Surfshark vs ExpressVPN 2025: Which VPN is best?

We compared Surfshark and ExpressVPN to find out which VPN is faster, more reliable and offers better value for money. We’ll decide which one has better features in this guide.

Choosing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can be a time-consuming process. Even if you do a ton of research, it can still be hard to make your final decision. To help out, we put two of the world’s leading VPN brands to the test to see which ticks more boxes.

ExpressVPN and Surfshark are leading VPN brands. Most people will be happy using either. After battling them head-to-head, however, we found that one of these VPNs is better for the average home internet user. So, which is it?

We compared Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN across 10 important categories. We considered each VPN’s security, tested server speeds, tested the apps, and used each VPN to access popular streaming services. Below, you can see which VPN came out on top.

Pros and Cons

If you are in a rush to get a VPN, we recommend Surfshark. Although both VPNs offer a decent number of features and reliable security, Surfshark outperforms in a couple of key categories, making it a better overall choice.

Surfshark

• VPN servers in 100+ countries
• Works with most streaming services
• Reliable encryption and a no-logs policy
• Allows unlimited connections
• Super-fast WireGuard protocol
• Fully audited policy and network

ExpressVPN:

• Servers in 105+ countries
• Strong AES encryption
• OpenVPN has native obfuscation
• Works with Netflix and others
• Apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
• Fully audited

Both VPNs are versatile and have a decent number of features. They both have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Amazon Firestick, which means you can use the VPNs on most popular devices. Surfshark has a full GUI app for Linux, whereas ExpressVPN’s Linux app is controlled from the command line.

Both VPNs have extensions for Chrome and Firefox, plus Brave, Vivaldi, and Edge for ExpressVPN. The ExpressVPN extension controls the main VPN client from your browser, whereas Surfshark’s browser extension is a standalone app. 

ExpressVPN’s extension is safer than Surfshark’s version, which is a browser-based proxy service that doesn’t encrypt your entire internet connection. But some people may prefer having a browser-based proxy in addition to the full VPN client, especially if you aren't able to install the full VPN app onto a computer (at work, for example) but can install a browser extension without any difficulty.

Surfshark’s features

• DNS leak protection
• AES encryption
• Kill switch
• A choice of VPN protocols (including OpenVPN and WireGuard)
• Ad blocking, tracker blocking, and malware filtering
• Split tunneling
• MultiHop servers
• Auto-connect for untrusted networks
• Smart DNS feature 
• Obfuscated servers
• Diskless servers
• Rotating IPs
• No Borders mode, which helps to keep you connected in countries like China and the UAE
• Static IPs (available for all subscribers)
• Dedicated IP (available at a small extra cost)

ExpressVPN’s features

• DNS leak protection
• AES encryption
• Kill switch
• Excellent speeds
• Choice of protocols (including OpenVPN and the Lightway proprietary protocol)
• Split tunneling
• MediaStreamer feature (Smart DNS)
• Obfuscation by default when you use OpenVPN
• Diskless servers
• Auto-connect feature (only works to connect you when you start up your machine – not when you join an untrusted network).

Which VPN has more features?

As you can see, both these VPNs are feature-rich. However, its advanced auto-connect feature, ad blocking, MultiHop, malware filtering, and static IPs make Surfshark more impressive overall.

Surfshark lets you use the VPN on an unlimited number of devices. You can share your account with all your friends and family if you want. ExpressVPN limits you to eight consecutive connections, which may put some users off.

Best for features? Surfshark VPN

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN pricing

Surfshark is one of the most impressive cheap VPNs available on the market. In fact, in terms of price-to-feature ratio, it is hard to think of a VPN that beats it. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, is quite expensive for what you get.

That said, anybody looking for a VPN to go on vacation will find either service reasonable. A single-month subscription with Surfshark Starter costs $15.45, and ExpressVPN Basic costs $12.99.

Where Surfshark really shines is when you consider its lengthier plans. A 12-month Surfshark Starter subscription reduces the cost to $3.19 per month, while ExpressVPN Basic is priced at $4.99 per month.

Surfshark sells a two-year plan for $1.99 per month. That subscription comes with an extra three months for free, so you get 27 months of VPN use for just $53.73. With ExpressVPN, the same subscription period would total $97.72, although this does include an additional free month (28 months in total). So, Surfshark is an absolute bargain.

Both of these VPNs offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing anyone to try them out risk-free. Most bargain hunters will probably be sold on Surfshark.

Surfshark also allows unlimited connections.

BEST DEAL FOR SURFSHARK: Save more than 87% by opting for Surfshark’s two-year plan.

BEST DEAL FOR EXPRESSVPN: Reduce the cost to $4.99 per month with an annual account.

Best for costs? Surfshark VPN

Streaming

Most people nowadays are interested in a VPN for streaming home TV services and Netflix while on vacation. Unfortunately, most VPNs have already been blocked by leading streaming providers. This is making it increasingly difficult to find a reliable VPN for streaming. So, how do these VPNs compare?

When it comes to HD streaming, both these VPNs are at the forefront of the industry. Both VPNs have a large selection of servers located worldwide to give you access to a wide choice of international TV platforms and streaming services.

• Surfshark has 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries
• ExpressVPN has 3,000+ servers in 105+ countries

We tested each VPN to watch Netflix and found that both services could access more than a dozen Netflix regions, including the US, the UK, Canada, and Japan. 

During our tests, Surfshark could stream Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, YouTube TV, BBC iPlayer, ABC, NBC, Peacock, BT Sport, and Amazon Prime. This makes it practically flawless for streaming, whether on vacation, at work, or on some other restricted network.

ExpressVPN was equally impressive. Besides working with nearly 20 different Netflix regions, it provided secure access to Amazon Prime Video, CBS, ESPN, NBC, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, Peacock, Crunchyroll, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and HBO Max.

Either service is a fantastic option for TV addicts and or movie fans looking to access additional content.

Best for streaming? It’s a draw

Which works best in China?

Even if you aren’t planning a visit there, it is interesting to consider whether a VPN works in China. 

The Chinese government implements some of the most thorough VPN blocks in the world, meaning that if a VPN works there, it will probably work anywhere! Of course, if you live in China – or are about to travel there for work – the need for a VPN that works in China will be more direct.

The good news is that Surfshark provides both obfuscation for OpenVPN and a proprietary No Borders mode designed to help people connect to its service in countries with heavy-handed censorship. This makes it a fantastic option for anybody visiting not only China but also countries like Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Russia, and the UAE.

ExpressVPN doesn’t have anything comparable to Surfshark’s No Borders mode. However, it has obfuscation by default when you connect using OpenVPN UDP, and it works to connect while in China, which is what matters. 

ISPs often block the Surfshark and ExpressVPN websites in China. This can make it hard to take out a subscription if you’re already there. For this reason, we recommend that you subscribe to and download the VPN app onto your devices before traveling to China. This will ensure that you have full use of a VPN when you touch down in the country.

Best for China? It’s a draw

Ease of use

Subscribing to either of these VPNs is straightforward. Simply head over to the website, choose a plan, provide a valid email address, and pay using an accepted method. Both VPNs accept all major cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, and various other cryptocurrencies, which gives you plenty of options.

Once the VPN accepts your payment, you can download and install the VPN on any tablet, smartphone, laptop, or desktop computer. In addition, both of these VPNs can be used with a wide selection of VPN-compatible routers.

The websites and apps for both these services are well-designed and equally easy for beginners to navigate. During testing, we had no trouble understanding how to install or use either service, and we had no problems using the menus to find the features we needed.

Surfshark has a few additional features, which may increase the learning curve slightly. However, both VPNs come ready to use right out of the box. Beginners can start connecting to servers to gain privacy and unblocking capabilities without needing to learn anything complicated. 

You can take your time getting familiar with advanced features such as MultiHop or split tunneling further down the road.

Best for ease of use? It’s a draw

Connection speeds

Most people want a VPN that won’t adversely affect the performance of their broadband or mobile internet. More bandwidth lets you play games, download torrents, and watch HD streams without a drop in performance. Unfortunately, most VPNs available on the market are not speedy and will cause a lot of buffering and terrible lag. So, how do these two VPNs fare?

We checked each VPN’s performance using three different server locations: the US, the UK, and Hong Kong. This allows us to get global download averages, which helps paint a precise picture of how the VPN performs across its entire network.

The good news is that both these services are in the upper echelon of what is currently available on the market. Surfshark has average global download speeds of 188 Mbps, making it perfect for doing data-intensive tasks. It also performed impressively under regular home settings, reducing the speed of our broadband by just 3%.

ExpressVPN registered global average downloads of 176 Mbps, which is only a touch slower than Surfshark. However, ExpressVPN was a touch slower than Surfshark when we tested it using home broadband (it dropped our internet speed by an average of 6.6%).

Other than that, both VPNs were very impressive, and we consider both fantastic options for streaming and playing games without lag. Their fast speeds and protocols also make them both decent options for making VoIP calls in countries like the UAE or Saudi Arabia.

Best for performance? It’s a draw

Security

At BleepingComputer, we consider privacy and security the most important part of VPN. Without strong security, a VPN cannot protect you against government snoops, ISP tracking, hackers, and other eavesdroppers, which is the main purpose of a VPN. Thankfully, both these VPNs are highly reliable for security purposes.

With ExpressVPN, you can connect using the popular OpenVPN protocol. This is a secure tunneling protocol that has been independently audited on several occasions. ExpressVPN implements OpenVPN using strong AES-256 encryption, 4096-bit DHE-RSA keys with perfect forward secrecy, and SHA512 for authentication. Suffice to say, this is very robust.

ExpressVPN securely proxies DNS requests to its own servers and has a network of diskless servers that run in RAM. We tested its apps and found it to have no IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks. This gives ExpressVPN a full bill of health for security.

Surfshark also offers OpenVPN, which is implemented using secure standards: AES-256-GCM for encryption, RSA-2048 for key exchange, SHA-512 for authentication, and Perfect Forward Secrecy (ECDH). This makes Surfshark secure and future-proof. 

As with ExpressVPN, Surfshark proxies DNS requests to its own servers and suffers from no IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks. It also has a fully diskless network that runs in RAM. The VPN can remotely pull the plug on any server to erase everything in an emergency. Perfect if the data center is suddenly raided, for example.

Both these VPNs have a reliable system-wide kill switch that completely cuts your internet if the VPN connection drops out. With Surfshark, the kill switch is slightly more customizable, but both VPNs are equally good at protecting your data inside the VPN tunnel.

Both these services have completed third-party audits of their infrastructure and policies. You can trust their privacy and security claims without leaving anything to chance.

Best for security? It’s a draw

Privacy

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands. This is a fantastic jurisdiction for a privacy service to be based, due to its lack of mandatory data retention directives and well-funded government intelligence agencies. It also puts it out of reach of invasive jurisdictions like the UK, the EU, and the USA.

Surfshark is based in the Netherlands. This is an EU jurisdiction with relatively strong privacy protections and a lack of mandatory data retention directives that apply to VPNs. This makes it a safe place for a VPN to be based.

As you would hope, both VPNs have strong data privacy policies. We checked each policy with a fine-tooth comb and found neither VPN to track IP addresses, the servers users connect to, or any of the data that passes through their servers. Both qualify as no-logs VPNs.

Surfshark admits to having access to basic connection logs (server used, user ID, and a connection timestamp) for 15 minutes after the session ends. This is incredibly honest of the VPN, but not unusual.

All VPNs can theoretically monitor the data that passes through their servers in real-time. All VPNs must handle your data requests to provide you with their service.

Many VPNs (including Surfshark and ExpressVPN) have decided to switch their networks to diskless servers that run exclusively in RAM. This allows VPNs to pull the plug on a server remotely, to erase the data, and prevent anybody from being able to harvest data in real-time (during a raid, for example). 

Finally, users can subscribe to either of these VPNs using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. You can sign up using a fake name, a burner email, and an anonymous payment method, which ensures your VPN account is not connected to your real identity.

Best for Privacy? It is a draw

Customer support

When it comes to customer support, ExpressVPN has always been a market leader. It was one of the first consumer-facing VPNs to introduce 24/7 live chat support for its users, paving the way for a level of customer support that has become the industry standard. In many ways, Surfshark users have ExpressVPN to thank for the VPN’s fantastic 24/7 support. 

So, how does the support actually compare? We tested both of these VPNs using both email and live chat support. We were able to get responses at all times of the day, and we found the agents to be both helpful and knowledgeable. However, we did get at least one misleading response from Surfshark, which would have led to confusion had we not known better!

On the plus side, both VPNs have excellent website resources, including FAQs, setup guides, and a blog that contains articles about the VPN features and various topics surrounding online privacy and security. This gives the support agents plenty of resources and allows subscribers to always get the help they need with setting up or using the VPN.

In regard to response times for email support, we were able to consistently get answers from both VPNs within four hours, and usually even quicker. You can get help on the same day that you ask for it, which is decent.

Ultimately, we found the support to be great with both VPNs. However, it seems only fair to hand the victory to ExpressVPN due to the minor error made by Surfshark’s support agent, which may point to the need for even better training.

Below, we have included the response times for our emailed requests:

• Does Surfshark work with Netflix USA? Are the streaming servers labeled in the app? Response time: 2 hours.
• Does ExpressVPN work with Netflix USA? Are the streaming servers labeled in the app? Response time: 15 minutes.

Best customer support? ExpressVPN

The verdict?

In this versus article, we compared the popular VPN services ExpressVPN and Surfshark across 10 different categories. Below, you can see the result of each:

• Features - Surfshark
• Pricing - Surfshark
• Streaming - Tie
• China - Tie
• Ease of use - Tie
• Connection speeds - Tie
• Security - Tie
• Privacy - Tie
• Customer support - ExpressVPN

As you can see, these two VPNs were extremely close. They tied in six out of nine categories where they were too similar to decide on an outright winner. 

For customer support, we found ExpressVPN to be slightly more proficient. But it was a very close race, and Surfshark’s support was outstanding compared to the vast majority of competing VPNs currently available on the market.

In terms of features, we found Surfshark to be considerably better. The service has various additional features that you don't get with ExpressVPN. These include malware filtering, ad blocking, a better auto-connect feature, a more customizable kill switch, MultiHop connections, and rotating IPs.

Surfshark was slightly faster than ExpressVPN, and it has almost as many server locations to pick from. This makes it better for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and other data-intensive tasks. Both these services allowed us to stream HD videos without issues, and both providers could access a wide range of popular streaming services we tested them with.

Users can install and use Surfshark on an unlimited number of devices, which means you can share your account with friends and family and use the VPN on all your devices, whether at home, at work, or when connected to public WiFi. This makes Surfshark considerably better value than ExpressVPN, which only allows eight simultaneous connections.

Perhaps the biggest difference between these two competing VPNs, however, is the price. We found Surfshark to represent much better value for the average internet user, so you get a better all-around VPN for around 70% less. 

Both VPNs are secure and have strong privacy policies that protect your data at all times. The VPNs never share user data with third parties, and they have diskless servers to ensure they can purge all the data on their servers for added security. Each has taken part in independent audits, with fast upload speeds and access to many major streaming platforms.

Best VPN overall: Surfshark

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN FAQs

Are Surfshark and ExpressVPN good for gaming?

Yes, both of these VPNs have recently been tested using a dedicated test server located in Ohio. The tests involved evaluating the global average download speeds for each provider by testing three different locations worldwide. It's important to note that these speeds represent the VPNs' top speeds, and the actual speed you experience at home will depend on your internet service provider (ISP) as well as the VPN you use.

Based on the tests we conducted, it was found that both VPNs offer significantly higher speeds than the average home broadband setup. This means that they provide exceptional speeds with more than enough headroom for streaming, torrenting, gaming, and other data-intensive tasks.

Moreover, both VPNs offer a wide selection of server locations. Surfshark boasts servers in 100+ countries, including 24+ different cities in the US, while ExpressVPN provides servers in 94+ countries, including 17+ US cities.

These extensive server networks allow gamers to access various game servers worldwide, making them ideal for bypassing ranked-based matchmaking or playing with friends from your home country while abroad.

Additionally, both VPNs offer access to server locations such as Brazil and Turkey, which are known to have lower prices in popular game stores like the official PlayStation store and Microsoft's game store.

Ultimately, which VPN you prefer for gaming will be a personal choice. However, considering the low cost of a subscription, Surfshark is definitely going to appeal to a large number of gamers worldwide, in our opinion.

• Find out more about Surfshark in our full review.
• Find out more about ExpressVPN in our full review.