Surfshark vs NordVPN — here’s the thing nobody tells you: both are owned by the same company. Nord Security bought Surfshark in 2022 and kept both running as separate products. So you’re essentially choosing between a budget version and a premium version of the same thing.
Which one is right for you comes down to one question: do you prioritize saving money or getting the best performance?
I’ll make this simple. If you want the short answer:
- Most people → Surfshark. Half the price, unlimited devices, works great for streaming.
- Privacy-focused users and power users → NordVPN. Faster, more servers, zero metadata retention.
If you want to understand why, keep reading.
The Price Gap Is Bigger Than You Think
Surfshark’s 2-year plan costs $1.99/month. NordVPN’s costs $3.99/month. That’s double the price for a year or two of protection — a real difference if you’re paying out of pocket.
But here’s what makes Surfshark an even better deal: unlimited devices. One account covers every phone, laptop, tablet, and smart TV in your home. NordVPN caps you at 10 devices. For a family of four with multiple devices each, Surfshark saves you money twice over.
Both come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there’s no risk trying either one.
👉 Get Surfshark — $1.99/mo, unlimited devices, 30-day guarantee
Speed: NordVPN Wins, But It Only Matters in Specific Situations
NordVPN is faster. Independent tests from TechRadar consistently put it at the top. Surfshark is no slouch — it hits 950+ Mbps on nearby servers using WireGuard — but on long-distance connections to places like Australia or Japan, NordVPN maintains better speeds.
When does this actually matter? Competitive gaming on far-away servers, or torrenting large files through distant locations. For everything else — streaming, browsing, video calls, working from a café — you won’t feel the difference. Both are fast enough.
Privacy: One Real Difference You Should Know About
Both have audited no-logs policies. Both use AES-256 encryption and RAM-only servers that wipe data on every restart. On paper they’re nearly identical.
The one difference: Surfshark holds your IP address and connection timestamps for up to 15 minutes during active sessions, then deletes them. It’s disclosed in their privacy policy and confirmed by Deloitte’s audit — but it’s not zero.
NordVPN retains nothing. Zero metadata, even during an active session.
For 99% of users this distinction doesn’t matter. If you’re a journalist, activist, or someone in a country with aggressive surveillance — go with NordVPN.
Streaming: Surfshark Is the Better Pick
Both unblock Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and most major streaming platforms. But Surfshark has consistently invested more in streaming reliability — it’s clearly their main selling point. If watching content from other countries is your primary reason for getting a VPN, Surfshark is the right choice. And it’s cheaper.
One Thing Surfshark Users Should Know
Surfshark dropped its SmartDNS feature in February 2026. If you have a smart TV or older gaming console that doesn’t support VPN apps natively, SmartDNS was the easy workaround. Now you’d need to set up the VPN at the router level — more technical. NordVPN still offers SmartDNS.
The Full Comparison
| Feature | Surfshark | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| 2-year price | $1.99/mo | $3.99/mo |
| Devices | Unlimited | 10 |
| Servers | 3,200+ / 100 countries | 7,100+ / 118 countries |
| Speed (long-distance) | Good | Excellent |
| Metadata retention | 15 min | Zero |
| SmartDNS | ✗ discontinued | ✓ |
| Streaming | Excellent | Good |
| Money-back | 30 days | 30 days |
Which One Should You Get?
Get Surfshark if you want the best value, have multiple devices or share with family, and mainly use a VPN for streaming or everyday privacy. It does everything most people need at half the price.
👉 Get Surfshark — $1.99/mo, 30-day money-back guarantee
Get NordVPN if you need the fastest possible speeds, zero metadata retention, SmartDNS for older devices, or access to a much larger server network. It costs more but delivers more for users who push VPNs hard.
👉 Get NordVPN — $3.99/mo, 30-day money-back guarantee
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surfshark owned by NordVPN?
They share the same parent company — Nord Security — but operate as separate products with different pricing and features.
Which is faster, Surfshark or NordVPN?
NordVPN is faster, especially on long-distance connections. For everyday use like streaming and browsing, both are fast enough that you won’t notice the difference.
Can I use Surfshark on all my devices?
Yes — Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections. NordVPN caps at 10 devices per account.
Does Surfshark work with Netflix?
Yes, reliably. It unblocks Netflix US, UK, Japan, and most other regions. NordVPN works with Netflix too.
Which VPN is better for privacy?
NordVPN retains zero connection metadata. Surfshark holds basic session data for up to 15 minutes, which is audited and disclosed — but not zero. For most users it makes no practical difference.
Is there a free trial?
Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial on mobile. Both services have a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.
