NordVPN vs Surfshark: Which is the Best VPN Overall?

VPNs are pretty tricky to choose from, especially when you don’t want to compromise on speed and not allow others to bank on your sensitive data. Hundreds of VPNs provide you with a free service but cost you a lot in the backend in terms of your data and malware. However, not all VPNs are the same and here is a detailed comparison and tests on two popular VPNs: NordVPN vs Surfshark VPN. 

Also read: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Which is the Best Overall?

NordVPN vs Surfshark VPN | Which is the Best VPN?

Let’s compare NordVPN vs Surfshark and conduct an in-depth review. We mainly discuss security, privacy, no-logging policy, server and connection tests, streaming, compatibility, torrenting and P2P, and more. We have an unbiased review, and we highly support the VPN, which brings more benefits to the users and helps them with internet freedom.

What is NordVPN?

NordVPN is one of the leading and advanced VPN services used by millions of users across the globe. It is a VPN service that allows users to connect securely to the internet, maintain privacy, and get internet freedom. With NordVPN, users connect to the internet through a split tunnel which is hard for attackers and internet cons to steal your data packets. However, if the data packets are stolen, they are encrypted with 256-AES encryption, which would take them years to crack even with a supercomputer. 

Here are some of the notable features of NordVPN, 

1. Secure internet.
2. Strict No-Logs policy.
3. Use with ease.
4. Split tunneling.
5. Multiple devices.
6. Seamless streaming.
7. Ultra-fast connection.
8. Worldwide access.
9. Onion over VPN for anonymity.
10. Mask IP and change IP twice to cover web traffic.
11. VPN servers everywhere.
12. P2P Servers.
13. Private DNS.
14. 24/7 Support and knowledge guides.

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What is Surfshark VPN?

Surfshark VPN is one of the other popular VPN services that allow you a secure internet connection with exclusive other benefits. With Surfshark VPN, one can protect their online security, control their data, and seamlessly access content on the web. 

Here are some of the notable features of Surfshark VPN, 

1. Browse privately.
2. Hide your location.
3. Block ads and malware.
4. Keep searches private and secure.
5. Protect your identity.
6. Seamless and private streaming.
7. Use on unlimited devices.
8. Strict no-log policy.
9. Kill switch.
10. Independent audits.
11. Bypasser feature.
12. Camouflaged mode.
13. One subscription for unlimited devices.
14. Secure protocols and strong encryption. 

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1. Security | NordVPN vs Surfshark VPN

When using a VPN service, one needs to look into the security measures; how is your data encrypted using Nord or Surfshark VPN? If the data is leaked, will it be easy for attackers to decode and steal your information? There are several security questions; let’s discuss the security measures for Nord and Surfshark VPN. 

NordVPN uses an AES-256 encryption standard, the most complex encryption level to break; security experts claim it takes hundreds of years for a supercomputer to decrypt files encoded with AES-256 encryption. 

On the other hand, Surfshark VPN uses AES-256 GCM encryption (IKEv2/IPsec protocols) that helps to secure your online identity and data. It is one of the strongest and unbreakable encryption standards. Some additional security features, such as camouflage mode, trick your ISP into believing you are not using a VPN. 

Some of the additional security features of NordVPN vs Surfshark VPN are,

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2. Privacy

Privacy is one of the most important factors when choosing a VPN service; thankfully, privacy is not a concern for NordVPN as they follow a strict no-logs policy. 

A no-log policy means that none of your data is stored on the NordVPN servers, which is unlikely with most other VPN providers. NordVPN also runs independent audits, which ensures complete transparency. But what is an independent audit? An independent audit is where a third-party company inspects the server for data logging and leaking and performs the audit uninformed. So, the VPN never knows when an audit will be conducted and relives the users for transparent behavior. 

Anonymity is the front face of a VPN service, and NordVPN ensures that none of the information, such as billing or credentials, are stored on the server. 

Surfshark also endorses the no-log policy, and since the origin of Surfshark is in the British Virgin Island, it slips the 5/9/14-Eyes alliance. However, there is no concept of zero-log policy with Surfshark; here, certain data is stored on the Surfshark servers, such as, 

1. Email address.
2. Password.
3. Billing and account information.

This account information is used for management purposes and stored in an encrypted format. 

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3. Server and Connection Speed

A VPN is of no good use if you are suffering from an internet connection; imagine streaming shows and movies outside your region, and all you see is buffering on your screen. Now, that is something you don’t wish to have after paying for a VPN. Also, once you have paid, you cannot go back or fix the connection from your end. So, Server and Connection speed are the important factors when choosing a VPN service. 

We tested server and connection speeds in three major regions; the US, the UK, and Asian servers. Below are our observations; however, this data might change for you as it depends on the distance to the server, so if the server is pretty far from your region, you might see some extra drops in the speed and connection. There are over 5400+ NordVPN servers worldwide for a seamless connection. 

Testing UK Servers

NordVPN does an incredible job when connected to servers in the UK. After connecting to UK servers through NordVPN, we could see a 15% increase in the speed and seamlessly stream most of the digital platforms. It is hard to recall if there were any network drops or jitter during the entire streaming experience. 

440+ servers in the UK alone provide optimized servers for regular use, P2P sharing, dedicated IP, obfuscated, and double VPN use when connected to NordVPN.

NordVPN does a seamless job when connected to servers across the world. So, if you can do several things apart from streaming digital platforms such as Netflix, we did a successful test to run NordVPN in the United Kingdom for securing the connection, use P2P secure sharing, an extra layer of security, and much more.

One can get a seamless experience when connected to servers in the UK using NordVPN.

We initially had a 15mbps download speed before connecting to servers in the UK using the Surfshark VPN. However, we saw a drop to 6mbps after connecting to the Surfshark VPN. You can see a connection drop and some jitter if you connect to the UK server from a much longer distance.

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Testing US Servers

NordVPN increases the speed by 10% when the connection is made to servers in the US. The connection speed was increased to 15% when connected to NordVPN in the UK; this increase in speed is due to the NordLynx protocol. There isn’t a significant increase in the speed but what matters here is there is no drop in the connection or speed, which makes it out rule the other networks.

However, if you need a much faster connection, you can use an internet speed booster alongside your WiFi router to increase the speed naturally. 

On the other hand, Surfshark does better with the US servers than the UK. Before connecting to the Surfshark VPN, we got a speed of 15mbps which eventually dropped to 8mbps and 7mbps in the second test when we connected to the server using Surfshark.

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Testing Asian Servers

NordVPN and Surfshark VPN both show surprising results when we connect to servers in Asia. Users can observe some buffering and jitter when connected to Surfshark VPN with a significant drop in speed. However, NordVPN does not create major issues; the extra layer of security is intact, the P2P file sharing is still accessible, and most web streaming platforms are seamless. 

The drop in speed was eventually due to the far distance of the server from our location. If you are new to the VPN world, you must know that if the distance of the server is far, the data has to travel more, which decreases the speed substantially. 

Surfshark VPN was not that good in performance when connected to the Asian servers. We faced a few connection drops, and there are constant buffering issues while streaming a few web content. We also did a test to check if our IPV6 address was unmasked when connected to Asian servers, and a couple of times, the IPV6 address was visible. 

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4. Streaming Services | Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video and More

Most users prefer using a VPN to watch their favorite shows from geo-restricted regions. Streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Bet, Paramount Plus, and many more restrict what users can watch in their region. However, users who have moved from one country to another for work or vacation purposes and have subscribed to their favorite streaming services most likely won’t find their favorite movies or shows. 

NordVPN uses several protocols that help users seamlessly watch geo-restricted content. If you need a VPN service that can allow you to stream from anywhere globally, NordVPN is our #1 choice. 

There are over 1800+ NordVPN servers in the US alone, which unblocks all the streaming services. For instance, Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Paramount, and HBO are only a few popular names. So, you can always rely on NordVPN to unblock streaming platforms, and these also work most of the time in China and other highly restricted regions.

Surfshark also unblocks most streaming platforms such as iPlayer, BBC, Netflix, and other popular services. However, we initially faced some throttling of a few buffers after frequent long intervals. 

We would definitely rely on Surfshark VPN but not NordVPN, as they have reliable, optimized, and dependable 5400+ servers globally. 

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5. Torrenting and P2P Servers

Torrenting is sharing or distributing files through the torrent network rather than a central server. On the other hand, P2P file sharing is a network that uses several central servers to communicate files from the users who have them with others who request them. These services are primarily banned in several countries as users are involved in sharing pirated content using them. 

Thankfully, a VPN service still allows you to torrent and use a P2P network for secure file sharing. But do all VPN services help you with torrenting or P2P? 

NordVPN servers are fully optimized and allow users to perform torrenting and P2P file sharing. Most of the VPNs fail to do so, and users fail at downloading or uploading the files. Additionally, there is no data logging and tracing, so you can share files worry-free.

Surfshark VPN also does a great job of torrenting and P2P sharing by using protocols such as OpenVPN and IKEV2. 

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6. No Log Policy

Privacy is a more significant concern for those who use VPN services. We blindly download and use free VPN services on our Android, iOS, or other smart devices. 

But do we know if they are safe to use? Is our data secure? 

Free VPN servers usually log our data and sell them to third-party advertisers. These advertisers use the logged data to target us with advertisements or trade crucial data such as passwords on the data market. Surprisingly, most paid VPNs do such acts, which is a big privacy issue. 

So, how do we know if the data is stored or logged on the VPN servers? Usually, this information is available on the privacy policy page of the VPN website. 

VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN run independent audits. Here, third-party companies do uninformed checks on the VPN servers for data logging practices and privacy concerns; this is the ultimate way to maintain transparency between the VPNs and the users.

Surfshark VPN does not run independent audits and does collect certain information. This data is anonymously stored for advertising and other purposes, but it is still not as clean as NordVPN. 

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We highly think of NordVPN for no data logging and independent audits than Surfshark VPN.

Additionally, NordVPN and Surfshark VPN don’t fall under the 5/9/14-Eyes alliance which forces companies to share the user data.

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7. Student Benefits 

NordVPN offers up to a 15% discount for students on the original subscription. So, if you have a valid student ID, you can save big on your deal. Additionally, if you take a more extended subscription like a 2-year plan, you can save much more. 

Surfshark VPN also gives you a 15% discount on your VPN subscription, and you can save an added 70% more on your plan. You need to create your Student Beans account to access the student benefits on Surfshark VPN. 

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8. Compatibility

One of the advantages of using NordVPN is the number of devices you can use. NordVPN can be used on several smart devices and not only your Android, iOS, or PC. One of the best devices to use the NordVPN is the WiFi router which secures your entire network. You can buy such routers directly from the NordVPN websites, and these remove the device barriers. If you use an incompatible device, you can still secure it as the entire network uses NordVPN. 

Here is the list of compatible devices you can use NordVPN and Surfshark VPN on,

Surfshark VPN allows you to use a single subscription on any device. This is usually not the case with most VPN services, as you get plans according to the device type. 

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9. Pricing

Paying an unreasonable price for a VPN service that doesn’t work is a pitfall we don’t want our users to take. NordVPN being the #1 most popular VPN globally, can save you up to 70% when you get it billed for 2-year or other long-term plans. Moreover, you get additional “Gifts” and more savings occasionally or during holidays. NordVPN is an effective VPN service with advanced privacy, security, and transparency to its users. With such low pricing and amazing offers, we recommend getting a NordVPN subscription for the entire family. 

Surfshark gives you more pricing benefits and lets you buy a 2-year subscription for as low as $2.49/mo, allowing you to save up to 81% on your deal. The offer might occasionally change, but you still get a better deal than most VPN services. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Final Verdict | NordVPN vs Surfshark VPN

NordVPN and Surfshark are both the most reliable and secure VPN services. You can always depend on both VPNs for privacy, security, streaming, etc. However, NordVPN is slightly better than Surfshark VPN, with extra protection, independent audits, and more. NordVPN is our #1 pick among NordVPN vs Surfshark VPN, and we totally love using it.