Software · head to head
NordVPN vs Surfshark
NordVPN
Software
The best online VPN service for speed and security
- From
- $3.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: NordVPN the App Store listing states the app is free to download but is non-functional without purchasing a subscription first; no price figure appears anywhere in the listing itself, only the requirement to buy a plan before VPN access works.; Surfshark smaller server network (4,500+ servers) compared to larger competitors like NordVPN
- They diverge on capability: NordVPN covers Military-grade encryption, Surfshark covers Unlimited devices.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which NordVPN and Surfshark actually diverge.
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in NordVPN
- Military-grade encryption
- No-logs policy
- Split tunneling
- Double VPN
- Onion over VPN
- Threat Protection
- Meshnet
- AES-256 encryption
Only in Surfshark
- Unlimited devices
- CleanWeb ad blocker
- MultiHop
- Camouflage Mode
- NoBorders mode
- Bypasser split tunneling
- Rotating IP
- Smart TV apps
Both cover
- Kill Switch
- Chrome extension
- Firefox extension
- Edge extension
- RAM-only servers
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
- Desktop support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
NordVPN
- Vpn
- Privacy
- Online Securitynot Surfshark
Surfshark
- Vpn
- Privacy
- Security Suitenot NordVPN
Both are used for vpn, privacy, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
NordVPN
- The App Store listing states the app is free to download but is non-functional without purchasing a subscription first; no price figure appears anywhere in the listing itself, only the requirement to buy a plan before VPN access works.
Surfshark
- Smaller server network (4,500+ servers) compared to larger competitors like NordVPN
- Lower brand recognition compared to established VPN providers
- Limited customer service availability in some time zones
Pricing, plan by plan
NordVPN
$3.99/month- Standard$3.99/month
- 6 devices
- 5,500+ servers
- Threat Protection Lite
- Plus$4.99/month
- All Standard features
- Threat Protection Pro
- NordPass password manager
- Complete$5.99/month
- All Plus features
- NordLocker 1TB encrypted cloud
- Identity theft protection
Surfshark
$1.78/month- Starter$1.78/month
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- 4,500+ servers
- Basic VPN
- One$3.59/month
- VPN
- Antivirus
- Personal data leak alert
- One+$4/month
- All One features
- Incogi included
Which should you pick?
Choose NordVPN if
- You need military-grade encryption.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api.
- You also want no-logs policy.
Choose Surfshark if
- You need unlimited devices.
- You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux.
- You also want cleanweb ad blocker.
Questions people ask
- Is NordVPN or Surfshark better?
- Neither clearly leads. NordVPN starts at $3.99/month and Surfshark at $1.78/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, NordVPN or Surfshark?
- NordVPN starts at $3.99/month and Surfshark at $1.78/month.
- Does NordVPN or Surfshark run on more platforms?
- NordVPN runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api. Surfshark runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux.
- What is NordVPN best used for?
- NordVPN is most often used for vpn, privacy, online security. Of those, online security is not what Surfshark is typically brought in for.
- What can NordVPN do that Surfshark cannot?
- NordVPN covers Military-grade encryption, No-logs policy, Split tunneling, Double VPN. Surfshark covers Unlimited devices, CleanWeb ad blocker, MultiHop, Camouflage Mode. Both handle Kill Switch, Chrome extension, Firefox extension, Edge extension.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Surfshark: Does Surfshark maintain a no-logs policy?
Yes. Surfshark does not log browsing history, visited IP addresses, bandwidth usage, or network traffic. This policy was independently verified by Deloitte in 2025.
SourceSurfshark: How many simultaneous device connections does Surfshark allow?
Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections on all subscription plans, enabling protection of every device in a household with a single subscription.
Source