NordVPN vs Surfshark

Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

NordVPN

One of the largest commercial VPN services, with apps for nearly every device and extra security add-ons.

Paid

Visit NordVPN NordVPN profile

Surfshark

A low-cost consumer VPN that lets one account cover an unlimited number of devices.

Paid

Visit Surfshark Surfshark profile

The short answer

Surfshark suits households and people with many devices who want a capable VPN at a low price, since one account covers unlimited devices. NordVPN suits people who want a larger network, consistently good speeds and extras such as Meshnet. The two belong to the same corporate group but run as separate services; the biggest practical difference is device limits versus network strength.

NordVPN or Surfshark: our take

Many people don't realise Surfshark and NordVPN are owned by the same group. They remain separate products with separate apps, and their feature lists overlap: WireGuard-based connections, kill switch, split tunnelling, multi-hop or double-VPN routes, ad and malware blocking, and apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browsers and TV devices. Both offer a 30-day money-back window and neither has a free plan.

Surfshark's main selling point is that one subscription covers unlimited simultaneous devices, which makes it popular with families. It runs RAM-only servers under a no-logs policy and includes the CleanWeb blocker, with higher bundles adding antivirus, data-leak alerts and personal data removal. Its catalog cons note that speeds vary more between locations than top rivals, and its lowest prices require a multi-year commitment.

NordVPN has a large server network with consistently good speeds, its NordLynx protocol, specialty P2P servers, and Meshnet for linking your own devices. Its higher tiers bundle threat protection and a password manager. Both services push extra security products in their apps, and NordVPN's renewal prices are much higher than the first term. NordVPN's Linux client is open source under GPL-3.0, while its other apps are closed.

Choose Surfshark if you need to cover a lot of phones, laptops and TVs on one account and price matters most. Choose NordVPN if speed consistency across locations matters more, or you want Meshnet and specialty servers. If you already use other Nord products, NordVPN fits that bundle; if you mainly want low cost per device, Surfshark is the simpler fit.

Choose NordVPN if…

People who want a mainstream VPN that works for streaming, travel and everyday privacy
Large server network with consistently good speeds
Apps for desktop, mobile, browsers and TV devices

Choose Surfshark if…

Households that want to cover lots of devices on one cheap subscription
No cap on simultaneous devices
Low price on long plans

What is NordVPN?

NordVPN is a subscription VPN from Nord Security, the company that also makes NordPass and NordLayer. It is one of the most widely used consumer VPNs, with a large server network, its own WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol, a kill switch, split tunnelling, specialty servers for P2P and double VPN, and Meshnet for linking your own devices. Higher tiers bundle threat protection, a password manager and other services, which is useful if you want one bill but noisy if you only want a VPN. It works well for streaming and travel, and independent audits of its no-logs policy are published on its site. Pricing is subscription only, with heavily discounted multi-year plans, steep renewal prices and a 30-day refund window; there is no free tier. Apps cover Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browsers and TV devices, and the Linux client's source code is public. It suits people who want a well-known provider that handles most use cases out of the box.

What is Surfshark?

Surfshark is a commercial VPN that competes mainly on price and on letting a single subscription cover as many devices as you like, which makes it popular with households. It has the usual features: WireGuard and OpenVPN, a kill switch, split tunnelling, multi-hop routes, an ad and malware blocker called CleanWeb, and RAM-only servers under a no-logs policy. Higher bundles add antivirus, alert services for leaked data and personal data removal. It is owned by the same group as NordVPN but runs as a separate service. Pricing is subscription based, with long multi-year plans bringing the monthly cost very low and a 30-day money-back guarantee; there is no free plan. Apps cover Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browser extensions, Fire TV, Apple TV and Android TV, with manual setup for routers. It suits families and people with many devices who want a capable VPN without paying premium prices.

Side by side

Attribute	NordVPN	Surfshark
Pricing	Paid	Paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
Best for	People who want a mainstream VPN that works for streaming, travel and everyday privacy	Households that want to cover lots of devices on one cheap subscription
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	NordVPN	Surfshark
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, browsers, TV	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, TVs, browsers