Detailed side-by-side comparison based on our March 2026 testing. Which VPN comes out on top?
| Feature | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 9.7/10 | 9.3/10 |
| Price (Best Plan) | $3.39/mo | $2.19/mo |
| Servers | 6,300+ | 3,200+ |
| Countries | 111 | 100 |
| Simultaneous Devices | 10 | Unlimited |
| Download Speed | 890 Mbps | 830 Mbps |
| Upload Speed | 480 Mbps | 420 Mbps |
| Latency | 12 ms | 16 ms |
| Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM | AES-256-GCM |
| Kill Switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split Tunneling | Yes | Yes |
| No-Logs Policy | Verified | Verified |
| Streaming Support | Yes | Yes |
| Torrenting | Yes | Yes |
| Jurisdiction | Panama | Netherlands |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
In our March 2026 speed tests, NordVPN achieved download speeds of 890 Mbps compared to Surfshark's 830 Mbps. This gives NordVPN a clear speed advantage, although both VPNs are fast enough for 4K streaming and gaming.
Upload speeds tell a similar story: NordVPN at 480 Mbps versus Surfshark at 420 Mbps. For latency-sensitive tasks like gaming, NordVPN's 12 ms average ping beats Surfshark's 16 ms.
Both NordVPN and Surfshark offer AES-256-GCM encryption and maintain no-logs policies. NordVPN is based in Panama while Surfshark operates from Netherlands. Both passed our DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak tests without issues.
While both are excellent VPNs, NordVPN edges ahead with a 9.7/10 rating compared to Surfshark's 9.3/10. NordVPN offers faster speeds, more servers, and premium features that justify the investment.
That said, Surfshark is still a strong choice, especially if you value best value. You cannot go wrong with either option.