Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN 2025: Two of the Best Duke It Out

Our Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN review shows that Surfshark is the better choice for most people. It’s more affordable and generally matches ExpressVPN in terms of features, including unblocking streaming content and offering loads of server options.

But ExpressVPN historically performs better than Surfshark in our speed tests, and you can’t count out how reliable ExpressVPN has been for gamers over the years. 

Let’s explore our comparison of Surfshark and ExpressVPN to see more details about pricibng, features, customer service, and more.

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN at a glance

• Surfshark: Best value
• ExpressVPN: Best for reliability and speed

	Our Pick
Price	From $1.99/mo	From $3.49/mo
Max # of connected devices	Unlimited	14
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
# of servers	3,200+ servers in 100 countries	Unlisted in 105 countries
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?
	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

Surfshark pros and cons

Surfshark is a newer service, but it has proven itself as powerful as VPN titans like ExpressVPN. First, you'll be able to secure a subscription for only $1.99/mo. And despite the low cost, you'll still get standard VPN features like a kill switch, split tunneling, and a widespread server network. 

Another aspect that validates Surfshark's value is its unlimited simultaneous connections. This would allow you to secure every device for every family member in your home with a single subscription.

Plus, Surfshark offers bonus features even on its most basic plans. Surfshark Starter includes CleanWeb, an ad and tracker blocker, and Alt ID, which helps mask email addresses. The higher tiers offer additional tools such as antivirus, data removal, and more.

ExpressVPN pros and cons

ExpressVPN has a premium price tag, but that's because it provides premium service. It has a strict no-logs policy to keep your data private, extensive streaming support to unblock geo-restrictions, and bonus features like a password manager and content blockers on upper plans.

ExpressVPN is also known for its speed. One reason for that might be its in-house protocol, Lightway. It was created to establish faster, more secure, and more reliable VPN connections. During our previous speed tests, ExpressVPN consistently increased our download speed across all server locations. Even with servers halfway across the world, it still delivered blazing-fast speeds. Unfortunately, we saw a dip in speed performance during recent testing and hope it's just a fluke. 

Which VPN is the better value?

Surfshark is significantly more affordable than ExpressVPN at its starting price.

	Our Pick
Price range	$1.99–$20.65/mo	$3.49–$12.95/mo
Best value plan	24-month plan for $1.99/mo	24-month plan for $3.49/mo
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 30 days
	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

Surfshark costs between $1.99–$20.65/mo, with its lowest-priced plan coming in at $1.99/mo.

ExpressVPN costs between $3.49–$12.95/mo, with its lowest-priced plan coming in at $3.49/mo.

In terms of price, Surfshark blows ExpressVPN out of the water. It can be half the price of ExpressVPN or even more, depending on the current promotion. ExpressVPN is known for being expensive, while Surfshark is known for being the best value VPN. 

But keep in mind that Surfshark has higher month-to-month prices. A monthly Surfshark Starter plan costs $15.45/mo, while ExpressVPN's monthly plan costs $12.99/mo. If you want to save money on a VPN, a multi-month or multi-year plan is typically your best bet.

Note that both Surfshark and ExpressVPN offer 30-day money-back guarantees, allowing you to request a full refund within 30 days.

But with Surfshark, you’ll be automatically enrolled in an auto-renew subscription after signing up. We had no option to turn auto-renew off in our account, so we had to contact customer service to do it for us. It was a bit annoying, but Surfshark customer service was very quick and helpful in resolving the issue.

Which VPN is faster?

We test internet speeds before and after using a VPN to see if the secure connection significantly reduces our speed. We expect our speed to drop somewhat when using a VPN because it consumes bandwidth. But we want to see whether a VPN affects everyday internet usage, such as streaming content or playing games.

We establish a baseline speed by running a speed test before connecting to a VPN. This lets us see how fast our internet connection is without a VPN. We then run multiple speed tests while connected to VPN servers in different locations worldwide. We then calculate the average speed loss or gain. 

Server location		Our Pick
Average speed change	10% faster	12% slower
	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

Historically, ExpressVPN has had better download speeds across the board compared to Surfshark. Although we saw a marginal drop in ExpressVPN's performance during the latest testing, the VPN provider has consistently proven to be one of the most reliably fast VPNs available. Compared to other VPNs, Surfshark VPN typically reduces our internet speeds by varying degrees. 

Even still, both ExpressVPN and Surfshark are excellent for streaming, gaming, and downloading. We just think ExpressVPN is better overall when it comes to performance. 

Which VPN is more secure?

		Our Pick
Number of servers	3,200+ servers in 100 countries	Unlisted in 105 countries
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
VPN headquarters	The Netherlands	British Virgin Islands
Encryption	AES-256-GCM	AES-256
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2
Kill switch
Split tunneling
DNS leak protection
Ad blocker
	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

Surfshark and ExpressVPN share many similarities in their feature sets. This includes a large number of servers, strict no-logs policies, and high levels of encryption. Both VPNs also provide basic VPN features like kill switches and split tunneling. 

One big difference between the two VPNs is found in their available protocols. ExpressVPN doesn't offer WireGuard, but it does offer its in-house Lightway protocol. Lightway is a next-generation protocol that provides fast speeds, which may have made the difference for ExpressVPN in some of our speed tests.

Both Surfshark and ExpressVPN are headquartered in countries with strong data privacy laws, which support their no-logs policies. However, it should be noted that the Netherlands, where Surfshark is based, is part of the 14 Eyes alliance. The British Virgin Islands, where ExpressVPN is based, aren’t part of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, or 14 Eyes alliances.

Countries that are members of these alliances have been known to share private information about their citizens with other alliance members. And it could mean that living in one of these countries poses a risk to your online privacy and anonymity.

Digging further into the no-logs policies, we found that ExpressVPN's policy was audited by KPMG in February 2025. Surfshark had its policy audited by Deloitte in June 2025.

Surfshark provides servers in more countries than ExpressVPN, but the numbers are close enough not to matter for most users. ExpressVPN doesn’t advertise its exact number of servers. But from testing, we found that both Surfshark and ExpressVPN have plenty of available servers for the average VPN user.

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN: compatibility and customer service

	Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Router
Smart devices
Browser extensions	Chrome, Edge, Firefox	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi
24/7 support
Customer support options	24/7 live chat, email, online guides, social media	24/7 live chat, email, online guides
	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

We had no issues setting up Surfshark and ExpressVPN on our desktop computer using Windows. The process was as simple as downloading the Windows apps from the applicable websites and using our info to log in. We expect you to have a similar experience, whether you want to set up a VPN on Windows or Mac.

Apart from Windows and macOS, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are also compatible with other operating systems, browser extensions, and mobile apps. This includes Linux, Apple iOS, Android, and even routers and some smart devices.

For example, you can set up Surfshark or ExpressVPN on a compatible router so that all Wi-Fi devices in your home have a secure connection, including smart locks, refrigerators, and more.

The interfaces of both Windows apps were intuitive and easy to use. We had no issues navigating the server lists or finding available features in the settings. And we barely had to wait at all when connecting to different servers.

Both Surfshark and ExpressVPN offer customer service via 24/7 live chat, email, and online guides. There’s no option to call a support number or participate in official community forums with either VPN, which is common for many popular VPN services.

It should be noted that not every major VPN provider offers 24/7 customer support, and you might need to be a paying subscriber to access it. But with Surfshark and ExpressVPN, you can access the live chat feature 24/7 from their websites, whether you have a subscription or not. But with Surfshark, you can also reach a live agent through social media.

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN alternatives

Surfshark and ExpressVPN are among our picks for the best VPNs, but they're not the only secure VPNs on the market. NordVPN and Proton VPN are both top-rated services, each with its own perks. See how Surfshark compares:

FAQs

Is Surfshark or ExpressVPN better?

Between the two options, we recommend Surfshark for most users. We still think that ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs available, but everyday VPN users are more likely to find Surfshark the better value. 

ExpressVPN is a secure, fast, and private service that can unblock streaming services, offers 24/7 customer support, and doesn’t tend to significantly reduce your internet speeds. But Surfshark generally matches ExpressVPN across the board and costs a lot less. Plus, you'll get unlimited simultaneous connections with every subscription.