Which is Simpler, Safer, and a Better Value?
If you’re not very tech-savvy but want to protect your online privacy, you might be wondering which VPN (Virtual Private Network) is right for you. A VPN is a tool that hides your online activity from prying eyes—like internet providers, hackers, or even certain websites. Two popular choices are Surfshark and NordVPN. In this post, I’ll compare them in a simple, easy-to-understand way, so you can pick the one that’s best for you.
What Do VPNs Do?
Before we dive in, let’s quickly cover what VPNs do. A VPN keeps your personal information—like the websites you visit and the shows you stream—private. It also lets you pretend to be browsing from a different country, which can help you watch shows that might not normally be available where you live. Both Surfshark and NordVPN do this well, but there are some differences worth knowing.
Pricing: How Much Do They Cost?
If you’re on a budget, price matters. Both Surfshark and NordVPN have simple plans
I HIGHLY recommend visiting either NordVPN, or Surfsharks websites to check on their pricing as they frequently have discounts and deals – The below information is the general prices, but I almost guarantee they have a deal going on right now.
- NordVPN:
- 1 month: $12.99
- 1 year: About $4.99/month
- 2 years: About $3.19/month
- Surfshark:
- 1 month: $12.95
- 1 year: About $3.99/month
- 2 years: About $2.49/month
The bottom line? Surfshark is generally cheaper, especially if you’re willing to sign up for a longer period. Both give you a full month to try them out and get your money back if you’re not happy.
Number of Servers and Where They’re Located
VPNs have “servers” all over the world. The more servers and countries they cover, the more places you can pretend to be browsing from.
- NordVPN has over 5,500 servers in about 60 countries.
- Surfshark has over 3,200 servers in about 100 countries.
So, NordVPN has more servers overall, while Surfshark has servers in more countries. If you want more location options (like connecting to a country far away), Surfshark might win here. If you’d rather have lots of servers to ensure a stable connection, NordVPN might be your pick.
Speed and Everyday Use
Both NordVPN and Surfshark are pretty quick. This matters if you like streaming TV shows, video calling friends, or just hate waiting for pages to load. In my experience, both run smoothly. They’re fast enough for most day-to-day tasks like watching Netflix, browsing Facebook, or reading the news.
What Can You Do With Them?
Streaming: Both let you watch popular services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and Disney+ from different countries. If a show isn’t available in your region, these VPNs help you see it anyway.
Travel: Going abroad? Your favorite shows and services might not work everywhere. A VPN can help you “appear” back home, so you can keep watching and browsing normally.
Security on Public Wi-Fi: If you use free Wi-Fi at cafés, airports, or hotels, a VPN can keep you safe from hackers who might try to steal your information.
Multiple Devices:
- NordVPN allows up to 6 devices at once (like your phone, laptop, and tablet).
- Surfshark lets you use it on as many devices as you want at the same time, which is great if you have a big family or lots of gadgets.
Security and Privacy
VPNs are about staying safe and private online. Both NordVPN and Surfshark use strong “encryption” (a fancy word for secret coding) to protect your data so others can’t see it. They both promise not to keep logs of what you do online, which means they won’t track your browsing history.
NordVPN has a slight edge here because they’ve been checked by outside experts (audits) several times to make sure they’re truly keeping no records. Surfshark has also been checked, but NordVPN just has a longer track record.
Special Features
- NordVPN Extras:
- Split Tunneling: Choose which apps use the VPN and which don’t. For example, you can make sure only your banking app goes through the VPN.
- Dark Web Monitor: Alerts you if your personal information appears on the “dark web.”
- Threat Protection: Tries to block dangerous websites and annoying ads.
- Surfshark Extras:
- CleanWeb: Blocks ads, trackers, and harmful websites.
- Bypasser: Similar to split tunneling, you can pick certain apps or sites to not use the VPN.
Both companies offer 24/7 customer support, so help is always just a live chat away.
Which One Should You Choose?
It’s a tough call because both are great. Here’s a quick guide:
- Pick NordVPN if:
- You want a brand that’s been tested a lot by independent experts.
- You like having many server options and top-notch security features.
- You’re comfortable with a slightly higher price for a very well-known option.
- Pick Surfshark if:
- You want the cheapest long-term deal.
- You like the idea of using it on unlimited devices (like if you want it on all family members’ phones, tablets, and TVs).
- You need a lot of different countries to choose from.
Both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can give either one a try and get a refund if you’re not satisfied. If you still can’t decide, check out online communities or comparison sites—they often have helpful user stories and experiences.
In the end, the “best” VPN is the one that fits your budget, meets your needs, and feels simple and comfortable to use. Both NordVPN and Surfshark do a great job keeping you safe online, so whichever you choose, you’ll be on your way to a more secure and private internet experience.