VPN

ExpressVPN vs. Surfshark: Which VPN Is Better?

Author
Martin Gschwentner
Translation
D Bare
Last update
10. Aug 2023
Ad disclaimer: For links on this page, EXPERTE.com may earn a commission from the provider. This supports our work and has no influence on our editorial rating.

Why should VPNs be on every computer and laptop? Because they offer an affordable way to enhance your privacy online, secure public network connections, and bypass censorship and geoblocking. The real question is not whether you should have a VPN, but which is best for your needs. Two of the most popular choices are Surfshark and ExpressVPN.

Both services finished in the Top 3 of our extensive comparison of 27 VPN providers. By itself, this is more than reason enough to put them head-to-head and see where each excels.

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ExpressVPN vs. Surfshark

ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN
(736,465 )
3,000+ servers
160 cities in 94 countries
reliable performance
good for streaming
secure browser extensions
9.4
excellent
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
5
Protocols
7
Contract Period
1 - 12 months
ExpressVPN 12 Months
$6.67
monthly price
Visit Website*
30 days money-back guarantee
Surfshark VPN
Surfshark VPN
(207,223 )
3,200+ servers in 100 countries
unlimited number of devices
many apps (Linux, FireTV, ...)
cheap 24-month plan
expensive monthly plan
8.8
good
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
unlimited
Protocols
3
Contract Period
1 - 24 months
Surfshark 24 months
$1.99
monthly price
Visit Website*
Get 83% Discount
1.

Installation and Features

Since VPNs are used on a daily basis, they should be as simple as possible. With ExpressVPN and Surfshark, there really isn't much to complain about in this area: Both offer intuitive clients that provide access to all important features with just a few clicks.

Surfshark has an expandable user interface, through which it's possible to select a server location. ExpressVPN's interface is a bit more streamlined, offering server choices in a second window.

VPN connections can be established in just a few seconds with ExpressVPN's app.

Both providers also include the most important features. These range from a kill switch (which automatically severs your connection if a disruption is noticed) and split tunneling (for only routing specific apps through your VPN tunnel).

ExpressVPN's browser extension serves up several more security options, like HTTPS Everywhere. This automatically connects you to the secure HTTPS version of a website whenever available.

Surfshark's package of features is even larger: In addition to the ability to use a static IP, you can also set up two separate VPN tunnels to route your traffic through, which goes far in boosting your security. As if that wasn't enough, you'll get a simple ad blocker and an email leak checker.

Surfshark offers even more features than ExpressVPN, such as multi-hop routing and static IPs.

Even though we preferred ExpressVPN's app, Surfshark offers a few more features and carries the round.

Winner: Surfshark

2.

Server Network

When rating server networks, two figures matter: How many servers does a provider have, and how many countries are these spread across? ExpressVPN is ahead with around 3,000 servers and 160 locations in 94 countries to Surfshark's 3,200 servers across 65 countries.

Both VPN providers have nearly the same numbers of severs, however, ExpressVPN's are spread across considerably more countries.

The second round goes to ExpressVPN, owing to its server presence in more countries.

Winner: ExpressVPN

3.

Performance

We measured the performance of each provider from our sample using a server based in Frankfurt with a 1 GB/s connection. In order to ensure comparable average values, we connected multiple times per day to random ExpressVPN and Surfshark servers in both Germany and the US. Our findings are presented in our performance ranking below:

1.
NordVPN
195.6 Mbit/s
Download
42.9 Mbit/s
Upload
2.
Surfshark
191.7 Mbit/s
Download
42.8 Mbit/s
Upload
3.
Mullvad
200.8 Mbit/s
Download
18.1 Mbit/s
Upload
4.
ExpressVPN
175.0 Mbit/s
Download
42.0 Mbit/s
Upload
5.
HideMyAss!
167.7 Mbit/s
Download
16.1 Mbit/s
Upload
6.
TorGuard
166.5 Mbit/s
Download
16.3 Mbit/s
Upload
7.
hide.me
153.9 Mbit/s
Download
27.0 Mbit/s
Upload
8.
PrivateVPN
155.1 Mbit/s
Download
21.2 Mbit/s
Upload
9.
Proton VPN
154.8 Mbit/s
Download
18.8 Mbit/s
Upload
10.
IPVanish
156.4 Mbit/s
Download
15.0 Mbit/s
Upload
11.
PureVPN
113.1 Mbit/s
Download
41.4 Mbit/s
Upload
12.
TunnelBear
129.4 Mbit/s
Download
18.4 Mbit/s
Upload
13.
VPN Unlimited
109.6 Mbit/s
Download
37.6 Mbit/s
Upload
14.
ZenMate
126.3 Mbit/s
Download
18.8 Mbit/s
Upload
15.
CyberGhost
118.6 Mbit/s
Download
18.4 Mbit/s
Upload
16.
Private Internet Access
109.7 Mbit/s
Download
17.0 Mbit/s
Upload
17.
Windscribe
82.2 Mbit/s
Download
43.3 Mbit/s
Upload
18.
Hotspot Shield
79.9 Mbit/s
Download
38.8 Mbit/s
Upload
19.
VyprVPN
106.0 Mbit/s
Download
12.2 Mbit/s
Upload
20.
Perfect Privacy
99.3 Mbit/s
Download
12.7 Mbit/s
Upload

The providers are nearly identical in terms of upload speeds, however, for downloads, Surfshark has a slight edge.

But speed isn't the only factor in this category. For VPNs, how well they're able to circumvent geoblocking and allow users to stream content from abroad is just as important. Once again, there's nothing between the pair, as foreign content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer was readily accessible with either.

If planning a trip to China, both are reliable and able to overcome the Great Firewall.

As such, ExpressVPN and Surfshark are both performance heavyweights. Whether for streaming content from abroad or use in China, there's very little separating them. Since Surfshark's download speeds are somewhat higher than ExpressVPN's, it emerges victorious but just by the smallest of margins.

Winner: Surfshark

4.

Security and Privacy

To determine how secure a VPN is, we pay attention to what VPN protocols it supports. With Surfshark, these include WireGuard and OpenVPN, two of the safest options. OpenVPN is also offered by ExpressVPN, however, instead of WireGuard, you'll get its proprietary Lightway protocol, which allegedly provides a similar level of security. Both providers encrypt connections with AES-256, the current industry standard.

Our VPN leak tests (DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6) did not reveal any issues with either ExpressVPN or Surfshark.

Our tests didn't find any leaks with either Surfshark or ExpressVPN.

Equally important for security is whether a provider logs and stores information about you, your connections, and your activities. Both ExpressVPN and Surfshark promise not to retain traffic logs or other information that might disclose your identity.

Thankfully, you won't have to take either at their word as both ExpressVPN and Surfshark regularly submit to independent audits (ExpressVPN from PwC, and Surfshark with Cure53), that assess how truthful their guarantees are.

Another factor that plays a role in determining a provider's security is its location. Both value the tropical lifestyle and are based in the British Virgin Islands, which is known for its lax data privacy laws. This has advantages and disadvantages: Each advertises that they can guarantee greater anonymity owing to where they're headquartered, however, this is a double-edged sword, as you'll also have less legal recourse if they misuse your data.

Ultimately, opting for a VPN provider that operates in a country with loose data privacy laws is a matter of taste. In any case, both VPNs offer similar degrees of security.

Winner: Draw

5.

Customer Support

Good customer support is comprised of two things: One is a solid help center with comprehensive articles that can be full-text searched. In the event that you can't find the answer to your question, you'll need the second component, a staffer who is capable of quickly providing you with a competent and helpful answer.

In terms of the first aspect, ExpressVPN and Surfshark offer equally good static content.

When evaluating each provider's live chat, we were connected to support staffers within minutes.

Both VPNs also offer direct assistance in the form of a live chat and support ticket system. Response times in the first option were short, with our emailed queries answered after seven (Surfshark) and 20 hours (ExpressVPN).

Overall, even though Surfshark's reply came faster, there's too little to distinguish between the two.

Winner: Draw

6.

Pricing

So far as pricing is concerned, both providers charge depending on the length of the contract. ExpressVPN is offered in 1, 6, or 12-month packages, whereas Surfshark is available for 1, 12, or 24 months (the two-year subscription is the most affordably priced, per month).

Below, you can find a detailed overview of each VPN's pricing:

Surfshark Prices

24 months12 months1 month
Monthly Price $1.99 $3.99 $13.99
Contract Period (Months) 24 12 1
Limits
Data Volume unlimited unlimited unlimited
Number of Devices unlimited unlimited unlimited
Features
Number of Servers 3,200 3,200 3,200
Number of Countries 100 100 100
No Server Logs
P2P Allowed
Tor Access
Kill Switch
Protocols
OpenVPN
WireGuard
IKEv2
OpenVPN
WireGuard
IKEv2
OpenVPN
WireGuard
IKEv2

ExpressVPN Prices

12 Months6 Months1 Month
Monthly Price $6.67 $9.99 $12.95
Contract Period (Months) 12 6 1
Limits
Data Volume unlimited unlimited unlimited
Number of Devices 5 5 5
Features
Number of Servers 3,000 3,000 3,000
Number of Countries 94 94 94
No Server Logs
P2P Allowed
Tor Access
Kill Switch
Protocols
OpenVPN
PPTP
SSTP
IKEv2
IPSec
L2TP
Proprietary
OpenVPN
PPTP
SSTP
IKEv2
IPSec
L2TP
Proprietary
OpenVPN
PPTP
SSTP
IKEv2
IPSec
L2TP
Proprietary

There isn't much difference in either's monthly subscription rates, however, as the contract's duration goes on, Surfshark offers progressively more competitive prices. As noted above, its two-year subscription costs less than a third of ExpressVPN's most affordable monthly price.

As such, Surfshark emerges as the clear winner.

Winner: Surfshark

7.

Customer Reviews

Both providers did well in the customer reviews we assessed from various aggregators. ExpressVPN was commended on its performance and user-friendliness, whereas Surfshark received plaudits for its good price-performance ratio.

Once again, there was very little separating the two, however, ExpressVPN's ratings were slightly better than Surfshark's.

Winner: ExpressVPN

Surfshark Customer Ratings

Customer Ratings
4.4 / 5
207,223 Bewertungen
Visit Website*

ExpressVPN Customer Ratings

Customer Ratings
4.5 / 5
736,465 Bewertungen
Visit Website*
We analyzed the reviews and ratings from various portals and found 736,465 ratings with an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 .

Conclusion

After seven rounds, three went to Surfshark (features, performance, and pricing), two to ExpressVPN (server network and customer reviews), and two were undecided (customer support as well as security and privacy).

For good reason, both VPNs are among the most popular, performing equally well in all of the areas we assessed. However, since Surfshark offers these capabilities at a more attractive price and for longer, we feel confident calling the final result in its favor.

Overall winner: Surfshark

Detailed reviews of all 27 VPNs from our sample can be found in our comprehensive VPN assessment.

Surfshark VPN
Surfshark VPN
(207,223 )
Surfshark is one of the cheapest providers on the market, but it's a lot more than a great budget option: the relatively new VPN boasts strong protection, many features, and a great support with 24/7 live chat.
3,200+ servers in 100 countries
unlimited number of devices
many apps (Linux, FireTV, ...)
cheap 24-month plan
expensive monthly plan
8.8
good
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
unlimited
Protocols
3
Contract Period
1 - 24 months
Surfshark 24 months
$1.99
monthly price
Visit Website*
Get 83% Discount
Review
8.8
good
Visit Website*
Check Review
Performance
10 / 10
Bedienung & Features
9.4 / 10
Support
8.6 / 10
Security & Privacy
8.0 / 10
Server Network
8.0 / 10
Top VPN Provider 2024
Sponsored
from $3.79
per month
NordVPN
from $6.67
per month
ExpressVPN
from $0.00
per month
Proton VPN
from $1.99
per month
Surfshark
show all
Author (German Version): Martin Gschwentner
Martin Gschwentner majored in American Studies and Media Studies in Germany, the USA and France and works as a freelance editor in Paris. He is a doctoral student at the Institute for English and American Studies at the University of Paris Diderot, where he is researching the influence of money on US politics. On EXPERTE.com he writes about IT security, data protection and software for the self-employed and small businesses.
Translation: D Bare
* Ad disclaimer: For links marked with an asterisk, EXPERTE.com may earn a commission from the provider. The commission has no influence on our editorial rating.
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