NordVPN and SurfShark are two of the most popular VPN providers on the market. They both have their pros and cons, which we will compare in this NordVPN vs Surfshark review. We hope that this comparison will help you make an informed decision about which provider is best for you.

NordVPN has been around since 2012 and is currently based in Panama. It is a reputable, well-established VPN service that offers high-speed servers in over 60 countries worldwide. Their customer support has received mixed reviews, with some people saying that it’s bad while others are quite happy with it.

The provider offers six simultaneous connections with one account. They offer an impressive number of applications for different devices, including Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, Android, and Linux.

Surfshark is a relatively new VPN provider that is based in the British Virgin Islands. It is another reputable service with servers located in over 50 countries worldwide. The company doesn’t keep logs of your activity and has a kill switch that is activated only if your connection drops.

Their customer support service can be reached via live chat, email, and even Facebook Messenger. They reply within a few hours at the most, which is pretty good compared to other providers out there.

In this guide, we’re going to do a thorough review of both NordVPN and SurfShark to help you better understand the differences between the two as well as which one is superior.

NordVPN vs SurfShark Speed Compared

Speed is a crucial factor when choosing a VPN service. After all, you don’t want to use an unreliable provider that constantly lags or disconnects you from the server due to high demand.

Having a fast VPN provider is even more important when torrenting since you want to make sure you can download new files in the shortest time possible.

Therefore, the first aspect that we will compare between NordVPN and SurfShark is speed.

NordVPN Speed

The provider has a large network of servers, including over 5,100 worldwide. The larger the network is the more data you will be able to transfer and the higher your speed will be.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that NordVPN doesn’t have any servers located in China. This means that if you’re looking for a VPN provider to use in this country, NordVPN won’t be of much help.

Additionally, you can also see how many IP addresses are available per server here. The more IPs are available the better since it will mean that there is less congestion on each server.

Surfshark Speed

Surfshark has a smaller server network compared to NordVPN. However, it offers a decent number of servers, with over 600 worldwide.

The provider uses 256-bit encryption and doesn’t keep any logs of your activity. This ensures that there is no data you can’t access if the government finally decides to crack down on VPNs.

Some users claim to have experienced minimal drops in speed when using this service, which is considerably better than some other providers out there.

So which one comes out on top when it comes to speed? Although NordVPN has a larger server network, we discovered in our Surfshark vs NordVPN review that Surfshark definitely seems like the better choice when it comes to speed performance.

Winner: Surfshark.

NordVPN vs Surfshark Privacy Compared

Next, we will compare the privacy aspects between NordVPN and Surfshark. This is an important aspect to consider when choosing a VPN since you want to make sure that your online activity cannot be tracked by anyone.

Privacy is perhaps the most important aspect of a VPN since it can not only help you hide your activity on the web but also protect you from ISP monitoring and government spying.

Fortunately, both NordVPN and Surfshark offer features that ensure great privacy protection to their users. Let’s see how they compare when it comes to this aspect of VPNs.

NordVPN Privacy

One of the most important aspects of a VPN is the jurisdiction where it operates from. This ensures that there are no legal incompatibilities and that no country can force a VPN to hand over information about its subscribers.

NordVPN has been operating from Panama since 2012, which makes this provider one of the most reliable in terms of privacy protection. In fact, this country is pretty much a safe haven when it comes to privacy, which means that your data will remain secure at all times.

This provider keeps no logs of your activity on the internet whatsoever and has very strong security protocols in place that ensure your online anonymity. It’s also worth mentioning that the company offers double VPN servers, which means that connections are encrypted twice.

This prevents any outsiders from accessing data that your VPN is sending to the server and vice versa.

Surfshark Privacy

As mentioned before, Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands, which means it’s under no obligation to share information with third parties or government agencies.

This provider also offers a no-logs policy, which means that it won’t be recording any information about your online activity. In this way, you can always access the internet anonymously and securely from anywhere you go.

In addition to these features, Surfshark has a kill switch included in its application for an extra layer of privacy protection. This ensures that no data can be accessed if the connection to the VPN fails.

Surfshark also has a great security protocol in place, including 256-bit encryption and perfect forward secrecy. This means you can always stay secure on the web whenever you use this provider.

Both NordVPN and Surfshark have pros and cons, with the latter having a smaller server network but faster speeds.

In terms of privacy, both providers are excellent choices since they keep no logs of your activity on the internet whatsoever. But if you need complete anonymity from your ISP or country’s government, we would suggest sticking to Surfshark.

Winner: Surfshark.

NordVPN vs SurfShark Bypassing Geographical Restrictions Compared

Netflix is definitely one of the most popular sources out there and it’s one that holds a lot of content for its users, which can be accessed from anywhere around the world.

However, this great advantage has also become a big issue because Netflix blocks VPN to use on its website. This means that if you try to access Netflix through your regular VPN provider, you will be blocked.

Luckily, there are a few providers that have been able to bypass this geographical restriction thanks to advanced security protocols and special servers set up just for this purpose. Let’s see how NordVPN and Surfshark compare in this aspect of VPNs.

NordVPN Bypassing Geographical Restrictions

One of NordVPN’s special features is the so-called Smart Play. This feature ensures that users can watch Netflix no matter where in the world they are located.

Thanks to this feature, you can access Netflix even through your regular NordVPN servers. This means that all websites are not blocked when using this VPN provider, unlike most others on the market.

In addition to these security protocols, NordVPN also has a network of servers in 60 countries around the world. This ensures that you will have access to a server that works with Netflix no matter where you are located.

Keep in mind that not all NordVPN servers can bypass geographical restrictions, so make sure to check this feature before purchasing or subscribing to a particular server.

Surfshark Bypassing Geographical Restrictions

Surfshark has a list of servers that have been set up just for accessing Netflix content, so you don’t have to worry about being blocked while using this VPN service.

In addition to these options, you will also find a network of 700 servers in 52 countries. Again, not all servers can bypass geographical restrictions, so this provider also offers a list of unrestricted servers to choose from.

Surfshark is one of the newest providers on the market, which means it has been able to withstand Netflix’s security measures much better than other VPN providers have. The company has specially designed servers for this purpose and doesn’t limit access to Netflix.

The main thing that you should take into consideration is that both NordVPN and Surfshark can bypass geographical restrictions. This means you don’t have to worry about being blocked when using either of these providers.

There are still some significant differences, though. NordVPN has a bigger server network, more advanced security protocols, and better customer support, while SurfShark is cheaper and can unblock Netflix with greater ease than other providers on the market.

Which one you choose will also depend on your individual needs.

Winner: Tie.

NordVPN vs SurfShark Pricing Compared

In our Surfshark vs NordVPN review, we realized that both companies have a relatively similar pricing model. They both offer a basic plan, which is somewhat cheaper than their most advanced service, as well as a three-year subscription.

These services also follow some of the bigger provider’s schemes such as offering additional subscriptions at discounted prices or even free of charge for those who refer other users.

NordVPN Pricing

NordVPN has three main service types, which are available to users on a 365-day subscription basis.

The first type is the basic plan, which includes all security protocols necessary for accessing NordVPN servers and allows to use of six devices simultaneously. The price of this package is $11.95 per month or $83.88 if you choose the yearly subscription plan.

The second type is a little more advanced, as it includes a double VPN protocol for accessing NordVPN servers and offers protection against malware and ads. In addition to this, you have five devices connected at the same time on this package.

The cost of this service is $14.95 per month or $107.55 on a yearly plan, just $3.29 more than the basic plan.

The third and advanced type of NordVPN service is called Standard and includes features such as access to special servers for specific purposes (anti-DDoS and ultrafast streaming), Tor over VPN, and double encryption.

This package also allows you to connect six devices at the same time and has a $20.95 monthly or $143.88 yearly price tag.

Surfshark Pricing

The only difference between the SurfShark plans is that there are two different privacy options: Standard and No Logs, which cost $11.95 and $6.99 per month respectively, or $71.76 and $41.98 on a yearly basis.

Surfshark is one of the cheapest providers on the market, especially when it comes to its no logs plan, which costs half as much as NordVPN’s basic package. The standard privacy plan is somewhat more expensive than NordVPN but still cheaper than most other providers out there.

The winner in pricing? Surfshark is the cheaper provider according to our NordVPN vs SurfShark comparison.

Winner: Surfshark.

NordVPN vs SurfShark Features Compared

Both NordVPN and Surfshark are great VPNs when it comes to security. Both of them offer the same types of protocols including OpenVPN, which many users prefer due to its high level of security. The only difference is that Surfshark also offers IKEv2, which is also a great security protocol, but not as widespread as OpenVPN.

NordVPN Features

NordVPN is one of the fastest providers on the market, which it managed to achieve by offering over 5000 servers in 62 countries.

The company’s security measures are top-notch. Not only does NordVPN include military-level AES256 encryption, but also has a double VPN protocol for accessing its servers via two separate hops.

In addition to this, the provider offers a variety of security protocols including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and others. In other words, you’ll hardly ever come across any issues when accessing NordVPN servers.

SurfShark Features

Surfshark is a provider that doesn’t keep logs of user activity and allows users to access Netflix without any problems.

The company has over 800 servers in over 50 countries, including P2P servers for those who like downloading torrents. A kill switch feature is also included with this VPN service so your data won’t be exposed.

NordVPN vs Surfshark comparison shows that SurfShark doesn’t keep logs and is one of the rare providers to allow users to access Netflix.

So, which provider has the best features? We will have to give this point to NordVPN, as it has more high-level security features than Surfshark.

Winner: NordVPN.

NordVPN vs SurfShark Customer Support Compared

Both NordVPN and Surfshark have great customer support, but the latter is a little behind in this aspect.

Customer support is very important since a lot of issues can arise when using a VPN service. That’s why it’s important for a provider to have 24/7 customer support that is truly dedicated, able to answer all questions, and fix any issues fast.

NordVPN Customer Support

What are the customer support options at NordVPN? There is live chat, email, and a ticket system. The latter might not be as useful since it can take some time for the representative to respond, whereas with live chat you will get help right away.

The email option should also be faster than a ticket system, but not all users have had great experiences with this aspect of customer support.

SurfShark Customer Support

Surfshark’s customer support can be contacted via email, live chat, and a ticket system. Email might not be a fast option for getting a response from customer support representatives, but it is also an official channel. Live chat works 24/7 and should have faster response times, while the ticket system takes more time to get a response.

The winner in customer support? It’s a tie between NordVPN and Surfshark as they both have great options for contacting their representatives. The only problem with regards to Surfshark is that it can take some time to get a response via email or the ticket system, while live chat works 24/7.

Winner: Tie.

NordVPN vs SurfShark Torrenting Compared

Both NordVPN and Surfshark allow users to download torrents, so this is a match that’s hard to call.

However, Surfshark can unblock Netflix and other streaming services which makes it the winner in this department according to our NordVPN vs SurfShark comparison.

NordVPN Torrenting

NordVPN doesn’t place any restrictions on torrenting, so you can download whatever you want using this provider. This is great since P2P connections are also not restricted.

Surfshark Torrenting

SurfShark Torrenting

Surfshark doesn’t restrict torrent downloading either, so you can download whatever you want using this provider. However, the company has only recently become popular, which might be why it isn’t blocked by Netflix yet.

NordVPN vs SurfShark comparison shows that both providers are equal in this department when it comes to torrenting. However, Surfshark has become popular recently and is unblocked by Netflix which makes it the winner here according to our NordVPN vs SurfShark review.

Winner: Surfshark.

Final Verdict – NordVPN vs Surfshark

Based on all of the factors we talked about when comparing NordVPN vs Surfshark, we can say that the latter is a great option for users who are looking for a provider that works with Netflix and allows torrenting.

However, it’s important to note that in our Surfshark vs NordVPN comparison, there were some aspects where NordVPN was better than Surfshark. For example, NordVPN has more high-level security features than Surfshark.

Moreover, people who are looking for an affordable option should consider using NordVPN which comes with a 30-day money back guarantee (money back guarantee only applies to one subscription). On the other hand, Surfshark offers only a 7-day money-back guarantee.

That’s why it all boils down to what you are looking for in a VPN provider. If you want better security features and don’t care about unblocking Netflix or torrenting, NordVPN is the winner here according to our Nordvpn vs SurfShark comparison.

However, if you want to unblock Netflix and download torrents without having to deal with the hassle of constantly monitoring whether or not your provider is blocked, then you should go with Surfshark.

FAQs

Is NordVPN Better than Surfshark?

Even though that is subjective, Surfshark offers things like Netflix access and torrent downloading which make it a really good option for users who don’t want to monitor the status of their provider all the time.

On the other hand, NordVPN is slightly better in terms of security features and allows more devices to connect at once (6 vs 3).

Is NordVPN Fast?

Yes, NordVPN offers fast speeds which is why it’s one of the most popular providers in the industry.

However, you should keep in mind that when choosing a provider based on speed alone, there are other factors to consider such as security features and server locations.

For example, if you want better security features than NordVPN offers, Surfshark is better in this department when compared to NordVPN.

Can You Watch Netflix on Surfshark?

Yes, Surfshark works with Netflix and it can help you unblock the streaming platform as well as other websites.

However, keep in mind that if your goal is to be able to watch Netflix without having to check whether or not your provider is blocked regularly, then NordVPN might be a better option since it has more high-profile security features.