Which VPN Ought to You Select?

In case you lookup the perfect VPNs obtainable right this moment, chances are high each Surfshark and NordVPN high the record. As two in style suppliers, each providers convey high quality VPN efficiency with their very own standout options.

Surfshark brings a ton of worth with its inexpensive pricing throughout its plans and the power to attach a limiteless variety of units on the similar time. Alternatively, NordVPN brings constantly quick VPN speeds and an enormous 111-country server community.

On this article, we assist you determine which of the 2 VPNs is finest for you and your group.

• Surfshark: Greatest for budget-conscious customers that need a high quality VPN that may accommodate a limiteless variety of units
• NordVPN: Greatest for many companies searching for an all-around VPN, with quick efficiency, extra security measures, and a sophisticated consumer expertise

Surfshark vs NordVPN: Comparability desk

Whereas each Surfshark and NordVPN have broad platform help, they’ve key variations by way of their pricing and server community.

Surfshark and NordVPN: Pricing

Each Surfshark and NordVPN have three subscription tiers, with various function inclusions in every plan. As well as, each supply month-to-month, one-year, and two-year plan choices for every subscription tier.

SEE: Methods to Run a Cybersecurity Threat Evaluation in 5 Steps (TechRepublic Premium)

Surfshark VPN pricing

Surfshark has three subscription tiers: Surfshark Starter, Surfshark One, and Surfshark One+. Starter consists of the principle VPN service, whereas One+ bundles in probably the most quantity of extra options.

Under is a abstract of pricing and have variations with every tier:

Personally, I believe the Surfshark One subscription for one 12 months brings the perfect stability of worth and have set. At $3.39 monthly, it’s considerably extra inexpensive than NordVPN’s equal plan however nonetheless consists of nifty extras like antivirus and breach alert capabilities as nicely.

SEE: Surfshark vs CyberGhost (2024): Which VPN Is Higher? (TechRepublic)

Whereas I’d have cherished it if Surfshark supplied a free model, it thankfully has a seven-day free trial through iOS, Android, and macOS. It additionally has a 30-day money-back assure for all its subscription plans, providing you with an opportunity to refund your preliminary subscription in case you really feel it isn’t a superb match.

If you wish to study extra, learn our full Surfshark VPN evaluation.

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN’s paid plans have three subscription tiers, specifically NordVPN Fundamental, Plus, and Full. Like Surfshark, all three NordVPN plans have a month-to-month, a yearly, and a two-year plan.

Under is an summary of pricing and have variations with every tier:

For NordVPN, its one-year Plus subscription is what appeals to me probably the most. Even when it’s not as inexpensive as Surfshark’s One plan, I really feel like NordVPN Plus at $5.99 monthly nonetheless brings good worth contemplating it consists of the total VPN and a full-fledged password supervisor bundled in. This may be ultimate for people who need a suite of safety instruments from a single software program supplier.

SEE: Personal Web Entry (PIA) vs NordVPN: Which VPN Is Higher? (TechRepublic)

Fortunately, NordVPN additionally has a seven-day free trial and a 30-day money-back assure for all its plans, enabling refunds after an preliminary buy. Sadly, the free trial is barely accessible through Android. To me, the best state of affairs is to at the least have the free trial obtainable to each iOS and Android customers, in order that entry is truthful no matter which smartphone ecosystem you employ.

Fortunately, it’s pretty simple to check NordVPN on desktop after accessing the free trial on Android — which is how I examined one in every of NordVPN’s premium subscriptions.

If you wish to study extra, learn our full NordVPN evaluation.

Surfshark vs NordVPN: Characteristic comparability

Right here’s a side-by-side comparability of NordVPN and Surfshark, specializing in seven key options:

Safety protocols and encryption

Winner: Tie

Each NordVPN and Surfshark embody a strong mixture of VPN protocols that cowl each safety and pace. To me, a top quality VPN ought to at the least have the security-centric OpenVPN protocol and the speed-oriented WireGuard protocol. All the things else is an additional.

Thankfully, NordVPN comes with OpenVPN and its proprietary NordLynx protocol that’s based mostly on WireGuard. On the flipside, Surfshark carries OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 VPN protocols.

SEE: Surfshark vs IPVanish (2024): Which VPN Ought to You Select? (TechRepublic)

When it comes to encryption, each providers make the most of the business customary AES-256 encryption algorithm. That is essential, as AES 256 is well known as probably the most safe encryption algorithms right this moment, a lot in order that it’s utilized by some United States authorities entities to safe delicate information in opposition to prying eyes.

With this, our first spherical is a transparent tie, with each NordVPN and Surfshark hitting the mark in terms of safety protocols and encryption.

VPN server community and areas

Winner: NordVPN

NordVPN will get the win in terms of server networks and VPN areas. As of August 2024, NordVPN has 6,400+ servers unfold throughout 111 nations. In distinction, Surfshark VPN at present has 3,200+ servers in 100 nations inside its community.

Whereas NordVPN’s lead by way of precise server rely is important, I place extra weight on Nord having extra server/nation areas in comparison with Surfshark. Even when having 11 extra nations doesn’t appear to be a lot, it nonetheless means NordVPN gives a bit extra nation choices to its customers than Surfshark.

That isn’t to say that Surfshark’s 100-country server fleet isn’t strong. It’s — it simply so occurs NordVPN at present has a slight benefit country-wise. Given how one of many foremost functions of a VPN is to unblock geo-restricted content material by altering IP areas, NordVPN’s 111-country server suite is a particular plus.

SEE: PureVPN vs NordVPN (2024): Which VPN Ought to You Select? (TechRepublic)

For companies which have unblocking as their foremost precedence with a VPN, NordVPN is the higher alternative.

Third-party audits and monitor report

Winner: Surfshark

So far as third-party testing and general monitor report go, I give the win to Surfshark. Whereas NordVPN technically has extra unbiased audits than Surfshark — having 4 in comparison with three — I recognize Surfshark giving the general public an precise abstract of their audit outcomes and entry to the total report.

Surfshark’s most up-to-date unbiased audit was printed in 2023, the place Deloitte confirmed that Surfshark’s “IT methods and administration of the supporting IT operations is correctly ready, in all materials respects, in accordance with Surfshark’s description of its no-logs coverage.”

In distinction, NordVPN has accomplished a powerful 4 unbiased audits of its no-logs coverage as of January 2024. Nonetheless, if we have a look at its most up-to-date audit, additionally carried out by Deloitte, the outcomes are solely obtainable for individuals with a NordVPN account.

In keeping with NordVPN, this was performed “[d]ue to the intensive nature of the audit, excerpts from the report can’t be shared immediately. This measure ensures the audit outcomes will not be taken out of context or misunderstood.”

Whereas I perceive the dangers of publishing a full audit report and the way findings might be blown out of proportion, I recognize Surfshark’s extra accessible strategy to sharing its audit outcomes with the general public. That is particularly impactful in case you’re a potential consumer who doesn’t essentially have an current account in both service but.

SEE: The 5 Greatest VPNs with Free Trials in 2024 (TechRepublic)

Regardless of giving the win to Surfshark, I do commend each VPNs for exhibiting full dedication to having their providers independently examined and evaluated.

Standout options

Winner: NordVPN

Wanting into standout options, I give the purpose to NordVPN. On high of its VPN service, Nord features a ton of safety and privateness options that make for a formidable bundle. It features a devoted malware and advert blocker, a darkish net monitor, and even an possibility for encrypted cloud storage.

It additionally has a cool Meshnet function that lets customers create their very own privateness encrypted networks, which they’ll use to share information or entry units extra securely.

My private favourite is the truth that a NordVPN Plus subscription really provides customers a NordPass account — Nord Safety’s personal password supervisor. That will get you each a VPN and a password administration service with one subscription. If you wish to study extra, try our full NordPass evaluation right here.

In the meantime, Surfshark has noteworthy options of its personal. It has a built-in antivirus service with its Surfshark One plan, a masked e mail generator, and its CleanWeb advert blocker for a cleaner on-line searching expertise.

We get double VPN and break up tunneling performance from each NordVPN and Surfshark, in addition to RAM-only servers of their respective server fleets.

Total, I believe NordVPN gives a barely extra well-rounded function suite, with the addition of the NordPass password supervisor being a selected spotlight for me.

Efficiency and pace

Winner: NordVPN

For VPN pace and efficiency, NordVPN takes the cake. In my expertise, each Surfshark VPN and NordVPN are in a position to present dependable and quick speeds for on a regular basis duties.

Throughout testing, I used each VPNs for my regular workflow as a author. This concerned going by a number of web sites for analysis, attending on-line video conferences, and streaming the occasional 1080p video on YouTube. Qualitatively, I had zero hassle utilizing each VPNs speed-wise and may confidently advocate each in case you’re searching for a fast-performing VPN.

Nonetheless, pace testing is the place NordVPN takes the benefit over Surfshark. As VPNs add one other step to your visitors, it’s anticipated that we see a lower in general pace in comparison with your web service supplier.

Per my testing, NordVPN recorded wonderful speeds — having solely a 5.8% lower in obtain pace and a 16.2% lower in add in comparison with my ISP. In distinction, Surfshark had a 3.34% lower in obtain pace and a extra important 72.1% drop in uploads.

With this, if your small business is strictly searching for the sooner VPN service, my testing confirmed that NordVPN is the higher alternative.

Ease of use and design

Winner: Tie

With ease of use, consumer expertise, and design, I discovered each Surfshark and NordVPN had polished and intuitive purposes.

Taking every utility one-by-one, we see that NordVPN brings a minimalist consumer interface that I discovered nice to make use of and navigate. Even with its breath of options, all the things was neatly organized, and I had no hassle utilizing its options and establishing a VPN connection.

The identical was true with Surfshark’s desktop app. It comes with an analogous, light-themed UI that’s well-organized and straightforward on the eyes. I significantly like how Surfshark provides customers a transparent board of stats on the proper of its foremost interface, exhibiting connection time, connection standing, and which VPN protocol you’re utilizing (see under).

Each VPN apps additionally carried out fairly nicely, with no main points by way of activating options or establishing VPN connections. For me, ease of use and design are the place NordVPN and Surfshark present their polish in comparison with the competitors.

Whether or not you select Surfshark or NordVPN, you’ll get entry to a refined VPN consumer expertise that received’t go away you aggravated or confused.

Simultaneous machine connections

Winner: Surfshark

For machine connections, Surfshark takes the clear win. Surfshark permits customers to connect with a limiteless variety of units all on the similar time. This implies you possibly can have a handful of smartphones, laptops, computer systems, and different units related to a VPN server with out worrying a couple of machine restrict.

Alternatively, NordVPN at present permits a most of 10 simultaneous machine connections. To be truthful, 10 will most certainly be sufficient for many particular person customers. Nonetheless, in case you’re a small enterprise that requires quite a few workforce members to attach their units to a VPN, Surfshark’s limitless connections is your finest guess.

Personally, I discover Surfshark’s limitless simultaneous connections provides unbelievable worth to the VPN’s already inexpensive subscriptions. That is very true after we take into account that NordVPN, even with its abundance of additional options, remains to be a bit dearer than Surfshark.

Surfshark professionals and cons

Professionals

• Limitless simultaneous machine connections.
• Straightforward-to-use and well-designed interface.
• CleanWeb function that blocks advertisements, trackers, and malware.
• Inexpensive subscription choices.
• Extra accessible third-party audit outcomes.

Cons

• Smaller server fleet in comparison with NordVPN.
• Much less constant pace check outcomes.

NordVPN professionals and cons

Professionals

• 111-country server fleet; 6,400+ servers.
• Polished desktop utility.
• Quick and constant VPN speeds.
• Meshnet encrypted file sharing function.
• NordVPN Plus subscription consists of NordPass password supervisor.

Cons

• Barely dearer in comparison with Surfshark.
• Solely permits for 10 simultaneous machine connections.
• Third-party audit outcomes require a NordVPN account.

Ought to your group use Surfshark or NordVPN?

After a tricky match-up, I give NordVPN the win as my suggestion for many companies and people. It presents an enormous server fleet with 6,400+ servers throughout 111 nations, features a bunch of additional security measures, and gives constantly quick and dependable VPN speeds.

I significantly recognize NordVPN’s all-around high quality of service with its VPN, because it doesn’t skimp out on in-app expertise, safety capabilities, and VPN efficiency.

This isn’t to discredit Surfshark, nonetheless. Surfshark’s refined consumer expertise, strong 100-country server suite, and limitless simultaneous connections make it an amazing alternative for extra budget-conscious customers or organizations.

To me, you actually can’t go unsuitable with both Surfshark or NordVPN, as they’re two of the perfect VPN providers obtainable right this moment.

Methodology

My head-to-head comparability of Surfshark and NordVPN concerned an in-depth analysis of each VPNs’ options, real-world efficiency, and worth.

To evaluate every VPN, each providers had been scored on all the things from their server networks to their pricing. Specifically, I took into consideration 5 foremost pillars, every having corresponding weights:

• Pricing (20%).
• Core VPN options (30%).
• Ease of use (15%).
• Buyer help (30%).
• Professional evaluation (5%).

I additionally seemed into actual consumer testimonials and respected evaluations to spherical out my ultimate suggestions for each Surfshark VPN and NordVPN.

For pace and efficiency, I examined each VPNs on my private Home windows pc and ran them by Ookla’s public Speedtest. Lastly, I thought of which varieties of companies or particular person customers would finest profit from both Surfshark or NordVPN.