This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase a VPN through our links we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never influences our reviews or rankings.
Surfshark VPN
Surfshark is my winner for overall value. It is the fastest VPN in my testing, supports unlimited simultaneous VPN connections and offers a useful security bundle through Surfshark One.
- Around 95% speed retention in my tests
- Unlimited VPN connections
- MultiHop and rotating IP
- Strong value with Surfshark One
- Some extras require an upgraded plan
- Antivirus has a separate device limit
- Features vary by platform
Surfshark vs ExpressVPN comes down to what I value most: Surfshark gives me more flexibility and better overall value, while ExpressVPN stands out for its straightforward everyday experience. After testing both, Surfshark remains my first recommendation for most readers.
I have spent more than two years covering VPNs across 500+ videos on my AllThingsVPN and VPNR channels. My comparison looks at speed, streaming, apps, privacy and the subscription costs that matter after the introductory offer ends.
My recommendation is Surfshark One if I want the VPN alongside antivirus and breach-monitoring tools. I would still consider ExpressVPN if I prefer its apps, need a particular location or want an extra included in one of its higher tiers.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is my choice for readers who prioritize a simple connection experience. Its speed result was strong, but I would check the plan carefully because device allowances and bundled extras vary by tier.
- Straightforward everyday apps
- Around 91% speed retention in my tests
- Published independent assessments
- Higher initial cost in the public offers compared here
- Fixed simultaneous connection allowances
- Password manager requires a qualifying tier
Update context: I checked public pricing and product documentation for this September 2026 revision. My speed and streaming observations come from the original testing, rather than a new round of September measurements. I distinguish those observations from updated provider specifications below.
Surfshark vs ExpressVPN: At a Glance
| Category | Surfshark | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| My overall recommendation | Best overall value | Easiest to use |
| Speed retention in my tests | Approximately 95% | Approximately 91% |
| Simultaneous VPN connections | Unlimited | 10, 12 or 14, depending on the plan |
| Main bundle distinction | One adds Antivirus, Alert and Search | Advanced includes ExpressKeys; Pro includes a dedicated IP |
| Jurisdiction | Netherlands | British Virgin Islands |
| Independent privacy assessments | Deloitte no-logs assurance reports | KPMG assessments of privacy commitments |
| Split tunneling | Bypasser; controls vary by platform | Available on supported desktop and mobile apps; controls vary |
| Streaming in my earlier tests | Successful access to several major services | Successful access to several major services |
| My main buying caution | Unlimited VPN connections do not mean unlimited antivirus devices | Basic does not include every advertised extra |
I use the official Surfshark plan guide and ExpressVPN plan comparison to distinguish what each subscription includes.
Speed Test Results: Surfshark Is Faster in My Testing
My headline results are around 95% speed retention for Surfshark and 91% for ExpressVPN. Surfshark wins this comparison by four percentage points, although both kept most of the baseline connection’s speed.
The original tests used WireGuard for Surfshark and Lightway for ExpressVPN. I would not turn that result into a blanket claim that WireGuard is always faster: routing, server load, distance and device hardware also affect performance.
| VPN | Protocol in the original comparison | Speed retained | Speed reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | WireGuard | Approximately 95% | Approximately 5% |
| ExpressVPN | Lightway | Approximately 91% | Approximately 9% |
What does that difference mean on a normal connection?
| Speed without the VPN | Surfshark at 95% | ExpressVPN at 91% |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Mbps | 95 Mbps | 91 Mbps |
| 300 Mbps | 285 Mbps | 273 Mbps |
| 1,000 Mbps | 950 Mbps | 910 Mbps |
My practical takeaway: Surfshark’s advantage matters more for sustained downloads than ordinary browsing. For gaming, I also check ping, jitter and packet loss. A higher download result alone does not prove a better gaming connection.
I calculate retention against the measured baseline, not the advertised speed of the internet package. I have left out the older location-by-location figures because the draft did not provide matching baselines that reconciled those rows with the headline results.
Both providers have also developed their protocol options since the original tests. I have not assigned fresh results to newer protocols that I have not benchmarked for this comparison.
Want more context behind my speed results?
My full Surfshark review covers performance alongside the apps, privacy tools and everyday experience that influence my recommendation.
Read my Surfshark review →Price Comparison: What I Would Actually Pay
I compare three numbers before choosing a VPN: the amount charged today, the number of months included and the renewal cost. The advertised monthly equivalent is useful, but it is not a monthly payment on these prepaid offers.
Surfshark plans
| Plan | Monthly equivalent | Initial term | Upfront total | My take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $2.49 | 27 months | $67.23 | My choice if I mainly need the VPN |
| One | $2.79 | 27 months | $75.33 | My preferred balance of features and price |
| One+ | $4.49 | 27 months | $121.23 | Worth considering if I want Incogni |
I checked these offers on Surfshark’s public pricing page. Taxes and regional or affiliate offers may differ.
ExpressVPN plans
| Plan | Monthly equivalent | Initial term | Upfront total | VPN connections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $2.99 | 28 months | $83.72 | 10 |
| Advanced | $4.49 | 28 months | $125.72 | 12 |
| Pro | $7.49 | 28 months | $209.72 | 14 |
I checked these figures on ExpressVPN’s public pricing page. I would confirm the selected term, taxes and final total before paying.
Why Surfshark One is my preferred upgrade
At the prices above, One costs $8.10 more than Starter across the first 27 months. That is a modest upgrade if I will use Antivirus, Alert and Search. If I already have equivalent tools, Starter may be the better purchase.
I would not describe Surfshark One and ExpressVPN Advanced as identical bundles. One emphasizes antivirus and breach alerts, while Advanced includes a password manager and other services. I compare the tools I would actually use.
My value rule: I give an unused extra a value of $0. A bundle saves money only when its tools are useful to me or replace something I would otherwise pay for.
Renewals and shorter subscriptions
I save the renewal amount and billing period at checkout. A subscription that initially covers more than two years may later renew annually, so I would not assume the introductory monthly equivalent continues.
If I only need a VPN for a short trip, I compare shorter subscriptions too. Paying less per advertised month can still mean spending more overall than I need to.
Check the Surfshark One offer
I recommend One when its antivirus and breach alerts will be useful. Compare the upfront total, included months and renewal terms before subscribing.
I keep offer-specific details on my Surfshark coupon page and ExpressVPN coupon page. The final checkout terms take priority if a promotion differs from the public prices above.
Features Compared: Which Extras Add Real Value?
| Need | What I would consider | My buying advice |
|---|---|---|
| VPN plus antivirus | Surfshark One | I check operating-system support and the separate antivirus device allowance. |
| Breach monitoring | Surfshark Alert in One and One+ | I consider whether alerts improve on tools I already use. |
| Password management | ExpressKeys in qualifying ExpressVPN tiers | I compare it with my existing password manager before upgrading. |
| Two-server routing | Surfshark MultiHop | I use it when the additional routing layer matters more than maximum speed. |
| Email masking | Surfshark Alternative ID or ExpressMailGuard | I compare the actual allowances and functions in the selected plan. |
| Data-broker removal | Incogni in Surfshark One+ | I check eligibility and coverage before assigning it value. |
I use the providers’ Surfshark bundle definitions and ExpressVPN tier details to distinguish these products.
Surfshark features I find useful
1
Alternative ID
I can use alternative contact details for suitable online sign-ups instead of distributing my primary email address everywhere. I would not treat this as making my activity anonymous or as a replacement for accurate details where a service requires them.
2
MultiHop
I like having the option to route traffic through two VPN servers. I would test its effect on latency before using it for calls, gaming or other time-sensitive activities.
3
Rotating IP
I see changing the visible VPN address as an additional privacy control. It does not remove cookies, prevent browser fingerprinting or hide who I am from an account I have signed into.
Surfshark explains its routing and rotation tools in the rotating IP feature guide.
4
Antivirus, Alert and Search
These are the main reasons I would upgrade to One. Search is a private search engine, not a separate private browser. I would check whether I need each tool before choosing the bundle.
One limit I would not overlook: unlimited VPN connections do not mean unlimited antivirus installations. Surfshark’s antivirus documentation describes five protected devices after the trial, with support for Windows, macOS and Android. See Surfshark’s antivirus device limits.
ExpressVPN features I would weigh against the price
I would consider ExpressVPN’s password manager if it replaced something I already paid for. I would also check its email-alias service rather than assume email masking is exclusive to Surfshark.
A dedicated IP can be useful when I need a consistent address, but I would not buy one simply to make ordinary browsing “more private.” A persistent address is a different trade-off from sharing a changing VPN address with other users.
Ad blocking is not antivirus
I treat ad and malicious-domain blocking as an extra layer. It does not establish how well a product detects downloaded malware, and an ad-blocking test percentage is not an overall security score.
I have not reused the original blocking percentages because the article did not include the test lists, dates or settings needed to interpret them fairly.
Privacy and Security: What I Check Beyond the Marketing
Jurisdiction and ownership
| Question | Surfshark | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Where is it based? | Netherlands | British Virgin Islands |
| What ownership relationship do I disclose? | Merged with Nord Security under one holding company in 2022 | Joined Kape Technologies in December 2021 |
| What privacy evidence do I examine? | No-logs assurance reports and technical assessments | Privacy-policy assessments and technical audits |
I checked the corporate details against Surfshark’s company information, ExpressVPN’s company information and ExpressVPN’s Kape announcement.
I understand why some readers prefer ExpressVPN’s jurisdiction. However, I would not rank privacy on a country name alone. I also consider logging practices, technical controls, ownership and the evidence available to assess them.
Independent audits: scope matters more than the count
Surfshark publishes information about Deloitte no-logs assurance reports alongside infrastructure and application assessments. ExpressVPN publishes KPMG privacy assessments and audits of various products. I do not treat an audit of a password manager as another audit of VPN logging.
I use the Surfshark trust center and ExpressVPN trust center to check the dates, scope and products covered.
My audit checklist: I look for who performed the assessment, what was examined, when the work applied and whether the report explains limitations. An audit is useful evidence, not a permanent guarantee that every future version will be flawless.
Kill switches and leak protection
My earlier checks did not reveal leaks in the configurations I tested. I would still check the current app and protocol on my own devices, including what happens after sleep, a network change or an unexpected VPN disconnection.
I pay particular attention to split tunneling: traffic deliberately excluded from the VPN is outside that tunnel’s protection. I would only create exceptions that I understand and need.
Streaming Performance: Both Worked in My Earlier Tests
| Service | Surfshark | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix US, UK and Japan | Access reported | Access reported |
| Amazon Prime Video | Access reported | Access reported |
| Disney+ | Access reported | Access reported |
| Hulu | Access reported | Access reported |
| BBC iPlayer | Access reported | Access reported |
I favor Surfshark for streaming value, especially across multiple household devices. However, I would not declare it the universal streaming winner from a library count. A fair compatibility comparison needs the same accounts, devices, services and test dates.
I would test a complete viewing session on the device I actually use, including seeking, playback quality and evening performance. Opening a service’s homepage is not enough to establish reliable streaming.
Mostly watching on a Fire TV device?
My Firestick guide focuses on the app experience and practical device considerations that a general VPN comparison can miss.
See my Firestick recommendations →I also cover service-specific considerations in my best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video guide.
Apps, Ease of Use and Device Support
ExpressVPN is my preference for the simplest everyday connection experience. I prefer Surfshark when I want more controls and bundled tools available in the same product family.
Split tunneling has changed on Mac and iPhone
| Platform | What I would check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Windows and Android | App-based routing options in the current version | I may want one trusted app to connect outside the VPN. |
| macOS | OS requirements and permissions for the network extension | Older claims that newer Macs have no ExpressVPN split tunneling are outdated. |
| iOS | Whether exclusions apply to websites or IP addresses | I would not expect the same app-selection controls as on Android. |
ExpressVPN now documents split tunneling for macOS 11 and later, plus an iOS option using website IPv4 exclusions. Surfshark also documents Bypasser for Mac and iOS; its Mac guide excludes Big Sur. I would check the exact implementation in the ExpressVPN guide and Surfshark Bypasser guides.
How I count simultaneous devices
I count devices that will use the VPN at the same time. Four phones, two laptops and two streaming devices total eight connections. A household like that may fit within ExpressVPN Basic, while Surfshark gives me more flexibility as the number grows.
I still check compatibility. Unlimited connections do not mean every console, television or router can run the VPN app, and all connected devices continue to share the available internet bandwidth.
Router buyers: check the Aircove update
I would update the original Aircove buying advice: ExpressVPN’s support notice dated September 16, 2026 says Aircove routers are no longer available for purchase. Existing users continue to receive support and security updates according to published timelines. I would check the current supported hardware before buying a router for either VPN. See the Aircove support notice.
Server Networks, Gaming and Downloads
I care more about useful locations and connection quality than the largest server count. ExpressVPN currently lists coverage in 113 countries; Surfshark’s trust center lists 100. I would check whether either includes a location I specifically need. Those totals do not establish which network is faster. See ExpressVPN’s network information and Surfshark’s network information.
| My use case | What I prioritize | My practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Low latency, low jitter and stable routing | I compare nearby servers with the direct connection. |
| Large downloads | Sustained transfer speed | I repeat downloads rather than rely on one speed-test peak. |
| Video calls | Upload quality and stability | I test a normal call while other household devices are active. |
| P2P transfers | Speed, connection-drop behavior and client requirements | I check specialist requirements such as inbound connectivity before subscribing. |
Surfshark’s speed result gives it the advantage for downloads in this comparison. I would not infer a universal torrent completion time from a single transfer, because peer availability and other bottlenecks affect the result.
Surfshark vs ExpressVPN: Which Would I Choose?
I would choose Surfshark for overall value, a large household or a useful VPN and antivirus bundle. One is my preferred plan when I will use its additional tools; Starter is sensible when I mainly need the VPN.
I would choose ExpressVPN if I prefer its everyday app experience or need an extra included in a qualifying tier. I would compare that concrete benefit with the additional subscription cost.
| Category | My choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Overall value | Surfshark | My preferred balance of price, performance and useful features |
| Speed in my testing | Surfshark | Approximately 95% retention versus 91% |
| Large household | Surfshark | Unlimited simultaneous VPN connections |
| Simple everyday apps | ExpressVPN | My preferred straightforward connection experience |
| Antivirus bundle | Surfshark One | Useful if compatible antivirus protection is something I need |
| Bundled password manager | Consider ExpressVPN Advanced | I would assess ExpressKeys against my existing solution |
| One must-have streaming service | Test on the intended device | Historical results do not settle current access |
| Privacy | Compare the evidence | I do not award a universal winner from jurisdiction or audit count alone |
My honest drawbacks
What I liked about Surfshark
- The fastest result in my testing.
- Unlimited simultaneous VPN connections.
- Useful routing controls and a good-value One upgrade.
What I would check before buying Surfshark
- Whether I will use the upgraded plan’s extras.
- The separate antivirus device limit.
- Platform differences and the renewal price.
What I liked about ExpressVPN
- A straightforward everyday connection experience.
- Strong speed retention in my testing.
- Published assessments and useful extras in qualifying tiers.
What I would check before buying ExpressVPN
- The higher initial cost in the offers compared here.
- Connection allowances and tier-dependent extras.
- Kape ownership as part of my privacy assessment.
Other VPNs I would consider
Surfshark remains my #1 overall recommendation. I rank IPVanish second for unlimited devices, fast performance and value. I recommend comparing Proton VPN when privacy is the main priority and PrivadoVPN when a low-cost or free option matters most.
Still comparing your options?
I compare the upfront cost, renewal terms and features I will actually use before choosing a subscription.
Compare my recommended VPN deals →Surfshark vs ExpressVPN FAQs
Is Surfshark better than ExpressVPN in 2026?
I recommend Surfshark for most readers because of its speed result, unlimited VPN connections and overall value. I prefer ExpressVPN when the simplest everyday app experience is the deciding factor.
Which VPN was faster in your tests?
Surfshark retained approximately 95% of baseline speed, compared with approximately 91% for ExpressVPN. These are my existing headline results, not new September measurements or guaranteed results for another connection.
Is Surfshark One worth buying instead of Starter?
One is my preferred bundle when I will use Antivirus, Alert and Search. I would choose Starter if I mainly need the VPN or already have suitable tools for those jobs.
Does ExpressVPN Basic include its password manager?
I would not assume so. The public plan comparison checked for this revision places ExpressKeys in Advanced and Pro. I would verify the selected tier before paying.
Does Surfshark include unlimited antivirus devices?
No. I distinguish its unlimited VPN connection allowance from antivirus protection. Surfshark’s antivirus documentation describes five devices after the trial.
Which is better for Netflix?
Both worked in my earlier tests. I favor Surfshark for household value, but I would test my own subscription and viewing device before deciding. VPN blocking and service availability can change.
Who owns ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN belongs to Kape Technologies, which it officially joined in December 2021. I consider ownership alongside technical controls, logging policies and independent assessments.
Can I use split tunneling on a Mac or iPhone?
Both providers document options for these platforms. I would check the exact operating-system requirements and whether the controls apply to apps, websites or IP addresses, since the implementations differ.
Which VPN is better for gaming?
I would compare latency, jitter and packet loss on nearby servers. Surfshark’s download-speed advantage does not by itself prove a lower ping in a particular game.
Can either VPN guarantee access on restrictive networks?
I would not promise that. Network restrictions change, and a feature intended to help with blocking does not guarantee access. I would check current setup guidance and test the intended connection before depending on it.
What should I test after subscribing?
I would test my main devices, streaming services, calls, reconnection after sleep and performance at the times I normally use the internet. I would complete those checks early within any applicable refund window.
Final Verdict: Surfshark Is My Overall Winner
Surfshark remains my #1 recommendation, with Surfshark One my preferred plan for its quality-to-price ratio. It combines the strongest speed result in my testing with unlimited VPN connections and extras that can justify the upgrade.
ExpressVPN still earns consideration if I prefer its apps or need a particular feature in its higher tiers. I would choose it for those concrete benefits, then verify the final price and device compatibility.
I would make the final decision using my own devices and normal routine. The best-value VPN is the one that meets those needs at a price I am comfortable paying both now and at renewal.
Surfshark VPN
My preferred balance of VPN performance, unlimited VPN connections and useful security extras. Check the current total and renewal terms before subscribing.
- Unlimited VPN connections
- Antivirus on supported devices
- Data breach alerts
- Alternative ID
- MultiHop
Read next:
