NordVPN vs. Surfshark: What should freelancers choose in 2025?

NordVPN and Surfshark are two of the most popular VPNs, for good reason. In our article "Freelancer Software Top Tools" we dealt with software and Saas services from different categories. the virtual-private network services have a highlighted role these days of the diverse cyber threats.

And many freelancers and digital artists ask themselves the question: Which of the two top dogs among the VPNs should be given the preference? So if you also want to choose between these services, please see our direct comparison.

When it comes to VPN services (virtual private network) , there are countless options. In a market that is flooded with discounts, offers, functional lists, several encryption standards and different device compatibility, you easily overlook the main purpose of using a VPN: you need a service that increases your online security and privacy.

In addition, the best VPN services are repeatedly tested and checked by numerous experts. B. at cybernews : Surfshark vs. NordVPN .

Usually it is a good idea to start reputation of a VPN, especially if it has been well tested. These VPNs are generally both trustworthy and they offer consumers an excellent service. We would both recommend without hesitation. However, this does not mean that they are identical; One may be a better choice for you than the other.

NordVPN and Surfshark - is n't that the same company?

Before we immerse yourself in the details, we briefly talk about the fusion of north and surf shark. Nord Security and Surfshark announced a merger in 2022 ( ZDNet reported ), at which Nord Security takes over the majority shares of both companies. According to Surfshark's Merger blog articles, companies will continue to act as independent units with different VPN infrastructures.

The merging of huge infrastructures takes time, and none of the parties want to lose performance or position towards their competitors due to a failed operational merger.

However, we do not assume that this will stay that way for an indefinite period. In the meantime, you continue to choose between two different VPN providers.

NordVPN vs. Surfshark - the direct comparison

Pricing

NordVPN and Surfshark each offer three subscription levels with different additional functions.

NordVPNS plans (Basic, Plus and Ultimate) cost between 12.99 and 15.99 $ 15.99 for a monthly membership, while the annual prices decrease to $ 4.99 to 7.99 and even reduced to $ 3.39 to 5.99 per month. NordVPN also grants a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Additional options such as a dedicated IP or the Incogni service each cost 3.69 per month.

SurfShark offers similar levels (starter, one and one+). The monthly fees are between 15.45 and $ 17.95; Long-term savings only show up for one or two years of subscriptions that cost between 2.19 and 6.09 per month- including three additional months. In addition to a comparable money-back guarantee, SurfShark also offers optional add-ons such as an alternative telephone number to protect your real number.

Both providers also have free trial versions of seven days each; NordVPN is only available for Android, while Surfshark's trial version also applies to iOS and MacOS. Overall, NordVPN offers an excellent price-performance ratio, but SurfShark proves to be an inexpensive VPN service with an impressive range of functions.

Security

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) protects your online activities from third parties such as ISP, hackers or governments by directing and encrypting your data traffic via a secure server. This hides your actual IP address and you can surf the Internet without worry.

NordVPN and SurfShark both use Wireguard as the primary protocol that combines speed and security. Both providers also offer OpenVPN , while NordVPN also has the in-house Nordlynx protocol .

In order to ensure a high level of privacy, these VPNs protect against DNS leaks by directing DNS requests through an encrypted tunnel. Tests have shown that both NordVPN and SurfShark work reliably. An important security aspect is the kill switch ; He interrupts internet traffic when the connection is terminated.

While NordVPN impresses with two Kill switches-one for the entire Internet and an apps selected-SurfShark also offers such a switch, but the stability of which has occasionally had problems that have now been resolved.

Overall, both providers have comparable security features, whereby NordVPN is slightly superior in relation to the Kill Switch.

Privacy and privacy

Although strong encryption makes a significant contribution to the protection of your privacy, it does not guarantee it. Some VPNS save protocols that can be linked to their identity-including their IP address. This is a major risk, since sensitive information could be compromised for a data breakdown or passed on to authorities on request.

However, NordVPN and Surfshark follow a no-logs policy . NordVPN has audited its guidelines several times, most recently in December 2023, and operates from Panama, where no mandatory data retention laws apply. In addition, the Threat Protection Pro-Suite from NordVPN from AV test was awarded the best malware blocking tool in 2024-proof that it is much more than just a simple VPN.

Surfshark has also received an independent audit by Deloitte in December 2022, but is based in the Netherlands, a country of Nine-Eyes alliance for secret service surveillance. Both providers have similarities and save their user ID and connecting time stamps up to 15 minutes after each session; Ideally, this date should not be saved.

Overall, NordVPN carried out more audits and reacted faster to a security violation in 2018 than SurfShark and thus impressively demonstrated that it learned from its mistakes.

Performance / performance

If you are looking for a VPN for bandwidth-intensive activities such as streaming or online gaming , NordVPN is a solid choice. With its proprietary Nordlynx protocol, it reached speeds of over 950 Mbps and offers constantly reliable connections without loss of performance.

Surfshark, on the other hand, has proven to be the fastest tested VPN, with a top performance of 950 Mbps at Wireguard, which is more than sufficient for 4K streaming and online multiplayer games. Its OpenVPN speeds were also remarkable and were 640 Mbps-much faster than that of NordVPN, whose maximum openVPN speed was only 110 Mbps.

Although NordVPN is a worthy runner -up, the victory clearly goes to Surfshark.

Streaming

While some VPNs offer the speed needed for HD streaming, they fail to effectively unblock streaming platforms. Due to strict licensing agreements, available streaming content varies between countries, meaning users in the US and Europe see different Netflix libraries.

In tests, both providers provided a 100 % success rate when unlocking geo-restricted content.

Both VPN services could also easily access Netflix libraries from the USA, Great Britain, Australia, Canada and Japan. The same applies to Amazon Prime Video, BBC IPlayer, Disney+, ITVX, 9NOW and 10Play.

Both providers can convince here.

Apps and extras

User preferences have a basic influence on the assessment of VPN programs. While first -time users appreciate a clear user interface, experienced users are looking for configurable settings.

Even if server and sorting options are missing, NordVPN offers a modern appearance with intuitive navigation. The kill switch is activated by default.

SurfShark also scores with a clear user interface and easy to find Kill switch and practical connection details. However, server locations can be filtered and prioritized here. However, you miss the sorting by server or ping. Although there are sufficient settings for experienced users, SurfShark seems to be more user -friendly at the same time.

Each north VPN package contains an advertising blocker . If you choose a higher level than "Basic" , you will get access to the NordVPN Threat Protection Pro tool anti-malware protection . If your information is disclosed, the helpful scanner for Privacy NordVPN.

NordVPN is mainly characterized by the Nordpass , one of the best password managers on the market. If you upgrade to NordVPN's top level, you will receive a north pass plan with 1 TB encrypted cloud memory and access to Incogi , a tool for deleting personal data that is accessible to users in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, the EU and Switzerland.

Each SurfShark level includes the VPN, an advertising blocker and access to alternative ID , with which you can create an alternative private address or email address to protect your personal data.

The two top stages of Surfshark consist of virus protection , a private addiction tool and warnings for violations . AV-Test awarded the SurfShark anti-virus program to "Top Product" . The top level of Surfshark, One+ , differs by offering access to Incogni with which you can remove your data from corporate databases and person search engines.

The SurfShark antivirus program is award -winning and rock solid. However, NordVPN goes one step further and, in addition to an excellent password manager, also offers malware protection. For Privacy purists, this could be the tongue on the scales.

NordVPN VS Surfshark | Which VPN is better 2025?

This question cannot be answered clearly and certainly depends a little on the individual needs and the use case. The experts from Cybernews nevertheless dared to try to answer:

The detailed professional comparison with comment by security expert Akvilė Tamašiūnienė is available from here .