Surfshark vs ExpressVPN
Compare Surfshark's household coverage with ExpressVPN's Lightway and TrustedServer features.
Surfshark suits shared household connections; ExpressVPN offers Lightway and TrustedServer for those interested in its protocol and server design. On the plans compared here, Surfshark covers unlimited simultaneous devices; ExpressVPN covers 10 simultaneous devices. Choose an ExpressVPN tier that fits your device count. Network coverage: Surfshark (4,500+ servers · 100 countries); ExpressVPN (Servers in 113 countries).
Based on published provider facts and editorial assessment. How we evaluate. Some links earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Surfshark
Choose Surfshark if unlimited simultaneous devices covers your household's needs.
Read the review →ExpressVPN
Choose ExpressVPN for Lightway and TrustedServer if the selected plan's 10 simultaneous devices fits your setup.
Read the review →
Want to test it on your own devices?
The quickest way to settle a shortlist is to check the official deal page, install the apps you actually use, and lean on the refund window if it is not the right fit.
Offer terms
Surfshark: Check current Starter long-term offer
ExpressVPN: Basic: $2.99/mo for the first 28 months
A current price was not confirmed for every plan. Check each provider for your currency, upfront payment, included months, renewal price and tax.
Upfront costs and renewal notes →Device allowance
Surfshark: Unlimited devices. ExpressVPN: 10 devices.
Refund terms
Surfshark: 30 days from the initial purchase; exclusions apply and renewals are not refundable
ExpressVPN: 30 days for eligible new users; app-store purchases excluded
Eligibility, payment method and subscription length can affect the guarantee.
The details side by side
| Head to head | Surfshark | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly plan | Check current Starter monthly price | Check current Basic monthly price |
| Advertised long-term offer | Check current Starter long-term offer | Basic: $2.99/mo for the first 28 months |
| Devices on compared plan | Unlimited | 10 |
| Countries | 100 | 113 |
| Network | 4,500+ servers · 100 countries | Servers in 113 countries |
| Refund window | 30 days from the initial purchase; exclusions apply and renewals are not refundable | 30 days for eligible new users; app-store purchases excluded |
| Jurisdiction | Netherlands | British Virgin Islands |
| Protocol | WireGuard; other protocols vary by platform | Lightway + WireGuard |
| Anti-blocking | OpenVPN obfuscation | Automatic obfuscation on supported platforms |
| Audit / privacy | Deloitte no-logs assurance reports in 2023 and 2025; full reports require a Surfshark account | KPMG assurance of privacy commitments and TrustedServer; additional security audits |
| WireGuard | ||
| Kill switch | ||
| Split tunneling | ||
| Audited no-logs | ||
| Score for overall | 8/10 | 8/10 |
Equal editorial scores do not produce a winner. Device limits correspond to the advertised entry plan; paid upgrades may differ.
Editorial scores by use case
Overall: Equal scores
Both have the same editorial overall score (8/10). There is no score-based winner. Compare the features, plan terms and privacy documents that matter to you.
Streaming: Equal scores
Both have the same editorial streaming score (9/10). There is no score-based winner. Compare the features, plan terms and privacy documents that matter to you.
Gaming: Equal scores
Both have the same editorial gaming score (8/10). There is no score-based winner. Compare the features, plan terms and privacy documents that matter to you.
Privacy: Equal scores
Both have the same editorial privacy score (8/10). There is no score-based winner. Compare the features, plan terms and privacy documents that matter to you.
What differs
Offer terms
Surfshark: Check current Starter long-term offer. ExpressVPN: Basic: $2.99/mo for the first 28 months. A current price was not confirmed for every plan. Check each provider for your currency, upfront payment, included months, renewal price and tax.
Simultaneous devices
Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections, while ExpressVPN allows 10 on the plan compared here.
Country coverage
ExpressVPN lists 113 countries versus Surfshark's 100, which can matter for travel and regional access.
Where each is based
Surfshark is based in Netherlands, while ExpressVPN operates from British Virgin Islands. Jurisdiction is worth weighing if data-retention rules are part of your decision.
Main protocol
Surfshark documents WireGuard; other protocols vary by platform; ExpressVPN documents Lightway + WireGuard. Availability and defaults vary by app and platform.
Questions about Surfshark vs ExpressVPN
Which is better, Surfshark or ExpressVPN?
Both have the same editorial overall score (8/10). There is no score-based winner. Compare the features, plan terms and privacy documents that matter to you.
Which offer costs less?
Surfshark: Check current Starter long-term offer. ExpressVPN: Basic: $2.99/mo for the first 28 months. A current price was not confirmed for every plan. Check each provider for your currency, upfront payment, included months, renewal price and tax.
Which one supports more devices?
Surfshark: Unlimited devices. ExpressVPN: 10 devices.
Which is better for streaming?
Both have the same editorial streaming score (9/10). There is no score-based winner. Compare the features, plan terms and privacy documents that matter to you.
Which has the stronger privacy score?
Both have the same editorial privacy score (8/10). There is no score-based winner. Compare the features, plan terms and privacy documents that matter to you.
Are both links affiliate links?
Some provider links may earn us a commission; others are ordinary links. This does not determine our scores. Prices, regional offers and eligibility must be confirmed on the provider website.
Sources and offer notes
Surfshark
Provider fact check: 2026-09-05
See Surfshark for current Starter pricing in your currency. Long-term offers are billed up front and renew at the applicable standard rate. Prices depend on currency, tax and promotion; check the total and renewal amount before subscribing.
- Paid devices, plan structure and regional pricing (surfshark.com)
- Server count, countries and network hardware (surfshark.com)
- Refund eligibility and contracting entity (surfshark.com)
- Renewal and currency policy (surfshark.com)
- No-logs assurance and security audit history (surfshark.com)
- Kill switch and split tunneling (surfshark.com)
- OpenVPN obfuscation and platform availability (surfshark.com)
- Dausos platform limitation (support.surfshark.com)
ExpressVPN
Provider fact check: 2026-09-05
USD Basic offer reviewed September 5, 2026 using official pricing and checkout pages, including a cached pricing snapshot: $83.72 for the first 28 months ($2.99/mo equivalent), then $99.95/year plus applicable tax. Monthly Basic pricing was not verified. Confirm the current regional offer and total; tier prices and device limits differ.
- 113-country heading and protocol availability matrix (expressvpn.com)
- Default 2-year offers show tier device limits, initial 28 month charges and annual renewals; web retrieval reports crawl 5 days ago (checkout.expressvpn.com)
- Confirms custom WireGuard implementation and platform coverage; Lightway remains default (expressvpn.com)
- Documents automatic obfuscation on supported platforms, kill switch, split tunneling and RAM-only TrustedServer (expressvpn.com)
- Lists privacy/infrastructure audit history separately from newer bundled-product audits (expressvpn.com)
- June 25, 2025 announcement says assessed privacy claims and TrustedServer as of February 28, 2025; audit ordinal inconsistent (expressvpn.com)
- Express Technologies Ltd.; refund eligibility and exclusions; BVI governing law (expressvpn.com)
- States company based in British Virgin Islands; general upto 14-device marketing is not a substitute for tier table (expressvpn.com)
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