Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Kaspersky vs Surfshark Alert
Kaspersky vs Surfshark Alert: the differences
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Free plan limits | Free antivirus version for Android only; premium VPN, identity protection and password manager require a paid plan | 7-day free trial, 3 devices |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Routers, Chromebook, Smart TVs, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStationCovers more |
| Protocols | WireGuard | Doh |
| Jurisdiction | RU | NL |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Private dns, Ad blocker, SearchCovers more |
| Logging policy | Not confirmed | No-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network |
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Key differences
- Kaspersky scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.0.
- Free plan: only Kaspersky.
- Platforms: only Surfshark Alert offers Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV.
- Protocols: only Kaspersky offers WireGuard.
- Protocols: only Surfshark Alert offers Doh.
- Support channels: only Kaspersky offers Phone, Community.
- Support channels: only Surfshark Alert offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at Kaspersky: 1997 vs 2018.
- Pricing model: only Kaspersky offers Free.
- Pricing model: only Surfshark Alert offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
Kaspersky
Kaspersky suits households and small businesses who want one subscription covering antivirus, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls. Its bundles span 10 devices and Windows, macOS and Android, with server reach across 93 countries and a SOC 2 Type II audit behind SOC 2 Type II audit by an independent accounting firm, 2026.
Surfshark Alert
Surfshark Alert ranks 2 of 54 brands on monthly price, with entry costs of €2.49 a month. It suits readers who want identity alerts, private DNS and ad blocking inside a single budget account rather than a large insurance payout after fraud.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kaspersky | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.2Monthly price of €2.49, ranked 2 of 54 brands, with a 7-day trial standing in for a free plan. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.2Insurance of $1,000,000 sits 10 of 45 brands, held up by private dns, ad blocker and search extras and chat, email and help centre support. |
| Privacy | 9.0Higher | 8.2 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Kaspersky | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Netherlands |
Where these facts come from
Kaspersky
- kaspersky.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- usa.kaspersky.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Surfshark Alert
- surfshark.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Kaspersky | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 3 of 280 | 8 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 3 of 63 | 7 of 63 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kaspersky | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | AO Kaspersky Lab | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Netherlands |
| Founded | 1997Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Chat, Email, Help centre |
VPN
| Fact | Kaspersky | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Devices | 10 | Not confirmed |
| Server countries | 93 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | SOC 2 Type II audit by an independent accounting firm, 2026 | Not confirmed |
| Features | Streaming, Travel | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter, Location | Not confirmed |
| Streaming services | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Privately owned; CEO Eugene Kaspersky | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | Kaspersky | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Security plan licence shareable with family members in one account | Not confirmed |
| Passkeys | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | AES-256-bit, key derived from master password with PBKDF2 | Not confirmed |
Pros and cons
Kaspersky
Pros
- Bundles a VPN, password manager and parental controls with antivirus in a single subscription.
- Covers Windows, macOS and Android, with VPN server reach across 93 countries.
- Password manager uses AES-256-bit, key derived from master password with PBKDF2 encryption and supports passkeys.
Cons
- The free antivirus build covers Android only, and the premium VPN, identity protection and password manager need a paid plan.
- The provider is Privately owned; CEO Eugene Kaspersky, with a AO Kaspersky Lab legal entity in a RU jurisdiction.
- Price at renewal is separate from the entry price, and long term plans sit at €3.97 a month against a €7.89 monthly median.
Surfshark Alert
Pros
- Monthly price of €2.49 places Surfshark Alert 2 of 54 brands in our data, near the floor of the monthly prices we compare
- Deloitte has independently audited the no-logs policy, and the server network runs in RAM rather than writing anything to disk, which is the main privacy claim to weigh
- The same Surfshark subscription covers private dns, ad blocker and search alongside identity alerts, and it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux from phones to routers and consoles, so a single vendor covers monitoring and browsing
Cons
- Phone support is not among its support channels (chat, email and help centre), which matters most when a fraud alert needs an answer the same day
- Insurance of $1,000,000 ranks 10 of 45 brands, so a bigger payout means a bigger bill, as at Norton or LifeLock
Who each suits
Kaspersky
Who it suits
- Households that want antivirus, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls in one place.
- Small businesses that need a single security bundle rather than separate tools.
- Travelers and streamers who value streaming and travel VPN coverage.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc., which covers Apple platforms such as iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS and watchOS and fits people already inside its ecosystem.
- Comodo (Xcitium), which runs on Windows and Linux and suits buyers who want protection on Windows and Linux only.
- ESET Brasil, whose coverage of Windows, Windows Server and macOS suits buyers in Brazil who need a local store listing.
Surfshark Alert
Who it suits
- Readers who mainly want alerts on their personal details rather than a large insurance payout, and who weigh the entry price before anything else on the plan
- People already paying for Surfshark who want alerts, private DNS, ad blocking and private search in a single account instead of separate tools
- Households that treat an audited no-logs policy and a RAM server network as part of identity protection, and who are comfortable starting on a short trial
Who should look elsewhere
- LifeLock and Norton readers who rank the insurance payout first, since LifeLock runs $10.42 to $34.99 a month and Norton $34.99 a month
- Allstate Identity Protection readers who want identity monitoring sold on its own at $3 a month rather than bundled with DNS and search
- Readers who want a standing free tier, since the free plan is no and the trial is limited to 7-day free trial, 3 devices, so testing is short
Current offers
Kaspersky
Current offer
Bonus
Kaspersky Safe Kids free for 1 year with Standard, Plus and Premium plans (limited time offer): Kaspersky Safe Kids 1 year free
Marked as a limited time offer; shown alongside the Standard, Plus and Premium plans; 30-day money-back guarantee applies
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Kaspersky Standard free trial: 30 days free
Free 30-day trial of Kaspersky Standard; compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Surfshark Alert
Current offer
Bonus
3 extra months on 24-month plans: 27 months for the price of 24 (Starter €67.23, One €75.33, One+ €121.23)
24-month Starter, One or One+ subscription; sale price applies to the first 27 months; VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
7-day free trial: 7 days free, then automatic paid renewal
New users only, 12- and 24-month plans, payment details required (credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay), 3 devices during trial; plus 30-day money-back guarantee
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Kaspersky | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Yes | No |
| Argentina | Yes | No |
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| Brazil | Yes | No |
| Bulgaria | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
8 of 47 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Kaspersky
What does Kaspersky cover in a single subscription?+
A paid plan bundles antivirus with the extras Kaspersky lists as vpn, password manager and parental controls. That means the VPN, password manager and parental controls come in the same subscription, and parental controls add screen time, web filter and location tools such as screen time and location limits.
Is there a free Kaspersky antivirus?+
Yes, but the free build is limited. The free antivirus version covers Android only, and the premium VPN, identity protection and password manager require a paid plan. The password manager does have a free plan, and passkeys are supported there.
Surfshark Alert
How much does Surfshark Alert cost each month?+
Surfshark Alert runs at €2.49 a month and ranks 2 of 54 brands on monthly price. A budget entry price draws most readers here, and the renewal figure is worth reading before you commit to a term.
Is there a free plan or a free trial?+
There is no free plan. The free trial lasts 7 days, and 7-day free trial, 3 devices sets the terms of that look. It is a short taste of the alerts rather than a free tier you can keep.
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