Surfshark vs Proton VPN (2026): Which One Should You Actually Buy?

I’ve tested both Surfshark and Proton VPN extensively — on multiple devices, across different server locations, and for everything from 4K streaming to torrenting and everyday browsing. In this head-to-head comparison I’ll walk you through exactly where each VPN wins, where they fall short, and which one I recommend for most people.

Short answer: Surfshark is my #1 overall pick, especially on the Surfshark One plan. It’s faster, cheaper long-term, supports unlimited devices, and adds a genuinely useful security suite on top. Proton VPN is a fantastic runner-up if privacy is your absolute top priority — but it comes at a price.

Surfshark vs Proton VPN: Feature Overview

Speed Tests: Surfshark vs Proton VPN

Speed is one of the most tangible differences between these two VPNs. In my testing — and confirmed by third-party tests from Cybernews — Surfshark consistently edges ahead, particularly for download speeds. Both use WireGuard as their fastest protocol, and I’d recommend sticking with it on either service.

Download Speed Retention (500Mbps baseline)

Surfshark wins on download speed across almost every location I tested. The gap is most noticeable on distant servers — US, Singapore, Australia — which is exactly where it matters most for streaming and gaming. The only region where Proton VPN matches up is the UK.

On upload speeds, the picture is more nuanced. Proton VPN actually performed better on some European routes, while Surfshark struggled slightly more on upload in Asia and Australia. For most users — streaming, browsing, downloading — download speed is what matters. Surfshark takes this category.

Pricing: Which VPN Is Cheaper?

This one isn’t close on long-term plans. Surfshark is significantly more affordable if you’re willing to commit to a two-year subscription.

There’s one important caveat: if you only need a VPN for a single month, Proton VPN is actually cheaper at $9.99/mo vs Surfshark’s $15.45/mo. But for anyone planning to use a VPN long-term — and most people should — Surfshark is the clear winner.

Proton VPN also offers a free plan, which is genuinely one of the better free VPNs available. It has no data cap, servers in five countries, and a strict no-logs policy. The tradeoff: it’s slower, limited to one device, and blocks streaming and torrenting. If you just want basic protection for casual browsing without paying anything, it’s worth knowing about — but for real-world use, the paid plans are what matter.

Both services have a 30-day money-back guarantee. Check out the Surfshark coupon page and Proton VPN coupon page for the latest discounts.

Streaming Performance

Both Surfshark and Proton VPN can unblock the major streaming platforms — Netflix (multiple libraries), Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and more. In my testing, both worked reliably on the most popular services.

Where Surfshark pulls ahead is consistency — especially on farther-away servers. I noticed some buffering with Proton VPN on Netflix Japan and certain Australian content that I didn’t experience with Surfshark. Surfshark also supports SmartDNS, which lets you use it on devices that don’t natively support VPN apps (older Fire TV Sticks, smart TVs, game consoles). Proton VPN doesn’t offer SmartDNS.

For my full streaming breakdown, see my Surfshark review and Proton VPN review. I’ve also compared the best options specifically for Amazon Prime Video and Firestick.

Privacy and Security

Both VPNs take privacy seriously, but they approach it differently — and Proton VPN has a genuine edge here on paper.

Jurisdiction

Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, which sits outside the 5/9/14 Eyes surveillance alliances. Swiss law doesn’t require VPNs to log user activity, and government data requests face strict legal scrutiny. This is a meaningful advantage for users who want maximum legal protection.

Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, which is a 14 Eyes country. However, Surfshark’s independently audited no-logs policy means there’s nothing to hand over even if requested — the Netherlands also has no mandatory data retention law for VPNs. In practice, I don’t think this makes Surfshark unsafe. But if jurisdiction is a dealbreaker, Proton wins.

No-Logs Policy and Audits

Both VPNs have independently verified no-logs policies.

• Surfshark was audited by Deloitte in 2023 and again in 2025, and by Cure53 in 2018 and 2021. These are credible, well-known firms.
• Proton VPN has been audited by Securitum three times, most recently in 2024. Its apps are also fully open-source and part of a public bug bounty program — a level of transparency Surfshark doesn’t match.

Encryption and Protocols

Both VPNs use AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption — the industry standard. The key protocol difference: Proton VPN has a proprietary Stealth protocol based on WireGuard, designed to disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS. This is useful in heavily restricted countries and networks. Surfshark counters with NoBorders Mode, which automatically activates obfuscation across any protocol — broader in scope, even if less technically sophisticated than Stealth.

RAM-Only Servers

All Surfshark servers run in RAM-only (diskless) mode — data is wiped on every reboot, with nothing ever written to disk. Proton VPN uses full-disk encryption instead and argues RAM servers are unnecessary if no data is ever logged to begin with. Both approaches are defensible, but RAM-only is the harder guarantee to dispute.

Double VPN

Surfshark calls it MultiHop — fully customizable entry and exit servers from across its 100-country network. Proton VPN calls it Secure Core — traffic is routed through Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden specifically, because those jurisdictions have strong privacy protections. Proton’s approach is more privacy-optimized; Surfshark’s is more flexible.

Server Networks

Proton VPN has a significantly larger server network: 20,000+ servers in 145 countries vs Surfshark’s 4,500+ servers in 100 countries. On raw numbers, Proton wins by a wide margin.

However, there’s important context. All of Surfshark’s servers are 10Gbps RAM-only servers — the entire fleet is upgraded. Proton VPN only has 10Gbps on select servers. Surfshark’s smaller-but-consistent network often delivers better real-world performance than a larger, mixed-quality network.

Proton VPN’s size advantage does mean more options in less-common regions and less congestion during peak hours. If geographic diversity is critical to you — say, for accessing content from very specific countries — Proton’s edge matters.

Features: What Each VPN Does Uniquely

Unique to Surfshark

Alternative ID — generates a fake online persona (name, email address) for sign-ups and form submissions. This reduces spam and protects against tracking. No other major VPN offers this.

GPS Override (Android) — spoofs your GPS location to match your VPN server. Useful for location-based games and apps, among other things.

Surfshark One bundle — the plan I recommend includes antivirus, dark web monitoring (Alert), and a private search engine. It’s a meaningful step up from just a VPN at a modest price increase.

Cookie pop-up blocker — CleanWeb’s browser extension blocks those consent popups. A small quality-of-life feature, but one I genuinely appreciate.

Unlimited devices — the most practically useful differentiator for families or anyone with more than 10 devices.

Unique to Proton VPN

Tor over VPN — routes traffic through the Tor network for an additional layer of anonymity. Surfshark doesn’t offer this.

Stealth protocol — designed from the ground up for obfuscation, not bolted on after the fact. Particularly effective in countries with deep packet inspection.

Proton ecosystem — the higher-tier Proton Unlimited plan bundles Proton Mail (encrypted email with up to 15 addresses), Proton Drive (500GB secure storage), Proton Pass (password manager), and Proton Calendar. If you want a full privacy stack from one provider, this is compelling.

Port forwarding — useful for advanced torrenting setups and remote access scenarios. Surfshark doesn’t offer this.

Permanent kill switch — blocks all traffic even when you manually disconnect the VPN, not just on accidental drops. Useful for the most privacy-conscious users.

Torrenting

Both VPNs support P2P on their networks, but Surfshark gives access to its entire server network for torrenting. Proton VPN restricts P2P to specific servers, which limits your options and can mean slightly slower speeds depending on your location.

In my download tests using a 5.7GB ISO file, Surfshark completed the download in around 4 minutes 18 seconds; Proton VPN took about 4 minutes 26 seconds. The difference is small, but consistent across multiple tests. Proton VPN’s port forwarding support is a genuine advantage for power users who need it — but for standard torrenting, Surfshark is more accessible.

Customer Support

Surfshark offers 24/7 live chat for all users — not just paying customers. Every time I’ve tested it, response times have been fast and the answers have been useful.

Proton VPN offers live chat, but it’s only available to paying customers and only during business hours (roughly 9am–12am CET). Outside those hours, you’re limited to email. For free-plan users, email is the only option.

Both have solid knowledge bases and setup guides. But if you need help at 2am on a Sunday, Surfshark is the one that will actually be there.

Works in China and Restricted Countries?

This is a clear win for Surfshark. Its NoBorders Mode and Camouflage Mode enable connections in China, the UAE, Russia, Iran, and other heavily restricted regions. It’s not perfect — no VPN is in China — but it works reliably enough for most use cases.

Proton VPN officially acknowledges it doesn’t work in China. Its Stealth protocol is effective in many restricted environments, but the Great Firewall is a different challenge. If you’re traveling to or living in China, Surfshark is the only real option between these two.

Which VPN Should You Choose?

What About Other VPN Options?

Surfshark and Proton VPN aren’t the only players worth considering. Here’s where some of the other VPNs I’ve tested fit in:

• IPVanish — unlimited devices like Surfshark, fast speeds (~92% retention), and very budget-friendly at $2.19/mo. A strong alternative if you want multiple connections without paying Surfshark prices.
• NordVPN — excellent speeds (~89% retention) and a huge feature set. More expensive than Surfshark at $3.59/mo, and in my tests Surfshark is actually faster. See my full Surfshark vs NordVPN comparison.
• PrivadoVPN — the cheapest paid VPN on my list at $1.11/mo, and also has the best free VPN plan. A solid pick if budget is the primary constraint.
• ExpressVPN — the easiest to use, with excellent speeds (~91%). More expensive than Surfshark, and worth noting it’s owned by Kape Technologies. Great if simplicity is what you’re after.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Surfshark better than Proton VPN?

For most users, yes. Surfshark is faster, cheaper on long-term plans, supports unlimited devices, and offers 24/7 support. Proton VPN is better specifically for privacy — its Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, and Secure Core architecture give it the edge for users who want maximum legal and technical privacy protection.

Is Proton VPN’s free plan actually worth using?

It’s one of the better free VPNs available — no data cap, no ads, and a genuine no-logs policy. The limitations are real though: one device at a time, servers in only five countries, slower speeds than paid tiers, and no streaming or torrenting support. For basic protection on public Wi-Fi or occasional private browsing, it’s fine. For regular use, the paid Plus plan is what you’ll actually want.

Which is faster: Surfshark or Proton VPN?

Surfshark is faster, retaining around 95% of baseline speed in my tests compared to around 92% for Proton VPN. The difference is most noticeable on distant servers (US, Singapore, Australia). Both support WireGuard, which I recommend using on either service for the best performance. Proton VPN also has a VPN Accelerator feature that can help on longer routes.

Can I use Surfshark or Proton VPN for streaming Netflix?

Both work with Netflix and other major streaming platforms. Surfshark is more consistent across a wider range of regional Netflix libraries and works more reliably on distant servers. Proton VPN works well on US, UK, and Canadian Netflix but can be less reliable on farther-away libraries like Netflix Japan. Neither will work on free-tier Proton VPN — you need a paid plan.

Does Proton VPN work in China?

No — Proton VPN officially states it doesn’t work in China and is investigating solutions. If you need a VPN for China or other heavily restricted regions, Surfshark is the better choice. Its NoBorders Mode and Camouflage Mode are specifically designed for these situations.

Is Proton VPN safe and trustworthy?

Yes, Proton VPN is a trustworthy service. Its no-logs policy has been audited multiple times by Securitum (most recently 2024), its apps are open-source and publicly reviewable, and it’s based in Switzerland with strong privacy laws. One historical note: in 2021, Proton Mail (a different product from the same company) was forced under Swiss law to provide IP logs in a criminal case. Proton VPN operates under different legal frameworks and its no-logs policy has since been independently verified.

What is the Surfshark One plan and is it worth it?

Surfshark One adds antivirus protection, real-time data breach alerts (Alert), and a private search engine on top of the core VPN. At $1.99/mo on the 2-year plan, it’s my recommended starting point for most users. If you’re comparing it to standalone antivirus software, the bundled price is genuinely competitive. The One+ plan further adds Incogni, a personal data removal service.

How many devices can I use with Surfshark vs Proton VPN?

Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous device connections — every device you own under one subscription. Proton VPN’s free plan supports one device; paid plans support up to 10. For individuals, 10 is probably enough. For families or heavy multi-device users, Surfshark’s unlimited policy is a meaningful advantage.

Which VPN has better customer support?

Surfshark offers 24/7 live chat for all users. Proton VPN has live chat for paying customers during business hours only (roughly 9am–midnight CET), with email support as the fallback. Both have solid knowledge bases. Surfshark wins on availability.

Read next:

• Surfshark Review — Full In-Depth Test
• Proton VPN Review — Full In-Depth Test
• Surfshark vs NordVPN — Which Is Faster?
• IPVanish Review — Unlimited Devices on a Budget
• PrivadoVPN Review — The Cheapest VPN + Best Free Plan
• Best VPN for Firestick in 2026
• Best VPN for Amazon Prime Video
• All Current VPN Deals