NordVPN vs Surfshark: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
NordVPN and Surfshark are two large commercial VPNs that sell apps for most phones, computers and TVs. They are also closely linked: Surfshark says it and Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, merged under one holding company in 2022 and still operate independently. This page sets the two side by side on price, privacy, apps and features, using the figures each provider publishes and the incident records about each. Speed and streaming results come from other sites’ tests and are listed with their source, so this page names no winner for those.
How do NordVPN and Surfshark compare?
| Compared on | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Lowest intro price | $3.49/moBasic, 27 months · $94.23 for the first termnordvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-12Black Friday · verified on the provider's pricing page by our editors on · ends | $2.49/moStarter, 27 months · $67.23 for the first termsurfshark.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-08Lower intro price |
| Then renews at | $139.08 a yearnordvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-12 | —renewal price not published |
| Network | ||
| Servers | 7,000+nordvpn.com/trust · checked 2026-11-08More servers | 4,500+surfshark.com/servers · checked 2026-11-08 |
| Countries | 150 (incl. virtual locations)api.nordvpn.com/v1/servers/countries · checked 2026-11-08 | 100surfshark.com/servers · checked 2026-11-08 |
| Plan | ||
| Devices per plan | 10nordvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-08 | Unlimitedsurfshark.com/features/multiple-devices · checked 2026-11-07More devices |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 daysnordvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-08 | 30 dayssurfshark.com/features/multiple-devices · checked 2026-11-07 |
| Free plan | —not published | No permanent free plan. A 7-day free trial that needs an email address and a payment method (credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay), is offered on the 12-month and 24-month plans only, covers up to 3 devices, and turns into the chosen paid plan automatically when it endssurfshark.com/vpn-free-trial · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Privacy | ||
| Jurisdiction | Panamanordvpn.com/features/no-log-vpn · checked 2026-11-08 | Netherlandssurfshark.com/features/no-logs · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Owner | Nord Security (parent company, headquartered in Lithuania)nordvpn.com/about-us · checked 2026-11-08 | Surfshark, founded in 2018 by Vytautas Kaziukonis. Surfshark says that in 2022 it and Nord Security "merged under one holding company" and that the two operate independentlysurfshark.com/about-us · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Logging policy | Says it does not log or keep users' browsing activity; stores only what is needed to provide the servicenordvpn.com/features/no-log-vpn · checked 2026-11-08 | Says it does not log IP addresses, browsing history, session information, traffic or connection timestamps; keeps your email address, encrypted password, billing information and order history, and the minimal connection data needed to keep the service running and fix performance problemssurfshark.com/features/no-logs · surfshark.com/trust-center · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Latest audit | 2025Deloitte · no-logs policynordvpn.com/features/no-log-vpn · checked 2026-11-08 | 2026Cure53 · infrastructure and the Dausos protocol (public summary)surfshark.com/media/NOR-29-summary.pdf · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Features | ||
| Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard-based, default), NordWhisper, OpenVPN UDP/TCP, IKEv2/IPSec (manual setup only)nordvpn.com/servers · checked 2026-11-08 | Automatic (default, usually picks WireGuard), WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 (removed from the Windows app; manual setup through the system settings), Dausos (Surfshark's own protocol, macOS app only for now)surfshark.com/features/surfshark-vpn-proto… · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Kill switch | Windows (app-level or system-level), macOS (can name the apps to shut down), Linux, iOS, and Android (through Android's own Always-on VPN setting)nordvpn.com/features/vpn-kill-switch · checked 2026-11-12 | Yes, on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux (Snap and .deb packages; not the Flatpak package). Not in the Fire TV app for Vega OS, where Surfshark lists it as coming soon without a datesupport.surfshark.com/hc/en-us/articles/10… · surfshark.com/download/linux · surfshark.com/download/vega-os · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Split tunneling | Android, Android TV and Windows apps; website exclusions in the browser extensions; not on macOS or Linux (the macOS and Linux download pages, read 2026-11-13, do not mention it)nordvpn.com/features/split-tunneling · nordvpn.com/download/mac · nordvpn.com/download/linux · checked 2026-11-08 | Bypasser on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS (on iOS it can exclude websites, not apps); the reverse mode, where only the chosen apps use the VPN, is on Android only; the browser extensions can exclude websites only; the split tunneling page does not list Linuxsurfshark.com/features/split-tunneling · checked 2026-11-09 |
| RAM-only servers | Yes (all server data is stored in RAM)nordvpn.com/trust · checked 2026-11-08 | Yes. Surfshark says it runs 100% RAM-only servers and that all data is wiped when a server restartssurfshark.com/trust-center · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Apps | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, tvOSnordvpn.com/download · checked 2026-11-08 | Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Fire TV (separate apps for Fire OS and Vega OS, both in the Amazon Appstore), Apple TV and Android TV; extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge; other devices through manual router setupsurfshark.com/download · surfshark.com/download/vega-os · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Visit NordVPN | Visit Surfshark | |
A badge appears only where two figures can be compared like for like. Where a figure carries a condition, such as a country count that includes virtual locations, or where the two sides are not the same kind of value, such as a numeric device limit against unlimited devices, the row is shown side by side without a badge. The privacy and feature rows are never marked; the sections below explain how they differ.
Which is cheaper, NordVPN or Surfshark?
We do not name a cheaper one here. Each price table below shows only the offers an editor has checked on a US connection, and a table that says a price is being re-verified has nothing current to compare. Read the line under each table, because both providers sell their lowest prices as promotions.
What does NordVPN cost?
| Plan | First term | Per month | First term total | Then renews at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 27 months | $3.491 | $94.23 | $139.08 a year |
| Complete | 27 months | $3.991 | $107.73 | $219.48 a year |
| Prime | 27 months | $6.991 | $188.73 | $296.28 a year |
| Basic | 15 months | $4.991 | $74.85 | $139.08 a year |
| Complete | 15 months | $5.991 | $89.85 | $219.48 a year |
| Prime | 15 months | $8.991 | $134.85 | $296.28 a year |
| Basic | 1 month | $14.99 | $14.99 | — |
| Complete | 1 month | $19.99 | $19.99 | — |
| Prime | 1 month | $29.99 | $29.99 | — |
US prices; prices and currencies vary by country.
What does Surfshark cost?
| Plan | First term | Per month | First term total | Then renews at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 27 months | $2.49 | $67.23 | — |
| One | 27 months | $2.491 | $67.23 | — |
| One+ | 27 months | $3.99 | $107.73 | — |
US prices; prices and currencies vary by country.
When both tables show current prices, compare the intro price with the renewal price beside it: the renewal price is what you pay if you stay past the first term. Surfshark’s pricing page may not show a renewal price for every plan, and where it does not, the table says so. Both providers list a money-back period, shown in the comparison table.
Which is better for privacy, NordVPN or Surfshark?
NordVPN is owned by Nord Security, which is headquartered in Lithuania, and the VPN service itself operates under the law of Panama. Surfshark was founded in 2018 by Vytautas Kaziukonis, and the service is run by Surfshark B.V. in Amsterdam, so it operates under Dutch law.
The two companies are connected. Surfshark says that in 2022 it and Nord Security “merged under one holding company”, and that the two operate independently. Surfshark does not describe Nord Security as its parent company, and we have no source that says more about the holding company than that. In practice this means the two are less independent of each other than two unrelated rivals would be, so a reader who wants two separate companies should weigh it.
NordVPN says it does not log or keep users’ browsing activity, and stores only what it needs to provide the service. Surfshark says it does not log your IP address, browsing history, session information, traffic or connection timestamps, and that it does keep your email address, your encrypted password, your billing information and order history, and the small amount of connection data it needs to keep the service running and fix performance problems.
Both say their servers keep data in RAM only, so it is wiped when a server restarts. That is each provider’s statement, and it does not separate the two.
What do the audits cover?
- 2025Deloitte · no-logs policynordvpn.com/features/no-log-vpn · checked 2026-11-08
- 2024Deloitte · no-logs policynordvpn.com/features/no-log-vpn · checked 2026-11-08
- 2023Deloitte · no-logs policynordvpn.com/features/no-log-vpn · checked 2026-11-08
- 2022Deloitte · no-logs policynordvpn.com/features/no-log-vpn · checked 2026-11-08
- 2020PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland · no-logs policy (expanded: incl. obfuscated, Double VPN and P2P servers)nordvpn.com/blog/nordvpn-audit · checked 2026-11-08
- 2018PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland · no-logs policynordvpn.com/features/no-log-vpn · checked 2026-11-08
- 2026Cure53 · infrastructure and the Dausos protocol (public summary)surfshark.com/media/NOR-29-summary.pdf · checked 2026-11-09
- 2025Deloitte Lietuva · no-logs policy: ISAE 3000 (Revised) reasonable assurance, assessed as of 10 June 2025 (fieldwork 14 May to 10 June 2025). In scope: VPN servers (standard, static IP, MultiHop and multi-port), server configuration, the related APIs and the software-defined network. Out of scope: streaming infrastructure, captcha, most web and API services, and physical securitysurfshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/I… · checked 2026-11-09
- 2025SecuRing · infrastructure penetration test. Surfshark says it found no critical or high-severity issues; one server SSL/TLS configuration issue and one best-practice recommendation, both since addressedsurfshark.com/blog/surfshark-securing-infr… · surfshark.com/media/SurfShark-Infrastructu… · checked 2026-11-09
- 2025SecuRing · security assessment of the web, desktop and mobile apps and the browser extensions (attestation letter)surfshark.com/media/attestation_letter_202… · checked 2026-11-09
- 2023Deloitte · no-logs policy (ISAE 3000)surfshark.com/trust-center · checked 2026-11-09
- 2021Cure53 · infrastructure (public summary)surfshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/S… · checked 2026-11-09
- 2018Cure53 · browser extensions (penetration test report)cure53.de/pentest-report_surfshark.pdf · checked 2026-11-09
The two lists are different kinds of work. NordVPN’s list is a run of no-logs assessments by large accounting firms over several years. Surfshark’s list has two Deloitte no-logs assurances, and the 2025 report is public and states its scope, together with security tests of its infrastructure and apps by SecuRing and Cure53. A no-logs audit checks how a service was set up while the auditor looked, and a security test looks for flaws in the software; neither proves what happens between audits.
Has either had a security incident?
- 2018One server at a third-party datacenter in Finland was breached around March 2018; NordVPN says it learned of it in April 2019, no user credentials or activity logs were affected, and the attacker obtained TLS keys that could not decrypt VPN traffic.nordvpn.com/blog/official-response-datacen… · checked 2026-11-08
- 2026According to Surfshark's incident report of 9 September 2026, an internal test server was reachable from the public internet because of a human configuration error, and an unauthorized third party accessed it. That party reached some internal engineering material (some system binaries and the internal configuration of certain services) and some internal build credentials that had been committed to code history, and got into an isolated server (a VPS) used as a proxy. Surfshark found signs of this on 31 August, classed it as a security incident on 2 September and contained it the same day. Surfshark says user data and the VPN service were not affected, that production credentials are stored separately and were not affected, that its apps and extensions were not tampered with, and that the credentials involved have been rotated or disabled. The investigation was carried out by the company itself. Surfshark says it will commission another independent security audit; we had seen no result as of 9 November 2026.surfshark.com/blog/security-update-septemb… · checked 2026-11-09
NordVPN, 2018. One server that NordVPN rented in a third-party datacenter in Finland was breached. NordVPN says the attacker obtained TLS keys that could not be used to decrypt VPN traffic, and that no user credentials or activity logs were on the server. The weak point is the timeline: the breach happened in 2018, and NordVPN says it learned of it in 2019.
Surfshark, 2026. According to Surfshark’s own incident report, an internal test server could be reached from the public internet because of a configuration mistake, and an outsider got in. That person reached some internal engineering material, some build credentials that had been left in code history, and a separate server used as a proxy. Surfshark saw the first signs on the last day of August, classed the matter as a security incident two days later, and says it contained it the same day.
Surfshark says user data and the VPN service were not affected, that production credentials are stored separately and were not touched, that its apps and extensions were not tampered with, and that the credentials involved have been rotated or disabled. Those statements are Surfshark’s own. The investigation was carried out inside the company, and no outside firm has yet confirmed its findings. Surfshark says it will commission another independent security audit; when we last checked, no result had been published.
How do the apps and features compare?
Both have apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge, and apps for Android TV and Apple TV. Surfshark’s list also names Fire TV, with separate apps for Fire OS and Vega OS; NordVPN’s download page does not list Fire TV.
Both apps include a kill switch, which blocks your connection if the VPN drops so your real IP address is not exposed while it reconnects. Surfshark’s lacks it in two places: the Fire TV app for Vega OS, and the Linux Flatpak package.
Split tunneling, which lets some apps skip the VPN, is in NordVPN’s Windows, Android and Android TV apps, with website exclusions in its browser extensions. Surfshark calls it Bypasser and lists it for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS; on iOS it can exclude websites but not apps. So the macOS app has it only with Surfshark, and Android TV only with NordVPN.
The protocols differ. NordVPN’s apps use NordLynx by default, its own protocol built on WireGuard, and also offer NordWhisper, a newer NordVPN protocol, and OpenVPN; IKEv2 is available only through manual setup. Surfshark’s apps choose a protocol automatically, which Surfshark says is usually WireGuard, and you can also pick WireGuard or OpenVPN. Surfshark has removed IKEv2 from its Windows app, and its own newer protocol, Dausos, is for now in the macOS app only.
Which is faster, and which works with streaming services?
We name no winner for speed or streaming on this page. Test results come from other sites and differ by date, place and server, so they are listed with their source instead of being ranked. Our own spot checks are below, where we have one.
| Our spot check | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming playback on a US server | No spot check yet | No spot check yet |
A spot check is our own: run in the US on a US server, five minutes of continuous playback to pass, with no fixed schedule. Results for other countries come from other sites' published tests.
What have other testers found?
These are other sites' tests, not ours. Each one is credited and linked, and nothing is merged or averaged.
Streaming · In the US
- Safelyo (Netflix; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): Netflix US played the full catalog in 4K UHD
- Top10VPN (Netflix; article updated Oct 2026): Netflix US worked; the reviewer noted that the VPN picked a server on its own that reached the US library
- CNET (Netflix; article updated Oct 2026): The US Netflix library opened
- Comparitech (Netflix; article updated Aug 2026): In Comparitech's own Netflix benchmark, which measures how often the US library opens, the US catalog loaded on 86.21% of 29 measurements
- vpnMentor (Netflix; article updated Jun 2026): The US Netflix library opened on the first server tried
- Safelyo (Hulu; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): Hulu played in the US in 4K UHD with no proxy errors
- Top10VPN (Hulu; article updated Oct 2026): Hulu US worked
- vpnMentor (Hulu; article updated Jun 2026): Hulu worked
- Safelyo (Prime Video; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): Prime Video played in the US in 4K UHD with no proxy errors
- Top10VPN (Prime Video; article updated Oct 2026): Prime Video US worked
- Safelyo (Disney+; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): Disney+ played in the US in 4K UHD with no proxy errors
- Safelyo (Max; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): Max played in the US in 4K UHD with no proxy errors
- Top10VPN (Max; article updated Oct 2026): HBO Max US worked
- Safelyo (Peacock; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): Peacock played in the US in 4K UHD with no proxy errors
- Safelyo (Sling TV; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): Sling TV played in the US in 4K UHD with no proxy errors
- Safelyo (ESPN; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): ESPN streamed live sports in the US without lag
Streaming · In the UK
- Safelyo (Netflix; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): Netflix UK played the full catalog in 4K UHD
- Top10VPN (Netflix; article updated Oct 2026): Netflix UK worked
- CNET (Netflix; article updated Oct 2026): The UK Netflix library opened
- vpnMentor (Netflix; article updated Jun 2026): The UK Netflix library opened on the first server tried
- Top10VPN (Disney+; article updated Oct 2026): Disney+ UK worked
- Safelyo (BBC iPlayer; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): BBC iPlayer streamed live sports without lag
- Top10VPN (BBC iPlayer; article updated Oct 2026): BBC iPlayer worked
- vpnMentor (BBC iPlayer; article updated Jun 2026): BBC iPlayer streamed smoothly
- Safelyo (ITVX; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): ITVX played in 4K UHD with no proxy errors
- Top10VPN (ITVX; article updated Oct 2026): ITVX worked
Streaming · In Canada
- Safelyo (Netflix; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): The Canadian Netflix library worked, one of the 23 of 40 regional libraries that did
- CNET (Netflix; article updated Oct 2026): The Canadian Netflix library opened
- vpnMentor (Netflix; article updated Jun 2026): The Canadian Netflix library opened on the first server tried
- Top10VPN (DAZN; article updated Oct 2026): DAZN Canada did not work
Streaming · In Australia
Streaming · country not stated by the source
- Safelyo (Netflix; article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): 23 of the 40 regional Netflix libraries they tested worked; the other 17, Brazil, Thailand and Turkey among them, showed only Netflix Originals
- Top10VPN (Netflix; article updated Oct 2026): 17 Netflix libraries opened; the Indian and Dutch libraries would not stream
- CNET (Netflix; article updated Oct 2026): Besides the US, the UK, Canadian, Australian, French, German, South African, Japanese and Romanian Netflix libraries opened; Netflix Egypt did not, and showed the US library instead
- vpnMentor (Netflix; article updated Jun 2026): More than 15 Netflix libraries worked, the UK, Japan, Canada, Argentina, Malaysia and Thailand among them, each on the first server tried
- vpnMentor (Prime Video; article updated Jun 2026): Amazon Prime Video worked
- vpnMentor (Disney+; article updated Jun 2026): Disney+ worked
- vpnMentor (Max; article updated Jun 2026): Max worked
- vpnMentor (Sling TV; article updated Jun 2026): Sling TV worked
- vpnMentor (ESPN+; article updated Jun 2026): ESPN+ worked
- vpnMentor (DAZN; article updated Jun 2026): DAZN worked
Speed
- Safelyo (article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): On NordLynx, an average of 410.9 Mbps download across 8 server locations, keeping 47.7% of an 860.71 Mbps no-VPN baseline measured from Vietnam; the US Los Angeles server gave 446.39 Mbps, or 51.9%
- CNET (article updated Oct 2026): They measured an average 27.2% download speed loss in 2026, ranging from 15% on macOS over Wi-Fi to 41% on Windows over Wi-Fi
- CyberInsider (article updated Sep 2026; run from the US): On a 1 Gbps connection in the US with NordLynx, NordVPN downloaded at 903 Mbps on a Seattle server and 868 Mbps in Los Angeles, with 658 Mbps on a London server
Torrenting
- Security.org (article updated Oct 2026): Their tests measured downloads about 60% faster with NordVPN's SOCKS5 proxy, which hides the IP without encrypting the traffic
- Tom's Guide (article updated Oct 2026): Torrent downloads were speedy and reliable across the torrents they tried, and P2P is supported on all servers, but port forwarding is not offered on any platform
Leaks and kill switch
- Safelyo (article updated Nov 2026; run from Vietnam): No leaks in the ipleak.net, dnsleaktest.com and browserleaks.com tests: IPv4 and IPv6, DNS and WebRTC all passed. The Internet Kill Switch cut off all traffic whenever the connection was down, and the App Kill Switch closed qBittorrent when the VPN dropped, though restarting it while the VPN was not connected downloaded over the normal connection
- Top10VPN (article updated Oct 2026): The VPN passed all of the reviewer's data leak tests, and when they simulated a sudden connection drop the kill switch stopped the real IP address from leaking
- CNET (article updated Oct 2026): No leaks were detected in their 2026 testing, but the Windows kill switch stays engaged after a manual disconnect and has to be toggled off by hand
- CyberInsider (article updated Sep 2026; run from the US): No IP, DNS or WebRTC leaks on the Windows and macOS desktop apps, and no IPv6 leaks because the desktop apps block IPv6 at the engine level
- vpnMentor (article updated Jun 2026): The reviewer's kill switch and leak protection behaved as expected: during forced disconnections both the internet kill switch and the app kill switch prevented data exposure, and leak tests on ipleak.net across 12 servers found no DNS, WebRTC or IP leaks
These are other sites' tests, not ours. Each one is credited and linked, and nothing is merged or averaged.
Streaming · In the US
- Safelyo (Netflix; article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): Netflix US played in 4K with no buffering on WireGuard
- All About Cookies (Netflix; tested Oct 2026; run from the US): The US Netflix library worked
- Safelyo (Hulu; article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): Hulu US opened on the first attempt
- Safelyo (Prime Video; article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): Prime Video US worked on the first attempt
- Safelyo (Disney+; article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): Disney+ US loaded on the first try
- Safelyo (Max; article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): Max US connected the first time with no proxy errors
Streaming · In the UK
- Safelyo (Netflix; article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): Netflix UK played in 4K with no buffering on WireGuard
- All About Cookies (Netflix; tested Oct 2026; run from the US): The UK Netflix library worked
- Safelyo (BBC iPlayer; article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): BBC iPlayer was unlocked on the first attempt
- Safelyo (ITVX; article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): ITVX was unlocked on the first attempt
- Safelyo (Channel 4; article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): Channel 4 was unlocked on the first attempt
Streaming · In Canada
- All About Cookies (Netflix; tested Oct 2026; run from the US): The Canadian Netflix library worked
Streaming · In Australia
- All About Cookies (Netflix; tested Oct 2026; run from the US): The Australian Netflix library worked
Streaming · country not stated by the source
- Safelyo (Netflix; article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): 28 of the 40 Netflix libraries they tested worked; the 12 blocked ones include Colombia, the UAE, Ireland and Ukraine
Speed
- Safelyo (article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): On WireGuard, an average of 420.47 Mbps download across 5 server locations, keeping 47.2% of an 890.15 Mbps no-VPN baseline measured from Vietnam; the US Seattle server gave 372.46 Mbps, or 41.8%, and the Australian server came last at 356.24 Mbps, or 40.0%
- All About Cookies (tested Oct 2026; run from the US): From a baseline download speed of about 316 Mbps on Windows 11 in the US, download speed dropped by 4.43% on a US server (Dallas), 8.12% on a Canadian server, and 17.62% each on UK and Australian servers; upload speed dropped more, by 24% to 84%. The protocol is not stated
Torrenting
- Safelyo (article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): A 1.08 GB Ubuntu torrent took 2 minutes 12 seconds, against 1 minute 38 seconds without the VPN; in their torrent IP check peers saw only the VPN address, and the kill switch stopped torrent traffic when the VPN dropped. Port forwarding and a SOCKS5 proxy are not offered
Leaks and kill switch
- Safelyo (article updated Oct 2026; run from Vietnam): No DNS, IPv6 or WebRTC leaks on servers in several regions, checked on ipleak.net and dnsleaktest.com; the kill switch cut traffic at once when the VPN connection dropped
- All About Cookies (tested Oct 2026; run from the US): No leaks in the BrowserLeaks DNS and WebRTC tests. The kill switch test failed: on a switch from a Canadian server to a Mexican server with the kill switch on, DNS requests reached the internet provider's servers (seen on ipleak.net), in both the soft and the strict mode
The two lists are not the same size and should not be read as a score, and the sites tested from different countries, on different connections and protocols, so their figures cannot be set against each other. None of this is our own result.
Should you choose NordVPN or Surfshark?
- Choose NordVPN if you want a longer run of no-logs audits, the larger published server network, or a provider whose record does not include an unconfirmed 2026 incident. It does cap the number of devices.
- Choose Surfshark if you share one plan across many devices and do not want a device limit, or want split tunneling on macOS and iPhone. Weigh its September 2026 incident, which no outside firm has yet reviewed, and its Fire TV app for Vega OS, which has no kill switch.
- Choose either with care if you want two independent companies. They say they operate independently, but they share a holding company.
FAQ
Is NordVPN better than Surfshark?
Neither is better across the board. NordVPN lists a longer run of no-logs audits and a larger server count, while Surfshark has no device limit. Surfshark’s 2026 incident has been investigated only by the company itself.
Which is cheaper after the first term, NordVPN or Surfshark?
We do not name one. Prices appear on this page only after an editor has verified them on a US connection, and the tables above show the intro and renewal price side by side where both are known.
Which has more servers, NordVPN or Surfshark?
NordVPN publishes the larger server count. Server counts change often, so the comparison table shows the day each figure was checked and where it came from.
Do NordVPN and Surfshark keep logs?
Both say they keep no activity logs, and both list outside audits of that claim. Both also say they keep some account and billing information.
Which is faster, NordVPN or Surfshark?
We do not name a winner. We run no speed tests of our own, and other sites’ speed results depend on where and how each site tested, so we list them with their source and do not rank them.
Are NordVPN and Surfshark the same company?
Not exactly. Surfshark says it and Nord Security merged under one holding company in 2022 and that the two operate independently. We have no source that says more about that holding company.