So, which of these two VPNs is the better one for you? Surfshark or ExpressVPN? Read on to find out the answer in our Surfshark vs ExpressVPN review.

Both Surfshark and ExpressVPN are well-known and respected providers of VPN services, but they do have their differences. In this article, we’ll take a look at those differences and see which provider comes out on top.

Surfshark is a relative newcomer to the VPN scene, but it has quickly made a name for itself as a reliable and affordable provider of VPN services.

It offers users access to over 1,000 servers in 60 countries, making it an excellent choice for users who need to unblock content from all around the world.

ExpressVPN is one of the most popular providers. With over 2,000 servers in 148 cities, users have access to a truly global network. It offers excellent customer service and is known for being one of the fastest VPNs available.

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

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN Speed Compared

Speed is an important consideration when choosing a VPN. You want to make sure that you’re able to get the most out of your internet connection, which is why it’s important to choose a service that offers fast speeds.

One of the most important things to consider when looking for a new VPN service is how much speed you’ll get from it. After all, what good is a VPN if the speeds are so slow that you can’t even use the internet?

Surfshark Speed

Surfshark offers users an impressive mix of great speed and value.

When it comes to speed, Surfshark is pretty much on the same level as ExpressVPN. It has similar speeds in most regions around the world, with faster speeds in some areas (such as Europe). Users who need fast speeds will be happy with both.

Surfshark has a global network of servers that it uses to provide its VPN services. Its speeds are excellent, and they were able to achieve this by using powerful servers from all around the world.

ExpressVPN Speed

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs you can get. This makes it perfect for streaming, which is why it’s the only recommended VPN for Kodi users.

That being said, ExpressVPN doesn’t have the best speeds in every region. For example, its speeds are slightly worse in Africa and Oceania.

ExpressVPN isn’t just fast when it comes to downloads. Its upload speeds are impressive, too. In fact, you can expect to have similar upload speeds with ExpressVPN as you would have without a VPN at all!

When it comes to downloading speed tests in a given area, Surfshark is very close to the average speeds that users experience without a VPN.

Surfshark’s upload speeds are slightly better than average, which is great for those who do a lot of uploading.

Which wins in the Speed Test Comparison? Although both SurfShark and ExpressVPN offer fast speeds, it seems like ExpressVPN has an edge here.

Winner: ExpressVPN.

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN Privacy Compared

Privacy is one of the hallmarks of a good VPN service. After all, if you’re using a VPN to protect your privacy then it should provide some of the best security available.

It’s important to make sure that the VPN service you choose is able to keep your data safe at all times. There are some VPN providers out there who don’t take user privacy seriously, and that’s a big issue.

Surfshark Privacy

Surfshark is committed to user privacy and anonymity.

To protect its users’ privacy, Surfshark uses a military-grade AES 256-CBC encryption that makes it virtually impossible for anyone to trace your traffic back to you This includes not just your ISP but governments and hackers as well.

As mentioned earlier, Surfshark runs its own network of servers so users don’t have to rely on third parties to provide them with online security and privacy. This helps it offer users extremely solid encryption, which is one of the service’s biggest strengths.

ExpressVPN Privacy

ExpressVPN is great online security and privacy solution.

The security of its users’ data is one of ExpressVPN’s top priorities, which makes it a very secure service. ExpressVPN uses 256-bit AES encryption to make sure that all the traffic from your devices is safe from prying eyes.

ExpressVPN is also based in the British Virgin Islands, which means that it’s not legally obliged to store traffic logs or metadata. This makes it a very secure VPN service with minimal privacy issues.

Surfshark offers users excellent security and privacy, which are two things that ExpressVPN doesn’t offer. Which wins in the Privacy Comparison? When it comes to ExpressVPN vs Surfshark, Surfshark is definitely the winner in the privacy department.

Winner: Surfshark.

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN Bypassing Geographical Restrictions Compared

A lot of people use VPNs to get access to content that is blocked in their countries.

It’s how some people manage to watch Netflix or gain access to other geo-restricted content. If you want to unblock your favorite shows while traveling, then you need a good VPN service on your side.

Both these VPNs are very good at getting around almost all geographical restrictions. However, there are some places where they’re better than others.

Surfshark Bypassing Geographical Restrictions

Surfshark is capable of bypassing a lot of geographical restrictions.

It can help users access their favorite shows on Netflix, which isn’t something that the majority of VPNs can do ExpressVPN can also unblock most geo-restricted sites and services but it doesn’t have as many servers in popular streaming regions as Surfshark does.

As mentioned earlier, Surfshark isn’t just good for streaming shows on Netflix. It can help users bypass censorship filters in their countries as well, which is an important feature to have if you need it.

ExpressVPN Bypassing Geographical Restrictions

ExpressVPN is a great VPN for bypassing geographical restrictions.

There’s a reason why a lot of people use Express to access Netflix outside the US It offers more server locations in popular streaming regions than almost every other VPN service out there.

It also helps that most of its servers are optimized for streaming, which means users can stream their favorite shows in resolutions as high as 1080P. This makes it a great choice for watching Netflix from outside the US.

Which VPN is better for bypassing geographical restrictions? ExpressVPN takes the win here.

It has a much larger server network and is also an excellent Netflix unblocker. Surfshark can help you stream your favorite shows but it doesn’t have as many servers as ExpressVPN does.

Winner: ExpressVPN.

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN Pricing Compared

Both of these VPNs are quite reasonably priced. Surfshark offers users a more affordable service, though, so it would win the pricing comparison if cost is your sole deciding factor.

The following table shows how much ExpressVPN and Surfshark charge for their plans.

ExpressVPN Pricing

ExpressVPN has three different subscription plans. Its features vary from one plan to another, but the price remains constant.

All of its subscription plans allow you to take full advantage of all ExpressVPN’s security and privacy features.

ExpressVPN offers users a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with the service, then you can ask for your money back and cancel the subscription without any penalties or hidden costs.

It also has a special deal where new members can get 3 free months if they sign up for an annual plan.

The ExpressVPN subscription plan that costs $8.32 per month is billed annually. This works out to a massive discount for users opting for the annual payment option.

If you’re going for a monthly subscription, then ExpressVPN will cost you $12.95 per month.

To get the best value, you can choose to pay $99.95 for a year-long subscription and get ExpressVPN’s $8.32 per month plan this way.

Surfshark Pricing

Surfshark, on the other hand, offers two different payment plans. Users can subscribe to either monthly or yearly billing options. Both of its subscription plans are billed the same way, so there isn’t any difference between their features.

Surfshark costs just $1.99 per month, which is quite cheap compared to ExpressVPN’s pricing scheme.

It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, like ExpressVPN.

Surfshark’s yearly plan works out to $5.99 per month. This is very cheap for users looking for an annual payment option. However, the cost of this plan increases to $71 if paid monthly.

Which VPN is better in terms of pricing between Surfshark vs NordVPN? Surfshark takes this round. It’s much cheaper than ExpressVPN, but it still offers almost the same features.

Winner: Surfshark.

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN Features Compared

Both ExpressVPN and Surfshark offer a large range of security and privacy features. They both use military-grade AES 256 encryption to ensure user data remains secure online. Some of the other key features that these VPNs share include the following.

Surfshark Features

Surfshark has all the standard features you’d expect from a good VPN tool. It uses secure protocols, offers unlimited bandwidth, and allows up to five simultaneous connections under one account.

It also provides users with top-of-the-line encryption to keep their data secure, while allowing for unblocking of popular streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, and Amazon Prime.

Surfshark also offers features like WebRTC Protection, Split Tunneling, Ad Blocker, and Malware Protection to enhance user privacy.

It’s one of the few VPN providers that offer a dedicated Tor network integration for added protection against hackers who use Tor nodes to steal sensitive data.

ExpressVPN Features

ExpressVPN offers users a large server network where they can connect to more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries. This makes it a great option for unblocking content and bypassing geographical restrictions.

One of the main features that ExpressVPN is known for is its speed. It adapts well to high-bandwidth activities such as streaming, which means it’s ideal for watching content in high-resolution formats.

ExpressVPN encrypts your data with the OpenVPN protocol by default, but users also get to choose between different protocols depending on their needs. Some of its other encryption protocols include L2TP/IPSec and PPTP.

It offers advanced security features like split tunneling, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch.

ExpressVPN doesn’t keep any logs of your data or activity online. It offers users complete anonymity while they are connected to the internet.

The service is compatible with all major operating systems and devices including Windows, Android, macOS, Linux, routers, Fire TV Stick, and much more.

ExpressVPN offers users application-specific kill switches to protect their online privacy no matter which device you’re using.

So in the features round, the winner is ExpressVPN.

Winner: ExpressVPN.

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN Customer Support Compared

Customer support is another very important part of any VPN service. The best companies are always responsive to their customers and are willing to go that extra mile to ensure complete customer satisfaction.

It is important, therefore, to consider a VPN company’s customer service before subscribing with them.

Surfshark Customer Support

Surfshark currently doesn’t offer live chat support. However, the company has stated publicly that this is one of its top priorities.

Surfshark currently offers its customers access to a self-help center with links to setup guides and FAQs.

Users can also send in tickets via email or use web forms to contact the Surfshark customer service team.

You won’t get personalized answers in this way, and response times can be slow, but it does meet industry standards for quality.

ExpressVPN Customer Support

ExpressVPN offers users a large number of support options that include answers to frequently asked questions, setup guides, troubleshooting tools, How-to videos, and live chat support.

Its live chat support is very responsive, with agents available 24/7 to help you with all your queries.

Users can also send in inquiries via email or use web forms for more personalized support.

So the winner here again is ExpressVPN because of its excellent customer service options that are not just accessible but also highly responsive.

Winner: ExpressVPN.

SurfShark vs ExpressVPN Torrenting Compared

Torrenting is a feature that most users look for when choosing a VPN service. This is because it allows them to download and share content anonymously through peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing.

You’ll see in the next section that Surfshark restricts certain P2P networks like BitTorrent, while ExpressVPN actually encourages P2P activities on its network.

Surfshark Torrenting

Surfshark too restricts BitTorrent and other P2P networks from being accessed through its servers, so if you’re a heavy torrent user, this VPN service may not be the ideal choice for you.

Having said that, the company hasn’t released any official statement on why it restricts P2P use on its servers.

However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t torrent using Surfshark. There are several open-source VPNs out there like TorGuard which you can use for your torrenting activities without having to worry about getting caught.

Even though Surfshark doesn’t allow you to use P2P on its network, it does offer some great benefits like unblocking streaming sites and bypassing geographic restrictions on websites.

ExpressVPN Torrenting

While ExpressVPN doesn’t restrict BitTorrent or other P2P activities from being carried out through its servers, it does have strict policies when it comes to DMCA take-down notices.

ExpressVPN says that if the company receives a DMCA take-down notice for content that one of its users has uploaded, then it will notify that user about the notice and suspend their account if they fail to remove the copyrighted content from P2P servers.

ExpressVPN does not, however, comply with DMCA take-down notices because it doesn’t monitor any of the traffic on its network.

This clearly indicates that ExpressVPN encourages P2P sharing on its servers. We liked this move by ExpressVPN because it shows their commitment to privacy and ensures the anonymity of all users.

The winner when it comes to torrenting is ExpressVPN because it offers users complete freedom on its network.

Winner: Express VPN.

Final Verdict – Surfshark vs ExpressVPN

So, which VPN is the overall winner? Well, that depends on what you’re looking for.

If security and privacy are your top priorities, then ExpressVPN is the way to go because it has a strong no-logs policy and offers military-grade encryption.

Plus, its advanced security features like the Internet Kill Switch and Split Tunneling make it one of the most secure VPNs on the market.

It also has a built-in speed test feature, which allows you to check your internet speed without having to open another webpage. This speeds up the whole process of testing VPN speeds.

On the other hand, if streaming content is your priority then Surfshark will be more suitable for you because it unblocks streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu plus it also offers unlimited access to P2P networks.

ExpressVPN is the overall winner because it provides users with security and privacy as well as streaming features, which is why we think most users will find this VPN service suitable for their needs.

FAQs

Is Surfshark Better Than Express VPN?

Better is subjective, but we do not think that Surfshark is better than ExpressVPN because the former limits what P2P users can do on its network, while the latter does not.

Does ExpressVPN have good features?

Absolutely, as a matter of fact, ExpressVPN is one of the few VPNs that offer unlimited bandwidth and data transfers. This means you don’t have to worry about going over a monthly limit, which makes this VPN service stand out from the rest.

Is Surfshark fast?

Yes, Surfshark is one of the fastest non-logging VPNs out there! This VPN service is very fast and this makes it a great choice if you’re looking to stream content or download large files without spending too much time doing so.