Alternatives · VPNs
Surfshark alternatives
Surfshark compared with 11 alternatives: NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access and 6 more.
Surfshark is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23. 5 of the 11 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.
11 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| SurfsharkThis tool | Free trial · from $79/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| NordVPN | Free trial · from $139.08/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| ExpressVPN | Free trial · from $99.95/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Proton VPN | Free plan · from $83.88/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| CyberGhost | Free trial · from $56.94/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Private Internet Access | From $47.88/yr | No | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| hide.me | Free plan · from $2.69/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| IPVanish | Free trial · from $99.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| PrivadoVPN | Free plan · from $1.11/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| PureVPN | From $47.95/yr | No | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| TunnelBear | Free plan · from $3.33/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Windscribe | Free plan · from $3/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
Price against what you get
Surfshark starts at $6.58 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 11 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, hide.me, PrivadoVPN, PureVPN, TunnelBear and 1 more start lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Surfshark
- Free trial · from $139.08/yr
NordVPN
Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links
- NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan). Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
Suits: Households covering up to 10 devices on one account
- Free trial · from $99.95/yr
ExpressVPN
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers
- ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85. Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
Suits: People who want a VPN with apps for routers and TVs as well as computers
- Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Proton VPN
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap
- Proton VPN starts at $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88. Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
- Proton VPN has a free plan. Surfshark does not, though it has a free trial.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Trying a VPN for free without a data cap
- Free trial · from $56.94/yr
CyberGhost
VPN for seven devices with a 45-day money-back window on long plans
- CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94. Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
Suits: Trying a VPN on a computer for a day without entering a card
- From $47.88/yr
Private Internet Access
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states
- Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal). Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Free plan · from $2.69/mo
hide.me
Malaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices
- hide.me starts at $2.69 per month, billed $69.99 every 26 months at the same price on renewal. Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
- hide.me has a free plan. Surfshark does not, though it has a free trial.
Suits: People who want a free VPN without creating an account
- Free trial · from $99.99/yr
IPVanish
Ziff Davis-owned VPN with no device cap and antivirus on higher plans
- IPVanish starts at $99.99 per year at renewal (Essential), after a first 2 years for $52.56. Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
- Only Surfshark lists a browser extension.
Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Free plan · from $1.11/mo
PrivadoVPN
VPN with a 10GB free plan and ad blocking on paid plans
- PrivadoVPN starts at $1.11 per month for a first 27 months (24-month plan); renewal price not stated. Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
- PrivadoVPN has a free plan. Surfshark does not, though it has a free trial.
Suits: Light users who need a few gigabytes of VPN a month for free
- From $47.95/yr
PureVPN
VPN sold in three tiers that add a password manager and data removal
- PureVPN starts at $47.95 per year at renewal (Standard), after a first 27 months for $58.20. Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
- PureVPN also covers password manager.
Suits: Households that need a VPN on up to 10 devices
- Free plan · from $3.33/mo
TunnelBear
McAfee-owned VPN with a 2GB free plan and pay-once multi-year plans
- TunnelBear starts at $3.33 per month on the 3-year Unlimited plan ($120 paid once). Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
- TunnelBear has a free plan. Surfshark does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Surfshark lists a Linux app.
Suits: Occasional users who need a VPN for a few gigabytes
- Free plan · from $3/mo
Windscribe
VPN with a 10GB free plan and pay-per-location pricing
- Windscribe starts at $3 per month for 3 locations (Build A Plan). Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
- Windscribe has a free plan. Surfshark does not, though it has a free trial.
- Windscribe is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Light users who can live within 10GB a month for free
Limits worth knowing in Surfshark
- The advertised $2.49 a month covers only the first 27 months of a 2-year plan; after that it renews yearly at $79, $99 or $119 depending on the plan.
- The 30-day money-back guarantee excludes Alternative Number purchases, anonymous dedicated IPs and most reseller or gift-card purchases.
- Identity theft coverage is for US residents outside New York State, and Incogni only serves the US, UK, EU, Switzerland and Canada.
- The free trial needs PayPal, Apple Pay or a credit card and applies only to 1- and 2-year plans bought on the website.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Surfshark?
The alternatives to Surfshark in this directory are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, hide.me, IPVanish, PrivadoVPN, PureVPN, TunnelBear and Windscribe. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Surfshark.
Is there a free alternative to Surfshark?
Yes. Proton VPN, hide.me, PrivadoVPN, TunnelBear and Windscribe have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Is there an open-source alternative to Surfshark?
Proton VPN, Private Internet Access and Windscribe are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.