Should you choose Surfshark, NordVPN, or ExpressVPN in 2026? That’s the question many are looking to address, yet, it’s becoming increasingly difficult. All three providers have undergone massive improvements in recent years, to the point of being extraordinary.
They all offer robust security, strong privacy, thousands of servers, solid performance, impressive streaming capabilities, and apps for all systems. Yet, within these features lies an array of subtle differences that, when combined, give us a complete picture of each VPN.
In today’s Surfshark vs NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison, our goal is to rank the three providers from best to worst and explain crucial differences across 8 comprehensive tests. Stay with us and learn more about NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN before picking one.
Surfshark vs NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Quick Ranking
After extensive testing, we ranked NordVPN at #1, ExpressVPN at #2, and Surfshark at #3 but in general, all of them are fantastic choices. In most instances, NordVPN will be superior to both, but ExpressVPN and Surfshark are no slouches and perform closely to its competitor.
We suggest reading the entire 3-way comparison and if you’re too lazy, here’s a brief overview of their features.
| Surfshark | NordVPN | ExpressVPN | |
| Our Current Ranking 📋 | #4 | #1 | #2 |
| Price 🤑 | Starting at $2.19/mo | Starting at $3.39/mo | Starting at $4.99/mo |
| Money-Back Guarantee 🪙 | 30 Days | 30 Days | 30 Days |
| Free Version/Free Trial 🆓 | No/7 days on iOS/Android | No/7 days on Android | No/7 days on iOS/Android |
| Logging/Jurisdiction 🕵️ | No/Netherlands | No/Panama | No/British Virgin Islands |
| Protocols 🌐 | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | NordLynx, OpenVPN | OpenVPN, Lightway |
| Servers 🏠 | 3,200 in 100 countries | 7,300 in 118 countries | 3,000+ in 105 countries |
| Specialty Servers ✅ | MultiHop, Static IP | Double VPN, Obfuscated, Onion Over VPN, P2P | Dedicated IP |
| RAM-Only Servers 🛡️ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Working With Netflix 📺 | Yes (30+ catalogs) | Yes (30+ catalogs) | Yes (15+ catalogs) |
| P2P Allowance ↔️ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Concurrent Connections 📟 | Unlimited | 10 | 8 |
Applications & Ease of Use
Among the three, ExpressVPN is the easiest to use but NordVPN and Surfshark look a tad more modern. We’ll get to that soon but first, let’s analyze their compatibility. Simply put, they support all devices you can fathom, from desktop and mobile to Smart TVs and devices like a Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, routers, and many more.
So, compatibility-wise, you’ll have zero issues with Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN.
Simultaneous connections are heavily on Surfshark’s side because:
- Surfshark supports unlimited connections
- NordVPN supports 10 connections
- ExpressVPN supports 8 connections at a time
ExpressVPN is the worst of the bunch here, although 8 is a solid number for one of the best-rated VPNs in 2026. Let’s move to the ease of use. As said, ExpressVPN is easily the best option for beginners, with its minimalistic apps identical on all supported devices.
Then, we have NordVPN, and its fancy-looking clients that embrace modernity and sleekness simultaneously:
There’s finally Surfshark, whose apps are perhaps the smoothest on all devices but in our eyes, NordVPN’s apps are slightly better-looking and easier to navigate.
Just to make it clear, we use all three VPNs daily and have no issues with either of them. They’re snappy, responsive, bug-free, and very enjoyable to use across the board. However, it’s worth repeating that, based on everything so far, Surfshark is the best of the bunch.
It’s simultaneously easy to use and endorses unlimited simultaneous connections. ExpressVPN is easier to use than both but has the least simultaneous connections per account. NordVPN is sort of a golden middle, so it’s sandwiched between its two rivals.
All things considered, the first round’s ranking is:
- Surfshark (the most simultaneous connections)
- NordVPN (solid ease of use and modern-looking apps)
- ExpressVPN (very easy to use, with the least simultaneous connections)
Surfshark vs NordVPN vs ExpressVPN Cost Comparison
We’ve seen their applications and concluded they’re some of the best around. But now, it’s time to evaluate the value you’re going to get by paying for Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN. Our team has compared Surfshark and CyberGhost in a recent duel, discovering that despite costing almost identically, Surfshark was better.
This time, the comparison is much more interesting because all three have vastly different prices.
| Biennial Plan Price | Annual Plan Price | Monthly Plan Price | |
| Surfshark | Starts at $2.19/mo | Starts at $3.19/mo | Starts at $15.45/mo |
| NordVPN | Starts at $3.39/mo | Starts at $4.99/mo | Starts at $12.99/mo |
| ExpressVPN | Starts at $4.99/mo | Starts at $6.67/mo | Starts at $12.95/mo |
The table below showcases their starting prices and a simple analysis tells us that Surfshark is the most affordable of the three. Its 2-year and 1-year plans come with 3 free months. NordVPN’s 2-year plans are sometimes topped with 3 free months, and sometimes, you don’t get any, depending on the promotion.
ExpressVPN’s most affordable biennial plan is the most expensive, costing nearly five quids a month but with 4 free months. Surfshark, however, has the priciest monthly plans, while ExpressVPN and NordVPN are almost on par. A 30-day money-back guarantee covers all of their plans, so that’s a huge advantage for all three.
NordVPN and Surfshark’s “starting” plans titled Basic and Starter respectively, don’t include all of their features. You have to pay for at least the plan above to get ad-blocking, antivirus, malware protection, and other advanced features. That’s now the case with ExpressVPN.
However, ExpressVPN is the lightest on features in comparison, which sort of equals the playing field and even skews it towards Surfshark and NordVPN as more feature-rich options. We recommend checking our list of the best VPN deals of 2026 to get the best price on all three, should you decide on one.
Which VPN Is the Least Expensive?
It’s time to call the shots and see who wins. Before we do that, we’ll briefly mention that NordVPN and Surfshark’s 2-year and 1-year plans have several tiers, so they can be way more expensive than what we’ve seen in this Surfshark vs NordVPN vs ExpressVPN battle.
However, we judge their affordability based on the cheapest plans and in that case, the situation is clear:
- Surfshark wins as the most affordable pick
- NordVPN is very affordable but not as much
- ExpressVPN is the most expensive pick by a long shot
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN vs Surfshark Features
If you’re looking to squeeze the most features for the money, NordVPN will likely be your go-to option. However, choosing Surfshark or ExpressVPN can also be a great idea, depending on your needs and expectations. Let’s analyze their features and see which one not only offers more in terms of quality and quantity.
Shared Features
The three popular providers share a myriad of features, so you won’t find tons of uniqueness here. Luckily, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel to deliver second-to-none security. First of all, we’ll clarify that we tested all three providers for IP and DNS leaks and found none.
This comes as a result of essential VPN features such as:
- IPv6 and DNS leak protection
- 256-bit AES connection encryption
- Automatic VPN kill switch
- Ad, tracker, and malicious site protection
- Servers based on RAM
- Private DNS
- Modern protocols
As you can see, all the basics are covered but even in these basics, we can find a few differences. For example, NordVPN has the best kill switch because it allows you to block internet access unless you connect to a VPN server. Ad-blocking is also a strong suit.
NordVPN blocks ads and trackers most efficiently, with ExpressVPN and Surfshark following closely. It’s interesting that all three offer cutting-edge VPN protocols. We explained WireGuard and OpenVPN here, and while Surfshark offers the former, NordVPN and ExpressVPN have NordLynx and Lightway respectively.
NordLynx is WireGuard pumped full of steroids – in a good way. ExpressVPN’s Lightway has a more “covert” recipe but we suspect it’s very similar. All three exhibit otherworldly performance and security needed to transform your internet experience.
It’s good to note that Surfshark and NordVPN share some features unavailable in ExpressVPN, such as:
- Double VPN a.k.a MultiHop
- Malware/virus protection
We outlined them in our separate reviews of Surfshark and NordVPN. Their most expensive plans also contain security in the form of data removal and identity protection, both of which are available in ExpressVPN, albeit, only for new subscribers in the United States.
Unique Features of Each VPN
In the previous ExpressVPN vs NordVPN vs Surfshark sub-section, we listed almost all of their security features. However, each provider has its “personality” and thus, brings something unique to the table. We want to highlight these few features and tools:
IP Rotation and Alternative ID (Surfshark)
Surfshark offers an IP Rotation tool, which rotates your IP address, keeping the connection active and the chosen location the same. This is useful for tracking prevention and preserving your privacy more efficiently. Alternative ID is another privacy tool we like.
It assigns you a fake identity, with another name, a different address, and other credentials, which you can use to go online. With this feature, you can conceal your original identity, embody a non-existent person, and keep snoopers away.
Meshnet (NordVPN)
NordVPN Meshnet is unique to this provider but best of all, it’s FREE!
This means you don’t even need to subscribe to the VPN to use it. Meshnet allows for remote device access, swift and secure file sharing, and hosting LAN parties for gaming or business. Meshnet lets you connect up to 60 devices and enjoy the said benefits on all.
For example, if you need a file from another device, you can directly access it and get it. There’s also an IP routing option, which lets you take on an IP from another device and use it to unblock streaming services like Netflix or BBC iPlayer.
Keys and Parental Control (ExpressVPN)
ExpressVPN’s “unique” tool isn’t so unique. The ExpressVPN Keys password manager is excellent and works on mobile and desktop platforms. It’s free and comes in every subscription but then, we tested many password managers that perform somewhat better.
Parental Control, however, is very efficient at blocking adult sites, which is great for those with kids at home. Sadly, there’s no filtering to block gambling/betting sites, social media, and other platforms.
With everything said, all three offer a fair number of innovative features, leaving no room for disappointment. However, the ranking is as follows:
- NordVPN – it offers the best and most security features overall
- Surfshark – it’s great for device security thanks to its antivirus on all devices
- ExpressVPN – fewer advanced security features compared to its rivals
We must point out that all three are some of the safest VPNs you can use but in the end, we’d like to see MultiHop and virus protection in ExpressVPN at its current price.
Do Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN Store Logs?
Whatever the amount of money you’re spending on a VPN, you don’t want any privacy concerns. Premium providers usually refrain from logging, as they don’t need to sell your data to earn money. Such is the case with NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN in 2026.
However, they do reside in different countries. To be 100% accurate:
- Surfshark’s legal jurisdiction is the Netherlands
- NordVPN’s legal jurisdiction is Panama
- ExpressVPN’s legal jurisdiction is the British Virgin Islands
NordVPN and ExpressVPN have “better” jurisdictions because they’re off-shore. Plus, they’re famous for privacy-friendly laws. The Netherlands is often connected to the 9 Eyes alliance often suspected of espionage and data retention. Countries like the USA, the UK, Canada, and many others are in this alliance, as well.
Luckily for us, all three options store only a few necessary logs to keep their services running. They won’t retain logs of your IP address, DNS requests, online history, traffic data, and other sensitive stuff. Even the collected data is anonymized and deleted very promptly, usually after the connection seizes or in up to 30 days.
Third-party audits are present in all three, however, ExpressVPN has the most. NordVPN comes in at the second spot, while Surfshark is just a notch behind. Vital to touch on is the fact that all providers use RAM-only servers, Private DNS, and Perfect Forward Secrecy.
These features, as you might know, enhance privacy further and complement a zero-log policy.
ExpressVPN has the most third-party audits and Surfshark has the “worst” jurisdiction but in the end, all three are excellent privacy-focused VPNs in 2026. We haven’t heard of anyone having any privacy-related issues with Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN. For this reason, this round is a tie.
Which VPN Is the Fastest in 2026?
The Surfshark vs NordVPN vs ExpressVPN speed test is one of the most exciting examinations in this comparison. Before we get to it, we need to clarify our testing procedure, which is actually pretty simple.
We test each VPN for 3 days in a row, 3 times a day. Moreover, we use UK, US, and Japanese servers.
Simultaneously, our testing team is in Belgrade, Europe, so this selection of servers is deliberate, to put more focus on distant server locations and gauge the speed retention. Our starting point is a speed test of our non-VPN internet speed displayed below:
The table underneath displays the average speed losses of each VPN, based on our exhaustive evaluations. From now on, we’ll use only average results, as they tell a better story than simply opting for the worst or best results we achieved in our VPN speed tests.
| Download Speed Loss | Upload Speed Loss | |
| Surfshark | 27% | 32% |
| NordVPN | 18% | 7% |
| ExpressVPN | 24% | 9% |
Okay, so we have an interesting situation in which NordVPN has beaten Surfshark and ExpressVPN noticeably. Download speed was almost on par between Surfshark and ExpressVPN but NordVPN was at least 6% faster than both. What about upload speeds?
Well, ExpressVPN and NordVPN showed immensely similar results, leaving Surfshark behind in a cloud of dust.
| Surfshark | NordVPN | ExpressVPN | |
| UK (Download/Upload) | 306.48/16.97 Mbps | 324.25/18.68 Mbps | 298.82/18.50 Mbps |
| US (Download/Upload) | 253.79/12.47 Mbps | 292.75/18.31 Mbps | 274.61/18.35 Mbps |
| Japan (Download/Upload) | 191.07/10.90 Mbps | 223.54/17.85 Mbps | 206.33/16.73 Mbps |
In the table above, you can see our speed test averages and just how well NordVPN preserves the performance. Paired with the lowest latency of the three, NordVPN is a reliable VPN for gamers on all platforms, be it Windows, Android, iOS, or gaming consoles.
Unlike the previous round, this one is clear-cut, with the following results:
- NordVPN – the #1 VPN for speed and stability
- ExpressVPN – great for speedy connections on all devices
- Surfshark – it’s not terrible but its speed retention could be better
If you want the absolute best-performing VPN, NordVPN is a no-brainer.
Streaming & Torrenting Comparison
This ExpressVPN vs Surfshark vs NordVPN comparison takes another direction and segways into our comprehensive streaming and torrenting tests. It should come as no surprise that all three perform like champs but to figure out which one is THE champ, we have to look for tiny differences.
Streaming Performance
Having tested all three for streaming, we noticed incredible results, as each VPN unblocked every streaming platform we threw at it. Netflix was one of the easiest tasks for the trio, not to mention BBC iPlayer, Max, and perhaps dozens of foreign TV channels we tested.
However, we noticed a trend in which NordVPN and Surfshark were slightly more efficient at unblocking Netflix libraries. They both unblocked around 30, while ExpressVPN unblocked roughly 15. Both numbers are impressive but as said, these details matter in this comparison.
Also, as expected, NordVPN was the smoothest of all, with immaculate 4K streams with zero buffering. ExpressVPN repeated its result, while Surfshark’s average speed took a hit when we used an Australian server to unblock SBS outside of Australia. As a whole, all three are excellent.
This is also because of their Smart DNS inclusion and browser extensions with location spoofing and WebRTC leak protection for more effortless website unblocking. The preliminary results favor NordVPN, leaving Surfshark and ExpressVPN behind respectively.
Torrenting Performance
We now move to torrenting, which was easy with all three. NordVPN took a slight advantage here because of its bespoke P2P servers optimized for speed, security, and terrier-like tenacity. These servers are in 70+ countries, so finding the right one is a piece of cake.
Surfshark and ExpressVPN don’t have anything “special” for torrenting. Their entire server fleets are yours to use as you please, so you can enjoy them limitlessly. All three VPNs offer stable performance, with pretty much no speed reduction when using nearby servers.
We’re sad to see that none of them offers port forwarding but NordVPN has a SOCKS5 proxy, which can be configured to work with uTorrent. SOCKS5 is fast and efficient but lacks encryption, though it still masks your IP address. We suggest using it with caution.
NordVPN is the best option of the three for streaming.
When it comes to torrenting, NordVPN is still at the top because of its speeds and the SOCKS5 configuration, which is lacking in ExpressVPN and Surfshark. So, the ranking is as follows:
- NordVPN – the best of the bunch for both streaming and P2P
- Surfshark – it’s a bit “weaker” than NordVPN but great for Netflix
- ExpressVPN – amazing overall but unblocks fewer Netflix libraries than its rivals
Server Locations
Forget about the miniature server networks. We’re talking serious numbers here, as all three VPNs govern thousands of servers in at least 100 countries globally. The precise server count for each VPN is displayed below, so let’s dig deeper and see who comes out on top.
| Surfshark | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | |
| Servers | 3,200 | 3,000+ | 7,300+ |
| Countries | 100 | 105 | 118 |
NordVPN is the most robust provider, with ExpressVPN being second, and Surfshark being third. The latter two are similar but ExpressVPN offers 5 more countries, and as we discovered, more city-level servers. The server variety is on NordVPN’s side, as well.
Surfshark has dedicated IP and static IP servers. ExpressVPN only has the former.
NordVPN offers dedicated IP, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, P2P, and Obfuscated servers. All have their purpose. We mentioned a few, except for Onion Over VPN and Obfuscated. The former servers make the VPN great for the dark web, while obfuscation helps alleviate censorship, which we’ll address in a minute.
All providers have 10 Gbps server ports, so there’s a lot of breathing room for achieving exquisite performance and squeezing the most out of your native internet speed.
Considering their server fleets and the quality of each, the placing in this round is:
- NordVPN – the largest and most diverse server network
- ExpressVPN – over 160+ locations in 105 countries
- Surfshark – a decently-sized server network but a lot smaller than NordVPN
Which VPN Is Most Efficient at Bypassing Censorship?
In 2026, many providers are “flimsy” at bypassing censorship in China. With so many options we tested, these three still perform okay, while Proton VPN and CyberGhost have completely fallen off the wagon. The best option remains Astrill VPN but this provider, as you know, is insolently expensive.
So, out of the three, which VPN is best to use in China, Turkey, Russia, and other heavily censored regions?
In our tests, NordVPN and ExpressVPN were slightly better than Surfshark. When comparing the first two specifically, we had more success with NordVPN because of its obfuscated servers. However, ExpressVPN’s built-in obfuscation is very close. It’s automatically turned on.
Surfshark’s NoBorders mode is here to mask your VPN traffic as well, but our Chinese testers had occasional connection problems, even with it enabled. As for Russia, Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, etc, all three perform reliably and our experts worldwide have had zero issues.
The final NordVPN vs ExpressVPN vs Surfshark comparison ends exactly like that:
- NordVPN is the most efficient for bypassing censorship
- ExpressVPN follows in closely due to its powerful obfuscation
- Surfshark is the least reliable pick, although it performs fairly well
Conclusion: NordVPN Is the Best Choice
So, as this is a three-way Surfshark vs. NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN comparison, we can’t just bluntly tell you to pick one and neglect the rest. We’ve seen the ebbs and flows of this battle, as the three cybersecurity giants switched places on the podium across our eight tests.
However, NordVPN seems to be the most impressive option of the three.
It edges out both providers in security, streaming, speed, server count, and bypassing censorship. Surfshark’s strong suits are affordability, unblocking Netflix libraries, and unlimited simultaneous connections. Lastly, ExpressVPN excels in privacy, ease of use, obfuscation, and countless server locations.
Given our test results, we’ll conclude the comparison with these closing remarks:
- NordVPN is THE best overall choice at the price. It’s the most complete, no-nonsense package, with virtually no “potholes” and pronounced downsides to speak of.
- ExpressVPN is our second favorite, and while a bit pricier, it justifies it with ease of use, general security and trustworthiness, and strong performance across the board.
- Surfshark is the third-best option, with unlimited bandwidth, above-average Netflix performance, and lots of features, albeit, with weaker overall performance and speed.