NordVPN vs Surfshark

NordVPN is operated by NordVPN S.A. out of Panama, a jurisdiction without mandatory data-retention laws, while its parent Nord Security maintains EU entities for corporate support functions.

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

Deloitte reviewed NordVPN's no-logs controls in 2022 and 2024, confirming that server telemetry and backend systems align with its zero-logs claims.

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

NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN; obfuscation options available.

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

NordVPN uses AES-256-GCM encryption for OpenVPN, ChaCha20-Poly1305 for WireGuard, and implements Perfect Forward Secrecy.

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

NordVPN includes DNS leak protection, WebRTC leak protection, and automatic kill switch functionality.

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

Colocated hardware; hardened network; 10-Gbps rollout.

Large global network; mostly rented/virtual servers.

RAM-only fleet completed (no disks).

No explicit RAM-only fleet claim.

Corporate structure disclosed (Nord Security group; ops split across entities).

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

VTI member; disclosed 2018 breach and mitigations; ongoing audits.

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

Public bug bounty program since 2019; vulnerability reporting channel.

Public Intigriti bug-bounty program exists.

2018 third-party DC breach disclosed; infra rebuilt (colocation + audits).

Reported 2018/2021 DC incidents addressed; improvements communicated.

Independent testing shows NordVPN consistently delivers high speeds with minimal impact on connection performance, often achieving over 1 Gbps speeds.

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

NordVPN provides native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, tvOS, and browser extensions.

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

NordVPN reliably unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, and other streaming services according to independent testing.

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

NordVPN offers 24/7 live chat support, comprehensive knowledge base, and email support with generally good response times.

24/7 live chat, email, knowledge base.

NordVPN offers competitive pricing with 30-day money-back guarantee and various subscription lengths.

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

Cards, PayPal, crypto supported.

Cards, PayPal, crypto via partner.

VTI membership; transparency reports/articles; some historical baggage acknowledged.

Participates in industry initiatives; no major unresolved scandals.

Threat Protection/Pro blocks ads/malware/phishing.

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

NordVPN offers Meshnet, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, and Dark Web Monitor for advanced privacy protection.

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

Obfuscated servers & tools for DPI evasion.

NoBorders/obfuscation modes for restrictive networks.

Linux client open-source; others proprietary.

Apps closed-source (browser extensions had audits).

NordVPN has implemented NIST-approved ML-KEM post-quantum encryption across all major platforms (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, tvOS) as of May 2025. The implementation uses ML-KEM algorithm integrated with NordLynx protocol based on WireGuard.

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 IP add-on available.

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

Centralized architecture (not a dVPN).

Centralized architecture (not a dVPN).

TP Pro uses heuristic/ML-style detections (not endpoint AV).

No AI/ML endpoint threat features disclosed.

First-party CLI/GUI; OSS repo active.

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

Privacy policy limits diagnostics; audits assess logging systems.

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