Surfshark v ExpressVPN

Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are usually pretty easy to use. There’s a lot of complex technology working in the background to make this happen, though, and many providers (understandably) want to let potential customers know all about it. The problem is that unless you’re a computer networking specialist, most of this is likely to go over your head.

Here’s the good news: we’ve put together a comprehensive, side-by-side comparison of Surfshark and ExpressVPN so that you can tell at a glance which features they each offer. Of course, we’ll also explain what some of the more advanced features do, in order to give you a better understanding of your security setup. With that out of the way, let’s get started:

In brief

Both ExpressVPN and Surfshark are excellent choices and you won’t go too far wrong with either. ExpressVPN and Surfshark are both compatible with popular streaming services including Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max and many more. Both VPNs scored well in our speed tests and offer strong security, although Surfshark edges it in both of these categories.

If you want the best all-round VPN, go with Surfshark’s discounted 2 year deal; it’s hard to beat when it comes to value for money. On the other hand, if you need access to servers in a wider range of countries, or are particularly interested in streaming Netflix, ExpressVPN may be the better choice.

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN highlights

Surfshark

  • Offers strong speeds and access to 3,200+ servers worldwide
  • Works with a wide range of streaming services
  • Major security and privacy focus
  • Has no connection limit

ExpressVPN

  • Plenty of high-speed servers
  • Best in class for security
  • Great for streaming
  • Privacy-first VPN that accepts Bitcoin

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN pricing

No valueSurfsharkExpressVPN
WebsiteSurfshark.comExpressVPN.com
Subscription periodsOne month, one year, two years1 month, 6 months, 1 year
Special offer82% discount on two-year plan + 2 months freeThree months free with a 1 year subscription
Highest price per month$12.95$12.95
Lowest monthly cost$2.30$6.67
One year price$59.76 $99.95 (actually for 15 months)
Money back guarantee30 days30 days
Best deal (per month)$2.30
Get 2 Months FREE with a 2-year plan
$6.67
SAVE: 49% on the annual plan

These services both cost $12.95 USD for a single month of coverage, which puts them firmly at the higher end of the pricing spectrum. That said, both Surfshark and ExpressVPN offer significantly reduced prices for users who are willing to commit to longer subscriptions upfront.

ExpressVPN comes very close to cutting its monthly price in half if you sign up for its annual plan. Surfshark goes even further, though, with a one-year plan totalling just $47.88. If you’re considering this, though, you really may as well just get the two-year subscription since this is only another $12.

Each of these VPNs includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Although you will have to pay upfront, this means you can try them both out and claim a full refund if they fail to impress you. Additionally, Surfshark now offers a 7-day free trial for users who sign up using Google Play or iTunes.

Best Deal for Surfshark:Save more than 80% by choosing Surfshark’s two-year plan.

Best Deal for ExpressVPN:Get 49% off and an extra three months free with ExpressVPN’s one-year subscription.

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN features

No valueSurfsharkExpressVPN
WebsiteSurfshark.comExpressVPN.com
Simultaneous ConnectionsUnlimited5
Devices SupportedWindows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire TVWindows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, Routers
Manual install devicesSelect routersSet-top boxes and certain routers
Free extrasAutomatic wifi protection, ad-blocking and malware-scanning. Extensions for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Stealth mode.Smart DNS service. Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Vivaldi, and Brave
Best deal (per month)$2.30
Get 2 Months FREE with a 2-year plan
$6.67
SAVE: 49% on the annual plan

These services both offer excellent multi-platform support, with apps for all major operating systems, as well as command line-based installers for Linux systems. Users can take advantage of browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, although it’s worth noting that these don’t secure traffic from any of your other apps.

There are a couple of differences between Surfshark and ExpressVPN, though. For instance, Surfshark has a built-in ad-blocker and malware-scanner, plus if you upgrade to Surfshark One, it can alert you to any data leaks you may have been affected by. On the other hand, ExpressVPN offers custom firmware for supported routers, and unlike its rival, does not need to be configured for use in countries with heavily-censored internet access.

One of the biggest advantages Surfshark has over ExpressVPN (and most other services on the market) is that it allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. This makes it especially attractive to people who want to share their VPN with their family. ExpressVPN only permits users to connect five of their devices at once, although this should be ample for most users.

Streaming and Netflix comparison

No valueSurfsharkExpressVPN
WebsiteSurfshark.comExpressVPN.com
Unblocks Hulu
Unblocks Sky Go
Unblocks Prime Video
Unblocks BBC iPlayer
Unblocks ABC
Unblocks CBS
Unblocks NBC
Unblocks ITV
Unblocks Channel 4
Best deal (per month)$2.30
Get 2 Months FREE with a 2-year plan
$6.67
SAVE: 49% on the annual plan

As you can see, both of these VPNs do a fantastic job at unblocking geo-restricted streaming services. Now, obviously, we can’t test every streaming service in the world. As such, there may well be platforms Surfshark can access that ExpressVPN can’t, and vice versa. We will say that while ExpressVPN used to struggle with BBC iPlayer, it seems to have resolved these issues now.

Which of these VPNs work in China?

Plenty of countries restrict access to specific websites. That said, China’s internet-filtering tools (known collectively as the Great Firewall) are some of the most advanced in the world. As a result, most VPNs are blocked and simply won’t work on the mainland.

Happily, both ExpressVPN and Surfshark can bypass Chinese internet restrictions. ExpressVPN does so without any special configuration required, while Surfshark users may need to enable the NoBorders mode (Settings > Advanced > NoBorders) first. The most important thing to remember is that the Surfshark and ExpressVPN websites are blocked, which means you’ll have to install the app before arriving in China.

Setup and interface

No valueSurfsharkExpressVPN
WebsiteSurfshark.comExpressVPN.com
Automatic setup wizardWindows, Android, iOS, Linux, MacOSWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Tomato and DD-WRT routers
Main location selectionList-basedList-based
Extra settings pages
Mobile-friendly
Best deal (per month)$2.30
Get 2 Months FREE with a 2-year plan
$6.67
SAVE: 49% on the annual plan

Surfshark’s desktop apps are straightforward enough. The main screen features a list of your most recently-used servers and a simple location-selection button. If we had to find a complaint, it’d be that certain options (such as the kill switch and NoBorders mode) are hidden away in the settings submenus instead of being easily accessible.

Surfshark desktop main screen

ExpressVPN’s app is very similar, although its quick-connect button is much larger and dominates most of the main screen. You shouldn’t have any issues finding the options you need since the settings menu is broken down into several categories. As a bonus, users can add certain websites to their shortcuts and have a link to them appear after you connect for faster access.

ExpressVPN options

Surfshark’s mobile apps are almost identical to the desktop ones. The only real difference is that instead of being on the left-hand side of the screen, the tabs are now on the bottom. Additionally, some features aren’t available, like the NoBorders mode (although mobile users can still use the privacy-focused Shadowsocks protocol). On the plus side, Surfshark’s Android app allows you to automatically match your phone’s GPS location to your server location without the need for any third-party apps.

Surfshark mobile app locations

Mobile ExpressVPN apps have a lot in common with their desktop equivalents, except, as with Surfshark, they have a pared-down selection of features. In fact, the only options in the settings menu are for auto-connection, wifi protection, split tunneling, and protocol selection. All in all, though, the mobile apps remain easy to use and keep you just as safe as when you’re on a desktop computer.

Surfshark mobile app options

Servers and Performance

No valueSurfsharkExpressVPN
WebsiteSurfshark.comExpressVPN.com
Server countries10094
Total number of servers3,200Undisclosed
Mobile-friendly
Best deal (per month)$2.30
Get 2 Months FREE with a 2-year plan
$6.67
SAVE: 49% on the annual plan

Straight away, we can see there’s a huge difference between these networks. However, ExpressVPN covers 94 countries, which is more than almost any other major VPN, so this shouldn’t be considered a failing on Surfshark’s part. Unfortunately, neither service provides a detailed breakdown of the servers it has in each region, so it’s difficult to say which is more reliable during peak times.

Both VPNs are fast enough for HD streaming. Surfshark is faster overall, with an average speed of around 324 Mbps to ExpressVPN’s 135 Mbps. Note that these tests were run on a 1 Gbps connection, so your speeds may be noticeably slower.

Take a look below for the full list of countries where Surfshark and ExpressVPN have servers:

 SurfsharkExpressVPN
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Andorra
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Estonia
Egypt
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Guatemala
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jersey
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Myanmar
Netherlands
Nepal
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Ukraine
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam

While ExpressVPN has servers in far more countries, Surfshark actually covers a few locations its rival doesn’t including Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Given the tumultuous political situations in these regions, it’s likely Surfshark is using virtual servers to provide access. This simply means that the servers aren’t actually in your chosen country, they’re just pretending to be.

For most people, there’s no noticeable difference between a virtual and physical server. That said, they can lead to your data being subject to different laws than you expected. This isn’t a major issue though since both ExpressVPN and Surfshark follow a strict no-logging policy. To their credit, both providers offer a full list of their virtual servers.

Security

No valueSurfsharkExpressVPN
WebsiteSurfshark.comExpressVPN.com
VPN protocolsOpenVPN, WireGuardOpenVPN, Lightway, IKEv2
OpenVPN data encryption256-bit AES256-bit AES
OpenVPN control channel encryptionRSA-2048RSA-4096
Kill SwitchDesktop only
Private DNS servers
Best deal (per month)$2.30
Get 2 Months FREE with a 2-year plan
$6.67
SAVE: 49% on the annual plan

Users can connect via the OpenVPN protocol, whichever service they choose. Surfshark also supported WireGuard connections, which are generally faster. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN offers IKEv2 and its own protocol, Lightway, which can keep your data secure even while switching networks.

Both providers use 256-bit AES encryption, which is effectively impossible to crack. ExpressVPN’s RSA keys are slightly more secure, though, as they’re 4096 bits long. In other words, they’re twice as long (though not necessarily twice as secure) as Surfshark’s. Each offers a kill switch that stops sending traffic the second your connection drops, ensuring you never accidentally browse unprotected.

These services each have their own way of keeping you safe online. ExpressVPN uses a technique called cipher block chaining, which means you can’t decrypt a packet of data without access to the one before it. Simply, unless an attacker can crack the service’s encryption and capture your entire session’s traffic from the start, your data cannot be read. Surfshark, on the other hand, uses a special NoBorders mode to let you browse freely. Surfshark hasn’t revealed exactly how this feature works, but other VPNs achieve similar results by reshaping your data to hide the easily-recognizable signs of VPN traffic.

Privacy

No valueSurfsharkExpressVPN
WebsiteSurfshark.comExpressVPN.com
HQ base of operationThe NetherlandsBritish Virgin Islands
Connection logsEffectively noneSome aggregated data
Activity logsNoneNo identifying data
User details for signupEmail addressEmail address
Anonymous payment optionsBitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple
Best deal (per month)$2.30
Get 2 Months FREE with a 2-year plan
$6.67
SAVE: 49% on the annual plan

One thing is clear from the table above: these services really do take user privacy seriously. ExpressVPN and Surfshark are both based in the British Virgin Islands. This is a country with no mandatory data-retention laws that’s far from the influence of the 14 Eyes security alliance. Further, neither keeps any logs that could personally identify you. In fact, both VPNs have undergone independent audits to prove this.

It’s possible to sign up for either VPN anonymously by using a throwaway email address and paying with Bitcoin. Surfshark accepts a couple of other popular cryptocurrencies as well.

Customer service

No valueSurfsharkExpressVPN
WebsiteSurfshark.comExpressVPN.com
24/7 live chat
Ticket support
Email support
Average email response time2 hours, 28 minutes49 mins
Searchable knowledge base
Phone support
Video guides
Best deal (per month)$2.30
Get 2 Months FREE with a 2-year plan
$6.67
SAVE: 49% on the annual plan

Both Surfshark and ExpressVPN offer round-the-clock support via email and live chat. There are also large, searchable databases addressing the most common questions. If you’d prefer a video guide, you’ll find these on the official Surfshark and ExpressVPN YouTube channels.

The majority of your questions can likely be answered in seconds over live chat. That said, we wanted to see how responsive staff were if contacted via other methods. This way, we could tell how quickly you should expect a response if the helpdesk became temporarily unavailable or you couldn’t access the company’s website. Below, you’ll find the questions we asked and the results of our testing:

Surfshark
Question Initial response timeNumber of emailsQuestion answered
Can I install this VPN on my Amazon Firestick?3 hours, 24 minutes1Yes
Will I be able to use this VPN in Turkey?3 hours, 34 minutes1Yes
Can I unblock Netflix US with this service?1 hour, 52 minutes1Yes
ExpressVPN
Question Initial response timeNumber of emailsQuestion answered
Can I install this VPN on my Amazon Firestick?2 hours, 7 minutes1Yes
Will I be able to use this VPN in Turkey?7 minutes1Yes
Can I unblock Netflix US with this service?23 minutes1Yes

Both providers responded extremely quickly to email inquiries. In fact, these are some of the fastest average response times we’ve seen. Further, while some of their answers appeared to be pre-written, Surfshark and ExpressVPN both went into great detail explaining how to configure their services for use on an Amazon Firestick. Most importantly, they each encouraged users to contact them again with any other issues they might have.

The winner: Surfshark

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website:  www.Surfshark.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

If there’s one thing we’ve learned during this testing, it’s that these are both high-end VPNs. ExpressVPN boasts impressive speeds and a huge network, while managing to support plenty of popular region-locked services. What’s more, it even works in China! In other words, Whether you’re looking to torrent, stream, or just browse privately, ExpressVPN would be an excellent choice.

That said, we think Surfshark is slightly better, all things considered. For one, it’s more affordable (provided you’re signing up for six months or more). It’s also faster, and able to block ads and trackers automatically. Further, this is one of the few major VPNs that allows you to secure any number of devices at once. Simply, if you’re in the market for a true zero-log VPN that can handle anything you throw at it, Surfshark is the one to go for.

Surfshark Coupon
Get 2 Months FREE with a 2-year plan
Get Deal >
Discount applied automatically

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN: FAQ

Which of these VPNs is best for censorship?

There's little to separate Surfshark and ExpressVPN when it comes to bypassing censorship. Both are excellent in this respect. For example, both are able to navigate the strict censorship restrictions in China. The only difference is that you'll probably need to activate the NoBorders mode (this is quick and easy to do) with Surfshark while ExpressVPN should work without any extra configuration.

Which VPN has the best international server coverage?

There’s very little to separate Surfshark and ExpressVPN when it comes to their international server coverage. Both VPNs have approximately 3,000 servers available. In the case of Surfshark, these servers are located across 100 countries. ExpressVPN’s network covers 94 countries in comparison. For this reason, we’d give the edge to Surfshark. Regardless, both VPNs provide impressive international server coverage with servers in far more countries than most VPNs.

Which provider, Surfshark vs ExpressVPN has the lowest latency?

Surfshark and ExpressVPN are two of the most popular providers in the VPN market today, but it can take time to determine which is better regarding latency. So if you’re looking for a low-latency connection, consider Surfshark.

Recently it upgraded its network to allow access to Wireguard technology, which more than doubled the speed available and reduced latency significantly compared with traditional OpenVPN protocols. This means that Surfshark can provide customers with faster speeds and lower latency.

See also: