Proton VPN vs Surfshark: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Proton VPN and Surfshark are two large commercial VPNs with apps for most phones, computers and TVs. Proton VPN is made by Proton AG, a Swiss company that also runs an email service. Surfshark is the one that says it merged under a holding company with Nord Security, the maker of NordVPN. This page sets the two side by side on price, privacy, apps and features, using the figures each provider publishes and the incident records about each. Speed and streaming results come from other sites’ tests and are listed with their source, so this page names no winner for those.
How do Proton VPN and Surfshark compare?
| Compared on | Proton VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Lowest intro price | $2.99/moVPN Plus, 1 year · $35.88 for the first termprotonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-13 | $2.49/moStarter, 27 months · $67.23 for the first termsurfshark.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-13 |
| Then renews at | $83.88 a yearprotonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-13 | —renewal price not published |
| Network | ||
| Servers | 22,116protonvpn.com/vpn-servers · checked 2026-11-13More servers | 4,500+surfshark.com/servers · checked 2026-11-13 |
| Countries | 149protonvpn.com/vpn-servers · checked 2026-11-13More countries | 100surfshark.com/servers · checked 2026-11-13 |
| Plan | ||
| Devices per plan | 10 (VPN Plus)protonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-13 | Unlimitedsurfshark.com/features/multiple-devices · checked 2026-11-13 |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 daysprotonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-13 | 30 dayssurfshark.com/features/multiple-devices · checked 2026-11-13 |
| Free plan | Yes (1 device, servers in 10 countries)protonvpn.com · checked 2026-11-08 | No permanent free plan. A 7-day free trial that needs an email address and a payment method (credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay), is offered on the 12-month and 24-month plans only, covers up to 3 devices, and turns into the chosen paid plan automatically when it endssurfshark.com/vpn-free-trial · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Privacy | ||
| Jurisdiction | Switzerlandprotonvpn.com · checked 2026-11-08 | Netherlandssurfshark.com/features/no-logs · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Owner | Proton AG (Switzerland). Proton says its primary shareholder is the Proton Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit; employees own most of the other shares, with the rest held by the nonprofit FONGIT and by Proton usersprotonvpn.com/support/who-owns-protonvpn · checked 2026-11-13 | Surfshark, founded in 2018 by Vytautas Kaziukonis. Surfshark says that in 2022 it and Nord Security "merged under one holding company" and that the two operate independentlysurfshark.com/about-us · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Logging policy | Says it keeps no session usage logs and logs no websites visited, traffic or its content, IP address, session lengths or location information; data needed for maintenance and troubleshooting is stored on full-disk-encrypted bare-metal servers; account information is kept as described in its privacy policyprotonvpn.com/support/no-logs-vpn · checked 2026-11-13 | Says it does not log IP addresses, browsing history, session information, traffic or connection timestamps; keeps your email address, encrypted password, billing information and order history, and the minimal connection data needed to keep the service running and fix performance problemssurfshark.com/features/no-logs · surfshark.com/trust-center · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Latest audit | 2026Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure; Proton quotes the report as finding no technical evidence that the examined servers log browsing activity, DNS queries, destination services, traffic contents or user-identifiable connection metadataprotonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · checked 2026-11-13 | 2026Cure53 · infrastructure and the Dausos protocol (public summary)surfshark.com/media/NOR-29-summary.pdf · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Features | ||
| Protocols | Smart Protocol, Stealth and WireGuard (UDP and TCP) on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS; OpenVPN only in the Linux app with a window; IKEv2 only on macOSprotonvpn.com/support/how-to-change-vpn-pr… · checked 2026-11-12 | Automatic (default, usually picks WireGuard), WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 (removed from the Windows app; manual setup through the system settings), Dausos (Surfshark's own protocol, macOS app only for now)surfshark.com/features/surfshark-vpn-proto… · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Kill switch | Windows, macOS, Linux (app with a window and command line), iOS/iPadOS and Android (through Android's own setting); the advanced kill switch, which blocks traffic whenever the VPN is off, is on Windows, the Linux app with a window and iOS/iPadOS (beta)protonvpn.com/support/what-is-kill-switch · checked 2026-11-12 | Yes, on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux (Snap and .deb packages; not the Flatpak package). Not in the Fire TV app for Vega OS, where Surfshark lists it as coming soon without a datesupport.surfshark.com/hc/en-us/articles/10… · surfshark.com/download/linux · surfshark.com/download/vega-os · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Split tunneling | Paid plans only: Windows, macOS (experimental, apps only), the Linux app with a window, Android, Android TV and the browser extensionsprotonvpn.com/support/protonvpn-split-tunn… · checked 2026-11-12 | Bypasser on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS (on iOS it can exclude websites, not apps); the reverse mode, where only the chosen apps use the VPN, is on Android only; the browser extensions can exclude websites only; the split tunneling page does not list Linuxsurfshark.com/features/split-tunneling · checked 2026-11-09 |
| RAM-only servers | No. Proton says it does not use RAM-only servers (its blog post is titled "Why Proton VPN doesn’t use RAM-only VPN servers"); it says it secures all its server disks with full-disk encryption (LUKS, AES-256), with the encryption keys stored off-site, and that seizing a powered-off server yields no more information than seizing a RAM-only oneprotonvpn.com/blog/ram-only-servers · checked 2026-11-13 | Yes. Surfshark says it runs 100% RAM-only servers and that all data is wiped when a server restartssurfshark.com/trust-center · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Apps | Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iPhone and iPad, Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV; extensions for Chrome and Firefoxprotonvpn.com/download · checked 2026-11-12 | Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Fire TV (separate apps for Fire OS and Vega OS, both in the Amazon Appstore), Apple TV and Android TV; extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge; other devices through manual router setupsurfshark.com/download · surfshark.com/download/vega-os · checked 2026-11-09 |
| Visit Proton VPN (opens in a new tab) | Visit Surfshark (opens in a new tab) | |
A badge appears only where two figures can be compared like for like. Where a figure carries a condition, such as a device limit that applies to one named plan, or where the two sides are not the same kind of value, such as a numeric device limit against unlimited devices, the row is shown side by side without a badge. The privacy and feature rows are never marked; the sections below explain how they differ.
Which is cheaper, Proton VPN or Surfshark?
We do not name a cheaper one here. Each price table below shows only the offers an editor has checked on a US connection, and the cheapest plan of each provider runs for a different term length, so the intro prices do not line up. Read the line under each table, because Surfshark’s lowest price is sold as a promotion.
What does Proton VPN cost?
| Plan | First term | Per month | First term total | Then renews at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPN Plus | 2 years | $3.49 | $83.76 | $83.88 a year |
| Proton Unlimited | 2 years | $7.99 | $191.76 | $119.88 a year |
| VPN Plus | 1 year | $2.99 | $35.88 | $83.88 a year |
| Proton Unlimited | 1 year | $6.49 | $77.88 | $119.88 a year |
US prices; prices and currencies vary by country.
What does Surfshark cost?
| Plan | First term | Per month | First term total | Then renews at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 27 months | $2.49 | $67.23 | — |
| One | 27 months | $2.491 | $67.23 | — |
| One+ | 27 months | $3.99 | $107.73 | — |
US prices; prices and currencies vary by country.
Proton VPN’s table shows a renewal price beside the intro price, which is what you pay if you stay past the first term. Surfshark’s pricing page does not show a renewal price for its plans, and where it does not, the table says so; so the two renewal costs cannot be set side by side. Proton also sells a higher plan, Proton Unlimited, which is listed in its table; compare the plan you would actually buy. Both providers list a money-back period, shown in the comparison table.
Which is better for privacy, Proton VPN or Surfshark?
Who owns Proton VPN and Surfshark?
Proton VPN is run by Proton AG in Switzerland. Proton says its primary shareholder is the Proton Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit, that employees own most of the other shares, and that the rest are held by the nonprofit FONGIT and by Proton users.
Surfshark was founded in 2018 by Vytautas Kaziukonis. Surfshark says that in 2022 it and Nord Security “merged under one holding company” and that the two operate independently. Surfshark does not describe Nord Security as its parent company. A reader who wants a VPN with no link to another large VPN brand should weigh it.
Where are they based?
Proton VPN’s jurisdiction is Switzerland and Surfshark’s is the Netherlands. We describe where each is based and do not rank the two. A country’s law decides what an authority can demand from a company and how, and it does not change what a provider says it logs.
What do they say about logs?
Proton says it keeps no session usage logs and logs no websites visited, traffic or its content, IP address, session lengths or location information. It says data needed for maintenance and troubleshooting is stored on full-disk-encrypted bare-metal servers, and that account information is kept as described in its privacy policy.
Surfshark says it does not log your IP address, browsing history, session information, traffic or connection timestamps. It says it does keep your email address, your encrypted password, your billing information and order history, and the small amount of connection data it needs to keep the service running and fix performance problems.
Both are the providers’ own statements. The audits below are the independent check on them.
What do the audits cover?
- 2026Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure; Proton quotes the report as finding no technical evidence that the examined servers log browsing activity, DNS queries, destination services, traffic contents or user-identifiable connection metadataprotonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · drive.proton.me/urls/DZVEJZFYHM · checked 2026-11-13
- 2025Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure (configuration files, operating procedures, staff interviews)protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · drive.proton.me/urls/NA0V1AX7QR · checked 2026-11-13
- 2025Ruben Santamarta (independent security researcher) · apps: security assessment of the Proton VPN clients, namely macOS and iOS 6.4.1, Android 5.12.80.0, Linux 4.11.0, Windows 4.3.1 and the browser extension 1.2.9protonvpn.com/blog/open-source · drive.proton.me/urls/7VB8XDCPA0 · checked 2026-11-13
- 2024Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure (configuration files, operating procedures, staff interviews)protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · drive.proton.me/urls/ED8G4GC5MG · checked 2026-11-13
- 2023Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure (configuration files, operating procedures, staff interviews)protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · drive.proton.me/urls/TEGZZ53M28 · checked 2026-11-13
- 2022Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure (configuration files, operating procedures, staff interviews)protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · drive.proton.me/urls/521N34GHTM · checked 2026-11-13
- 2026Cure53 · infrastructure and the Dausos protocol (public summary)surfshark.com/media/NOR-29-summary.pdf · checked 2026-11-09
- 2025Deloitte Lietuva · no-logs policy: ISAE 3000 (Revised) reasonable assurance, assessed as of 10 June 2025 (fieldwork 14 May to 10 June 2025). In scope: VPN servers (standard, static IP, MultiHop and multi-port), server configuration, the related APIs and the software-defined network. Out of scope: streaming infrastructure, captcha, most web and API services, and physical securitysurfshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/I… · checked 2026-11-09
- 2025SecuRing · infrastructure penetration test. Surfshark says it found no critical or high-severity issues; one server SSL/TLS configuration issue and one best-practice recommendation, both since addressedsurfshark.com/blog/surfshark-securing-infr… · surfshark.com/media/SurfShark-Infrastructu… · checked 2026-11-09
- 2025SecuRing · security assessment of the web, desktop and mobile apps and the browser extensions (attestation letter)surfshark.com/media/attestation_letter_202… · checked 2026-11-09
- 2023Deloitte · no-logs policy (ISAE 3000)surfshark.com/trust-center · checked 2026-11-09
- 2021Cure53 · infrastructure (public summary)surfshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/S… · checked 2026-11-09
- 2018Cure53 · browser extensions (penetration test report)cure53.de/pentest-report_surfshark.pdf · checked 2026-11-09
The two lists are different kinds of work. Proton’s list is a yearly no-logs audit of its VPN server infrastructure by one firm, Securitum, and Proton publishes the full reports. Surfshark’s list has two Deloitte no-logs assurances, of which the newest report is public and states its scope, together with security tests of its infrastructure and apps by SecuRing and Cure53. A no-logs audit checks how a service was set up while the auditor looked, and a security test looks for flaws in the software; neither proves what happens between audits.
Has either had a security incident?
- 2021Proton Mail, not Proton VPN: in September 2021 it came out that Proton Mail had logged the IP address of a French climate activist's account after a legally binding order from Swiss authorities that French police had requested through Europol; coverage says the activist was reportedly arrested afterwards. Proton said the order came from the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and could not be appealed, that it does not collect IP addresses by default but only on a legal order for a specific account, and that the order did not ask for message content, which it says it cannot provide. Proton's CEO also said Swiss authorities cannot use the same kind of order to force Proton to log its VPN.therecord.media/protonmail-forced-to-colle… · cyberscoop.com/protonmail-swiss-court-ip-f… · proton.me/blog/climate-activist-arrest · checked 2026-11-13
- 2026According to Surfshark's incident report of 9 September 2026, an internal test server was reachable from the public internet because of a human configuration error, and an unauthorized third party accessed it. That party reached some internal engineering material (some system binaries and the internal configuration of certain services) and some internal build credentials that had been committed to code history, and got into an isolated server (a VPS) used as a proxy. Surfshark found signs of this on 31 August, classed it as a security incident on 2 September and contained it the same day. Surfshark says user data and the VPN service were not affected, that production credentials are stored separately and were not affected, that its apps and extensions were not tampered with, and that the credentials involved have been rotated or disabled. The investigation was carried out by the company itself. Surfshark says it will commission another independent security audit; we had seen no result as of 9 November 2026.surfshark.com/blog/security-update-septemb… · checked 2026-11-09
Proton, 2021. This one concerns Proton Mail, the company’s email service, not Proton VPN. In 2021 it came out that Proton Mail had recorded the IP address of one account after a legally binding order from Swiss authorities, requested through Europol by French police. Proton says it does not collect IP addresses by default but only on a legal order for a specific account, and that the order did not ask for message content.
Surfshark, 2026. According to Surfshark’s own incident report, an internal test server could be reached from the public internet because of a configuration mistake, and an outsider got in. That person reached some internal engineering material, some build credentials that had been left in code history, and a separate server used as a proxy. Surfshark saw the first signs on the last day of August, classed the matter as a security incident two days later, and says it contained it the same day.
Surfshark says user data and the VPN service were not affected, that production credentials are stored separately and were not touched, that its apps and extensions were not tampered with, and that the credentials involved have been rotated or disabled. Those statements are Surfshark’s own. The investigation was carried out inside the company, and no outside firm has yet confirmed its findings. Surfshark says it will commission another independent security audit; when we last checked, no result had been published.
How do the apps and features compare?
Both have apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, and for Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV. Proton also lists a Chromebook app, while Surfshark’s list names browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge against Proton’s Chrome and Firefox. Surfshark’s Fire TV support is split into separate apps for Fire OS and Vega OS.
Does either have a free plan?
Proton VPN has a permanent free plan. The comparison table shows its limits on devices and server countries, and the free plan is narrower than the paid one. Surfshark has no permanent free plan. Its own page describes a free trial instead, offered on its longer plans only, which needs an email address and a payment method and turns into the chosen paid plan automatically when it ends. If you want to try a VPN without handing over payment details, only Proton offers that.
How many devices can you use?
Proton’s device limit is listed against its VPN Plus plan, and the comparison table shows it. Surfshark lists no limit on devices. That is the clearest practical gap for a household that connects many phones, laptops and TVs at once.
What about kill switch, split tunneling and protocols?
Both apps include a kill switch, which blocks your connection if the VPN drops so your real IP address is not exposed while it reconnects. Proton has it on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, and adds an advanced kill switch, which blocks traffic whenever the VPN is off, on Windows, in the Linux app with a window and on iOS (in beta). Surfshark has one on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux, except in the Linux Flatpak package, and not in its Fire TV app for Vega OS.
Split tunneling, which lets some apps skip the VPN, is on Proton’s paid plans only: Windows, macOS (experimental, apps only), the Linux app with a window, Android, Android TV and the browser extensions. Surfshark calls it Bypasser and lists it for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS; on iOS it can exclude websites but not apps.
The protocols differ. Proton’s apps use its Smart Protocol, Stealth and WireGuard, OpenVPN is only in the Linux app with a window, and IKEv2 is only on macOS. Surfshark’s apps choose a protocol automatically, which Surfshark says is usually WireGuard, and you can also pick WireGuard or OpenVPN. It has removed IKEv2 from its Windows app, and its own newer protocol, Dausos, is for now in the macOS app only.
Which is faster, and which works with streaming services?
We name no winner for speed or streaming on this page. Test results come from other sites and differ by date, place and server, so they are listed with their source instead of being ranked. Our own spot checks are below, where we have one.
| Our spot check | Proton VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming playback on a US server | No spot check yet | No spot check yet |
A spot check is our own: run in the US on a US server, five minutes of continuous playback to pass, with no fixed schedule. Results for other countries come from other sites' published tests.
What have other testers found?
These are other sites' tests, not ours. Each one is credited and linked, and nothing is merged or averaged.
8 sites · 37 results
| Source | Latest | What they tested |
|---|---|---|
| CyberInsider (opens in a new tab) | Nov 2026updated | speedleaks |
| Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Nov 2026updated | streamingspeed |
| Tom's Guide (opens in a new tab) | Oct 2026updated | torrenting |
| CNET (opens in a new tab) | Oct 2026updated | speedleaks |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Oct 2026updated | streamingleaks |
| Security.org (opens in a new tab) | Sep 2026updated | torrenting |
| Comparitech (opens in a new tab) | Aug 2026updated | streaming |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Jun 2026updated | streaming |
See all 37 results from 8 sitesHide the 37 individual results
Streaming · In the US
Safelyo
Netflix US played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan was blocked
Top10VPN
The US Netflix library opened
Comparitech
In Comparitech's own Netflix benchmark, which measures how often the US library opens, the US catalog loaded on 62.96% of 27 measurements
vpnMentor
They could stream Netflix in the US; the free version also reached Netflix but with long load times
Safelyo
Hulu US played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan was blocked
Top10VPN
Hulu US worked
vpnMentor
Hulu worked
Safelyo
Prime Video US played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan was blocked
Top10VPN
Prime Video US worked
Safelyo
HBO Max US played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan was blocked
Top10VPN
HBO Max US worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not
Streaming · In the UK
Safelyo
Netflix UK played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan has no UK servers
Top10VPN
Netflix UK worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not
vpnMentor
Netflix UK streamed, best on the optimized servers
Safelyo
Disney+ UK played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan has no UK servers
Top10VPN
Disney+ UK worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not
Safelyo
BBC iPlayer played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan has no UK servers
Top10VPN
BBC iPlayer worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not
vpnMentor
BBC iPlayer worked on the dedicated servers; not available on the free plan
Safelyo
ITVX played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan has no UK servers
Top10VPN
ITVX worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not
Streaming · In Canada
Top10VPN
The Canadian Netflix library was among the ten that opened
Top10VPN
DAZN Canada worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not
Streaming · In Australia
Top10VPN
The Australian Netflix library was among the ten that opened
Streaming · country not stated by the source
Top10VPN
The US library and nine others opened, the UK, Canada, Australia and Japan among them
vpnMentor
Netflix also streamed in the UK, France and Japan, best on the optimized servers
vpnMentor
Amazon Prime Video worked
vpnMentor
Disney+ worked
vpnMentor
Max worked
Speed
CyberInsider
On a 1 Gbps connection in the US, Proton VPN reached 698 Mbps on WireGuard
Safelyo
On WireGuard, an average of 335.45 Mbps download across 5 server locations, keeping 37.9% of an 884.36 Mbps no-VPN baseline measured from Vietnam; the US Seattle server gave 370.13 Mbps, or 41.9%, while Australia was an outlier at 25.21 Mbps, or 2.9%
CNET
An average 40.8% download speed loss in their 2026 testing, but only 11.9% on Windows over a 1 Gbps Google Fiber line while macOS speeds were roughly halved
Torrenting
Tom's Guide
P2P sharing is available everywhere except Cyprus, Myanmar and North Macedonia, and port forwarding works on Mac but not on iOS
Security.org
Enabling port forwarding raised their torrent download speed by up to 15%, and they found P2P allowed on most servers with port forwarding supported
Leaks and kill switch
CyberInsider
The reviewer's tests found no IP or DNS leaks with Proton VPN connected to an arbitrary server, and the kill switch stress test confirmed that it blocks internet traffic when the connection is interrupted
CNET
No leaks were detected in their 2026 testing
Top10VPN
Proton VPN passed the reviewer's checks for IP, DNS and WebRTC leaks on every platform they tested
These are other sites' tests, not ours. Each one is credited and linked, and nothing is merged or averaged.
2 sites · 19 results
| Source | Latest | What they tested |
|---|---|---|
| Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Oct 2026updated | streamingspeedtorrentingleaks |
| All About Cookies (opens in a new tab) | Oct 2026tested | streamingspeedleaks |
See all 19 results from 2 sitesHide the 19 individual results
Streaming · In the US
Safelyo
Netflix US played in 4K with no buffering on WireGuard
All About Cookies
The US Netflix library worked
Safelyo
Hulu US opened on the first attempt
Safelyo
Prime Video US worked on the first attempt
Safelyo
Disney+ US loaded on the first try
Safelyo
Max US connected the first time with no proxy errors
Streaming · In the UK
Safelyo
Netflix UK played in 4K with no buffering on WireGuard
All About Cookies
The UK Netflix library worked
Safelyo
BBC iPlayer was unlocked on the first attempt
Safelyo
ITVX was unlocked on the first attempt
Safelyo
Channel 4 was unlocked on the first attempt
Streaming · In Canada
All About Cookies
The Canadian Netflix library worked
Streaming · In Australia
All About Cookies
The Australian Netflix library worked
Streaming · country not stated by the source
Safelyo
28 of the 40 Netflix libraries they tested worked; the 12 blocked ones include Colombia, the UAE, Ireland and Ukraine
Speed
Safelyo
On WireGuard, an average of 420.47 Mbps download across 5 server locations, keeping 47.2% of an 890.15 Mbps no-VPN baseline measured from Vietnam; the US Seattle server gave 372.46 Mbps, or 41.8%, and the Australian server came last at 356.24 Mbps, or 40.0%
All About Cookies
From a baseline download speed of about 316 Mbps on Windows 11 in the US, download speed dropped by 4.43% on a US server (Dallas), 8.12% on a Canadian server, and 17.62% each on UK and Australian servers; upload speed dropped more, by 24% to 84%. The protocol is not stated
Torrenting
Safelyo
A 1.08 GB Ubuntu torrent took 2 minutes 12 seconds, against 1 minute 38 seconds without the VPN; in their torrent IP check peers saw only the VPN address, and the kill switch stopped torrent traffic when the VPN dropped. Port forwarding and a SOCKS5 proxy are not offered
Leaks and kill switch
Safelyo
No DNS, IPv6 or WebRTC leaks on servers in several regions, checked on ipleak.net and dnsleaktest.com; the kill switch cut traffic at once when the VPN connection dropped
All About Cookies
No leaks in the BrowserLeaks DNS and WebRTC tests. The kill switch test failed: on a switch from a Canadian server to a Mexican server with the kill switch on, DNS requests reached the internet provider's servers (seen on ipleak.net), in both the soft and the strict mode
The two lists are not the same size and should not be read as a score. The sites tested from different countries, on different connections and protocols, so their figures cannot be set against each other. Some sites tested Proton’s free plan and paid plan separately, so read the note on each result. None of this is our own result.
Should you choose Proton VPN or Surfshark?
- Choose Proton VPN if you want a free plan that needs no payment details, a yearly run of no-logs audits, or the larger published server and country network. It does cap the number of devices, and its split tunneling is paid-plan only.
- Choose Surfshark if you share one plan across many devices and do not want a device limit. Weigh its September 2026 incident, which no outside firm has yet reviewed, and its Fire TV app for Vega OS, which has no kill switch. It has no permanent free plan.
- Look closer if you want a VPN with no ties to another large VPN brand. Surfshark says it and Nord Security share a holding company, though the two operate independently.
FAQ
Is Proton VPN better than Surfshark?
Neither is better across the board. Proton VPN has a free plan and a yearly run of no-logs audits, while Surfshark has no device limit. Surfshark’s 2026 incident has been investigated only by the company itself.
Which is cheaper after the first term, Proton VPN or Surfshark?
We do not name one. Prices appear on this page only after an editor has verified them on a US connection, and Surfshark’s pricing page shows no renewal price, so the two renewal costs cannot be set side by side.
Which has more servers, Proton VPN or Surfshark?
Proton VPN publishes the larger server count. Server counts change often and providers count differently, so the comparison table shows the day each figure was checked and where it came from.
Do Proton VPN and Surfshark keep logs?
Both say they keep no activity logs, and both list outside audits of that claim. Both also say they keep some account information.
Which is faster, Proton VPN or Surfshark?
We do not name a winner. We run no speed tests of our own, and other sites’ speed results depend on where and how each site tested, so we list them with their source and do not rank them.
Does Surfshark have a free plan?
Not a permanent one. Surfshark describes a free trial on its longer plans only, which needs a payment method and becomes a paid plan when it ends. Proton VPN has a permanent free plan.