Surfshark VPN vs ProtonVPN
Pick any two tools to get a head-to-head breakdown.
Overall rating
★★★★★
4.5/5
★★★★★
4.6/5
Starting price
$2.49/mo
$4.99/mo
Speed
88/10
7/10
Privacy
84/10
10/10
Value for money
98/10
9/10
Ease of use
88/10
8/10
Reader clicks
45
55
Pros
- 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
- Fully open source
- Free unlimited tier
- Swiss jurisdiction
- No ads ever
Cons
- Based in Netherlands (EU jurisdiction) — some prefer Panama like NordVPN
- Fewer servers than NordVPN
- Speed can vary more on distant server locations
- Speeds slower than NordVPN
- No split tunnelling on free
Verdict
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.
ProtonVPN is the most trustworthy VPN available. If privacy is your top priority, this is the one.
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