Surfshark is the price champion of legitimate VPNs — unlimited simultaneous connections for around $2.50/mo on a 2-year plan. NordVPN is faster and more thoroughly audited but limits you to 6 devices. For a household or small team sharing one subscription, Surfshark's unlimited devices policy is a genuine differentiator.
NordVPN
NordVPN wins on raw performance and audit transparency. Surfshark wins for households that need unlimited device connections at the lowest price.
Specs Comparison
| Spec | Surfshark | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Best plan price | ~$2.49/mo (2-year) | ~$3.69/mo (2-year) |
| Simultaneous devices | Unlimited | 6 |
| Server count | 3,200+ servers | 6,000+ servers |
| Speed (WireGuard) | Excellent | Best-in-class |
| No-log audit | Yes (Deloitte 2023) | Yes (Deloitte, PwC) |
Unlimited Devices
Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections on one subscription. A family of four with phones, laptops, smart TVs, and tablets can all be connected at the same time. NordVPN limits you to 6 simultaneous devices, which is enough for most individuals but can be tight for households.
This alone makes Surfshark the better deal for families. If you have more than 6 devices to protect, the math is simple.
Speed and Performance
NordVPN's NordLynx consistently scores faster than Surfshark in independent speed tests from PCMag, Tom's Guide, and vpnMentor. The gap isn't huge — both deliver fast enough speeds for streaming and everyday use — but NordVPN has the edge on raw throughput.
Surfshark's WireGuard implementation is solid, and for most users on a typical broadband connection, the speed difference is invisible. It only shows up in high-demand scenarios like large file transfers over many connections.
Pricing
Surfshark's 2-year plan runs ~$2.49/mo. NordVPN's 2-year plan runs ~$3.69/mo. Surfshark is ~35% cheaper and includes unlimited devices. That's a genuinely compelling value proposition.
Both have been audited. Surfshark completed a no-log audit by Deloitte in 2023. Neither is a privacy red flag at the current state of each company.
Surfshark Strengths
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Cheapest among reputable paid VPNs (~$2.49/mo)
- CleanWeb ad/malware blocking included
- Multi-hop double VPN option
NordVPN Strengths
- Faster speeds in independent tests
- More thorough audit history (Deloitte, PwC)
- Larger server network
- Threat Protection malware blocking
Surfshark Weaknesses
- Speed slightly below NordVPN
- Fewer total servers than NordVPN
- Less extensive audit history
NordVPN Weaknesses
- 6-device limit — can be tight for households
- More expensive than Surfshark (~$3.69/mo)
- 2018 server incident (resolved, no data breach)
Best For
- a: Families and households with many devices, or anyone who wants a full-featured VPN at the lowest possible price
- b: Individual users and small households who want the fastest speeds and most thoroughly audited no-log policy
FAQ
Does Surfshark work for Netflix?
Yes — Surfshark reliably unblocks Netflix US and other regional libraries, including UK, Japan, and Canada. Performance varies by server. NordVPN also works for Netflix with comparable reliability.