P
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices, no-logs policy and servers in 113 countries
From $2.03/mo
Proton VPN vs Surfshark
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
P
Choose Proton VPN if…
- you want a free plan to start with
- you want open source you can self-host or audit
- you're in its core audience: privacy-conscious individuals, travelers and streamers
S
Choose Surfshark if…
- you're in its core audience: privacy-conscious individuals, families
Side by side
Feature Proton VPN Surfshark
Pricing modelFreemiumPaid
Starting price$3.49/mo—
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, ChromeWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome
CompanyProton AGSurfshark B.V.
Full feature lists
P Proton VPN
- 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries
- NetShield DNS-level ad, tracker and malware blocker
- Secure Core multi-hop routing
- VPN Accelerator for up to 400% faster speeds
- Kill switch and always-on VPN
- WireGuard and OpenVPN with AES-256 or ChaCha20
- P2P/BitTorrent support on paid plans
- Up to 10 simultaneous devices
S Surfshark
- 4500+ servers in 100 countries at 10 Gbps
- Unlimited simultaneous devices
- Split tunneling, rotating IP and double VPN
- Ad and cookie pop-up blocker
- Antivirus with real-time scans and webcam protection
- Scam text detection and AI email scam checker
- Data leak alerts for email, ID and credit cards
- Masked email and persona generator
Their home pages
What each vendor shows first: the pitch, the plans and the sign-up.
Proton VPN · protonvpn.com
Surfshark · surfshark.comWhat you'd pay
The cheapest plan that fits, per month, billed yearly where the plan offers it.
Proton VPN
Proton FreeFree
VPN Plus$3.49/mo on 2-year plan ($9.99 monthly)
Proton Unlimited$7.99/mo on 2-year plan ($12.99 monthly)
Surfshark
Surfshark Starter£1.79/mo (£48.33 for first 27 months)
Surfshark One£1.79/mo (£48.33 for first 27 months)
Surfshark One+£2.89/mo (£78.03 for first 27 months)
Strengths and limitations
Proton VPN
- Free plan with no ads and no data limits
- Open-source apps and publicly available no-logs audit
- Swiss jurisdiction
- Paid plans cover 10 devices
- Free plan covers 1 device and servers in 10 randomly selected countries
- Free plan excludes streaming, P2P and the ad blocker
- Lowest price requires a 2-year commitment
Surfshark
- Unlimited devices on one account
- 4500+ servers in 100 countries with RAM-only, audited no-logs setup
- Antivirus certified by AV-Test
- 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 support
- No free plan
- Identity theft coverage limited to US residents, excluding New York State
- Incogni data removal only for US, UK, EU, Swiss and Canadian residents
- Scam call protection not yet available
More comparisons
Other options to consider
P
From $2.03/mo
P
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices, no-logs policy and servers in 113 countries
VPNOpen source
P
PP
From $1.69/mo
C
C
Paid
A
ACensorship-resistant VPN app with paid, free and self-hosted server options
Free, from $3.30/mo
A
Free, from $3.30/mo
A
Censorship-resistant VPN app with paid, free and self-hosted server options
Obfuscation & anti-censorshipFree planOpen source
N
N
From $2.99/mo
V
VV
From $1.99/mo
Facts from each vendor's public pages. Editorial policy