NordVPN vs Surfshark
A direct comparison using our own UK test data, last updated 1 September 2026.
| Specification | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| VPNGuide score | 9.4 / 10 | 9.1 / 10 |
| Best for | Best Overall | Best Value |
| Effective monthly price | £3.39/mo | £2.19/mo |
| Contract length | 24 months | 24 months |
| Renewal price | £3.39/mo | £4.49/mo |
| Servers | 6,400 | 3,200 |
| Countries | 111 | 100 |
| UK servers | 440 | 120 |
| Average UK speed | 412 Mbps | 398 Mbps |
| Speed loss | 8% | 11% |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 | Unlimited |
| Encryption | AES-256 / ChaCha20 | AES-256 / ChaCha20 |
| Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunnelling | Yes | Yes |
| Ad blocker | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated IP | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-hop | Yes | Yes |
| RAM-only servers | Yes | Yes |
| No-logs policy | Published | Published |
| Independent audit | Yes (2026) | Yes (2025) |
| Streaming support | Netflix UK, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Disney+ | Netflix UK, BBC iPlayer, ITVX |
| Torrenting / P2P | Allowed | Allowed |
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat | 24/7 live chat |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Visit provider |
UK download speed over time
London server, fastest protocol available from each provider.
NordVPN: Apr 418.5 Mbps, May 414 Mbps, Jun 409.5 Mbps, Jul 418.5 Mbps, Aug 414 Mbps, Sept 409.5 Mbps; Surfshark: Apr 405 Mbps, May 400.5 Mbps, Jun 396 Mbps, Jul 405 Mbps, Aug 400.5 Mbps, Sept 396 Mbps
Last updated 1 September 2026. View testing methodology