ProtonVPN and Surfshark are two of the most popular VPN brands. When you look at both companies separately, you’ll notice that they both have amazing features. You can see that both firms’ teams put in a lot of effort.
So, we compared Proton VPN vs Surfshark to learn about all of the companies’ efforts side by side. You can then choose between them based on the results of this investigation.
So, without any further delays, let’s get right into the comparison!
ProtonVPN vs Surfshark: A Face Off!
| Surfshark | ProtonVPN | |
| Trustpilot Rating: | 4.2 | 2.6 |
| Servers: | 3200+ servers in 95 countries | 1700+ servers in 63 countries |
| Logs policy: | No logs | No logs |
| Pricing: | Starts from $2.30/month | Starts from €4.99/month |
| VPN protocols: | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, Shadowsocks | OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and WireGuard |
| Streaming Compatibility: | BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, and Hotstar | Hulu, YouTube, Netflix, and more |
| Platforms: | Firefox, Windows, macOS, Linux, Edge, Chrome, iOS, and Android | Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android |
| Simultaneous connections: | Unlimited devices | 10 devices |
| Support: | FAQs, knowledge base, 24/7 live chat, email support | knowledge base, email support |
Speed comparison: ProtonVPN vs Surfshark VPN
While all VPNs slow down your internet, the best VPNs ensure that the lag is as minimal as possible.
The ProtonVPN vs Surfshark speed test was conducted by us on both VPNs’ WireGuard protocol using the 100 Mbps download speed/100 Mbps upload speed formula and the results are as follows:
| Protocols | Surfshark | ProtonVPN |
| WireGuard | 84/65 | 79/56 |
Surfshark’s download, upload, and latency speeds are all excellent, so it’s no wonder it made our top five list. ProtonVPN, on the other hand, did not make the cut for a reason.
Despite having the greatest download speeds and upload speeds that are nearly equal to Surfshark, the latency was quite high.
In short, although ProtonVPN is a good option, purchasers should look at Surfshark.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
ProtonVPN vs Surfshark streaming capabilities; Which one unblocks more?
Surfshark unblocks all prominent streaming services on the first try, but ProtonVPN requires many tries to gain access to the majority of them. Also, videos using ProtonVPN take a long time to load and buffer, whereas we didn’t encounter that problem with Surfshark.
With Netflix viewing, the story is the same with VPNs. While Surfshark only makes one attempt to gain access to Netflix, ProtonVPN requires you to change servers to discover one that can unblock Netflix.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Torrenting
The P2P network is responsible for torrent downloads. All of Surfshark’s servers are P2P compatible, and the download speed was consistently promising in our tests.
P2P is also supported by ProtonVPN. The app displays a P2P symbol next to the server name while connected. Despite the fact that ProtonVPN does not have as many supported servers as some other VPNs, even connecting to a standard server allows you to download torrent files.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Features overview
Both Surfshark and ProtonVPN delivered on the features we’d expect from a premium VPN. Let’s check them out in detail below:
Double VPN
Double VPN means that the provider routes your VPN traffic through more than a single server for the ultimate protection.
While both VPNs do not offer the functionality by this name, Surfshark performs the Double VPN function through its MultiHop feature.
Similarly, Secure Core VPN is a feature of ProtonVPN that works similarly to Surfshark’s MultiHop, but only for a limited number of servers.
Split tunneling
Both VPN services provide all of the usual VPN capabilities, such as split tunneling for Windows and Android users.
While both app and IP-based split tunneling are supported, Surfshark has the advantage of allowing URL-based split tunneling.
Ad-blocker
Both Surfshark and ProtonVPN offer an ad-blocker called CleanWeb and NetShield.
By blocking advertisements, trackers, and viruses, ProtonVPN’s NetShield secures your devices and allows faster browsing. When activated, it prohibits your browsers from loading files from sites that contain malware, spyware, or other harmful software. By default, malware prevention is enabled.
In addition to malware, it bans advertising and the web trackers that marketing businesses use to target you. However, keep in mind that this feature isn’t available on ProtonVPN’s free plan.
CleanWeb is one of Surfshark’s most popular feature, and it comes standard with all of their subscription plans. It’s a function that protects you from fraudulent advertisements and websites.
With CleanWeb turned on, the browser will display fewer advertising and trackers will be disabled. Not to mention that you’ll be safe from phishing efforts.
Specialty servers
As for specialty servers, Surfshark comes with a list of MultiHop, Statis IP, and P2P servers, all of which offer robust service to users.
However, ProtonVPN doesn’t lack in this regard either. It offers free, Plus (streaming-optimized servers), Tor (optimized for using Tor), P2P (recommended for torrenting), and Secure Core servers.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
ProtonVPN vs Surfshark security: which is a better option?
In this category, we look into VPN protocols, encryption standards, and privacy profiles to see how well Surfshark and ProtonVPN do.
Encryption and tunneling protocols
On all significant desktop and mobile operating systems, ProtonVPN and Surfshark offer IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard protocols. Let’s keep in mind that the open-source Shadowsocks proxy is also supported by Surfshark.
ProtonVPN’s IKEv2 protocol, however, is only available on Android and iOS platforms.
Moreover, all of Surfshark’s protocols utilize the AES-256 encryption. ProtonVPN, on the other hand, uses ChaCha20 encryption with WireGuard and supports AES-256 with OpenVPN and IKEv2.
There’s no need to be concerned about any sort of encryption because they’re both unbreakable.
Logging
As far as the ProtonVPN vs Surfshark logging policies are concerned, then Surfshark has a zero-logs policy in place to keep your online activity private, and they only keep minimal diagnostic logs to assist them improve their service.
Although ProtonVPN is situated in Switzerland, which is not a member of the 5 Eyes Alliance, it does collaborate with the other 5 Eyes Alliance members on law enforcement data demands. For privacy-conscious users, ProtonVPN publishes a transparency report that details demands for information from both internal and external law enforcement.
ProtonVPN likewise maintains a stringent log policy, simply logging the timestamps of the connection requests of users.
Kill Switch
Both providers include an internet kill switch in their apps, which disables your connection if your VPN goes down. If you’re downloading torrents and don’t want your ISP to know about it, this is a good option.
If your VPN connection goes down, your complete internet connection shuts down to prevent being tracked.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Plans pricing
| Prices and Plans | Surfshark | ProtonVPN |
| Periods | 1 month | 1 month |
| 6 months | 1 year | |
| 2 years | 2 years | |
| Special offers and discounts | 82% off on 2 years + 2 months plan | – |
| Lowest price per month | $2.30/month | €4.99/month |
| Highest price per month | $12.95/mo | €9.99/mo |
Even though ProtonVPN is the most affordable option on a monthly basis, Surfshark takes the lead on prolonged plans. The two-year subscription from Surfshark is only $2.30/mo, way cheaper than ProtonVPN’s Plus package (€4.99 = $5.22/mo), which is amazing.
When it comes to money-back guarantees, both VPN companies provide a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
China and countries with restricted internet access
China is now one of the harshest regions in the world when it comes to preventing VPNs from entering their country.
Those connecting directly from China are blocked from accessing instant messaging services, social media apps, and many other sites unless they use a VPN.
The NoBorders mode of Surfshark makes it one of best VPNs for bypassing China’s numerous restrictions. ProtonVPN, on the other hand, discontinued circumventing China’s limitations in 2019.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Server locations
Surfshark has built an impressive network of over 3,200 servers across 65 countries. On this front, ProtonVPN has let novelty get in the way, and it presently only has roughly 1700+ servers in 63 countries. Its free package gives you access to over 80 servers across 3 countries.
In terms of server count and geographic spread, Surfshark is the clear winner. Furthermore, the supplier provides free static VPN servers, unlike ProtonVPN that does not provide static or dedicated IP servers.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
ProtonVPN vs Surfshark device compatibility: Interface & Ease of Use
| ProtonVPN | Surfshark | |
| OS supported | Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android | Linux, Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android |
| Other devices and operating systems | Fire TVs & Android TVs | Fire TV devices, Kodi, and Android TVs |
| Browser extensions | Safari, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera | Chrome & Firefox |
| Simultaneous connections | Ten | Unlimited |
Each of these VPNs makes it extremely simple for new users to be set up and connected on both their desktop and mobile devices. However, we reviewed both VPNs in detail on all significant operating systems, and here is what we gathered:
Desktop apps
Surfshark has a simple user interface (UI), making it one of the best VPNs for novices. Every Surfshark VPN function is designed to be simple to use, and you won’t have any trouble changing servers, protocols, or other options.
ProtonVPN’s UI, on the other hand, includes a world map, which adds to the visual clutter. On the plus side, it uses color coding to indicate server load, making it easy to choose the best VPN server.
Unfortunately, certain options in ProtonVPN’s interface aren’t labelled, making them harder to locate for new VPN users. Overall, ProtonVPN’s desktop UI isn’t as polished and well-organized as Surfshark VPN’s, which makes it more difficult to use.
Mobile apps
Surfshark’s mobile apps, like its desktop counterparts, are simple to use. The sole criticism is that the iOS app lacks a split tunneling feature, however this is due to an iOS limitation instead of the VPN itself.
The mobile apps for ProtonVPN are more organised than their desktop counterparts, with clearly labelled features that make these easier to use.
Nevertheless, we have to give Surfshark the edge because of its simple UI, which makes it very easy to use than ProtonVPN.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Customer support
Both VPN services offer thorough knowledgebases, FAQs, and email support when it comes to customer support. In addition, Surfshark VPN has a live chat feature, which is a quick assistance route for issues that require a human touch, which ProtonVPN does not.
ProtonVPN uses social media to compensate for the lack of live chat support, providing outstanding assistance via Twitter and Reddit, however not as quickly as a 24/7 live support. As a result, we must award the victory to Surfshark.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
ProtonVPN vs Surfshark – The Winner?
ProtonVPN has a lot of things going for it in terms of features, speed, and keeping your internet activity private, but it couldn’t compete with Surfshark’s full-featured VPN.
Both VPNs provide apps for all main platforms, connections are stable, and each VPN bypasses geo-restricted content effectively. The benefits of ProtonVPN, on the other hand, end there.
Surfshark is the overall best option; its 24/7 customer service provides it an advantage over ProtonVPN’s 2-day ticket and email support wait period, which is critical when it comes to internet security.
Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode outperforms ProtonVPN’s zero cloaking capabilities, giving it a viable option for unrestrained internet in China and access to sites that use VPN scanners to block VPNs.
So, if you’re still thinking which is better: ProtonVPN vs Surfshark? Then it’s definitely Surfshark!
FAQs
Is ProtonVPN good for gaming?
Proton VPN reduces lag and disturbance, making it a good choice for gaming. Everyone who uses Proton VPN has access to the lightweight and fast WireGuard protocol, which, when paired with our VPN Accelerator technology, may boost VPN speeds by over 400%.
Is ProtonVPN better than Surfshark?
Well, Surfshark is a better option than ProtonVPN. It has more complex features, more servers, more security and privacy, and is also more user-friendly.