NordVPN vs. Surfshark — Which VPN to choose (Full guide)

VPN is the abbreviation for the virtual private network. It is self-explanatory in itself but let’s get into some more details. VPNs make sure you have a safe connection with a network on the internet. They are all about privacy. VPNs can easily hide your browsing activity. That is why they are used for multiple good and bad reasons.

VPN creates a secret route between you and a server operated by a VPN. Whatever you browse will exit through the said route at the server by VPN. This way, your IP address, location, etc. will be associated with the VPN’s server. And your actual identity keeps hidden.

Now there exist several VPNs that you can easily download. They are easy to use and provide tight protection. However, there still are some differences between all of them. Due to these differences, a user can prefer one VPN over the other depending on his/her needs. Here we are going to compare two great VPNs, NordVPN and Surfshark. This small comparison will give you an idea of which one is the best for you.

NordVPN

This VPN was launched back in 2012. Four childhood friends started it. No one would’ve had an idea of how far they will come. The VPN is based in the county of Panama. This is because the country has no such laws for data retention. It can be accessed through desktops in Windows, macOS, and Linux as well. Other than this, they have a mobile application too now for Android and iOS. For more accessibility, they now offer services for android TVs and wireless routers as well. The mobile apps they launched are somewhat recent, which is in 2016. Google Chrome extension was launched then next year, 2017, and the android TV app was launched in 2018. All their progress is not very old, but they have successfully made their mark in the pool of VPNs. Today they are operating more than 5K servers in over 60 countries.

SurfShark

SurfShark is a budget-friendly VPN. This doesn’t mean it won’t provide you one of the best features and security out there. They are said to be functional everywhere around the world. SurfShark is best known for its introductory deals. Only a few VPNs offer such good discounts, and SurfShark is one of them. This VPN now has over 1500 servers found in 160 locations in more than 60 countries. You can have this VPN on your desktop, be it Windows, macOS, or Linux. They also offer extensions for Google Chrome and Firefox. For games, TV, etc. as well, they provide a smart DNS system which unblocks websites. They have apps on both Android and iOS. This VPN is quite new to NordVPN. It was launched around a year ago. It is said to be a powerful VPN for the introductory price it offers.

Differences

As they are different VPNs, so yes, they have many differences between them. They are listed below:

• Countries — NordVPN has servers in 62 countries, while SurfShark has servers in 63 countries. If compared, then it’s a plus point of SurfShark having servers in many countries while being a fairly recent VPN.
• Servers — NordVPN has more than 5200 serves, while SurfShark has a total of 1700 servers. NordVPN takes the lead here, but it’s understandable as it has been in the game for a long time now.
• Simultaneous Connections — NordVPN limits you to six simultaneous connections, but with SurfShark, you can have unlimited simultaneous connections.
• Split Tunneling — You can have split tunneling NordVPN and SurfShark both, but NordVPN only allows it on android.
• Onion over VPN servers — NordVPN provides you this facility and saves you from the hassle of having a separate browser for The Onion Router (TOR). The SurfShark doesn’t provide this feature.
• Speed — Through multiple streaming tests, it was found that NordVPN is faster than SurfShark. The Buffering time of SurfShark was between 10–15 seconds, while NordVPN barely took 5 seconds.

These were some of the main differences in the features of NordVPN and SurfShark.

Pricing

It has already been mentioned how SurfShark is more budget-friendly than NordVPN. However, we will mention the complete figures here so that our readers can have a clearer idea.

Monthly SurfShark charges you $12.95, while NordVPN charges $11.95. This tells us that SurfShark would be more expensive if a monthly subscription is taken. Well, the discount originally lies in the year or six months subscriptions. Six months subscription for NordVPN is $9.00, while SurfSharks offers it for $6.49.

Now, if you sign up for a 2-year plan for both, then there are huge discounts. At NordVPN, you will only have to pay $3.71 per month on a 2-year subscription. And on SurfShark, you will only have to pay $2.49 per month on a 2-year plan. This means NordVPN gives you a discount of over 65% for their 2-year plan while the SurfShark discount is even more, that is 81%.

NordVPN Pros

• It is very easy to install on all devices
• NordVPN is fairly fast, which is good for streaming and gaming

NordVPN Cons

• It has less download speed
• The VPN is expensive comparatively
• It offers connection to only six devices at a time

SurfShark Pros

• This one is also very easy to connect and install
• Its download speed is faster comparatively
• The VPN is also very budget-friendly

SurfShark Cons

• It has a low streaming speed

Conclusion

In the end, it all comes down to what you need and require. Comparing the two VPNs, it is found that both have their plus sides and downsides. For more professional use, NordVPN takes the lead; however, if you want to use it in your daily routine, then we prefer SurfShark. If you have more devices to connect, then SurfShark and fewer devices to connect than NordVPN. Make your choice wisely by first listing down your own needs. They both offer really good features for the price they come with.

Good luck!
Ariel Leung
Founder of UDMG
www.ultimatedigitalmarketingguide.com

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.