Surfshark vs ExpressVPN 2026: Value vs Premium
Surfshark at $1.99/month vs ExpressVPN at $6.67/month — that’s a 3x price difference. But does ExpressVPN offer 3x the value? Let’s find out.
Quick Verdict
Surfshark wins for value. It offers 90% of ExpressVPN’s quality at 30% of the price, with unlimited connections as a bonus.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Surfshark | ExpressVPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99/mo | $6.67/mo | Surfshark |
| Connections | Unlimited | 8 | Surfshark |
| Speed | 860 Mbps | 875 Mbps | ExpressVPN |
| Servers | 3,200+ | 3,000+ | Tie |
| Countries | 100 | 105 | ExpressVPN |
| Streaming | Good | Excellent | ExpressVPN |
| China | Inconsistent | Reliable | ExpressVPN |
| Ad Blocker | ✅ CleanWeb | ❌ | Surfshark |
| MultiHop | ✅ Dynamic | ❌ | Surfshark |
| GPS Spoofing | ✅ Android | ❌ | Surfshark |
| Kill Switch | ✅ | ✅ | Tie |
| Ease of Use | Easy | Easiest | ExpressVPN |
Price Comparison (2 Years)
| Surfshark | ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Total cost | $55.76 | $159.84 |
| Per month | $1.99 | $6.67 |
| Per device | $0 (unlimited) | $0.83/device |
| Savings | $104.08 | — |
Surfshark saves you over $100 compared to ExpressVPN over two years.
Where Surfshark Wins
- 💰 Price: 70% cheaper
- 📱 Unlimited devices: Cover your entire household
- 🛡️ CleanWeb: Built-in ad/tracker blocker
- 🔀 Dynamic MultiHop: Choose entry and exit servers
- 📍 GPS Spoofing: Override Android GPS location
- 🔄 Rotating IP: Change IP periodically without disconnecting
Where ExpressVPN Wins
- 🇨🇳 China reliability: More consistent in restrictive countries
- 🎬 Streaming: Slightly better at unblocking
- 👶 Ease of use: Marginally simpler interface
- 📺 MediaStreamer: Smart DNS for devices without VPN apps
- 📡 Aircove router: Dedicated hardware solution
FAQ
Is Surfshark as good as ExpressVPN?
For everyday use, yes. Surfshark matches ExpressVPN in speed, security, and streaming for most platforms. ExpressVPN has an edge in China and some niche streaming services.
Is Surfshark safe?
Absolutely. Surfshark uses AES-256 encryption, has a no-logs policy audited by Deloitte, and is based in the Netherlands (strong privacy laws). It’s owned by Nord Security, the same company behind NordVPN.
Final Verdict
Surfshark is the better buy for 95% of users. You get excellent performance, unlimited devices, and extra features like CleanWeb and MultiHop — all at $1.99/month. Only choose ExpressVPN if you specifically need China reliability or the Aircove router.