Surfshark vs. Proton VPN

There are lots of VPNs out there. Believe us: We’ve tested and retested them all, and new ones pop up every day. With so many to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? This one has the best security; that one gives you the best speeds; this other one lets you access Netflix libraries in other countries. It’s enough to make your head spin.

The tried-and-true method for sorting one product from another is comparing them head to head. You make a list of all the important categories — in this case, things like encryption methods, protocols, and server numbers — and see which one comes out on top. That’s what we’ve done here.

Below you’ll find our analysis of Surfshark and Proton VPN — what they do well, what they do poorly, and how they compare to each other. If that doesn’t help you make your decision, we don’t know what will.

Lots of Similarities

Let’s start with the features Surfshark and Proton VPN have in common, so we can more easily consider where they contrast. These are two pretty strong VPNs — both appear on our list of best VPNs — which means they have multiple points in common.

• Same encryption and protocols: Both VPNs use top-of-the-line AES-256 encryption, which is the same encryption employed by the U.S. military. Both also offer a variety of protocols, which are the instructions that tell the VPN how to employ its encryption. Both offer OpenVPN and WireGuard, the top two protocols on the market that have been rigorously tested and proven secure. We have no qualms about whether either company can protect us.
• No logs: Both companies can protect us, but do they actually? The answer is found in their privacy policies. What information do they collect, and who do they share it with? Both companies are secure on that score as well. They store our email addresses and passwords so we can, you know, log in and stuff, but they keep nothing related to our browsing activities. They don’t record our IP addresses, they don’t keep a log of our browsing histories, and they don’t record time stamps.
• Kill switches: Both Proton VPN and Surfshark provide a kill switch. What’s a kill switch? It shuts down your internet activity completely — it logs you out of every app and page — any time you lose your VPN connection. That way, anyone who may be spying on you can’t see what you’re up to, even accidentally.
• Split tunneling: Here’s another handy feature you’ll find with both VPNs. You need a VPN for sending anything sensitive over the internet, such as work files, but you don’t need one just to stream Spotify. No one cares that you’re listening to Celine Dion. Let it go. Split tunneling lets you use the VPN for what you need and only what you need, while your coffee shop’s Wi-Fi handles the rest.
• Streaming: If you don’t know how a VPN can enhance your streaming experience, it’s time you learned. Services like Netflix have different content libraries in different countries, and some streamers operate only in particular countries. They won’t let you access any of that content unless you’re in that country. A VPN — if it’s the right sort of VPN — can help you convince the streaming services you’re in the country even if you’re not. Surfshark and Proton are both the right sort of VPN.
• Torrenting: Can’t get enough content through streaming? You probably need a hobby. In the meantime, however, you can use both Surfshark and Proton VPN to torrent. Both feature specially configured peer-to-peer servers.
• A choice of platforms: You can use both VPN services no matter what operating system or platform you use to access the internet. Android? Yes. MacOS? Yes. Linux? Yes. Xbox? Yes. Need we go on?

>> Find Out More: Best VPNs for Netflix

Want to dig into more details about these two VPNs? You can find lots more information in our Proton VPN review and Surfshark review.

Still Pretty Close

Now that we’ve dealt with the similarities, we can move on to the differences. Let’s start with the minor differences — the ones that don’t really matter.

• IP addresses: Surfshark uses rotating IP addresses, which protect you because they change at specific intervals so no one can connect your activity to any one address. Proton VPN uses shared, static IP addresses. They protect you because lots and lots of users share the same address, so it’s impossible to sort out who’s doing what. We prefer shared addresses, but both do an excellent job of protecting your IP address.
• Server counts: The more servers a VPN operates, the more likely you are to find one nearby with low traffic. That means faster speeds. The more countries a VPN operates in, the more likely you are to find one that will let you log in to the streaming service you like or watch the streaming library you prefer. Here are the numbers: Surfshark has around 3,200 servers in 100 countries, while Proton VPN has about 3,000 servers in 69 countries. Surfshark wins, but not by much.
• Multihop vs. rotating multihop: There is some genuine difference here. Proton VPN offers a technology called multihop, which basically routes your internet connection through multiple servers instead of just one. Each server comes with its own encryption, making it exponentially more difficult to track your movements online. Surfshark has gone one step further. It offers dynamic multihop, which means your multiple connections change periodically. That takes your security to a whole other level, but it will slow down your connection. Since it’s already impossible for anyone to track you when you’re using plain old multihop, you’re probably fine without it — unless, of course, you’re James Bond.

Slugging It Out

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: What are the real, substantive differences between Surfshark and Proton VPN?

Surfshark

Here are the features you’ll get only if you sign up with Surfshark.

• Camouflage Mode: Surfshark has obfuscated servers, which allows you to go into Camouflage Mode. When you’re in Camouflage Mode, no one can tell that you’re using a VPN, which is handy when you’re in a country where VPN use is forbidden. It can also work to convince streaming services that you’re just an average, everyday user — nothing to see here, no VPNs or anything at work.
• Dedicated IP addresses: For an extra monthly fee, Surfshark will provide you with a dedicated IP address. The address conceals your actual address to protect your identity online, but because it’s always the same, you don’t have to worry about constantly verifying your credentials when you log in to apps and sites.
• Unlimited devices: We have a lot of devices. It’s sort of an occupational hazard when you review online security. Luckily, Surfshark lets us install its VPN on all of them with no limits on how many we can use at once. Proton VPN lets us do that with 10 devices. That’s pretty generous, but unlimited beats 10 every time.

>> Dig Deeper: Best VPNs for the United Arab Emirates

Proton VPN

Here’s what you’ll get with Proton VPN.

• Proton VPN’s headquarters are in Switzerland: Here’s what you need to know about Switzerland: It’s outside the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes alliances. Countries in those alliances — like, say, the Netherlands — have agreed to share intelligence with one another. When one of them wants customer data from a company in another, they just show up with a subpoena and ask for it. Where is Surfshark located? The Netherlands. To be fair, Surfshark’s privacy policy guarantees the company has no information to turn over to government agencies. Even so, Proton VPN has the edge.
• Proton VPN has a VPN accelerator: There’s no question that you want your VPN to have good speeds. All VPNs slow down your computer to some extent — it’s the nature of the software — but the best slow it down as little as possible. Surfshark has pretty good speeds, according to our own speed tests, but Proton VPN has introduced new technology that overcomes CPU limitations, making speeds up to 400 percent faster than the average VPN. That’s pretty impressive.

>> Find Out More: Best VPNs for the Netherlands

Pricing

This wouldn’t be a real comparison if we didn’t compare prices.

Price Comparison

Both VPNs offer a range of plans, which we like. We never know for sure whether we’ll need two years of VPN service or a single month. When it comes to the better deal, you’ll notice that Proton VPN’s prices are better in the short term, while Surfshark’s prices are more attractive if you’re willing to sign up for a long-term contract.

Proton VPN also is the only one that offers a free version. As with all free VPNs, however, Proton VPN’s free version has limitations. When we tried it, we discovered we could access only 26 of the company’s more than 3,000 servers. We were also limited to one device, and our speeds were much slower than with the paid plan. We don’t think that should weigh all that much into your final decision, unless, of course, you’re specifically in the market for a good free VPN.

The Bottom Line

The real question, as with so many of these comparisons, is what you really need. You’ll get solid protection from both companies, and they have more similarities than differences. They’re almost identical when it comes to security, and their differences mostly cancel one another out. Proton VPN’s speeds are awfully tempting, while Surfshark’s obfuscated servers virtually assure you access to any streaming service you want to log on to.

We’re forced to call this one a toss-up, but that doesn’t mean one of them won’t be better for you.