
In the ever-growing world of Virtual Private Network (VPN) providers, three industry giants stand head and shoulders above the rest. Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN are leading the way in terms of what’s possible for a VPN today.
While all of them are great, they are far from identical. Each provider has its perks and features that make it unique. You wouldn’t be making a wrong choice by going with either of these providers, but one may suit your needs better than another.
Let’s take a closer look at NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN so you can make an informed decision when choosing your next VPN provider.
Disclaimer:
The comparisons in this blog post were made on June 21, 2023, and are subject to change.
Table of contents
Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN at a glance
Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN are three of the best VPN providers in the industry today. We need to go in-depth to establish the differences between them. But before we dive in, let’s look at some of the key things they offer.
Surfshark | NordVPN | ExpressVPN | |
---|---|---|---|
Simultaneous connections | Unlimited | 6 | 5 |
Server countries | 100 | 60 | 94 |
No. of servers | 3200+ | 5700+ | 3000+ |
Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, NordLynx (WireGuard) | OpenVPN, IKEv2, Lightway |
Price of the cheapest plan | $2.49/month | $3.99/month | $8.32/month |
Cookie pop-up blocker | |||
Ad blocker | |||
Independent audits | |||
10 Gbps servers | |||
24/7 support | |||
Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
* Available in specific locations only.
Now that we’ve covered some differences and similarities, let’s look at each of the VPNs more closely.
Privacy
First and foremost, a VPN is a privacy tool. The providers we’re comparing today recognize that and have privacy as a priority. Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN all have strict no-logs policies and headquarters in countries with no data retention laws. You’d expect nothing less from premium VPN providers.
It should be noted that as of December 2021, Kape Technologies owns Express VPN. The company, previously known as Crossrider, is notorious for creating a platform that has been used to distribute malware. That said, there have been no alarming signs from the company since it changed its name and switched to cybersecurity. As a result, there have been no signs of faulty activity by ExpressVPN since the acquisition.
No-logs policies
A no-logs policy means that a company keeps no logs about your activity online. As a result, your data usage, connection time stamps, or IP addresses aren’t tracked, and information isn’t stored. The company only keeps the necessary information to provide a quality service without infringing on your privacy.
All three providers we’re comparing today have had their no-logs policies backed up by independent auditors, proving their legitimacy. ExpressVPN even had its servers seized by Turkish authorities, but they couldn’t get any information from the servers, proving ExpressVPN’s no-logs claim once more.
Headquarters locations
Any reputable VPN service provider must be based in a country with no data retention laws. This means the law doesn’t require them to keep any information about customers, which is a must for maintaining a no-logs policy.
NordVPN headquarters are located in Panama, ExpressVPN headquarters in the British Virgin Islands, and Surfshark headquarters in the Netherlands. Neither of these countries has data retention laws, which is why they’re perfect locations for a VPN provider to call home.
Key takeaway:
You can trust your online privacy to either one of these providers. All of them have audited no-logs policies and headquarters in countries without data retention laws. When it comes to privacy, that’s as good as it gets.
Server locations
The number of servers and their locations can make or break your VPN experience. Server crowdedness and how close you are to the server are key factors in determining connection speed.
More servers in more locations mean that you’re more likely to find an uncrowded server nearby, no matter where you are. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark have widespread server networks. So your choice may simply depend on who has more servers in locations you’ll be connecting to most frequently.
- Surfshark has 3200+ servers* in 100 countries;
- NordVPN has 5700+ servers in 60 countries;
- ExpressVPN has 3000+ servers* in 94 countries.
NordVPN has the most servers out of the lot yet the least locations available. That’s because they offer loads of servers in North America and Europe, with 1970+ servers in the US alone.
Surfshark has the most server locations out of the lot, with servers in 100 countries. This makes Surfshark a great choice in regions such as South America, Asia, Africa, or the Middle East, since it has the most server locations in these areas.
ExpressVPN also has an impressive server infrastructure. But it has fewer servers in fewer locations when compared to Surfshark, even though it’s close. It does have more available locations but significantly fewer servers when compared to NordVPN.
*A small portion of Surfshark and ExpressVPN servers are virtual. All NordVPN servers are physical.
Key takeaway:
NordVPN is a great option for users in North America and Europe since most of its 5700+ servers are located in these areas. Surfshark has a more widespread network of servers and is a great option for South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. ExpressVPN offers a package similar to Surfshark, only with slightly fewer servers and server locations.
Streaming performance
There are two types of people in this world: those who know the pain of a buffering screen in the middle of their favorite show, and those who don’t. Thankfully, a VPN is unlikely to slow your connection down to a point where you can’t watch video content online. So as long as your internet is working fine, buffering shouldn’t be an issue.
We can look at Netflix recommendations for a rough idea of the speed you need to watch movies and TV shows. But keep in mind that the number may vary slightly for other streaming services.
Video quality | Recommended speed |
---|---|
High definition (HD) — 720p | 3 Mbps |
Full high definition (FHD) — 1080p | 5 Mbps |
Ultra high definition (UHD) — 4K | 15 Mbps |
Some streaming platforms may not work very well with smaller VPN providers. Thankfully, this is not the case with Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN. They all work great with major streaming platforms, so you shouldn’t have any issues watching your favorite shows and movies while protected by a VPN.
Streaming platform | Surfshark | NordVPN | ExpressVPN |
---|---|---|---|
Netflix | |||
Hulu | |||
Amazon Prime Video | |||
Disney+ | |||
BBC iPlayer | |||
HBO Max | |||
YouTube |
Key takeaway:
You won’t have any issues with Surfshark, NordVPN or ExpressVPN when choosing a VPN for streaming. All of them easily maintain the required connection speed for watching online content and work well with major streaming platforms.
Disclaimer: we prohibit using Surfshark services for any unlawful purposes as it is against our Terms of Service. Please be sure to act in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of streaming service providers.
Connection speeds
Your connection speed depends on much more than server crowdedness and location. Encryption, server bandwidth, your own network setup, and other things play a role in determining your VPN connection speed.
Running a speed test is the easiest way to see which of the three VPN providers is the fastest. So we booted the Ookla Speed Test tool and compared average speeds on a local server as well as servers in Dallas, Tokyo, and Sydney to see how well each VPN service provider does.
We used the fastest protocol for each provider to get the best speeds. We used WireGuard with Surfshark, while with NordVPN and ExpressVPN, we used their proprietary protocols, NordLynx and Lightway.
Disclaimer:
VPN speed testing was done on June 21, 2023.
The results for each user may be unique and vary from day to day. If you want the most accurate results, we suggest running an identical test on your home network.
Before connecting to a VPN, we ran a speed test to determine a baseline speed. It’s used as a reference point to see how much a VPN connection affects the connection speed.
- Download speed — 288.51 Mbps;
- Upload speed — 289.27 Mbps;
- Ping — 5 ms.
Speed type | Surfshark | NordVPN | ExpressVPN |
---|---|---|---|
Local server download speed (Mbps) | 264.73 | 278.62 | 256.63 |
Local server upload speed (Mbps) | 252.15 | 259.74 | 263.94 |
Local server ping (ms) | 45 | 7 | 21 |
International server download speed average (Mbps) | 246.44 | 246.69 | 232.55 |
International server upload speed average (Mbps) | 116.51 | 102.48 | 232.31 |
International server ping average (ms) | 241 | 230 | 240 |
The results on a local server were nearly identical, with only slight deviations either way.
International VPN servers were a whole different story, though. Surfshark and NordVPN showed similar results. You would expect it to be close between the two since NordLynx is built around WireGuard, the protocol that Surfshark uses.
ExpressVPN, on the other hand, had slightly lower download speeds on all international servers. But the upload speeds were through the roof, with the average upload speed on international servers doubling that of Surfshark or NordVPN.
Keep in mind that download speed has the biggest impact on your browsing experience. But if you upload large files online regularly, the difference in upload speed is something worth noting.
Key takeaway:
All three providers showed nearly identical results in the local server speed test. When it came to international servers, Surfshark and Nord VPN had a slightly faster download speed, while ExpressVPN had a much higher upload speed.
This means that NordVPN or Surfshark may be better options for casual users, while ExpressVPN is great for users who regularly upload large files online.
VPN protocols
VPN protocols are sets of rules that determine how data moves between your device and the VPN server. Without diving into too much detail, these protocols make it possible for users to establish a secure connection to the internet.
WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN are considered to be the best VPN protocols due to their speed and security features. Some companies have created their own protocols, as ExpressVPN did with Lightway or NordVPN with their NordLynx, both of which have been tested and proven to be great options.
Protocol | Surfshark | NordVPN | ExpressVPN |
---|---|---|---|
OpenVPN | |||
IKEv2 | |||
Wireguard | |||
Lightway |
OpenVPN is the slowest out of the lot, but it’s been around for a long time and is a reliable, secure workhorse. IKEV2 is quick and great option for mobile devices because it automatically reconnects when switching networks. WireGuard is the fastest VPN protocol available today, which is why NordVPN chose to build NordLynx around it.
OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard are widely used by premium VPN providers. Lightway, on the other hand, was created by ExpressVPN and is only available with their services. They made the right choice by making Lightway open-source so it could be tested openly. Much like the other protocols mentioned above, Lightway has no known vulnerabilities.
Key takeaway:
All protocols used by Surfshark, NordVPN, or ExpressVPN are fast, reliable, and secure. You may choose Wireguard, NordLynx, or Lightway if you want the fastest connection, but you can’t go wrong with any of the available protocols, really.
Customer support
In an ideal world, you would never need customer support. But newsflash — we don’t live in an ideal world. Sometimes things go wrong, and when they do, you want a good customer support team ready to help you out.
Thankfully, you won’t have any issues with either of the VPN services we’re comparing today. Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN all offer extensive knowledge bases, 24/7 live chat support, and email ticketing systems.
This means the help center provides answers to common questions, and if you have an issue you can’t resolve yourself, customer support agents are ready to help at any time.
Reaching a live chat customer support agent is a quick and painless experience with any of these providers. The agents seem knowledgeable, and if you have questions they can’t solve on the spot, these questions are forwarded to a ticketing system. Either way, you can rest assured your issue won’t go unsolved.
For those of you who like video content, each provider has extensive guides on YouTube. So if you don’t feel like reading help desk articles, these guides will answer your questions on the most common issues.
Key takeaway:
Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN all have great customer support teams and vast knowledge bases. If things ever go wrong while using their services, rest assured there are people ready to help you out.
Audits
In the VPN world, independent audits are there to establish if company claims are true. Bonus points if the audits are made by well-known and reputable auditing companies such as Cure53, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), or Deloitte.
Such audits show that a company is willing to stand behind its product and can be trusted. As you would expect from premium VPN providers, Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN have all undergone multiple audits over the years.
Surfshark audits
Launched in 2018, Surfshark is the youngest company out of the three. While some may not even think about audits in the first years of development, Surfshark started early with a 2018 audit of their browser extensions by Cure53.
A 2021 Cure53 audit of the entire infrastructure followed, topped off by an assurance report by Deloitte that verified Surfshark’s no-logs policy. No critical issues were found during these audits, and any minor issues were quickly resolved.
NordVPN audits
NordVPN has put an extra emphasis on proving their no-logs claim, as their no-logs policy has been audited three times already. The first two audits were completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2018 and 2020, with an assurance report from Deloitte in 2022.
VerSprite completed an audit of NordVPN’s apps in 2019, while Cure53 audited app and infrastructure security in 2022. Just as with Surfshark, any detected vulnerabilities were quickly sorted, and no critical issues were found.
ExpressVPN audits
As you might expect, ExpressVPN has also had a thorough shakedown by independent auditors. Their no-logs claim was approved by a KPMG audit in 2022, with PricewaterhouseCoopers having audited their privacy policy back in 2019.
They underwent a security audit by Cure53 in 2022, as well as a Cure53 audit of Lightway, (their proprietary protocol), also done in 2022, which was the second time that Lightway had been audited.
Key takeaway:
Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN are more than willing to put their money where their mouth is, as proven by multiple audits by reputable auditors backing up any claims made by the companies.
Security and encryption
Security feature | Surfshark | NordVPN | ExpressVPN |
---|---|---|---|
VPN protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, NordLynx (WireGuard) | OpenVPN, IKEv2, Lightway |
Data encryption | AES-256 | AES-256 | |
Cloaking technology | Obfuscated servers | Obfuscated servers | |
App security | Kill Switch | Kill Switch (desktop and routers only) | |
DNS status | Private DNS | Private DNS | Private DNS |
Encryption
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)-256 is the magic combination of numbers and letters you should look for in every VPN provider. It’s the best encryption algorithm available today — no surprise that Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN all use it.
Kill Switch
A Kill Switch is an additional safety measure used by many VPN providers. It shuts down your internet connection if your VPN connection drops. This ensures that no sensitive data is leaked if something goes wrong with your VPN.
Cloaking technology
During regular VPN use, your traffic is hidden, but it’s still possible to tell that you’re using a VPN. In countries with oppressive censorship, you might want to hide that you’re using a VPN. That’s where cloaking technology comes into play.
NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN all have obfuscated servers. Simply connect to one of such servers and browse the internet freely in areas where many basic freedoms are restricted.
Key takeaway:
It’s obvious that ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN all care about your security. They use the best encryption algorithm available and have plenty of additional security features, such as Kill Switch or obfuscated servers to keep you safe online.
Extra features
Feature | Surfshark | NordVPN | ExpressVPN |
---|---|---|---|
Ad and pop-up blockers
Both Surfshark and NordVPN have ad and pop-up blocking features. They’re part of Surfshark’s CleanWeb package and NordVPN’s Threat Protection. ExpressVPN also has a Threat Manager feature, but it doesn’t block ads or pop-ups, only trackers.
Split tunneling
When you establish a VPN connection, it encrypts all of your data. You can set up a split tunnel if you want some apps or websites to stay unaffected by the VPN. This is particularly handy for using banking apps, accessing wireless devices, or excluding data-heavy apps from the VPN.
Double VPN
A double VPN routes your traffic through two different VPN servers instead of one. It does slow down your connection speed but makes the connection even more secure. Using a double VPN for your everyday activities is not recommended due to the drop in speed, but it’s a great option when you need that extra bit of privacy.
Surfshark calls its double VPN service MultiHop, while NordVPN sticks with the Double VPN name. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a double VPN option at all.
GPS spoofing
A regular VPN connection hides your IP address, which is the main indicator of your location online. But it doesn’t change your GPS location. You’ll need a GPS spoofing feature to trick your GPS into thinking you’re somewhere else.
Surfshark offers this feature for Android users, ExpressVPN has it available for macOS, iOS, and Linux, while NordVPN doesn’t have a GPS spoofing feature at all.
Dedicated IP
If you want to use a VPN but always have the same IP address that only you can use, a dedicated IP is your only option. This helps avoid frequent CAPTCHAs and issues with certain apps that arise when you constantly change and share your IP address.
Both NordVPN and Surfshark offer a dedicated IP option, which is a paid service separate from the base VPN package. Surfshark does offer static IPs with all of its plans, which also never change, but you do have to share them with other users. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, doesn’t offer options for dedicated or shared IPs.
Key takeaway:
ExpressVPN has fewer extra features than Surfshark or NordVPN. It lacks a cookie pop-up and ad blocker, as well as a dedicated IP or double VPN option. Neither of these are a must for a quality experience, but if you feel you might need them, NordVPN or Surfshark is a better choice.
Price
Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN are all premium VPN providers. But not all of them come with a premium price tag. Each provider has different price points for their plans, and you’ll get a hefty discount if you choose to commit to a long-term subscription.
Plan length | Surfshark | NordVPN | ExpressVPN |
---|---|---|---|
1 month | $12.95/month | $12.99/month | $12.95/month |
12 months | $3.99/month | $4.99/month | $8.32/month |
24 months | $2.49/month | $3.99/month | — |
Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
The price for short-term plans is identical with each of the three providers. It’s with the long-term plans that you start seeing the difference.
Key takeaway:
Surfshark is the cheapest option available, with their 24-month plan priced at $2.49 a month. NordVPN isn’t far behind, with a price tag of $3.99/month for a 24-month plan. ExpressVPN is the most expensive option. They don’t offer a 2-year option, so their cheapest plan is a 12-month subscription at $8.32/month.
Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN recap
Surfshark has the most widespread server network and is the only one to offer unlimited simultaneous connections. This makes Surfshark a great choice if you use many different devices or want to share your account with a family member.
NordVPN has the most servers, most of which are in North America and Europe, which makes NordVPN a great choice in these regions. Both Surfshark and NordVPN also have an impressive fleet of extra features.
ExpressVPN may have fewer extra features than the two other providers, but it’s great at providing a secure and private online experience. ExpressVPN also had the highest upload speed by far on international servers during our speed test.
Category | Notes |
---|---|
Privacy | All providers have audited no-logs policies and headquarters in countries with no data retention laws. There’s nothing here to split them in terms of privacy. |
Server locations | NordVPN has the most servers but the fewest server locations, which makes it great for Europe and North America, where servers are plentiful. Surfshark has the most server locations, while ExpressVPN has the fewest servers of the lot in fewer locations than Surfshark. |
Streaming performance | Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN all work great with major streaming platforms. You shouldn’t have any issues with streaming performance, no matter which of the three you choose to go with. |
Connection speeds | NordVPN and Surfshark had nearly identical speed test results on both local and international servers. ExpressVPN had a slightly slower download speed but a much higher upload speed on international servers. |
VPN protocols | All providers use fast and secure VPN protocols. OpenVPN and IKEv2 are used by all of them. Surfshark has WireGuard as its fastest protocol, while NordVPN and ExpressVPN have proprietary protocols called NordLynx and Lightway respectively. |
Customer support | Each of the three providers has great customer support with vast knowledge bases, 24/7 live chat, ticketing systems, and YouTube guides. |
Audits | All three have had independent audits of their browser extensions, infrastructures, and no-logs policies. They regularly undergo new audits to ensure safety of their services. |
Security and encryption | NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN all use AES-256 encryption, which is the best available option. They also offer features such as a Kill Switch or obfuscated servers for additional security. |
Extra features | NordVPN and Surfshark are quite similar when it comes to the extra features they offer. ExpressVPN has a slightly shorter list of additional features, as it doesn’t have an ad blocker, a cookie pop-up blocker, or a dedicated IP feature. |
Price | While prices for 1-month plans are identical for all providers, Surfshark has the cheapest long-term plan at $2.49/month. NordVPN’s cheapest option is $3.99/month, while it’s $8.32/month for ExpressVPN. |
Surfshark vs. NordVPN vs. Express VPN — which one should you choose?
There is no wrong choice to make between Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN. They are three of the best VPN providers out there, yet all provide a unique package to the user. Most importantly, all of them do a good job of keeping you safe and private online, which is the main reason for using a VPN.
More Surfshark comparisons and reviews
Want to see how Surfshark stacks up against other VPN service providers? We have plenty of other comparisons for you to check out. Take your time and find the best VPN for your needs before starting your next VPN subscription.
FAQ
Does Surfshark work with Netflix?
Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN all work great with Netflix, allowing you to watch your favorite shows and movies privately.
Is Surfshark better than ExpressVPN?
Both ExpressVPN and Surfhark are great choices for a VPN, each having unique strengths. Surfshark has more extra features, while ExpressVPN had a higher upload speed during our speed tests.
Is Surfshark better than NordVPN?
Surfshark and NordVPN offer a similar VPN experience. Surfshark has servers in more countries, which makes it a great option for regions such as South America, Africa, Asia, or the Middle East. NordVPN has more servers in North America and Europe, making it a great choice for these regions.