Proton VPN vs Surfshark
Proton VPN is a Swiss service with a free plan, while Surfshark is a Dutch company with no free plan and only bundled paid tiers. Proton's paid VPN Plus covers 10 devices, and Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections on every plan. The advertised monthly figures are both first-term prices: Proton's $3.49 sits on a 24-month plan and Surfshark's EUR 2.49 is spread over 27 months. Surfshark says it merged with Nord Security, so it is not independent of NordVPN, and Proton publishes open-source apps with an annual no-logs audit.
Sebastiaan SmitsFounderVendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. Every vendor link is marked the same, whatever the arrangement behind it. How that works.
Choose Proton VPN ifyou want to test a VPN free on one device first, or you already use Proton Mail or Pass and prefer one account. You also value apps published as open source and a repeated external no-logs audit.
Choose Surfshark ifyou have many devices to cover and want unlimited connections without counting. You also accept bundled extras such as Alternative ID and scam protection in the price, and a company that merged with Nord Security.
Proton VPN and Surfshark side by side
| Proton VPN | Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Our VPN services rank | #3 of 18 | #5 of 18 |
| Established in | Switzerland | Netherlands |
| List price, 6 November 2026 | Paid on 24-month terms: VPN Plus $3.49 per month ($83.76 first 24 months), Unlimited $7.99 per month; free plan on one device | EUR 2.49 per month for Starter and One, EUR 3.99 for One+, as 27-month totals of EUR 67.23 and EUR 107.73; no free plan |
| Free tier | Yes | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Self-hostable | — | — |
| Built for | Buyers who already use Proton Mail or Pass and want one account for all | Households that want unlimited devices on one account with add-on tools |
| Not for | People who need a flat rate that never changes after the first term | Buyers who want the plain VPN alone or a company independent of Nord |
Both are reviewed in full in our VPN services ranking: Proton VPN and Surfshark.
Where they differ
Proton VPN 4 · Surfshark 1 · open 1- 01
A free tier against a 30-day refund only
Proton's free plan has no credit card requirement and gives 1 device at medium speed on servers in 10 countries, plus a Mail address, 5 GB of Drive and two Pass vaults. Surfshark has no free plan; its FAQ mentions a free trial without length or terms, limited to 3 devices. Both paid products carry a 30-day money-back guarantee. For testing without paying, Proton is the clearer route.
Edge: Proton VPN
- 02
How many devices at once
Proton VPN Plus allows 10 simultaneous devices on 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries. Surfshark's paid plans allow unlimited simultaneous connections, and the VPN feature list says the same for devices. A household with phones, laptops, consoles and a router will reach ten faster than it expects. Surfshark removes that counting entirely, while Proton's ten is enough for most single users.
Edge: Surfshark
- 03
What the headline monthly figure hides
Proton lists VPN Plus at $3.49 per month on a 24-month plan, billed $83.76 up front, and Unlimited at $7.99 with $191.76 for the first 24 months, then $119.88 every 12 months. Surfshark shows Starter and One at EUR 2.49 and One+ at EUR 3.99, with totals of EUR 67.23 and EUR 107.73 over 27 months. Surfshark lists no monthly or 1-year price; Proton shows a renewal figure for Unlimited only.
Depends on the buyer
- 04
Plain VPN or a bundle of extras
Proton sells the VPN on its own as VPN Plus, or inside Unlimited with Mail, Calendar, Drive and Pass. Surfshark's page shows no VPN-only tier: every plan lists Alternative ID, scam protection, antivirus, alert, identity theft coverage and Incogni data removal. Identity theft cover applies to US residents outside New York State, and Incogni is for residents of selected regions. Proton leaves you the choice.
Edge: Proton VPN
- 05
Evidence behind the no-logs claim
Proton's support page says websites visited, traffic, IP address, session length and location are not stored, and it reports a 5th annual external audit. Its Android app is on GitHub under GPL-3.0. Surfshark lists an audited no-logs policy, with a Deloitte assurance report and a verification again in 2025. Nothing on the Surfshark pages in our pack says whether its apps are open source. Proton shows more for you to check.
Edge: Proton VPN
- 06
Company behind the service
Proton is stated as Swiss-based. Surfshark is registered as Surfshark B.V., Kabelweg 57, 1014BA Amsterdam, with KvK number 81967985, and says it merged with Nord Security, giving a 1.6 billion dollar valuation. Both sit in Europe, but Surfshark's ownership link to another VPN brand matters if you wanted a separate provider. Proton's pages we read show no equivalent merger.
Edge: Proton VPN
When neither fits
If you want a flat price that does not change after the first term, or a provider with no bundling, neither is ideal. Mullvad VPN and IVPN are the two others in this category worth reading next.
Proton VPN or Surfshark: questions
3 answersIs Proton's free VPN enough for daily browsing?
It is limited to one device at a time, medium speed and servers in 10 countries chosen for you. That works for a test or occasional use. Streaming and P2P are listed for Plus and Unlimited, not for Free.
Does Surfshark have a plan without the extra security tools?
On the pricing page we read, no: Starter, One and One+ each list the VPN together with Alternative ID, scam protection, antivirus and other tools. The VPN features are listed the same for all three plans. Differences between tiers lie in the bundled extras.
Where are the two companies registered?
Proton is described on its pricing page as Swiss-based. Surfshark's legal footer gives Surfshark B.V. in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, under KvK number 81967985. Surfshark also states that it merged with Nord Security.
Sources
Checked 6 November 2026- Proton VPN pricing: Free plan limits, VPN Plus and Unlimited prices, 10 devices, 30-day guarantee, Swiss base.
- Proton no-logs policy: Categories of data Proton says it does not store.
- Proton no-logs audit: Fifth annual external audit of the no-logs policy.
- Proton Android app: Official repository licensed GPL-3.0.
- Surfshark pricing: Starter, One and One+ prices, 27-month totals, unlimited connections, bundled extras, trial note.
- Surfshark terms of service: Surfshark B.V., KvK 81967985, Amsterdam address.
- Surfshark about page: Nord Security merger, valuation and 2025 Deloitte verification.
- Surfshark no-logs page: Deloitte assurance report on no-logs compliance.