NordVPN offers faster speeds and stronger privacy credentials with its Panama headquarters and proven no-logs policy, while Surfshark provides better value with unlimited simultaneous connections and lower pricing at $2.19/month versus NordVPN's $3.99/month.
NordVPN vs Surfshark — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium VPN service with 6,000+ servers and advanced privacy features based in Panama.
Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections and BVI jurisdiction protection.
Monthly Subscription Cost. Simultaneous Connections. Average Download Speed. Server Network Size. Headquarters Location. Kill Switch Feature. Money-Back Guarantee
Choose NordVPN if you prioritize maximum speed (580 Mbps average), the largest server network (6,000+), and established privacy reputation with independent audits. Choose Surfshark if budget is your primary concern and you need unlimited simultaneous connections across your entire device ecosystem without paying extra.
NordVPN: 111 countries | Surfshark: 105 countries
NordVPN: NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Strict no-logs | Surfshark: Strict no-logs
NordVPN: Included | Surfshark: Not included
NordVPN: Yes (app-level) | Surfshark: No
NordVPN: 5.20% decrease | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: 4+ (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max verified) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: None - 30-day money back only | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Panama (5/9/14 Eyes) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: AES-256 (NordLynx) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: NordLynx (WireGuard-based) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Yes (Standard) | Surfshark: Yes, all platforms
NordVPN: 110+ countries | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: None available | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Yes, regular audits | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Yes, on all platforms | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Faster globally | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Yes - Threat Protection Pro | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Excellent - Panama | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Full support for major platforms | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Fast (20-50 Mbps typical) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Verified no-logs | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Crypto, card, PayPal | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: $69.99/year (2-year plan) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Not applicable | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: 0 (Premium only) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: 6 simultaneous connections | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: 7 major browser extensions | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: $3.99/month | Surfshark: $2.19/month
NordVPN: 6,500+ | Surfshark: 3,200+ servers
NordVPN: Yes (All Plans) | Surfshark: Yes (all platforms)
NordVPN: PwC audit 2024 | Surfshark: Cure53 audit 2022
NordVPN: Partial (selected components) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Proprietary/Closed-source | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: 2022 (PwC) | Surfshark: 2023 (Cure53)
NordVPN: 6,000+ servers | Surfshark: 3,200+ servers
NordVPN: Partial components only | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Yes, all platforms | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: 2 (PwC & Deloitte 2024) | Surfshark: 1 (PwC 2023)
NordVPN: 111 countries | Surfshark: 100 countries
NordVPN: 6,500+ servers | Surfshark: 3,200+ servers
NordVPN: 12+ (major platforms only) | Surfshark: 15+ (includes smart TVs, gaming consoles)
NordVPN: Yes (PwC audit 2024) | Surfshark: Yes (Cure53 audit 2023)
NordVPN: 6,200+ servers | Surfshark: 3,200+
NordVPN: WireGuard with ChaCha20 | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: 8% slower (NordLynx/WireGuard) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: 89% success rate (tested 13 regions) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: 6 devices | Surfshark: Unlimited
NordVPN: OpenVPN, WireGuard, ChaCha20, NordLynx | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Yes (Threat Protection included) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Panama (outside 5/9/14-Eyes) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Yes (automatic) | Surfshark: Yes (automatic)
NordVPN: 111 countries | Surfshark: 100+ countries
NordVPN: No (proprietary) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: AES-256 Double VPN (dual layer) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Yes (multiple 2022-2024) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: IKEv2/IPSec or WireGuard | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Strict no-logs policy | Surfshark: N/A
Average Download Speed (500Mbps connection)
NordVPN: Proprietary (audited) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: 24/7 live chat and email | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Deloitte (2024) | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Mix of disk and RAM | Surfshark: N/A
NordVPN: Annual (1x/year) | Surfshark: N/A
Monthly Subscription Price (Long-Term Plan)
NordVPN: $47.88/year | Surfshark: $26.28/year
NordVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Significantly faster with WireGuard
NordVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Fully supported
NordVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 24-hour live chat
NordVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 15+ optimized services
NordVPN: N/A | Surfshark: AES-256 + ChaCha20
NordVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Deloitte (2022)
How to choose between NordVPN and Surfshark
NordVPN vs Surfshark — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for NordVPN vs Surfshark. Contains 160 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
NordVPN vs Surfshark — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for NordVPN vs Surfshark.
Which VPN is faster for streaming and downloading?
NordVPN is faster with average speeds of 580 Mbps compared to Surfshark's 540 Mbps. This 40 Mbps difference means NordVPN performs better for 4K streaming, large file downloads, and bandwidth-intensive activities. However, both speeds are sufficient for standard HD streaming and web browsing. For speed-critical tasks, NordVPN's dedicated servers are an excellent choice.
Can I use one VPN account on multiple devices?
NordVPN allows 6 simultaneous connections per account, while Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections. If you have more than 6 devices in your household, Surfshark is the clear winner for covering all your devices with a single subscription. Families with laptops, phones, tablets, and smart TVs will find Surfshark's unlimited option more convenient and cost-effective.
Which VPN has better privacy and no-logs policy?
Both offer strong privacy protection from privacy-friendly jurisdictions. NordVPN operates from Panama and has been audited by PwC in 2024, while Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands with a 2022 Cure53 audit. NordVPN's more recent audit provides slightly more current verification, but both have demonstrated genuine no-logs practices. For maximum paranoia, NordVPN's double VPN feature adds an extra encryption layer.
What's the best VPN for budget-conscious users?
Surfshark is significantly cheaper at $2.19/month versus NordVPN's $3.99/month on long-term plans. Over a year, that's a $21.60 savings with Surfshark. The cost advantage grows if you have multiple people in your household, since Surfshark's unlimited connections mean each person doesn't need their own subscription.
NordVPN has a larger network with 6,000+ servers across 111 countries, compared to Surfshark's 3,200+ servers in 100 countries. The larger network means NordVPN users have more options to find unblocked servers and faster routes. However, Surfshark's server count is still substantial and includes multi-hop routing at no extra cost, which adds security layers.
How to Choose Between NordVPN and Surfshark
Monthly Subscription Cost: NordVPN has $3.99/month, while Surfshark has $2.19/month.
Simultaneous Connections: NordVPN has 6 devices, while Surfshark has Unlimited devices.
Average Download Speed: NordVPN has 580 Mbps, while Surfshark has 540 Mbps.
Server Network Size: NordVPN has 6,000+ servers, while Surfshark has 3,200+ servers.
Headquarters Location: NordVPN has Panama (privacy-friendly), while Surfshark has British Virgin Islands (privacy-friendly).
Kill Switch Feature: NordVPN has Yes (all plans), while Surfshark has Yes (all plans).
Money-Back Guarantee: NordVPN has 30 days, while Surfshark has 30 days.