Proton VPN vs Surfshark
Proton VPN rates 4.6/5 and starts at Free. Surfshark rates 4.5/5 and starts at $2/mo. Proton VPN is the cheaper entry point. Proton VPN is the higher rated. Only Proton VPN has a free tier.
Proton VPN rates higher (4.6/5 vs 4.5/5). Proton VPN is cheaper to start (Free vs $2/mo). Proton VPN suits Privacy purists, while Surfshark is aimed at Households & budget users.
Proton VPN vs Surfshark at a glance
| Measure | Proton VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Reviews | 7,400 | 9,200 |
| Starting price | Free | $2/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Public API | No | No |
| Integrations listed here | 5 | 5 |
Feature & pricing comparison
Pricing side by side
Proton VPN
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| VPN Plus | $5/mo | $60 |
| Proton Unlimited | $10/mo | $120 |
Surfshark
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $2/mo | $24 |
| One | $4/mo | $48 |
| One+ | $6/mo | $72 |
Which should you choose?
Choose Proton VPN if…
- Genuine free plan matters to you.
- Strong privacy ethos matters to you.
- Open source matters to you.
- Renewal price higher would be a problem.
Choose Surfshark if…
- Cheapest of the big names matters to you.
- Unlimited devices matters to you.
- Good speeds matters to you.
- Free tier limited servers would be a problem.
Proton VPN
Pros
- Genuine free plan
- Strong privacy ethos
- Open source
Cons
- Free tier limited servers
- Fewer streaming optimizations
Surfshark
Pros
- Cheapest of the big names
- Unlimited devices
- Good speeds
Cons
- Renewal price higher
- Some distant servers slower
Frequently asked questions
Is Proton VPN better than Surfshark?+
Proton VPN rates higher (4.6/5 vs 4.5/5). Proton VPN is cheaper to start (Free vs $2/mo). Proton VPN suits Privacy purists, while Surfshark is aimed at Households & budget users.
Which is cheaper, Proton VPN or Surfshark?+
Proton VPN — it starts at Free, versus $2/mo for Surfshark.
Do Proton VPN or Surfshark have a free plan?+
Proton VPN has a free tier; Surfshark does not (though trials may be available).
Which is better rated, Proton VPN or Surfshark?+
Proton VPN, at 4.6/5 across 7,400 reviews, versus 4.5/5 for Surfshark.
What is Proton VPN best for, and what is Surfshark best for?+
Proton VPN is aimed at Privacy purists (privacy & activism, free VPN). Surfshark is aimed at Households & budget users (whole household, budget privacy).