Surfshark vs NordVPN
Surfshark and NordVPN are the two mainstream, discount-priced VPNs in this category, one Dutch and one Lithuanian, both inside the EU. NordVPN's case is scale plus an independently audited no-logs policy. Surfshark's is unlimited devices on one subscription. Buyers who want outside proof choose NordVPN; households counting devices choose Surfshark.
Choose Surfshark if
you need to cover a whole household or small office, phones, laptops and a router, on one subscription with no device limit, and accept a no-logs claim that has not been independently audited.
Read the Surfshark reviewChoose NordVPN if
you want the largest, fastest network in the category with polished apps on every platform, and you value a no-logs policy that an independent auditor has examined.
Read the NordVPN reviewSurfshark and NordVPN side by side
| Surfshark | NordVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Surfshark B.V. | Nord Security |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Vilnius, Lithuania |
| Founded | Not stated in our data | 2012 |
| Jurisdiction | EU (Netherlands) | EU (Lithuania) |
| Where the data sits | Not stated in our data | Lithuanian company, servers worldwide |
| Pricing | From about €2.49/month on a heavily discounted 24-month plan (promotional rate, renews higher); Starter, One and One+ tiers; 30-day money-back guarantee | Subscription, cheapest on multi-year plans |
| Free tier or trial | 30-day money-back guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Certifications and checks | Not stated in our data | Independently audited no-logs policy |
| Source code | Closed source | Closed source |
| Usually replaces | NordVPN, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost | ExpressVPN, Surfshark, US-based VPNs |
| Position in our VPN Services guide | #8 of 12 | #7 of 12 |
Both are listed in our European VPN Services guide. The table is built from the same directory data as those entries; how we check it is described in the editorial process.
Where Surfshark and NordVPN differ
Across the four points below, NordVPN on 2 points and 2 are a tie. A count like that is a summary, not a verdict: the point that matters to you may be the one the other product wins.
Evidence behind the no-logs claim
NordVPN's no-logs policy has been independently audited, which is the relevant assurance for a provider you cannot inspect. Surfshark's site shows no independently published no-logs audit, so its claim rests on its own policy. Neither has open-source apps, and neither matches providers such as Mullvad that are designed to need less trust. Between these two, NordVPN is better evidenced.
Edge: NordVPN
Devices per subscription
Surfshark puts no cap on simultaneous connections on any plan, which suits a family or small office covering laptops, phones and a router together. Most providers in this category cap the count or price per device. Our data does not state NordVPN's device limit, so Surfshark's allowance is documented as unlimited while NordVPN's cannot be compared here.
No clear winner on this point.
Network size and speed
NordVPN runs the largest server network of any provider here, with capacity across many countries and consistently high speeds. Surfshark lists 4,500+ servers, among the larger networks in the category but behind NordVPN. For streaming and travel, where coverage and speed decide whether a VPN actually gets used, NordVPN has the advantage.
Edge: NordVPN
Pricing and commitment
Both use the industry's discount ladder. Surfshark advertises from about €2.49 a month, but only on a 24-month plan at a promotional rate that renews far higher. NordVPN is likewise cheapest on multi-year plans, though our data holds no figure for it. Both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Without NordVPN's price, neither can be called cheaper.
No clear winner on this point.
When neither Surfshark nor NordVPN fits
Both ask you to trust a company and commit for years to get the advertised price. If that is the objection, Mullvad charges a flat €5 a month with no account to identify you, and Proton VPN has a free tier with unlimited data and open-source apps.
Surfshark vs NordVPN: questions
Yes, both are inside the EU. Surfshark B.V. is registered in Amsterdam, so Dutch and EU law and GDPR apply directly. NordVPN is run by Nord Security, founded in Vilnius in 2012 and headquartered in Lithuania. For a VPN, EU jurisdiction cuts both ways: GDPR applies, and so does EU law enforcement cooperation.
Our data cannot settle it. Surfshark starts from about €2.49 a month on a heavily discounted 24-month plan that renews higher. NordVPN's pricing is recorded only as a subscription that is cheapest on multi-year plans, without a figure. Both come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so either can be tested before the long commitment.
NordVPN, on the evidence available: its no-logs policy has been independently audited, while Surfshark shows no independently published audit. NordVPN still requires an account, and audited trust is weaker than a design that needs less trust. Surfshark adds Dynamic MultiHop, chaining two locations you choose, but offers no cash or cryptocurrency option for anonymous payment.