Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
NordVPN vs Surfshark
NordVPN vs Surfshark: the differences
| Compare |  NordVPN |  Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €14.99 | €2.49Lower |
| Long-term plan price | €3.49 | €2.49Lower |
| Server countries | 150Higher | 100 |
| No-logs audit | Independent no-logs verification, first in 2018 and verified four more times since; auditor not named on the page | Deloitte 2025 |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, ObfuscationCovers more | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, TvOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Routers |
| Devices | 10 | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | €139.08 | Not confirmed |
| Jurisdiction | Not confirmed | NL |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days), Owner (Nord Security), Longest plan (months) (27 months).
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Key differences
- Surfshark scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Monthly price is lower at Surfshark: €2.49 vs €14.99.
- Long-term plan price is lower at Surfshark: €2.49 vs €3.49.
- Server countries is higher at NordVPN: 150 vs 100.
- Protocols: only NordVPN offers NordLynx, NordWhisper.
- Protocols: only Surfshark offers WireGuard, IKEv2, Dausos.
- Features: only NordVPN offers Obfuscation.
- Platforms: only NordVPN offers TvOS.
- Platforms: only Surfshark offers Apple TV, Fire TV, Routers.
- Founded is lower at NordVPN: 2012 vs 2018.
Our verdict on each
NordVPN
NordVPN suits people who want broad server reach and a no-logs policy under independent audit, and who can commit to a long plan. The catch is entry price: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan, with €139.08 due at renewal.
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 | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Monthly plan runs at €14.99 and the longest plan at €3.49 a month, with €139.08 billed on renewal. | 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 | 9.6HigherCovers 150 server countries, 10 devices and features including kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop. | 9.5The plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 9.0Higher | 8.7 |
Side by side, item by item
| Features | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunnelling | Yes | Yes |
| Multi hop | Yes | Yes |
| Obfuscation | Yes | No |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 1 of 232 | 12 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 1 of 117 | 7 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 1 of 280 | 7 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 1 of 63 | 6 of 63 |
| Data removal services | 1 of 41 | 2 of 41 |
If neither fits
Norton has monthly price at €2.08, against €14.99 for NordVPN and €2.49 for Surfshark.
Norton reviewSources behind this comparison
NordVPN
- nordvpn.com: 17 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nordlocker.com: 1 fact, 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 | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Nord Security | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | Lithuania | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2012Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €14.99 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | 7-day free trial, 3 devices |
| Logging policy | No logs: VPN servers keep no logs, with independent no-log audits | No-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Private dns, Ad blocker, SearchCovers more |
Password managers
| Fact | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Security audit | Regular independent third-party security audits; ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 | Not confirmed |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 3 | Not confirmed |
| Price per TB per year | €77.88 | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 1 | Not confirmed |
| Insurance amount | $2,000,000Higher | $1,000,000 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 7 days |
Data removal
| Fact | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | €121.23 |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | NordVPN | Surfshark | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €14.99highest quarter | €2.49lowest quarter | €7.99 |
| Long-term plan price | €3.49below the median | €2.49lowest quarter | €3.99 |
| Devices | 10at the median | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | 150highest quarter | 100highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | €139.08highest quarter | Not confirmed | €69.99 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 132 listed providers.
Pros and cons
NordVPN
Pros
- Covers 150 server countries, the highest count in the ranking, with 10 devices per account
- Features include kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop alongside the stated no logs, streaming and travel use cases
- Protocol choice covers OpenVPN, NordLynx and NordWhisper
Cons
- Entry price is high: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan puts it near the bottom of the monthly price ranking
- There is no free plan, so the free version comparison starts with nothing to test
- Renewal is charged at €139.08, a jump from the €3.49 monthly rate on the introductory long plan
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
NordVPN
Who it suits
- People who need coverage across 150 server countries rather than a handful of nearby ones
- Households or small teams that need 10 connected devices on one subscription
- Subscribers comfortable committing to a long plan, since €3.49 is only reached on the longest term
Who should look elsewhere
- People wanting a free tier, since there is no free plan to start on
- Anyone who needs to pay month to month on a small budget, as €14.99 a month is the priciest end of the monthly ranking
- Readers who need phone support, since the listed channels are email, chat and help centre
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
NordVPN
Current offer
Discount code
75% off + 3 months extra: 75% off
Intro offer on the 2-year plan (first 27 months), VAT may apply, savings versus renewal price
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
+ 3 EXTRA months on 2-year plans: 3 extra months
Offer terms apply, additional terms apply to Ultra plan, VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free trial for new users on Android: 3 days free
New users, Android app via Google Play; not available in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Korea
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 | NordVPN | 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
NordVPN
How much does NordVPN cost to start with?+
The monthly plan is priced at €14.99. Committing to the longest term, 27 months, brings the monthly figure down to €3.49. That lower rate is introductory, and the 30 money back window still applies if the subscription is not a fit.
What do I pay when the plan renews?+
Renewal is charged at €139.08 for the long term, against the €3.49 monthly rate that applies at the start. Budget for the renewal figure rather than the headline monthly number, since the per month rate is the part that is promotional. The two prices together tell the full cost of staying.
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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