Compare the best VPNs | Surfshark, NordVPN and ExpressVPN

Compare VPNs

We compare the VPNs of ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark. As you can see in the comparision below the VPN providers have alot of similarities. Sometimes there are differences based on the platform (i.e. Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android or iOS) so be aware of that. If you want more detailed information on a specific platform, visit our reviews, detailed articles or the VPN providers website. An example of a difference in platform is split tunnel functionality. On iOS this is not support, but it is on Windows, Linux, MacOS and Android. If you have very specific needs, please also check out the website of the VPN provider for specific requirements.

Here you can find a detailed comparison of the 3 top VPN providers in the market.


Not good, money back guarantee first month	Yes	Yes	Yes
Payment methods	Credit card, crypto, Paypal, Google and Amazon Pay, iDeal other	Credit card, crypto, Paypal, Google and Amazon Pay, prepaid card, other	Credit Card, Debit card, Paypal, crypto, iDeal, online transfers, other
Payment with bitcoin and etherium	Yes	Yes	Yes
Payment with other crypto	A few coins supported	A few coins supported	Almost all coins supported
Servers	3200+	5300+	3000+
Available countries	65+	60+	94+
Works in China	Yes	Yes	Yes
Max devices	Unlimited	Unlimited (max 6 connections at once)	Unlimited (max 5 connections at once)
Top class encryption (AES-256)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Activity log	No	No	No
Unlimited bandwith	Yes	Yes	Yes
Windows & MacOS	Yes	Yes	Yes
Linux	Yes	Yes	Yes
Android & iOS	Yes	Yes	Yes
Chrome plugin	Yes	Yes	Yes
Firefox plugin	Yes	Yes	Yes
Edge plugin	No	No	Yes
Router support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Android TV	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kindle Fire	Yes	Yes	Yes
Microsoft Surface	Yes via router	Yes, via router or Windows PC	Yes via router or mediastreamer*
Amazon Fire TV	Yes via router	Yes via router	Yes via router or mediastreamer*
Apple TV	Yes via router	Yes via router	Yes via router or mediastreamer*
Samsung Smart TV	Yes via router	Yes via router	Yes via router or mediastreamer*
Playstation 5	Yes via router	Yes via router	Yes via router or mediastreamer*
Xbox	Yes via router	Yes via router	Yes via router or mediastreamer*
Nintendo Switch	Yes via router	Yes via router	Yes via router or mediastreamer*
Jurisdiction	British Virign Islands (Privacy haven)	Panama (privacy haven)	British Virign Islands (Privacy haven)
Netflix	Yes (13+ libraries)	Yes (15+ libraries)	Yes (22+ libraries)
BBC iPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes
AWS Prime	Yes	Yes	Yes
HBO Go	Yes	Yes	Yes
Torrents	Yes	Yes	Yes
Splittunnel	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kill switch	Yes	Yes	Yes
Block advertisements	Yes	Yes	No
Block Malware	Yes	Yes	No
DNS protection	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multihop support	Yes	Yes	No
Multi Factor authentication	Yes	Yes	Yes
Support	Chat 24x7	Chat 24x7	Chat 24x7
Official website	Surfshark site	NordVPN site	ExpressVPN site

Last updated August 2022

ExpressVPN

9.7

 4.8/5

Best VPN provider with distinctive character

ExpressVPN is a leader in the VPN market. ExpressVPN has the most locations worldwide and the best support of streaming libraries. ExpressVPN takes privacy very serious and was a leader to change their server park to RAM only servers and develop a tool for leak-testing. Overall the cost of ExpressVPN is more, but we think it is justified considering the stability and reliability.

ExpressVPN pros and cons

Best VPN in terms of stability and reliability
Best reviewed on iOS and Windows on this website
Best VPN for streaming services like Netflix, HBO, Prime, Channel4, etc
Most server locations worldwide
Reliable service in high-censorship places like China and countries in the Middle East.
Most options if you want to pay with crypto.
Streaming services using Mediastreamer (DNS based) on devices such as Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and smart TVs that cannot run any VPN.
PwC audited ExpressVPN servers to confirm essential privacy protections.
Open-source leak-testing tools available in ExpressVPN’s Digital Security Lab.
VPN servers run only on volatile memory (RAM). All software and data on a server is wiped every time it is powered off and on again.

ExpressVPN speeds

The closest you are to a location the faster the VPNs speeds will be. The speedtests below are performed from the Netherlands with a 100 Mbit down- and upload speed. So the speeds can be much higher depending on your internet speed.

Server locations	Download speed	Upload speed	Ping
Netherlands (nearest)	98,2	98,0	9
Belgium	91,1	89,5	28
Singapore	86,4	84,0	103
Australia	85,0	84,8	132
USA - NYC	85,3	84,4	114
UK	91,8	91,2	82
Italy	96,8	89,8	69
Canada	93,1	92,2	140
Argentina	91,4	90,5	160
Brazil	89,5	88,2	150
Japan	93,9	91,7	142
India	90,8	90,1	111

Pricing and types of subscriptions

The prices below are an indication. Prices may differ because of i.e. discount promotions. ExpressVPN is the most expensive VPN we have tested but we can see why. ExpressVPN offers a very stable and reliable VPN around the world. With great support for streaming services and high speeds is ExpressVPN a very good choice for every usecase.

NordVPN

9.5

 4.5/5

Very fast VPN with great privacy features

NordVPN has made themselfs a name over the last decade as a very trustworthy and reliable VPN provider. NordVPN has the most compatible solution when it comes to phones, tablets, PCs, TVs and routers. We also liked the fact that the iOs and Android app gives you tips on how to improve your setup. Overall we think that NordVPN delivers a very good VPN service with very fast bandwidth speeds.

NordVPN pros and cons

Very reliable and fast
Overall the fastest VPN
Very userfriendly interface with tips and tricks for non-technical people
Best reviewed Android application
Specialty servers tailored to specific needs, such as P2P or extra security.
CleanWeb - no ads, trackers, malware and phishing attempts
Diskless servers, which store no data or configurations on-site.
Blocks advertisements and malicious websites.
Optional: buy additional product NordPass password manager to safely store your online accounts.

NordVPN speeds

NordVPN offers the fastest speeds with very constent speeds worldwide. The speedtests below are performed from the Netherlands with a 100 Mbit down- and upload speed. So the speeds can be much higher depending on your internet speed. Here you can find the results:

Server locations	Download speed	Upload speed	Ping
Netherlands (nearest)	98,4	98,2	8
Belgium	92,1	90,5	28
Singapore	88,4	88,0	90
Australia	83,0	81,8	132
USA - NYC	87,3	86,4	121
UK	92,8	91,2	67
Italy	94,8	89,8	62
Canada	94,1	92	140
Argentina	91,7	90,8	160
Brazil	89,6	88,2	156
Japan	93,7	92,7	172
India	92	90,7	112

Pricing and types of subscriptions

The prices below are an indication. Prices may differ because of i.e. discount promotions:

Surfshark

9.2

 4.2/5

Most value for money

When we analyse Surfshark, we see a very good VPN service. The speeds are very good and steady even on peak hours. Surfshark provides good apps on iOS and Android devices with lots of feature which work without any problems. Surfshark is also working very hard on upgrading their worldwide network and coverage. The steps Surfshark has made in the last few years are fenomenal. We think that you will get the most value out of your money with Surfshark.

Surfshark pros and cons

Most value for money
Most feature rich on all the different platforms (Windows, Android and iOS)
Every user can connect an unlimited number of devices to their account at once.
Camouflage Mode (a.k.a. obfuscation) hides VPN traffic by making it look like regular traffic.
Diskless servers based on RAM only, so no logging of activities.
Fire TV app, an Android TV app, as well as smart DNS for devices that do not support VPN apps.
CleanWeb ad blocker helps save mobile data & reduce roaming fees by preventing ads from loading.
Unique inbuilt GPS spoofing feature to change device’s GPS location to chosen server’s location.

Surfshark speeds

Surfshark offers good speeds worldwide. The speedtests below are performed from the Netherlands with a 100 Mbit down- and upload speed. So the speeds can be much higher depending on your internet speed. However if you compare Surfshark with ExpressVPN and NordVPN you can see that these providers are faster. Overall if you look at the price/quality ratio then Surfshark is still performing very well. However keep in mind the further you connect from your nearest location the less it will perform. Watch out for the multihop functionality, this may impact your speed.

Server locations	Download speed	Upload speed	Ping
Netherlands (nearest)	93,4	93,2	12
Belgium	89,7	89,5	42
Singapore	83,2	80,1	104
Australia	76,0	75,8	178
USA - NYC	84,3	79,6	149
UK	87,8	84,2	83
Italy	88,8	85,8	90
Canada	87,1	85,2	144
Argentina	85,5	81,9	194
Brazil	81,6	80,2	217
Japan	85,4	77,3	182
India	88,2	84,7	156

Pricing and types of subscriptions

The prices below are an indication. Prices may differ because of i.e. discount promotions. Surfshark is the cheapest VPN we have tested. The price/quality ratio is very good. With Surfshark you get alot of features for a very reasonable price.