Over a typical first term plus one renewal year, Surfshark costs less than NordVPN at every tier, and it allows unlimited devices where NordVPN allows 10. NordVPN’s middle plan, Complete, bundles more tools, including a password manager and 1 TB of cloud storage. Both offer a 30-day refund on the first purchase only; Surfshark also has a 7-day trial, while we found no confirmed NordVPN trial.
This is a documentary comparison based on the providers’ official pages. We have not bought either service, installed the apps, measured speed or contacted support, so nothing here is a performance or security verdict.
Plans at a glance
NordVPN sells Basic, Complete and Complete Max. Surfshark sells Starter, One and One+. The tiers line up roughly: a VPN-focused plan, a security bundle, and a top plan with an extra (a dedicated IP at NordVPN, data removal and identity cover at Surfshark).
Both 2-year plans run 27 months (2 years plus 3 free months) and both 1-year plans run 15 months (1 year plus 3 free months). After the first term, both renew yearly at a higher price.
First payment and renewal
Prices and plan details were checked on the providers’ official pages on 5 November 2026. Figures are in USD; NordVPN notes VAT may apply and Surfshark’s prices exclude tax. Prices vary by country, currency, taxes and promotions, so confirm the final amount at checkout.
| Plan | 2-year plan, upfront (27 months) | Renewal, per year | Cost of first 39 months (upfront + 1 renewal) | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN Basic | $94.23 | $139.08 | $233.31 | 10 |
| NordVPN Complete | $107.73 | $219.48 | $327.21 | 10 |
| NordVPN Complete Max | $161.73 | $301.08 | $462.81 | 10 |
| Surfshark Starter | $67.23 | $79 | $146.23 | Unlimited |
| Surfshark One | $67.23 | $99 | $166.23 | Unlimited |
| Surfshark One+ | $107.73 | $119 | $226.73 | Unlimited |
The upfront amount already covers more than two years. The real gap appears at renewal: NordVPN Basic renews at $139.08 per year against $79 for Surfshark Starter, a difference of $60.08 every year. Complete renews at $219.48 against $99 for One.
Cost over 2 years on a 1-year plan
If you start with the 1-year plan and renew once, you are covered for 27 months, slightly more than 2 years, and you pay the renewal price for the second stretch.
- NordVPN Basic: $74.85 + $139.08 = $213.93
- NordVPN Complete: $89.85 + $219.48 = $309.33
- NordVPN Complete Max: $119.85 + $301.08 = $420.93
- Surfshark Starter: $44.85 + $79 = $123.85
- Surfshark One: $44.85 + $99 = $143.85
- Surfshark One+: $104.85 + $119 = $223.85
For both providers the 2-year plan is cheaper for the same 27 months of cover. Monthly plans cost far more: $14.99 to $21.99 per month at NordVPN, and $18.95 to $22.85 per month at Surfshark. NordVPN did not display a separate renewal price for its monthly plans; Surfshark’s renew at the same monthly price.
Two caveats apply. NordVPN says renewal prices may be higher than launch prices and may change. Surfshark says it may A/B test prices, including displayed renewal prices, and shows renewal prices based on your location. Read the renewal line at checkout.
Devices
NordVPN lists 10 simultaneous devices on every plan. Surfshark lists unlimited simultaneous devices on every plan. For a single person or a couple, 10 is usually enough. For a household with many phones, tablets, laptops and TVs, Surfshark removes the need to count. Our guide to a secure laptop and phone baseline covers what each device needs beyond a VPN.
Bundled extras
NordVPN Basic includes scam and phishing protection and Dark Web Monitor for up to 5 email addresses. Complete adds antivirus, an ad and tracker blocker, email, call and SMS protection, a cross-platform password manager, 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage, and Dark Web Monitor Pro (up to 8 email addresses plus phone, bank card and national ID or SSN numbers). Complete Max adds a dedicated IP, which is a paid add-on on the other plans.
Surfshark Starter includes the VPN with an ad blocker, cookie pop-up blocker and other VPN features, plus Alternative ID. One adds antivirus, Alert leak notifications and Search. One+ adds Incogni data removal (US, UK, EU, Switzerland and Canada residents only) and identity theft coverage up to $1 million (US residents only, excluding New York State; issued by HSB Specialty Insurance Company). Surfshark’s pricing page was ambiguous about which features sit in which plan, so confirm the list at checkout. A Surfshark dedicated IP is an add-on at $3.75 per month or $45.00 per year at renewal.
If you already have a password manager, NordVPN Complete’s biggest extra may duplicate what you own; see our guide to a recoverable password manager. If data brokers concern you most, compare One+ with standalone options in data removal services compared.
Trials and refunds
Both providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on the initial purchase only; renewals are not refunded (NordVPN adds “unless local laws require otherwise”). NordVPN cannot refund Apple App Store purchases, so you go to Apple; its help centre and pricing page differ slightly on Google Play refunds. Surfshark excludes some resellers, prepaid and gift card payments, Alternative ID and the anonymous Dedicated IP, and its terms do not address App Store refunds.
Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial on 12-month and 24-month plans. It requires a card, PayPal or Apple Pay, covers up to 3 devices, and charges automatically after 7 days unless cancelled. We found no confirmed free trial at NordVPN.
Privacy claims
Both providers say their no-logs policies have been independently checked. NordVPN says Deloitte Lithuania completed its sixth no-logs assurance engagement in December 2025 under ISAE 3000 (Revised). Surfshark says Deloitte assured its no-logs claim in 2023 and 2025 under ISAE 3000, and that it runs RAM-only servers. These are the providers’ claims; we have not verified them.
Neither VPN makes you anonymous. Sites you sign in to still know who you are, and a VPN does not stop phishing or remove malware. For the network side, see securing home and travel networks.
Promotions
On 5 November 2026 both pricing pages showed Black Friday promotions, with no end date. NordVPN advertised 78% off plus 3 extra months; Surfshark labelled its 24-month One plan as the Black Friday offer. Either may end at any time, and the prices above may change with them.
How to decide
Choose Surfshark if total cost after the first term matters most, or if you need more than 10 devices. Starter and One have the lowest renewals in this comparison. Choose NordVPN Complete if you would otherwise pay separately for a password manager, cloud storage and wider dark web monitoring, and you accept a higher renewal. Choose NordVPN Complete Max only if you need a dedicated IP included. Choose Surfshark One+ only if you are a US resident outside New York State, or live where Incogni works, and want those extras.
To look at the current offers, see NordVPN and Surfshark. For more detail, read our NordVPN review and Surfshark review.
Checklist before you buy:
- Add the upfront amount to at least one year of renewal.
- Count your devices against NordVPN’s limit of 10.
- Cross off extras you already pay for elsewhere.
- Check country limits on Surfshark One+ extras.
- Buy directly on the website for the simplest refund path.
- Treat Black Friday prices as temporary.
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