- Pick it if you are:
- Privacy-focused users and journalists; People who need a free VPN
- Top complaint:
- Why does Proton VPN renewal cost so much more?
- Price:
- Free plan, paid from $9.99/mo
- Pick it if you are:
- Families and people with many devices; Budget buyers willing to re-buy every 2 years
- Top complaint:
- Surfshark renewal price much higher than the price you signed up at
- Price:
- From $1.78/mo
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Proton VPN
- Why does Proton VPN renewal cost so much more?(7/10)
- Why is Proton VPN so expensive month to month?(5/10)
Surfshark
- Surfshark renewal price much higher than the price you signed up at(8/10)
- Surfshark One+ price raised twice in early 2026(5/10)
- Surfshark auto-renewed without warning and won't refund(8/10)
- Surfshark monthly plan is expensive(5/10)
- Antivirus and identity extras inflate the price(4/10)
Proton VPN
- Proton VPN free servers slow at peak times(6/10)
- Why is Proton VPN so slow with Secure Core?(4/10)
Surfshark
- Why is Surfshark so slow?(5/10)
Proton VPN
- Proton VPN free plan limits: one device, no country choice(5/10)
- Proton VPN causes constant Google CAPTCHAs(5/10)
Surfshark
- Websites and Google show CAPTCHAs or block Surfshark(5/10)
- Hard to find how to cancel Surfshark(5/10)
Proton VPN
- Proton VPN not connecting or stuck on Connecting(7/10)
- Proton VPN not working with Netflix (proxy error)(5/10)
- Proton VPN Stealth not working in restrictive countries(6/10)
Surfshark
- Surfshark not working with Netflix (proxy error)(6/10)
- Surfshark keeps disconnecting(7/10)
- Surfshark not connecting or stuck on connecting(7/10)
Proton VPN
- Proton VPN refund taking too long(6/10)
- Proton VPN has no 24/7 live chat(5/10)
Surfshark
- Surfshark customer service unhelpful on refunds(6/10)
Proton VPN
- Proton VPN port forwarding changes every reconnect(5/10)
Surfshark
No signals
Proton VPN
- Proton VPN keeps disconnecting on Android(6/10)
Surfshark
No signals
Proton VPN
- Is Proton leaving Switzerland? Surveillance law uncertainty(5/10)
- Proton CEO political post backlash(3/10)
Surfshark
No signals
Pricing Comparison
Proton VPN
Users: 1.0
Limits: 1 device only, no country or server choice (random server with a Change server cooldown), no streaming-optimised servers, no P2P/torrenting, no Secure Core, no port forwarding, medium speed, no live chat support
Users: 10.0
Limits: Proton Pass, Drive and Mail stay on their free tiers
Users: 10.0
Limits: Proton Pass, Drive and Mail stay on their free tiers
Users: 10.0
Storage: 500 GB
Users: 10.0
Storage: 500 GB
Surfshark
Limits: VPN-focused tier; antivirus and identity tools need One or One+
Limits: Data removal (Incogni) is in One+ only
Limits: Incogni only for US, UK, EU, Swiss and Canadian residents; identity theft coverage US-only (not New York)
Limits: Higher per-month price than the 2-year deal
Limits: About 8x the 2-year monthly rate
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Proton VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan with unlimited data 1 device, random server in about 10 countries | ||
| Core | ||
| Unlimited simultaneous devices All plans | ||
| 10 simultaneous devices Paid plans | ||
| WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols Settings > VPN Settings > Protocol | ||
| IPv6 support Surfshark says it does not support IPv6; disable it to avoid connection issues | ||
| Smart Protocol Cycles through WireGuard, OpenVPN and Stealth automatically | ||
| Security | ||
| Secure Core multi-hop Paid plans; about 35% slower in tests | ||
| Kill switch Blocks all traffic if the VPN drops | ||
| Stealth protocol Anti-censorship; Settings > Protocol | ||
| Kill switch and advanced kill switch Advanced mode blocks internet whenever the VPN is off | ||
| NetShield ad and malware blocker Paid plans | ||
| Bundle | ||
| Antivirus One and One+ | ||
| Incogni data removal One+; US, UK, EU, Swiss and Canadian residents | ||
| Add-on | ||
| Dedicated IP Paid add-on, not refundable under the money-back guarantee | ||
| P2P | ||
| Port forwarding P2P servers on Windows, macOS (early access) and Linux only | ||
| Performance | ||
| VPN Accelerator On by default | ||
| Streaming | ||
| Smart DNS for TVs and consoles Not offered per security.org | ||
| Support | ||
| 24/7 live chat Live chat about 9 AM-midnight CET, paid users only | ||
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