Finding the best VPN for your needs can be challenging, especially if you've never used one before. Popular VPN services Surfshark and NordVPN share a lot of features. Each VPN has reputable software and a sizable server network, but after using them, I discovered some key distinctions.

For convenience, I've created a side-by-side comparison of NordVPN and Surfshark. This will simplify your analysis of the advantages and drawbacks of each service. In this comparison, I'll evaluate each company's speed test results, features, security strength, and level of customer support. After reading this article, you'll be much better able to determine which provider is a better fit for you.

Overview

VPN NordVPN Surfshark

Website NordVPN.com Surfshark.com

App For Windows, macOS, Windows MacOS,

Linux, Android, iOS Linux, Android, iOS

Server Locations 5500+ 3200

Number of Devices 6 Unlimited

Free Trial Period 30 days 30 days

Online Support 24/7 24/7

You can see a summary of both VPN services in the table above. You'll see a staggering £45.87 difference. In comparison to its rival, Surfshark has superior offers and is significantly less expensive. Another benefit of Surfshark is that it supports an unlimited number of devices, so your friends and family can use it too.

Both services offer software and apps for nearly every type of operating system, including Android, iOS, and Windows. Now, let's take a closer look at some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN service.

Browsing Speed

For this comparison, I assessed the speed of each protocol in three distinct areas (the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada) to determine which one had a higher average speed. The next step is to compare the providers. The speed findings are an important indicator of which VPN provider is superior.

The biggest difference is in the United States, where NordVPN significantly outperforms Surfshark. Other regions, however, offer the same or similar speed statistics for both VPN providers. So, while both VPNs appear to have similar download and upload speeds at first glance, NordVPN is somewhat quicker in both download and upload rates.

Privacy Features

There is a brief list of additional privacy features that we observe among the finest VPNs in the VPN world. They are as follows: split tuneling, multi-hop connections, and Tor network access.

NordVPN

NordVPN has a lot of features, perhaps more than most other VPN providers. The specialty servers are ideal for a variety of applications by using:

● Double-VPN servers that encrypt traffic over two separate hops.

● P2P servers optimised for torrenting, with high speeds and security. (Currently, NordVPN is the best VPN for torrenting with the quickest speeds.)

● Tor-over-VPN servers encrypt ordinary VPN traffic twice using the Tor (Onion) network.

We have personally tested these specialist servers and found them to be quite efficient. CyberSec is another excellent feature of NordVPN. This is a customised filter that is more than simply an ad blocker for your VPN. Ads, trackers, malware, and phishing domains will be blocked by CyberSec.

Surfshark

Surfshark shares several features that are quite similar to NordVPN such as:

● Encrypting traffic over two hops require double VPN servers.

● Obfuscation is used to disguise VPN traffic and avoid restrictions.

● CleanWeb is similar to NordVPN's CyberSec function. It filters out advertisements, trackers, and malicious domains.

Surfshark has also successfully incorporated the WireGuard VPN protocol. WireGuard provides faster connections and better performance on mobile devices while switching network interfaces, in addition to high download speeds.

Even though both have similar privacy features such as double VPN servers etc, NordVPN has a more comprehensive and robust system as it edges out Surfshark in this domain as Surfshark lacks the Tor network feature.

Security Strength

Services	NordVPN	Surfshark
VPN protocols	OpenVPN, IKEv2, NordLynx	OpenVPN, IKEv2, Shadowsocks, Wireguard
Data Encryption	256-bit AES	256-bit AES
Control Channel Encryption	RSA-4096	RSA-2048
Private DNS Servers	yes	yes
Kill Switch	yes	yes

Both services offer OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, while Surfshark additionally supports Shadowsocks (an open-source proxy) and WireGuard, the industry's newest big competitor. This feature is well-known for being more auditable and speedier across long-distance connections. In fact, NordVPN's own proprietary protocol, NordLynx, is based on WireGuard, with its "lean architecture" being a prominent selling point.

Both employ 256-bit AES encryption, which is virtually unbreakable. NordVPN employs a 4096-bit RSA key to allow your device to interact anonymously with the VPN. Surfshark, on the other hand, uses 2048-bit RSA keys, which are somewhat less secure than Nord’s.

On every platform, NordVPN and Surfshark both include a kill switch. When you abruptly lose connectivity, a kill switch disables all data transfer, guaranteeing that you never browse without protection. Furthermore, both of these VPNs use private DNS servers, which means that no third party will ever have access to your internet data.

Customer Service Support

Services	NordVPN	Surfshark
FAQs	Yes	Yes
Blogs and Tutorials	Yes	Yes
Phone Line Support	No	No
Email Support	Yes	Yes
24/7 Live Chat Support	Yes	Yes

If you have any problems, whichever service you choose will provide you with numerous customer care options. Both have current customer support websites with tutorials and FAQs. Although none of the companies give phone line support, NordVPN and Surfshark have a live chat available 24/7. As a result, you'll be able to find assistance even at midnight.

My interactions with both providers were positive with immediate and effective responses. If your query is more difficult, it is converted into a ticket, and you can expect an email with a solution in a short time. So, whichever service you choose, customer service will be equally amazing.

The Winner?

This was a really close call between two excellent VPNs. Surfshark is fast, has great security and privacy features, and has no connection restrictions which makes it stand out among its competitors. In terms of services and what each platform offers, NordVPN seems like an attractive option and is more popular.

However, I believe in my case Surfshark to be the winner. My needs are limited to simple protections online with no fuss. The option to be able to use this service on an unlimited number of devices takes the cake. It goes easy on the wallet too, enabling me to get more at a lower price tag.

For personal use, Surfshark is definitely a winner. However, for commercial use, NordVPN is a more suitable option thanks to tools such as obtaining a dedicated IP address, hiding your device from other network users, and using custom DNS servers.

NordVPN Vs Surfshark: Which One Should You Choose?