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Updated October 14, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team

Privacy Badger vs Surfshark

Privacy Badger scores 9.2 and Surfshark 9.4 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
Surfshark

Surfshark

Higher score in this comparison

9.4/10
Visit
Privacy Badger

Privacy Badger

9.2/10
See alternatives

What sets them apart

Privacy Badger vs Surfshark
ComparePrivacy BadgerPrivacy BadgerReviewSee alternativesSee alternativesSurfsharkSurfsharkReviewVisitVisit
Free planYesHas itNo
Free plan limitsNo usage limits and no paid tiers; free for all users, funded by donations7-day free trial, 3 devices
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, Firefox for Android, Edge for AndroidWindows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Routers
Logging policyNo browsing data collected or shared; data is only sent if the user chooses to file a broken site reportNo-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network
JurisdictionUSNL
Privacy tool typeAd blocker, BrowserPrivate dns, Ad blocker, Search
ProtocolsNot confirmedWireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos
Open sourceYesNot confirmed

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • Surfshark scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
  • Free plan: only Privacy Badger.
  • Platforms: only Privacy Badger offers Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave.
  • Platforms: only Surfshark offers Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • Support channels: only Privacy Badger offers Community.
  • Support channels: only Surfshark offers Chat.
  • Founded is lower at Privacy Badger: 2014 vs 2018.
  • Pricing model: only Privacy Badger offers Free.
  • Pricing model: only Surfshark offers Budget.
  • Privacy tool type: only Privacy Badger offers Browser.

Our verdict on each

Privacy Badger

Privacy Badger is a browser extension created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It algorithmically blocks trackers, receives periodic learning updates from Badger Sett by default, can replace blocked social or media widgets with click-to-activate placeholders and sends the Global Privacy Control signal.

Read the full Privacy Badger review

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.

Read the full Surfshark review

Score breakdown

Privacy Badger vs Surfshark
AreaPrivacy BadgerSurfshark
Cost9.19.6HigherSurfshark's long-term plan price of €2.49 undercuts the site median €3.97, while the monthly plan at €2.49 keeps entry low.
Offer9.39.5HigherThe plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window.
Privacy9.1Higher8.7

Choosing between them

Pick Privacy Badger if privacy and free plan matter most.

Pick Surfshark if cost matter most.

Where these facts come from

Privacy Badger

  • privacybadger.org: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • eff.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026

Surfshark

  • surfshark.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026

How they place

Privacy Badger vs Surfshark
RankingPrivacy BadgerSurfshark
Privacy tools74 of 2817 of 281
Ad blockers and private DNS25 of 636 of 63
Private browsers and search engines15 of 553 of 55

Every fact side by side

Privacy Badger vs Surfshark
FactPrivacy BadgerSurfshark
Pricing modelFreeBudget
Legal entityElectronic Frontier FoundationSurfshark B.V.
HeadquartersUnited StatesNetherlands
Founded2014Lower2018
Support channelsEmail, Help centre, CommunityEmail, Chat, Help centre

Identity protection

Privacy Badger vs Surfshark
FactPrivacy BadgerSurfshark
Monthly priceNot confirmed€2.49
Insurance amountNot confirmed$1,000,000
Free trial lengthNot confirmed7 days
Money-back periodNot confirmed30 days

Data removal

Privacy Badger vs Surfshark
FactPrivacy BadgerSurfshark
Yearly priceNot confirmed€121.23
Countries coveredNot confirmedUnited States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland

Pros and cons

Privacy Badger

Pros

  • Privacy Badger uses an algorithmic tracker-blocking approach.
  • It can replace blocked widgets with click-to-activate placeholders and sends a Global Privacy Control signal.

Cons

  • Periodic tracker-learning updates from Badger Sett are enabled by default.

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

Privacy Badger

Who it suits

  • Users seeking a browser extension with tracker controls and Global Privacy Control signaling.

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

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

Privacy Badger vs Surfshark
CountryPrivacy BadgerSurfshark
AfghanistanNoYes
Aland IslandsNoYes
AlbaniaNoYes
AlgeriaNoYes
American SamoaNoYes
AndorraNoYes
AngolaNoYes
AnguillaNoYes

8 of 250 countries where either is available.

Questions about each

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.

How is the no-logs claim verified?+

The no-logs policy is independently verified by Deloitte, and the current audit is listed as Deloitte 2025. The server network runs from RAM only, so nothing is written to disk between sessions. The service is registered in the Netherlands and is owned by Nord Security.

Which protocols and privacy tools come with the plan?+

Supported protocols are WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2, and the privacy extras cover private dns, ad blocker and search. The plan also lists no logs and streaming and kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop among its included tools, so the standard subscription covers more than the tunnel itself rather than selling those as paid add-ons.

Other options to compare

Surfshark

Visit

Privacy Badger

See alternatives