Surfshark vs ExpressVPN
VPN pricing comparison · 2026
Surfshark pricing ranges from $2.49–$20.85/month, while ExpressVPN ranges from $2.49–$22.99/month. ExpressVPN is typically 53% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.
Surfshark
Surfshark is a consumer VPN service now owned by Nord Security (the same parent company as
verified 9w ago
View pricing →
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a premium VPN service owned by Kape Technologies, known for its speed, relia
verified 9w ago
View pricing →
Recorded annual contract medians
Surfshark
median is
$0
less than
ExpressVPN
· different customer contracts; not a quote
Cheapest
$180
Spread
0%
Estimated license cost
at 25 seats
List price × seats. Click a tier below to lock it.
Starter (1-Year)
$957/yr
year 1 license · $3/seat
Basic (1-Year)
$48/yr
year 1 license · flat plan price
What buyers actually pay
median, annual
Vendr deal-flow data. The real benchmark, not list price.
Median annual
$180/yr
Vendr · n=53
↓ Lowest median
Median annual
$180/yr
Vendr · n=35
REF · 01
Sources & confidence
Every dollar amount and contract clause below traces back to a sourced fact. We don't manufacture composite scores.
Where this data comes from
Vendr · TrustRadius · Reddit · BBB · official docs
Sources
7 sourced facts
3 hidden-cost · 2 contract · Vendr median · 1 review platform
Last verified
2mo ago
Confidence
High confidence
Sources
14 sourced facts
8 hidden-cost · 3 contract · Vendr median · 2 review platforms
Last verified
2mo ago
Confidence
Medium confidence
REF · 02
Plans at a glance
Every tier per product. Lock one to drive the cost row above and reveal a tier-specific outbound CTA.
Tier ladder
Click a tier to lock the cost row to it. Locking surfaces a tier-specific Visit CTA.
REF · 04
Contract terms
The fine print, surfaced. Green = buyer-friendly. Each clause backed by a quoted source.
Surfshark
ExpressVPN
Auto-renewal
Yes
Yes
Cancellation
30 days for money-back guarantee
30-day money-back guarantee; cancellations after that take effect at end of current subscription period with no pro-rata refund
Commitment
✓
Monthly, 1-year, or 2-year options available
✓
Monthly (no lock-in required, but 1-year and 2-year plans require upfront payment)
Price escalation
Promotional pricing applies only to first term; renewal at standard rates
No published uplift schedule; add-on prices (e.g., dedicated IP) have reportedly doubled for existing multi-year subscribers
Can downgrade
No
—
REF · 05
What users say
Aggregated, with sample sizes. We use whichever review platform has data.
User reviews
TrustRadius · Trustpilot · G2
Decide
Get a quote from each vendor
Each link opens the vendor's pricing page in a new tab.
Visit Surfshark pricing
Affiliate partner — does not affect ranking.
License cost is computed from publicly listed plans (real math, list price × seats).
Median annual cost is from Vendr's deal flow when available — see source badges.
Hidden costs and contract terms each cite their own sources. We do not invent composite scores.
VS
Surfshark and ExpressVPN both operate in the vpn category. This page compares their list pricing.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Surfshark | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starter (Monthly) | $15.45 /user/month | $15.99 /month |
| Starter (1-Year) | $3.19 /user/month | $3.99 /month |
| Starter (2-Year) | $2.49 /user/month | $2.49 /month |
| One (Monthly) | $17.95 /user/month | $16.99 /month |
| One (1-Year) | $3.39 /user/month | $4.99 /month |
| One (2-Year) | $2.79 /user/month | $2.99 /month |
| One+ (Monthly) | $20.85 /user/month | $22.99 /month |
| One+ (1-Year) | $5.09 /user/month | $6.99 /month |
| One+ (2-Year) | $4.49 /user/month | $5.49 /month |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
Surfshark
4 scenarios$1.99/mo ($53.73 for 27 months)
Large Household - Starter 2-Year Plan
Unlimited devices means every family member is covered, making it the cheapest per-device VPN option.
$2.49/mo ($59.13 for 27 months)
Security-Focused Individual - One 2-Year Plan
Replaces separate antivirus (~$40/year) and breach monitoring (~$10/mo) subscriptions.
$5.09/mo ($76.35/year for 15 months)
Privacy Maximalist - One+ 1-Year Plan
Includes Incogni, which would cost $6.49/mo if purchased separately.
ExpressVPN
7 scenarios$3.99/mo ($59.85 for the first 15 months including 3 bonus months, then autorenews at $99.95/year)
Streaming Enthusiast - Basic 1-Year Plan
ExpressVPN consistently ranks top for streaming reliability.
$2.99/mo ($83.72 for the first 28 months including 4 bonus months, then autorenews at $119.95/year)
Security-Focused Professional - Advanced 2-Year Plan
Bundles VPN + password manager + identity tools, replacing multiple subscriptions.
$6.99/mo ($104.85 for the first 15 months including 3 bonus months, then autorenews at $199.95/year)
Business Traveler - Pro 1-Year Plan
Dedicated IP included (normally a $3-5/mo add-on elsewhere), plus 5 days of free eSIM data per month.
Market Intelligence
Surfshark
- Median annual cost
- $180
- Based on
- 53 deals
ExpressVPN
- Median annual cost
- $180
- Based on
- 35 deals
Contract Terms
| Term | Surfshark | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | Yes | Yes |
| Cancellation | 30 days for money-back guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee; cancellations after that take effect at end of current subscription period with no pro-rata refund |
| Minimum commitment | Monthly, 1-year, or 2-year options available | Monthly (no lock-in required, but 1-year and 2-year plans require upfront payment) |
| Price escalation | Promotional pricing applies only to first term; renewal at standard rates | No published uplift schedule; add-on prices (e.g., dedicated IP) have reportedly doubled for existing multi-year subscribers |
| Can downgrade | No | — |