Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Mysterium VPN vs Surfshark
Mysterium VPN vs Surfshark: the differences
| Compare |  Mysterium VPN |  Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $10.49 to $18.49 | €2.49 |
| Long-term plan price | $2.59 to $4.79 | €2.49 |
| Server countries | from 100 | 100 |
| Money-back period | 7 to 30 days | 30 days |
| Jurisdiction | PA | NL |
| Protocols | WireGuard | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, DausosCovers more |
| Features | Kill switch | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hopCovers more |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, Chrome | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, RoutersCovers more |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 27 monthsHigher |
| Devices | 15 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Deloitte 2025 |
| Streaming services | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Crunchyroll, Crave TV, Stremio, ESPN+ | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Nord Security |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Surfshark scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Protocols: only Surfshark offers OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos.
- Features: only Surfshark offers Split tunnelling, Multi hop.
- Platforms: only Surfshark offers Linux, Android TV, Apple TV.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at Surfshark: 27 months vs 24 months.
- Founded is lower at Surfshark: 2018 vs 2019.
Our verdict on each
Mysterium VPN
Mysterium VPN combines a no logs pledge with 15 device slots, servers across from 100 countries and a browser extension, so it suits households and small teams that want one subscription across many devices. The trade off is cost: plans start at $10.49, and long term terms run $2.59 to $4.79.
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 | Mysterium VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Monthly plans of $10.49 to $18.49 and long terms of $2.59 to $4.79 rank 86 of 133 on monthly price. | 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 | 9.115 devices and servers in from 100 countries on one open source plan. | 9.5HigherThe plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 8.2 | 8.7Higher |
By the numbers
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | from 100 | 100 |
| Money-back period | 7 to 30 days | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 27 months |
How they place
| Ranking | Mysterium VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 15 of 232 | 12 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 14 of 280 | 7 of 280 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 6 of 55 | 3 of 55 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Budget |
| Legal entity | UAB MN Intelligence | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2019 | 2018Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $10.49 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan | Not confirmed | No |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | 7-day free trial, 3 devices |
| Logging policy | No-logs pledge: no records of websites visited, IP addresses, browsing history or session data are kept; basic connection data is deleted within minutes of a session ending | No-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network |
| Open source | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Browser | Private dns, Ad blocker, Search |
Identity protection
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance amount | Not confirmed | $1,000,000 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 7 days |
Data removal
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | €121.23 |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Surfshark | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | 15highest quarter | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | from 100highest quarter | 100highest quarter | 62 |
| Money-back period | 7 to 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 monthsabove the median | 27 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Mysterium VPN
Pros
- 15 devices on one account is the widest device limit among the 80 brands scored on it, well past the 7 category median.
- Servers in from 100 countries sit above the 48.5 median for the category.
- The client is open source, a choice 56.6% of the brands in the ranking make.
Cons
- Monthly pricing of $10.49 to $18.49 places it at 86 of 133 on cost, above the €7.89 category median.
- The long term plan at $2.59 to $4.79 ranks 23 of 112, so the discount is thinner than most rivals manage.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
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
Mysterium VPN
Who it suits
- Households and small teams that want 15 device slots on one account, well above the 7 median.
- Readers who want a browser extension and desktop and mobile apps on the same plan, since Android, iOS and macOS covers all of them.
- People who put a written no logs pledge and open source code above a low monthly price.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc., whose own privacy subscription is $0.99 a month, if a light browsing tool is enough.
- Sinew Software Systems at $1.99 a month, when stored passwords are the real problem.
- ESET Brasil, which covers 3 to 25 on its antivirus plans, when you want endpoint protection instead of a tunnel.
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
Mysterium VPN
Current offer
Discount code
2-Year Basic plan discount: Save 78%: $2.59/mo, $62.16 billed every 2 years
Applied directly in the pricing table, no code stated; VAT may apply. Struck-through list price $251.76 for 2 years.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
2-Year Plus plan discount: Save 74%: $2.99/mo, $71.76 billed every 2 years
Applied directly in the pricing table, no code stated; VAT may apply. Struck-through list price $323.76 for 2 years.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
2-Year Pro plan discount: Save 75%: $4.79/mo, $114.96 billed every 2 years
Applied directly in the pricing table, no code stated; VAT may apply. Struck-through list price $443.76 for 2 years.
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 | Mysterium VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Yes | Yes |
| Aland Islands | Yes | Yes |
| Albania | Yes | Yes |
| Algeria | Yes | Yes |
| American Samoa | Yes | Yes |
| Andorra | Yes | Yes |
| Angola | Yes | Yes |
| Anguilla | Yes | Yes |
8 of 250 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Mysterium VPN
What does Mysterium VPN cost month to month and on a long term plan?+
The monthly plan costs $10.49 to $18.49. Longer commitments are cheaper per month, with the long term plan at $2.59 to $4.79 and the longest term running 24 months. Both figures sit above the €7.89 monthly median for the category, so the saving comes from committing rather than from a lower opening rate.
How many devices can one Mysterium VPN account cover?+
One account covers 15 devices, and the plan places 1 of 80 brands on that measure. For context, the median device allowance in the category is 7, so a household with a phone, a laptop, a desktop and a browser extension stays inside the limit.
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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