ExpressVPN offers superior speed and established reliability with 105 servers across 94 countries, while Surfshark provides unlimited simultaneous connections at a lower price point with comparable security features and 105 server locations.
ExpressVPN vs Surfshark — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium British Virgin Islands VPN with 3,000+ servers in 94 countries and industry-leading speeds.
Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections and strong encryption
Simultaneous Connections. Server Locations. Speed Performance Rating. Security Rating. Price Competitiveness. Customer Support Availability. Encryption Standard
Choose ExpressVPN if you prioritize maximum speed performance and established market reputation with premium features, though you'll be limited to 14 simultaneous device connections. Choose Surfshark if you need unlimited simultaneous connections, access to more server locations, and want premium VPN features at a lower price point without compromising on security or speed.
ExpressVPN: 94 countries | Surfshark: 105 countries
ExpressVPN: Full support | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 8 devices | Surfshark: Unlimited
ExpressVPN: 10.0/10 | Surfshark: 10.0/10
ExpressVPN: 24/7 live chat | Surfshark: 24-hour live chat
ExpressVPN: Lightway (Proprietary) | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: Yes, All Platforms | Surfshark: Yes, all platforms
ExpressVPN: 256-bit AES Military-Grade | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: Native support | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: British Virgin Islands | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: $2.79/month (2-year) | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: Not available | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 94 countries | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 8 connections | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: Available (slower) | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: $6.67/month | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 105 countries | Surfshark: 100 countries
ExpressVPN: 30 days | Surfshark: 30 days
ExpressVPN: $12.95/month (billed monthly) | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 105 | Surfshark: 100 countries
ExpressVPN: 75-85 Mbps | Surfshark: 628 Mbps
ExpressVPN: Third-party audited only | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 2 (Lightway, IKEv2) | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 256-bit AES (Lightway protocol) | Surfshark: AES-256
ExpressVPN: 105 | Surfshark: 100+ countries
ExpressVPN: 13+ (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Paramount+) | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: Proprietary/Closed | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: Mandatory (email-based) | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 15+ regions | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 100% RAM-only | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 0% (closed-source) | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: Minimal metadata stored | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 1 (Lightway proprietary) | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: 2 minutes (live chat 24/7) | Surfshark: N/A
ExpressVPN: $6.67/month | Surfshark: $2.19/month
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Strict no-logs
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Not included
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 100 countries
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Significantly faster with WireGuard
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Fully supported
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: $2.19/month
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 3,200+ servers
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Yes (all platforms)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 2023 (Deloitte)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 2023 (Cure53)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 15+ optimized services
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 15+ (includes smart TVs, gaming consoles)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 1 (PwC 2023)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Yes (Cure53 audit 2023)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Yes (automatic)
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: AES-256 + ChaCha20
ExpressVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Deloitte (2022)
How to choose between ExpressVPN and Surfshark
ExpressVPN vs Surfshark — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for ExpressVPN vs Surfshark. Contains 106 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
ExpressVPN vs Surfshark — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for ExpressVPN vs Surfshark.
How many devices can I connect simultaneously with ExpressVPN vs Surfshark?
ExpressVPN limits you to 14 simultaneous connections, while Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections across all your devices. This is a major advantage for Surfshark if you have a large household or multiple personal devices.
Which VPN is faster for streaming and gaming in 2026?
Both services score 9.8/10 for speed, making them virtually equal. However, Surfshark edges out slightly with a 9.6/10 streaming rating versus ExpressVPN's 9.4/10, and Surfshark scores 9.0/10 for gaming versus ExpressVPN's 8.5/10, making Surfshark marginally better for entertainment purposes.
What is the difference in pricing between these two VPNs?
Surfshark is positioned as a budget-friendly option with premium features at lower cost, while ExpressVPN operates in the premium tier with higher subscription rates. Surfshark's unlimited simultaneous connections combined with lower pricing makes it significantly more cost-effective for most users.
Yes, both services maintain perfect 10.0/10 security ratings and use military-grade AES-256 encryption with zero-log policies. ExpressVPN distinguishes itself with proprietary TrustedServer technology, but both provide best-in-class encryption standards.
ExpressVPN operates servers in 94 countries, while Surfshark covers 105 countries. This 11-country advantage gives Surfshark better geographic flexibility for accessing region-specific content and improved connection options worldwide.
How to Choose Between ExpressVPN and Surfshark
Simultaneous Connections: ExpressVPN has 14 devices, while Surfshark has Unlimited.
Server Locations: ExpressVPN has 94 countries, while Surfshark has 105 countries.
Speed Performance Rating: ExpressVPN has 9.8/10, while Surfshark has 9.8/10.
Security Rating: ExpressVPN has 10.0/10, while Surfshark has 10.0/10.
Price Competitiveness: ExpressVPN has Premium tier, while Surfshark has Budget-friendly.
Customer Support Availability: ExpressVPN has 24/7 live chat, while Surfshark has 24-hour live chat.
Encryption Standard: ExpressVPN has Best-in-class AES-256, while Surfshark has Best-in-class AES-256.