Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Qwant vs Surfshark
Where Qwant and Surfshark differ
| Compare |  Qwant |  Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Free plan limits | Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account | 7-day free trial, 3 devices |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, Edge extension, Firefox extension, Safari extension | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Routers |
| Logging policy | By default does not store search history or personal data; no advertising trackers or pixels | No-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network |
| Jurisdiction | FR | NL |
| Privacy tool type | Search | Private dns, Ad blocker, SearchCovers more |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos |
| Open source | No | Not 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.
Key differences
- Surfshark scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Free plan: only Qwant.
- Platforms: only Qwant offers Web, Chrome extension, Edge extension.
- Platforms: only Surfshark offers Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- Support channels: only Qwant offers Phone, Community.
- Support channels: only Surfshark offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at Qwant: 2011 vs 2018.
- Pricing model: only Qwant offers Free.
- Pricing model: only Surfshark offers Budget.
- Privacy tool type: only Surfshark offers Private dns, Ad blocker.
Our verdict on each
Qwant
Qwant suits readers who want a private search engine with no cost attached, since a free plan is included. It is the fit for people who put no stored search history above open source code, while the typical starting price in the site's private-search field is €6.93.
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 | Qwant | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | 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 | 9.6Higher | 9.5The plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 8.8Higher | 8.7 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Qwant | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | France | Netherlands |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Qwant | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 77 of 280 | 7 of 280 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 15 of 55 | 3 of 55 |
What we checked
Qwant
- about.qwant.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Surfshark
- surfshark.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Qwant | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | QWANT, SAS (RCS Paris B 532 867 256) | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | France | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2011Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Identity protection
| Fact | Qwant | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Insurance amount | Not confirmed | $1,000,000 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 7 days |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Data removal
| Fact | Qwant | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | €121.23 |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland |
Pros and cons
Qwant
Pros
- A free plan is included, and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account.
- Search history and personal data are not stored by default, and no advertising trackers or pixels are run.
- It runs on web, iOS and Android and support covers email, phone and help centre.
Cons
- Open source: no, so the code behind the engine is not published for outside review.
- The unlimited free tier depends on signing up: Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account.
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
Qwant
Who it suits
- Readers who want a search engine that keeps no search history or personal data by default.
- People in the Apple ecosystem, who can pair a Qwant account with Apple Hide My Email for aliasing.
- Anyone who wants one account across web, iOS and Android.
Who should look elsewhere
- EasyOptOuts, for readers whose main task is opting out of data brokers rather than searching; it has no free plan.
- Apple Hide My Email, for email aliases: its aliases are free with an Apple Account, which is a different job from private search.
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
| Country | Qwant | 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
Qwant
Is Qwant really free?+
Yes. A free plan is included and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account, so the search stays free once an account exists. The only model listed is free, so there is no paid tier priced against it.
What does Qwant cost, and what happens at renewal?+
Qwant's free plan covers the search, and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account. There is no introductory deal to time and no renewal step for a paid plan, since free is the only model listed. For scale, the typical yearly price across tools on the site is €65.76.
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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