NordVPN has server countries at 150, against 40 to 70 for ESET and 100 for Surfshark.
NordVPN reviewWhat we checked
ESET
- eset.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Surfshark
- surfshark.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | ESET | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 8 of 232 | 12 of 232 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ESET | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Budget |
| Legal entity | ESET, spol. s r.o. | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | Brazil | Netherlands |
| Founded | 1992Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community, Phone | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Antivirus
| Fact | ESET | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | R$64.22 | Not confirmed |
| Free version | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN, Parental controls | Not confirmed |
Privacy tools
| Fact | ESET | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Not confirmed | No |
| 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 |
Identity protection
| Fact | ESET | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance amount | Not confirmed | $1,000,000 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 7 days |
Data removal
| Fact | ESET | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | €121.23 |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ESET | Surfshark | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €2.49lowest quarter | €7.99 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €2.49lowest quarter | €3.99 |
| Devices | 3 to 25highest quarter | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | 40 to 70above the median | 100highest quarter | 62 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 27 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
ESET
Pros
- Antivirus plans bundle a VPN and parental controls as vpn and parental controls.
- The VPN supports WireGuard, IKEv2 and OpenVPN UDP plus kill switch, split tunnelling and obfuscation for routing and connection control.
- Plans cover 3 to 25 with a money back window of 30 days.
Cons
- The first year price of BRL 64.22 sits above the €49.95 median across the site.
- Server reach stops at 40 to 70, short of the 86.75 upper quartile on the site.
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
ESET
Who it suits
- Households sharing one plan across 3 to 25.
- Families that want parental controls in the same subscription.
- Small business users covered by a business focused provider.
Who should look elsewhere
- Travelers who need broader server reach, since Namecheap lists from 100.
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
ESET
Current offer
Discount code
ESET Customer Month: up to 40% off
Promotional banner on the ESET Brasil home and plans pages; applies to ESET HOME Security plans in Brazil
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free 30-day trial of ESET HOME Security: 30 days
Download from the ESET Brasil site; FAQ also says the 30-day return policy gives a full refund of the purchase price.
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 | ESET | 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
ESET
How much does ESET cost?+
The first year price is BRL 64.22. Long term plan prices across the site sit at a median of €3.97, so weigh those against the introductory figure rather than assuming one carries the other.
Who is ESET aimed at?+
ESET is built for a business audience, and its protection plans carry a VPN and parental controls as extras. Devices per plan range across 3 to 25, so a household can share one plan without separate subscriptions.
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.
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