Two of the most popular VPNs, head to head
NordVPN and Surfshark are consistently ranked among the top VPN providers. Both are based in privacy-friendly jurisdictions, both offer strong encryption, and both have been independently audited. So which one should you pick?
Speed
We tested both from three European locations and one US location.
- NordVPN averaged 520 Mbps on nearby servers and 280 Mbps on US servers.
- Surfshark averaged 470 Mbps nearby and 250 Mbps on US servers.
NordVPN has a slight edge in raw speed, especially with their NordLynx protocol (based on WireGuard). Surfshark is no slouch though – the difference is barely noticeable for everyday use.
Winner: NordVPN (by a small margin)
Privacy & security
Both providers use AES-256 encryption and support WireGuard. Both have verified no-logs policies.
- NordVPN is based in Panama. Completed three independent audits.
- Surfshark is based in the Netherlands (merged with Nord Security in 2022). Two independent audits.
Both are solid choices. NordVPN’s additional audit history gives it a slight edge for the privacy-paranoid.
Winner: Tie (both are excellent)
Pricing
This is where things get interesting:
- NordVPN 2-year plan: ~€3.49/month, up to 10 devices.
- Surfshark 2-year plan: ~€2.49/month, unlimited devices.
If you have a household full of devices or want to share with family, Surfshark’s unlimited device policy is a real differentiator.
Winner: Surfshark
Features
| Feature | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunneling | Yes | Yes |
| Ad blocker | Threat Protection | CleanWeb |
| Double VPN | Yes | Yes (MultiHop) |
| Dedicated IP | Yes (paid add-on) | Yes (paid add-on) |
| Servers | 6,000+ in 61 countries | 3,200+ in 100 countries |
NordVPN has more servers but Surfshark covers more countries. Both feature sets are comprehensive.
Winner: Tie
Our verdict
Choose NordVPN if you prioritize raw speed and want the most audited provider.
Choose Surfshark if you want the best value, especially for families or multiple devices.
You genuinely can’t go wrong with either. The VPN market has matured to the point where these top-tier providers are closer than ever in quality.