Surfshark is hard to beat on value for money. The 2-year Starter plan costs $2.49 a month, and every plan allows unlimited devices. As our full Surfshark VPN review explains, it is also fast and reliable for streaming.
Still, it is not the right fit for everyone. Starter renews at $79 a year after the first term, and there is no free plan. Its Windows app can show ping spikes on some servers, and MultiHop slows connections a lot.
If any of that bothers you, there are good alternatives. We compared each VPN on speed, audited no-logs status, device limits and price. Below are the seven Surfshark alternatives we would actually switch to, from budget-friendly picks to a free option.
Why Look for a Surfshark Alternative?
Surfshark does a lot right. It has 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, and its no-logs policy was verified by Deloitte in 2023 and again in 2025. In our testing it slowed downloads by only about 10 percent, even on a transatlantic server.
The reasons to switch are more specific. The month-to-month plan is among the priciest in the category, at roughly $15 to $16 depending on region and tax. The value only shows up on the 2-year plan, and the renewal price is higher than the launch deal.
Performance also depends on your platform. We found the macOS app smoother than the Windows app, where ping can spike on some servers. And if you lean on MultiHop for extra privacy, expect it to slow your connection significantly.
Some readers simply want a VPN outside the Nord Security group, which has owned Surfshark since 2022. Others want a free plan, an anonymous sign-up, or a faster premium service. Each pick below answers one of those needs.
Best Surfshark Alternatives Compared
Here is how the seven picks stack up against Surfshark on price, devices, servers, protocols, audits and streaming. Prices are the lowest long-term promotional rates.
| Product | Buy | Price/mo | Devices | Servers / countries | Protocols | Audited no-logs | Streaming | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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$2.49(2-yr) | Unlimited | 4,500+ / 100 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos | Deloitte (2023, 2025) | Strong | No | |
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Check price → | $3.49(2-yr) | 10 | About 9,000 / 129-149 | NordLynx, NordWhisper, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | PwC + Deloitte (6 audits) | Strong | No |
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Check price | $2.99(2-yr) | 10 (1 free) | 20,000+ / 140+ | WireGuard, OpenVPN, Stealth | Securitum (yearly 2022-2026) | Strong (paid) | Yes |
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Check price | From about $3(2-yr) | 10 to 14 | 113 countries | Lightway, WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | KPMG (2025) | Strong | No (7-day mobile trial) |
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Check price | $2.03(3-yr + 3 mo) | Unlimited | 91 countries | WireGuard, OpenVPN | Deloitte (2022, 2024) | Mixed | No (7-day mobile trial) |
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Check price | $2.19(26-mo) | 7 | About 10,000 / 100+ | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Deloitte (latest Feb 2026) | Strong | No |
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Check price | $2.19(2-yr) | Unlimited | 3,000+ / 150+ locations | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Leviathan + Schellman (2025) | Good | No |
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Check price | EUR 5flat | 5 | 566 / 50 | WireGuard only | Infrastructure audits | Weak | No |
On long plans, only PIA, CyberGhost and IPVanish undercut Surfshark's Starter price. Only PIA and IPVanish match its unlimited devices.
How We Tested These Surfshark Alternatives
We judged every VPN against the things Surfshark users care about most. We measured how much each service cut our downloads on nearby and distant servers, including multi-hop modes. Then we tried Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and other services, noting proxy errors and how often we had to switch servers, and ran IP, DNS and WebRTC leak tests plus kill switch checks.
We also confirmed who audited each no-logs policy and when, where each company is based and who owns it. Finally, we compared monthly, yearly and multi-year prices, including what happens at renewal.
Every speed and streaming result in this guide comes from hands-on connections on our test machines, not from vendor marketing. Where a provider's numbers change often, like server counts, we rounded them and said so.
The Best Surfshark Alternatives, Tested
1. NordVPN - Best Surfshark Alternative Overall
NordVPN is the fastest service in this list and the one we would switch to first. On nearby US servers it kept 95 percent or more of a gigabit line, which worked out to about 825 to 903 Mbps. In practice it barely dented our speeds, and 4K streams and video calls ran without buffering.
Streaming was just as smooth. Regular NordVPN servers unblocked Netflix, Max, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer, so we never had to hunt for a special streaming server. The NordLynx protocol is built on WireGuard, and post-quantum encryption rolled out to all apps in 2025.
Privacy is a strong point too. NordVPN's no-logs policy has now been verified six times, by PwC and then Deloitte, with the sixth report published in February 2026. The company is based in Panama. You also get Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, obfuscated servers, Meshnet and Threat Protection Pro.
There are trade-offs. Double VPN cuts throughput to around half on a fast line, the map-based interface feels clunky on smaller screens, and the renewal price jumps well above the promotional rate.
Pricing starts at $3.49 a month on the 2-year Basic plan, $5.49 on the 1-year plan, and $14.99 month to month. The Complete tier costs $4.49 a month on the 2-year term. NordVPN covers 10 devices and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our in-depth NordVPN review for the full speed results.
Pros
- Barely dented gigabit speeds on nearby servers
- Unblocks major streaming services on regular servers
- No-logs policy verified six times
- Post-quantum encryption on NordLynx
Cons
- Limited to 10 devices, unlike Surfshark
- Double VPN halves speeds on fast lines
- Renewal price rises well above the launch deal
2. Proton VPN - Best Free and Privacy-First Alternative
Where NordVPN wins on raw speed, Proton VPN wins on privacy, and it is the only pick with a free plan Surfshark does not offer. The paid servers cut our download speed by no more than about 8 percent. VPN Accelerator also helped on distant servers.
The paid VPN Plus plan unblocked Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and HBO Max consistently. It covers 10 devices and gives you 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries. Setup is quick, since the app installs in under two minutes and explains each setting in plain language.
Proton is based in Switzerland and majority-owned by the nonprofit Proton Foundation. Its no-logs policy has been audited by Securitum every year since 2022, with five consecutive reports published. Extras include Secure Core multi-hop, the Stealth protocol, NetShield blocking, port forwarding and open-source apps. Proton also accepts cash payments if you want to keep your card out of it.
The free plan has firm limits. It picks the server for you from 10 countries, covers 1 device, and does not support streaming or torrenting. Secure Core ran about 35 percent slower than standard connections for us, and live chat is not 24/7 or open to free users.
VPN Plus costs $2.99 a month on the 2-year plan and $9.99 month to month. The 1-year rate moves between about $4 and $5 a month with promotions. Paid plans carry a 30-day money-back guarantee. Our Proton VPN review covers Secure Core in more depth.
Pros
- Free plan with no data cap and no ads
- Lost no more than about 8 percent of speed on paid servers
- Audited every year from 2022 to 2026
- Accepts cash for more private payment
Cons
- Free plan blocks streaming and torrenting
- Secure Core is about 35 percent slower
- Live chat is limited and not 24/7
3. ExpressVPN - Best Premium Alternative for Streaming
Proton rewards people who like to tune settings, while ExpressVPN is for people who want streaming to just work. Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video and Hulu all unblocked across many regions, and it has servers in all 50 US states and 113 countries.
The apps are among the easiest we have used, with one large connect button and a recommended Smart Location. Network Lock earned our trust during testing. When a server timed out mid-session, the kill switch cut traffic straight away instead of letting it fall back onto our regular connection. It did the same when our network changed, and live chat answered our follow-up questions in under a minute.
Speed is good but not the best here. Lightway held roughly 450 to 720 Mbps on US and UK servers from a gigabit line, and post-quantum WireGuard ran at about the same pace. On a slower home line, downloads dropped by roughly 37 to 39 percent on nearby servers, a bigger hit than NordVPN or Proton VPN.
A KPMG assessment published in 2025 backs the no-logs claims, and the TrustedServer RAM-only setup dates back to 2019. Lightway uses ML-KEM post-quantum protection by default. ExpressVPN is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and owned by Kape Technologies since 2021. There is no multi-hop, no Tor-over-VPN and no obfuscated or P2P server category, and streaming access can change week to week.
The 2-year Basic plan starts from about $3 a month, though the rate moves with running deals. Basic renews at $99.95 a year after the first term. You get 10 devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee. See our ExpressVPN review for details.
Pros
- Unblocks five major streaming services across many regions
- Very easy apps with one-click Smart Location
- Reliable Network Lock kill switch
- Fast live chat support
Cons
- Bigger speed loss than NordVPN on slower lines
- Renews at $99.95 a year on Basic
- No multi-hop or obfuscated servers
4. Private Internet Access - Cheapest Alternative With Unlimited Devices
Unlike ExpressVPN's steady speeds, Private Internet Access swung widely from server to server. Some US and UK servers lost around three quarters of a gigabit line, while others lost closer to 12 percent, so it pays to try a few locations.
Streaming told a similar story. Netflix US played on the first attempt. When we moved on to HBO Max, a standard US server was blocked outright. We switched to one of PIA's streaming-optimized servers, and HBO Max then played in 4K.
The upside is price. PIA allows unlimited devices and costs just $2.03 a month on the 3-year plus 3-month plan, cheaper than Surfshark Starter. The apps expose kill switch levels, protocol, encryption strength and port forwarding, which suits tinkerers more than beginners. Live chat answered quickly and knowledgeably.
PIA's no-logs policy was audited by Deloitte in 2022 and 2024, and it has also held up in US court cases. The company is US-based and owned by Kape Technologies since 2019, with servers in 91 countries, open-source apps and the MACE ad blocker. Other plans cost $3.99 a month yearly or $11.95 month to month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee (excluding app stores) and a 7-day mobile trial. Our Private Internet Access review breaks down the settings.
Pros
- Unlimited devices, like Surfshark
- Lowest long-term price in this list
- Deep, configurable settings and port forwarding
- Quick, knowledgeable live chat
Cons
- Speeds vary a lot from server to server
- Some streaming services need specific servers
- Many settings can overwhelm beginners
5. CyberGhost - Best Beginner-Friendly Alternative for Streaming
PIA makes you hunt for the right streaming server, but CyberGhost labels them by platform. On first launch the app connected us to a nearby server in under ten seconds. We then opened the streaming list and tried the Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Prime Video servers in turn, and each one loaded on the first try without any server-hopping.
It also offers dedicated torrenting servers, NoSpy servers, RAM-only servers and 24/7 live chat. Distance is the weak spot. Downloads dropped by more than 55 percent on Australia and South Africa servers, versus about 20 percent nearby, and streaming servers triggered website CAPTCHA checks fairly often.
CyberGhost's no-logs policy has been audited by Deloitte three times, most recently in February 2026. It is based in Romania and owned by Kape Technologies since 2017, with servers in 100+ countries and a count that moves around 10,000.
The 7-device cap is the main downside for a Surfshark user, since phones, laptops, a TV stick and tablets fill it quickly. The 26-month plan costs $2.19 a month, but the first renewal roughly doubles the effective rate to about $4.75, and the auto-renew toggle is easy to miss. Other plans cost $6.99 a month for 6 months or $12.99 month to month, with a 45-day money-back guarantee on longer plans and 14 days on monthly. Read more in our CyberGhost review.
Pros
- Streaming servers labelled by platform
- Connects in under ten seconds
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Three Deloitte no-logs audits
Cons
- Only 7 devices
- Big speed loss on long-distance servers
- Renewal roughly doubles the monthly rate
6. IPVanish - Best for Sharing With a Family
CyberGhost caps you at 7 devices, while IPVanish is the other pick that matches Surfshark's unlimited connections. One account covered a whole household's phones, laptops and TVs for us, and the app layout is simple to learn.
Speeds were fast nearby but inconsistent. On WireGuard, our Seattle server peaked at 829 Mbps. We then switched to Los Angeles, still on the same coast, and throughput fell to about 262 Mbps. On a 100 Mbps line, speeds stayed above 90 Mbps even on a distant Australian server. Netflix US and UK and BBC iPlayer streamed in full HD, and IP, DNS and WebRTC leak tests passed on every server we checked.
The no-logs policy has been audited by Leviathan Security Group and Schellman, most recently by Schellman in February 2025. IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis and based in the United States, with Scramble obfuscation, Double Hop and phone support. Renewal rises to $89.99 a year for Essential, and Threat Protection Pro works only on Windows and macOS.
Essential costs $2.19 a month on the 2-year plan, $3.33 a month on the 1-year plan and $12.99 month to month. The 30-day money-back guarantee covers yearly plans, not monthly ones. Our IPVanish review has the full test data.
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Passed IP, DNS and WebRTC leak tests on every server checked
- Full HD streaming on Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- Phone support as well as live chat
Cons
- Speeds vary across locations
- Steep renewal price
- Threat Protection Pro is desktop-only
7. Mullvad - Best for Anonymous Sign-Up and Payment
Every pick so far wants at least an email address, but Mullvad wants nothing. Signup took seconds, since Mullvad issued a random 16-digit account number and asked for no email or name. You can pay with cash, crypto or a voucher.
Mullvad charges a flat EUR 5 a month, with no tiers, no multi-year discounts and no renewal jump. That covers up to 5 devices, with a 14-day money-back guarantee except on cash payments.
The company is based in Sweden and runs 566 servers across 50 countries. It uses WireGuard only, with quantum-resistant tunnels and DAITA traffic-analysis defense. Its infrastructure has been audited by Cure53 for the fourth time in 2024. These are infrastructure audits rather than a formal no-logs attestation, so whether Mullvad counts as "audited no-logs" depends on your definition.
Streaming is where Mullvad falls down. Netflix US worked in one session, so we started watching. Minutes later the same access failed with a proxy error, and BBC iPlayer blocked its servers too. Websites threw CAPTCHA challenges often, speeds varied a lot by server, the 5-device cap is tight, and support is email-only, so answers can take a while.
How to Choose the Right Surfshark Alternative
Start with the reason you are leaving. If it is speed, NordVPN is the clear upgrade. If it is price, look at PIA, CyberGhost and IPVanish, which all undercut Surfshark on long plans.
Next, count your devices. Surfshark's unlimited connections are rare. Only PIA and IPVanish match them here. NordVPN, Proton VPN and ExpressVPN stop at 10 on their base plans, CyberGhost stops at 7, and Mullvad stops at 5.
Check the no-logs policy and its audit history. A policy is only a promise until an independent firm checks it. Most picks here use Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, Securitum or Schellman.
Finally, look past the launch price. Most VPNs renew at a much higher rate. Mullvad's flat EUR 5 is the exception, and PIA's long plan locks in a low price for the longest stretch.
Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you just signed up, sign up for the new VPN first and test it on your own devices. Then cancel Surfshark before day 30 so you still get your refund.
Can You Use a Free VPN Instead of Surfshark?
Yes, but only one of our picks offers a real free plan. Proton VPN Free has no data cap and no ads. For basic privacy on public Wi-Fi, it does the job.
The limits are clear, though. The free plan chooses the server for you from 10 countries and covers 1 device. It does not support streaming or torrenting, and speed is set to medium. If you are leaving Surfshark for Netflix access or a family of devices, a free plan will not replace it.
ExpressVPN and PIA offer a 7-day free trial on iOS and Android instead. That is a way to test before you pay, not a long-term free option.
Which Surfshark Alternative Should You Pick?
Choose NordVPN if you want the fastest speeds and the strongest audit record.
Choose Proton VPN if you want a free plan or Swiss-based privacy.
Choose ExpressVPN if you want the simplest premium app for streaming.
Choose Private Internet Access if you want unlimited devices for the lowest long-term price.
Choose CyberGhost if you want platform-labelled streaming servers and a 45-day refund window.
Choose IPVanish if you need unlimited connections for a busy household.
Choose Mullvad if you want to sign up without an email and pay in cash.
