You can’t go wrong with NordVPN, Surfshark, or ExpressVPN. Since these providers are very popular, they excel in security, privacy, speed, compatibility, and almost every other aspect. However, while they may seem similar on paper, they differ in practice.
In particular, their differences are reflected in prices and various VPN features that some offer and some do not. This NordVPN vs. Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN comparison will tell you everything you should know about all three and rank them from best to worst.
Let’s dive right in.
NordVPN vs Surfshark vs ExpressVPN Overview
| NordVPN | Surfshark | ExpressVPN | |
| Our Ranking 🎖️ | #1 | #5 | #2 |
| Starting Price 💰 | $3.09/mo | $2.19/mo | $4.99/mo |
| Money-back Guarantee 💯 | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| No-Log Policy 🥸 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Jurisdiction 🌎 | Panama | Netherlands | British Virgin Islands |
| Protocols ⚙️ | OpenVPN, NordLynx, IKEv2, NordWhisper | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 | Lightway Turbo, OpenVPN |
| Virus/Malware Protection 🦠 | Yes | Yes | No |
| Ad-Blocking ❌ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Servers and Countries 📍 | 7,400 servers in 118 countries | 3,200 servers in 100 countries | 3,000 servers in 105 countries |
| Working with Netflix ✅ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connections 🖥️ | 10 | Unlimited | 8 |
| Support ☎️ | Email, live chat | Email, live chat | Email, live chat |
Price Comparison: Surfshark vs NordVPN vs ExpressVPN
How much is a VPN on average? You could say the price is about a few monthly quids — about $2 to $7 a month. Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN have vastly different pricing plans, which we analyzed below.
Surfshark
Surfshark has 24-month, 12-month, and 1-month plans, but the best savings are made with the first option. The Starter plan at $2.19/mo sounds incredibly attractive because this plan, as well as the others, gives you 3 free months on top. The Surfshark One plan is also great.
Besides, we think it’s Surfshark’s magnum opus at $2.69/mo, with the inclusion of an antivirus and more security features. Its annual plans start at $3.19/mo for Starter and at $3.39/mo for Surfshark One. We won’t discuss monthly plans because they’re very rarely bought.
So, to get the most out of this VPN, the Surfshark One plan at $2.69/mo is the pick of the litter.
Get the Best Price on Surfshark
NordVPN
NordVPN has a similar pricing structure — identical, to be precise. However, its 2-year Basic plan starts at $3.09/mo, with 3 free months, based on the current promotion. Either way, you’ll spend at least $80 for the first 2 years, whilst Surfshark costs as little as $60 or so.
What about its annual plans? NordVPN costs close to $5/mo in this regard, and the price can skyrocket to $7/mo and more. NordVPN’s Plus plan is always the best price-to-performance option, as it includes Threat Protection Pro, which can also block ads, malware, and trackers.
So again, to squeeze the most out of NordVPN, the Plus plan at $3.99/mo is our go-to option.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has a slightly less convoluted plan structure, and we appreciate that. Coming from Surfshark and NordVPN, you’ll be surprised to see three plans, but the 2-year one with 4 free months and 61% off yields the most savings. It’s $4.99/mo, so it’s the costliest out of all three.
ExpressVPN also has the annual plan at 48% off and 3 free months at $6.67/mo. The good news is the no-tier approach, which means every plan gets the same features. Thus, whichever one you choose, you can be sure you’re getting ExpressVPN’s best version.
Still, at a minimal price of $4.99/mo, ExpressVPN costs a lot more than the other two VPNs.
Get the Best Price on ExpressVPN
Which VPN Is the Most Affordable?
During our ExpressVPN vs NordVPN vs Surfshark comparison, we found that Surfshark is the most affordable VPN. At just around $2.7/mo for the Surfshark One plan, you get all-around privacy protection and antivirus to fully anonymize your online activities on all devices.
Compatible Platforms & User Experience
In this Surfshark vs ExpressVPN vs NordVPN three-way comparison, we explored their compatibility. Ultimately, we found they work on all platforms under the Sun. There’s no point in listing them because there’s full coverage of ALL desktop and mobile systems.
Streaming devices are also supported, and these are some of the greatest Apple TV VPNs. They also work on Fire TV, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, etc. Router support is extraordinary, as all three VPNs offer in-depth guides on how to use their services on a myriad of router models.
We also love that all three offer Smart DNS, allowing for streaming on non-compatible devices with a simple setup. Non-compatible devices are, for example, the 1st generation of Fire TV or a TV with an operating system different than Android (Tizen, webOS, etc).
Before we discuss their ease of use, let’s explore their simultaneous connections:
- Surfshark offers unlimited
- NordVPN offers ten
- ExpressVPN offers eight — it’s the weakest of the bunch.
Ease of Use
However, ExpressVPN is the strongest in ease of use, thanks to its minimalistic yet sleek apps. They look the same across all devices. Rest assured, ExpressVPN is snappy and responsive, with connection times that rarely exceed two seconds.
NordVPN’s majestic world map gives the feeling of luxury. Its interface is permeated by high-tech-looking buttons and features, making it look like it came from the year 2050. NordVPN is equally snappy but slightly more complicated to use than ExpressVPN.
Surfshark’s updated app is no less pretty — it’s a sight for sore eyes, plus, it’s extremely easy to get around. Surfshark takes longer to connect occasionally, but that’s infrequent. Its mobile apps are on the same level, on top of which, they don’t skimp on security features.
Which VPN Wins?
We’ve discovered a bunch of differences between the three, so the ranking goes like this:
- NordVPN — the best-looking multi-device VPN with a slightly complicated interface
- ExpressVPN — the easiest-to-use VPN, but with only 8 simultaneous connections per account
- Surfshark — unlimited simultaneous connections, but with occasionally longer connection times
Security & Privacy
To be clear, we use NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN daily, so this comparison is our first-hand experience. Well, that exact experience tells us that neither of the VPNs has IP and DNS leaks, which we’re happy to confirm. Now, let’s discuss their security features and see what’s on the table.
We’ll start with what all of them have — pay attention:
- 256-bit bank-grade encryption
- Automatic kill switch
- Ad-blocking + tracker protection
- Split tunneling
- Advanced security protocols
- VPN obfuscation technology
- Passive security, i.e., RAM servers, Perfect Forward Secrecy, Private DNS, etc.
- Audited zero-logs policy
The feature list is pretty impressive, but instead of being impressive on paper, it’s even more pleasing in practice. We want to reflect on their advanced protocols because each VPN has its unique “vision” of what advanced protocols are, so we have:
- NordLynx and NordWhisper in NordVPN
- Lightway Turbo in ExpressVPN
- WireGuard in Surfshark
NordLynx and WireGuard are similar, but NordLynx is superior because of its double NAT system, which prevents the storage of the user’s IP address on the server, thus improving their anonymity. We explained how NordLynx works in this article, so read it if you’re interested.
NordVPN also offers NordWhisper, which overcomes network filtering and is the newest addition to the roster. ExpressVPN’s Lightway is lightweight and fast. The protocol has been audited and improved with the “Turbo” version, which speeds up the VPN additionally.
How Are They Different?
Apart from different “advanced” protocols, the three providers have some unique features.
In Surfshark, you’ll find:
- Antivirus, which works on all devices for virus and malware removal.
- Alert, a Dark Web Monitor for data breach alerts
- Search, an incognito-like browser with no tracking
- Incogni data removal in the most expensive Surfshark One+ plan
- Dynamic Multi-Hop
- Periodical IP rotation for more privacy
- Alternative ID
NordVPN offers:
- Double VPN servers
- Dark Web Monitor
- Threat Protection Pro for malware and ad blocking
- Meshnet for remote access/file sharing/IP routing (find out more about it here)
- NordProtect for data removal and ID theft insurance
- Onion Over VPN servers
- Optional NordPass and NordLocker (password manager and encrypted cloud storage)
Finally, ExpressVPN offers:
- Threat Manager (ad-blocking and Parental Control)
- ExpressVPN Keys (password manager)
- ID Alerts (Dark Web Monitor)
- ID Theft Insurance
- Data Removal
We can see they’re stacked up pretty well, but NordVPN and Surfshark have a slight advantage because they offer full-on virus/malware protection, MultiHop connections, and more.
Do They Store Logs?
No, they don’t, and that’s apparent because they have audited no-logging policies.
It would be pointless to analyze each privacy policy because people smarter than us have already done that. ExpressVPN has multiple audits from KPMG, Cure53, and PwC. NordVPN’s auditors were PwC and Deloitte, and Surfshark worked with Cure53 and Deloitte.
If you’re interested, feel free to read NordVPN’s, ExpressVPN’s, and Surfshark’s privacy policies individually — you’ll have a great time. We’ll just land the plane by mentioning their jurisdictions:
- Surfshark is from the Netherlands
- ExpressVPN is from the British Virgin Islands
- NordVPN is from Panama
All three have favorable privacy laws that grease up these VPNs’ privacy-focused business models.
Which VPN Is the Most Secure?
There’s no clear-cut winner if we’re discussing their security and privacy.
However, NordVPN and Surfshark have an edge over ExpressVPN because of more unique security features, such as Double VPN connections and advanced virus/malware protection. Even without them, ExpressVPN is perfectly safe, so there’s no reason not to give it a shot.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN vs Surfshark Speed Test Results
It’s time to see which VPN is the fastest — we already tested them multiple times, so now, there’s only our report left. Before we proceed, let’s determine our baseline. Our native internet speed without a VPN (we were in Eastern Europe during testing) is displayed below:
Now that we have established our starting point, let’s explain our testing procedure. It’s pretty simple. Each VPN is tested across 4 server locations: the UK, the USA, Japan, and Australia. We tested each VPN for 3 days, 3 times a day, so there was a lot of assessment.
For this NordVPN vs ExpressVPN vs Surfshark comparison, we took their best results, which are displayed in the table below:
| UK DL/UL Speed | US DL/UL Speed | Japan DL/UL Speed | Australia DL/UL Speed | |
| NordVPN | 109.96/11.77 Mbps | 84.13/12.06 Mbps | 72.69/6.96 Mbps | 61.89/12.18 Mbps |
| ExpressVPN | 110.68/12.02 Mbps | 84.71/12.02 Mbps | 73.45/11.98 Mbps | 65.28/11.60 Mbps |
| Surfshark | 90.68/10.46 Mbps | 78.10/12.03 Mbps | 61.06/5.97 Mbps | 63.77/8.51 Mbps |
Before we conclude, let’s also check their latencies across all four server locations:
| UK Latency | US Latency | Japan Latency | Australia Latency | |
| NordVPN | 42 ms | 122 ms | 263 ms | 331 ms |
| ExpressVPN | 41 ms | 118 ms | 256 ms | 231 ms |
| Surfshark | 44 ms | 118 ms | 257 ms | 330 ms |
Which VPN Is the Fastest?
NordVPN and ExpressVPN are almost on par, with Surfshark being considerably slower in all scenarios. We noticed that ExpressVPN has the lowest latency overall, with NordVPN chiming in at a close second.
If you want the best performance, it’s a tie between NordVPN and ExpressVPN — you can’t go wrong with either. We expected Surfshark to finish last because we also noticed its average performance in our full Surfshark review.
Which VPN Is Best for Streaming?
All three VPNs are some of the top performers in this aspect. If you often watch Netflix, you’ll be able to unblock at least 20 libraries with all three VPNs. These libraries include but aren’t limited to:
- USA
- UK
- Canada
- Japan
- Turkey
- Spain
- Italy
- Germany, etc…
All three VPNs have streaming optimization on all servers, so there are no “dedicated” ones for this purpose. If one server isn’t working, simply pick the other and go on. One of the best things about all three VPNs is that they all have VPN browser extensions.
In particular, they offer location spoofing, which aids website unblocking and eases access to popular streaming services. Once enabled, you can enjoy more hard-to-unblock services without hassle. These VPNs are also great for BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV, Max, and others.
On top of that, some streaming “goodies” are added, such as Smart DNS, which all three providers offer. However, Smart DNS addresses are limited to the USA, so the feature is useful only for US-based services. The streaming experience was consistent in all three.
Thanks to their stable performance, we watched 4K content, streamed a couple of sports matches on some free channels, and never had problems with buffering.
All Three Are Fantastic!
Drawing from our experience with Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN, all three perform very reliably. We had zero unexpected VPN detections by streaming services, which was especially important on Netflix, where all three providers shone in our tests.
Regardless of which one you choose, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark, the streaming part of the experience won’t suffer.
Torrenting
Torrenting is a rather boring comparison because again, we see nearly the same results from the previous round. NordVPN should have an edge because of P2P-specific servers, but to be frank, they don’t seem to do much in terms of performance, security, privacy, and so on.
However, NordVPN also includes the SOCKS5 proxy, which speeds up torrent downloads!
ExpressVPN and Surfshark don’t have this feature, nor do they offer dedicated P2P servers. However, during our assessment, we noticed no difference between the three. When using nearby servers, in our case those in Europe, the speeds were identical, and thus the download times.
More distant servers “tanked” Surfshark’s speed a bit, while NordVPN and ExpressVPN remained more consistent. However, when torrenting, you’ll rarely, if ever, use a server on another continent — why would you?
Which VPN Is Best for P2P?
As a whole, we’d say the playing field is equal. If we had to be nitpicky, we’d give advantage to NordVPN just because it offers dedicated torrenting servers and SOCKS5, which can be set up within the torrent client for better speeds.
But again, whichever option you desire will be second to none for torrenting and P2P file-sharing.
Server Locations: Which VPN Offers the Most?
A large server fleet is a telltale sign of a substantial VPN company, which invests a lot in its infrastructure. Think about this — how many VPNs have gigantic server fleets? Maybe 5 or 6? Well, all three belong to this revered group, but NordVPN comes out on top as the best.
| NordVPN | ExpressVPN | Surfshark | |
| Server Count | 7,400+ | 3,000+ | 3,200+ |
| Number of Countries | 118 | 105 | 100 |
| Specialty Servers | P2P, Onion Over VPN, Obfuscated, Dedicated IP, Double VPN | Dedicated IP | Dedicated IP, Static IP |
| RAM-Based Servers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
All three offer at least 100 countries, but NordVPN wins with 118 and over 7,400 servers across the board. Its server fleet is also the most diverse, and it offers the largest number of dedicated IP addresses, making it a great VPN for those who need them.
It’s good to know that not all servers are physical, so all three are permeated by virtual servers to cover less convenient locations. For example, their Indian servers aren’t physically in India because of its data-retention laws, so the problem is solved with a few virtual ones.
NordVPN Has the Most Servers
If you need a large and diverse, and growing server network, choose NordVPN over ExpressVPN and Surfshark. You’ll enjoy more servers and countries, with a vast selection of dedicated IP addresses at affordable prices.
Customer Support
Premium VPNs usually offer better support than free VPNs. Understandably. No one loves to work for free! Interestingly, but expectedly, all three providers have diligent support teams we can only praise.
There are two means of contact:
- 24/7 support
Both means are incredibly fast, so even if you send an email, the response will usually arrive in 15-30 minutes. 24/7 support is instantaneous in all of them, so after you get in touch, the support team agent will pick you up in less than a minute and start tackling your problem.
These VPNs also rely on FAQs and guides on the site, which are plentiful. In most cases, you’ll be able to find the solution on your own without getting in touch. But if you’re in trouble knee-deep, it’s good to have renowned support teams on your side.
Which VPN Wins?
Neither. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark come with timely customer support that makes using them far easier. With email and 24/7 support available at any moment, you can rest assured that even the most complex issues will be resolved within minutes.
Conclusion: Which One Is Best in 2025?
So, after an extensive Surfshark vs ExpressVPN vs NordVPN testing, we give the title of the winner to NordVPN.
Beware that this isn’t a flawless victory because ExpressVPN and Surfshark were breathing down its neck the whole time. While Surfshark is cheaper, ExpressVPN is simpler to use than NordVPN. However, as a whole package, NordVPN brings the most to the table in 2025.
It’s affordable, reliable, great for streaming, and faster than both of its rivals. Not to mention, it has a gargantuan server network with specialty servers in hundreds of countries. If you shoot for the stars and only want the best, you should pick NordVPN over the other two.
The next-best pick is ExpressVPN, which, while pricier, offers plenty to justify the final cost.
Surfshark is the least impressive option, but still a great one for those on a budget. It’s slightly slower and has occasional connection problems, which sort of “strips” that flagship feeling a bit.
