Surfshark vs. NordVPN vs. Proton VPN: which VPN is best for you?

Choosing a VPN (Virtual Private Network) means weighing factors like speed, privacy, and price against your own priorities. Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN are three of the most widely used providers in the industry, and each brings a distinct value to the table.

If you’re deciding between these three services, you’ve come to the right place. This VPN comparison breaks down every category that matters so you can decide which provider best fits your routine.

*A free VPN with limited features is available.
**Based on Surfshark vs. NordVPN speed tests from Cybernews.
***Based on Surfshark vs. Proton VPN speed tests from Cybernews.

If you’re looking for long-term value, all three providers offer deals on one- and two-year plans. Pricing varies by subscription length and bundle tier, but Surfshark offers the most affordable entry point for long-term subscriptions compared to NordVPN and Proton VPN.

Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN structure their plans into multiple tiers. Here’s a pricing breakdown for each provider’s entry-level plans:

Surfshark Starter leads in long-term affordability with its two-year plan priced at $2.49/mo. Its one-year commitment is also the most budget-friendly annual option at $3.39/mo.

NordVPN and Proton VPN both offer two-year plans starting at $3.49/mo, but Proton VPN is the most accessible option for users who prefer not to commit long-term. Its monthly subscription costs $9.99/mo. NordVPN’s monthly rate is $14.99.

Proton VPN also offers a free plan with slower speeds and limited server access. Surfshark counters with a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

All three services accept multiple payment options:

All three also allow cryptocurrency payment options during checkout or in your account settings. In Proton VPN’s case, cryptocurrency payments are limited to bitcoin. Moreover, NordVPN and Proton VPN accept cash payments.

A VPN’s server network directly affects its performance across regions and its ability to handle traffic loads during peak hours.

Surfshark operates 4,500+ servers across 100 countries. The server infrastructure includes specialized options like:

Surfshark’s infrastructure runs entirely on RAM-only servers, meaning no data is stored on physical hardware. It’s all wiped when a server is rebooted.

NordVPN maintains over 9,400 servers across 149 countries. Specialty options include Double VPN nodes, Onion Over VPN routing for use on the Tor network, P2P-optimized servers, and obfuscated servers. NordVPN also uses a 100% RAM-only network.

Proton VPN operates a fleet of 20,500+ servers in 148 countries. It offers Tor over VPN, P2P servers, and Secure Core servers. These route traffic through privacy-friendly countries before it reaches its final destination.

Rather than a RAM-only architecture, Proton VPN uses full-disk encryption on its hard drives. Unlike the other two providers, only some of its servers support 10 Gbps.

How fast your VPN runs can impact streaming quality, gaming responsiveness, and file transfer times. VPNs can slightly slow your internet speed due to encryption overhead, but the top providers keep the difference minimal.

Here’s how Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN compare in terms of server speed based on Cybernews speed tests.

Download speed retention

Based on independent speed tests, Surfshark retained 95% of baseline speeds on local connections and up to 92% on international routes with WireGuard, making it a strong VPN choice for high-bandwidth tasks like streaming, gaming, and large file transfers.

Surfshark also improves connections by using a proprietary route optimization technology called FastTrack. It dynamically selects the most efficient data path to your server, reducing latency in key locations.

Additionally, macOS users connecting via Surfshark’s Dausos protocol can experience up to 30% faster VPN speeds than with industry-standard protocols.

NordVPN retained 95% of baseline speed on local servers and 87% on US connections using its proprietary NordLynx protocol. Based on WireGuard, NordLynx is optimized for privacy and performance.

Proton VPN achieved 94% speed retention locally, slightly slower than the other two providers. It performed similarly to Surfshark and NordVPN when connecting across international servers.

Streaming uses a lot of bandwidth, so your VPN should run smoothly without lag or buffering. Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN all work with major streaming services, but speed and consistency can vary.

Disclaimer: Please note that using Surfshark services for any illegal activities is strictly forbidden and violates our Terms of Service. Make sure that any use of Surfshark services for your particular activities conforms to all relevant laws and regulations, including those of any service providers and websites you access using Surfshark.*

All three providers work with popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and HBO Max.

Surfshark allows you to safely watch your favorite content and helps prevent activity-based ISP throttling. Additionally, its Clean Web feature blocks ads while you stream in your browser. With unlimited multi-device protection, Surfshark also makes it easier to get a VPN connection on all your favorite streaming devices.

It’s worth noting that Proton VPN doesn’t guarantee streaming access on its free plan. Streaming is officially supported only on paid subscriptions.

All three providers offer stable, low-latency connections for multiplayer online gaming along with built-in DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) protection. However, Surfshark is the only one out of the three with native Android GPS override functionality. This lets mobile gamers match their virtual IP (Internet Protocol) coordinates with their device’s location data, which is useful when traveling.

Strong security is the foundation of any VPN. Its primary role is to protect your data, encrypt traffic, and help prevent unauthorized tracking. Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN all use industry-standard encryption and additional security tools.

A kill switch is a vital security feature that prevents data leaks if a VPN connection unexpectedly drops by disconnecting your internet access. Without a kill switch, a brief VPN outage could easily expose a user’s real IP address and location.

All three providers include a kill switch. Surfshark lets you toggle the kill switch on or off, NordVPN includes both app-level and system-wide kill switches, and Proton VPN provides a system-level kill switch.

Surfshark also features Everlink, a patented self-healing infrastructure that proactively reroutes your encrypted tunnel in real time if a server fails. This keeps your IP address protected while you stay online. Standard kill switches reactively cut off internet access during a drop, but Everlink keeps your connection running.

Obfuscation, also known as a stealth VPN, makes VPN traffic harder to identify. It’s particularly useful in places with heavy internet censorship.

Surfshark automatically applies obfuscation to all servers using the OpenVPN protocol. NordVPN offers dedicated obfuscated servers accessible through its app menu, while Proton VPN uses its Stealth protocol for obfuscation.

Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN all offer industry-standard VPN protocols alongside their own proprietary options.

Surfshark’s proprietary VPN protocol, Dausos, is built specifically with everyday users in mind. Instead of relying on traditional shared tunnels, Dausos assigns each user an isolated data tunnel paired with post-quantum AEGIS-256X2 encryption to deliver up to 30% higher throughput than standard protocols.

NordVPN’s primary protocol is NordLynx, which is built on WireGuard. It also features NordWhisper, a censorship-resistant protocol that relies on web tunneling.

Finally, Proton VPN offers its Stealth protocol. Stealth was designed to bypass VPN blocks and deep packet inspection on restrictive networks.

Surfshark and Proton VPN support the lightweight WireGuard protocol directly across all major platforms, leveraging its minimal codebase to deliver fast throughput, efficient battery usage, and post-quantum encryption enhancements.

NordVPN channels WireGuard through its NordLynx implementation.

IKEv2/IPsec is recognized for its stability during network transitions. Surfshark supports it on mobile devices, making it a reliable choice for users switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data.

NordVPN and Proton VPN also offer IKEv2/IPsec on some platforms. For example, Proton VPN is currently phasing out IKEv2 support for macOS and iOS.

OpenVPN remains a battle-tested protocol favored for its security and versatility. Surfshark supports both OpenVPN UDP (for speed) and OpenVPN TCP (for stability) and uses the protocol to apply obfuscation.

NordVPN also provides full OpenVPN functionality in UDP and TCP modes. Proton VPN, however, only supports OpenVPN on Windows, Linux, and Android.

Independent security audits verify that a VPN provider follows through on its privacy claims. Here are the audit histories for Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN.

Surfshark has undergone multiple independent audits that focus on its security infrastructure and no-logs policy.

These ongoing audits show a level of transparency that makes Surfshark one of the industry’s most verified and well-documented VPN providers.

NordVPN has a long history of independent checks, making it one of the most transparent VPN providers.

Proton VPN’s audit history also makes it a reliable provider.

Choosing a VPN that can effectively protect your privacy is crucial. You need assurance that your online activity stays confidential and your data isn’t logged or tracked. Here’s how Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN handle user privacy.

Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands, which provides the privacy advantage of having no mandatory data-retention laws. Operating within the EU means Surfshark is subject to the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), providing strong baseline legal protections for user data.

NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, another country with no legal data-retention requirements. Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, which is also known for its privacy-friendly laws.

Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN all maintain strict no-logs policies and don’t track, monitor, or store user activity.

All three providers also regularly engage independent third parties to verify their privacy claims. Deloitte last confirmed both Surfshark’s and Nord’s policies in 2025, while Securitum most recently vetted Proton VPN’s policy in 2026.

Surfshark and NordVPN run entirely on RAM-only servers that wipe clean on every reboot. In contrast, Proton VPN uses full-disk encryption instead.

Additional privacy tools for Surfshark include the Multi Hop double VPN, Clean Web ad blocking, and regular transparency reports detailing government data requests.

Moving on, NordVPN includes features like Double VPN for added encryption and Onion Over VPN. Proton VPN’s privacy measures include the Secure Core double VPN, Tor over VPN, and open-source code. Like Surfshark, both NordVPN and Proton VPN publish regular transparency reports.

Here’s how the three VPN services approach customer support:

Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN provide similar support channels:

All three offer email support and online help centers with troubleshooting guides, while none of them have phone support. The main difference comes in how the providers offer live chat support. Surfshark’s and NordVPN’s 24/7 live chat is open to customers and non-customers alike. On the other hand, a paid subscription is required to access Proton VPN’s chat support.

Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN all back their services with comprehensive self-service help centers. These include in-depth FAQ libraries, installation guides, and technical support articles that cover everything from basic setup to advanced security configurations.

Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN all offer email support ticketing to deliver personalized responses tailored to each user’s needs. Whenever a live chat agent can’t resolve a problem, they automatically generate a ticket for a specialist to follow up with more detailed guidance.

Beyond the core VPN functionality, each provider bundles additional tools into their offer. Here’s how Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN compare.

All three VPNs offer built-in tools to block intrusive ads, trackers, and malicious websites that can hurt your browsing experience.

Surfshark includes Clean Web, an ad blocker that’s available across all subscription tiers on computers and mobile devices. It’s especially helpful when used for in-browser streaming. On the Surfshark browser extension, Clean Web has even more capabilities. It can block annoying cookie pop-ups, warn you about potential malware, and alert you if a site you’re visiting has been part of a data breach.

NordVPN has a similar feature called Threat Protection. It handles your standard ad and tracker blocking, while Threat Protection Pro elevates your security by actively scanning downloaded files for malware. Threat Protection Pro is available on higher-tier plans.

Proton VPN’s feature for blocking ads, trackers, and malware is called NetShield. In addition to traditional blocking, it also lets users track how many ads and trackers were stopped in the NetShield Privacy Panel.

Split tunneling lets users choose which apps use the VPN connection and which maintain unprotected local access. All three providers offer split tunneling, but they handle it differently.

Surfshark’s Bypasser feature gives users lots of flexibility. You can exclude both specific apps and URLs from your VPN in the Surfshark app on Windows, macOS, and Android. Websites can also be excluded on iOS or through the browser extension.

In addition, Surfshark offers inverse split tunneling on Android and Windows. Known as route via VPN, the feature lets you select specific apps or websites you want to have VPN coverage for.

NordVPN similarly offers strong split tunneling, though the scope isn’t the same. Its app-based split tunneling is available on Windows, Android, and Android TV, while website-level exclusion must be configured separately through browser extensions.

Proton VPN offers split tunneling for apps and IP addresses on Windows and Android, specific apps on Linux and Android TV, and websites via browser extensions. An experimental app-only version is available on macOS, but Proton VPN lacks split tunneling support for all iOS devices.

A double VPN routes your traffic through two separate VPN servers instead of one, encrypting your data twice and making your online activity much harder to trace. All three providers take a different approach to offering users a double VPN.

Surfshark comes with the most flexibility with its Multi Hop feature. Users enjoy full customization, as they can manually choose both the entry and exit server locations from Surfshark’s global network. Pre-selected pairs are also available. If you need tailored routing for a specific location or security needs, Surfshark is the best choice.

NordVPN gives you a more streamlined Double VPN feature. It has a set list of optimized, pre-configured server combinations.

Doing things a little differently, Proton VPN’s Secure Core double VPN only routes traffic through Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden. These are chosen specifically because they’re known for being privacy-friendly countries, but the limited choices might not suit users who prefer more options.

A VPN masks your IP address, but it doesn’t necessarily change your phone’s GPS coordinates. This can be frustrating when using games or location-based apps that track your geographic position.

Surfshark solves this problem with its native GPS override feature on Android. It syncs your device’s physical GPS coordinates to match your chosen VPN server location.

Neither NordVPN nor Proton VPN offers built-in GPS spoofing on their Android apps.

Disclaimer: Please note that using Surfshark services for any illegal activities is strictly forbidden and violates our Terms of Service. Make sure that any use of Surfshark services for your particular activities conforms to all relevant laws and regulations, including those of any service providers and websites you access using Surfshark.

A dedicated IP gives you a static, personal IP address that isn’t shared with other VPN users. It’s helpful when trying to access IP-sensitive services like online banks or avoiding annoying human verification prompts.

Surfshark and NordVPN offer a dedicated IP as an optional paid add-on to their regular VPN plans. Proton VPN only includes its dedicated IP in select Business plans.

Surfshark’s Alternative ID creates a complete alternative persona that includes a name, date of birth, physical address, and email address. Included in all plans, it lets you maintain up to three email aliases at a time, forwarding incoming messages to your real address while giving you the flexibility to delete and generate new ones.

Alternative ID helps you reduce spam in your primary inbox, defend against personal data exposure, and lower the risk of phishing attempts.

Proton VPN’s comparable feature is Proton Pass, but it only provides “hide-my-email” aliases to filter out incoming spam and keep your personal email more private. It’s included in Proton’s top-tier plan.

NordVPN doesn’t offer a similar email masking feature in its app.

Alternative number is another feature exclusive to Surfshark. It provides a virtual phone number for online accounts and listings, preventing you from exposing your regular phone number to potential spam or leaks.

Sold separately from Alternative ID, alternative number is available as a paid add-on.

NordVPN and Proton VPN don’t include a comparable feature, giving Surfshark an advantage in broader privacy protection.

Surfshark includes a lightweight Antivirus tool as part of its Surfshark One and One+ bundles. This software provides real-time malware defense, full-device manual and scheduled scans, and webcam protection across up to five devices.

NordVPN’s antivirus focuses on real-time security for web browsing and downloads. Available in higher-tier bundles, it focuses mostly on pre-execution online threats, not full-disk scans for malicious files already stored on your computer.

Proton VPN doesn’t offer any device-scanning antivirus tool.

For protection against both existing and incoming malware threats, Surfshark provides the most comprehensive antivirus software of the three.

Scams, phishing attacks, and identity theft are common online threats, so many VPN providers have expanded their services to help you spot fraudulent messages before interacting with them.

Surfshark’s scam protection emphasizes defense against both text messages and emails. Text message protection on mobile devices scans incoming SMS messages for patterns to flag dangerous links or any messages that appear fraudulent. Similarly, Surfshark’s email scam checker analyzes suspicious emails from your web browser to warn you about deceptive domains and hidden malicious links.

Likewise, NordVPN offers scam protection that scans texts from unknown senders for scam keywords, malicious links, or unusual sender numbers. It also screens incoming phone calls against a live database of reported scam numbers.

Proton VPN’s scam protections are limited to its NetShield DNS (Domain Name System) filtering feature. This blocks malicious domains and phishing links at the DNS level before they can load in your browser.

All three providers offer dark web scanning to alert you when your personal data is leaked after a breach, but their notifications are structured differently.

Surfshark Alert scans the web for your personal information leaks, sending notifications if your email address, passwords, credit card number, or national ID number are exposed in a leak. Available in the Surfshark One and One+ tiers, Alert helps you monitor your personal information and protect against identity theft.

NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor tracks leak databases for the email address that’s linked to your Nord account. Dark Web Monitor Pro is needed to check things like your phone number, credit card info, and national lD number. This feature is reserved for NordVPN’s highest-tier plan.

Proton VPN’s tool has a similar name — Dark Web Monitoring. Like the features above, this alerts you if your personal information is compromised in a data leak. Dark Web Monitoring is only available on Proton VPN’s highest subscription tier.

Category-based web filtering lets you block certain types of online content without manually entering individual URLs. Restricting specific types of websites across your devices helps keep your browsing focused and your family safe.

Surfshark’s web content blocker offers multi-category control at the device level. You can turn off access to various website categories, such as adult content, gambling, and drugs. As a result, the blocker prevents the applicable pages from loading in your browser.

NordVPN doesn’t offer a multi-category web content blocker in its VPN app. Its antivirus software includes an adult site blocker that limits access via DNS filtering, but controls for other categories are absent.

Proton VPN’s NetShield also uses DNS filtering, but it’s mostly designed to block ads, trackers, and malware. That said, adult content blocking is available in its Windows app, but other categories aren’t.

Of the three providers, Surfshark offers the most flexible web filtering with controls for multiple content categories.

Identity theft coverage provides financial support to help you reclaim your accounts, cover legal fees, and recover stolen assets.

Surfshark includes identity theft coverage in its Surfshark One+ plan. Surfshark’s support covers up to $1M in eligible expenses related to identity restoration. This includes legal fees, document replacement costs, and lost wages.

NordVPN includes identity theft insurance in its top-tier Prime plan for US users. It offers up to $1M in identity-recovery insurance along with a dedicated case manager. Users also get up to $100,000 in cyber extortion insurance to cover expert guidance and response costs if hackers demand a ransom for your data.

Proton VPN doesn’t feature identity theft insurance, financial fraud remediation, or live recovery agent assistance.,

Disclaimer: Identity theft coverage from Surfshark is available to customers residing in the US, including US territories and the District of Columbia, except for New York State residents. Surfshark is not a licensed insurance producer. Benefits under the Master Policy are issued and covered by HSB Specialty Insurance Company. You can find further details and exclusions in the summary of benefits for the state of Washington and the rest of the US.

Automated data removal tools are helpful in getting data brokers and people search sites to delete your personal details, such as your name, address, and phone number.

Both Surfshark and NordVPN include data removal from Incogni in their highest-tier plans. Incogni automatically identifies data brokers storing your information and sends opt-out and deletion requests on your behalf. It helps erase your profile from commercial databases and continuously monitors these platforms to see if your data ever reappears.

Proton VPN doesn’t offer automated personal data removal.

A password manager stores your logins, credit card details, and sensitive notes in an encrypted portfolio to automatically fill out any credentials when you sign in to websites or apps.

The highest-tier NordVPN plans include NordPass to auto-fill logins across your devices. It organizes your credit cards and monitors password health to identify weak or reused logins. There’s also a data breach scanner that alerts you if any stored credentials show up in online leaks.

Similarly, Proton VPN uses Proton Pass to store encrypted passwords and 2FA (Two-factor Authentication) codes. Available in Proton’s highest-tier bundle, it also syncs across multiple devices and lets you leave personal notes.

Surfshark lacks any comparable password manager.

Cloud storage lets you back up sensitive files, photos, or documents in an encrypted online account. NordVPN’s NordLocker offers encrypted cloud storage to users on higher-tier bundles.

Likewise, Proton VPN features Proton Drive on its top-tier plan. This gives users up to 500 GB of secure storage, encrypts shared files, and allows for cross-device syncing.

Surfshark doesn’t provide any similar storage options.

Proton VPN’s most expensive bundle includes Proton Mail, a secure email service that lets users send and receive private messages. You can manage up to 15 email addresses and link up to three custom email domains.

Neither Surfshark nor NordVPN provides a built-in email hosting platform.

Proton VPN’s top-tier plan features Proton Calendar, a tool that provides users with a private, customizable calendar. You can create up to 25 calendars with end-to-end encryption.

Surfshark and NordVPN bundles don’t include a private calendar.

For community-driven perspectives, you can explore the VPN comparison table discussion to see which VPN provider is best for you. The associated comparison spreadsheet ranks Surfshark and NordVPN among the top two VPN services.

Here’s a selection of user comments from Reddit discussing Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN:

Disclaimer: The reviews highlighted in this section were selected from publicly available posts on social media platforms. They reflect the opinions of individual users at the time of posting and may not represent the full range of our product features and qualities.

VPN companies offer tools that vary widely in cost, device setup, advanced security features, bundled products, and more. As this comparison shows, Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN each have strengths that appeal to different users.

Surfshark provides unlimited connections, the most affordable long-term pricing, and forward-looking innovations like its post-quantum Dausos protocol. NordVPN has a broad feature set and diverse server locations. Proton VPN includes a free VPN and a vast server network. All three VPN services are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

See how Surfshark’s features, pricing, and performance compare to other VPN providers:

Just want to focus on Surfshark? Check out our full Surfshark review.