NordVPN vs Surfshark: Which One Is Best?

NordVPN and Surfshark are two of the most popular VPN services in 2025, each with a strong reputation in the privacy community. If you’re shopping for a VPN, you might be torn between these two – both promise fast speeds, top-notch security, and the ability to unlock content globally. This comparison will break down the differences and help you decide which VPN is the better choice for your needs. We’ll look at privacy features, performance, pricing, and unique offerings of NordVPN vs Surfshark head-to-head.

Overview of NordVPN and Surfshark

NordVPN

An established provider launched in 2012, based in Panama. It has one of the largest user bases and a long track record. NordVPN emphasizes privacy (Panama has no data retention laws), and it’s known for its extensive server network (5,000+ servers in 60 countries). It’s repeatedly rated as one of the top VPNs by reviewers for its security features and streaming performance.

Surfshark

A relative newcomer (launched 2018) but quickly gained popularity by offering premium features at a budget price. Surfshark is based in the Netherlands and, as of a 2022 merger, is part of the same company that owns NordVPN (they operate independently, but it’s an interesting fact). Surfshark is known for its unlimited device policy – you can connect all your gadgets at once. It also has a smaller but growing server network (3,200+ servers in 100 countries).

Both services have a no-logs policy, meaning they claim to keep no records of your online activities. Both have undergone independent audits to verify these claims – NordVPN had multiple audits by PwC and Deloitte, and Surfshark was audited by Deloitte in 2023 and again in 2025. Neither has been caught in any scandal violating user trust; on the contrary, both have good reputations, with NordVPN even having a server breach incident in 2018 that they handled transparently and used to further harden security.

Privacy and Security Features

Encryption & Protocols

Both NordVPN and Surfshark use industry-standard strong encryption (AES-256 for data, 4096-bit RSA for handshake, etc.). They also both support modern VPN protocols:

NordVPN offers NordLynx (its WireGuard-based protocol, optimized for speed and privacy) and OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), and IKEv2 on certain platforms. NordLynx is Nord’s big selling point for speed and security as WireGuard is a cutting-edge protocol.

Surfshark supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 as well. In practice, both NordLynx and Surfshark’s WireGuard implementation are very fast – much faster than older protocols – and secure.

No-logs Policy

As mentioned, both claim no-logs and have audits to back it. It’s worth noting:

NordVPN operates from Panama, outside of the 14-Eyes intelligence sharing countries, adding extra peace of mind that it won’t be forced to log. It’s had its no-logs policy verified multiple times and even had a real-life test when one of its rented servers was seized in 2018 – nothing was found on it (no user data).

Surfshark, based in the Netherlands, is in a 9-Eyes country, but Dutch law doesn’t mandate data retention for VPNs, and Surfshark’s audits and warrant canary support their stance. In June 2025, Surfshark published a second Deloitte audit confirming their no-logs status.

Advanced Security Features

NordVPN has Double VPN (multi-hop) where your traffic goes through two VPN servers (e.g., from US to Switzerland to internet), encrypting twice. It also offers Onion over VPN, sending traffic through a Tor network after the VPN for extra anonymity. NordVPN recently introduced Meshnet, allowing direct encrypted device-to-device connections (great for remote LAN or file sharing among your own devices).

Surfshark offers MultiHop as well, which is similar to Double VPN (pick two countries and route through both). Surfshark also has some special modes: NoBorders mode for usage in restrictive regions (like China) to bypass VPN blocks, and Camouflage Mode (which automatically obfuscates traffic to look like normal HTTPS, making it hard to detect you’re using a VPN).

Both VPNs include Kill Switch features (cutting internet if VPN drops, to prevent leaks) and both provide private DNS on VPN to avoid DNS leaks. One standout: Surfshark allows GPS-spoofing on Android – it can fake your GPS coordinates to match your VPN location, which NordVPN doesn’t do natively (you’d need a separate app for that). NordVPN, on the other hand, has specialty servers which Surfshark doesn’t explicitly separate (like P2P-optimized, or obfuscated servers for countries like China, though Surfshark’s regular servers auto-obfuscate if needed).

Security Infrastructure

Both have moved to RAM-only servers (volatile memory) in their networks – meaning no data can persist on disk after reboot, adding a layer of security. NordVPN calls this “colocated servers” and Surfshark just states all servers are RAM-only as of 2020s. This is important because even if a server is compromised, it’s harder to extract persistent data.

Performance (Speed & Reliability)

Speed tests by various reviewers often put NordVPN and Surfshark near the top. With WireGuard implementations, both achieve excellent throughput.

NordVPN Speed

Thanks to NordLynx, NordVPN is usually among the fastest. Users often report getting very close to their base (non-VPN) speeds. Nord has a large server network which helps balance load. It particularly shines over long distances – e.g., connecting from Europe to the US is still quite fast due to their infrastructure.

Surfshark Speed

Surfshark also scores very high on speed tests, essentially matching Nord when using WireGuard. It might be slightly behind Nord by a few percentage points in some benchmarks, but for practical use, both are plenty fast for HD streaming, large downloads, video calls, etc.

Simultaneous Connections

NordVPN allows up to 6 devices on one account. Surfshark allows unlimited devices. So if you have a big family or tons of gadgets, Surfshark is amazingly generous here. Nord’s 6 is usually enough for most individuals (say, your laptop, phone, tablet, plus a couple for family members), but Surfshark removes the worry of any limit.

Reliability

Both apps are stable and reliable across platforms. NordVPN has a more mature app with a map interface, etc., while Surfshark’s app is clean and minimal. Rarely, one service might have a server down – Nord’s huge network usually means you can find another easily. Surfshark has many countries available, sometimes even more country locations than Nord (100 vs Nord’s ~60) though Nord covers the main ones most people need.

If you are in a restrictive country (like China, UAE, etc.), NordVPN and Surfshark both generally work but may require specific settings:

• NordVPN has obfuscated servers you can enable in settings when on OpenVPN mode.
• Surfshark’s NoBorders usually kicks in automatically to find a working method.

User reports as of 2024 show both can work in China, but this can change with the cat-and-mouse of censorship. NordVPN has been in the game longer, which might give it a slight edge in those scenarios, but Surfshark keeps up well.

Streaming and Torrenting

A common reason people get a VPN is to stream content from other regions (Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, etc.) and to download via BitTorrent privately.

Streaming

NordVPN is often praised for its ability to unblock a wide range of streaming services – Netflix (multiple regions), Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and more. They have SmartPlay DNS integrated, which helps in making connections less detectable as VPN.

Surfshark, despite its lower price, has been just as adept at unblocking. It advertises unblocking 15+ Netflix libraries and works with all the services mentioned. In practice, sometimes one service might have an IP blocked for Netflix – if so, you can usually switch to another server and it works. Both VPNs have a good reputation in the streaming community; Nord maybe slightly edges out because of more servers (less chance of all IPs being known by streaming companies).

One Surfshark perk: If you have a Fire TV or similar, Surfshark’s unlimited devices means you can cover every TV in the house and every family member’s device for streaming without worry.

Torrenting

Both NordVPN and Surfshark allow P2P traffic on their servers (Nord has specific P2P servers, but even if you connect elsewhere it will reroute you to a P2P server if it detects torrent use; Surfshark allows it on all servers). They have no bandwidth limits and keep you anonymous while torrenting. NordVPN’s Panama jurisdiction and proven no-logs might give some users extra peace of mind if torrenting copyrighted material (which we don’t endorse), but either way, both should keep your activities private.

Nord also offers a SOCKS5 proxy if you want to configure that in your torrent client (Surfshark doesn’t provide separate proxies). Both support port forwarding? Actually, NordVPN does not support port forwarding (for security reasons) and neither does Surfshark – that’s worth noting if you need that for seeding.

User Interface and Ease of Use

NordVPN’s apps have a world map that you can click on to select countries, as well as a server list. It’s visually engaging, though some find the map a bit unwieldy on mobile. Nord has lots of options but organized well – things like the kill switch, protocol selection, specialty servers, etc., are in settings.

Surfshark’s app is more minimalistic – a simple list of locations (with a static list of Multihop pairs as well), and a quick-connect button. Surfshark also offers “Modes” in its app for certain features: e.g., an ad-blocker called CleanWeb (one toggle enables it), a Whitelister (split-tunneling feature to exclude apps or sites from the VPN). The interface is clean and modern, perhaps less playful than Nord’s map but very straightforward.

Both have dark mode and are generally easy for beginners: install, sign in, hit Quick Connect and you’re protected. Notably, both NordVPN and Surfshark support all major platforms:

• Windows, macOS, Linux (NordVPN has a GUI on Ubuntu now; Surfshark’s Linux is command-line only as of now).
• Mobile: Android, iOS (full-featured).
• Browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox) – these proxy your browser traffic only.
• Fire TV / Android TV apps (great for smart TVs).

They can also be configured at the router level if you have a compatible router and want whole-house VPN, but that’s a manual setup.

Pricing and Value

Here’s where differences are more apparent. Surfshark’s strategy was to undercut others:

NordVPN Pricing

Typically around $3.30 to $4 per month on a 2-year plan (they change deals often). Standard price ~$79 for two years, plus sometimes extra months. Nord doesn’t usually go as low as Surfshark, but it often adds value in bundles (e.g., sometimes they bundle NordPass password manager, or give a gift).

Surfshark Pricing

Often around $2.49 per month on a 2-year (+some months) plan – one of the best bang for buck among top VPNs. They also had a 24-month + 2 free months for about $60 total. Surfshark tends to be cheaper if you use a long-term plan. On a monthly plan, both are expensive (Nord ~$12/mo, Surfshark ~$13/mo). But most go for the multi-year to save big.

Value

Surfshark’s unlimited devices and low cost make it extremely high value, especially for a family or if you have many devices. NordVPN, though pricier, comes with long-standing trust, slightly more polish, and extras (it has a Threat Protection feature now that blocks ads/malware – similar to Surfshark’s CleanWeb). Nord also now offers NordLynx everywhere and things like Meshnet at no extra cost, which add value if you’d use them.

It’s worth noting that since they’re sister companies now (under Nord Security), sometimes you can find bundle deals (Nord has a bundle with NordVPN, NordPass, etc.; Surfshark offers Surfshark One which adds an antivirus and search tool). But focusing on VPN service alone, Surfshark is the budget king while Nord is the premium choice (often ranked #1 in reviews, and you pay a bit more for that top spot). Both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you could try each and see if you prefer one.

Unique Selling Points Summary

To help you decide, consider these unique points:

NordVPN advantages:

• Slightly faster in some regions due to more servers.
• Longer track record in privacy, with multiple audits and a proven crisis handling (the 2018 incident) – trust factor.
• Specialty servers (Double VPN, Onion) for niche use.
• Based in Panama (for those who care about jurisdiction deeply).
• Meshnet feature (if you want device-to-device VPN linking).
• More polished app in some eyes (and a Chrome extension that can do split-tunneling of sorts by controlling specific site bypass).
• NordLynx protocol is custom-tuned for performance.

Surfshark advantages:

• Significantly cheaper on long-term plans; great value.
• Unlimited device connections – huge plus for large households.
• Some features like GPS-spoofing, which Nord doesn’t have.
• Offers more countries (100+) which might help if you need a less common location.
• Very similar core privacy/security as Nord, but in a more affordable package.
• Clean, simple interface that some prefer, and smaller app size.

In terms of which one is best, it truly depends on your priorities. If budget is number one, Surfshark wins – you get 90% of what NordVPN offers for a lower price. If you want the absolute best performance and a veteran service, NordVPN might edge out. The fact that they are now under common ownership suggests both will continue to improve and perhaps align in quality.

Conclusion

NordVPN and Surfshark are both excellent VPN services that we feel confident recommending. NordVPN vs Surfshark isn’t a fight with a clear loser; it’s more about what you value:

Choose NordVPN if you want a slightly more premium experience, maybe a tiny edge in speed, and you don’t mind paying a bit more. It’s like the established champion with a solid rep and every feature you’d need.

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Choose Surfshark if you want maximum value for money, the flexibility of endless connections, and a service that basically matches Nord in core capabilities. It’s especially great for families or if you’re new to VPNs and want to try out a top service at low cost.

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Either way, you’ll be getting a top-tier VPN in terms of privacy and performance. Both will encrypt your connection, hide your IP, unblock content, and protect you on Wi-Fi. Whichever you pick, remember to use those security features (enable the kill switch, try MultiHop if you need extra anonymity, etc.). And enjoy browsing freely and safely – the internet is a lot better when you have a trustworthy VPN watching your back.