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Surfshark vs Proton VPN – Which VPN is better?

Surfshark and Proton VPN are two popular VPN providers with a different focus: Surfshark on price and versatility, Proton VPN on data protection and transparency.

Our winner

Surfshark

In this head-to-head comparison Surfshark delivers the better overall performance.

See Surfshark deal

Comparison table

Feature
Surfshark
Proton VPN
Speed
85 Mbit/s
80 Mbit/s
Servers
3.200+
3.000+
Countries
100+
70+
Streaming
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, BBC iPlayer
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+
Security
No-logs policy
No-logs policy (Schweiz)
No-Logs
Yes (audited)
Yes (Swiss law)
Price
2,49 €/month
4,99 €/month
Apps
Unlimited
Win, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
Support
24/7 Live Chat
Email Support

Speed – Surfshark vs Proton VPN

On average, Surfshark is slightly faster than Proton VPN. Both are well suited for streaming and everyday surfing.

Surfshark
Download 85 Mbit/s
Upload 72 Mbit/s
Ping 22 ms
Proton VPN
Download 80 Mbit/s
Upload 68 Mbit/s
Ping 25 ms

Security – Surfshark vs Proton VPN

Proton VPN scores with Swiss data protection and open source apps. Surfshark offers CleanWeb and a certified no-logs policy.

Surfshark
  • No-logs policy
  • AES-256 Encryption
  • Kill Switch
  • CleanWeb Ad blocker
Proton VPN
  • No-logs policy (Schweiz)
  • AES-256 Encryption
  • Secure Core Server
  • Kill Switch

Streaming – which VPN works better?

Surfshark unblocks streaming services more reliably and supports BBC iPlayer. Proton VPN only offers streaming in the Plus tariff.

Surfshark

Netflix
Amazon Prime
Disney+
BBC iPlayer

Proton VPN

Netflix
Amazon Prime
Disney+

Pricing

Surfshark

from 2,49 €/month

2-year subscription - Unlimited devices

See Surfshark deal

Proton VPN

from 4,99 €/month

2-year subscription - Free tariff available

See Proton VPN deal

Which VPN is better for…

Streaming

Surfshark

More reliable and more platforms.

Data protection

Proton VPN

Swiss law and open source transparency.

Price-performance

Surfshark

Cheaper with unlimited devices.

Our verdict – Surfshark or Proton VPN?

Surfshark offers the better overall package for most users. Proton VPN is the right choice for maximum data protection and users looking for a free start.

FAQ – Surfshark vs Proton VPN

Which is cheaper - Surfshark or Proton VPN? +

Surfshark is cheaper and offers unlimited devices. Proton VPN has a free tariff.

Which VPN is safer? +

Proton VPN has the advantage of Swiss data protection law. Both offer strong encryption.

Which VPN is better for streaming? +

Surfshark unlocks more platforms more reliably than Proton VPN.

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