NordVPN vs. Surfshark: Which VPN is right for you?

When selecting a digital personal community (VPN) service, the choices are countless. In a market flooded with promotions, offers, lists of options, completely different encryption requirements, and ranging gadget help, it may be simple to overlook the core motive for utilizing a VPN: you want a service that improves your on-line safety and privateness. 

Additionally: One of the best VPN companies: Knowledgeable examined and reviewed

However how are you going to make that call properly? It is at all times greatest to begin with a VPN’s repute, particularly when backed by in depth testing. The workforce at ZDNET has years of expertise on this area. Out of the 50 or so branded industrial choices out there right this moment, we have narrowed down our suggestions to a fraction of the entire, relying on completely different use circumstances. Two of our prime selections crop up usually: NordVPN and Surfshark. 

These VPNs are each reliable and supply a commendable service to clients right this moment, and we’d advocate both with none qualms. However this does not imply that they’re the identical — one could also be a greater possibility for you than the opposite. 

That is how NordVPN and Surfshark examine. 

NordVPN and Surfshark, in contrast

It is best to choose Surfshark if…

1. You wish to get monetary savings

Surfshark is inexpensive than NordVPN, and sometimes by a great quantity. Costs change repeatedly, however on the time of writing, Surfshark is about $25 much less over two years. 

On the time of writing, Surfshark’s most cost-effective deal is on the market for the equal of $1.99/month, whereas NordVPN — because of vacation offers — is $2.99/month. Sometimes, nevertheless, you will see that that NordVPN plans begin at round $3.40 – $3.60 per thirty days. 

2. You need limitless simultaneous units

NordVPN solely permits you to join 10 units directly to its VPN service, whereas Surfshark units no limits in any respect. In case you’re touring with only a few units, that will not matter a lot. However the gadget rely can add up for those who’re at house or within the workplace and have greater than only a PC and cellular gadget you wish to shield.

ZDNET author David Gewirtz calls himself one thing of an “outlier” with 4 predominant computer systems, a number of spare machines, three iPads, a telephone, gaming consoles, and good TVs to guard with a VPN. Nevertheless, contemplating what number of units most of us now work with, he isn’t the one one — and restrictions on simultaneous connections will be irritating.  

Nevertheless, with limitless simultaneous connections, you do not have to fret. Surfshark’s limitless simultaneous connections perk is actually a serious benefit. 

3. You need a beginner-friendly VPN

Whereas Surfshark has an enormous array of attention-grabbing, privacy-enhancing options to discover, together with Dynamic MultiHop, IP Rotator, the CleanWeb advert and tracker remover, a NoBorders mode, and a LAN invisibility possibility, it’s also extraordinarily beginner-friendly. The entire settings you want as somebody new to the world of VPNs are enabled by default, so that you need not fear about diving deep into your VPN’s configuration and settings. 

Moreover, the default person interface shows every little thing vital: your present connection standing, beneficial server choices based mostly on velocity and latency, a button to disconnect, and a characteristic we significantly like — the choice to pause your VPN for 5 minutes, half-hour, or two hours. 

4. You wish to discover Surfshark’s service ecosystem

Surfshark affords much more than only a VPN. Granted, so does NordVPN, however lots of Surfshark’s additional options and options are geared towards shoppers fairly than the enterprise. 

You’ll be able to join further companies, options, and options — lots of which can be found underneath Surfshark One+ plans — together with a private data and e mail generator, an antivirus scanner, information safety studies, a search engine, and the Incogni private information removing service which tackles data saved by folks search websites and firm databases.  

Additionally: Delete your self from the web with the most effective on-line information removing companies

It is best to choose NordVPN if…

1. Pace is essential

Through the years, the ZDNET workforce has carried out a whole lot of velocity assessments on dozens of VPNs. 

If velocity is crucial issue for you, NordVPN is a greater possibility than Surfshark. NordVPN is a really quick service with minimal velocity loss, which is what you wish to see when your on-line requests are routed by a VPN server community. 

This is not to say that Surfshark is sluggish, nevertheless. As you may see under, our comparative obtain and add velocity assessments performed in December 2024 revealed Surfshark to be a fantastic VPN. With some opponents, it’s possible you’ll persistently see velocity losses past 30%. 

It is value balancing extra elements than velocity, but when that is your prime concern, NordVPN is the higher selection. Do not forget that velocity outcomes will differ relying in your ISP and the server (and its distance) to which you are attempting to attach. 

Additionally: The quickest VPNs: Knowledgeable examined

2. You wish to use a VPN for streaming or gaming

In case you primarily need a VPN to entry streaming companies, we advocate NordVPN over Surfshark. To stop buffering issues, you need the most effective speeds and latency attainable, and NordVPN has carried out higher than Surfshark in these areas throughout our assessments. 

Each VPNs are profitable and have few issues when used to entry companies, together with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. So, your selection might lead to a trade-off between streaming efficiency, velocity, month-to-month value, or different elements. 

Understand that utilizing a VPN to entry streaming companies is a legally grey space, and we do not condone doubtlessly violating the streaming service supplier’s phrases of service. 

Moreover, it’s possible you’ll discover that whereas many streaming companies have resigned themselves to clients utilizing VPNs, fairly than block them, they’ve as a substitute restricted content material libraries to films and TV exhibits out there underneath a worldwide license. 

Additionally: One of the best streaming VPNs: Knowledgeable examined

3. You need as many IP location selections as attainable

Whereas it is fairly a detailed competitors because of latest updates to its community, NordVPN affords extra servers and placement choices than many rivals. NordVPN’s community contains over 6,300 servers in 113 international locations, whereas Surfshark supplies round 3,200 servers in over 100 international locations. 

4. You need business-oriented options or fastened IP addresses

NordVPN affords full enterprise plans with workforce administration, admin consoles, and every little thing you’d have to deploy a VPN for a full firm or division underneath the NordLayer model. If you do not need all of the enterprise and workforce administration options of an enterprise VPN, and also you simply need a fastened IP to run a server or for distant entry, that is additionally out there for an extra price. Simply bear in mind that it isn’t out there in any respect areas, so verify earlier than signing up.