ExpressVPN vs Surfshark VPN

Which VPN Is Better?

Products

ExpressVPN
Surfshark VPN

Tested using Methodology v0.9.1

Updated May 14, 2025 01:59 PM

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ExpressVPN

Tested using Methodology v0.9.1

Updated May 23, 2025 07:06 PM

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Surfshark
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Our Verdict

ExpressVPN

Surfshark VPN

ExpressVPN and Surfshark VPN each have strengths and weaknesses. ExpressVPN has much better security than Surfshark VPN, since the latter's kill switch leaks some data outside of the tunnel after a system reboot. On the other hand, Surfshark delivers significantly faster speeds and better latency for a snappier experience and quicker downloads. Also, Surfshark doesn't have a limit on how many devices you can have connected at the same time, while Express has a maximum of 8.

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Variants

  • ExpressVPN (W/ Dedicated IP)
  • Surfshark (One)
  • Surfshark (One+)
  • Surfshark (Starter)

Check Price

W/ Dedicated IP
ExpressVPN
SEE PRICE
ExpressVPN
One
Surfshark
SEE PRICE
Surfshark
 
One+
Surfshark
SEE PRICE
Surfshark
 
Starter
Surfshark
SEE PRICE
Surfshark

Main Differences for
Torrent

Threshold 

0.10

Torrent 

8.5
8.1

Kill Switch Robustness 
 

8.0
2.0

Registration 
 

7.5
6.1

Download Speed 
 

5.4
9.4

Full Comparison

Security

Registration 
 

7.5
6.1

Payment Options  

Email Required 
 

Yes
Yes

Password Required 
 

No
Yes

Cryptocurrency 
 

Yes
Yes

Cash 
 

No
No
Show Text 

IP And DNS Leaks 
 

9.0
9.0

IPLEAK.net Screenshot  

Wireshark IP And DNS Leak Screenshot  

Leak Detected 
 

No
No

In-Browser IP 
 

No Leak Detected
No Leak Detected

In-Browser DNS 
 

No Leak Detected
No Leak Detected

System DNS 
 

No Leak Detected
No Leak Detected

System Traffic 
 

No Leak Detected
No Leak Detected

Kill Switch Robustness 
 

8.0
2.0

Wireshark Kill Switch Screenshot  

Leak Detected 
 

No
Yes

During VPN Software Crash 
 

No Leak Detected
No Leak Detected

During Loss Of Internet 
 

No Leak Detected
No Leak Detected

During System Reboot 
 

No Leak Detected
Leak Detected
Show Text 

Man-In-The-Middle Attacks 
 

8.5
8.5

Man-In-The-Middle Attacks Screenshot  

TLS Interruption Risk 
 

No Evidence
No Evidence

Proper BGP Implementation 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Performance

Download Speed 
 

5.4
9.4

Download Speed Graph  

See details
See details

Without VPN 
 

246 Mbps
229 Mbps

With VPN 
 

65 Mbps
379 Mbps

Speed Difference 
 

-180.5 Mbps
150.4 Mbps
Show Text 

Upload Speed 
 

5.7
9.0

Upload Speed Graph  

See details
See details

Without VPN 
 

349 Mbps
332 Mbps

With VPN 
 

58 Mbps
244 Mbps

Speed Difference 
 

-291.2 Mbps
-87.8 Mbps
Show Text 

Latency 
 

6.7
7.9

Download Latency Graph  

See details
See details

Upload Latency Graph  

See details
See details

Download Latency Without VPN 
 

149 ms
390 ms

Download Latency With VPN 
 

200 ms
400 ms

Download Latency Difference 
 

51 ms
10 ms

Upload Latency Without VPN 
 

151 ms
400 ms

Upload Latency With VPN 
 

210 ms
178 ms

Upload Latency Difference 
 

58 ms
-222 ms

Combined Latency Consistency 
 

±50 ms
±57 ms
Show Text 
Features

Downloads 
 

9.5
9.5

Torrent Test Picture  

Torrent (P2P) 
 

Yes
Yes

Data Limit 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Platform Support 
 

9.3
9.3

Windows 
 

Yes
Yes

macOS 
 

Yes
Yes

Linux 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Protocols 
 

Protocol Results Table  

WireGuard 
 

No
Yes

OpenVPN Over UDP 
 

Yes
Yes

OpenVPN Over TCP 
 

Yes
Yes

IPSec With L2TP 
 

No
No

IPSec With IKEv2 
 

Yes
Yes

Proprietary Protocol(s) 
 

Lightway
None
Show Text 

Simultaneous Devices 
 

8.1
9.9

Tested Simultaneous Connections 
 

8
11

Simultaneous Locations 
 

Yes
Yes

Advertised Max Simultaneous Connections 
 

8
Unlimited

Destinations 
 

9.4
8.6

VPN Destination Selection Example  

Countries 
 

107
100

Countries With Multiple Cities 
 

11
12

Server Choice 
 

Yes
No

Split Tunneling 
 

8.5
9.5

VPN Disabled For App Screenshot  

VPN Enabled For App Screenshot  

Disabling Of VPN For Specific Apps 
 

Yes
Yes

Enabling Of VPN For Specific Apps 
 

Yes
Yes

Splitting Based On Address 
 

No
Yes

Ping Local Address - Same Subnet 
 

Yes
Yes

Ping Local Address - Different Subnet 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Headless Setup 
 

7.0
10

Headless WireGuard Connection Screenshot  

Headless OpenVPN Connection Screenshot  

Headless WireGuard Connection 
 

No
Yes

Headless OpenVPN Connection 
 

Yes
Yes

Check Price

W/ Dedicated IP
ExpressVPN
SEE PRICE
ExpressVPN
One
Surfshark
SEE PRICE
Surfshark
 
One+
Surfshark
SEE PRICE
Surfshark
 
Starter
Surfshark
SEE PRICE
Surfshark

ExpressVPN

Surfshark VPN

Comments

  1. Comparison

ExpressVPN vs Surfshark VPN: Main Discussion

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