NordVPN vs Surfshark 2026: Which VPN Should You Choose
NordVPN is faster and stronger on privacy. Surfshark is cheaper and better for big households. In Gizmodo’s latest head-to-head, NordVPN won five of nine rounds, Surfshark won three, and one was a draw (Gizmodo). If performance and privacy matter most, go with NordVPN. If you want to save money and cover unlimited devices, go with Surfshark.
Both have belonged to the same parent company, Nord Security, since 2022. They still run separate servers, apps, pricing and audits, so they really are two different products.
Quick verdict:
- Choose NordVPN if you want the fastest speeds on every device, more no-logs audits, the widest country coverage, and features like Meshnet and Double VPN.
- Choose Surfshark if you want a lower price even after renewal, unlimited devices, and one VPN for the whole family.
01NordVPN vs Surfshark at a glance
Figures are current as of September 2026, and prices change with each promotion. On mobile, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Feature | NordVPN | Surfshark | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (2 years, cheapest plan) | $3.49/month | $2.49/month | Surfshark |
| Renewal, cheapest plan | $139.08/year | $79/year | Surfshark |
| Devices at once | 10 | Unlimited | Surfshark |
| Server countries | 150 | 100 | NordVPN |
| Speed | Faster on every device tested | Slightly slower, especially on phones | NordVPN |
| Independent no-logs audits | 6 since 2018 | Deloitte 2023 and 2025 | NordVPN |
| RAM-only servers | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Based in | Panama | Netherlands | NordVPN |
| Free trial | 3 days, Android only | 7 days, up to 3 devices | Surfshark |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | Tie |
- Entry planSurfshark: $2.49NordVPN: $3.49
- Middle planSurfshark: $2.79NordVPN: $4.49
- Top planSurfshark: $4.49NordVPN: $7.49
NordVPN Basic, Complete and Prime vs Surfshark Starter, One and One+ on the two-year plan (27 months). Gizmodo, September 2026.
02Price and plans: Surfshark is cheaper on longer plans
Surfshark costs less on every annual and two-year plan, both for the first term and after renewal. Only on month-to-month billing is NordVPN cheaper ($14.99 versus $16.45). Surfshark’s middle-tier One plan is even cheaper than NordVPN’s entry plan (Gizmodo).
| Tier | NordVPN (2 years) | Renewal | Surfshark (2 years) | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Basic: $3.49/month, $94.23 for 27 months | $139.08/year | Starter: $2.49/month, $67.23 for 27 months | $79/year |
| Middle | Complete: $4.49/month | $219.48/year | One: $2.79/month | $99/year |
| Top | Prime: $7.49/month | $296.28/year | One+: $4.49/month | $119/year |
What the higher tiers add:
- NordVPN Complete adds full Threat Protection Pro malware protection, the NordPass password manager and 1 TB of encrypted storage. Prime adds identity theft protection on top (StationX).
- Surfshark One adds antivirus, data breach alerts and private search. One+ adds Incogni, which asks data brokers to delete your personal information (Gizmodo).
- Entry planSurfshark: $79.00NordVPN: $139.08
- Middle planSurfshark: $99.00NordVPN: $219.48
- Top planSurfshark: $119.00NordVPN: $296.28
Yearly price of each plan after the first term. Gizmodo and StationX, September 2026.
Verdict: Surfshark wins clearly. You’ll save about $27 over the first term (27 months) and about $60 a year after renewal compared with NordVPN.
03Security and privacy: NordVPN has the longer audit record
Both use AES-256 encryption, include a kill switch and run every server in RAM only, so all data is wiped on reboot.
Audits: NordVPN has passed six independent no-logs audits since 2018, the latest by Deloitte in December 2025 (StationX). Surfshark had its no-logs policy verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025, and Cure53 has reviewed its infrastructure, most recently in 2026 (Surfshark). In Gizmodo’s testing, though, Surfshark keeps your IP address for 15 minutes after you disconnect (Gizmodo).
Jurisdiction: NordVPN is based in Panama, outside the intelligence alliances. Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, a 9 Eyes member, though Dutch law doesn’t require VPN providers to retain data (CyberInsider).
Obfuscation: Both can hide the fact that you’re using a VPN, which helps in censored countries or on networks that block VPNs. In Gizmodo’s testing, though, NordVPN’s obfuscation cost far less speed than Surfshark’s (Gizmodo).
- NordVPN, obfuscated servers9.2%
- NordVPN, NordWhisper12.8%
- Surfshark, Camouflage Mode53.2%
Downloads on a UK server compared with the main protocol (NordLynx 184.73 Mbps, WireGuard 186.96 Mbps). Gizmodo testing, September 2026. Lower is better.
Verdict: Both are safe. NordVPN comes out ahead thanks to its longer audit history, its jurisdiction outside the alliances and its faster obfuscation.
04Speed: NordVPN leads on every device
In Gizmodo’s testing, NordVPN held on to more speed on a PC, two phones and a Fire TV Stick (Gizmodo). Other tests mostly agree:
- eSecurity Planet: Citing TechRadar and Tom’s Guide tests, it reports 1,249 Mbps for NordVPN and 1,021 Mbps for Surfshark on a local server. On a long-distance server, though, Surfshark was faster (935 vs 688 Mbps), and it also did well with OpenVPN (eSecurity Planet).
- CyberBasics: In CyberInsider’s test cited by CyberBasics, Surfshark held around 747 Mbps on a gigabit line but gave up roughly 271 Mbps to NordVPN from the UK to the US (355 vs 626 Mbps) (CyberBasics).
- Windows 11 PCSurfshark: 9.6%NordVPN: 7.8%
- Galaxy S26 UltraSurfshark: 25.9%NordVPN: 20.3%
- iPhone 17 ProSurfshark: 21.4%NordVPN: 13.6%
- Fire TV Stick 4K PlusSurfshark: 5.8%NordVPN: 3.0%
Gizmodo testing, September 2026. PC and Fire TV on a wired 190 Mbps line (PC averaged across UK, US and Japan servers), phones on 54.7 Mbps Wi-Fi. Lower is better.
Tests also show Surfshark with higher latency and jitter, which matters most for online gaming (eSecurity Planet). In Gizmodo’s testing, NordVPN had the lower ping on all three servers (Gizmodo).
- United KingdomSurfshark: 51NordVPN: 41
- United StatesSurfshark: 144NordVPN: 134
- JapanSurfshark: 241NordVPN: 215
Gizmodo testing on a Windows 11 PC, September 2026. Lower is better.
Verdict: NordVPN is faster. For everyday browsing and streaming, though, either one is plenty. You’ll mostly notice the difference on a phone, when gaming, or on a gigabit connection.
05Streaming: NordVPN edges ahead
In Gizmodo’s testing, both opened Netflix, HBO Max and BBC iPlayer. Disney+ worked directly in the desktop app only with Surfshark, while NordVPN needed its browser extension. The UK’s ITVX, on the other hand, blocked Surfshark and let NordVPN through. Overall, NordVPN opened all 14 services tested, Surfshark 13 (Gizmodo).
Verdict: You’re in good hands with either for streaming. For TVs without VPN apps (Samsung, LG), NordVPN offers Smart DNS, which Surfshark has dropped. If you watch on many devices at once, though, Surfshark’s unlimited device limit makes it the more practical choice.
06Features, apps and support
| Feature | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Ad and tracker blocking | Yes, full version from Complete | Yes, on every plan (CleanWeb) |
| Malware protection | Yes, full version from the Complete plan | Antivirus from the One plan |
| Double VPN | Yes (Double VPN) | Yes (MultiHop) |
| Private network between your devices | Yes (Meshnet) | No |
| Alternate email and identity | No | Yes (Alternative ID) |
| In-house protocol | NordLynx, NordWhisper | Dausos (macOS only for now) |
| Split tunneling | Yes | Yes |
| Port forwarding | Only with the paid Dedicated Server add-on | No |
| Dedicated IP | Paid add-on | Paid add-on (from $3.75/month) |
| Support | 24/7 live chat, email | 24/7 live chat, email |
Apps: Both have apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Fire TV and Apple TV. Surfshark keeps the same layout on every device and, in Gizmodo’s testing, connected more reliably alongside other VPNs (Gizmodo). NordVPN offers more features, but newcomers need a little time to find their way around.
Free trial: Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial with annual and two-year plans, on up to 3 devices during the trial (Surfshark). NordVPN offers 3 days on Android only (Gizmodo). Both also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN Threat Protection Pro76%
- Surfshark CleanWeb79%
Share of the 135 domains in the d3ward test that were blocked. Surfshark CleanWeb on every plan, NordVPN Threat Protection Pro from the Complete plan. Gizmodo, September 2026.
Verdict: NordVPN has more advanced features, Meshnet and Onion Over VPN in particular. Surfshark narrowly won Gizmodo’s security and features round, though: ad blocking on every plan that caught more domains, antivirus for just $0.30 a month more, and Alternative ID.
07Which one should you choose?
| You need | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum speed | NordVPN | Faster on computers, phones and TVs |
| Online gaming | NordVPN | Lower latency and less jitter |
| The lowest price | Surfshark | Cheaper annual and two-year plans, also after renewal |
| A VPN for the whole family | Surfshark | Unlimited devices |
| Maximum privacy | NordVPN | More no-logs audits, based in Panama |
| Censored countries | NordVPN | Obfuscation slows it down less |
| Ad blocking on the cheapest plan | Surfshark | CleanWeb comes with the entry plan |
| Try before you pay | Surfshark | 7-day free trial, NordVPN only 3 days on Android |
Overall verdict: If speed and privacy are your top priorities and you don’t mind paying a bit more, get NordVPN. If you want to cover your whole household and pay as little as possible, even after renewal, get Surfshark. Both come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try them risk-free.
Wondering how NordVPN stacks up against ExpressVPN, or want to compare more services? See ExpressVPN vs NordVPN 2026 and our comparison of the 14 best VPNs of 2026. Don’t want to pay at all? Safe free options are in Best Free VPN 2026.
08NordVPN vs Surfshark FAQ
Is NordVPN or Surfshark better?
It depends on what matters more to you. NordVPN is faster and has more no-logs audits and advanced features. Surfshark is cheaper and covers unlimited devices.
Are NordVPN and Surfshark owned by the same company?
Yes. Both have been part of Nord Security since 2022, but they run separate servers, apps, pricing and audits.
Which is faster?
NordVPN. It held on to more speed on computers, phones and TVs in testing. For everyday browsing and streaming, though, either is fast enough.
Which is cheaper?
Surfshark. On a two-year plan it costs $2.49 a month versus $3.49 for NordVPN, and it renews at $79 a year versus $139.08. Only on month-to-month billing is NordVPN cheaper.
How many devices do they cover?
NordVPN covers 10 devices. Surfshark covers an unlimited number.
Do they work with Netflix?
Yes. In Gizmodo’s testing both opened Netflix, HBO Max and BBC iPlayer. Disney+ worked in Surfshark’s desktop app, while NordVPN needed its browser extension.
09The bottom line
NordVPN and Surfshark are sister services aimed at different people. NordVPN is for anyone who wants maximum speed and privacy. Surfshark is for families and anyone who wants a quality, audited VPN for as little money as possible. Whichever you pick, you’re unlikely to regret it.
10Sources
We checked prices, audits and speeds in September 2026:
- Gizmodo: Surfshark vs NordVPN 2026
- eSecurity Planet: Surfshark vs NordVPN 2026
- CyberBasics: Surfshark Review 2026
- StationX: NordVPN Review (September 2026)
- CyberInsider: Surfshark VPN Review 2026
- Gizmodo: Surfshark Review 2026
- Gizmodo: NordVPN Review 2026
- Surfshark: Pricing
- Surfshark: Trust Center and audits
- Surfshark: Free trial