Surfshark vs. NordVPN: Which VPN is healthier in 2025?

VPNs may be a useful device for anybody who usually makes use of the web. Not solely do they assist preserve your on-line actions non-public, however they’ll additionally get round area blocks to stream your favourite content material. When trying to find a superb VPN supplier, two names are positive to come back up: Surfshark and NordVPN. 

Each VPNs are top-quality providers which have made it on to my checklist of finest VPNs as a consequence of their glorious characteristic units. Every has its personal distinctive manner of optimizing your privateness and safety. Beneath I’ll examine every of those two trade titans and present which one wins in a standoff between Surfshark vs. NordVPN.

If you happen to’re in search of all of my high picks for VPNs you should definitely try my finest VPNs article for extra nice choices.

Surfshark vs. NordVPN: Overview

Surfshark is cheaper within the long-term, with limitless simultaneous gadget connections and good extra options, however it’s very costly within the short-term. NordVPN however is a little more costly within the long-term, however comes with extra servers, higher speeds, and it’s based mostly in a privacy-neutral nation.

Pace: NordVPN

Whereas Surfshark is not any slouch in relation to velocity and efficiency, NordVPN comfortably wins right here. NordVPN has one of the best obtain and add speeds of any VPN I’ve ever examined, simply garnering the highest spot in my checklist of quickest VPNs.

Throughout my testing, Surfshark carried out admirably with a median obtain velocity of 61 % of my base and 70 % of my base add velocity. That’s fairly good, however Nord blows by it with a median obtain velocity of 72 % of the bottom and a completely spectacular 80 % of the bottom add velocity. Merely put, NordVPN can’t be matched in relation to VPN velocity.

Price: Surfshark

Figuring out the winner with regard to price requires a bit extra of a nuanced method. Each providers include completely different subscription tiers offering completely different options and extras. Each VPNs additionally include month-to-month, yearly, and bi-yearly subscriptions plans. So as to most carefully examine apples to apples, I’ll stick to evaluating the prices for NordVPN’s Plus plan and Surfshark’s One plan tiers.

NordVPN’s Plus plan will set you again $13.99 month-to-month, $71.88 for the primary yr, or $107.73 for the primary two years. Each NordVPN’s Plus 1-year and 2-year plans rise to $179.88 yearly after their respective renewal intervals.

Additional studying: ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN

Then again, Surfshark’s One plan goes for a steep $15.95 month-to-month, $47.85 for the primary yr, or $72.63 for the primary two years. Equally, Surfshark’s 1- and 2-year plans rise to about $99 per yr after their renewal intervals.

Whereas Surfshark’s expensive month-to-month plan is larger, for those who go for a longer-term subscription plan, you’ll find yourself saving a big sum of money–about half the worth of NordVPN. Because of this, Surfshark takes the win for price—except you wish to pay by the month, then go for NordVPN.

Privateness and safety: NordVPN

Privateness is the last word purpose of a VPN consumer and never many do it higher than NordVPN. Not solely does it usually undergo impartial safety audits of its servers to make sure no consumer knowledge is logged or saved, however it’s additionally based mostly out of privacy-friendly Panama.

Surfshark isn’t too far behind although. It additionally goes by way of common impartial safety audits and sticks to a no-logs coverage. Nonetheless, it’s based mostly within the Netherlands, which is at present a member nation of the 14 Eyes data-sharing alliance. The Netherlands itself is a privacy-friendly nation, however as a member, corporations within the nation may very well be required to reveal consumer knowledge. Surfshark, for its half, guarantees to not preserve any consumer knowledge logs so theoretically there could be nothing to share anyhow.

Each providers present top-notch security measures together with military-grade AES-256 encryption and entry to probably the most safe protocols similar to WireGuard and OpenVPN. They each additionally provide ad- and tracker-blocking plus built-in antivirus (with sure subscription tiers). 

NordVPN’s security measures are a bit extra customizable, however you’ll must go for its mid- or upper-tier plans. Surfshark’s security measures are efficient, however restricted to a easy toggle-on swap. Nonetheless, Surfshark does provide the security measures with all plans, even the essential plan, so it’s a little bit of a toss-up right here.

This class is shut, however the truth that NordVPN is situated in a privacy-friendly nation that isn’t a member of a data-sharing alliance provides it the slight nod right here.

Streaming: Tie

Whereas deciding on a tie for any class looks like a little bit of a cop-out, I’ll admit that each providers have virtually the identical capabilities. In my testing, there was no discernable distinction between the 2. Each providers had been capable of unblock all main streaming providers similar to Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer. Each server I examined with Surfshark and NordVPN, throughout a number of international locations world wide, labored with out a hitch. Subsequently, I can’t rightly say that one is healthier than the opposite on this class. Each could be nice choices if streaming with a VPN is what you’re after.

Backside line

Surfshark and NordVPN are each glorious VPNs general. Surfshark wins out in relation to worth as a consequence of its extraordinarily inexpensive long-term plans. Nonetheless, NordVPN snags wins in velocity the place it’s noticeably quicker, and privateness as a consequence of the truth that it’s headquartered in privacy-friendly Panama. Streaming capabilities had been a draw as each providers simply unblocked each main streaming web site.

In the end, which VPN you choose will rely by yourself private wants. If you wish to get monetary savings then go along with Surfshark. If velocity and server community are your greatest issues, then you must go for NordVPN. Both manner, the variations between them are minor and possibly received’t make a distinction for the common consumer. Each of those are stellar VPN providers, however within the options that matter most, NordVPN narrowly edges out the win.