Surfshark vs Proton VPN — Budget VPN Battle
Affordable VPNs with different philosophies — Surfshark packs features and unlimited devices, while Proton VPN prioritizes privacy and offers a free tier.
Surfshark
Feature-packed VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections, RAM-only servers, and CleanWeb ad blocking.
8.5/10Proton VPN
Swiss-based VPN with a generous free tier, Secure Core architecture, and open-source apps.
8.0/10Comparison Overview
Speed & Performance
Streaming & Torrenting
Features & Value
Privacy & Jurisdiction
Pricing Comparison
Full Analysis
Speed & Performance
Surfshark delivers faster speeds than Proton VPN across all protocols. WireGuard on Surfshark averaged 620 Mbps vs Proton VPN’s 480 Mbps on our 1 Gbps test connections. Both services add 35-50 ms latency on nearby servers.
Streaming
Surfshark reliably unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. Proton VPN only reliably unblocks Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer — Netflix is inconsistent and most other platforms are blocked.
Features
Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, CleanWeb ad blocking, MultiHop, and GPS spoofing. Proton VPN counters with NetShield ad blocking, Secure Core, and a genuine free tier.
Privacy
Proton VPN’s Swiss jurisdiction offers stronger privacy protections than Surfshark’s Netherlands base. Both have independently audited no-logs policies. Proton VPN’s open-source apps and transparency reports give it an edge.
Pricing
Surfshark’s $2.49/month two-year plan is cheaper than Proton VPN’s $4.49/month two-year plan. But Proton VPN’s free tier offers a legitimate no-cost option.
Verdict
Surfshark wins for most users with better speeds, streaming, and value. Proton VPN is the better choice if you need a free VPN or prioritize Swiss privacy jurisdiction.
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