ProtonVPN vs Surfshark
A data-driven head-to-head of ProtonVPN and Surfshark for 2026: long-term pricing, privacy, audit history, streaming unblock, and trust signals, so you can pick the right VPN for what you actually do online.
ProtonVPNWinner
Verdict: which is better?
On the data, ProtonVPN comes out ahead overall, but the right pick depends on what you weight most.
- Overall rating
- Countries
- Audited no-logs
- 14 Eyes alliance
- Best long-term price
- Trustpilot
- Free trial
ProtonVPN vs Surfshark: head-to-head
| Feature | ProtonVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Best long-term price | $3.59/mo on the 24-month plan | $2.49/mo on the 24-month plan |
| Overall rating | 4.60 / 5 | 4.30 / 5 |
| Server count | 20000+ | 4500+ |
| Countries | 120 | 100 |
| Streaming unblocks | 5 services | 5 services |
| Audited no-logs | 6 audits | 4 audits |
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland | Netherlands |
| 14 Eyes alliance | No | Yes |
| Trustpilot | 4.1 (9,500) | 4.4 (18,700) |
| Money-back window | 30 days | 30 days |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
Pricing and specs are pulled from our latest data for each provider. Verify current pricing on the provider site before purchase.
ProtonVPN vs Surfshark FAQ
Is ProtonVPN cheaper than Surfshark?
Surfshark is the more affordable option at $2.49/mo on the 24-month plan, compared with $3.59/mo on the 24-month plan for ProtonVPN. Both prices reflect the longest published term; check the monthly rate for short-term signups.
Which is rated higher, ProtonVPN or Surfshark?
ProtonVPN scores higher on our 18-dimension rubric (4.60/5 vs 4.30/5 for Surfshark). The breakdown is in the table above, with weights published on /how-we-rank.
Has ProtonVPN or Surfshark been independently audited?
ProtonVPN has been independently audited 6 times. Surfshark has 4 on record. Audit count and recency are weighted heavily in our privacy scoring.
ProtonVPN vs Surfshark: which should I pick?
Choose ProtonVPN if free vpn and open-source auditing; choose Surfshark if unlimited devices on a tight budget. The head-to-head above covers price, privacy, streaming, and trust signals so you can match the winner to your use case.