Surfshark has made a reputation for itself as a prime digital personal community possibility available in the market in the present day. It gives reasonably priced pricing throughout all its plans, supplies quick and dependable speeds and doesn’t skimp out on consumer safety and performance.
Norton Safe VPN, alternatively, is a VPN from in style safety and antivirus supplier Norton. Whereas it gives good VPN speeds, it has a small server community and doesn’t embrace any standout options to set it aside from rivals.
- Surfshark VPN: Greatest for many companies on the lookout for a high-quality VPN with quick speeds, robust safety and reasonably priced pricing.
- Norton Safe VPN: Greatest for Norton 360 product customers who want primary safety and a simple-to-use VPN utility.
Surfshark vs. Norton Safe VPN: Comparability
Our ranking | 4.6 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
Safety protocols | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 | OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec |
No. of servers | $3,200 | 1,000–2,000 (reportedly) |
VPN server areas | 100 nations | 28 nations |
Knowledge breach monitoring | Sure (Surfshark Starter) | Sure (through Norton 360) |
Simultaneous system areas | Limitless | As much as 10 units |
Free trial or free model | Cell free trial | None |
Beginning worth | $2.79 per thirty days (annual) | $2.49 per thirty days (annual) |
Surfshark vs. Norton Safe VPN: Pricing
Surfshark’s subscriptions revolve round their essential VPN service, with add-ons as you go up with every paid plan. All premium Surfshark plans enable limitless simultaneous system connections, whereas Norton solely permits as much as 10 units related suddenly — relying on the plan you buy.
SEE: Use Norton Safe VPN (A Step-by-Step Information) (TechRepublic)
Norton Safe VPN will also be bought with different Norton merchandise as a part of its Norton 360 bundle of companies. If you happen to’re not eager on its different software program, you can too buy the VPN as a standalone product.
For extra on Surfshark and Norton Safe VPN, try our full Surfshark evaluation and full Norton Safe VPN evaluation.
Surfshark pricing
Surfshark gives three subscription tiers: Surfshark Starter, One and One+. Starter supplies primary VPN performance, an advert blocker and a masked e mail generator. In the meantime, One provides onto that with real-time e mail breach alerts, an antivirus and webcam safety.
1 month | $15.45 per thirty days | $15.95 per thirty days | $17.95 per thirty days |
1 yr | $2.79 per thirty days | $3.19 per thirty days | $5.09 per thirty days |
2 years | $2.19 per thirty days | $2.69 per thirty days | $4.29 per thirty days |
Lastly, One+ consists of all options plus knowledge removing from firm databases and from individuals search websites. Whereas I want Surfshark supplied a free model, it does have a free trial of its cell app and a 30-day money-back assure for all its purposes.
Norton Safe VPN pricing
Norton is exclusive in that it bases its VPN pricing in your desired variety of system connections. That is against most VPNs, which categorize their costs relying on contract size.
1 system | $29.99 first yr or $2.49 per thirty days |
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5 units | 39.99 first yr or $3.33 per thirty days |
10 units | $59.99 first yr or $4.99 per thirty days |
One nitpick I’ve with Norton Safe VPN’s subscriptions is that their costs are for the primary yr solely, with a attainable improve after the primary yr upon renewal. I might’ve most well-liked it if Norton supplied the identical worth previous the primary yr of subscription — particularly since this isn’t unusual amongst different suppliers.
Happily, Norton has a 60-day money-back assure, which supplies customers ample time to check their software program and request for a refund through the allotted time.
Surfshark vs. Norton Safe VPN: Characteristic comparability
Safety protocols and encryption
Winner: Surfshark
Each Surfshark and Norton Safe VPN make the most of AES-256 encryption algorithm for his or her VPN companies — which is sweet to see, particularly since AES-256 is taken into account the business customary and arguably essentially the most safe encryption algorithm in the present day.
SEE: Use Surfshark VPN (A Step-by-Step Information) (TechRepublic)
The deciding issue is that Surfshark consists of OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2 safety protocols, which, for my cash, are the three greatest protocols we would like in a contemporary VPN. That is compared to Norton, which lacks the trendy and speed-oriented WireGuard safety protocol.
To Norton’s credit score, its Safe VPN additionally gives each OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec. However for customers who need a mixture of each safety and pace in tunneling protocols, Surfshark is greatest for you.
VPN server community and areas
Winner: Surfshark
Within the server division, Surfshark comes out on prime with its 3,200 servers throughout 100 nations. However, Norton Safe VPN has a a lot smaller 28-country server community, with a reported server rely amounting to solely 1,000 to 2,000 servers.
Server infrastructure is certainly one of Norton’s essential downsides, as its 2,000-server rely is way smaller than the typical 3,000–4,000 server networks we see on common with fashionable VPNs. Its nation unfold can also be miniscule in comparison with Surfshark, limiting customers’ means to entry geographically various areas worldwide.
In case your essential aim with a VPN is to entry geo-restricted content material, I like to recommend Surfshark given its far bigger server rely and placement unfold.
Third-party audits and unbiased testing
Winner: Surfshark
Whereas each VPNs provide no-logs insurance policies claiming they don’t report consumer knowledge, solely Surfshark has undergone a third-party audit, which has confirmed that it’s actually no-logs. Surfshark’s unbiased audit was performed by Deloitte in 2023, the place it was discovered that the VPN supplier had correctly configured its inner methods “in accordance with Surfshark’s description of its no-logs policy.”
SEE: Is a VPN Actually Value It in 2024? (TechRepublic)
However, Norton Safe VPN is but to endure any third social gathering audit or unbiased testing right now. Regardless of being a preferred safety supplier, I extremely encourage selecting a VPN that may provide verifiable knowledge regarding its no-logs coverage.
Efficiency and pace
Winner: Tie
Surprisingly, I discovered each Surfshark and Norton Safe VPN carried out effectively when it comes to pace and stability. The 2 VPNs carried out equally in day-to-day use of normal shopping, researching and streaming content material, in addition to after I performed add and obtain checks.
One caveat I’ve to say is that Norton Safe VPN’s smaller server community could hinder its means to supply customers constant speeds throughout totally different areas. As a result of server pace depends on how shut you’re to a server’s location, you’ll have a better likelihood of getting good speeds with Surfshark, given its extra various location rely.
For instance, for those who use Norton Safe VPN and are in a rustic that’s not supplied on its server community, you’ll possible expertise slower speeds or a much less dependable connection.
Regardless of this, my testing confirmed each VPNs can present constantly quick and secure speeds — offered your location is accommodated by the VPN’s server community.
Standout security measures
Winner: Surfshark
Apart from its base VPN performance, Surfshark boasts plenty of extra options geared in direction of elevated safety. With its Starter plan, you’ve gotten entry to an antivirus, real-time breach alerts and a personal search instrument.
The nifty factor right here is that they’re all accessible throughout the Surfshark VPN app itself, permitting customers to make use of Surfshark as a form of safety hub in a single desktop utility. However, Norton gives comparable options like antivirus software program and darkish internet monitoring, however these are all separate companies that aren’t built-in throughout the VPN itself.
With Norton Safe VPN, you get an advert and tracker blocker, cut up tunneling and a kill change, and that’s it. Whereas these are good options, Surfshark gives these identical options in its app as effectively.
Ease of use
Winner: Tie
By way of consumer expertise, Surfshark and Norton Safe VPN each include desktop purposes which might be simple to make use of and nice to have a look at. Surfshark does an incredible job of organizing its utility and categorizing its security measures intuitively.
However, Norton Safe VPN can also be user-friendly and takes a extra minimalist strategy in comparison with Surfshark. This can be a product of its extra primary VPN software program with an absence of extra options, nevertheless it’s simple that the app can present a seamless expertise nonetheless.
Surfshark professionals and cons
Execs
- 100-country server community.
- Persistently quick speeds.
- Has WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2.
- Reasonably priced pricing throughout plans.
Cons
Norton Safe VPN professionals and cons
Execs
- Quick and secure VPN pace.
- Person-friendly utility.
- Might be bundled with different Norton merchandise.
Cons
- Miniscule server community.
- Hasn’t undergone a third-party safety audit.
- Lacks standout security measures.
Ought to your group use Surfshark or Norton Safe VPN?
In my view, it’s clear-cut that most organizations ought to choose to make use of Surfshark over Norton Safe VPN. Whereas Norton Safe VPN performs effectively, it merely lacks many options we count on in a contemporary VPN.
Particularly, Norton Safe VPN’s server community spanning solely 28 nations is simply too small in comparison with Surfshark’s 100-country and three,200-server community and infrastructure. Surfshark additionally consists of extra standout security measures, reminiscent of a built-in antivirus and actual time breach alerts, in comparison with Norton’s extra primary VPN providing.
SEE: 10 Myths about Cybersecurity You Shouldn’t Imagine (TechRepublic Premium)
I additionally give the win to Surfshark when it comes to third-party testing, as its safety audit gives a far safer guess to shoppers and companies. I’m hopeful that Norton decides to have their VPN examined by unbiased safety consultants sooner or later, however for now, Surfshark is the smarter alternative.
To not point out Surfshark’s reasonably priced pricing, easy-to-use utility and constantly quick efficiency — making Surfshark our winner for this head-to-head VPN comparability.
I solely suggest Norton Safe VPN to companies which might be already invested in Norton’s safety merchandise and simply need extra VPN performance with their present suite of options. In any other case, Surfshark ought to be your decide between the 2.
Methodology
My comparability of Surfshark and Norton Safe VPN concerned hands-on time with each VPNs and an in depth evaluation of every service’s options, value and real-world efficiency.
To guage every product, each VPNs had been scored on every part from their pricing to their safety protocols. Particularly, we took into consideration 5 essential pillars with their corresponding weights:
- Pricing (20%).
- Core VPN options (30%).
- Ease of use (15%).
- Buyer assist (30%).
- Professional evaluation (5%).
I additionally supplemented my findings with real-world consumer suggestions and respected evaluations to spherical out my evaluation of each merchandise.
For pace and efficiency, I examined each VPNs on a Home windows laptop and ran them by way of Ookla’s public Speedtest. Lastly, I additionally thought-about how every VPN may greatest cater to several types of customers, use circumstances and organizations.