Surfshark VPN Review 2026: Is It Worth Switching from NordVPN?
I’ve been a user of Surfshark for some time, and it hits all the right notes in terms of value, unlimited simultaneous device connections, streaming capability, and privacy. The plan for 2-years with discounted rates begins at approximately $1.78 per month, and Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video are supported.
In November 2025, Surfshark went through an independent no-logs audit by Deloitte. The offer is only for the first billing period – be sure to check the renewal rate when signing up.
So if you’re trying to decide between Surfshark vs NordVPN, the biggest distinctions are:
Choose Surfshark if you want:
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Lower long-term pricing
- Useful streaming support
- Optional antivirus and identity-monitoring features
Choose NordVPN if you want:
- A larger server network
- More advanced server options
- Stronger support for some restrictive environments
Try Surfshark — 30-day money-back guarantee →
Let’s examine the differences in detail.
Surfshark Quick Stats (2026)
Feature | Surfshark |
Starting price | $1.78/month on the 2-year promotional plan |
Monthly price | Higher than long-term promotional pricing |
Simultaneous connections | Unlimited |
Server count | 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries |
No-logs audit | Deloitte, November 2025 |
Streaming | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Hulu |
Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
Kill switch | Yes |
Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
Headquarters | Amsterdam / Vilnius |
Parent company | Nord Security |
Surfshark Pricing in 2026
Surfshark has 3 types of plans: Starter, One, and One+. You can select a billing period from various options. However, it allows unlimited simultaneous connections to devices.
Surfshark Starter
Starter includes only the core VPN service and does not include the advanced security and identity features that come with the rest of the plans.
The 2-year promotion is approximately $1.78 a month and includes a few promotional months. The yearly option is more expensive per month, and the month-to-month billing is much more expensive.
For bloggers, remote workers, and individual users who primarily require VPN privacy, browsing security, and streaming access.
Surfshark One — VPN plus antivirus and alerts
Surfshark One incorporates Alert identity monitoring and antivirus into the VPN.
The two-year promo price comes out to roughly $2.08 a month. That small bump is probably worth it if you’re OK with just basic antivirus and breach monitoring, and you don’t want to spend more money on another service.
However, the antivirus is not a substitute for a complete security package, like Bitdefender Total Security.
Surfshark One+ — data removal included
One+ includes Surfshark’s data-removal service, Incogni.
Because it is pricier than the other plans, the plan is most logical for individuals who are seeking assistance in removing personal information from data-broker sources.
The extra fee might not be required for an average VPN user.
Important pricing warning
Offers for the first billing cycle use deal prices. When renewals are listed, they may be more expensive, so confirm the renewal price before making your order.
You can also use the 30-day money-back guarantee to try the service before you make a long-term commitment.
Speed and Performance
Server infrastructure
Eager to try out the latest from Surfshark? Let’s get you a glimpse into the future! Surfshark v2.0.Â
Next year, Surfshark increased the servers’ ports to 10 Gbps.Â
Where’s the party? Recent testing has shown promising results with the servers in the vicinity. Obviously, your internet connection will set the speed limits depending on your location, network, distance, and more.
Here’s the deal: speed reductions should be manageable while browsing, streaming, video chatting, and downloading near a server.
WireGuard performance
On to protocols, WireGuard is definitely one of the reasons why people flock to Surfshark. It provides an optimal balance of speed and security. Whether you want the fastest speeds possible or need to secure your connection while on the go, WireGuard will give you the best results.
Virtual servers
Interested in how virtual server locations operate? Server locations get you a VPN server address associated with a particular country, even though the server is physically located somewhere else.
Not bad for browsing and streaming, but watch out – banking sites and other geo-specific services could throw a fit. If you require a server from a certain country, be sure to verify the server location first.
Streaming Performance
Does Surfshark work with streaming? Yes, it is! You can also unblock a lot of the major streaming platforms with Surfshark, including Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, ESPN+, Paramount +, and many more!
However, if the real-world distance of your local servers is sufficiently fast, your connection is fast enough for HD and 4K streaming.
How to Watch BBC iPlayer in Other Countries. The worst part is that there’s more likely to be a list of BCC iPlayer VPN servers that aren’t working with the service anymore. This is because of the updates to the VPN blocklist.
Similarly, NordVPN has Smart Play advantage for a few less popular or aggressively protected streaming services, though Surfshark remains a viable choice for the popular ones.
In multi-device households, the fact that Surfshark offers unlimited connections can be a real bonus for one subscription. Phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, and other compatible devices can be connected to a single account.
Security and Privacy
No-logs policy
Right, so Surfshark says it has a no-logs policy. But want to know something? Deloitte looked into Surfshark’s no-logs policy in November 2025.
Of course, an outside evaluation provides us with somewhat more details about their data processing, but come on, an audit can’t prove that everything will stay completely secret!
If your main concern is preventing your ISP, advertisers, and websites from associating your activity with your regular IP address, then a reliable VPN can provide some additional anonymity.
Jurisdiction
Located in London, they also have a few things going on over in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Why should I care? If you’re concerned about privacy, any pertinent local regulations could come into play if a company receives a legal request.
If jurisdiction is important to you, make sure to review their latest privacy docs before you join.
Kill switch
VPN kill switch? It’s basically the guardian angel of your internet saying “nope” when your VPN gets sleepy. It’s actually pretty awesome to have this friend hiding your IP address when your connection is wonky. Surfshark has one of these, but make sure to turn it on if you want to keep it turned on!
RAM-only servers
Surfshark runs on RAM-only servers.
RAM is awesome because it forgets everything when you turn the power off, meaning it’s less likely anything will be left over after a server reboot.
This is obviously only one of many ways VPN providers attempt to enhance privacy. Rather clever, isn’t it?
Surfshark vs NordVPN: A Friendly Comparison
Hey Friends! Here’s your guide to the world of VPNs. This post compares Surfshark and NordVPN, both brands from the Nord Security family; however, they are quite different, with different plans, features, and server networks.
Surfshark: Pricing and Device Connections
That’s a pretty awesome bonus of Surfshark – unlimited simultaneous connections! Think of all your devices, from your tablet and laptop to your smart TV and Android TV box, all connected through a single VPN. If you’re like most people and have plenty of devices, this is definitely a feature that stands out.
NordVPN: Server Network and Advanced Options
NordVPN: Larger server network. NordVPN is a little popular for having the largest server network among all VPNs. Having a larger network means you have more servers to pick from, which can be useful depending on your location and which servers are closest to you. NordVPN also has some specialized servers that might interest you.
Speed Differences
Both Surfshark and NordVPN are excellent performers in terms of speed, although what your experience is like will depend on the testing location and server type you’re connected to. For general browsing and streaming, there’s probably not a lot between them, and you may never notice any difference. However, for those who download a large amount of data or connect to remote servers, there could be some differences.
Advanced Server Features
Along similar lines, NordVPN has some cool options including obfuscated servers and the Double VPN feature. Surfshark isn’t missing out either, as it provides Multi Hop for users who’d prefer their traffic to bounce around several VPN servers. Sure, these features could make things a little slower due to the added routing and encryption, but they’ll definitely suit you if you’ve got a more complicated privacy requirement.
Should You Switch from NordVPN to Surfshark?
Answer: Well, honestly, it depends on what you need your VPN for.
Do you often connect 10 or more devices or need unlimited simultaneous connections? Surfshark can be a perfect choice for you.
You might also look into long-term subscription pricing if that is where you are at.
Conversely, NordVPN could be a perfect fit if you’re seeking an even larger server count or require more advanced features from your servers.
Don’t switch just yet – here’s how the current renewal price, your device’s requirements, your country’s server availability, and what you actually use stack up.
Features Worth Knowing
Clean Web - ad and tracker blocking
Hey! Want to block ads, trackers, malicious domains, and a few other things? Well, you can with Clean Web’s DNS-level filtering.Â
It won’t substitute a dedicated browser extension like uBlock Origin, but it’s an excellent additional measure of defense for devices where those extensions aren’t available.Â
Now, let’s make things go so… smoothly.
Bypasser - split tunnelling
Introducing Bypasser, Surfshark’s user-friendly split-tunneling tool. It lets you choose which apps or websites are routed through the VPN, and which ones can keep riding your default web connection. Now, this is very useful if, for example, your banking service is better off without a VPN, or you’re trying to get work done using a local (non-geo-blocked) streaming service. Just remember that the availability of features may vary based on your operating system, so check the supported-devices list.
Alert - identity monitoring
We all want to stay safe – so here’s Buzz with Alert. It watches your email addresses and your PII, like date of birth, surname, etc against databases of reported breaches – including breach records. It will alert you if your information shows up, but it doesn’t stop breaches from happening; it’s about providing rapid response.
Multi Hop - double VPN
And finally, there’s Multi Hop. We run your connection through two VPN servers (not just one) for enhanced privacy. It’s a little slower than usual because your data takes an extra leap, but for the vast majority of users, you probably won’t need this. For those who do – you’re totally set.
What Surfshark Does Not Do Well
Virtual server transparency
Some Surfshark locations use virtual servers. Although this approach can provide stable connections, it may matter to users who specifically need physical infrastructure in a particular country.
Check the server information if physical location is important for your work or banking.
Apple split tunneling
Surfshark’s Bypasser feature has limitations on Apple platforms.
If you use a Mac or iPhone and depend heavily on split tunneling, verify the latest compatibility information before subscribing.
Monthly pricing
Most ofSurfshark’sSpecial Offers come with more extended-term promotional options. If you like to have the flexibility of a month-by-month plan, we want to ensure you compare the overall price carefully.
Smaller server network
Surfshark has fewer servers than NordVPN.
But Surfshark is still worth a try. While most users can connect to a decent number of locations, if you’re a long way from large VPN server hubs or connect to the same countries a lot, server counts could matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Surfshark and NordVPN operate under the same parent company, Nord Security. They continue to operate as separate VPN products with different pricing, features, and server networks.
Surfshark supports several major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. Performance can change as streaming services update their VPN detection systems.
Surfshark states that it follows a no-logs policy. Deloitte conducted an independent assessment of its no-logs practices in November 2025.
Yes. Surfshark supports unlimited simultaneous device connections on its plans.
Paid VPN services generally offer more features, support, server choices, and predictable infrastructure than many free VPN services. However, compare the privacy policy and business model of any VPN before using it.
Starter is the simplest option if you only need the VPN. One adds antivirus and identity-monitoring features, while One+ adds Incogni data-removal functionality.
Final Verdict
So there you have it. Surfshark is great for unlimited device connections, discounts with long-term promo pricing, streaming support, and plenty of additional privacy features.
That said, it also has a smaller server count than NordVPN, some quirks with its split tunneling on Apple devices, and virtual server locations.
If you’re someone who needs a ton of connections and wants to keep those VPN costs down, Surfshark is a good choice.
Already with NordVPN? Maybe take a look at your existing plan, renewal cost, number of devices, and features first to see what you would be leaving behind. Plus, if you need special servers or support for difficult locations, explore that.
Ultimately, it’s a decision that’s all about what works best for your devices, budget, location, streaming requirements, and privacy concerns.
Related reading:
- NordVPN review (2026): speed, privacy, and value tested
- What is a VPN and do you actually need one?
- 5 best VPNs for streaming in 2026