Surfshark vs. ProtonVPN: which one is for you?

Surfshark vs. ProtonVPN: at a glance

After a quick look, Surfshark and ProtonVPN differ in price, simultaneous connections, and servers. But before choosing which provider is better, let’s dive deeper into the technical details.

Speed

Before we get to the upload and download speed test results, let’s slow down a bit and learn how the VPN speed is measured.

Have you ever heard of Gbps (gigabits per second) or Mbps (megabits per second)? These measurement units indicate your internet speed.

When using a VPN, your data traffic travels through a server and its ports. Ports are also measured in Gbps — how much data a server can let through a certain timeframe. The greater the port size, the more data it can handle — less lag for you.

Both VPNs boast that their server speed can reach 10 Gbps in most locations. That’s pretty great, considering you only need 3 Mbps for video calls and 30 Mbps for casual web browsing.

Once the data is at your VPN provider’s servers, it gets encrypted, which also takes time and adds to the internet speed results.

Now that you’re “caught up to speed,” we can continue with the speed test results.

WireGuard protocol

As mentioned, both Surshark and ProtonVPN use the WireGuard protocol because it’s the fastest.

How do we know it is the fastest? Well, we carried out many tests using speedtest.net by Ookla. We tested the server speed of both VPN providers across the US, the UK, Australia, and Japan. Our research baseline was 300 Mbps download speed and 250 Mbps upload speed. 

A few words before the big reveal: speed can differ. It depends on many factors, such as location, device, network, ISP (Internet Service Provider), etc. So let’s move on to the results, shall we?

As you can see, there aren’t any significant differences. Surfshark provided a better download speed, and ProtonVPN’s speed was better for uploads. Interestingly, giving upload speeds up to 12 Mbps in some locations caused setbacks for both VPN services.

OpenVPN protocol

We also tested Surfshark and ProtonVPN servers on the OpenVPN protocol.

Surfshark performed better when comparing download and upload speeds using the OpenVPN protocol. However, the differences aren’t that significant.

Security

Surfshark’s HQ is in the Netherlands, and ProtonVPN’s in Switzerland — ideal locations for data protection. Neither country has data retention policies, meaning the VPN providers can guarantee user privacy and security since they can’t be forced to collect user data.

Aside from data retention policies, there are a few technical intricacies allowing us to assess the security section of both VPN providers:

VPN protocols and DNS status

When comparing Surfshark and ProtonVPN, there’s no significant difference between the VPN protocols and DNS (Domain Name System) status. They both offer WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. Also, both VPN providers ensure your DNS requests are handled by their private DNS so no one can access them in an unencrypted format.

Encryption

From VPN protocols to data encryption, you can see that most of the security features between Surfshark and ProtonVPN are similar. Both providers offer the same VPN protocols, Kill Switch, and use robust AES-256 (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption.

Along with AES-256 encryption, Surfshark and ProtonVPN are pretty even since both use ChaCha20 encryption for the WireGuard protocol.

Difference between AES-256 and ChaCha20

AES-256 divides data into blocks, whereas ChaCha20 ciphers each bit of data separately. Hence, some consider the latter to be faster, although the differences in speed and complexity are minor.

Encryption key

ProtonVPN uses a 4096-bit version of the RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) encryption key, but the 2048-bit version is already secure enough. The RSA-2048 bit key would take approximately 300 trillion years for an ordinary conventional computer to crack.

The length of the key affects how much processing is required to read it by the server. So doubling the number of bits to add that extra layer of protection brings one drawback — speed.

Features

Besides protecting your online connection, Surfshark VPN and ProtonVPN come packed with additional features under their metaphorical hood.

AdBlocker

The feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware. Surfshark offers CleanWeb, and ProtonVPN has a NetShield feature — both work as ad blockers.

Cookie pop-up blocker

Blocks annoying cookie consent pop-ups. This feature is available as a Surfshark browser extension. Unavailable on ProtonVPN.

Kill Switch

Disconnects your device from the internet if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. Both providers offer the kill switch feature.

Pause VPN

Lets you pause the VPN connection for 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or 2 hours. The connection automatically resumes once the selected time ends. Surfshark has it, and it’s unavailable on ProtonVPN.

Smart DNS

Private DNS helps out if your smart TV doesn’t support a VPN. Surfshark makes sure to cover even unsupported devices, such as Apple TV. This feature is not available with ProtonVPN.

GPS override

Tricks GPS-enabled apps such as Google Maps, Uber, and Snapchat into thinking you’re elsewhere. Surfshark offers this feature on Android devices. GPS spoofing is unavailable on ProtonVPN.

P2P servers

In a P2P (Peer-to-Peer) network, all computers have access to all or some part of the same resources and data. P2P sharing is available using both Surfshark and ProtonVPN.

NoBorders / Stealth

Lets you use a VPN on a network with restrictions like geoblocking or government censorship. Surfshark calls it NoBorders, and ProtonVPN calls it Stealth.

Split tunneling

This feature lets you select apps & websites to bypass the VPN tunnel. Surfshark calls it Bypasser, and ProtonVPN sticks to the original title of Split tunneling.

VPN Accelerator

Boosts VPN speed and stabilizes your VPN connection. ProtonVPN has it running in all ProtonVPN applications, however Surfshark doesn’t support such a feature.

Private DNS

Both VPN services can boast about having their own private DNS. It converts domain names into IP (Internet Protocol) addresses. That said, no one, even your ISP and DNS provider, will ever have access to them in an unencrypted form.

Browser extensions

Although we recommend using a VPN for all online activities, we’ve got browser extensions too. They only encrypt your browser’s data traffic instead of the whole device. Surfshark and ProtonVPN offer extensions for Chromium-based and Firefox-based browsers.

IP Rotator

This feature changes the user’s IP address on the chosen location every 5 to 10 minutes without disconnecting from the VPN. ProtonVPN doesn’t offer this feature.

Double VPN

This feature anonymizes your online identity two-fold. In other words, it routes your online data via two different VPN servers, making your connection even more secure. Both providers have it, and Surfshark calls it MultiHop, while ProtonVPN calls it Secure Core.

Tor servers

Accesses the anonymous Tor network: hidden services and onion sites. ProtonVPN offers special servers that can reroute internet traffic through the Tor network. Surfshark doesn’t provide such an option.

Server locations

When using a VPN, you connect to your VPN provider’s available locations to hide your IP address and encrypt your online connection. If there are more server locations, there are more alternatives for you to connect to and a higher chance that there’s a server near you.

On top of that, if a service provides more servers, you can connect to one with fewer people, meaning you get to enjoy better speeds since you won’t have to share internet bandwidth with others.

With that out of the way, let’s look at how our VPN competitors perform in this race.

Looking at servers within specific countries, the most significant difference is in the US. But either provider will work if you use locations in the UK, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, or Germany.

Restricted countries

A VPN provider must ensure their VPN works when connecting to or being in a restricted country.

For those seeking to enjoy online security under stricter network restrictions, Surfshark offers the NoBorders feature. If Surfshark’s app notices network limitations, it automatically connects to the best servers available at that moment.

As for ProtonVPN, they have implemented alternative routing. If their software cannot connect directly to their servers, it will route your connection through unblockable third-party services. In addition, they offer a Stealth VPN protocol that bypasses internet censorship and VPN blocks.

User-friendliness

Although user-friendliness is subjective, we can all agree that having an easy-to-navigate app is nice. From that, we can form general criteria for the user-friendliness of a VPN app: device compatibility and interface.

Compatibility

To make an informed decision when choosing a VPN, one must consider the devices they regularly use. And it would be annoying to find out you can’t use the VPN on your favorite device after you bought the app. So let’s make sure that never happens!

Also, remember that Surfshark doesn’t limit the devices you can connect to your account.

Interface

ProtonVPN’s interface includes a world map and only comes in a dark theme on their app. You can fold up the map and see a list of locations. It looks like this:

Surfshark’s interface can be either light or dark. It doesn’t contain any distractions — you can see the complete server list, the server’s details, and your location information. Pretty handy, right?

Pricing and plans

Surfshark and ProtonVPN offer three plans — 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year subscriptions. While ProtonVPN offers a cheaper 1-month plan, Surfshark is more affordable in the long term with the 2-year plan.

Both VPNs come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, if you decide to give either service a shot, you can do so risk-free.

You can pay a little extra for Surfshark One and get a lot more:

• Surfshark Antivirus — protect your devices from viruses;
• Surfshark Search — search the web ad-free;
• Surfshark Alert — stay informed of data breaches.

Customer support

How a service takes care of its customers says a lot about the service itself. So, let’s look at Surfshark and ProtonVPN’s customer support.

As you can see, Surfshark offers live chat and YouTube video guides — a lifesaver for quick answers or solutions.

Surfshark vs. ProtonVPN: the results

Surfshark vs. ProtonVPN: the winner

Surfshark and ProtonVPN are excellent services — from exceptional speeds and unique additional features to an astonishing number of servers worldwide and economical subscription prices. With that in mind, we hope you choose the VPN that best suits your needs.

Other Surfshark comparisons

Need more info before choosing a VPN? Take a look at our in-depth Surfshark review and see how it compares to other big names in the VPN industry.

• Surfshark vs. PIA
• Surfshark vs. NordVPN
• Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN
• Surfshark vs. CyberGhost
• Surfshark vs. IPVanish
• Surfshark vs. Mullvad

FAQ

Is ProtonVPN trustworthy? 

Yes, ProtonVPN is trustworthy — the service uses AES-256 encryption that is almost impossible to crack and doesn’t collect user data. The providers strive for transparency by publicly displaying the source code for each ProtonVPN app to check if it is safe.

Is ProtonVPN the best VPN?

ProtonVPN is a great VPN service provider, but whether it’s the best for you will depend on your needs. It uses powerful encryption, is user-friendly, offers good speeds, and supports up to ten connections and P2P file sharing. But ProtonVPN lacks an IP rotator and a smart DNS feature.

What is better than ProtonVPN?

Surfshark is a fantastic alternative to ProtonVPN, and here’s why — it offers exclusive features, covers more than 100 countries worldwide, and allows unlimited simultaneous connections with one subscription.

Surfshark vs. ProtonVPN — which is better?

Both VPN providers are great and offer a plethora of security features. Surfshark has more server locations and offers better speeds in most of them, but ProtonVPN uses an RSA encryption key that provides slightly better security. Surfshark offers cheaper 2-year and 1-year subscriptions than ProtonVPN.