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Choosing a VPN isn’t just about picking any provider — it’s about finding the right fit for your needs. While many VPNs appear similar on the surface, they can vary significantly in price, privacy features, and performance.
ExpressVPN remains one of the leading providers on the market, recently rolling out a major revamp in both its pricing and feature set — making it an appealing option for those considering a premium VPN.
Surfshark, on the other hand, stands out for its value, offering strong performance alongside the ability to protect multiple devices simultaneously.
Comparing the two popular choices, we’ve looked at price, privacy, features, and more to ensure you’re choosing the best VPN for your needs.
GBN Tech has put together a detailed rundown of what both VPN services offer.
Protect your online activity with speedy service from ExpressVPN
Protect your personal information and encrypt everything you do online for just £1.99 with the latest ExpressVPN deal. That equates to under 7p per day, trouncing NordVPN, its biggest competitor
ExpressVPN adds military-grade encryption across up to 10x devices, including iPhone, Android, Linux, Windows, Mac, Fire TV, and dozens more, to secure your internet traffic from prying eyes, advertisers, and governments. You'll benefit from an extra 4 months free with a two-year plan
ExpressVPN Basic
$9.99
$1.99
Protect multiple devices with a VPN from SurfShark
If you're looking for some of the lowest monthly bills around, look no further than the award-winning Surfshark VPN. It's cut monthly subscription prices by 80%. Not only that, but Surfshark will also bundle an extra three months at the end of a two-year plan, dropping the effective cost to just £1.48 per month. Surfshark lets you use your subscription across unlimited devices.
Surfshark VPN
$12.29
$1.48
Speed and performance
When it comes to speed, both ExpressVPN and Surfshark offer blazing-fast speeds for internet browsing and streaming. However, ExpressVPN provides more consistent and reliable high speeds, especially over long distances.
Surfshark is known for its fast performance on nearby servers and, in some cases, has even outpaced ExpressVPN. However, its speeds can be slightly less consistent on long-distance or international connections.
ExpressVPN uses its Lightway protocol and optimised server network, which helps minimise speed loss, making it reliable for streaming in 4K, gaming, and large uploads, especially when connecting to distant servers.
Surfshark has the highly efficient WireGuard protocol, which delivers exceptional speeds, often maxing out high-speed connections on local servers, but when it comes to connecting to international servers, some reports claim that upload speeds can be variable.
If you prefer the most consistent and stable experience and do not mind paying a premium, ExpressVPN is the one to go for.
Although if you plan to use mostly local servers, Surfshark is a great choice.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is software that protects and anonymises everything you do online. | UNSPLASH Price
When it comes to pricing, both providers offer a range of plans depending on the features you need.
For those focused on value, Surfshark comes out ahead. Its Starter plan is priced at just £1.49 per month (£40.23 total) on a two-year deal, while ExpressVPN’s comparable Basic plan costs £1.99 per month (£55.78).
Across two-year subscriptions, Surfshark consistently undercuts ExpressVPN. However, if you prefer the flexibility of a monthly plan, ExpressVPN takes the lead. Its rolling one-month plan is £9.99, compared to Surfshark’s £11.29 — making it the better choice for shorter-term use without a long commitment.
One thing to note is that prices can differ as both ExpressVPN and Surfshark change their prices quite often.
Features and devices
ExpressVPN might be a better option for those who don’t just need a VPN and value other extras. For example, ExpressVPN’s Advanced plan also offers a password manager and features like a dedicated IP bundled into its Pro plan, whereas Surfshark’s premium offerings can be found behind a higher paywall.
ExpressVPN also offers neat add-ons like up to 75% off an Aircove router with a built-in VPN to protect your entire home.
However, when it comes to extra features, Surfshark outshines ExpressVPN. For instance, Surfshark allows unlimited devices on all of its plans, while ExpressVPN caps connections at 14 devices— even on its top-tier Pro plan. This is ideal if you're looking for a VPN for larger households.
But for those who do need as many countries as possible to connect to, Surfshark loses out slightly, with 100 countries to connect to compared to ExpressVPN’s 105.
VPNs work by encrypting all of your online traffic before it's sent over the internet. This prevents your ISP, advertisers, hackers, and fraudsters from tracking your online activity, stealing your personal data, or placing restrictions on you | EXPRESSVPN PRESS OFFICE Privacy
Surfshark and ExpressVPN both offer great top-tier privacy options, meaning they are highly trustworthy to keep your information safe.
However, for those who are about jurisdictions, ExpressVPN holds all the cards. ExpressVPN is based in the more privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands, while Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, which is part of the Nine Eyes surveillance alliance, a minor potential concern mitigated by strong technical measures.
That means that those who have critical privacy needs might want to stick to ExpressVPN for their usage.
Despite this, Surfshark and ExpressVPN both have a trusted no-logs VPN with RAM-only servers offering secure encryption. ExpressVPN slightly edges above SurfShark as it has had more than 20 independent audits from the likes of PwC and KPMG, which have verified its no-logs and security policies.
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ExpressVPN vs Surfshark: Final verdict
If you're looking for a high-value VPN service — offering one of the best VPN deals — Surfshark is a great option for those who need a VPN for multiple devices around the home.
However, if you really value privacy, want a premium VPN experience in around 105 countries, and are looking to spread the cost of your VPN each month, ExpressVPN may be the better option.
ExpressVPN even includes a quibble-free 30-day guarantee on all of its subscriptions if you’re not happy.
With 24/7 customer support, you'll be able to talk to someone from any time zone to get a full refund if you're unhappy with the experience on your devices. Yes, ExpressVPN is that confident.
It also works with several platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, and Android.
VPNs create an encryption tunnel where all of the communication between your gadget and the internet is funnelled | SORA | GB NEWS What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is software that protects and anonymises everything you do online.
VPNs can conceal your online activities by routing traffic through an encrypted tunnel that connects to secure servers worldwide. The most reliable VPNs employ the same encryption standard as governments in the United Kingdom and the United States, ensuring that even your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can't keep tabs on the websites you visit, the duration of your sessions on each site, or your current location.
This protection extends to advertisers, trackers, and hackers, preventing them from monitoring your online behaviour. Furthermore, personal information entered into online forms and sensitive data transmitted to and from your device will be safeguarded from hackers using strong encryption provided by a VPN.