ExpressVPN vs Surfshark
Both are PCMag Editors’ Choice VPNs. Surfshark is cheaper and allows unlimited devices, plus multi-hop. ExpressVPN covers more countries, has post-quantum protection, and PCMag calls it an especially good pick for frequent travelers.
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Quick answer
Choose ExpressVPN (from $2.99/mo) if you travel and want servers in the most countries, you want post-quantum protection or you want a password manager and ID protection in one plan. Choose Surfshark (from $2.49/mo) if you want the lowest long-term price, you have many devices to protect or you want multi-hop or rotating IP.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Check ExpressVPN pricing (opens in a new tab)Check Surfshark pricing (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| ExpressVPN | Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest 2-year price | $2.99/mo (Basic) | $2.49/mo (Starter) |
| Monthly price (PCMag) | From $12.99 | From $15.45 |
| Simultaneous devices | 10, 12 or 14 | Unlimited |
| Server countries | 113 | 100 (130+ locations, 4,500+ servers) |
| Multi-hop | No (PCMag) | Yes, Dynamic MultiHop |
Pick Surfshark for value and big households. Its 2-year plans start at $2.49 a month, every plan allows unlimited devices, and PCMag[5][6] praises its privacy policy, transparency reports and audited Dausos protocol. Pick ExpressVPN for travel and the widest coverage. It has servers in 113 countries, Lightway with post-quantum protection, and up to 14 devices. Its 2-year plans start at $2.99 a month, but both services cost far more month to month.
ExpressVPN vs Surfshark: side-by-side
| ExpressVPN | Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest 2-year price | $2.99/mo (Basic) | $2.49/mo (Starter) |
| Monthly price (PCMag) | From $12.99 | From $15.45 |
| Simultaneous devices | 10, 12 or 14 | Unlimited |
| Server countries | 113 | 100 (130+ locations, 4,500+ servers) |
| Multi-hop | No (PCMag) | Yes, Dynamic MultiHop |
| Protocol | Lightway, with post-quantum protection | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2; Dausos |
| Privacy audits | KPMG no-logs assessments; Cure53 audit Feb 2026 (PCMag) | Independent audits; Dausos audited by Cure53 (PCMag) |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days, new users | 30 days |
| PCMag award | Editors’ Choice | Editors’ Choice |
How much do they cost?
ExpressVPN plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $2.99/mo ($83.72 first 28 months) | 10 devices; renews at $99.95/yr |
| Advanced | $4.49/mo ($125.72 first 28 months) | 12 devices; password manager, ID alerts; renews at $119.95/yr |
| Express Pro | $7.49/mo ($209.72 first 28 months) | 14 devices; dedicated IP; renews at $199.95/yr |
| Monthly (PCMag) | From $12.99/mo | — |
Surfshark plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $2.49/mo ($67.23 first 27 months) | VPN, ad blocker, masked email |
| Surfshark One | $2.49/mo ($67.23 first 27 months) | Adds antivirus and data leak alerts |
| Surfshark One+ | $3.99/mo ($107.73 first 27 months) | Adds data removal by Incogni |
| Monthly (PCMag) | From $15.45/mo | — |
What are the pros and cons?
ExpressVPN: pros
- Servers in 113 countries
- Post-quantum Lightway protocol
- Fast speed test results (PCMag)
- Strong privacy and security practices (PCMag)
ExpressVPN: cons
- Expensive monthly and annual plans (PCMag)
- No multi-hop connections (PCMag)
- Device limit of 10 to 14
Surfshark: pros
- Unlimited simultaneous devices
- Cheaper 2-year plans
- Multi-hop and rotating IP
- Regular transparency reports (PCMag)
Surfshark: cons
- High monthly cost unless you commit longer (PCMag)
- Fewer countries than ExpressVPN
- Promo prices renew higher
Which should you choose: ExpressVPN or Surfshark?
Surfshark is the better value for most people. It’s cheaper on long-term plans, covers unlimited devices, and PCMag[5][6] calls it a top-tier VPN with strong data protection and innovative security tools. ExpressVPN costs a little more but covers more countries and has post-quantum encryption. PCMag calls it a top service for frequent travelers. Both offer 30-day money-back guarantees, so check renewal prices before you commit to an introductory 2-year deal.
Choose ExpressVPN if…
- You travel and want servers in the most countries
- You want post-quantum protection
- You want a password manager and ID protection in one plan
Choose Surfshark if…
- You want the lowest long-term price
- You have many devices to protect
- You want multi-hop or rotating IP
Renewal math (checked Nov 11, 2026)
Both pricing pages rechecked Nov 11, 2026.
- ExpressVPN: Basic is $83.72 for the first 28 months, then $99.95/yr (10 devices). Advanced is $125.72, then $119.95/yr (12 devices, plus ad and tracker blocking). Pro is $209.72, then $199.95/yr (14 devices, dedicated IP included).
- Surfshark: Starter is $67.23 for the first 27 months ($2.49/mo). During its Black Friday promo, One is the same $2.49/mo and One+ is $3.99/mo. Surfshark says its 4,500+ servers in 100 countries are upgraded to 10Gbps. Free trials are limited to 3 devices; paid plans are unlimited. The pricing page doesn't print renewal prices.
The tradeoff: Surfshark is cheaper to start and covers unlimited devices. ExpressVPN shows its renewal up front, and Basic renews at $99.95. If you'll keep the VPN past the intro term, check Surfshark's renewal at checkout before deciding on price alone.
Pricing and renewals
ExpressVPN’s 2-year plans run 28 months: Basic is $83.72 for the first 28 months ($2.99 a month), then $99.95 a year; Advanced is $125.72, then $119.95 a year; Express Pro is $209.72, then $199.95 a year. Surfshark’s 2-year plans run 27 months: Starter and One are $67.23 ($2.49 a month), and One+ is $107.73 ($3.99 a month). Surfshark says renewals are charged at the applicable renewal price. On month-to-month plans, PCMag[5][6] lists ExpressVPN from $12.99 and Surfshark from $15.45.
Servers and devices
ExpressVPN lists servers in 113 countries and supports 10, 12 or 14 simultaneous devices, depending on the plan. Surfshark lists 100 countries, 130+ locations and 4,500+ servers, and lets you connect unlimited devices at once. Surfshark adds Dynamic MultiHop (double VPN), rotating IP and split tunneling; PCMag[5][6] notes that ExpressVPN has no multi-hop connections.
Privacy and audits
ExpressVPN says KPMG examined its TrustedServer system and privacy policy claims, and PCMag[5][6] says the company has been audited 23 separate times, most recently by Cure53 in February 2026. PCMag notes that ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies. PCMag praises Surfshark’s easy-to-understand privacy policy and regular transparency reports, and says its proprietary Dausos protocol has been independently audited by Cure53.
Frequently asked questions
Is Surfshark cheaper than ExpressVPN?
How many devices can I use?
Which VPN has more countries?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- ExpressVPN: Plans and pricing (checked October 2026) (expressvpn.com)
- ExpressVPN: 3rd KPMG security audit of no-logs policy (expressvpn.com)
- Surfshark: Pricing (checked October 2026) (surfshark.com)
- Surfshark: VPN server locations (surfshark.com)
- PCMag: ExpressVPN review (updated May 2026) (pcmag.com)
- PCMag: Surfshark VPN review (updated May 2026) (pcmag.com)
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