When searching for a reliable VPN you may be spoiled with options. NordVPN and Surfshark are both fantastic services. In fact both of these applications are at the top of our list of the best VPNs. 

But how do they compare to one another? Which protocol offers greater security and is superior for streaming? 

In this NordVPN vs. Surfshark comparison I will compare their speed test results features security strength applications and customer service quality. After reading this you will have a much better understanding of which VPN service is superior. 

Comparison of speeds: which is faster NordVPN or Surfshark? 

1. For this comparison of NordVPN vs. Surfshark I assessed the speed of each protocol in 5 places including the United Kingdom the United States Australia Japan Switzerland and Argentina and then computed the average speed. The next step is to compare the individual suppliers. 
2. Both NordVPN and Surfshark provide Wireguard however NordVPN's version NordLynx is significantly more sophisticated. In addition OpenVPN UDP/TCP setups and IKEv2 protocols were compared. 
3. At first glance it appears that the speeds of NordVPN and Surfshark are comparable while Surfshark is somewhat quicker in terms of upload speed. To see the actual figures though we must examine some data. Let's examine how VPNs with different protocols compare against one another. 
4. The average decrease in download speed when using NordVPN with NordLynx (WireGuard) is 14% while the upload speed decreases by 54%. These are not poor results. However Surfshark surpasses its performance with even more astounding statistics. The average decreases in download and upload speeds are 12% and 43% respectively. 

These service providers also support IKEv2 a mobile user favorite. Although NordVPN is frequently slower than Wireguard the average download speed decrease is 28%. The average decrease in upload speed is 83 percent which is a significant decrease. The average download speed on Surfshark is 27% while the average upload speed is 87%. Therefore the download speeds of both providers are nearly comparable. However NordVPN's upload rates are more efficient. 

Although OpenVPN UDP is a faster version of this protocol the degrees of speed reduction varies. For instance NordVPN decreases the average download speed by 34% and the average upload speed by 77%. In comparison typical Surfshark download and upload speeds decrease by 60 and 53 percent respectively. Therefore it appears that NordVPN has peaks in certain regions whereas Surfshark is more constant generally. 

In OpenVPN TCP mode it is typical to observe a drastic fall in speed. This protocol prioritizes security above speed. Thus the average download and upload speed decreases for NordVPN are 89 percent and 90 percent respectively. Surfshark is not significantly different with average download speed losses of 91% and upload speed drops of 90%. Therefore both services deliver nearly identical results. 

Security 

Surfshark supports Shadowsocks (an open-source proxy) and WireGuard which is the industry's newest big competitor. This function is known to be easy to audit and has a good speed for far distance connections. NordLynx is NordVPN’s own proprietary WireGuard touting its "lean design" as a strong selling feature. 

Both the VPNs employ 256-bit AES encryption which is practically impossible to break. This encrypts your transmission using a secret key so anyone peering in will only see useless data. Using a 4096-bit RSA key NordVPN allows your device to interact anonymously with the VPN. Surfshark on the other hand uses 2048-bit RSA keys which are still safe but significantly less so. 

NordVPN and Surfshark provide kill switches on all platforms. A kill switch halts all data transfer in the event of an unexpected connection loss guaranteeing that you never surf without security. In addition both of these VPNs utilize private DNS servers so no third party may ever see your internet traffic. 

Each provider uses its own cloaking technique to overcome VPN-blocking and country-wide internet restrictions. NordVPN employs Obfsproxy a technology that modifies your traffic and conceals the fact that you are using a VPN. However Surfshark has its own proprietary software known as NoBorders which probably functions similarly. 

NordVPN vs Surfshark: Privacy 

NordVPN offers a number of unusual features such as 'Onion over VPN' which routes your connection over the Onion network and compatibility with Nord's own high-speed protocol NordLynx in addition to protocol switching top-tier encryption and a kill switch.



Surfshark includes a number of security features including support for the OpenVPN UDP TCP and IKEv2 protocols AES-256 encryption and a kill switch to protect you if your connection fails. Although split tunneling is currently only supported on Windows and Android double-hop (routing through two VPN servers) and split tunneling are useful extra security features.

Both VPNs make it simple to access the requirements that the vast majority of users will require but NordVPN outperforms Surfshark with additional capabilities for those who will truly benefit from them.

Comparison of NordVPN and Surfshark's Performance 

For many the most crucial aspect of a VPN is how smoothly it functions in everyday situations. 

Surfshark is a fast swimmer and in our thorough evaluation we noticed a small drop in speed when compared to our unprotected UK connection. NordVPN also performs well in this aspect with an estimated 6-8 percent reduction in connection speed.

On a UK line with a maximum speed of 110Mb as measured by Ookla's Speedtest both Surfshark and Nord operated dependably with no dropped connections - Surfshark regularly delivered 106Mb download speeds whereas Nord averaged 105Mb. There is almost nothing between them.

In the United States NordVPN is somewhat quicker than ExpressVPN but both offer great performance in the United States and on a variety of servers internationally. 

If you need to discover a stable connection on the other side of the globe or in a nation Nord's larger range of servers might be handy but practically either VPN is an excellent option for individuals who value speed above all else. 

Which of NordVPN and Surshark wins the Netflix battle? 

NordVPN is the best VPN for Netflix followed closely by Surfshark. But how effective is Surfshark for streaming? 

Again NordVPN is quicker and may provide UHD (4K) while Surfshark struggles to provide HD. In addition although Surfshark has around 3200 servers NordVPN has more than 1700 in the United States alone reducing the likelihood of server congestion. 

Both NordVPN and Surfshark allow American Netflix and libraries in other countries including the Netherlands the United Kingdom (which had the largest library at the time I wrote this comparison) and Japan. The same holds true for other streaming services such as Amazon Prime BBC iPlayer Hulu and Disney Plus. 

Regarding Kodi none of our competitors has a specialized app for it but both support it and can be used simultaneously without trouble. 

So does Surfshark provide anything that NordVPN does not? Smart DNS increases the number of supported devices to include smart TVs and game consoles. Choose Surfshark VPN if you have an Apple TV or Xbox One and a reliable internet connection. 

NordVPN vs Surfshark — which should China users choose? 

Both NordVPN and Surfshark are at the top of the list of the best VPNs for China. Using a stealth VPN not to mention Tor over VPN substantially sluggish your connection. Consequently NordVPN wins this round because of its superior performance. If we disregard Surfshark's speed we will quickly see its advantages over its opponent. 

Surfshark supports obfuscated servers (stealth VPN) on all of its servers whereas NordVPN offers 17 locations in 14 countries. Conversely there is no purpose in connecting to a server in Europe or the Americas if you are located in China and attempting to circumvent Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). In addition the No Borders option should be used with the Camouflage mode for optimal results. 

My final piece of advice is to install a Virtual Private Network before traveling to China as their websites are prohibited and you will need to contact customer service or someone who knows a functional mirror site. 

NordVPN vs Surf Shark

NordVPN and Surfshark are excellent services that cover all of your VPN needs; which one we recommend depends on your unique VPN requirements.

Surf Shark is our top recommendation for individuals who value paying as little as possible on a highly feature-rich VPN. It gives absolutely exceptional value for money (opens in a new tab). 

If you want the peace of mind that a well-known brand can bring together with somewhat stronger privacy characteristics then NordVPN's slightly higher price may be well worth it (opens in new tab). In any case they are two of the best VPNs in the market and we have no hesitation in recommending either.