Surfshark and NordVPN are both top-notch VPNs that provide the user with safety, security, and reliability. Both these VPNs get compared many times for being some of the most famous VPNs. Surfshark and NordVPN have proved their worth many times by keeping the user’s crucial information and device safe, giving them high connection speed, and giving access to restricted websites or streaming libraries. Although both VPNs offer multipurpose features to users, that becomes more of a reason to compare these VPNs and to see which one stands above the other. To see which VPN bests the other, we provide you with a detailed Surfshark VS NordVPN comparison.
Here’s a Quick Surfshark Vs NordVPN Comparison
| Name | Surfshark | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 9.4/10 | 9.8/10 |
| Servers | 3200+ | 5000+ |
| Types of Access | Paid | Paid |
| Trial Version | 7-day free trial (Not for Windows) | No |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days (on all subscription plans) | 30 days (on all subscription plans) |
| Pricing | From $2.05/month | From $2.99/month |
| Smart DNS | Yes | Yes |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, & WireGuard | OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2, & WireGuard (NordLynx) |
| Connection Speed | 200+ Mbps | 300+ Mbps |
| Simultaneous Connection | Unlimited | 5 |
| Bandwidth Limitation | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Surfshark Vs NordVPN: Which One is More Secure?
Both Surfshark and NordVPN offer excellent security services, including military-grade encryption, strong protocols, leak protection, and more. Although both VPNs offer advanced features, the quantity and quality of NordVPN are better than those of Surfshark. Moreover, the features customization room in NordVPN is also bigger than Surfshark.
Split Tunneling: It is a simple and easy-to-use advanced feature that allows the user to choose between which apps should go through the VPN and which shouldn’t. Both VPNs offer this feature to all compatible devices and also offer enough room for customization. A similar split tunneling can be seen in both VPNs.
Smart DNS: This is the greatest feature that many users adore, as it is a dedicated feature to unblocking streaming libraries on major streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more. Moreover, it allows users to watch these libraries on their Fire TV Stick, Smart TV, and Apple TV.
Surfshark offers a SmartDNS to all compatible devices and works well in unblocking streaming libraries on major streaming platforms by alerting the providers. While on the other hand, the SmartDNS of NordVPN is known as SmartPlay and can also unblock streaming libraries without alerting the providers. However, the number of libraries unblocked with SmartPlay is higher than the SmartDNS of Surfshark.
Stealth: It is yet another great feature that makes sure that the user does not get caught for using a VPN. Nord gives this feature at its best to the user as CyberSec, SOCKS5, and other protocols, which can easily fool censorship and make the user’s URL looks like any regular HTTPS URL would. On the other hand, the stealth of Surfshark only revolves around the Camouflage mode, and its generated ISP is less durable than NordVPN’s.
Kill Switch: It is one of the most advanced features that ensure users’ devices’ safety from malware attacks. However, the feature is almost the same for both VPNs. Both VPN providers make sure to give users the most advanced kill switch features and settings, as it is one of the best features to counter hackers or strong malware attacks.
High-Grade Encryption: Both of the VPNs have high-grade encrypted servers. However, NordVPN uses AES-256-GCM, which guarantees the protection of the user’s sensitive information. While Surfshark uses AES 256-bit cipher, which is slightly weaker than NordVPN’s encryption.
No Activity Logs: Neither of the VPN saves any of the user’s personal information and does not allow third-party apps to do so. Both VPNs follow a strict no-logging policy, making users’ online information secure.
Servers and Performance
NordVPN has a global server presence and includes over 5000 secure servers that can be used for multipurpose activities such as gaming and protecting users’ information on public wifi. Moreover, all the servers follow strong encryption and protocols, which offers high and stable connection speed.
While on the other hand, Surfshark includes over 3200 servers spread across 100+ countries. All the servers are protected with military-grade encryption, guaranteeing users’ online and devices’ safety. Although its servers are secure, reliable, and perform well in various activities, they are not capable enough of besting NordVPNs.
Plans and Pricing
Both VPNs provide the user with three different plans to choose from. The plans are available for one month, one year, and two years. Although their contract length is the same, their pricing is different, and this can make a significant impact on one’s choice. NordVPN is a budget-friendly VPN, and its price starts from $11.99 monthly.
It has an incredible 30 days money-back guarantee which is more than enough time for the user to understand the features of the VPN and to know if the VPN is living up to their expectations or not. The money-back guarantee is included with all plans. While on the other hand, Surfshark offers its services at $12.49 per month. Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its plans. However, the subscription of Surfshark is a bit higher than NordVPN, making NordVPN a more budget-friendly choice of VPN to go with.
Which One is Faster?
Connection speed and stability are some of the most important aspects to keep in mind before purchasing a VPN. Although a fast and stable connection speed can be seen in both Surfshark and NordVPN, a big difference between them can also be seen. Surfshark VPN gives its users a maximum speed of above 200 Mbps in its close-range servers. As for its faraway servers, a speed loss of 60% can be seen in its distant server.
The speed on Surfshark’s close-range server is stable and more than good enough for browsing, streaming, torrenting, and gaming as well. As for NordVPN, the connection speed on its close-range servers touches 300 Mbps, and thanks to its WireGuard (NordLynx) protocols, a speed loss of only 40% is seen in its farthest servers. Although the speed of both VPNs is fast and stable, in comparison, the speed of NordVPN is much faster than that of Surfshark.
Which One is Better for Torrenting?
Although Both VPNs allow P2P traffic, they do not support port forwarding, meaning the user won’t get the additional sweet internet connection speed. The connection speed on both VPNs is impressive for downloading and uploading torrent files. Moreover, the P2P servers of these VPNs allow connected devices to share and receive files with one another without packet loss.
However, you might have already guessed that the P2P servers also differ in these VPNs. Starting with Surfshark, all the servers of this VPN support P2P traffic, and thanks to its high-end encryption, packet loss, online leaks, and malware invasion are not likely to happen. On the other hand, the servers of NordVPN also support P2P traffic, and the P2P traffic is also protected with strong encryption and protocols. Moreover, the number of servers is much larger in NordVPN than in Surfshark, making NordVPN a much better choice for torrenting.
Bandwidth Limitation and Simultaneous Device Connections
Surfshark and NordVPN are both high-speed VPNs and even further increase the users’ connection speed with their features and protocols. Moreover, both VPNs provide their users with unlimited bandwidth and allow them to do swift browsing, streaming, torrenting, and other online activities for as long as they want. As for simultaneous connections, Surfshark allows users to connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously to any of its plans without interfering with their connection speed. On the other hand, only six devices can simultaneously be NordVPN. Six simultaneous connections is an average number, but if you want to install a VPN in your home or office, then Surfshark is the choice to go with.
Interface and Device Compatibility
Both Surfshark and NordVPN have a user-friendly interface and are also compatible with major platforms such as Android, Mac, Windows, iOS, routers, and more. However, the customization of Surfshark is a bit more complicated than it should be, while NordVPN can be easily and quickly customized.
Windows
Both VPNs offers their best version to Window users. However, NordVPN outclasses Surfshark with its bit easier-to-use interface and customization capabilities. Moreover, NordVPN allows Windows users to type directly in their intended server. As said earlier, Windows users get the best treatment from VPNs, and one of the best treatments is given by NordVPN, as it allows users to customize the VPN to suit their needs.
Mac
Both NordVPN and Surfshark only offer IKEv2 tunneling protocols to Mac users, and both VPNs offer few of their features and a small room for customization. Although their features offered are comparatively lower than those of Windows, they are considered the best VPNs for Mac devices. However, in the comparison for Mac, they both tied.
Android
Both VPNs are available in Play Store, and Android users can install them for free but will need to purchase a subscription to use their service. Although the number of servers offered to Android devices is the same as Windows, their features vary, and not all of the features are offered to Android. However, both VPNs offer all the necessary features to keep the user’s device and their online information secure anywhere and anytime. The services offered by both VPNs are the same, and installing either one of them on your Android device is more than a good choice.
iOS
Similar to Mac, both NordVPN and Surfshark only offer their IKEv2 protocol and a few of their features. However, all the services offered are more than enough to keep the device secure and allow access to restricted content. However, neither of the VPNs beats the other in iOS compatibility.
To Conclude
Both NordVPN and Surfshark are reliable options when it comes to keeping up your internet speed and online safety. However, in the end, NordVPN proves itself to be a better choice of VPN than Surfshark. NordVPN is a cheaper and much safer VPN than Surfshark and allows for individual audits. Whether it is for streaming, torrenting, or gaming, NordVPN includes the best tool for them and has a more fleshed-out suit than Surfshark VPN. However, there are some places where Surfshark proves itself to be the better choice of VPN, such as its simultaneous connection. All in all, in the comparison of Surfshark vs NordVPN, NordVPN is the winner.
