VPN · Comparison
NordVPN vs Surfshark in 2026: Price, Devices and Privacy Compared
On the Swiss pricing pages on 23 September 2026, Surfshark Starter costs CHF 2.49 a month (CHF 67.23 for 27 months, then CHF 64.89 a year before VAT) and NordVPN Basic CHF 3.29 (CHF 88.83 for 27 months, then CHF 133.08 a year). Surfshark allows unlimited devices, NordVPN 10. The two have shared a holding company since 2022; only NordVPN pays us a commission.
Affiliate link: the NordVPN button is an affiliate link and NordVPN pays us a commission if you buy through it; the price you pay is the same either way. The Surfshark button is a plain link; we have no partnership with Surfshark, although it shares a holding company with NordVPN’s parent.
Written and checked by Sascha Martins, Promo Code Network, Switzerland
NordVPN vs Surfshark price: introductory and renewal
| Plan | Intro price a month | First term billed | After the first term | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN Basic | CHF 3.29 | CHF 88.83 for 27 months | CHF 133.08 a year | 10 |
| NordVPN Complete | CHF 4.19 | CHF 113.13 for 27 months | CHF 209.88 a year | 10 |
| NordVPN Ultra | CHF 6.19 | CHF 167.13 for 27 months | CHF 259.08 a year | 10 |
| Surfshark Starter | CHF 2.49 | CHF 67.23 for 27 months | CHF 64.89 a year before VAT | Unlimited |
| Surfshark One (adds Antivirus, Alert, Search) | CHF 2.79 | CHF 75.33 for 27 months | CHF 81.31 a year before VAT | Unlimited |
| Surfshark One+ (adds Incogni) | CHF 4.49 | CHF 121.23 for 27 months | CHF 97.74 a year before VAT | Unlimited |
Swiss pricing pages, read 23 September 2026; both say VAT may apply. Surfshark’s pricing page states no renewal amount; its renewal-prices page lists them for Switzerland, before tax. Surfshark says displayed renewal prices may be subject to price testing. Both renew every 12 months after the first term.
Devices and refund conditions at NordVPN and Surfshark
| Criterion | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Devices at once | 10 on every plan; a router uses one slot and covers every device behind it | Unlimited; a free trial works on 3 devices until it ends |
| Refund window | 30 days from the first purchase | 30 days from the first purchase |
| Where bought | From NordVPN; Apple App Store purchases are refunded only by Apple, reseller purchases by the reseller | From Surfshark directly or through one of its named billing partners |
| Excluded | Renewals, unless local law requires otherwise | Renewals, a second refund, and non-refundable add-ons such as an anonymous Dedicated IP or Alternative ID |
| Renewal notice | Email before the charge, which is taken up to 14 days before the renewal date | Email 30 days before the term ends (not for 1-month plans) |
| How to ask | Live chat, then the Refund button in Nord Account | Live chat |
NordVPN refund policy, device-limit article and pricing-page terms; Surfshark refund policy (updated 27 March 2026), pricing page and renewal-prices page; all read 23 September 2026.
NordVPN vs Surfshark on jurisdiction, ownership and audits
| Criterion | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Operator and base | Says it is based in Panama; nordvpn.com is published by Nord Security | Surfshark B.V., registered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; offices in Lithuania, Poland and Germany |
| Group | Surfshark and Nord Security merged under one holding company in 2022 and say they operate independently (Surfshark about page); the holding company’s seat is not stated on the pages read | |
| No-logs reviews, as published | PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland in 2018 and 2020, then Deloitte, the latest in 2025 | Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; the 2025 ISAE 3000 report is available inside the Surfshark account |
| Network, as published | 7,887 servers in 150 countries, 225 locations | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries; all servers RAM-only |
Nord Security is NordVPN’s parent, not Surfshark’s; since 2022 both sit under the same holding company. NordVPN gives different totals for its no-logs reviews on its servers page and its no-logs page, so this page states no count and draws no conclusion from one. Surfshark’s trust centre also names security audits by Cure53 (browser extensions 2018, infrastructure 2021, infrastructure and the Dausos protocol 2026) and an infrastructure assessment by SecuRing (2025).
Features: Threat Protection and Meshnet against CleanWeb and Everlink
NordVPN. Every plan includes scam and phishing protection through NordVPN’s DNS servers, active only while connected. Complete and Ultra add the next-gen antivirus built on Threat Protection Pro, which scans downloads for malware and blocks ads and trackers on desktop, also without a VPN connection. Meshnet links up to 10 of your own devices and 50 external ones; NordVPN calls it open source and free. Specialty servers include Double VPN, Onion Over VPN and obfuscated servers. There is no port forwarding.
Surfshark. Its feature page lists CleanWeb for blocking ads and trackers, Dynamic MultiHop, which routes traffic through two VPN servers, Everlink, which Surfshark describes as restoring dropped connections, and Rotating IP. Dausos is its own protocol, reviewed by Cure53 in 2026. Surfshark One adds Antivirus, the breach monitor Alert and Search; One+ adds the data-removal service Incogni.
Verdict: NordVPN or Surfshark?
Surfshark is our pick in this comparison, and we have no affiliate relationship with Surfshark; NordVPN, the runner-up, pays us a commission if you buy through this page. Surfshark wins the two criteria that separate them: price, at CHF 2.49 against CHF 3.29 a month for the first term and CHF 64.89 before VAT against CHF 133.08 a year after it, and devices, unlimited against 10. Refund rules are a draw at 30 days from the first purchase. Ownership does not separate them: both belong to one holding company.
NordVPN vs Surfshark: common questions
Do NordVPN and Surfshark belong to the same company?
What does Surfshark cost after the first 27 months?
Is Surfshark’s unlimited device allowance really unlimited?
Will NordVPN or Surfshark refund a subscription that has renewed?
Which of the two has servers in more countries?
Sources
- NordVPN: pricing (Switzerland); refund policy; device limit; no-logs page; servers; next-gen antivirus (Threat Protection); Meshnet; port forwarding. Read 23 September 2026.
- Surfshark: pricing (Switzerland); renewal prices (Switzerland, before tax); refund policy. Read 23 September 2026.
- Surfshark: about page (2022 merger with Nord Security under one holding company, Amsterdam registration); trust centre (audits, RAM-only servers); Deloitte no-logs assurance, 2025; features. Read 23 September 2026.