ExpressVPN vs. Surfshark: Two of CNET’s Favourite VPNs In contrast

ExpressVPN and Surfshark are two VPN heavyweights and sit comfortably amongst CNET’s prime VPNs because of their distinctive all-around efficiency and privateness protections. I put each ExpressVPN and Surfshark via the identical rigorous testing methodology and use each VPNs commonly. Every is great, however they do issues very in a different way. That may make it simpler to determine between the 2 based mostly in your particular wants. In an ideal world, I’d advocate you get each for a mixture of distinctive options, however in the event you’re solely on the lookout for one VPN, I am going to enable you discover the proper match. 

Total, I’d go along with ExpressVPN for heightened privateness and streaming capabilities, and Surfshark for budget-conscious informal customers who need a premium VPN expertise at a less expensive worth.  

ExpressVPN vs. Surfshark in contrast

Value $13 per thirty days, $75 for the primary 12 months or $98 complete for the primary two years (one- and two-year plans renew at $100 per 12 months)Newest Checks No DNS leaks detected, 18% velocity loss in 2025 checksCommunity 3,000 plus servers in 105 international locationsJurisdiction British Virgin Islands

ExpressVPN is CNET’s Editors’ Alternative for Greatest Total VPN as a result of it excels at just about all the pieces it does and is constantly innovating and setting the usual for what a VPN must be doing. The corporate effortlessly blends cutting-edge privateness with supreme usability and efficiency, making it a wonderful alternative for knowledgeable, privacy-focused VPN customers in addition to full rookies. You get quick speeds, distinctive streaming capabilities and the best VPN app to make use of, however in the event you’re trying to preserve prices down, Surfshark is the higher alternative. 

73% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months). Now solely $3.49/month

Value $15.45 a month, $48 for the primary 15 months (then $79 a 12 months) or $60 for the primary 27 months (then $79 a 12 months)Newest checks No leaks detected, 21% velocity loss in 2025 checksCommunity 3,200-plus servers in 100 international locationsJurisdiction Netherlands

Surfshark is a stable worth VPN for informal customers who need a premium expertise with some cool extras for a worth that gained’t break the financial institution. Regardless of a worth hike on its longer-term subscription plans’ renewal charges, Surfshark stays one of the vital budget-friendly VPNs. It’s a wonderful all-around VPN that’s quick, good for streaming, is user-friendly and features a handful of useful privateness options you will not discover anyplace else, like Various ID, which helps you to invent a persona to protect your precise private information, and Dynamic Multi-Hop, which improves privateness by letting you select two servers to attach via. However its apps are slightly busier and its general privateness stance not fairly as polished as ExpressVPN’s.

Velocity winner: ExpressVPN edges out Surfshark in a decent race

ExpressVPN and Surfshark are two of the quickest VPNs based mostly on our newest velocity checks. We measured an 18% common velocity loss with ExpressVPN and 21% with Surfshark. All VPNs will sluggish your connection to a sure diploma, however we contemplate a VPN that cuts your speeds by lower than 25% “quick” — and each ExpressVPN and Surfshark make that minimize.

In order for you the quickest speeds attainable with each suppliers, use Lightway with ExpressVPN and WireGuard with Surfshark. They’re each light-weight VPN protocols constructed for velocity, so that you possible gained’t discover a distinction in efficiency whether or not you’re simply looking the web or streaming films in 4K.

Earlier this 12 months, ExpressVPN launched Lightway Turbo (which may increase speeds by operating visitors via a number of tunnels concurrently), which helped considerably enhance its velocity efficiency.  

Surfshark’s new FastTrack function can be designed to spice up your VPN speeds by leveraging Surfshark’s Nexus Community to optimize the route your visitors takes to the VPN server. The function is at present solely accessible on the MacOS app and thru Surfshark’s Vancouver, Seattle and Sydney server areas. Whereas FastTrack efficiency did not issue into our official 2025 velocity testing outcomes as a result of it wasn’t accessible on the time, the function was in a position to increase my VPN speeds by about 20% throughout some advert hoc testing I did after its launch in August. Though my outcomes did not come near the 70% enhance cited by Surfshark, customers with slower or much less secure web connections might expertise a extra pronounced bump in VPN speeds utilizing FastTrack.

Worth winner: Surfshark delivers a ton of worth, regardless of elevated renewal costs

ExpressVPN is likely one of the most costly VPNs accessible however nonetheless a stable choice it’s for each informal and demanding use circumstances, even at these costs. Surfshark is far simpler on the pockets and consists of some distinctive privateness options not supplied by ExpressVPN, but it surely lags slightly in a couple of key areas like streaming in addition to privateness and transparency. 

At the start of September, ExpressVPN adopted the lead of a number of of its opponents and launched a tiered subscription mannequin with three totally different subscription plans: Primary, Superior and Professional. ExpressVPN’s Primary tier consists of solely the VPN and a stripped-down model of its Superior Safety suite and prices $13 a month, $75 for the primary 15 months (then $100 a 12 months) or $98 for the primary 28 months (then $100 a 12 months) — which is dear for only a VPN, regardless of how good it’s.

If you wish to bundle extra companies together with your ExpressVPN subscription, you may spring for the Superior or Professional plans. The Superior plan delivers slightly extra worth for the value than the Primary plan, together with a password supervisor, full suite of Superior Safety instruments and most Id Defender options. Superior prices $14 a month, $90 for the primary 15 months (then $120 a 12 months) or $126 for the primary 28 months (then $120 a 12 months). The Professional plan consists of all the pieces within the Superior plan, plus the complete suite of Id Defender instruments and a devoted IP for $20 a month, $135 for the primary 15 months (then $200 a 12 months) or $210 for the primary 28 months (then $200 a 12 months). That is a steep leap in price in comparison with the options it provides over the Superior plan. For most individuals, ExpressVPN’s Superior plan affords one of the best worth.

Surfshark, then again, delivers a whole lot of worth for informal customers on long-term subscription plans. Surfshark’s month-to-month plan prices $15.45, which is unnecessarily costly and never one thing I’d advocate buying beneath any circumstances — except you propose on utilizing it for lower than a month and asking for a refund throughout the first 30 days of buy. In any other case, in the event you solely want a VPN for a month, you’re a lot better off with ExpressVPN at $13, Proton VPN at $10 and even Mullvad at 5 euro (about $6). Surfshark’s yearly and two-year Starter plans provide super worth, although. The yearly plan prices $48 for the primary 15 months and renews at $79 yearly and the two-year plan prices $54 for the primary 27 months and $79 yearly thereafter. At that worth, you’ll get Surfshark’s Various ID private element generator alongside a VPN.

Surfshark doesn’t provide a password supervisor like ExpressVPN does, but it surely does provide bundled subscription plans that embrace extra privateness and safety instruments. The Surfshark One plan consists of all the pieces in Starter, plus antivirus, knowledge leak alerts and personal search and prices $18 a month, $51 for the primary 15 months (then $99 a 12 months) or $67 for the primary 27 months (then $99 a 12 months). The One-plus plan provides on knowledge removing companies and prices $20.65 per thirty days, $91 for the primary 15 months (then $119 a 12 months) or $108 for the primary 27 months (then $119 a 12 months). So in the event you discover these additional companies helpful and have already got a password supervisor, you could discover Surfshark a greater worth general no matter which subscription tier you select.            

Privateness and safety winner: ExpressVPN’s privateness and transparency are almost unmatched, although distinctive Surfshark options make a compelling case

If you happen to’re a journalist, whistleblower, activist or anybody else with vital on-line privateness wants, I like to recommend selecting ExpressVPN over Surfshark due to its forward-thinking privateness initiatives. ExpressVPN has lengthy been a typical bearer within the trade in relation to privateness and transparency, whereas Surfshark (though nonetheless stable) remains to be taking part in catch-up in a couple of methods in relation to issues like unbiased audits. However in the event you’re simply on the lookout for common privateness protections or need entry to distinctive options, Surfshark remains to be a wonderful alternative.

ExpressVPN persistently demonstrates that it’s prepared to push the boundaries and go above and past what most different VPNs ship. ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer expertise takes privateness a step additional by reinstalling the complete software program stack upon reboot along with wiping the server clear. This helps guarantee no knowledge is left on a tough disk whereas minimizing the chance of misconfiguration when a server is rebooted. ExpressVPN was additionally one of many first suppliers, alongside Mullvad, to implement post-quantum encryption to guard in opposition to future decryption threats from quantum computer systems, and it retains up with the newest requirements. As a part of its post-quantum WireGuard rollout, ExpressVPN even revealed a white paper detailing its course of to function a blueprint for different VPNs to comply with. Surfshark additionally rolled out its post-quantum layer this 12 months, which is now accessible on Home windows, MacOS, iOS and Android when utilizing the WireGuard protocol.

Surfshark revealed its newest unbiased audit in June, its fourth general and first since 2022. Deloitte’s audit report discovered that Surfshark doesn’t preserve logs of consumer exercise and is accessible to Surfshark customers on-line via their consumer account portal. By comparability, ExpressVPN has revealed 23 unbiased audits since 2018, far outpacing Surfshark and the remainder of the competitors. I additionally like how ExpressVPN makes its full audit reviews accessible to most of the people via its intensive Belief Middle, quite than solely to paying customers who’ve submitted private knowledge for the privilege. It’s emblematic of ExpressVPN’s dedication to excessive transparency. Though unbiased audits don’t paint a full image, they’re nonetheless essential belief indicators, and when executed at such a gentle clip, may be much more compelling.

ExpressVPN is headquartered within the British Virgin Islands, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction outdoors of the 5, 9 and 14-Eyes data-sharing alliances. Surfshark relies within the Netherlands, which is a part of the alliance and will due to this fact pose a problem for customers with vital privateness wants as a result of international locations with intelligence-sharing agreements might adjust to worldwide requests for consumer data.

ExpressVPN and Surfshark make use of safe AES 256-bit and ChaCha20 encryption requirements, together with vital privateness protections like a kill change and DNS leak safety. Each VPNs additionally provide options that robotically change your IP handle throughout your connection, making it harder for an adversary to trace you on-line, although every supplier’s function operates barely in a different way.

Surfshark delivers a couple of additional privateness options that ExpressVPN doesn’t. Surfshark’s Dynamic MultiHop function lets you choose any two server areas from its community to tunnel via, encrypting your visitors twice as a substitute of simply as soon as and including an additional layer of privateness. And with Various ID, you may generate an entire faux persona, full with full title, e mail handle, bodily handle and birthdate to make use of on web sites the place you don’t need to share your private data. 

A brand-new function known as Everlink, which Surfshark calls a “self-healing server infrastructure,” additionally helps the supplier stand out from the pack. Primarily, Everlink works to robotically and seamlessly reconfigure the VPN tunnel within the occasion of a server failure or server upkeep. Whereas Everlink might theoretically eradicate the necessity for a standard kill change, I’d advocate having Surfshark’s kill change employed always, regardless, for an additional layer of privateness.

In the end, these are helpful options from Surfshark, however they do not completely make up for the way far forward ExpressVPN is on forward-thinking options and general transparency

Usability winner: ExpressVPN is the best VPN to make use of throughout platforms

ExpressVPN’s apps are the only to make use of on just about any platform, making the service a wonderful alternative for rookies. Categorical delivers a constant, easy-to-use expertise throughout most platforms — though its Apple TV app is laid out a bit in a different way. Both manner, none of ExpressVPN’s apps require any studying curve in anyway, so even in the event you’ve by no means used a VPN earlier than, you’ll don’t have any bother getting began. 

Surfshark can be extremely simple to make use of throughout platforms, however its apps require just a bit extra getting used to than ExpressVPN’s due to its busier interface. That stated, I like how one can simply entry your lately used areas, quickest servers, closest nation, static IP servers and multihop connections, proper from the house display. I additionally like how Surfshark means that you can pause your connection as a substitute of disconnecting outright. This allows you to quickly leap off the VPN connection with out the chance of forgetting to reconnect in a while.

ExpressVPN and Surfshark every provide apps for Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Hearth TV, Android TV and Apple TV. I notably like ExpressVPN’s up to date iOS and Android apps, which embrace a couple of useful upgrades that permit you to customise the look of the app and extra simply navigate to really helpful server areas and toggle settings like protocol choice and superior safety options from the house display. 

Each VPNs additionally work on routers, however ExpressVPN affords an unbeatable router app that makes it tremendous simple to make use of the service by itself Aircove or different suitable router for entire community protection or use on units like Roku streaming units that don’t natively assist VPN apps. 

Each suppliers are additionally glorious decisions for streaming geographically restricted content material from all over the world. Nevertheless, ExpressVPN has an edge as a consequence of its flawless unblocking efficiency and its intuitive router app. Throughout my newest streaming checks, ExpressVPN was in a position to unblock all the pieces I attempted on well-liked streaming companies like Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video — throughout all platforms I examined. Surfshark additionally carried out admirably, however Hulu detected the VPN and blocked entry to its content material once I tried to stream on my Hearth TV Stick — though Surfshark did unblock Hulu on different platforms. 

ExpressVPN’s huge international community of 11,500-plus servers throughout 105 international locations eclipses Surfshark’s 3,200-plus servers throughout 100 international locations. Nevertheless, with Surfshark, you may join a vast variety of units concurrently, whereas ExpressVPN limits you to 10 simultaneous connections on its Primary plan, making Surfshark a more sensible choice for big households or folks with many units.    

Backside line

If you happen to’re nonetheless undecided, know that ExpressVPN or Surfshark are two of one of the best VPNs accessible. Each are glorious all-around companies that ship robust privateness, quick speeds and top-notch usability. Which one you finally go along with might come right down to your funds, your privateness wants or your streaming necessities.

For customers with vital privateness wants, I like to recommend ExpressVPN due to its forward-thinking privateness protections, excessive transparency and privacy-friendly jurisdiction. I additionally advocate ExpressVPN for individuals who wish to stream tons of worldwide content material due to the intensive attain of its server community paired with its excellent unblocking capabilities. If you happen to’re on a funds, I like to recommend Surfshark as a result of the pricing on its long-term plans is far simpler on the pockets than ExpressVPN’s costs — and you continue to get a stable, premium VPN expertise although you’re paying significantly much less. Surfshark can be a wonderful alternative if you need the particular advantages of options like Various ID or Dynamic MultiHop.