ExpressVPN vs Surfshark

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction with strong privacy laws and no data retention requirements.

Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, which has strong privacy laws but is part of the EU with potential data sharing requirements.

PwC conducted an independent audit of ExpressVPN's TrustedServer technology and no-logs policy in 2021.

Cure53 conducted a security audit of Surfshark in 2021, confirming their no-logs policy implementation.

ExpressVPN supports Lightway (proprietary), OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols with automatic protocol selection.

Surfshark supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols with automatic protocol selection.

ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy across all supported protocols.

Surfshark implements AES-256-GCM encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy for maximum security.

ExpressVPN provides DNS leak protection, IPv6 leak protection, and network lock kill switch.

Surfshark includes DNS leak protection, IPv6 leak protection, and automatic kill switch functionality.

Large network with a mix of rented/colocated servers.

Large global network; mostly rented/virtual servers.

TrustedServer = RAM-only, read-only image on every boot.

No explicit RAM-only fleet claim.

Acquired by Kape Technologies (2021) — disclosed.

Corporate details disclosed; now part of Surfshark B.V.

Ownership links to ad-tech past and review-site holdings → potential conflicts.

Industry memberships; not linked to Kape; standard affiliate marketing present.

Public bug bounty (historically $100k+ tiers reported).

Public Intigriti bug-bounty program exists.

Nettitude audit write-up documents remediation steps & versioning.

Reported 2018/2021 DC incidents addressed; improvements communicated.

ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol provides excellent speed performance with minimal latency impact according to independent testing.

Surfshark delivers good speed performance with WireGuard protocol, though speeds may vary depending on server location.

ExpressVPN offers apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, and browser extensions.

Surfshark provides apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, and browser extensions.

ExpressVPN consistently unblocks major streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.

Surfshark provides good streaming unblocking capabilities for most major services, though some may require specific server selection.

ExpressVPN provides 24/7 live chat support and email support with excellent response times and knowledgeable staff.

24/7 live chat, email, knowledge base.

ExpressVPN is priced at a premium but offers 30-day money-back guarantee and consistent pricing across subscription lengths.

Surfshark offers competitive pricing with 30-day money-back guarantee and unlimited device connections.

Accepts Bitcoin and major cards/PayPal.

Cards, PayPal, crypto via partner.

Strong audit cadence, but Kape ownership reduces ethics score.

Participates in industry initiatives; no major unresolved scandals.

Threat Manager (blocking feature).

CleanWeb blocks ads/trackers/malware (network-level).

ExpressVPN provides split tunneling, kill switch, and DNS leak protection as core additional features.

Surfshark offers CleanWeb ad blocking, MultiHop, and unlimited device connections as key additional features.

Longstanding reliability in restricted regions; obfuscation techniques.

NoBorders/obfuscation modes for restrictive networks.

Clients closed; Lightway components open-sourced.

Apps closed-source (browser extensions had audits).

ExpressVPN has integrated ML-KEM, the newly established NIST standard for post-quantum encryption, into its proprietary Lightway VPN protocol as of January 2025. The implementation uses NIST Security Level 5 key sizes and provides quantum resistance with minimal performance impact.

Surfshark has implemented post-quantum cryptography features as part of their security infrastructure, providing quantum-resistant encryption for future-proofing against quantum computing threats.

Dedicated/static IP add-on available.

Static IP available as paid add-on (various regions).

Centralized model (not dVPN).

Centralized architecture (not a dVPN).

No AI-based endpoint threat features advertised.

No AI/ML endpoint threat features disclosed.

GUI + CLI available and documented.

Linux CLI client; near-parity with GUI platforms improving.

Policy claims on minimal logs; audits cover logging systems.

Privacy policy restricts analytics; no embedded ad SDKs in desktop apps per docs.