Surfshark alternatives, matched to why you're switching
By Jean Luc Poitier, SEO and growth marketing strategist · NordVPN Reviews · Updated October 1, 2026 · Grounded in 50 recent Surfshark reviews
Disclosure: this site reviews NordVPN and earns a commission if you sign up through our links. NordVPN and Surfshark share a parent company. We say where NordVPN isn't the right fix.
Why buyers look past Surfshark
In Surfshark's 50 most recent Trustpilot reviews (September 23 to 30, 2026), the 40 invited reviews averaged 4.85 and the 10 unprompted ones 2.1. The complaints cluster around renewal prices, refunds refused after the first 30 days, connections that slow down or get blocked, and chat-only support.
Surfshark is still cheap to start, at $67.23 for 27 months on Starter. The jump comes at renewal and on the higher tiers.
“my 2026 renewal was increased to nearly $120!”Tonya, Trustpilot, September 2026
“Support refused a refund and only offered to cancel auto-renewal.”kai, Trustpilot, September 2026
“constant slow speeds, blocked content or websites, captchas, etc.”Brad, Trustpilot, September 2026
Match the Surfshark alternative to your reason for leaving
| Best alternative | Check before switching | |
|---|---|---|
| Slow or blocked connections | NordVPN: 7,300+ servers in 150 countries | Same parent group as Surfshark; renews at $139.08/yr |
| Renewal price jumps | Proton VPN: renews at $83.88/yr | The free plan is limited; streaming needs a paid plan |
| Refund refused | Norton VPN: 60-day refund, renewals included | About 140 locations; 5 devices on Standard |
| Want a longer audit record | NordVPN: six no-logs reviews | Needs an email account |
| Want no recurring billing | Mullvad: €5 a month, no subscription | 5 devices; 566 servers |
Figures checked against each company's published pages and review-platform listings as of 2026-10-01. “Not published” means the company does not publish that figure.
The 5 best Surfshark alternatives
NordVPN
Bigger network, longer audit recordNordVPN lists 7,300+ servers in 150 countries against Surfshark's 4,500+ in 100, has had its no-logs policy checked six times (Surfshark twice), and includes free Meshnet. On the app stores it rates the same as Surfshark (4.7 on the App Store, 4.6 on Google Play) from several times as many ratings, and its recent unprompted Trustpilot reviews averaged 2.8 against Surfshark's 2.1, from small samples (19 and 10). It costs more: $94.23 for 27 months, renewing at $139.08 a year, for 10 devices rather than unlimited. NordVPN and Surfshark share a parent company.
Full NordVPN vs Surfshark comparison →Proton VPN
Free plan and low renewalsA free plan with no data cap, and VPN Plus renews at $83.88 a year, close to Surfshark's $79. Open-source apps, five Securitum no-logs audits, and PCMag's only 5.0 score. Caveat: its recent unprompted Trustpilot reviews averaged 2.0 from 99, with complaints about speed and blocked sites.
NordVPN vs Proton VPN →ExpressVPN
Polished appsCNET's best VPN overall in September 2026 and a PCMag Editors' Choice. Basic showed $83.72 for 28 months on most visits and renews at $99.95 a year, with 10 to 14 devices by tier. Caveat: it costs more than Surfshark and doesn't publish a server count.
ExpressVPN vs Surfshark →Mullvad
Flat price, no email€5 a month with no renewal increase and no subscription to cancel; you need no email and can pay in cash. Caveat: 5 devices, 566 servers in 50 countries, email-only support, and no streaming claims.
NordVPN vs Mullvad →Norton VPN
Longest refund window60 days to get your money back, renewals included, and $39.99 for the first year of Standard. Caveat: Standard covers 5 devices, the network is about 140 locations, and it renews at $79.99.
NordVPN vs Norton VPN →
When to stay with Surfshark
Stay if you need unlimited devices on one account or the lowest renewal price among the big names ($79 a year). Surfshark's invited reviewers rate it highly (4.85), and every plan includes its CleanWeb ad blocker.
If you're leaving over slow or blocked connections, NordVPN's larger network and longer audit record are the main reasons to switch, as long as you're comfortable paying more at renewal.
See NordVPN pricingHow we sourced this: Surfshark's 50 most recent Trustpilot reviews (September 23 to 30, 2026), split into invited (40) and unprompted (10) by Trustpilot's own labels, and NordVPN's 200 most recent labelled reviews (September 14 to October 1, 2026; 181 invited, 19 unprompted). Prices and features come from each company's site, checked October 1, 2026. Quotes are verbatim.
Surfshark alternatives FAQ
What are the best Surfshark alternatives?+
NordVPN for a bigger network and longer audit record, Proton VPN for a free plan and low renewals, ExpressVPN for polished apps, Mullvad for a flat price without an email, and Norton VPN for a 60-day refund.
What do Surfshark reviews say?+
Surfshark rates 4.3 from 31,401 Trustpilot reviews. Its 40 most recent invited reviews averaged 4.85 and praise price and ease of use; its 10 most recent unprompted reviews averaged 2.1 and mention renewal prices, refunds, and blocked sites.
Is NordVPN better than Surfshark?+
NordVPN has more servers and countries and more no-logs reviews. Surfshark is cheaper, renews for less, and allows unlimited devices. The two share a parent company.
Does Surfshark publish its pricing?+
Yes. Starter is $2.49 a month on a 2-year plan ($67.23 for 27 months), and the plan data on its pricing page shows a $79 yearly renewal.