Proton VPN vs Surfshark: open code and a free plan, or unlimited devices for less
Proton VPN scores 6.12 and Surfshark 5.30 out of 10. Proton VPN leads overall; the table shows where each one is stronger.
Proton VPN vs Surfshark
| What we compare | Proton VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 6.12 (better) | 5.30 |
| Privacy and jurisdiction | 6.0 (better) | 4.4 |
| Security and protocols | 7.9 (better) | 6.1 |
| Price and fair terms | 5.3 | 5.7 (better) |
| Censorship bypass | 2.4 (better) | 1.9 |
| Network and streaming | 8.7 (better) | 7.2 |
| Platforms and support | 7.1 | 9.0 (better) |
| Cheapest price, € a month | €3.00 | €2.14 (better) |
| Renewal vs first term | 2.0× | — |
| Refund window, days | 30 | 30 |
| Free plan | Yes (better) | — |
| Independent no-logs audit | Yes | Yes |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| WireGuard | Yes | Yes |
| Obfuscation | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto payments | Yes | Yes |
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland (outside 14 Eyes) | Netherlands (9 Eyes) |
| Platforms supported | 10 | 12 (better) |
Proton VPN wins the verifiable areas: open-source apps, a Swiss jurisdiction and 140+ countries. Surfshark wins on price and device count. VPNRadarLab scores Proton VPN at 6.12 of 10 and Surfshark at 5.30, with Proton ahead in four of six areas, Surfshark in two, no ties.
Proton VPN's case: open code, a bigger map and streaming claims
Proton publishes its app source code on GitHub, runs a bug bounty, and lists perfect forward secrecy and DNS leak protection. Surfshark does not publish any of those items, and VPNRadarLab scores only what a provider puts in writing. On the network side, Proton claims 20,000+ servers on its own hardware, port forwarding for torrenting, and named streaming targets including Netflix (US, UK, France), Disney+ and Prime Video. Surfshark lists 100 countries, 4,500+ servers and P2P locations, but names no streaming platform and does not publish port forwarding. Both offer multi-hop: Proton VPN's Secure Core routes through servers in Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden, while Surfshark's Dynamic MultiHop serves the same purpose.
Surfshark's case: RAM-only servers, no device cap and router apps
Surfshark's strongest security points are RAM-only servers and two-factor sign-in, two items Proton does not document; its audits come from Deloitte and Cure53, and it lists IKEv2 alongside WireGuard and OpenVPN. The platforms lead is clearer: 12 supported platforms against Proton's 10, apps for routers, smart TVs and game consoles, extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge, and live chat around the clock, which Proton does not publish. A dedicated IP add-on in 20 locations and locations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkey round out the picture.
Swiss law or a Nine Eyes country: what each privacy policy keeps
Proton AG is registered in Geneva, outside the 5, 9 and 14 Eyes alliances, and publishes a warrant canary; Surfshark B.V. sits in Amsterdam, a Nine Eyes country, and does not publish a warrant canary. Both had the no-logs promise checked by an outside firm and both publish transparency reports. The fine print differs: Proton's policy holds the connection IP only temporarily for abuse and fraud checks, while Surfshark keeps the IP and session times with your user ID and deletes them within 15 minutes after the session.
| What the policy mentions | Proton VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| required | required | |
| Connection IP | temporary, abuse checks only | with user ID, deleted 15 min after session |
| Session times | not published | same 15-minute window |
| Sign-up IP | held temporarily, then hashed | not collected (payment partners may) |
| Device data | technical info from native apps | device name, OS, app version, last login |
| App analytics | yes | yes (AppsFlyer, Firebase, Iterable, Purchasely) |
| Crash reports | yes | yes, with consent, kept 7 days |
| Warrant canary | yes | not published |
| Transparency report | yes | yes |
First payment, months covered and the renewal bill
| Plan | Months covered | First payment | Per month | After the first term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN Free | rolling | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Proton VPN Plus | 24 | $83.76 | $3.49 | $83.88 every 12 months |
| Proton VPN Unlimited | 24 | $191.76 | $7.99 | $119.88 every 12 months |
| Surfshark Starter | 27 | $67.23 | $2.49 | not shown on the page |
| Surfshark One | 27 | $67.23 | $2.49 | not shown on the page |
| Surfshark One+ | 27 | $121.23 | $4.49 | not shown on the page |
Surfshark has the lower cheapest price and a 7-day trial, and since it publishes no renewal amount, no renewal-jump deduction applies to it. Proton loses points for its 2.0 renewal ratio and wins some back with the free plan and cash payment. The higher tiers diverge in extras: Plus includes Proton Pass Free and 5 GB of Drive, Unlimited adds Pass Premium with dark web monitoring and 500 GB of storage; Surfshark One adds antivirus and Alert, One+ adds Incogni.
Free plan, 7-day trial and the refund fine print
Proton's free tier has unlimited data, no ads and no card requirement; you get one device and servers in 10 randomly selected countries. Surfshark has no free plan, and its 7-day trial requires a card, PayPal or Apple Pay and bills automatically when the week ends. Both refund within 30 days of the first purchase, with catches: Proton excludes cash and bank transfer payments, Surfshark excludes renewals, gift and prepaid cards and anonymous dedicated IPs. Crypto works at both; cash only at Proton.
Proton VPN and Surfshark: what buyers ask
Is Surfshark faster than Proton VPN?
This comparison scores published documents, not measured throughput. Both advertise 10 Gbps server ports, and neither claim has been tested here.
Which one is better for streaming and torrenting?
On paper, Proton: it names the streaming platforms it targets and publishes port forwarding. Surfshark marks P2P servers but commits to no streaming service.
Will either one work where VPNs are blocked?
Both publish one obfuscation mode, and Proton adds alternative routing when its site is blocked. Neither lists VLESS Reality, Trojan, Shadowsocks or Hysteria2, so heavy censorship is a gamble for both.
Why does Surfshark rate higher on Trustpilot?
Its profile holds roughly 30,000 reviews against Proton's under a thousand, with a 4.3 versus 2.2 average. User reviews do not feed the VPNRadarLab score.
Which one to buy for your situation
- Published privacy above all: Proton VPN (Swiss jurisdiction, open code, warrant canary).
- Test without paying: Proton's free tier.
- A household of gadgets: Surfshark, no device cap, router and console apps.
- Lowest bill: Surfshark Starter at $67.23 for 27 months, then watch the renewal.