With so many VPN services available today, choosing the right one can be a difficult decision. Surfshark has quickly become a favorite among users thanks to its affordable pricing, strong security, and wide range of features. But, with the abundance of VPN options on the market, the question often arises: Is there a better VPN than Surfshark?
In this article, we will explore whether Surfshark stands out as the best VPN choice or if there are other services that might offer a better experience. We’ll look at factors like pricing, speed, security, features, and customer support to give you a complete comparison of Surfshark with its competitors. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about which VPN is right for you.
What Makes Surfshark Great?
Before comparing Surfshark with other VPNs, it’s important to understand what makes it a popular choice among users. Surfshark offers several key benefits that have helped it build a solid reputation:
1. Affordable Pricing
Surfshark is known for its competitive pricing. Unlike many VPNs that only offer affordable plans for the first year or two, Surfshark’s long-term subscriptions are budget-friendly, especially when compared to premium VPN services like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to test the service risk-free.
2. Unlimited Device Connections
One of the standout features of Surfshark is that it allows unlimited device connections. This means that no matter how many devices you need to protect (smartphones, laptops, smart TVs, tablets, etc.), a single subscription will cover them all. This is a major advantage over many other VPN services, which have device limits.
3. Strong Security
Surfshark offers AES-256 encryption, which is the same level of encryption used by governments and financial institutions worldwide. It also supports a variety of protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec, allowing users to choose the best protocol for their needs. Additionally, Surfshark has a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that your data is not tracked or stored.
4. Wide Server Network
With servers in over 100 countries, Surfshark provides users with plenty of options for bypassing geo-restrictions. This is especially useful for people who want to access content from other countries, such as Netflix libraries from around the world, or other services like Hulu, BBC iPlayer, or Amazon Prime Video.
5. Useful Features
Surfshark also comes with some helpful features, including:
- CleanWeb: This blocks ads, trackers, and malware.
- Camouflage Mode: This makes your VPN traffic look like regular internet traffic, helping to bypass VPN restrictions in countries with strict internet censorship.
- MultiHop: This allows you to route your traffic through multiple countries for extra security.
- Whitelister: A split tunneling feature that lets you choose which apps or websites go through the VPN and which don’t.
These features make Surfshark a versatile option for both casual users and those with specific privacy and security needs.
How Does Surfshark Compare to Other VPNs?
Now that we’ve established why Surfshark is popular, let’s compare it to some other leading VPNs. We’ll look at factors like speed, security, features, and pricing to see if there’s a better alternative.
1. ExpressVPN vs Surfshark
ExpressVPN is widely regarded as one of the best VPN services available. Here’s how it compares to Surfshark:
- Pricing: ExpressVPN is significantly more expensive than Surfshark, especially for long-term subscriptions. While ExpressVPN does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, its monthly rate can be double or triple that of Surfshark.
- Speed: Both VPNs offer excellent speed, but ExpressVPN is generally considered faster due to its optimized servers and its proprietary Lightway protocol. However, Surfshark’s speed is still excellent for streaming and general browsing.
- Device Connections: One of the major advantages of Surfshark over ExpressVPN is its unlimited device connections. ExpressVPN limits you to five devices per account.
- Security & Privacy: Both services have robust security features, including AES-256 encryption, no-logs policies, and reliable leak protection. However, ExpressVPN has a slightly stronger reputation in terms of its independent audits and transparency.
- Server Network: ExpressVPN has a slightly smaller server network, with servers in 94 countries, compared to Surfshark’s 100+ countries. However, ExpressVPN’s servers are generally considered faster and more reliable.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option with unlimited device connections, Surfshark is the better choice. If you’re willing to pay more for slightly faster speeds and a more established reputation, ExpressVPN might be the better option.
2. NordVPN vs Surfshark
NordVPN is another highly popular VPN provider, known for its security features and large server network. Let’s compare it with Surfshark:
- Pricing: Surfshark is generally more affordable than NordVPN, with cheaper long-term subscription options. NordVPN often offers discounts, but its base pricing tends to be higher than Surfshark’s.
- Speed: Both NordVPN and Surfshark offer excellent speeds, especially with their support for WireGuard. However, NordLynx, NordVPN’s own version of WireGuard, is slightly faster in some tests compared to Surfshark’s WireGuard protocol.
- Device Connections: Surfshark allows unlimited device connections, while NordVPN limits you to six devices per account.
- Security & Privacy: Both services have excellent security features, such as AES-256 encryption, no-logs policies, and kill switches. However, NordVPN has a Double VPN feature, which routes your traffic through two servers for additional privacy.
- Server Network: NordVPN has over 5,000 servers in more than 60 countries, which is significantly more than Surfshark’s 3,200+ servers. This gives NordVPN an edge in terms of network coverage.
Verdict: If you need a VPN for multiple devices and want the best value for money, Surfshark is the better choice. If you want more servers and slightly better speeds for heavy streaming or gaming, NordVPN might be the better option.
3. CyberGhost vs Surfshark
CyberGhost is another popular VPN service known for its user-friendly interface and strong security features. Here’s how it compares to Surfshark:
- Pricing: CyberGhost is generally a bit cheaper than Surfshark, but the differences in pricing are minimal, especially for long-term subscriptions.
- Speed: CyberGhost offers decent speeds, but Surfshark tends to perform better in speed tests. Surfshark’s focus on optimizing servers for streaming and browsing gives it a slight edge over CyberGhost.
- Device Connections: CyberGhost allows seven devices per subscription, which is slightly better than Surfshark’s unlimited devices, though still not as flexible.
- Security & Privacy: Both services offer strong security, including AES-256 encryption, no-logs policies, and DNS leak protection. However, CyberGhost has been independently audited, giving it an edge in terms of transparency.
- Server Network: CyberGhost has more servers than Surfshark, with over 7,000 servers in more than 90 countries, giving it a larger network for bypassing geo-restrictions.
Verdict: If you want more server options and are willing to sacrifice a bit of speed, CyberGhost could be a better fit. However, Surfshark’s unlimited device connections and overall performance give it an edge for most users.
Conclusion
The answer depends on your needs. Surfshark is a highly competitive VPN with a great price, unlimited device connections, and strong security. However, other services like ExpressVPN or NordVPN might offer better speeds, more advanced features, or a larger server network, but they come at a higher cost.
For budget-conscious users who want the best value for their money, Surfshark remains one of the top choices. For those who prioritize speed or server variety, other VPNs like ExpressVPN or NordVPN might offer a better experience.
Ultimately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all VPN, and the best choice will depend on your personal preferences and priorities.
