Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Norton vs Surfshark
Norton vs Surfshark: the differences
| Compare |  Norton |  Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $34.99 | €2.49 |
| Server countries | from 100 | 100 |
| No-logs audit | VerSprite, July 2025 (Technical Privacy Impact Assessment) | Deloitte 2025 |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Protocols | Mimic, WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPsec | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter, Location | 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 |
| Owner | Gen Digital Inc. | Nord Security |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 27 monthsHigher |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Devices | 1 to 10 | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | $59.99 | Not confirmed |
| Jurisdiction | Not confirmed | NL |
| Streaming services | Streaming | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Protocols: only Norton offers Mimic, IPsec.
- Protocols: only Surfshark offers IKEv2, Dausos.
- Features: only Norton offers Screen time, Web filter, Location.
- Features: only Surfshark offers Kill switch, 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.
- Support channels: only Norton offers Phone, Community.
- Support channels: only Surfshark offers Email, Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at Norton: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Founded is lower at Norton: 1982 vs 2018.
Our verdict on each
Norton
Norton suits households who want antivirus, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls under one subscription, and it stays affordable after the first term. Norton Deluxe opens at $19.99 and renews at $59.99, which is still under the antivirus median of €49.95.
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 | Norton | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Norton Deluxe opens at $19.99 and renews at $59.99, priced below the antivirus median of €49.95. | 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 | 9.1 | 9.5HigherThe plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 9.9Higher | 8.7 |
Choosing between them
Pick Norton if privacy and money-back period matter most.
Pick Surfshark if offer, platforms, and longest plan (months) matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Norton | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 20 of 232 | 12 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 11 of 117 | 7 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 67 of 280 | 7 of 280 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Norton | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Gen Digital Inc. | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
| Founded | 1982Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Identity protection
| Fact | Norton | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 1 to 3 | Not confirmed |
| Insurance amount | $1,050,000 to $3,000,000Higher | $1,000,000 |
| Family plan price | $18.75 to $52.50 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 7 days | 7 days |
Password managers
| Fact | Norton | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $9.99 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Encryption | Encrypted online vault; data stored encrypted in the cloud | Not confirmed |
Parental controls
| Fact | Norton | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $49.99 | €121.23 |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Norton | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Data removal
| Fact | Norton | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Norton | Surfshark | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €2.49lowest quarter | €3.99 |
| Devices | 1 to 10at the median | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | from 100highest quarter | 100highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | $59.99highest quarter | Not confirmed | $12 |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 monthsabove the median | 27 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Norton
Pros
- Entry price of $19.99 for Norton Deluxe is well under the antivirus median of €49.95, and renewal at $59.99 still sits low.
- One subscription covers 1 to 10 across Windows, macOS and Android and bundles vpn, password manager and parental controls that would otherwise be separate subscriptions.
- A free version of the apps lets you try the security side before paying, with a free trial of 7 days and a money back window of 60 days.
Cons
- Renewal sits well above entry: Norton Deluxe jumps from $19.99 to $59.99, and many antivirus plans renew under €3.97 a month.
- The Norton Deluxe device allowance of 1 to 10 is behind the antivirus median of 10, while Apple covers more device types through iOS, iPadOS and macOS.
- Support runs on phone, help centre and community, so help is by phone, help centre and community 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
Norton
Who it suits
- Households wanting vpn, password manager and parental controls bundled into one subscription rather than bought separately.
- Apple households already inside iOS, iPadOS and macOS who want protection that extends beyond their own devices.
- Buyers who want a free version of the apps, a free trial of 7 days and a money back window of 60 days before committing.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers on a strict budget who only want a password manager, at $9.99 on its own.
- Buyers who need a device allowance above the antivirus median of 10.
- People who want a US supplier replaced by a European option, since US is the stated headquarters country.
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
Norton
Current offer
First period offer
Norton AntiVirus Plus limited-time offer: $19.99 first year (66% off, $59.99 renewal)
US annual subscription, auto-renews at $59.99/year unless the renewal is cancelled
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Norton 360 Deluxe limited-time offer: $29.99 first year (76% off, $124.99 renewal)
US annual subscription for 5 devices, auto-renews at $124.99/year unless the renewal is cancelled; works out as $2.50/month
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Norton 360 Standard limited-time offer: $24.99 first year (73% off, $94.99 renewal)
US annual subscription for 3 devices, auto-renews at $94.99/year unless the renewal is cancelled
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Norton free trials
A payment method is required at sign-up and will be charged at the end of the trial period, unless cancelled first
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 | Norton | 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
Norton
How much is Norton Deluxe for the first year?+
Norton Deluxe costs $19.99 for the first year. That is the introductory figure, not the ongoing one, and it sits under the antivirus median of €49.95. Several Norton products are sold separately, so the plan you choose changes the entry price.
What does Norton Deluxe cost when it renews?+
Norton Deluxe renews at $59.99, so the price roughly triples once the first term ends. That renewal is still low among antivirus plans, where comparable products sit around €3.97 a month. Budget for the renewal figure rather than the entry price.
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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