NordVPN vs Surfshark: Which Should UK Users Buy in 2026?
NordVPN and Surfshark are the two VPNs we recommend most, and they are closer than most comparisons admit. Here is how they differ on price, devices, privacy and features, and which one fits your household.
The Short Answer
Choose NordVPN if you want the most complete package: strong privacy credentials, a polished app, and extra security tools such as Threat Protection and Double VPN. It is the better pick for one person or a couple who want the best all-rounder.
Choose Surfshark if you want to cover a whole household for the lowest price. Every Surfshark plan allows unlimited devices at once, so one subscription can cover every phone, laptop, tablet and TV in the house.
Worth knowing: NordVPN and Surfshark have been part of the same group, Nord Security, since the two companies merged in 2022. They still run as separate services with their own apps, servers and teams, so this is a real choice rather than the same product twice.
NordVPN and Surfshark side by side
NordVPN is our top overall pick. Its own NordLynx protocol is built on WireGuard, its apps are easy to use on every major platform, and its no-logs policy has been checked by independent auditors more than once.
- ✓ NordLynx protocol, built on WireGuard, plus OpenVPN
- ✓ Threat Protection blocks malicious sites and many trackers and ads
- ✓ Specialty servers including Double VPN and Onion over VPN
- ✓ Apps for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Fire TV and Android TV
- ✓ Independently audited no-logs policy
Surfshark is the cheapest VPN we recommend and the easiest way to protect a busy household. It uses WireGuard by default, has a built-in ad and malware blocker, and lets you choose which apps skip the VPN.
- ✓ Unlimited simultaneous devices on every plan
- ✓ CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers and malicious sites
- ✓ Bypasser split tunnelling and MultiHop double VPN
- ✓ WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols
- ✓ Independently audited no-logs policy
Feature comparison
| Feature | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest long plan | £2.69/mo | £1.79/mo |
| Devices at once | 10 | Unlimited |
| Headquarters | Panama | Netherlands |
| Main protocol | NordLynx (WireGuard based) | WireGuard |
| Ad and malware blocking | Threat Protection | CleanWeb |
| Double VPN | Double VPN servers | MultiHop |
| Split tunnelling | Yes | Yes (Bypasser) |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Audited no-logs policy | Yes | Yes |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Prices are the cheapest long plan on each provider's UK page when we checked, paid up front for the first term. See VPN prices today for the full breakdown and renewal prices.
Price: Surfshark is cheaper, NordVPN gives more per device
On the headline figure Surfshark wins: its cheapest long plan costs less per month than NordVPN's. But the device limit changes the maths. If you only need to cover a laptop and a phone, NordVPN's 10 devices is more than enough and the difference is a few pounds a year. If you are covering a family of four with phones, tablets, laptops and a TV stick, Surfshark's unlimited devices means you never have to choose which gadget goes without.
Both providers save their lowest prices for long plans paid up front, and both renew at a higher price after the first term. Our guide to how much a VPN costs in the UK explains renewal prices and how to avoid paying more than you need to.
Tip: Both come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Buy the long plan, try it on every device you care about in the first couple of weeks, and ask for a refund if it does not suit you.
Privacy and security: very close
This is where the two are hardest to separate. Both have strict no-logs policies that have been independently audited, both publish those audit reports, and both say their servers run in RAM-only mode, so nothing is written to a hard drive. Both include a kill switch that cuts your internet if the VPN drops, so your real IP address is not exposed.
NordVPN edges ahead for people who want extra layers. Double VPN sends your traffic through two servers, and Onion over VPN routes it into the Tor network without a separate browser. Surfshark's MultiHop does a similar job to Double VPN, and lets you pick the pair of countries yourself.
For everyday UK use, such as public Wi-Fi in cafes, hotels and stations, either one is more than enough. Read our guide to using a VPN on public Wi-Fi for the simple habits that matter most.
Streaming and TV
Both have apps for Fire TV Stick and Android TV as well as phones and computers, which covers most UK living rooms. Streaming services change how they treat VPNs from time to time, so neither provider can promise that every library will work every day. If something stops working, both have round-the-clock live chat that can point you to a server that does.
Speed depends far more on your own broadband than on the VPN. Netflix recommends 15 Mbps for 4K, which most UK fibre connections clear comfortably. Our guide to whether a VPN slows down your internet covers what actually affects speed.
Which one is right for you?
Still weighing up a third option? Our NordVPN vs ExpressVPN vs Surfshark comparison adds ExpressVPN to the mix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick Your VPN
NordVPN for the best all-round package, Surfshark for unlimited devices at the lowest price. Both come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 28 October 2026.