ProtonVPN vs Surfshark VPN
Pick any two tools to get a head-to-head breakdown.
Overall rating
★★★★★
4.6/5
★★★★★
4.5/5
Starting price
$4.99/mo
$2.49/mo
Speed
7/10
88/10
Privacy
10/10
84/10
Value for money
9/10
98/10
Ease of use
8/10
88/10
Reader clicks
55
45
Pros
- Fully open source
- Free unlimited tier
- Swiss jurisdiction
- No ads ever
- Unlimited simultaneous connections — no device cap
- Cheapest mainstream VPN at $2.49/mo on 2-year plan
- Fast WireGuard speeds — 440 Mbps average in our tests
- CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers, and malware built-in
- Works with Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+
- RAM-only servers — no data stored to disk
- Surfshark One bundle adds antivirus at minimal extra cost
Cons
- Speeds slower than NordVPN
- No split tunnelling on free
- Based in Netherlands (EU jurisdiction) — some prefer Panama like NordVPN
- Fewer servers than NordVPN
- Speed can vary more on distant server locations
Verdict
ProtonVPN is the most trustworthy VPN available. If privacy is your top priority, this is the one.
Surfshark is the best value VPN in 2026. At $2.49/month on a two-year plan and unlimited simultaneous connections, it is the obvious choice for households with many devices or anyone sharing a subscription. Our speed tests recorded 440 Mbps average on WireGuard — fast enough for 4K streaming with headroom to spare. It reliably unblocks Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. The Surfshark One bundle adds antivirus and breach monitoring for an extra dollar per month, making it exceptional value as a full security suite.
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