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Best for Affordable Pricing
VPN technology offering stability and speed
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Works with Netflix and other streaming services
Headquarters in Nine Eyes Alliance
Best for Maximum Privacy
Easy to use
A strict no-logs policy that’s been tested in court
More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost
The VPN space is a crowded one — there is no shortage of options to choose from here. But this can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, more competition can make for better products. On the other, making a decision about which VPN to go with can be tough.
Surfshark and Proton VPN, two of the best VPNs, each have a lot to offer. The former is speedy and highly affordable. The latter is privacy-focused and has a rich history of building secure apps. Which one is right for you? Let’s find out.
At first glance, Surfshark and Proton VPN have a lot in common: similar protocols, compatibility, server counts (and choice of VPN server location), and streaming support. Both also let you use a VPN for torrenting. Many of the key differences here are less obvious.
For example, Surfshark supports unlimited devices, while Proton VPN only lets you connect 10 at once. While that’s probably plenty, more is more. Surfshark also offers 24/7 customer support, whereas Proton’s is limited to more or less standard business hours.
In Proton’s favor, there’s a free plan available. This provider also has its own custom VPN protocol, Stealth, that may improve privacy by hiding the fact that you’re using a VPN. Surfshark is premium-only and uses WireGuard (also available with Proton).
 Surfshark |
 Proton VPN |
|
| Price | $1.99–$19.99/mo | $4.99–$9.99/mo |
| Free plan | ||
| Max # of connected devices | Unlimited | 10 |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Fire TV | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Chromebook |
| # of servers | 3,200+ servers in 100 countries | 2,970+ servers in 68 countries |
| VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth |
| No-logs policy | No logs | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | ||
| Torrenting support | ||
| Learn more | Get Surfshark
Read Surfshark Review |
Get Proton VPN
Read Proton VPN Review |
Another notable difference is in the quality of customer service; we had a better overall experience with Surfshark. Combined with the 24/7 availability, Surfshark comes out way ahead.
Both providers have audited no-logs policies, but Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands, which is part of the Nine Eyes Alliance. This is a potential privacy concern. Proton VPN is located in Switzerland, which is much better from a privacy perspective.
Finally, there’s the cost. Surfshark is significantly cheaper — basically half the price of Proton VPN. This automatically makes it the more attractive option for many and for good reason.
Proton VPN, on the other hand, hopes you’ll pay more for the experience of the team behind it. It’s the creator of the popular privacy-focused ProtonMail and other privacy apps.
Surfshark |
Proton VPN |
|
| Price | $1.99–$19.99/mo | $4.99–$9.99/mo |
| Free plan | ||
| Best value plan | 24-month plan for $1.99/mo | 24-month plan for $4.99/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days | Yes — 30 days |
| Learn more | Get Surfshark
Read Surfshark Review |
Get Proton VPN
Read Proton VPN Review |
When it comes to pricing, Surfshark is quite a bit more affordable, but only if you go all-in on the full 24-month commitment. If you opt for the month-to-month plan, the tables turn and Proton VPN is actually the more affordable option.
Compared to other VPN providers, Surfshark’s lowest price is very competitive — in fact, it’s one of the cheapest options on the market. This makes it a fantastic option if you’re looking to save money on a VPN.
Proton is pricier than many of its competitors, but it does make up for this with a free plan, which Surfshark lacks.
Both Surfshark and Proton VPN offer 30-day money-back guarantees, which should be plenty of time to get a feel for the service and decide if it’s for you.
| Feature | Surfshark |
Proton VPN |
| Number of servers | 3,200+ servers in 100 countries | 2,970+ servers in 68 countries |
| No-logs policy | No logs | No logs |
| VPN headquarters | Amsterdam, the Netherlands | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM | AES-256 or ChaCha20 |
| VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth |
| Kill switch | ||
| Split tunneling | ||
| Netflix support | ||
| Torrenting support | ||
| Learn more | Get Surfshark
Read Surfshark Review |
Get Proton VPN
Read Proton VPN Review |
Surfshark and Proton VPN both offer very similar feature sets. They’ve got similar protocols; both have WireGuard available as well as similar encryption. Both have kill switches, split tunneling (called Bypasser on Surfshark), and a slew of other features to enhance privacy and make browsing better.
Proton does stand out by offering the Stealth protocol, which is designed to help hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. Proton also uses ChaCha20 encryption when using the WireGuard protocol. This is similar in strength to AES-256.
Both VPN providers completed independent audits to verify their no-logs policy and other security and privacy features. Each has been open about the results of the audits, which appear to have gone very well.
Additionally, both Surfshark and Proton VPN come with ad blockers that help prevent malware. Proton VPN’s is called NetShield, and Surfshark’s is called CleanWeb.
Ultimately, the main distinguishing factor between the two is likely going to be Proton’s existing reputation for security and privacy. ProtonMail has long been the standard for secure email, and having a VPN from the same company may be a major selling point for some.
| Platform | Surfshark |
Proton VPN |
| Netflix | ||
| Amazon Prime Video | ||
| Hulu | ||
| BBC iPlayer | ||
| Disney+ | ||
| HBO Max | ||
| Learn more | Get Surfshark
Read Surfshark Review |
Get Proton VPN
Read Proton VPN Review |
Both Surfshark and Proton VPN handle streaming well. They each work with all of the services we tested, including the most popular options listed above.
The only thing worth noting is that Proton only guarantees streaming on the premium plan, so if you’re on the free plan you may be out of luck (or at least on your own should you encounter issues).
VPN connections tend to reduce internet performance. This is a natural result of routing your signal through distant servers. With some VPN services the change is small, while with others it’s more significant. We conducted internet speed tests to check how much of a performance hit each VPN causes.
Overall, both Surfshark and Proton VPN performed well. However, Proton showed significantly less performance reduction than Surfshark. That’s not to say Surfshark was bad, just that Proton was better.
| Server location | Surfshark |
Proton VPN |
| US |
|
|
| UK |
|
|
| AU |
|
|
| Learn more | Get Surfshark
Read Surfshark Review |
Get Proton VPN
Read Proton VPN Review |
VPNs also tend to add to your latency, often to a higher degree than raw speed. This impacts response times and is especially rough on gaming. The tables turned here again with Surfshark showing better latency than Proton by a decent margin.
| Server location | Surfshark | Proton VPN |
| US | 20% worse | 40% worse |
| UK | 92% worse | 171% worse |
| AU | 114% worse | 180% worse |
Surfshark |
Proton VPN |
|
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Linux | ||
| Router | ||
| Smart devices |
Surfshark and Proton VPN are both compatible with nearly any device you could want to use a VPN on, including Windows, Mac, mobile, and others. Both VPNs also offer relatively simple user interfaces that make navigating easy.
We did find Surfshark to have a much cleaner interface overall, but this is mostly personal preference. The design and color scheme was lighter and felt less cluttered compared to Proton’s dark mode look. (Though Surfshark also offers a dark mode as well.)
Surfshark |
Proton VPN |
|
| 24/7 live chat | ||
| Phone | ||
| Support forums | ||
| Online guides |
Surfshark and Proton VPN offer the usual spread of customer service options, including phone, chatbot, live chat, and extensive online guides and social media resources. However, there are some notable differences here that sway things heavily in Surfshark’s favor.
First, Proton VPN doesn’t offer a 24/7 chat option — the hours are 3 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST. This is a big disadvantage. Second, and perhaps even more important, the rep from Surfshark gave us more useful information in a shorter timeframe than the rep from Proton VPN.
Surfshark and Proton VPN both accept a large number of different payment options, which is both convenient and great for privacy.
Generally, to maximize privacy you want to pay with a method that can’t be traced to you easily, which means cryptocurrencies and the like are fantastic options. However, flexible credit card payments are also convenient.
Both Proton VPN and Surfshark have a lot to offer VPN users. We wouldn’t outright say one is better than the other — rather that they likely appeal to different audiences.
Again, both Surfshark and Proton VPN performed well in our tests, including successfully masking our IP address and passing our WebRTC and DNS leak tests. We’re sure either one is an excellent choice.
Surfshark is an excellent VPN option. It’s got strong privacy and security features, an audited no-logs policy, and one of the lowest prices of any VPN on the market. The customer service is also quite good.
Our only real concern is the location of its headquarters. The Netherlands is part of the Nine Eyes Alliance, and thus your data might not be as secure as with some other providers. Of course, with no logs, there should be nothing for Surfshark to share, but it’s worth mentioning.
Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPN providers on the market and offers good speeds and strong privacy features. However, it won’t be for everybody.
There are a number of excellent VPN options available, so we have a hard time giving a single one the title of “best for everybody.”
From everything we’ve seen, Proton VPN appears to be very trustworthy. It’s got a verified no-logs policy and all the industry-standard security and privacy technologies we expect from a virtual private network. The company also has a long history of providing privacy-focused services, which makes us feel better about trusting it as a VPN provider.
Surfshark and Proton VPN both bring their A-game to the table. Surfshark has a lower price, better customer service, and a cleaner UI. Proton VPN has stronger privacy policies and better overall performance.
Ultimately, we think Surfshark is going to be the best option for most people, thanks mostly to the low cost. However, Proton VPN shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s hard to argue against a VPN from a privacy-focused company.
If you’re still undecided, you can also check out our ExpressVPN vs. Proton VPN review to see how these two top competitors stack up.
VPN technology offering stability and speed
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Works with Netflix and other streaming services
Headquarters in Nine Eyes Alliance
