Why Surfshark is the best-value premium VPN
Surfshark launched in 2018 and quickly became the price-disruptor of the consumer VPN market. The 2-year plan at $2.19/month is the cheapest premium-tier VPN we've tested — about 35% cheaper than NordVPN's equivalent plan, 67% cheaper than ExpressVPN.
In 2022 Surfshark was acquired by Nord Security (NordVPN's parent), but the products remain operationally separate with different server networks, different apps, and different feature sets.
Surfshark's standout features
1. Unlimited simultaneous connections
This is the killer feature. NordVPN allows 10. ExpressVPN allows 8. Surfshark allows unlimited — one subscription covers every phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV, and gaming console in your household. For families and shared subscriptions, this single feature justifies picking Surfshark over higher-priced competitors.
2. CleanWeb (ad/tracker/malware blocker)
Surfshark's CleanWeb feature blocks ads, trackers, and known malware domains at the VPN DNS level. Works on all devices automatically (you don't need separate browser extensions). Independent testing shows it blocks ~75% of trackers — not as aggressive as uBlock Origin in-browser, but no-config protection across every device.
3. MultiHop double-VPN
Surfshark's MultiHop chains your traffic through 2 VPN servers in different countries. The performance hit is roughly 30% speed reduction. For users who want extra privacy when accessing sensitive content (whistleblowers, journalists), this is meaningful.
4. Bypasser (split tunneling)
Choose which apps go through the VPN and which use your direct connection. Useful for banking apps (which often flag VPN connections as fraud) or local-only services (printers, smart-home devices).
5. Nexus rotating IP
Nexus is Surfshark's IP-rotation system. Your IP address changes periodically while you stay connected to the same server. This makes per-session fingerprinting harder without forcing you to reconnect.
Surfshark's weaknesses
1. Netherlands jurisdiction
Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands — a member of the 14-Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. The Netherlands has stronger privacy laws than most 14-Eyes members and Surfshark has been audited (Deloitte 2023), but if you're privacy-paranoid about jurisdiction, this is a knock vs Panama-based NordVPN or Swiss Proton VPN.
2. Owned by Nord Security
Same parent company as NordVPN since 2022. Some users prefer their VPN to not be owned by the same conglomerate that owns the main competitor. Operationally Surfshark and NordVPN remain separate, but ownership consolidation is a fact.
3. Monthly price doesn't beat NordVPN
Surfshark's headline value is the 2-year plan. Monthly is $12.95 (same as NordVPN). If you don't want to commit to 2 years, Surfshark's advantage shrinks significantly.
4. Speed is good, not best
Surfshark averages around 690 Mbps in our tests. ExpressVPN (Lightway) hits 870 Mbps. NordVPN (NordLynx) hits 720 Mbps. For most users the difference is imperceptible, but if you're transferring 100GB files daily, the faster VPNs matter.
Pricing breakdown ({{ year }})
| Plan | Per month | Total | Plan name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-year Starter | $2.19 | $52.56 | VPN only |
| 2-year One | $3.39 | $81.36 | VPN + antivirus + Alert + Search |
| 2-year One+ | $5.99 | $143.76 | One + Incogni data-removal |
| 1-year Starter | $3.99 | $47.88 | VPN only |
| Monthly | $12.95 | $12.95 | VPN only |
The Starter plan covers most users. One adds Surfshark Antivirus (separate from Windows Defender), the Alert breach-monitor, and Surfshark Search. One+ adds Incogni (a data-broker removal service worth roughly $7/mo standalone).
How Surfshark compares to top competitors
- Surfshark vs NordVPN: Same parent. Surfshark is 35% cheaper with unlimited connections. NordVPN has more servers, better Linux support, and Onion-over-VPN. For most users, Surfshark wins on price alone.
- Surfshark vs ExpressVPN: Surfshark is 67% cheaper and has unlimited connections. ExpressVPN is faster and has cleaner streaming reliability. If you stream a lot, ExpressVPN. Otherwise, Surfshark.
- Surfshark vs PIA: Both have unlimited connections and similar pricing. PIA has the longest court-tested no-logs track record. Surfshark has better apps and more polished UX. PIA for privacy purists, Surfshark for general users.
Our verdict
Surfshark is the best-value premium VPN for {{ year }}. The 2-year Starter plan at $2.19/month is the cheapest credible VPN we'd recommend. Unlimited simultaneous connections covers entire households on one subscription.
The only reasons to pick something else: - You're worried about Netherlands jurisdiction → Pick NordVPN (Panama) or Proton VPN (Switzerland) - You stream a lot of region-locked content → Pick ExpressVPN (cleaner unblock track record) - You need pure anonymity → Pick Mullvad (no signup, cash payment)
For everyone else, Surfshark is the right pick. The cost savings vs NordVPN over 2 years pay for the rest of your subscription stack.