Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN

In this comparison, we dive into the details of Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN different features and subscription plans. Based on the results, we will design our comparison and make sure each service gets full credit for its service.

Surfshark, compared to ExpressVPN, has some of the most advanced security features, some even better than ExpressVPN. Looking at the price for their subscription plans, we suggest Surfshark as one of the best VPNs, if not the best VPNs ever.

ExpressVPN is a champion of the VPN world. It has the most sophisticated security features complemented by an immense number of servers across the globe. Servers directly impact service security and speed. The higher the number of servers, the better the service. Moreover, ExpressVPN is also leading on many fronts compared to Surfshark and other VPNs.

A Brief Comparison Of Features

The features of both VPNs are almost similar in terms of security, including encryption, DNS leak protection, and kill switches. However, as mentioned above, Surfshark is an economical VPN compared to its competitor, ExpressVPN. Moreover, Surfshark provides unlimited device connections for its users. Here is a comparison of the main features of both Surfshark and EpxressVPN:

	Surfshark	ExpressVPN
Servers available	3,200+	3,000+
Location of servers	100 countries	105 countries
No Logs policy	Available	Available
Kill Switch	Available	Available
VPN Protocols	IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard	IKEv2, OpenVPN, Lightway
Streaming Services Access	Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and more	Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more
Platform Compatible	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS
Device Connection Support	No limits	Eight devices only
Double VPN	Available	Nope
Split Tunneling	Available	Available

This simple overview of features shows that ExpressVPN is in the lead. However, Surshark is also following the same steps. Both offer high-quality built features to their clients. Their modern infrastructure, including hardware, shows their integrity towards clear security and data protection. We will further get into the details of each feature and see how those features stand out in the market. VPNs are essential for security purposes. However, users expect more than just security; they want features that improve the user experience, etc.

Common Features: Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN

We have gathered some essential features that are available in both VPNs. Here is their brief description.

Kill Switch:

This is an essential feature of any VPN. Luckily, both VPNs have this feature. The kill switch works like an emergency break to the system. Whenever your device is disconnected from the VPNs, it shuts off your Internet connection. It does so your IP address is not leaked or private data/information is not exposed to an attack. This feature is essential for increasing the overall security of the system. It even keeps your data secure from your local ISP.

Jurisdiction:

The company headquarters are located in the British Virgin Islands. Many assumed there might be some security concerns after Brexit. Luckily, that is not the case anymore. Moreover, there is no legal alliance between Nine Eyes and these two VPNs, which would have compelled these services to share their users’ data with the government.

Torrenting:

Torrenting is also a unique feature that allows users to share stuff online, like videos, music, and pictures. Torrenting is a technique that encrypts the file you share with other users. It will block hackers and ISPs from accessing your file location or the data you share online.

Split Tunneling:

An extraordinary feature shared by both Surfshark and ExpressVPN. This technique divides your connection into two paths: private VPN connection and public connection. You can choose between these two paths. This feature lets you open private information from a VPN and the rest from the standard connection. It helps increase the browsing speed since the load is balanced between private and public connections.

Encryption:

This is a fundamental feature of any VPN. In our case, Surfshark and ExpressVPN both have advanced encryption features to secure your data and privacy. The feature helps encrypt your IP address and your connection location. Currently, encryption is based on two standards, one of which is a common standard encryption feature called AES-256. The other advanced standard of encryption is called 256-bit.  Our testing result shows that Surfshark and ExpressVPN both comply with these standards.

Steaming:

Since the pandemic, streaming has continued to be the most used service online. More people are streaming today than in the pre-pandemic world, and there is a massive shift in global trends, which means there is a high load on streaming servers worldwide. Luckily, both services, including Surfshark and ExpressVPN, are good at streaming. Streaming is one of their most valuable features. Our team tested multiple servers for each VPN, and they enjoyed a seamless streaming experience throughout.

Device Support:

Both provide multiple device connections. But how much exactly? Well, Surfshark is in the lead. It provides access to an unlimited number of devices. ExpressVPN, though, only gives access to up to 8 devices.

Money Back Guaranteed:

This is useful for newcomers. Surfshark and also ExpressVPN provide you access to the 30-day money-back plan. If you cancel your subscription within 30 days, your money will be refunded immediately. This is a great feature. Services provide this feature so you can test them out. Don’t feel ashamed to cancel your subscription if you did not find them helpful.

Privacy and No-logs policy

Privacy and no-logs policy are at the core of both VPNs. We reviewed the privacy policy, and it was mentioned that they adhere to both protocols, including privacy and no-logs. Surfshark mentions they do not collect personal information of their users, including their IP address and browsing history. Moreover, ExpressVPN is quite strict with its privacy policy. It claims it does not collect users’ personal information, including their online activity and log data. Both VPNs have high standards of privacy and a no-logs policy.

To show their integrity, Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN have undergone stringent auditing. Both VPNs have undergone a severe auditing process. Surfshark has been conducted four times by Cure53 and Deloitte. The audit is based on the research on Surfshark’s infrastructure and compliance with client privacy and policy protocols. The report generated from those audits proves Surfshark’s strict compliance with no-logs policy. Moreover, in 2023, Surfshark also passed the Android Mobile App security assessment, hence making it a safe service for mobile users worldwide.

Likewise, ExpressVPN has also been audited a few times before. PricewaterhouseCoopers conducted a strict audit on the server infrastructure and no-logs policy. Moreover, Cure53, an independent audit group, also investigated ExpressVPN in 2023. Both groups passed ExpressVPN’s no-logs and privacy policies.

These independent audits are essential and show the integrity of services towards necessary parameters like security and privacy. Compliance with the no-logs policy is vital for any VPN service, as it ensures users’ data security.

Encryption: Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN

Both Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN use advanced encryption to secure users’ IP addresses and internet traffic. Encryption also helps secure data transfers from one point to another. Each VPN has a dedicated encryption protocol that ensures security. For example, Surfshark uses WireGuard protocol, and ExpressVPN uses Lightway Protocol to enhance its security features. The encryption protocol is also vital in increasing the system’s speed.

VPN Protocols	Surfshark	ExpressVPN
OpenVPN (UDP/TCP)	Available	Available
WireGuard/Lightwa	Available	Available
IKEv2y	Available	Available
L2TP/IPsec	Nope	Available

Encryption, as mentioned above, is almost the same in both VPNs. For Example:

Surfshark	AES-256-CBC, along with SHA-512 ChaCha for WireGuard Protocol
ExpressVPN	AES 256-GCM Cipher ChaCha20/Poly1305 along with SHA-512 Hashing

Prices

Surfshark is one of the cheapest VPNs in the industry. However, ExpressVPN is also quite reasonable in terms of its price-feature ratio.

Subscription Plan	Surfshark	ExpressVPN
Two Years Plan	$2.19 per month(it also provides a 3-month free trial)	Not Available
One Year Plan	$2.79 per month(it also provides a 3-month free trial)	$6.67/month(it also provides a 3-month free trial)
6 Months Plan	Not Available	$9.99/month
1 Months Plan	$15.45 per month	$12.95 per month

Surfshark is the cheapest service, with a monthly subscription of $11.95. If you want to subscribe to a two-year plan, it will only cost $1.99/m. This is the cheapest it can get.

ExpressVPN is cheap, like Surfshark. It costs about $12.95 to subscribe to its one-month plan and $8.32/m to subscribe to its annual plan. The features and speed of ExpressVPN compensate for the price it charges. However, if you are not ready to pay such a high amount, you can choose the alternative option Surfshark. Both VPNs in this comparison post are best at their service. We found both VPNs performing their best at providing quality security and other relevant protocols. You would be served more than you pay for these services.

What Makes ExpressVPN Better Than Surfshark?

ExpressVPN has been the leader of the VPN industry for many years due to its top-notch performance. It has impressive security and privacy protocols. Due to the high number of servers, it offers the highest speed experience to its users. Here is what makes ExpressVPN better than Surfshark:

Servers:

The servers play a significant role in providing security and speed. ExpressVPN is leading on this side. It has over 3000 servers in 105 different countries worldwide. That is a massive network of servers and plays a huge role in the industry’s success. More VPNs mean more traffic. Moreover, any user can easily access its nearby server, hence enjoying the fastest connection possible. We tested both near and farthest servers, and the experience on both servers was smooth.

IP Addresses:

ExpressVPN has a vast capacity for IP addresses due to servers. Every time we connected to ExpressVPN, we were provided with different IP addresses. It ensures security and protection against hacking and eavesdropping. Surfshark could be better at this feature. It offered the same IP address on every new connection. It could be better for security.

System Compatibility:

ExpressVPN supports more devices, browsers, and extensions than Surfshark and is valid for almost all major operating systems.

What Makes Surfshark Better Than ExpressVPN?

Surfshark has unique features overall. However, there are a few features that make it distinctive from ExpressVPN, such as:

Multi-hop:

Surfshark is a unique feature that lets users’ traffic pass through multiple servers at the same time. It is like adding extra layers of security and protection to user connection. Surfshark allows you to route your traffic through different jurisdictions. 

Price:

There are no VPNs that can beat Surfshark on this feature. Surfshark is the cheapest VPN online. 

Device Connection:

Surfshark provides access to an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. You can connect as many devices as you want. ExpressVPN allows up to only eight device connections.

Conclusion

Both Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN are excellent services that provide security and privacy to their users. They both provide excellent security protocols, including split tunneling, Smart DNS, RAM-only servers, Obfuscated servers, and Adblockers. Moreover, both VPNs, as per independent auditing, provide full compliance with privacy policy and no-logs. Surfshark is relatively cheap. ExpressVPN provides reasonable price-to-feature service. However, it is expensive from Surfshark. In this comparison, we have carefully analyzed both VPNs. Our data does not show bias towards any service. Surfshark and ExpressVPN are best at what they do, including providing adequate security and protection to users’ data.

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