ExpressVPN vs Surfshark
We give ExpressVPN a 2.4 GPA and Surfshark a 2.8, out of 4.0. Surfshark grades higher on value for money and ease of use. They get the same grade on the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
ExpressVPN
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers
Surfshark
VPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAExpressVPNFair | 2.8GPASurfsharkGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | COver two years Basic costs $174.80: $74.85 for the first 15 months, then $99.95 for the next year. That's about $7.30 a month, between the middle and the dearer end of VPN prices. Advanced renews at $119.95 and Express Pro at $199.95. | BThe 2-year Starter plan bills $67.23 for the first 27 months, so two years cost about $2.80 a month, inside the cheaper quarter of VPNs. After that it renews at $79 a year, above the middle of the pack. Going monthly is $16.45. |
| Free plan and trial | DOnly a 3-day free trial, and only when you subscribe in the iPhone or Android app. The 30-day money-back guarantee is for first-time customers and isn't a trial. | DA 7-day free trial on 1- and 2-year plans bought on the website, but it needs PayPal, Apple Pay or a card and is limited to 3 devices. The money-back guarantee doesn't count. |
| Features | BLightway with post-quantum protection, a kill switch, split tunneling, servers in 113 countries, ad and threat blocking, an email alias relay, and from Advanced a password manager and ID theft cover. It covers the whole job. | BUnlimited devices, ad and cookie pop-up blocking, Bypasser, Rotating IP, MultiHop, masked emails with Alternative ID, and antivirus and breach alerts on One. More than 4,500 servers in 100 countries. Nothing in the listing is missing. |
| Ease of use | B4.68 from about 420,000 App Store ratings, a whisker under the 4.7 an A needs. Pick a location and connect. | A4.7 from about 132,000 App Store ratings. Sign in, hit connect, done. |
| Platforms and integrations | BMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and browser extensions, with apps for routers and TVs too. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. | BMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and browser extensions. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. |
| Best for | a VPN with apps for routers and TVs too | covering every device in the house cheaply |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: ExpressVPN and Surfshark. How we grade
Price against what you get
ExpressVPN starts at $8.33 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Surfshark starts at $6.58 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.3.
Surfshark scores higher and starts $1.75 a month lower. Of the other VPNs on the chart, 1 scores higher than ExpressVPN for less, and none scores higher than Surfshark for less.
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
Where they differ
- 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.
At a glance
| ExpressVPN | Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85 | $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23 |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 3-day free trial when you subscribe in the iOS or Android app | 7-day free trial of 1- and 2-year plans bought on the website, limited to 3 devices |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | ExpressVPN | Surfshark B.V. |
| Price read from | expressvpn.com | surfshark.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
ExpressVPN
- People who want a VPN with apps for routers and TVs as well as computers
- Buyers who want a password manager and ID monitoring on one bill
- Small teams of five or more, through ExpressVPN for Teams
Surfshark
- Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Buyers who want antivirus and breach alerts in the same subscription
- People who hand out masked email addresses when signing up to sites
Worth knowing
ExpressVPN
- The advertised $4.99 a month covers only the first 15 months of Basic; it then renews yearly at $99.95, or $119.95 and $199.95 on the higher tiers.
- The US pricing page offers only 12-month plans, and devices are capped at 10, 12 or 14 depending on the tier.
- The 30-day money-back guarantee is for first-time customers; App Store and Google Play purchases are refunded at Apple's or Google's discretion.
- ExpressVPN for Teams has a minimum of five licenses.
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.
Key features
ExpressVPN
- Lightway protocol
- ExpressVPN's own VPN protocol, with post-quantum protection, plus an internet kill switch and split tunneling in the apps.
- Servers in 113 countries
- Every plan reaches the same network of servers in 113 countries, with speeds of up to 40Gbps quoted on the pricing page.
- Ad and threat blocking
- Basic blocks ads, malicious sites and adult sites; Advanced and Express Pro also block trackers.
- ExpressMailGuard
- A private email relay that hides your address behind aliases. The monthly relay allowance and number of aliases and custom domains grow with the plan.
- ExpressKeys and Identity Defender
- From Advanced, a password manager with a 2FA authenticator, plus ID alerts, automated data removal and up to $3 million ($5 million on Pro) of identity theft insurance.
- Dedicated IP
- A fixed IP address of your own: included with Express Pro and an add-on for Basic and Advanced.
Surfshark
- Unlimited devices
- One subscription connects as many devices at once as you like. During the free trial the limit is three.
- Ad and cookie pop-up blocking
- The VPN apps include an ad blocker and a blocker for cookie consent pop-ups.
- Bypasser, Rotating IP and MultiHop
- Bypasser lets chosen apps and sites skip the VPN, Rotating IP changes your address during a session, and Dynamic MultiHop routes traffic through two servers.
- Alternative ID
- Generates a masked email address that forwards to your inbox and a made-up persona for sign-ups. A virtual phone number is a paid add-on.
- Antivirus and breach alerts
- The One and One+ plans add real-time and scheduled antivirus scans, webcam protection, and alerts when your email, card or ID details leak.
- Server network
- More than 4,500 servers in 100 countries, which Surfshark says have all been upgraded to 10Gbps.
Plans
ExpressVPN
Basic, 12 months$99.95
per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months
10 devices and blocking of ads, malicious and adult sites. The first 15 months cost $74.85 ($4.99 a month), shown against $224.85.
Advanced, 12 months$119.95
per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months
12 devices, tracker blocking, ExpressKeys and Identity Defender. The first 15 months cost $89.85 ($5.99 a month).
Express Pro, 12 months$199.95
per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months
14 devices, a dedicated IP and ExpressAI, with more ID alerts and insurance. The first 15 months cost $134.85 ($8.99 a month).
Surfshark
Starter, 2 years$79
per year at renewal, after a first term of 27 months
VPN and Alternative ID. The first 27 months cost $67.23 ($2.49 a month), then it renews each year at $79.
Starter, 1 year$79
per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months
VPN and Alternative ID. The first 15 months cost $50.85 ($3.39 a month), then it renews each year at $79.
Starter, 1 month$16.45
per month
VPN and Alternative ID, billed monthly at the same price each month.
One, 2 years$99
per year at renewal, after a first term of 27 months
Adds Antivirus, Alert and Search. First 27 months $67.23, the same as Starter. Also 1 year ($50.85 first 15 months) or $18.95 a month.
One+, 2 years$119
per year at renewal, after a first term of 27 months
Adds Incogni data removal and US identity theft cover. First 27 months $121.23. Also 1 year ($112.35 first 15 months) or $21.85 a month.
Ways to pay less
ExpressVPN
- Other savings
First 15 months of a 12-month plan from $74.85
A 12-month plan comes with 3 extra months for a first payment of $74.85 (Basic), $89.85 (Advanced) or $134.85 (Express Pro), then renews yearly at the full price.
Surfshark
- Other savings
First 27 months of a 2-year plan from $67.23
Starter and One cost $67.23 for the first 27 months (24 plus 3 extra) and One+ $121.23. The plans then renew every 12 months at $79, $99 and $119.
- Other savings
First 15 months of a 1-year plan from $50.85
Starter and One cost $50.85 for the first 15 months (12 plus 3 extra) and One+ $112.35, before renewing yearly at the full price.
- Education
Student discount through Student Beans
Students who verify their status with Student Beans get a discount code for checkout. Surfshark's page does not state the size of the discount.
