ProtonVPN offers stronger privacy fundamentals with Swiss jurisdiction and transparent no-logs audits, while Surfshark provides better value with unlimited simultaneous connections and lower pricing ($2.19/month vs $9.99/month at renewal).
ProtonVPN vs Surfshark — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Swiss-based VPN with strong privacy audits and integrated Proton Mail ecosystem
Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited connections and expansive server network
Monthly Price (Renewal). Simultaneous Connections. Server Network. Jurisdiction. Kill Switch. Free Trial. Speed Performance (Average)
Choose ProtonVPN if you prioritize privacy transparency, Swiss jurisdiction oversight, and integrated email/storage services with your VPN. Choose Surfshark if you need unlimited device connections, broader server coverage, faster speeds, and maximum value at a significantly lower price point.
ProtonVPN: 3,500+ | Surfshark: 3,200+ servers
ProtonVPN: $99.99 (Plus) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: 8-12% decrease | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: 1 (Netflix only) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: 100 MB/month free plan | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Switzerland (5 Eyes only) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: AES-256 + ChaCha20 | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: AES-256 and ChaCha20 | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Annual third-party audit | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Yes (free tier) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Partial (apps only) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: $9.99/month (1-year) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Available with unlimited data | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: 68 countries | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: 10 connections (Pro) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Available (optimized) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: $12.99/month | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: AES-256 (IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard) | Surfshark: 256-bit AES
ProtonVPN: Strict no-logs, Swiss law compliance | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Yes, all platforms | Surfshark: Yes, all platforms
ProtonVPN: 2023 (Securitum) | Surfshark: 2023 (Cure53)
ProtonVPN: Most major platforms | Surfshark: 15+ optimized services
ProtonVPN: 100% open-source (audited) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Deloitte no-logs audit (2022) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: 68 countries | Surfshark: 100
ProtonVPN: 10 devices | Surfshark: Unlimited
ProtonVPN: 8+ (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, DAZN) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Switzerland (outside 5/9/14 Eyes) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Yes (Cure53 audit 2023) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Yes, always enabled | Surfshark: Yes (automatic)
ProtonVPN: 1,900+ servers | Surfshark: 3,200+
ProtonVPN: 2500+ | Surfshark: 3,200+ servers
ProtonVPN: $119.88/year | Surfshark: $26.28
Independent Security Audits (Last 3 Years)
ProtonVPN: 3 (Securitum, Cure53, 2021-2024) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Free tier: 3 servers, 1 GB/month | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Not available | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: 65 countries | Surfshark: 100
ProtonVPN: 2021 (Securitum) | Surfshark: N/A
ProtonVPN: Yes (1 device) | Surfshark: No (30-day trial only)
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Strict no-logs
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Not included
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 100 countries
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Significantly faster with WireGuard
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Fully supported
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 24-hour live chat
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Yes (all platforms)
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Cure53 audit 2022
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 3,200+ servers
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 15+ (includes smart TVs, gaming consoles)
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Yes (Cure53 audit 2023)
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: AES-256 + ChaCha20
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Deloitte (2022)
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Generic support
Monthly Subscription Price (Long-Term Plan)
Average Download Speed on 200 Mbps Connection
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 87% success rate
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: Cure53 audit (2021)
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: 4K support confirmed
ProtonVPN: N/A | Surfshark: No free trial (30-day refund)
How to choose between ProtonVPN and Surfshark
ProtonVPN vs Surfshark — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for ProtonVPN vs Surfshark. Contains 107 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
ProtonVPN vs Surfshark — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for ProtonVPN vs Surfshark.
Surfshark averages 92 Mbps compared to ProtonVPN's 87 Mbps, making it 5.7% faster. Surfshark is optimized for streaming with more servers (100 countries) and CleanWeb feature, while ProtonVPN's Secure Core routing may introduce slight latency. For 4K streaming, both are sufficient above 25 Mbps, but Surfshark has the edge for reliable performance.
Is ProtonVPN more private than Surfshark?
ProtonVPN has stronger privacy transparency with 4 independent security audits vs Surfshark's 2, and operates under Swiss jurisdiction with stricter data protection laws. Surfshark's British Virgin Islands location also has privacy protections but is less scrutinized. Both have verified no-logs policies. ProtonVPN is marginally stronger on privacy fundamentals, but both are significantly more private than mainstream VPNs.
Surfshark is vastly superior for families with unlimited simultaneous connections at $2.19/month, allowing everyone to connect at once. ProtonVPN's 10-device limit means some family members would need separate accounts, increasing costs. For a family of 5+, Surfshark saves $100+ annually while providing better flexibility.
Yes, ProtonVPN offers a permanent free tier with 1 simultaneous connection and 3 server options (Netherlands, Japan, US). It's genuinely free with no expiration, though limited. Surfshark requires payment but offers 30-day money-back guarantee. ProtonVPN's free tier is useful for testing or light use, while Surfshark requires commitment.
Over 2 years, Surfshark costs $63.12 while ProtonVPN costs $239.76—a $176.64 difference (4x more expensive). Even at renewal rates ($9.99 vs $2.19), ProtonVPN is 456% more expensive monthly. This gap narrows slightly with ProtonVPN's occasional discounts, but Surfshark remains substantially cheaper.
How to Choose Between ProtonVPN and Surfshark
Monthly Price (Renewal): ProtonVPN has $9.99, while Surfshark has $2.19.
Simultaneous Connections: ProtonVPN has 10 devices, while Surfshark has Unlimited.
Server Network: ProtonVPN has 3,400+ servers in 91 countries, while Surfshark has 3,200+ servers in 100 countries.
Jurisdiction: ProtonVPN has Switzerland (strong privacy law), while Surfshark has British Virgin Islands (strong privacy law).
Kill Switch: ProtonVPN has Yes (Secure Core), while Surfshark has Yes (CleanWeb).
Free Trial: ProtonVPN has 30-day money-back guarantee, while Surfshark has 30-day money-back guarantee.
Speed Performance (Average): ProtonVPN has 87 Mbps (measured), while Surfshark has 92 Mbps (measured).