ProtonVPN vs Surfshark 2026: Price, Speed & Privacy
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
Swiss-based VPN with strong privacy audits and integrated Proton Mail ecosystem
Privacy-conscious users who value transparency, those already using ProtonMail, and individuals prioritizing jurisdictional oversight
Surfshark
Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited connections and expansive server network
Budget-conscious users, families needing multiple connections, streamers requiring fast speeds, and anyone prioritizing value
Quick Answer
AI SummaryProtonVPN 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).
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose 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.
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Choose ProtonVPN if
Privacy-conscious users who value transparency, those already using ProtonMail, and individuals prioritizing jurisdictional oversight
Choose Surfshark if
Best pickBudget-conscious users, families needing multiple connections, streamers requiring fast speeds, and anyone prioritizing value
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Monthly Price (Renewal):✓ Surfshark wins($2.19 vs $9.99)
- Simultaneous Connections:✓ Surfshark wins(Unlimited vs 10 devices)
- Server Network:✓ Surfshark wins(3,200+ servers in 100 countries vs 3,400+ servers in 91 countries)
Key Facts & Figures
67 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | ProtonVPN | Surfshark | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Server Count(servers) | 3,500+ | 3,200+ servers | |
| Annual Subscription Cost (Best Plan)(USD) | $99.99 (Plus) | — | — |
| Download Speed Performance Impact(% decrease from baseline) | 8-12% decrease | — | — |
| Monthly Cost (Basic Plan)(USD) | $4.99 | — | — |
| Open Source Code(percentage) | Partial (apps only) | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $9.99/month (1-year) | — | — |
| Server Count(servers) | 2,000+ | — | — |
| Countries Covered(count) | 68 countries | — | — |
| Average Download Speed(Mbps) | 40+ Mbps | — | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 connections (Pro) | — | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | — | — |
| Annual Plan Price(USD) | $119.88 | $26.28 | |
| Monthly Plan Price(USD) | $12.99/month | — | — |
| Server Count(servers) | 3,400+ | 3,200+ | |
| Speed Loss (Average)(percent) | 12-15% | — | — |
| Country Coverage(countries) | 91 | 100 | |
| Latest Security Audit Year | 2023 (Securitum) | 2023 (Cure53) | |
| Streaming Services Optimized(platforms) | Most major platforms | 15+ optimized services | — |
| Monthly Pricing (Annual Plan)(USD) | $9.99/month | — | — |
| Average Download Speed(Mbps) | 87 Mbps | 92 Mbps | |
| Total Server Locations(number) | 2000+ | — | — |
| Countries Covered(countries) | 68 countries | 100 | |
| Speed Retention Rate(%) | 76% | — | — |
| Simultaneous Device Connections(devices) | 10 devices | Unlimited | — |
| Streaming Service Compatibility(platforms) | 8+ (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, DAZN) | — | — |
| Free Tier Monthly Data(GB) | 10GB | — | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 | Unlimited | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 30 days | 30 days | |
| Monthly Price (Standard Plan)(USD) | $9.99 | $2.19 | |
| Annual Price (Lowest Tier)(USD) | $59.88 | $26.28 | |
| Server Network Size(servers) | 1,900+ servers | 3,200+ | |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | 30 days | |
| Total VPN Servers(servers) | 2500+ | 3,200+ servers | |
| Annual Subscription Cost(USD) | $119.88/year | $26.28 | |
| Average Download Speed (256-bit AES)(Mbps) | 200 Mbps | — | — |
| Independent Security Audits (Last 3 Years)(audits) | 3 (Securitum, Cure53, 2021-2024) | — | — |
| Simultaneous Connections Per Account(devices) | 10 devices | — | — |
| Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)(USD) | $4.99/month | — | — |
| Server Locations(countries) | 65 countries | 100 | |
| Independent No-Logs Audit(year) | 2021 (Securitum) | — | — |
| Annual Cost (12 months)(USD) | $59.88 | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $9.99 | $2.19 | |
| Independent Security Audits(audits) | 4 | 2 | |
| Starting Monthly Price (2-year plan)(USD/month) | $2.49 | $2.49 | |
| Value for Money Score(/10) | 8.9 | 8.9 | |
| Global Server Coverage(countries) | 100 countries | 100 countries | |
| Speed Performance Rating(out of 10) | 9.8/10 | 9.8/10 | |
| Security Rating(out of 10) | 10.0/10 | 10.0/10 | |
| Streaming Capability Rating(out of 10) | 9.6/10 | 9.6/10 | |
| Gaming Performance Rating(out of 10) | 9.0/10 | 9.0/10 | |
| Annual Subscription Price(USD) | $2.19/month | $2.19/month | |
| VPN Server Locations(countries) | 100 countries | 100 countries | |
| Monthly Price (Annual Plan)(USD) | $2.19 | $2.19 | |
| Total Server Count(servers) | 3,200+ | 3,200+ | |
| Global Server Network(servers) | 3,200+ servers | 3,200+ servers | |
| Monthly Price (Best Annual Deal)(USD) | $2.19/month | $2.19/month | |
| Countries with Servers(countries) | 100 countries | 100 countries | |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $2.19/month | $2.19/month | |
| Dedicated Streaming Profiles(services) | Generic support | Generic support | |
| Monthly Subscription Price (Long-Term Plan)(USD) | $2.19/month | $2.19/month | |
| Countries with Server Presence(countries) | 100 countries | 100 countries | |
| Annual Cost (12-Month Commitment)(USD) | $26.28/year | $26.28/year | |
| Average Download Speed on 200 Mbps Connection(Mbps) | 78 Mbps | 78 Mbps | |
| Netflix Streaming Reliability(%) | 87% success rate | 87% success rate | |
| Country Server Locations(countries) | 100 countries | 100 countries | |
| Monthly Price (Annual Subscription)(USD) | $2.19/month | $2.19/month | |
| VPN Server Count(servers) | 3,200+ | 3,200+ |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- $9.99Monthly Price (Renewal)$2.19(winner)
- 10 devicesSimultaneous ConnectionsUnlimited(winner)
- 3,400+ servers in 91 countriesServer Network3,200+ servers in 100 countries(winner)
- Switzerland (strong privacy law)JurisdictionBritish Virgin Islands (strong privacy law)
- Yes (Secure Core)Kill SwitchYes (CleanWeb)
- 30-day money-back guaranteeFree Trial30-day money-back guarantee
- 87 Mbps (measured)Speed Performance (Average)92 Mbps (measured)(winner)
- Monthly Price (Renewal)
ProtonVPN
$9.99
Surfshark
$2.19(winner)
- Simultaneous Connections
ProtonVPN
10 devices
Surfshark
Unlimited(winner)
- Server Network
ProtonVPN
3,400+ servers in 91 countries
Surfshark
3,200+ servers in 100 countries(winner)
- Jurisdiction
ProtonVPN
Switzerland (strong privacy law)
Surfshark
British Virgin Islands (strong privacy law)
- Kill Switch
ProtonVPN
Yes (Secure Core)
Surfshark
Yes (CleanWeb)
- Free Trial
ProtonVPN
30-day money-back guarantee
Surfshark
30-day money-back guarantee
- Speed Performance (Average)
ProtonVPN
87 Mbps (measured)
Surfshark
92 Mbps (measured)(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | ProtonVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Global Server Count(servers) | 3,500+(winner) | 3,200+ servers |
| Server Count(servers) | 2,000+ | — |
| Server Count(servers) | 3,400+(winner) | 3,200+ |
| Country Coverage(countries) | 91 | 100(winner) |
| Countries Covered(countries) | 68 countries | 100(winner) |
Show 7 more attributesServer Network Size(servers) 1,900+ servers 3,200+ Server Locations(countries) 65 countries 100 Global Server Coverage(countries) 100 countries — Countries with Servers(countries) 100 countries — Countries with Server Presence(countries) 100 countries — Country Server Locations(countries) 100 countries — VPN Server Count(servers) 3,200+ — | ||
| Annual Subscription Cost (Best Plan)(USD) | $99.99 (Plus) | — |
| Monthly Cost (Basic Plan)(USD) | $4.99 | — |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $9.99/month (1-year) | — |
| Free Version | Available with unlimited data | — |
| Annual Plan Price(USD) | $119.88 | $26.28(winner) |
Show 17 more attributesMonthly Plan Price(USD) $12.99/month — Monthly Pricing (Annual Plan)(USD) $9.99/month — Free Tier Data Allowance(GB/month) 10 GB/month — Monthly Price (Standard Plan)(USD) $9.99 $2.19 Annual Price (Lowest Tier)(USD) $59.88 $26.28 Annual Subscription Cost(USD) $119.88/year $26.28 Free Trial / Free Tier Free tier: 3 servers, 1 GB/month — Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)(USD) $4.99/month — Annual Cost (12 months)(USD) $59.88 — Starting Monthly Price(USD) $9.99 $2.19 Starting Monthly Price (2-year plan)(USD/month) $2.49 — Monthly Price (Annual Plan)(USD) $2.19 — Monthly Price (Best Annual Deal)(USD) $2.19/month — Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) $2.19/month — Monthly Subscription Price (Long-Term Plan)(USD) $2.19/month — Annual Cost (12-Month Commitment)(USD) $26.28/year — Monthly Price (Annual Subscription)(USD) $2.19/month — | ||
| Download Speed Performance Impact(% decrease from baseline) | 8-12% decrease | — |
| Average Download Speed(Mbps) | 40+ Mbps | — |
| Speed Loss (Average)(percent) | 12-15% | — |
| Streaming Services Optimized(platforms) | Most major platforms | 15+ optimized services |
| Average Download Speed(Mbps) | 87 Mbps | 92 Mbps(winner) |
Show 9 more attributesSpeed Retention Rate(%) 76% — Average Download Speed (256-bit AES)(Mbps) 200 Mbps — Connection Speed Rating Good — Speed Performance (US Servers)(relative) Significantly faster with WireGuard — Speed Performance Rating(out of 10) 9.8/10 — Streaming Capability Rating(out of 10) 9.6/10 — Gaming Performance Rating(out of 10) 9.0/10 — Average Download Speed on 200 Mbps Connection(Mbps) 78 Mbps — Streaming Performance (4K UHD Support)(resolution) 4K support confirmed — | ||
| US Streaming Platforms Supported(platforms) | 1 (Netflix only) | — |
| Free Trial or Free Plan(monthly data) | 100 MB/month free plan | — |
| Privacy Jurisdiction | Switzerland (5 Eyes only) | — |
| Independent No-Log Audit | Cure53 audit (2021) | — |
| Encryption Standards Offered(algorithms) | AES-256 + ChaCha20 | — |
| Encryption Standard | AES-256 and ChaCha20 | — |
| Audit Frequency(years) | Annual third-party audit | — |
| Multi-Hop Encryption | Available (optimized) | — |
| Encryption Standard | AES-256 (IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard) | 256-bit AES |
Show 10 more attributesKill Switch Feature Yes, all platforms Yes, all platforms Code Openness 100% open-source (audited) — Privacy Audit Certification Deloitte no-logs audit (2022) — Kill Switch Protection Yes, always enabled Yes (automatic) Independent Security Audits (Last 3 Years)(audits) 3 (Securitum, Cure53, 2021-2024) — Independent Security Audits(audits) 4 2 Security Rating(out of 10) 10.0/10 — Kill Switch Availability Yes (all platforms) — Independent Security Audit(year) Cure53 audit 2022 — Encryption Protocol AES-256 + ChaCha20 — | ||
| Free Trial Available | Yes (free tier) | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 connections (Pro) | — |
| Simultaneous Device Connections(devices) | 10 devices | Unlimited |
| Streaming Service Compatibility(platforms) | 8+ (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, DAZN) | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 | Unlimited |
Show 6 more attributesSimultaneous Connections Per Account(devices) 10 devices — Free Tier Data Limit(GB per month) Not available — Free Tier Available Yes (1 device) No (30-day trial only) Torrenting Support(supported) Fully supported — Simultaneous Connections Allowed(devices) Unlimited — Free Trial Available(days) No free trial (30-day refund) — | ||
| Open Source Code(percentage) | Partial (apps only) | — |
| Countries Covered(count) | 68 countries | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | — |
| Log Retention Policy | Strict no-logs, Swiss law compliance | — |
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland (outside 5/9/14 Eyes) | — |
| Independent No-Logs Audit(year) | 2021 (Securitum) | — |
| Logging Policy | Strict no-logs | — |
| No-Logging Audit Verification | Yes (Cure53 audit 2023) | — |
| Latest Security Audit Year | 2023 (Securitum) | 2023 (Cure53) |
| Total Server Locations(number) | 2000+ | — |
| Free Tier Monthly Data(GB) | 10GB | — |
| Open Source Code | Yes (Cure53 audit 2023) | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 30 days | 30 days |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | 30 days |
| Total VPN Servers(servers) | 2500+ | 3,200+ servers(winner) |
| VPN Server Locations(countries) | 100 countries | — |
| Dark Web Monitor | Not included | — |
| App Kill Switch Feature | No | — |
| Value for Money Score(/10) | 8.9 | — |
| Netflix Compatibility(rating) | Good | — |
| Dedicated Streaming Profiles(services) | Generic support | — |
| Netflix Streaming Reliability(%) | 87% success rate | — |
| Customer Support Satisfaction(rating) | Very Good | — |
| Customer Support Type | 24-hour live chat | — |
| Annual Subscription Price(USD) | $2.19/month | — |
| Total Server Count(servers) | 3,200+ | — |
| Global Server Network(servers) | 3,200+ servers | — |
| Supported Platforms | 15+ (includes smart TVs, gaming consoles) | — |
| No-Logs Audit Year | Deloitte (2022) | — |
ProtonVPNShow 7 more attributes
Show 17 more attributes
Show 9 more attributes
Show 10 more attributes
Show 6 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·4 cons across both
ProtonVPN
Pros
- Swiss jurisdiction with strict data protection laws
- Publicly audited no-logs policy by independent third parties
- Secure Core routing through multiple countries
- Integrated with ProtonMail and Proton Drive ecosystem
- Free tier available with 1 server connection
Cons
- Only 10 simultaneous connections (expensive for families/teams)
- Significantly higher renewal pricing at $9.99/month
Surfshark
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Lowest market price at $2.19/month on long-term plans
- 3,200+ servers across 100 countries (broader coverage)
- CleanWeb feature blocks ads, malware, and phishing
- Fastest measured speeds at 92 Mbps average
Cons
- British Virgin Islands jurisdiction (less scrutinized than Swiss law)
- Fewer independent security audits compared to ProtonVPN
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
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.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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Wikipedia
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